Chapter Seventy-Five: Taking the Initiative

Asgard, Thor’s Chambers

Thor gathered Arthur and a few other close friends, seating them together to discuss their plan.

“What I’m asking you to do is the gravest act of treason! Even if we succeed, we’ll be exiled. If we fail, it will mean certain death!” Thor declared, looking at everyone.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating whether to help Thor. Only Sif’s gaze remained resolute—she was prepared to follow Thor to the ends of the world.

At last, they reached a consensus. “Tell us, Thor! What do you need us to do?” Fandral spoke up.

Thor surveyed them and said, “Malekith knows the Aether is here. He can sense its energy! If we do nothing, he’ll invade Asgard again. Our realm will be ravaged by war, and our people will suffer countless casualties! So we must take Jane and leave this place.”

“The All-Father has already ordered the Bifrost sealed. The Cosmic Cube is locked away in the vault. How are we supposed to leave Asgard?” Sif asked.

“There are other paths out of Asgard, though few know of them,” Fandral replied.

Arthur gave him a glance—did he also know where the rift between the Nine Realms was?

“To be precise, only one person knows,” Thor said.

“No way…” Fandral realized whom Thor meant. Thor wanted to free Loki?

Arthur was tempted to say he knew as well, but held his tongue; it was better not to reveal the location of the rift.

Thor laid out a series of plans, assigning each of them a task. Arthur was delighted—wasn’t this just what he’d hoped for? Confronting Malekith and forcing him to extract the Aether from Jane Foster was precisely what he had in mind.

He volunteered to accompany Thor, offering his help against Malekith, and Thor agreed.

...

Loki lounged in his cell, bored, tossing a cup in the air. Who would’ve thought Asgard could fend off an invasion so easily this time? What a shame! He’d been hoping that Cursed Warrior might slay Odin.

Suddenly, his detested brother appeared, along with that mortal woman.

“Thor? After all this time, you finally come to see me! What brings you? Gloating over my predicament?” Loki sneered.

“Loki, we need your help,” Thor said.

“You want my help? Ha! That’s rich. You lock me here and expect me to help you?” Loki acted as if he’d heard the world’s funniest joke.

“The Dark Elves are about to invade Asgard again. This time, Asgard will be utterly destroyed! I need your help!” Thor pleaded with him.

“Nothing would please me more than Asgard’s destruction. If you all perish, I’ll be overjoyed!” Loki’s expression was wildly exaggerated.

“Loki! Stop pretending. I know you won’t stand by and watch Asgard burn. Your people are here. Your mother is here. This is the home where you grew up! For Asgard’s sake, you must help me!” Thor saw through Loki’s bravado and spoke to him earnestly.

“Fine! What do you want me to do?” Loki dropped his mocking smile and asked...

Thor released Loki and the three of them strode out of the dungeon towards the grand hall.

“This doesn’t suit you at all, brother! Since when does the mighty Thor sneak around? I thought you always preferred to smash your way through with brute force!” Loki, clearly thrilled to be free, was already plotting his next move—helping Thor suited his own plans quite well.

“Another word and I’ll kill you,” Thor warned.

“All right, all right. By the way, Arthur, you’re joining Thor on this mad adventure as well?” Loki turned to Arthur.

“I have my reasons,” Arthur replied coolly.

“OK! Do you remember your little companions? Oh, the outfit doesn’t fit at all—far too tight! But I can feel justice surging through me!” Loki transformed into the likeness of Steve Rogers, goofing around.

Thor grabbed him, clamping a hand over his mouth as Arthur ducked behind a pillar—a patrol of guards was just passing by.

“At least give me a weapon, a dagger or something!” Loki protested.

Thor pulled something out and, as Loki grinned, snapped it onto his wrists.

A metallic click—Loki’s smile froze as he found his hands locked in golden cuffs.

“Just a precaution,” Thor said with a grin, turning to continue towards the hall. Loki glared daggers at his back.

At that moment, Sif entered Valhalla, knocking out the guards and freeing Jane Foster from captivity.

Sif brought Jane to Thor, Arthur, and Loki. Jane, seeing Loki, strode up to him and said, “You!”

“I am Loki! You may have heard—” Before Loki could finish, Jane slapped him across the face.

“That’s for New York!”

“I like her!” Loki said with a wicked grin.

“Has she ever slapped you like that?” Arthur asked Thor quietly.

“…,” Thor didn’t reply, looking a bit awkward.

“Honestly, I think Sif suits you better. You and Jane won’t last, believe me,” Arthur whispered to Thor, glancing at the valiant Sif.

Sif overheard Arthur, and her opinion of him soared, while Thor refused to believe a word—he knew his own heart.

Just then, the guards realized the prisoners had escaped and were closing in. Sif urged them to flee, staying behind to hold off the pursuers.

Thor and Arthur hurried Jane to the grand hall where the Dark Elf ship waited.

Meanwhile, Odin, having received word that Heimdall had an urgent report, left the palace for the Bifrost chamber—Thor’s ruse to draw him away had worked.

Fandral was waiting at the ship. Thor clapped him on the shoulder, saying, “She’s all yours.”

Thor led the way onto the ship, with Arthur and Jane following. As Loki tried to board, Fandral blocked him, warning, “If you betray him, I’ll kill you myself.”

Loki shrugged it off and boarded.

Inside the control room, Arthur stared at the console, which looked like nothing more than a slab of stone. “Are you sure you know how to pilot this thing?” he asked Thor.

Thor mashed the controls randomly, but nothing happened.

“They’re on the ship! Stop them!” Suddenly, a host of guards burst in.

Fandral rushed forward to hold them off. Laser blasts rained down, but he raised his shield, ready for the onslaught.

“Damn these energy weapons!” Fandral grunted, barely able to keep up.

“Whatever you’re doing, Thor, do it faster—Fandral can’t hold them much longer!” Arthur urged, anxious.

“I’ve pressed everything I can, but nothing works!” Thor pounded the console.

“Don’t use force—try a gentle touch,” Loki suggested.

“I have tried! It doesn’t work!” Thor, exasperated, slammed his hand down—and suddenly, the console lit up, a 3D projection of their surroundings flaring into view.

Thor laughed, finally in control. The Dark Elf ship’s engines roared to life, lifting it into the air before it crashed through the hall’s massive window, bringing down a swath of pillars.

“There’s still one pillar left standing!” Loki taunted.

“Shut up!”

…