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Loki and Hawkeye sat inside the aircraft, the low hum of the engines echoing through the cabin. The atmosphere was strangely quiet despite the chaos that had unfolded only minutes earlier. Through the screens mounted inside the cabin, satellite footage continued to replay the destruction of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
The image of the massive flying fortress splitting apart in midair was shown again and again.
Loki stared at the footage, his expression darkening.
"That fellow actually destroyed the Helicarrier," Loki said coldly, his fingers tightening into a fist. "That should have been my accomplishment."
His eyes narrowed as he watched the burning wreckage plunge into the sea.
"A Helicarrier is nothing," he continued arrogantly. "If I wanted to destroy it, it would have been easy."
Hawkeye remained silent.
Ever since being placed under Loki's control, he had become accustomed to listening rather than speaking. Still, even in his current state, he couldn't help thinking that Loki was exaggerating.
Destroying the Helicarrier so casually?
Even he found that difficult to believe.
Loki turned toward him.
"Hawkeye, am I right?"
For a brief moment, Hawkeye hesitated.
Not answering wasn't an option.
"I believe that with your power, Leader, it would have been easy."
The words came out smoothly, even though a part of him felt like he was lying through his teeth.
Loki immediately laughed.
"Hahaha! Exactly!"
He stood and spread both arms dramatically.
"Soon the entire Earth will witness my power."
His eyes shone with ambition.
"When that day comes, all of Earth will kneel before me. S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and even Jack—they're all insignificant."
Loki's smile widened.
"They will kneel at my feet."
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed through the cabin.
No one replied.
Ten minutes later, the sea below had finally begun to calm.
The massive waves created by the Helicarrier's crash slowly settled back into the ocean.
Far above the water, Jack floated casually in the sky.
Looking down at the vast sea, he shrugged.
"I wonder how many survived."
A grin appeared on his face.
"Not that it has anything to do with me."
"Hahaha!"
With that, he accelerated forward.
Alice and the others had already located him and were approaching in their aircraft.
Far below, among the floating debris and scattered wreckage, a battered figure drifted across the surface of the water.
It was Nick Fury.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Director remained motionless as the waves carried him away.
Moments later, Jack entered the aircraft.
The first thing he heard was Maria Hill's angry voice.
"You lunatic."
Hill's eyes were filled with fury.
"You'll pay for what you've done."
She stared directly at him.
"So many people died because of you."
Jack simply shrugged.
Walking across the cabin, he sat down opposite her.
"Hill, calm down."
He crossed one leg over the other.
"Only a few people died."
His tone was infuriatingly casual.
"Besides, how many things has America done to the rest of the world?"
He smiled.
"Think of it as the world collecting a debt."
Natasha immediately let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Interesting."
She folded her arms.
"I never expected you to care about the people of the world."
Jack nodded seriously.
"Exactly."
"I care deeply."
His expression suddenly became righteous.
"The United States acts like the world's policeman."
He raised a finger.
"Threatening countries."
"Affecting governments."
"Monitoring everyone."
Jack shook his head dramatically.
"So naturally, I have to slap America in the face and let the world see what it really is."
Alice immediately rolled her eyes.
"I am technically an American citizen."
"Even if you dislike America, don't drag me into that speech."
Jack immediately turned toward her.
"No."
He pointed at her.
"You're not American."
"You belong to me."
Alice stared at him for several seconds.
Then she sighed.
"Fine."
"Whatever you say."
Hill looked utterly disgusted.
"Stop making excuses for yourself."
Her voice was ice-cold.
"You've never done anything for the world."
Jack laughed.
"You're right."
His grin widened.
"I am absolutely a villain."
"An evil person from beginning to end."
He leaned back comfortably.
"Since you already understand that, getting angry is pointless."
"It isn't healthy."
"I don't need your fake concern."
Hill snapped immediately.
Jack smiled.
"Good."
"At least you're honest."
He rested his chin on one hand.
"Actually, I like seeing you angry."
"It has character."
Hill's expression became even colder.
"You really are impossible."
Jack laughed.
"You know, before all this happened, we got along pretty well."
He looked nostalgic.
"We even had a pleasant conversation."
Hill immediately snorted.
"That was before I knew who you were."
Her eyes sharpened.
"If I had known the truth from the beginning, things would have been very different."
White Queen suddenly burst into laughter.
"Wait."
She pointed at Alice.
"This feels familiar."
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"Because Alice said almost exactly the same thing once."
White Queen looked delighted.
"She hated Jack back then too."
Alice sighed.
"Don't remind me."
White Queen grinned.
"But now you're working together."
"Life is strange."
Alice smiled faintly.
"Things change."
"They usually do."
Jack looked toward Hill.
"Hill."
"You think I deceived you from the beginning."
"I know you did."
Hill replied instantly.
Jack nodded.
"Fair enough."
The cabin became quiet for a moment.
Natasha suddenly spoke.
"The difference is that people like you always lose eventually."
Her voice was calm.
Almost certain.
Jack laughed.
"There it is again."
He tapped his ear.
"That speech."
"I've heard it thousands of times."
He spread his arms.
"People always tell me I'll lose."
"People always tell me justice wins."
"People always tell me villains are doomed."
Jack smiled.
"But words don't change reality."
Natasha stared at him.
"Reality changes."
"Eventually."
Jack pointed toward himself.
"Do you know how many people want me dead?"
"Probably billions."
"No."
Hill interrupted.
"Everyone wants you dead."
"Except you."
Jack immediately shook his head.
"Wrong."
"Newborn babies don't know who I am."
"Therefore, they can't hate me."
White Queen laughed.
Alice laughed.
Even Ada shook her head.
Hill looked as though she wanted to throw something at him.
Jack pointed dramatically toward the ceiling.
"Billions of people hating me."
"Terrifying."
He pretended to tremble.
"Oh no."
"I'm so frightened."
Hill clenched her jaw.
Natasha remained silent.
Jack's expression slowly became serious.
"Words are easy."
"Anyone can talk."
"Anyone can threaten."
"Anyone can promise revenge."
He leaned forward.
"But none of that matters."
His eyes settled on Natasha and Hill.
"If you want to stop someone..."
"If you want to defeat someone..."
"Power is what matters."
The cabin fell silent.
Neither woman answered.
Not because they agreed.
But because, at this moment, neither of them had a way to prove him wrong.
Jack noticed their silence.
"What's wrong?"
"No response?"
He smiled.
"I thought you had more speeches prepared."
White Queen finally raised a hand.
"Jack."
"Stop bullying them."
"I can't watch this anymore."
Jack shrugged.
"I'm educating them."
"It's completely different."
White Queen rolled her eyes.
"You're obviously provoking them."
"Fine."
Jack laughed.
"Maybe a little."
Ada smiled from the side.
"The funny thing is, even with all your power..."
She paused.
"I still think they look down on you."
"Agreed," White Queen said immediately.
Jack turned toward Natasha and Hill.
"Do you?"
Neither woman answered.
They simply turned their heads away and gave a cold snort.
Their silence said everything.