3.

Righty-ho, here's chapter 3. Once again, I'd like to know what you think on this, so please R&R (once I've got 2 more reviews, I'll update again). Btw please chip in if you've got any ideas or suggestions.

Nikita stopped. She was striding past the cube, heading towards to a beeping machine to take some readings. What stopped her she couldn't say. Erik noticed Nikita standing stock still, staring intently at the cube.

'Nikita?' he called curiously.

Nikita jumping slightly and gave her head a slight shake. She continued on her way, giving Erik a sheepish smile.

'What is it?' he asked, frowning.

'Just me being silly. A funny feeling, you know.'

'What do you mean? I haven't noticed anything different.'

'Oh, not different per se, nothing I can put my finger on. What do you think it is? Fury said it's an energy source, but it's more than that, I'm sure.'

'Yes, you're right. It is an energy source, but that's only one of its uses. I think it's a doorway.'

'A doorway to what? Or where, more like.'

'I don't know. Somewhere in space, I presume. Obviously we won't learn more till we learn to open the door.'

Nikita chewed her fingernails. 'If it's a door,' she murmured, half to herself, 'then we're in trouble.'

Erik stopped what he was doing. 'And why is that?'

'Well, doors open from both sides.'

'…Doors open from both sides.' Clint said to Erik. 'Funnily enough,' Erik gave a tense laugh, 'Nikita said that exact same thing to me yesterday.'

Clint glanced up at Nikita, who was scurrying between several computers, mumbling to herself and running her hands through her already messy hair (which Clint had long since realised was a nervous habit of hers). She looked up and made eye contact. What's going on? Clint mouthed at her. She shrugged and dashed off.

Clint was about to follow her, but a sudden, sharp flash of light from the cube stopped him in his tracks. Everyone in the laboratory froze. The cube flashed, glowed, and what looked like lightning flew out in a straight line from the centre of the cube. Nikita instinctively dived behind a computer, and peered around the hard drive. Her eyes widened. A man was standing there, where the light from the cube had been just a few seconds ago. A doorway through space. The silence was oppressive, but gave Nikita the few seconds she needed to size up the intruder. He was tall, very tall, with long black, rather greasy looking hair. He had a black leather coat (well, it looked like leather), piercing blue eyes, and he was very pale (not surprising, with all that black).

'Put the spear down.' Nick Fury's voice echoed across the room.

Idiot, thought Nikita. It's not a spear. It looked like one, tall, with a curved, pointed end. But there was a circle of blue light near the tip which glowed just like the cube. It's got something to do with the cube, Nikita thought, maybe that's how he got here. The stick thingy has some of the Cube's power.

With no warning whatsoever, the man launched himself from where he was standing. The soldiers surrounding Fury opened fire, but the man deflected them with his stick…thingy.

Nikita watched aghast as he threw men away left right and centre. He was hideously strong, and any bullets lucky enough to meet their target had no effect.

Nikita had no idea what to do. He seemed to have flattened all opposition. Where Clint, Erik or Fury was, Nikita didn't know, and right now, she was only concerned about getting away. She looked around furtively, trying not to attract any unwanted attention. A small, rectangular black stick lying on a desk a little way away caught her eye. The memory stick. She'd compiled all of their information on the Cube and put it on the memory stick, just in case. Truth be told, she done it secretly in case she ever need to, you know, blackmail anyone. Whatever this bloke is going to do, she thought, it does not look good; bearing in mind he just killed a few dozen people with a pointy magic stick. If he came through the cube, maybe…I don't know. I could do with that memory stick. I've got a feeling it's going to be every bit as useful as I hoped. There was one problem. The desk was only a few yards away, but for those few yards she would be completely exposed.

Nikita risked a peek around the corner of her hiding place. The man had his back to her. She quickly scooted out on her hands and knees and, as silently as possible, shuffled over to the desk, reached up and grabbed the memory stick. The man suddenly turned and caught sight of her. She froze. He froze, she saw him stiffen, just as he had before he jumped and attacked Fury and his men. But he didn't attack.

They regarded each other for a mere second, which Nikita was completely sure had lasted a millennium. She remained on her hands and knees, left hand resting on the desk with memory stick still in its grasp. Nikita gave a weak cough and an awkward smile.

'Afternoon.' She ventured.

He raised an eyebrow.

'What is that?' he gestured with his stick to the memory stick.

Nikita followed his gaze to her own hand. 'This?'

He nodded.

'It's, um, well, it's a sort of, you know, a memory stick.'

He frowned. 'And what is a…memory stick?'

'It, er, stores memory…on a stick.' Nikita mentally slapped herself.

'I see.' His expression said that he didn't. 'What memory is stored on the…stick?'

Nikita had a feeling that to disclose that she had stored all information they had gathered so far about the cube on the stick would be unwise.

'Oh, this is and that.' she replied vaguely. 'Ooh,' she quickly changed the subject. 'I haven't introduced myself. How rude. I'm Nikita.'

The man's face twitched slightly, as if he was debating how to answer. 'My name is Loki.' He replied grandly, after a minute or two.

'Nice to meet you...Loki. If, er, it's not a rude question, what…erm…what are you doing here?' Nikita ventured cautiously.

Loki drew himself up to his full height. 'I am here to rule this planet.' He announced proudly.

'Oh. Right.' There really wasn't much one could say to that. 'Well, good luck with that. Hope it goes well for you.'

Loki was looking more and more perplexed, and Nikita's left leg was starting to cramp.

A movement caught her eye. Clint was dragging himself to his feet behind Loki. He looked up and met her eye. There was definite fear there, but Nikita was sure she saw relief in his eyes when he saw she was still alive, quickly to be replaced by horror that she was conversing with the mad alien.

Loki followed her gaze, unfortunately. Clint leapt up and attempted to hit him, but Loki intercepted the hit and cruelly bent Clint's arm back. Nikita used the opportunity to dive back to her hiding place, and frantically scrabbled around for a gun, or something heavy, or anything at all. Under his breath – Nikita might not have heard it – Clint murmured, 'Don't you dare hurt her.'

Loki laughed derisively. 'You have heart.' was his only answer. He brought up his stick and rested the point on Clint's chest. For one heart-stopping moment Nikita thought he was going to impale him on it. Instead, the blue circle glowed, and minute blue sparks travelled up to Clint's neck, across his face to his forehead, and then his eyes glowed blue, the same blue as the Cube.

Loki let go of Clint's arm, and it dropped down his side. Loki stepped back, and Clint did not move to attack, or move at all. Instead, he coolly knelt down, retrieved his gun. Loki allowed him.

Mind control, thought Nikita, edging towards the door. Loki turned to face her, grinning. She swallowed nervously.

'You, too, have heart, Miss Nikita.'

'I do, don't I,' Nikita replied, trying to sound unconcerned, like Natasha would. It wasn't working. Her voice sounded too high-pitched and strained. 'By the way, well done on getting my name right. First time, too. Most people don't.' she continued. Loki advanced, holding the glowing pointy stick thingy in front of him, and she backed away.

'I could do with your help,' he smiled, 'wouldn't you like to help?'

'Love to, but I'd rather have my mind to myself, thank you very much.' She indicated the glowing stick.

Loki smiled. 'Well done. You worked it out. You are clever.'

'Well, yes, I am. Can't argue with you there. Well, anyway, this really has been fun, but I must be going.'

Loki raised his eyebrows. 'So soon?'

'Yes, unfortunately. I'm meeting my sister for dinner…' she briefly checked her watch, '…about fifteen minutes ago. Never mind, she'll probably be late.'

Nikita was still too far from the main exit, but there was a narrow door, partly hidden by a curtain, just to her right, and Loki didn't seem to have seen it. It was usually locked, and Nikita didn't know where it led, but it was slightly ajar.

Loki advanced further.

Nikita ran her fingers through her hair 'Well, this really has been one of life's true pleasures. Toodles.'

And with that she darted to her right through the door, slamming it shut behind her. Loki gave a roar of rage. She was in total darkness.