It was a second before I realised I was back on Earth, back on the roof of the London Sanctum with my car parked right across from us.
"We need to hurry, we don't have much time. Pack everything you brought here, clothes and all. Leave the furniture we bought over, whoever is coming here after
dismissed the alarms inside the building and we quickly got in. Rwanda began to pack and Felicia and I went into the room we shared with Jean.
Before we could enter Felicia stopped at the threshold and stopped. I smelt her sadness, her despair. She sniffed, tears running down her eyes as we saw the room
share together and have what was called a peaceful life.
I wrapped my hands around her and held her tightly, "we'll get her back...I promise."
"I know….I love you Peter."
"I love you too Kitten."
While Felicia was packing upstairs I walked into my lab, it turned itself on automatically as I reached into my backpack and pulled out a black box made out of vibr
The vibranium lock box I gave Thor was a dummy. One I had made between leaving and the feast. It took a little of the spare refined vibranium I had lying around
open the box and if Thor or Odin tried to force the box open it would cause an explosion big enough to level a building.
Would that raise questions for me? Yes. But I could always explain it as the internal circuits going haywire due to the energy overflow.
I unlocked the box quickly, a red glow overtaking my lab's color scheme as the red jelly like form of the Aether looked up at me from inside the box. I felt bad for ly
If I was fighting a God, I would need the powers of one.
Mind, Reality. While in space I could 'happen' upon Peter Quill and his band of loveable idiots and switch out the Power stone. And if I steal the Space stone from O
would have four of the six infinity stones.
Hopefully, that would give me enough firepower to take down the Phoenix. And more importantly, save Jean.
The problem was, I didn't know enough about the Aether. The properties of the Mind stones were simple enough, and my own research into psychic powers and the
abilities. But the Aether? Nothing. Hopefully time with the dwarves can offer me some insight into it.
I closed the Aether and put it away. I then began dismantling my lab, powering it down and separating it down into small parts.
I opened a special storage box I had made some time ago for transportation purposes and expanded it's opening large enough that even a car could fit into it. I ca
lab into it.
While inside the lab would be in stasis and under artificial gravity. I may not be a combat genius like Strange, but I was oftenly good at creating pocket dimensions
"Hey, we're done," Wanda announced as she and Felicia walked downstairs with bags slung over their shoulders.
I nodded, "right...let's get to it."
Kamar-Taj:
We walked through the London sanctum portal into the main under-chambers of the library. The moment we stepped through we were greeted by the Ancient One
"Peter, Wanda, Felicia," she greeted us all with a smile and a polite nod, "it is good to see you again….may I ask where Jean is?" We were silent, it took a second, b
see."
"Don't worry, it's only temporary, we're getting her back," Felicia hissed.
"Ms. Hardy, might I remind you that all knowledge isn't restricted in this place, practices like Necromancy are not."
"She ain't dead," Wanda cut in, "she just got abducted by a freaking cosmic entity."
The Ancient One's eyes winded, "I think you should step into my office."
An hour later:
I took a sip of the relaxing herbal tea I grew accustomed to having whenever dealing with the Ancient One and sighed, "and that's what happened."
"The Phoenix force...truly?" the Ancient One asked. Seeing our humorless faces she struck a thinking pose and hummed, "I always felt that Jean's power was more
this….Peter...what exactly are you planning? You must understand that this is suicide yes?"
"Yes, I know," I scoffed, "but I think I can a way to get her back...or at the very least break the connection between Jean and the thing holding her."
"And how do you plan on fighting a cosmic entity Peter?"
"With careful planning."
She waited, but my silence made it obvious I didn't plan on sharing anything more with the woman. She sighed and nodded, turning to Wanda and Felicia, "while I
your training here, I must say that nothing I teach you girls will ever make you ready for what you will face out there...but that being said, if you wish to continue
Felicia and Wanda bowed, "thank you master."
The Ancient One turned to me, "if you are no longer going to be on Earth, then I suppose I will have to appoint a new master for the Sanctum."
"Yes...and I am sorry. I-"
"-It was always meant to be a temporary position," she waved my words, "you were always more of a free being than most Peter...I cannot blame you for your Nat
enough from the attack on the sanctums. A master will be dispatched to take over your role. And while I disagree with your ideas I don't think my objections will sa
I nodded, "sure."
"How far are you prepared to go?"
For a second, I felt as if she had figured it out, as if she knew exactly what I had planned. But if she did...then she would have stopped me already.
"As far as I have too."
Asgard:
I returned to the realm of the Gods with my sights set on the palace. I flew over and just as I landed on the courtyard, I spotted Sif walking up the steps, turning a
"Peter," she nodded, "you are earlier than expected."
"Yeah, we managed to finish packing up quickly," I replied as I landed before her, "shall we?"
"Please," she guided me further into the palace, "King Eitri has just arrived and in the throne room with Odin right now."
I stopped walking immediately, Sif turned, surprised. "I think it's best if I wait in the courtyard for him...I sure it wouldn't do to interrupt two kings."
"That is...highly unlike you," Sif looked worried before realization dawned on her, "oh….I see...well then let me keep you company Peter, it's the least I can do."
"No, please, don't let me keep you, I...I just need some time to think," I waved her offer and walked away, going back to the courtyard and sitting in one corner, m
Sif seemed to understand as she left me alone after that. I sat there for sometime, I transformed my suit back into a set of tracks and a hoodie, making me more c
reeling with ideas, buzzing with creativity that I found myself lacking these past few mellow months.
And just as the first hour passed, I heard the steps of half a dozen giant men coming closer. I opened my eyes just as the doors of the palace were thrown open an
Dvalin, Moafin and Eoffren were then, along with them were two other dwarves I didn't recognize and one I did. The tallest amongst them all, Eitri, wearing simple
had no crown, but the way the dwarf carried himself, I could tell he was in charge.
I got up and walked up to them, stepping in their path. The dwarves stopped their conversation as they turned to me, half of them curious and the others with smi
"Eitri, this is the lad we were talking about," Dalvin said with a proud smirk, as if he was displaying a pet he had just found and trained.
"Truly," the king rubbed his jaw, "boy, is what my cousin said true? You have found a method to keep material damage free?"
I nodded, pulling out a spade EMF suit I had prepared beforehand and held it up to them, "see for yourself."
Eitri raised an eyebrow, gesturing to one of the dwarves I didn't meet. He stepped up and drew his blade, to him it might have been a dagger, to me it was practice
into his hands and tried to tear into it, only to find that his blade couldn't' pass through the seemingly plain cloth.
"Tear resistant," Eitri noted, "try to burn it and then wet it."
"Aye," the dwarf replied as he flicked his wrist, causing the dagger to explode into flames. He kept the suit under the fire, but it didn't burn. Then the dwarf turned
the suit inside. But when he pulled it out, it wasn't wet.
"Can your dagger channel all the elements?" I asked.
"Curious little tike aren't you?" the dwarf snorted, but not replying to my question.
"Where is Thor?" Eitri looked around, "we have need of his hammer."
"He should be here any second," Moafin replied, "he had to settle something with Odin."
"Very well, until then, boy, you also possess with you an uru weapon, yes?" Eitri asked, holding his hand out.
I sighed, seemed I would have to earn their respect before they treated me like a normal person. I took out the Ebony blade and handed it over. Eitri took one look
"Shitty blade, poor refinement...but the enchantments aren't half bad," the king replied.
"Can you tell what they are?" Often asked in a casual manner. I have to say, I didn't think dwarves would have such a casual relationship with their king. Either the
than I thought or the dwarves worked very differently from the Asgardians.
"Basic summoning spell...and an emotional amplifier, but beyond that there is some Midgardian spell I can't quite seem to understand," Eitri muttered, his curiosity
"Apparently the last owner of the blade never lost a battle while he had it in hand," I admitted freely, "he died only after he was forced to let go of the blade and tr
"Hm...an enchantment to fight beyond one's skills, interesting," Eitri muttered, "good eye boy. They told me you weren't stupid, glad to know they weren't just full o
rolled their eyes, not looking the least bit offended.
"Peter!" I turned to see Thor come flying down, landing before us, "you've returned."
I nodded, I smelt...anger from Thor, frustration even. Something had happened, "yeah...what did you talk to Odin about?"
"I...the mural," was his short reply.
"I see...and did he tell you?"
"No...he said it was not for me to know," Thor growled in anger.
"Dick," I hissed under my voice, Thor must have heard me, but he didn't seem to keen on defending his old man any time soon.
"Ah, Thor, just talking about you, be a lad and strike this down would you?" Eitri grabbed my EMf suit and tossed it to the God of lighting. Thor looked confused but
threw the suit into the air and raised his hammer.
KAKOOM!
Lightning came crashing down, passing through the suit and smashing into the ground. When the dust settled the white suit remind, without damage, but giving of
any normal person wearing it.
"Hm, while it isn't resistant to the magical power of the lighting, the force of the lighting itself hasn't harmed it in anyway," Eitri noted as he passed me the Ebony b
indeed...very well boy, I have listened to the proposal you have suggested and find it an equal trade. You shall receive the training you desire to craft like us, but in
process of how you made this material."
Halfway through the speech, I heard his heart quicken, around the part where he promised to teach me everything to craft like them.
"Your lying," I spoke up, crossing my hand and looking irritated.
"Excuse me?" Eitri raised an eyebrow, leaning over me in an intimidating manner.
"I said, you lied," I hissed, "when you said you would train me to craft like you. You lied."
"And what proof do you have for such an accusation boy?" Eitri growled.
"I heard you heartbeat quicken," I narrowed my eyes.
"You can hear the heartbeat of people?" Eitri asked, his eyes widening.
"Yeah, so I know when you're full of shit," I hissed, summoning my UMF suit into my hands, "and if you try and fuck me on this, I won't ever teach you the truth. I
Dwarfs, but you can't say the same."
Thor's eyes seemed to widen in surprise, the dwarves looked a mixture of irritated and amused. And Eitri...he was silent. I smelt anger...and then, joy.
"HA!" he laughed out loud, "brilliant! With ears like that you can hear every ingot crunch when we hammer it and ever drop of water steam when we treat metal. Y
Fine, if you prove yourself, we will be honest with you. But, if you try and fuck with us..."
"Deal," I held out my hand. Eitri looked amused as he held out his own giant hand. I smirked, forming a giant red hand out of psionic energy, shaking his hand, mu
surprise.
"I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting couple of years," Eitri whispered.
"Months," I replied.
"Ha! Months he says! Listen boy, I don't' care how smart you think you are, the skills you are after will take months for you to learn, let alone master."
"We shall see...when do we leave?"
"I'll give you an hour," Eitri replied, "meet us at the Bifrost by then."
"Wait, Eitri, before you leave," Thor spoke up stopping the departing dwarves. He held out his hammer, "my hammer, you said you made it for me, is that true?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Eitri replied. I heard his heartbeat quicken.
Thor turned to me, I shook my head, "lie." Eitri eyes winded, a look of annoyance coming on his features.
"I knew it! Tell me the truth Eitri!" Thor roared, "who is that woman in green and black?! Why does she have my hammer?!"
"Thor I cannot tell you!" Eitri roared back, he then snapped his head to me, "and you, you will be my apprentice from henceforth, as such another act like this that
this again and I care not for what deal we have, I will end your life, do you understand!?"
I nodded, "yes."
"Good," and without another word, they turned and walked away. Thor looked like he was going to chase them, but I grabbed his shoulder and held him back.
"Wait..." I replied.
"Peter, I have to know," Thor replied.
"Which is why I asked you to wait….if you want answers, I can give them to you."
His eyes widened, "and-you know who she is?'
I nodded, "not a lot...a little, but not a lot. Enough to help I'm sure." Thor looked torn before nodding and guiding me into an enclave to the side. After making sur
to go on.
"She...her name is Hela," I replied.
Thor's eyes widened, "Hela?"
I nodded, "yeah...and she's your sister."
"What?!" Thor's eyes went wide in shock, "s-sister?!"
"Sh!" I hissed, looking around to make sure no one heard him yell. He looked sorry, but kept listening eagerly, "yeah. She's Odin's first born, the Goddess of Death
conquest of the nine realms, they burnt most to the ground. She was….evil I guess. But Odin grew a conscious and began to regret his actions. He couldn't bring him
away and upon his death she will be released back into our world once more."
Thor's eyes went wide as saucers, "h-how do you know of all this?"
I sighed and opened my mouth, "# $ !% ! of for fuck's sake, still?! I basically told him everything didn't I?!"
Thor looked confused, "I'm sorry Peter, but I didn't quite understand that."
I signed, "an enchantment. I can tell you these things, but I can't tell you how I know them...needless to say, everything I've told you is the truth Thor."
He looked down, his brow tightened, "I see….thank you Peter...I...I do not know how to process all this. A sister...she is the rightful queen of Asgard, not I."
"Don't' even think about it Thor," I hissed, "don't even think about abdicating your throne for her. You may be the second born, but she's literally the goddess of de
the nine realms can withstand another war? Especially Asgard as it is now?"
"No...you are right. I will speak to mother about this. My father will not speak, but my mother might."
"Right. And when you do, try to keep me out of it, okay?"
He nodded, "I will do my best, I swear."
"Thanks...and Thor...can I ask a favor from you?"
"Of course my friend, what is it?"
"I...I require some of your blood," I said in a frank manner.
Thor's eyes widened, "whatever for?"
"Thor, have I ever told you just how my powers work?" he shook his head and I sighed, "you see...my parents were scientists, they were working on recreating the
him Captain America."
"The Super Soldier serum, yes?" Thor asked, "Steak told me about this."
"Yeah well, they kind of succeeded, but it was...different," I sighed, "the formula doesn't just make the user stronger, it also adapts the properties of foreign cells a
prevents further infection, but if the attacking cells have powers, it acquires the abilities for itself, making the host...well...it allows me to take on said abilities."
Thor's eyes widened, "so that is how you gained your pantheon of skills."
I nodded, "yes, most of them anyway. The fighting, the tech, that's all me. But other things," I created a psionic ball of energy and dismissed it. I then showed him
others I gained from allies. And if I'm going after Jean, I need every advantage I can get."
Thor was silent, his eyes narrowed in thinking. I was tempted to read his thoughts, so very tempted, but I kept my reach to myself. And then, eh spoke.
"Peter, what guarantee can I get from you that one day you will not use these powers against those I love?" Thor asked.
My eyes winded, "Thor, I would never hurt anyone you love. You know me."
"And what off my father?"
I was drawn still, "y-you serious? Thor he lied to you! All your life! And you have to admit that it was his blatant observed standards that pushed Loki away from yo
loving!"
"That may be Peter, my father has many crimes to answer for...among them pushing your beloved to accept the Phoenix...but he is still my father….if I give you my
from you that you will not bring any harm to my father and loved ones in any way."
"...That is too vague a wording Thor," I replied with crossed arms, "right now in telling you the truth of Hela I've hurt him by shaking your relationship with him."
"Is that why you told me?"
"No, I told you because you deserve to know. Because I know the feeling of being lied too...the fact it would make Odin uncomfortable was just a bonus."
"Peter, how can I trust your words?" Thor asked bluntly, "I mean no offence, but your words could just be that, words."
"Ask you mother," I told him, "the first day we came here I told her that I knew the truth and to tell you. To be honest...given that she hasn't done so I took it upon
never be Thor...but Odin...that man has a lot to answer for and you waste yourself defending him...but then again I suppose asking you to do anything less if just a man raised you well."
Thor looked to be deep in thought, I knew he wouldn't' make up his mind right now. I turned and walked away, "I'm going to get something to eat, I'll be back late
and find me."
I went to the kitchens, there I found the country and several barrels of the ale I realized would probably be the only ever get drunk off of. I had to admit, I liked the
alcoholic I asked permission from the chef and took over a dozen barrels of the stuff, putting it into my storage space.
Apparently being the savior of Asgard had its perks.
I made my way to the library once more, finding it mostly intact, I went to the section which Jean and the rest had done their research on the Phoenix. The book w
around black holes was on the table spread out.
I opened it up and scanned the pages detailing the observations, I then spent the rest of the time scanning and logging every other book I thought would be useful
Soon, it was time for me to leave. I made my way to the Bifrost, Heimdall was chatting up Eitri and the other dwarves, I was surprised to see the usually stoic God
good friends with the dwarves.
"Peter," I turned to see Thor approach me, a look of confidence on his face.
"Thor...I take it you spoke to your mother?"
"Yes...and she told me the truth," Thor replied, "Hela it seemed was...truly beyond help...it broken her heart, but even mother had chosen to give up on her it see
"Thor...I'm sorry…."
Thor waved it off, "it is not your problem but mine. You were right, my father has a lot to answer for and he will, off this I promise you. But, for now," he reached i
a golden vial of blood, sealed with a screw top depicting an eagle.
My eyes widened, "is that-"
"-My blood," his heart beat was stable, he was telling the truth, "you have proven yourself more than responsible Peter...and, if I recall, I did promise you a weapon
he tossed it to me, I caught it with my mind, allowing it to float into my hand.
"Thor this...thank you. I promise I won't abuse the gift you have given," I said softly, the memory of my betrayal with the Aether burned in the back of my mind, b
Thor smiled, "you are welcome...go Peter, get your beloved back, I wish you the best of luck."
"Boy!" Eitri called out, "you coming?!"
Heimdall open the Bifrost and stood waiting. I gave Thor a nod and walked over to the portal, "let's do this."
And without further ceremony, I jumped once more into the wormhole, space flying by.
Nidavellir:
We landed in the middle of a great chamber. I looked around in awe as the chamber was bigger than most apartment complexes I knew. The domed ceiling had the
into space. I then realised the stars weren't painted on at all...that was space which I saw.
I walked to the closest window and looked out in awe. Before me was a Dyson sphere covering what looked to be a dwarf star. Only one exhaust existed on the sphere
was being channeled out into the huge rings surrounding it.
Attached to the sphere were several rings, each spinning in different directions like the rings on a gyroscope.
"Welcome, to Nidavellir," Eitri announced proudly, "I'll have someone show you to your room."
"When do we begin?" I asked.
"I'll give you twelve hours to gain your bearing, and then, we shall begin," he said in a rough voice.
"Do you have a schedule I need to follow? I assume you can't really measure a day span with regards to day and night here."
"Smart lad. We use the same hour cycle as you do on Midgard, so you need not worry on that. But other than that we follow a sixteen hour work day, I hope you c
"Wait, why exactly do you follow the same time cycle as Midgard?" I asked, "that's a bit odd isn't it?"
"Everyone of the nine realms follow the same time cycle, it's one of the reasons the branches of the Yggdrasil connect the nine realms," Eitri answered, "now enough
housing quarters," he motioned to an approaching dwarf and walked away, not even looking back.
"Follow," was the only word Golli said as he turned and walked away, exiting through the North entrance of the chamber.
I sighed and followed, walking quicker than normal to keep up with the man's longer strides. We walked through the halls of the long stretch of land, I realized quick
Dyson sphere, the gravity produced must be artificial.
We walked for what felt like a long time, passing by several other dwarves. The men and women were all enormous, all of them. Even the few children I saw walking
staring at me. But I didn't really have time to stand around like a freak show for Golli seriously didn't seem to care about giving me the full tour.
"Here," Golli suddenly stopped, pointing to a plain door to our right.
I looked around, trying to scan for any tech that was used. I was stumped to find non I recognized. "Ah..how do I open it?"
He grumbled, almost annoyed at the question. He pressed his hand against the door and pushed it open. Huh, guess not everything here was high tech.
"Thanks Golli," I waved.
"Mr. Golli," he grumbled back, walking away without another word.
"Right..." I sighed and turned back to the room I was presented. I walked inside, the moment I did the lights came on and I found myself looking at a room big enough
I whistled, it seemed I would be getting plenty of room for myself here. This room would probably be considered inhumane for someone like a dwarf. But for someone
perfect!
It took me a few hours to set up my lab back to working order, the arc reactor generator I had on hand served well as a power source. I didn't have a bed yet, which
'forgotten' to put, so I decided to get a head start on my analysis on the Aether.
I couldn't risk taking the Aether out of the box it was held in, so I added scanners and a dock to record the readings through the box and into my systems. It took
"Sexy, record the readings and then match it to the Mind Stone, see what is similar and what's different about them," I instructed, waving the AI to do the job.
While it worked on that, I took out the vial of blood Thor handed over to me and looked at it under a microscope, trying to analysis as best I could.
I found, to my surprise, that the helix design of Thor's DNA was remarkably similar to that of human beings. Certain base genes were similar, like being bi-peds or
nothing I have ever seen before in my life...kind off.
Mutants are the closest thing I could relate this too, but even that doesn't really make sense. IT was like...building Lego blocks, sure the base elements are the Sam
and the structure, but then you have some special blocks to add more fines to the end product. Like a curved piece that cannot belong anywhere else expect in this
So that begged the question, would Thor's blood even work on me? Or would it be similar to guessing myself with radiation water?
I couldn't move without more research into this, which means this would have to be put on the back burner. For now, it's best I try and figure out how to survive in
it very difficult for me, I will have to fight my way through them, earning my place at their table.
For now though, the exhaustion of the day was finally catching up to me. I was beyond exhausted. But with no bed to sleep on I settled for sleeping on the table in
the system running, analyzing the DNA of a god.
As I slept, I dreamed. And in my dream I saw the universe spread out before me, and out there in the stars, a lone red ember was calling out for me. I stretched o
right there and yet, so far out of my reach.
When I woke up the next day, I didn't remember any off it, but I got a feeling of determination. Jean was waiting, Felicia and Wanda were probably working their a
There was a bang on my door, Golli walked in and grunted, "follow."
I nodded, doing just that, getting ready to undergo what is sure to be the hardest lessons I would ever learn in my life.