Chapter 21 - A.L.V.A.R

Back in the conference room, Katta anxiously looked at her phone to check the time. The clock struck eight, and punctually, a green swirl emitted in the middle of the room. Magnus interestedly watched it, murmuring to himself.

Then, Strange stepped out of the swirl, a boy on his side.

"Hey, Mister Stark and all the others." Peter awkwardly raised his hand to give a small wave. The boy, Katta recognized from London now stood in the Harlovsen conference room, wearing a backpack and glasses. How old was he? Fourteen?

"What are you wearing there?" Tony looked at the lilac hoodie that had mathematical signs on its front.

"Ehr, about that. I've been to a competition with the mathletics when Doctor Strange–"

His voice faded as he recognized Katta standing behind his mentor, glancing at him. His face paled as his eyes jumped between her and Tony. He seemed to notice and sighed.

"Ah, yes. Kiddo, this is Katta. You might remember Katta from your little assignment in London. She's decided to join the cool side and brought some of her deadly siblings as well - and some cousins," Tony explained, motioning to the other Harlovsens.

Peter nodded, taking off his glasses. "Nice to formally meet you, mam and sirs. I'm Peter."

"Call me Katta. I'm not that old." She stretched out her hand, which he hesitantly shook, slightly blushing.

"Yes, that's enough. Come on now." Tony swatted his hand towards Peter who quickly stepped back and nodded.

"I thought you could use this boy," Strange stated.

"So what is the plan now?" Clint asked, looking at the Strange whose brows had furrowed.

"Loki had been into the sanctum sanctorum to find me and the stone but obviously missed me. There are a few places he could be right now, depending on how much he knows."

"Wait, you're telling us you don't even know where he is?" Clint asked uneasily.

"Do I look like a seer or a GPS to you, Mister Barton?" Strange returned. Clint shrugged. "I mean, yes. To be honest, you very much look like somebody who could be able to do things like this."

Strange shortly closed his eyes and inhaled as if to try to win patience before opening them again. "God of thunder, what would your brother's next steps be?" he asked, addressing Thor.

"He will probably find ways to gain information through threatening and torture, maybe get a hostage or find new people to make his henchmen."

Strange uttered. "Well, very well. We're searching for a man that could be everywhere in this world and has the magic ability to teleport by the second."

"Indeed, my brother's magic abilities have been trained for hundreds of years by our mother herself. He is not to underestimate," Thor agreed, straightening the grip around Mjolnir.

"Proposal," Magnus raised his pointer finger. "From what we know, Loki leaves traces of radiation wherever he is. I say we spot the places where it is the highest and send teams to find him."

"That could work," Fury nodded, gesturing for Magnus to carry on. He nodded and started his intercom system.

"A.L.V.A.R, Radiation Tracing in New York. Single out the strongest ones."

"Yes, Magnus. I'm calculating," a deep voice clung through the sound system.

"Wait, is that–?" Tony was interrupted by the voice speaking up again.

"I spotted five places where the radiation is increased. Would you like me to set up the jet?"

"No, we're travelling by sorcerer." Magnus tapped his earpiece, and the voice faded out.

"They stole my idea. I was the first to construct J.A.R.V.IS and later F.R.I.D.A.Y." Tony accusingly pointed at Magnus, who raised a brow.

"Theft would only apply if your system was programmed well enough to adapt it. A.L.V.A.R is much more improved than F.R.I.D.A.Y," Fenris answered for his brother, smirking smugly.

Tony snapped for air but remained silent while Steve spoke up. "Our teams should be equally strong, so I propose that there will be at least one - - soldier in each of it."

"Accepted, I take Romanov," Erik spoke up. Natasha chuckled but nodded.

"Clint and Katta. Barnes and Stark. Fenris and Thor. Rogers and Arne. The rest will wait in a base until we spot Loki. Banner will stay with me and help through the intercoms." Fury looked around, waiting for somebody to contradict and nodded, satisfied that nobody did.

"Doctor Strange. I can't command you, but I propose that you hide away as far away as possible," he added, looking at the sorcerer who nodded.

"Very well. Let's go then and show this wanna-be-god what it means messing with the earth," Fury stated, nodding towards the different teams. Katta looked up to Clint, who excitedly smirked.

"Like the good old times, he?" he grinned.

"I'm not sure, Barton. Sure, you can keep up with me? You're getting old."

He laughed at her comment, nudging her shoulder. "Good to have you back, Katta."

She smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, it feels nice."

"Let's go, man of deception." Thor looked at Fenris, who grabbed a jacket and flung it over.

"Here," he said. "Your armour is not what I'd call unobtrusive."

Thor quickly pulled it over and looked down at himself. "It is warm," he noticed. Magnus enlarged a map on the screen. "Brooklyn Bridge Park."

Fenris and Thor stood next to each other, Strange's hands on their shoulders. The three disappeared in a green swirl. Tony took a brief look at the map and raised his hand.

"We take the Empire State Building. Come, Barnes."

Bucky rolled his eyes but remained silent. When working with Stark, it was best to not say much and, most importantly, not disagree. It would only end in endless discussions. Glancing over to Katta, he saw her joking with Clint, who had his bow strapped onto his back. They looked like a well-rehearsed team. Clint turned around and Katta pulled a strap on his quiver tighter as if she'd done it hundreds of times before. Bucky only tore his eyes away as Tony nudged his shoulder.

"Time to go, Barnes."

Katta's eyes shortly found him, and she nodded firmly, a determined smile pulling on the edge of her lips. The next thing he knew was a feeling like he was pulling forward, a nauseous sensation rushing through his body. Bucky landed on his feet, quickly looking around. The familiar surrounding and constant noise somehow gave him a calming feeling. After all, it was New York.

It had been a good decision, that Stark had chosen to not wear his suit right from the beginning - it would just attract unwanted attention, and they couldn't lose time to him giving autographs.

"Alright, Barnes. Where do we start? You're the spy of both of us. Where would a self-indulgent god hide?" Tony pushed his sunglasses higher onto his nose and observed the surrounding. The programme in his glasses scanned every building for consciousnesses.

"Target not found," F.R.I.D.A.Y sounded through his earpiece.

Tony cursed. "Seems like we're going for a walk."

〰〰〰

"So, you are Arne?" Steve questioned while he and the Harlovsen walked aside through Brooklyn - his old home.

"Positive," Arne curtly answered, his vigilant eyes searching the surrounding. The last time Steve had seen him had been in the Stark Tower when he had tried to free Katta.

"You've got a nice punch." Steve tried to build up a conversation.

"This is mutual."

Steve usually only faced smaller people, but Arne was on the same eye level and had a similar physical build. He had dressed in black combat clothing that looked like everyday attire to everybody who wasn't well-versed in fighting.

"You hunted, imprisoned, drugged and threatened my sister," Arne snarled out of nothing, directing his look at Steve, who felt his face becoming warm. "She might be a person to forgive easily, but I am not. After this whole thing is over, you'll let her go and delete the footage you have about my brothers and me." Arne looked at Steve, waiting for a response.

"It's just – we couldn't be sure she wouldn't be a threat," Steve muttered, looking straight ahead.

"Cheap Excuses," Arne returned. His eyes narrowed in on a point in the distance, and he raised his hand to attract Steve's attention. "Hot Dog shop, 200 feet ahead, brown jacket," he muttered before turning left, changing his direction.

Steve found the man Arne was referring to and frowned. "Who's that?"

"Hans Decker. Last worked for a german security company." Arne snapped a newspaper from a tiny store and opened it to hide his face. A cough sounded through their earpieces as if somebody choked on his drink.

"I met Hans the previous week in Amsterdam for an appointment. He should not be here," Erik announced. Steve glanced at Arne and frowned. He sighed in return.

"Not good. Hans would most certainly never change his plans out of a sudden if he hadn't to."

"So is he under Lokis influence?" Steve asked, looking again towards the man munching a hotdog.

"The only way to find out will be asking him" Arne hummed and lowered the newspaper, walking towards the man, Steve on his heels.

"Do you really think that this is the right way of getting information?"

Arne ignored Steves objection and went further until he stopped right in front of the red-haired man, who slowly looked up. A slight smirk appeared on his face as he wiped his mouth with a tissue. "A Harlovsen wherever I go. Funny, last week I met your brother."

"I heard about that. What gets you to the land of unlimited possibilities, Decker?" Arne took a seat on the bench next to him while Steve remained standing, his hands fidgeting in his pockets. Hans sighed and turned his face to Arne.

"Basically, a new client. You know how it is. The job changes from day to day." Hans's eyes wandered over to Steve before he looked at Arne again. "What happened to 'no government institutions'?"

Arne rolled his eyes and huffed. "You know how it is. The job changes from day to day."

Hans smirked and leaned back. "So what can I do for you?"

"What do you know about Loki?" Steve asked. Hans's head spun towards him before he looked back at Arne.

"Wow. Interrogation Level 1000. Is he your intern?" He chuckled. Arne shortly glared at Steve before checking the clock on his wrist. "Kind of. Care to answer his question?"

"Where would be the fun without any kind of a – consideration?" Hans smirked.

Arne dug into the inside of his jacket, pulling out a knife. He mustered it before slightly pointing at Hans. "What would you say about your life as consideration."

"Arne, I just managed to get on his good side. I have business with him," Erik murmured into the earpiece, sounding angry.

"Not your business at the moment," Arne bit back. Hans' face brightened.

"Your brother's listening as well, isn't he? Hey Erik, get your family in line."