New York - Avengers Facility - Living Area (January 2018)

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Do not worry, my dear. I promise to be a good 'fake prisoner'."

Hope answered his wink with an exasperated shake of her head as she looked back at the monitors. Loki seemed to take things as seriously as Scott did. Scott had always been a good counterbalance to her trait of taking things too seriously and she to his trait of not. Realizing a small grin had sneaked onto her face, Hope chased it away by reminding herself that she was still mad at Scott.


"What about your ship? Is it useable again now?"

"That'd be a negative," "The Milano's toast. And I don't think they'd roll out the red carpet for a spaceship even if it was delivering you wrapped up in a bow."

"What about the one Eyepatch's friends arrived in?" "You think SHIELD might want its stolen property back? And could there be a reward?"

"Hah, 'reward' is music to my ears."

"I am Groot?"

"Yes, I think we can try to get you a TV then, Groot."

"Hey, dude, are you still trying to be invisible? Just for your information: It still doesn't work!"

"I had no intentions to make use of my ability over the last while,"

The mention of an invisibility ability immediately grabbed her attention as something that would be incredibly useful and she wondered why this hadn't been brought up before. But then she watched the exchange between Rocket and Drax and realized it was some sort of inside joke over something apparently not real.

Sweeping that away, Hope turned to face the crew. She briefly touched on the other frivolous topic before concentrating on the useful part of the exchanges. "Sorry to disappoint, but the government's idea of a reward is the pride you feel for having done your civic duty. Peter's right though. Using the stolen jet would definitely get their attention." She looked thoughtful for a moment as another idea came to her, one that had her sitting up straighter with the confidence that not only could they get the rests of their team freed, but that this might provide the opportunity for something far more beneficial. "We could set this up to back up the information Team Tony has provided them and put Team Cap and the other fugitives on the path back to the government's good graces." She looked at Loki, about to add him to the 'good graces' list but he, unlike Cap and the rest, did not have a history of having put his life on the line to defend Earth and its people. "At the very least, Secretary Ross might agree to put current grievances on hold until this whole Thanos thing is dealt with."

Looking thoughtful in concentration, Hope spoke out her idea as it continued to form in her mind. "We could tell them that Loki returned, knowing the consequences of doing so, and sought out Cap to inform him of Thanos and the threat he'd already posed toward his own people. Of course, Loki had no idea of the Accords or that Cap and the others were currently deemed 'war criminals'. Because of their current standing, Cap and his team delivered Loki to the Facility, leaving behind the stolen jet as further proof." Hope pulled up the satellite images that Darcy had provided. "We can say Cap also provided these satellite images of cosmic radiation moving toward Earth as their way of backing up Loki's claims. You voluntarily turning yourself in," she looked to Loki with a nod then back to everyone else, "and Cap and his people taking the chance of being apprehended in order to deliver him will put a lot of weight behind the gravity of what's coming our way. This will put a fire under the whole situation, but bureaucracy still won't allow things to move fast enough. At least it'll most likely get us onto the Raft and I'm hoping it'll buy us some understanding for why we then had to break our people out. Hopefully, when it comes down to the wire, they can temporarily put aside all our offenses so that we can work together against a common enemy."

[Anduin]

The trickster was sure that there had been a small grin on Hope's face for a split second. This was a good sign. She maybe might be able to forgive him his former deads in the not too distant future.
Somehow he wanted to become a real part of their team. Because he had to admit that it felt good to be a part of a team during their escape from Sakkar. (Although he still was far away from what others would call a 'good team-player'.)

Just like Hope he pricked up his ears when Rocket and Drax talked about the ability to be invisible. He also noticed that this had to be just a joke between them.
Drax didn't look like someone who was able to use magical powers. He obviously was the hatchet man - having more in common with his brother Thor.
And people who first use their muscles were almost always not able to use magic because most of them thought this would made them appear as weak. But the God of Mischief knew better: Magic could be a strenght, too.


"Sorry to disappoint, but the government's idea of a reward is the pride you feel for having done your civic duty."
Loki couldn't help but to show a lopsided sneer.
"Peter's right though. Using the stolen jet would definitely get their attention."
"We could set this up to back up the information Team Tony has provided them and put Team Cap and the other fugitives on the path back to the government's good graces."
Hope stopped for a short moment and directly looked at him.
He didn't need to be able to read her thoughts to knew what she was thinking at this moment.
But he remained in silence, letting her continue. It was obvious that, while she was speaking, more and more of a plan came to her mind. And he didn't want to interrupt her flow of ideas.
"We could tell them that Loki returned, knowing the consequences of doing so, and sought out Cap to inform him of Thanos and the threat he'd already posed toward his own people. Of course, Loki had no idea of the Accords or that Cap and the others were currently deemed 'war criminals'. Because of their current standing, Cap and his team delivered Loki to the Facility, leaving behind the stolen jet as further proof."
The trickster just nodded. He had to admit that he liked this alternative version of their plan more than 'fake prisoner'.
"We can say Cap also provided these satellite images of cosmic radiation moving toward Earth as their way of backing up Loki's claims. You voluntarily turning yourself in and Cap and his people taking the chance of being apprehended in order to deliver him will put a lot of weight behind the gravity of what's coming our way. This will put a fire under the whole situation, but bureaucracy still won't allow things to move fast enough. At least it'll most likely get us onto the Raft and I'm hoping it'll buy us some understanding for why we then had to break our people out. Hopefully, when it comes down to the wire, they can temporarily put aside all our offenses so that we can work together against a common enemy."
"Miss van Dyne, I am impressed. Do you know that the best ruses and deceptions are the ones which are approximate to the truth? And concerning your hope that your government will turn a blind eye to our actions - in the end they surely had to: If we will defeat Thanos we will be heroes! They would owe their lifes to us. So at the end of the day the end justifies the means."
He stopped for a moment and looked around him.
"So when do you want to start? I am ready when you are!"

[Kristi Lynne]

"...This will put a fire under the whole situation, but bureaucracy still won't allow things to move fast enough. At least it'll most likely get us onto the Raft and I'm hoping it'll buy us some understanding for why we then had to break our people out. Hopefully, when it comes down to the wire, they can temporarily put aside all our offenses so that we can work together against a common enemy."


"Miss van Dyne, I am impressed. Do you know that the best ruses and deceptions are the ones which are approximate to the truth? And concerning your hope that your government will turn a blind eye to our actions - in the end they surely had to: If we will defeat Thanos we will be heroes! They would owe their lives to us. So at the end of the day the end justifies the means. So when do you want to start? I am ready when you are!"

"Ah, your government might still be a little sensitive about the whole 'unleashing an alien army' thing," Peter noted. "Would they really believe Emo God here gave himself up? Look, I can tell them I'm with Nova Corps from Xandar. The second they scan me, they're gonna' know I'm not human. So we say that I helped apprehend one of the galaxy's most wanted and brought him here, plus valuable info on the Infinity Stones. That'd be convincing enough to get us in, right?" 

[Anduin]

Rocket started to get impatient and bored.
All of them seemed to be so obsessed with talking about their plans.
He finally wanted to start the operation.

"Hey, I'm sure we got enough percent of a plan to just start the mission! Dollars to doughnuts that we finally would have to improvise a bit anyways. So let's stop talking and get our people out of the jail! And if they hadn't been able to convince your stupid government we've to save this planet on our own. It'll be OK. That's how it works nine times out of ten - because we're the f@cking Guardians of the Galaxy!"
"I AM Groot!"

[DarkSideCookie]

Drax had been getting bored with all the talking too. But other than their furry friend, that hadn't made him impatient but inattentive, even more than usual. So when Rocket started to vent his displeasure about them doing nothing but talking while their friends were still rotting in jail, Drax gave his nod and an arm raised into the air as his support to the raccoon's words.

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Miss van Dyne, I am impressed. Do you know that the best ruses and deceptions are the ones which are approximate to the truth?

One did not have to be the trickster god to know that. "Of course. That's Lying 101."


And concerning your hope that your government will turn a blind eye to our actions - in the end they surely had to: If we will defeat Thanos we will be heroes! They would owe their lives to us. So at the end of the day the end justifies the means. So when do you want to start? I am ready when you are!"

'Uh, yah, no,' she thought, but kept it to herself. The government wasn't quick to forget when you broke their rules, even if it was to save all their asses. There would be consequences after all this was over, but she'd take dealing with their consequences over losing half of all living things in the galaxy. And apparently, Peter was of similar thought on the matter and did voice his thoughts on it.


"Ah, your government might still be a little sensitive about the whole 'unleashing an alien army' thing," "Would they really believe Emo God here gave himself up? Look, I can tell them I'm with Nova Corps from Xandar. The second they scan me, they're gonna' know I'm not human. So we say that I helped apprehend one of the galaxy's most wanted and brought him here, plus valuable info on the Infinity Stones. That'd be convincing enough to get us in, right?"

Hope nodded. "That's good. Even better," she said, gesturing at Peter in appreciation for improving on her ideas.


"Hey, I'm sure we got enough percent of a plan to just start the mission! Dollars to doughnuts that we finally would have to improvise a bit anyways. So let's stop talking and get our people out of the jail! And if they hadn't been able to convince your stupid government we've to save this planet on our own. It'll be OK. That's how it works nine times out of ten - because we're the f@cking Guardians of the Galaxy!"

"I AM Groot!"

Groot seconded Rocket's motion while Drax thirded it with a raised arm. Hope glanced over at Peter, hoping he wasn't of the same mind as his crew.  Judging by his contribution just now, he was not, but he was sorely outnumbered in regards to the ideals of his crew.  She was silently flabbergasted as to how these people were still alive or at the very least, not locked away in some prison, with their seat-of-their-pants attitude of running into dangerous situations with 'enough percent of a plan'. There was no such thing as 'enough' percentage. There was the full, 100 percent that was needed for the most foolproof, smartest, and most successful plan and in some cases, not even 100 perfect of a plan was on your side. It would take them even longer to work toward that full plan with impatient comments from the ones who were obviously only warrior-minded, so Hope, feeling like the most level-headed adult in the room, took initiative and starting passing out tasks.

"Rocket, Drax, Groot, we're gonna need the Milano." She wasn't sure yet if they'd end up needing it or if they could even get it up and running in time, but whatever kept those three distracted would be to the benefit of the rest of them. "Why don't you three continue working on repairs while Peter, Loki, and I tie up the rest of this boring planning stuff," she said with a flippant gesture toward the schematics still floating in the air. "We'll join you in the repairs as soon as we're done here."

[Anduin]

"Ah, your government might still be a little sensitive about the whole 'unleashing an alien army' thing,"
Loki glanced at Peter Quill. Just because the Trickster knew that he was right didn't mean he had to agree and spoke it out loud. So he contented himself with looking daggers at Peter.

"Would they really believe Emo God here gave himself up? Look, I can tell them I'm with Nova Corps from Xandar. The second they scan me, they're gonna' know I'm not human. So we say that I helped apprehend one of the galaxy's most wanted and brought him here, plus valuable info on the Infinity Stones. That'd be convincing enough to get us in, right?"

"Hey, I'm sure we got enough percent of a plan to just start the mission! Dollars to doughnuts that we finally would have to improvise a bit anyways. So let's stop talking and get our people out of the jail! And if they hadn't been able to convince your stupid government we've to save this planet on our own. It'll be OK. That's how it works nine times out of ten - because we're the f@cking Guardians of the Galaxy!"

"I AM Groot!"

At least Loki had to admit that Peter was the most reasonable one of the Guardians. It surely might be the best to get the others out of here before they start to make trouble because of their impatience.
But just some seconds before the Asgardian wanted to raise his voice Hope preempted him.

"Rocket, Drax, Groot, we're gonna need the Milano."
"Why don't you three continue working on repairs while Peter, Loki, and I tie up the rest of this boring planning stuff,"
That was exactly what he wanted to say.

"We'll join you in the repairs as soon as we're done here."
Nothing more to ad. Hope knew how to deal with grizzling kids.
In this moment she reminded him of his beloved mother. Frigga very often had to mediate between him and Thor or betweem both of them and Odin.
He thrusted this memory aside.
This was neither the time nor the place to indulge in reminiscences.
"Miss van Dyne is right. I am sure you three are the best for this job. And please do not mind if it will take some time.", he finally raised his voice and spoke to Rocket, Groot and Drax.

[Anduin]

"Rocket, Drax, Groot, we're gonna need the Milano."
"Why don't you three continue working on repairs while Peter, Loki, and I tie up the rest of this boring planning stuff,"
"Hah, you know what: That's much better than being part of all this boring stuff! And our baby still needs some devotion," Rocket riposted.
"Com'on, Groot, Drax. Let's do something useful instead of taking part in all this blah blah blah any longer!"
And then the racoon turned around and left the room without looking back to be sure that the others were following. (Of course, they did.)
While they were walking away Rocket trotted out a lot of curses that would be outstanding candidates for any swear box.


*** Rocket, Groot and Drax leave the room ***

[Kristi Lynne]

"Hey, I'm sure we got enough percent of a plan to just start the mission! Dollars to doughnuts that we finally would have to improvise a bit anyways...."

"That's usually true," Peter interjected with a sheepish shrug to Hope, while Rocket voiced his desire to keep things moving.


"Rocket, Drax, Groot, we're gonna need the Milano. Why don't you three continue working on repairs while Peter, Loki, and I tie up the rest of this boring planning stuff. We'll join you in the repairs as soon as we're done here."

"Miss van Dyne is right. I am sure you three are the best for this job. And please do not mind if it will take some time."

"Hah, you know what: That's much better than being part of all this boring stuff! And our baby still needs some devotion. Com'on, Groot, Drax. Let's do something useful instead of taking part in all this blah blah blah any longer!"

"Uh, she's my baby, and you don't touch anything until I get down there," Peter called after the retreating trio of Rocket, Groot, and Drax. "Yeah, he's a tiny, furry jerk but he knows his way in and out of prisons," he advised Hope. "So we get Loki here into costume, load him up on the Quinjet, shrink everyone else in the Milano, and set sail for the Raft. I'll get to work on our getaway car." He started for the hangar before turning around with one last question.
"Oh, hey, can I borrow your ants again? It's totally gonna' freak Rocket out," he asked, not bothering to stifle a satisfied laugh.

[Hollywood Heidi]

Apparently, Peter wasn't much different from the others after giving a concise outline of a plan and thinking they were good to go. Or perhaps he was more worried about leaving the care of his ship in their hands. From what she'd gathered of him so far, it was probably a mix, though more of the former.


"Oh, hey, can I borrow your ants again? It's totally gonna' freak Rocket out,"

Hope chuckled. She'd been there before, giving the ants instructions, but perhaps Peter hadn't realized that they didn't work cooperatively on their own without said instructions or by simple human communication. "Yah, sure, if you can figure out how it works."

Her suit had a built-in EMP communication device but she kept a spare in a shrunken down supply case hidden in a compartment in one of her stingers in case it ever failed. Within quick succession of taps to her left stinger, a tiny compartment had released a tiny silver rectangle and a large metal briefcase was suddenly on the table before her in the blink of an eye. Retrieving the EMP communication device from amongst the spare Pym particle disks, vials, and other various equipment, she tossed it over to Peter along with short instructions. "You have to clear your mind, make your thoughts on what you want the ants to do precise. Not everyone can get the hang of it," she warned in hopes of saving him from frustrations in case he had the assumption that it was easy and anybody could do it. "If it turns into a 'Them!' situation down there, have FRIDAY get me," she joked, referencing the most popular of the old timey sci-fi movies about giant ants.

She wasn't worried about anything going too wrong. At worse, the ants would wander aimlessly and might get in their way a bit. Nothing a little shooing wouldn't solve. Even ants understood that gesture.

As Peter headed out, looking gleeful at the prospect of freaking Rocket out, Hope placed her hand palm up on the table next to the case and tapped the spot on her stinger again. In the blink of an eye, the case shrunk down and was magnetically pulled back into the tiny compartment.

"Hey Friday, let me know if any situations arise in the hangar, would ya?" she asked on a sigh as soon as the door closed behind Peter. Things would probably be fine, but better to be safe than sorry with that group.

"Will do, Miss Hope."

Once again, she found herself alone with Loki. "There's a lot of brawn in that group. I'm guessing Gamora brings most of the brains to that motley crew?" she asked of the person who'd done a bit of traveling with them and might have gotten to know them on a level that Hope hadn't yet.

[Anduin]

The grumpy racoon and his fellowship finally left the room. Loki had already heard a lot of rants but Rocket capped it all.
"Yeah, he's a tiny, furry jerk but he knows his way in and out of prisons,"
The Asgardian didn't say a word but his thoughts were written on his facial expressions.
"So we get Loki here into costume, load him up on the Quinjet, shrink everyone else in the Milano, and set sail for the Raft. I'll get to work on our getaway car."
Still not one hundred percent of a plan but better than nothing.

"Oh, hey, can I borrow your ants again? It's totally gonna' freak Rocket out,"
Peter Quill acted like a child most of the time but planning to play tricks on others was something the God of Mischief also loved to do. So he didn't hide the grin on his face.
Hope seemed to like that idea, too.
"Yah, sure, if you can figure out how it works."
She gave Peter some advises before she handed out to him what he would need to call the ants. Besides she showed them again the interesting abilities of her suit.


After Peter had left the room, too, Hope raised her voice again: "Hey Friday, let me know if any situations arise in the hangar, would ya?"
"Will do, Miss Hope."
'Better do not let the kids be unwatched', Loki thought a bit amused.

"There's a lot of brawn in that group. I'm guessing Gamora brings most of the brains to that motley crew?"
"Well, as far as I can estimate that group I would say you are right. But if I get it right Gamora is called a warrioress. So she might have a lot of brawn, too. If you really want to get some more detailed information about these people you should ask my brother after we get him out of prison. He is the one who travelled around with them - and who also brings a lot of brawn instead of brain."
He stopped for some seconds and sighed.
"Do not get me wrong, Miss van Dyne. I am glad to know that my brother is alive. And I think it is time to prepare ourselves for getting him and the others out of their cells. So, is there anything left to do? Do you need a hand?"

[Hollywood Heidi]

"Well, as far as I can estimate that group I would say you are right. But if I get it right Gamora is called a warrioress. So she might have a lot of brawn, too.

Hope nodded in full agreement. The way Gamora carried herself, she had no doubt that the woman was equal parts brawn and brain.


If you really want to get some more detailed information about these people you should ask my brother after we get him out of prison. He is the one who travelled around with them - and who also brings a lot of brawn instead of brain."

Hope grinned in amusement. Typical sibling rivalry, even with the god-like Asgardians.


"Do not get me wrong, Miss van Dyne. I am glad to know that my brother is alive. And I think it is time to prepare ourselves for getting him and the others out of their cells. So, is there anything left to do? Do you need a hand?"

"Hope," she said, finally giving him permission to dispense with the formalities. "We need to work out the details of our moves," she gestured to pathways, pointing out the quickest path from landing pad to cells, which, of course, it wouldn't go as quickly and simply as that, "what we're gonna say; the truth, mostly, regarding Thanos and the threat he poses, come up with answers to as many questions as we can guess they'll ask that'll keep us from ending up alongside Tony's team in those cells. Contingency plans, back-up routes to and from the cells to the getaway, supplies we'll need. Memorize the layout, study the rotations and main concentration of employees and guards from the security footage..."

The implication that she was just scratching the surface was clear. Hope wasn't a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants planner like the Guardians appeared to be. She was smart and thorough and would do things her way whenever possible, but she understood that it wasn't everyone's modus operandi. Most people simply lacked the patience and their impatience was more of a hindrance than a help when it came to the planning stage. She looked to Loki and gave him an out. "Look, it's fine if this isn't your thing. I can handle this part of it on my own." Her tone was reassuring and not the least bit judgmental, that of someone who was long used to having only herself to count on.

[Anduin]

"Hope,"
Loki just nodded and gave her a faint smile.

"We need to work out the details of our moves," "what we're gonna say; the truth, mostly, regarding Thanos and the threat he poses, come up with answers to as many questions as we can guess they'll ask that'll keep us from ending up alongside Tony's team in those cells. Contingency plans, back-up routes to and from the cells to the getaway, supplies we'll need. Memorize the layout, study the rotations and main concentration of employees and guards from the security footage..."
The Asgardian listened to every single word attentively and watched her gestures.
It was good to have a planner alongside this group because the Guardians were far away from using plans instead of a lot of improvisation.

"Look, it's fine if this isn't your thing. I can handle this part of it on my own."
The way she said that showed the God of Mischief that she was used to be the one who had to plan nearly everything on her own.
But he didn't use the chance to get away. Besides he wouldn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. He was stucked with these people at the moment and Hopes company was more pleasant than the company of the others.
"You do not have to to that alone, Hope. I also prefer to have a good plan."
Suddenly there was a mischievous grin on his face. "Although I sometimes love to improvise as well..."
For example when he had transformed into a snake to fear Thor during their childhood. That was fun!
Soon he got serious again. " I will help you. Last but not least because I am 'The fake prisoner' and should know everything about our mission - just in case something might go wrong and I will really get imprisoned. And, of course, to be able to be as helpful as possible and show my goodwill."


So Hope and Loki started to work on the plan for their mission.
To Loki it felt a bit like the planning was left to the parents while the kids (aka The Guardians) were playing outside.


******