"I've heard of that super-soldier initiative," Tony said. "Fury mentioned it the first time we met. Tried to recruit me too. As if I'd ever work for him."
He had heard of the Avengers concept, but never in this much detail.
Steve cut in, getting straight to the point. "Rowan, do you have anything more specific? Knowing aliens are coming isn't enough. We need something actionable."
Rowan nodded. "The one leading them is called Loki. The most recent glimpse I saw placed him near Puente Antiguo, New Mexico. If you're willing, I was hoping we could go take a look. Maybe we'll find something useful."
That was the real reason he'd brought everyone together.
"I'm in," Tony said immediately. "Drop me off to suit up and I'll go with you."
Rowan had helped him more than once already. Even without Rowan, Tony would never ignore information like this.
"We shouldn't delay," Steve added. "If this is real, we move now."
For a man who once threw himself onto a grenade to save strangers, hesitation had never been part of Steve Rogers' vocabulary.
Rowan turned to Bruce and Betty. "What about you?"
Bruce hesitated. "Would we actually be useful?"
"Absolutely," Rowan said. "The two of you are among the best scientists on the planet. If anyone can spot signs of alien tech, it's you."
"Then we're going," Betty said without waiting for Bruce. The chance to study extraterrestrial technology was impossible to resist. And with Rowan, Iron Man, and Captain America present, she wasn't worried about safety.
"Good," Rowan said. "Professor Xavier stays here. Everyone else prepares. I'll take Tony to get his armor, then we fly to New Mexico together."
Someone had to guard the school. Xavier's telepathy covered the grounds, and he could restrain their less cooperative resident if necessary. Bringing Betty was also deliberate. If Bruce lost control, she was the best anchor he had.
They split up.
Rowan apparated with Tony back to the mansion. While Tony suited up, Rowan took out the strands of Hulk's hair he'd collected and finished crafting a new set of wands. A quick test confirmed it. The output exceeded his expectations, rivaling even his best arcane gear. Whatever powered Hulk went deeper than gamma radiation.
Soon after, they regrouped at the school.
Steve carried only his shield. Logan needed no weapons beyond the claws in his body. Bruce and Betty packed a handful of sensors and scanners.
The X-Jet lifted off, cutting through the sky toward New Mexico.
An hour later, they hovered above Puente Antiguo.
"We need a plan," Steve said, unfolding a map. "If we just rush in, we'll—"
"I'll do a quick scan," Tony said, already flying off. "See what lights up."
Steve paused.
"Let him go," Rowan said lightly. "You were saying."
Tony was Tony. You didn't leash him. You let him run, and covered the angles he missed.
Logan nodded, cigar in hand. "Yeah, keep going, soldier."
Steve resumed calmly, assigning entry routes. When the jet cloaked itself outside town, they split up, approaching from four directions.
Rowan took the east.
He hadn't gone far when he stopped in front of a pet store.
Inside, a tall blond man in borrowed civilian clothes was arguing loudly with the owner.
"I require a horse," the man demanded.
The owner stared at him like he'd escaped from a hospital. "We don't sell horses. We have cats, dogs, birds."
"Then bring me the largest."
The owner silently pointed at a golden retriever in a cage.
Thor stared at the dog. Then fell quiet.
Rowan pushed open the door and smiled. "Sir, I think I might be able to help you."