Author's Note: This is the third story in my Infinity Series. The first two, "Alliance" and "Exile" are available to read, and I recommend reading them prior to reading this story to understand everything.

Chapter 1: Shout

~œ~ Jane ~œ~

"DAMN!" Jane slammed her fist into the countertop, facing Darcy, Ian and Erik who had just returned from Asgard. "I cannot believe you guys still believe her!"

"Jane, calm down now," Erik spoke soothingly.

"Don't Jane me," Jane shouted back at him. "You guys are just too trusting."

"Jane, I don't know why you don't like her, and it was a really pretty wedding," Darcy added.

"Oh," Jane huffed, adding in a snarky voice, "A really pretty wedding. Seriously? Oh My God! You three are just… just…" she was at a loss for words.

"Jane, I do not know why you are acting like this, but Katirya is a nice woman. What do you have against her?" Erik asked.

"Seriously? I don't believe you guys. For one, she has lied… repeatedly," Jane held up her hand, starting to tick off each item, "Two, she wants those stupid stones. She has said as much. Three, she went to Asgard with the intent to marry either Thor or Loki… and guess what? She married Loki! Is that not enough?" She held three fingers aloft. "I could go on if you want."

"Well, at least she didn't marry Thor, he's still available," Darcy joked.

"Darcy, this is no joke! I have just had it with you three. You believe every single word she says!" Jane stormed out of the room, slamming the door.

Erik watched out the window, waiting for Jane to exit. She finally did, and he saw her turn to walk towards the local park. She was halfway down the block when a figure stepped out to join her. "Who is that?"

Darcy joined him at the window to look, "Looks like Director Fury from here."

"Ah, yes. It does," Erik agreed.

Jane was practically stomping as she headed towards the park. Muttering under her breath with each step, 'She's perfect. Isn't she great? How can they believe her?'

"Jane Foster!"

She stopped dead, looking up to see Nick Fury standing there. "Oh, it's just you. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to anything."

"I can see that," Fury chuckled. "I need to talk to you, we need your help."

"My help?" They'd reached the park she had been heading for. She chose a hiking trail, and started walking.

Fury shortened his stride to match her steps. "Yes, I have a plan to capture Loki, and I need your help."

"How can I help? I'm just a mortal. Ask her about that."

"Her?" Fury asked.

"Yeah, Loki's wife, Katirya." Jane blew out a breath.

"He married her?" Fury asked.

"Yes, the Royal Wedding was last Friday. Darcy just got back from it, why?"

"Oh, that was quick."

"I'll say. Anyways, how can I help?" Jane repeated her question.

They had reached the street once again. A black car pulled up to the curb. "Come along with me, we'll go to an office I have around here to talk."

Jane shrugged. "Sure, why not." Entering the car, she slid across the seat, leaving room for Fury. "So what can I do?"

Nodding towards the driver, Fury spoke, "We'll talk when we get to my office. I have a proposition for you."

They drove in silence for ten minutes, finally pulling up in front of a tall office building. Fury exited the car, then held out a hand to assist Jane. She stepped out, and stared up at the building. She wasn't sure where she was, but then decided it didn't matter. She knew S.H.I.E.L.D. worked in different ways.

Entering the building, they rode the elevator to the top floor. As they exited the elevator, she noticed no one else was in the outer office. Fury seemed not to mind, walking straight to a conference room. Holding the door open, he indicated she was to enter.

She walked in to find two men, men she did not know, sitting in the room already. She waited for Fury to introduce her, but he simply sat down.

Shrugging, she followed his lead, and chose a seat. "So, how can I help you guys?"

"You already have by coming here," one of the men seated at the table spoke. "We need you to help us get Thor."

"Thor? I thought it was Loki you wanted?"

"Right, it is Loki we want, and that whore of his he married," Fury growled, "but first we need Thor."

Jane looked skeptically at them, even though they seemed intent on catching Loki and Katirya. "So what does Thor have to do with this?"

"We figured he'd come, and rescue you, if he thought you were in danger," the man said.

"So, I have to pretend to be captured?" Jane asked.

"You won't have to pretend," the man replied quietly.

"Who are you?" Jane asked, getting more concerned by the second. What had she gotten herself into?

"Does it matter?" The three men had risen now, moving around the table.

Jane began to feel fear creep into her mind. She stood, backing up towards the door. "I'm going to go now."

One man suddenly grabbed her.

"Let me go! Who are you?"

"I'm Althanas," the man standing in front of her finally said, "and that's Hadriath holding you. My brother, Thanos, completes our small group."

"But… Althanas is Katirya's father," Jane was trying to make sense of this.

"No, actually I'm not her father," Fury replied.

Jane's eyes widened as Fury began to morph into a different person. He grew larger, almost ape-like in appearance, and his skin changed to a bluish hue. His lips grew larger, while his ears seemed to shrink. The clothes he had been wearing disappeared, and armor replaced it, covering a heavily muscled torso. His reddish eyes glowered at her.

"OH MY GOD! Let me GO!" Jane struggled to escape.

"Sorry, but we need you," Thanos gathered them together in the center of the room.

"THOR!" Jane screamed as she started to disappear.

~ß~ Katirya ~ß~

"WHAT?" Thor bellowed. "Who allowed this to happen? How did someone get into the Vaults?"

"Thor, calm down," Katirya stepped over to her brother-in-law.

The guard visibly cringed in front of them.

"It's just the gauntlet. It's useless without the Stones," Katirya went on. "I would almost bet it Thanos is behind this."

"Thanos? But how did he get in here?" Thor glowered at the guard.

"Considering the festivities of the past week…" Katirya glanced at Loki, grinning as she recalled all the 'festivities' she had been involved in, "he would only have to disguise himself as a guest, or he could have sent one of his minions to do it. Either way, who would think to look? I know I was a bit busy."

Loki moved back to her side, pulling her close. "Just a bit?"

She grinned up at him, "Aye, just a tiny bit," then her face sobered. "We do need to find that last Stone before he does. I know he needs the gauntlet, but I do not believe we do. Did Darcy say if she found anything before she left?"

"No, she did not. I suppose we could go down and ask her."

The guard relaxed, hoping he was off the hook. Loki dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Can he do anything with the gauntlet?"

"Not without at least three of the Stones," Katirya replied. She was about to go on, when a servant approached them.

"My King, an emissary from Cartherion desires to speak with you immediately."

Katirya groaned.

"They are back," Loki whispered in Katirya's ear. "Are you ready for this?"

She nodded. "If I must. Couldn't they wait?"

"Send them in." Loki commanded.

"Here?" The servant was surprised that the King planned to see the emissary in the Great Hall.

"Why not?" Loki said.

The servant left, returning shortly with the emissary. The man glared at Katirya, then focused on Loki. "The Cartherion Council demands that you relinquish the traitor Katirya to me immediately."

Katirya burst out laughing. "They sent you? You can't find your way out of the Council Chambers without a map. Where are Hadriath and my fa-, I mean, Althanas?"

The emissary ignored her, "An army has followed after me, and we will start a war if you refuse."

"Oh, they sound serious," Katirya said derisively. "But, I am sorry, I am not ready to return just at the moment. And I think even you realize how foolish a war with Asgard would be. Now, where are Hadriath and Althanas?"

The man bit his lip, refusing to answer her. "My lord? What is your answer?"

"She did ask you a question, where are the two men she has inquired about?" Loki finally spoke.

"I am not here to answer her questions. I do not know what difference it makes where Lord Hadriath or Lord Althanas are."

Katirya looked at Loki and Thor, "Something is up. Hadriath is head of the Council. This fool," she jerked her thumb towards the emissary, "is just an underling, one of Hadriath's, no less."

"Why is it so important to know where these two men are?" Thor asked.

"Remember, Althanas is the brother of Thanos. And we are now missing a gauntlet." Katirya replied.

"We can always go ask Heimdall," Thor commented.

The emissary, realizing they would find out anyway, he finally answered. "They are on Earth."

"Earth?" Katirya mused. "Then maybe my theory about the Aether was right. I wonder where Thanos is?"

Thor stared hard at Katirya.

"Jane!" Thor's roar echoed throughout the Great Hall.