Altered Visions: A Marvel Fan Fiction Project

Captain America wrapped one muscular arm around Bruce Banner's waist and jumped clear as jagged bolts of magical energy struck the spot where they had been standing. He dropped Bruce right on his posterior and snapped; "We brought you here to help out, mister! Now what's your malfunction?"

Bruce raged back; "It's not that simple, Cap! My subconscious knows when I'm deliberately trying to get mad in order to bring out The Hulk and it short circuits so that the change doesn't take place!"

"Now you tell us. So let me get this straight: in order for you to change into The Hulk you have to be put in a situation where you'll get mad but one you're not creating deliberately?"

Captain America bent forward and with a quick mumbled prayer, picked up Bruce and flung him off The Rainbow Bridge. Bruce's pitiful scream followed his path as he sailed out of sight, plummeting downward into the endless nebula filled void.

Thor whirled Mjolnir over his head and released the hammer. It sped unerringly toward its target, which was the head of the lead giant bat and the creature's head simply vanished in a blizzard of pulverized bone and blood. The rider of the giant bat gracefully leaped from the saddle and landed on The Rainbow Bridge, the glorious light of Bifrost reflecting from the crimson armor he wore, accentuating the yellow highlights. Mjolnir returned to Thor's hand as he stalked closer to the formidable armored figure that looks fully as large and as powerful as The Thunder God himself.

"Brona! I know you! Aye, and thy brothers as well! What foul sorcery hath enabled The Enchanters to escape thy imprisonment in The Lost Limbo of Infinity Unending?" Thor pointed at the medallion on Brona's chest. "And how hath thou recreated The Living Talisman?"

Brona's harsh, metallic laugh joined that of his Living Talisman as he said; "There be worlds beyond worlds, Thor! Aye, and gods beyond gods! There are those who have agreed that the time of The Asgardians is over and it is they who must now take ascendancy over The Nine Worlds! We be but the vanguard of The New Universal Order that is to come!" Brona's hands swept upwards and a raging wave of energy erupted from them and slammed into Thor, who stood his ground as the destructive force howled around him, whipping his crimson cloak to shreds and wrenching his winged helmet from his head.

Iron Man swooped up, over and around one of the bats, startling the beast and it's rider, who fought to keep control of his winged steed. The bat hissed and its head whipped around, a jet of thick green saliva erupting from the crimson chasm of its mouth. While he was fairly sure that his armor would be resistant to it, Iron Man saw no need to take that chance and he generated his force field. The thick green saliva splashed against the force field, bubbling and hissing as it rolled harmlessly off it.

The armored figure riding the bat shook a fist at Iron Man. He was bellowing something but Iron Man couldn't hear it and frankly didn't care what it was. A tightly beamed burst from his sonic emitters right at the head of the giant bat produced the desired result. The creature screamed and bucked as if it had suddenly gone mad, which due to it's sensitive hearing being abused by the sonic burst was probably true. The rider was thrown off and plummeted toward The Rainbow Bridge.

The third bat rider had leaped from his beast and surrounded in a crackling field of magical energy slowly descended to The Rainbow Bridge, extending his energy to catch his falling brother and lower him gently to the glittering surface of Bifrost. Captain America charged toward them, The Wasp flying just over his shoulder; "Cap! What happened to Bruce?"

"Don't concern yourself with him now! Concentrate on these two! Maybe if we can keep them busy until Thor takes out their leader-"

But Thor definitely had his hands full with Brona. Time and again he swung Mjolnir in great arcing loops that smashed against Brona's magical shields. Every time Mjolnir hit, golden lightning erupted and the sound of thunder was like that of mountains collapsing into the sea.

"What madness be this? Powerful ye Enchanters may be but even ye cannot take the brunt of Mjolnir's fury with such impunity!" Thor raged in frustration.

Brona threw back his head and his triumphant laughter seemed to fill the cosmos. "Of course we can, Thunder God! Any may laugh at the power of Thor and yea, the assembled Gods of Asgard if one wears THIS!" Brona removed the gauntlet of his left hand in a triumphant flourish and when Thor saw what Brona wore on the index finger he was speechless with shock.

Captain America leaped forward, smashing into one of The Enchanters shield first. The Enchanter, caught totally by surprise went flying to crash onto his back, sweeping his bright blue cloak back from his red and gold armor. "Hast thou gone completely mad that you would dare strike the person of Enrakt?"

Captain America back flipped and landed in a crouch as he answered; "call it whatever you will. But if you don't want more of it, you'll stand down and do it now."

Enrakt started to speak but a battering ram of repulsor rays knocked him head over heels as Iron Man descended lower, his amplified voice rising over the whine of his boot jets. "You heard the man. Stand down and we'll have us a nice little talk."

The third Enchanter, Magnir, snarled; "Never! Too long have my brothers and I been humbled by Odin and the haughty Gods of Asgard! But no more! Asgard is ours now and we shall-AIEEEEEEEE!" Magnir's armored hands went up to clasp the eyeholes of his helmet with a metallic klang! as he stumbled in a circle, cursing wildly.

The Wasp flew past Captain America's ear and whispered. "I shrank down, flew into his helmet and gave him a full powered double-handed wasp's sting right in the eyes just like you wanted Cap. Don't think I did any permanent damage but he'll be hurting for the next minute or so."

Captain America nodded. "Then let's take down this bruiser and do it fast before he recovers!"

Iron Man was already in the thick of it, trading blows with Enrakt. Their fists against their respective suits of armor sounded as if massive sledgehammers were beating on a giant anvil. Iron Man wasn't pulling his punches with Enrakt and The Enchanter seemed shaken by the sheer fury of the blows being rained on him. There was a great deal of pent up aggression in the wounded soul of Anthony Stark and he was gladly taking the opportunity to vent it.

Thor was falling back, spinning Mjolnir in front of him with such speed that in effect it was like a solid shield that deflected the spheres of energy being flung at him like baseballs by the hysterically laughing Brona. "Avengers! We must retreat and regroup!"

Captain America was flinging his shield at Magnir, whose vision had just cleared. The shield impacted upon Magnir's helmet, sounding like the striking of a giant gong and he shouted back, "If we keep up this pressure we'll have them on the ropes in another minute, Thor! We can't pull back now!"

Thor was interrupted by a bellow of pure hatred that was coming from the edge of The Rainbow Bridge: "WHERE IS HE?"

The Wasp turned in mid-air, her eyes widening as a great gray hand that was just about the largest hand she had seen in some time appeared over the edge of the bridge and laid hold to it. "I'M GONNA KILL THAT FLAG-WAVIN' SON OF A BITCH! WHERE IS HE?"

And The Incredible Hulk pulled himself up and stood on The Rainbow Bridge. He looked around, small eyes glowering under a forehead that looked like a slab of concrete, nostrils flaring. The clothes Bruce Banner had worn were hanging off his misshapen, yet immensely muscled body in rags. He spied Captain America and howled; "C'MERE, FLAG-MAN AND LEMME SEE HOW YOU LIKE BEIN' PITCHED INTA SPACE!" The Hulk charged across Bifrost, every step illuminated brightly as his feet came down on the surface of the bridge.

Magnir had at last cleared his vision and he looked up just in time to see The Hulk coming right at him. "By Hela's Hosts" was all he had time to say before The Hulk's arm swept him out of his path as if Magnir weighed less than nothing. The Enchanter went sailing up, out and over the edge of The Rainbow Bridge and was lost to sight. The Hulk continued his charge but Captain America was already nimbly flipping up and over, his red gauntleted right hand landing on top of The Hulk's squarish head, somersaulting with the easy grace and precision that only came from decades of desperate combat.

Unable to stop his charge, The Hulk plowed in Brona and Enrakt like a living bulldozer, sending the two Enchanters flying. But whereas Enrakt was unable to stop his wildly uncontrollably tumbling, Brona righted himself almost immediately, outlined in a shrieking corona of whirling mystical energy.

"We must leave immediately and return with reinforcements! The power that Brona commands is that of my sacred father's!"

"But how is that possible?" The Wasp gasped as she covered her eyes from the brightness that radiated from Brona's outstretched right hand.

"Somehow, I know not how, Brona now wears Draupnir.the fabled Odin Ring itself!"

"I gather that's not good," Captain America said, looking at The Hulk over the top of his shield. The man-monster was coming back around for another charge but Brona spied him out of the corner of his eye and whipped around the hand wearing The Odin Ring and a burst of incandescent power speared across the distance separating Brona and The Hulk.

The roar of agony from The Hulk was like nothing The Avengers had ever expected to hear. And when the light faded, The Hulk was gone, leaving the unconscious, smoking form of Bruce Banner. Brona turned back to The Avengers and snarled; "I have tired of this charade. It amused us to engage thee and thy mortal allies in combat, Thunder God. We conquered Asgard almost too easily and desired a challenge and what better challenge than Thor, mightiest of Asgard's warriors? But sadly, thou and thy friends have been found lacking. And so, I bring this to an end." Brona raised his hand again and The Odin Ring glowed with eldritch power even as Captain America shouted; "Rush him before he has a chance to fire! If we all hit him at the same time, maybe-"

Captain America regained consciousness with the immediate awareness that wherever he was, it was hot as hell. Especially when one wore a shirt of chain mail such as he did. Even though it was made of lightweight metal alloys it still was damned hot. He lifted his head and took stock of his surroundings.

They appeared to be a large stone chamber that reeked of age and misery. Huge torches spaced at regular intervals on the walls provided sufficient illumination for him to see everything clearly. He was bound to a framework of metal suspended from the ceiling some ten feet above the cracked and pitted floor, his arms and legs stretched painfully. The Wasp, now full sized was hanging on his left, bound to a similar framework. She appeared to be unconscious, sweat dripping from his nose and chin. Bruce Banner hung on his right and he was also unconscious. Directly across from him was Thor. The Thunder God was most certainly not unconscious and his reddened eyes were gleaming with a towering rage that could have shattered worlds if only he was free which he wasn't. Captain America could plainly see Thor straining against it and considering that Captain America had seen Thor dent Adamantium he couldn't understand why Thor had released himself by now.

"The name of the metal that holds thee and thy companions is known to those of us who practice the mystic arts as Asgoror, Captain. It is a magic metal whose major virtue is that it can be enchanted for a wide variety of uses. Such as draining strength. My dear brother is no stronger than the proverbial kitten so long as he is bound to the Asgoror."

The voice was familiar, full of sardonic humor and boundless arrogance, but it was different as well. And when Captain America turned his head to see who was speaking he recognized him. And was horrified.

Loki was hanging upside down over a gigantic iron brazier of red-hot coals. Loki was contained in a tight framework of the magic Asgoror metal. The inside of the framework was studded with hundreds of tiny barbs that dug into Loki's flesh. His eyes were gone, leaving only gory, gaping empty sockets. Dried, flaking blood covered The God of Mischief's face and Captain America could not imagine where Loki found it in him to smile. Even though his eyes were gone, the way Loki turned his head gave the impression that he could somehow still see.

"Dost thou see, Captain?" Thor's voice was full of berserker bloodlust. "Dost thou see what those curs have done to Loki?"

And now a new voice was heard. The voice of Iron Man: "Funny. I could have sworn this is the same Loki that's tried to kill you and Odin and steal Asgard's throne more times than I've had hot meals." Captain America had to twist his head a bit painfully to see where Iron Man was. He was standing in a corner, arms up and outstretched, legs spread apart.

"I'm okay, Steve. I just can't move. Woke up to find myself like this. My armor's completely immobilized. Some secondary systems are on-line but that's it. Dammit, I HATE magic."

Thor roared back at Iron Man; "Aye! The perfidy of Loki is legend and none know his evil deeds better than I! But still is Loki a son of All-Father Odin and brother to The God of Thunder! Schemer, liar, conniver, aye, he be all these things and more but still is Loki a Prince of Asgard! To be brutalized in such a manner, as if he is no better than a slaughtering hog in a filthy peddler's market-"

"Thy well-known compassion touches me to the depths of my soul, dear brother," Loki said, voice tinged with sarcasm. "But I did not lure thee and thy friends to Asgard for thee to console me. I brought thee here to destroy The Enchanters! Obviously I would have been better off bringing a consortium of the fairy folk to accomplish that task!"

"Considering the position you're in, I'd advise you to shut your trap, Loki," Captain America advised. "Okay, people. Time to assess our situation. First off: who are these Enchanters?"

Thor answered that query: "They be brothers, Captain. Sorcerers of immense power who have attempted to conquer Asgard several times before. They once numbered four but Odin slew Forsung, the eldest brother and destroyed his Living Talisman, which in itself is an artifact of extraordinary power. Indeed, all of The Living Talismans carried by The Enchanters had been destroyed over the years in one way or another but now I see that they have been mysteriously recreated by means I cannot fathom."

Loki spoke up: "The Enchanters are in league with beings of fearsome, loathsome aspect that name themselves the Tegarthu Dalo. They claim that The Nine Worlds are theirs by right of some multidimensional contest they have been engaged in for a million years. They freed The Enchanters from their exile in The Lost Limbo of Infinity Unending and restored unto them The Living Talismans in return for their aid. Asgard has been promised to them as their reward for that aid."

"Can't you figure it out, Thor?" Iron Man said. "Loki helped them. There's no way they could have conquered Odin and Asgard without his help. And once they got what they wanted, they promptly double-crossed your backstabbing kid brother and strung him up like a sausage in a meat market." Iron Man's metallic laughter was tinged with a quality that disturbed Captain America. "I've got to admit it: despite everything else, getting our asses kicked was almost worth it to see you like this, Loki."

"And once I am freed, Man of Iron, I assure thee that I will take great satisfaction in seeing that the next posterior to be soundly booted is thine!"

"The both of you stop it! We're all in this together and the only way we're going to get out is to work together. Much as I hate to admit it, we're going to need Loki and his knowledge of the situation and these Enchanters. Loki, you brought us here and we're willing to help. But I want your word that you will help us to the best of your ability. Do we have it?"

"Aye, Captain. You have the word of Loki. We are allies on this, body and soul."

"You trust him, Steve?" Iron Man asked. "He's the two-faced bastard who created this situation, y'know."

"I wouldn't trust Loki to tell me water is wet but look at him. Look how they've humiliated him. If I know anything about Loki I know his pride and his vanity. What I trust is that right now he hates The Enchanters more than he hates us and he'd keep a deal if there's the slightest chance it'll help him get his hands on The Enchanters."

The bloody, eyeless face of Loki smiled as he said; "There is good reason why I have always considered thee amongst the most dangerous of mortals, Captain."

"But where is our father, Loki?" Thor demanded. "What have those dogs done with The All-Father?"

"He departed Asgard after his last Odin Sleep which lasted for a longer period than is usual. When he awoke he spoke not a word but retired immediately to his innermost sanctum and when he emerged he was caparisoned for war in all his armor and he carried his sacred spear Gungnir in his right hand and the severed head of Mimir in his left. He rode forth on eight-footed Slepnir, with only his wolves Geri and Freki as company. He spoke to the assembled gods of Asgard and bade none of us follow him as he was on a personal quest for knowledge of a terrible threat against The Golden Realm. He sat in council with The Vizier for a day and a night and when that was done he bade Balder The Brave to sit his throne in his absence and tend the business of the land. He departed and has not been seen or heard from since."

"Thereby giving you a clear shot to do what you do best," Iron Man said sarcastically. "I'm betting that during this Odin Sleep, Odin somehow sensed the threat of these Tegarthu Dalo and he decided to check them out for himself. But what's this Odin Ring and why is it so powerful?"

"It is one of Odin's blessed talismans of power. The others are his spear and his scepter," Thor answered. "No doubt he bestowed the Odin Ring on Balder as a symbol of his authority to rule in Odin's name. He who wears the Odin Ring has access to the Odin Power itself."

Again the metallic laugh of Iron Man rang out in the dungeon. "And when he goes to the bathroom does he use the Odin Toilet?"

Thor's voice rumbled dangerously as he said, "Ye be a friend and a fellow Avenger, Iron Man but I remind thee that thou does jest at my father's expense."

"So that's why you said that we had to pull back during the fight," Captain America said. "You knew that with the Odin Ring, The Enchanters were too powerful for us."

"Aye! Brona was merely holding back for the amusement of himself and his brothers. But once the battle grew too heated he used the Odin Ring to lay us low."

"But if we can escape from these musty accommodation we may have a chance," Loki said urgently. "From conversations I have heard amongst the brothers when they come down here to torture me, the brothers have agreed that they shall each wear the Odin Ring in turn for one day. Brona wore it this day and on the morrow he must pass it on to either Enrakt or Magnir. Then they will come down here to start the day with my torture."

"Then the key to this is to snatch that ring at the moment it's being passed on," Captain America said. "But first we have to get free to do that. Anybody got any ideas?"

"I think I have one, Cap." Iron Man said. One the shoulder guards of his armor hissed as a small panel opened. Normally, Iron Man kept a variety of electronic devices and components secured there but what emerged was a tiny man no more than an inch high. He leaped from the hatch to the ground, amazingly growing in size until when he reached the floor he had attained his full height of six feet. The newcomer wore what Captain America recognized as resembling the costume Hank Pym had worn as Goliath but instead of blue and yellow, this costume was black and silver. In addition, the newcomer wore a close fitting silver cybernetic helmet with glowing multifaceted crimson lenses instead of a cloth cowl. When he turned to regard Captain America with a smile, the Star Spangled Avenger realized who it was:

"I called Bill and asked him if he could help out," Iron Man explained. "Since you and Janet were bringing along your own secret weapon I didn't think you'd mind if I brought along one of my own."

"Right now I wouldn't care if you'd brought along Forbush Man. Good to see you again, Bill.excuse me.GOLIATH."

"Let's get you guys outta these rigs so we can make some plans," Goliath's body began to expand, muscles rippling as his mass increased and he grew to a height of ten feet. He laid hold of the framework holding Captain America and simply tore it free from the ceiling. "Tony told me to hide in his armor and not reveal myself until I was needed. Figured it was the time."

Goliath snapped the chains holding Captain America to the framework with a pinky. "Not really. I had compressed air tanks I shrunk down with me so I could breathe and I've got about 15 Sam Cooke CDs downloaded into this thing." Goliath tapped his helmet. He then turned to Thor and tore his framework loose and freed him. It wasn't long before Goliath had released the still unconscious Wasp and Bruce Banner. Loki he left for last. He looked over at Captain America. "You sure you want to do this, Cap?"

Goliath bent to his work, his back turned to the others and his hands reached out-

The Avengers whirled around to see The Wasp on one knee, her eyes as wide as they could humanly get. Her hands were shaking wildly and another scream burst from her lips; "Dear God in Heaven, HANK?"

"This may not have been such a good idea," Iron Man muttered as The Wasp collapsed in a dead faint.

"Silence!" Thor roared, leaping to the side of the unconscious woman and cradling her head in his hand. "Didst thou not think of the effect it would have on Janet to see another man garbed in a similar manner as her dead husband?"

"No, I didst not," Iron Man snapped. "I thought about giving us another chance of coming out of this mess alive. A better chance than the one she and Cap came up with, I might add."

Captain America checked her pulse. "Janet's tough. She'll be okay. She's an Avenger." He turned and pointed a finger at the frozen form of Iron Man. "But don't think we won't be having a long talk about this later on, Tony."

Captain America stood up, gesturing for Thor to pick up The Wasp. "We split up into two teams. Thor and I will find The Enchanters. Loki, you'll tell us how to do that."

"You're going to be busy freeing the other gods of Asgard with The Wasp, Goliath and Bruce Banner. Once that's done, you'll come after Thor and myself."

"You're damn right I'm mad." Captain America grinned at Thor. "I don't see my shield or Mjolnir here. Which means that The Enchanters have them. And I want my shield back and I'm pretty sure that Thor wants his hammer back. Am I right, Thor."

Thor grinned back just as fiercely as his friend. "Aye and aye, Captain! Thou go and do as Captain America has ordered thee, Loki. The good Captain and I have business aplenty with Brona and his brothers. Business aplenty indeed."

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NEXT ISSUE: Captain America and Thor dare to take on The Enchanters with nothing but bare hands, guts and one hell of a mad on! Meanwhile, The Wasp, Goliath and The Hulk run into trouble of their own trying to free the gods of Asgard! Trouble that calls itself ULIK! It's all in "Avengers In Asgard: Part Two!"