Westchester, New York.
"Professor," my phantom found Charles in his office and immediately got down to business, "can I ask you for a favor, on which the fate of the Nine Worlds depends?"
When I delved into the details of the situation and restored the chronology of events, I experienced a strong desire to drink, but, alas, I could not afford such weakness. Actually, it was in the Torah ... As always. But especially now. The guy literally managed to step on all the plot rakes of the original story, as if he was reading the script. And despite the fact that in general it was understandable, in some places I still felt as if my teeth were sweating. Firstly, Odin did not reinvent the wheel and threw Thor to the same south of the United States, as it was in the film. Perhaps not exactly in the same place, but, one way or another, a company of ufologists, or whoever they are, tracked down the discovery of the Rainbow Bridge and found the guy. In itself it was not difficult - Asgard constantly rotates troops, and Bivrest works regularly for this, and since Midgard is still one of the Nine Worlds, whose magical background, among other things, is directly related to Asgard, this background reacts to those created by the Bridge disturbances, which are reflected in physical reality, as a rule, giving rise to the "northern lights" in some areas of the planet. In other words, if you know what to look for, you can notice the activation of the Bridge on Earth, and this does not even require any particularly advanced technique. In general, they found the little brother, and then a circus with horses began: either they would hand him over to the hospital like a psycho, then they would kidnap him from this hospital, then they would still be afraid that he was a psycho, and disperse, then they would turn on the "pity" and help again ... But that would still be okay, over this I would still giggle happily and disgustingly, watching the suffering and humiliation of the Mighty Thor, but the main thing here was the second moment, and it was for his resolution that I now came to Xavier.
"…" the bald telepath looked up from the computer monitor, looked at my face for a split second, collecting his thoughts, and, having touched the control lever of the chair, left the table towards me. - I listen very carefully.
"I love it when honest people avoid answering according to my method! It is so touching!" I was almost sincerely inspired. "But this is a specific matter in which I need your trust."
"So I shouldn't ask questions?" Xavier immediately grasped the essence, without showing his attitude towards this.
"This is undesirable," I nod. "Answers can affect your emotional state, and the developed value judgments can affect subconscious attitudes. It is critical to me that you remain yourself, perhaps a little nervous, but not in the midst of hard philosophical questions. I can promise that my request will in no way harm you, or the school, or humanity as a whole. In fact, on the contrary, it should save the world from a bunch of problems if everything goes as I plan. And if it doesn't work, then we just fly to one place and return with nothing. And yes, of course, I will answer all the questions and explain all the ins and outs as soon as it can no longer harm the case."
"Okay," the telepath nodded, "give me twenty minutes to get ready."
"So simple?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Why not? You are a good person, Loki. Sometimes cruel, but considering what times your childhood passed and what traditions you were brought up in, this is not surprising. And if you ask for my help, then I will try to help if it is in my power."
"Oh, Charles," I chuckled, "you're making me blush. If only someone else had seen this goodness of mine ...
"Not all at once, but… Storm thinks quite highly of you," Xavier returned his good-natured grin back to his computer.
"Mmm, is it really giving away medical secrets to a charismatic swindler?"
"No, these are the words of "just a teacher" that she passed on to her 'disabled father'," there was laughter in the mutant's voice and a short glance at me. "Frankly, from the first minute of our acquaintance I was greatly intrigued by your point of view, it is very non-standard."
"I will not apologize for the pacifist terrorists! Agree, there is definitely something in this. At least this is more creative than the classic heroic epic."
"Something tells me that it is the latter that plays a key role for you?" quickly typing something on the keyboard, asked the man.
"Who knows?" I shrug. "Perhaps this is the voice of my like-minded person living in your heart? Well, you know how it is - the first hundred years, a rebellious spirit?"
"I wish it were so …" Charles clicked on something with the mouse - from my place the monitor screen was not visible, "but, I'm afraid, everything is much more prosaic …"
"Someday I will make a selection of all the cases when you called me a young fool, which I have already seen enough, and show my mother."
"I feel that there is some kind of consequence behind this …" Xavier raised his eyes to me, rolling out from the table again.
"How to say …" I shook my head, wiggling my eyes. "She will be delighted ... And she will certainly decide to introduce you to one of her friends."
"..." Charles did not immediately find an answer. "This is flattering ... But I think we should not bring it to this."
"Who knows," I grinned unashamedly, presenting this picture in paint. "Well, are you ready?"
"It remains to warn Scott that I will be absent for a while," the telepath sighed. "This new security system seems a little awkward to me at times."
"What to do, convenience and safety, as a rule, are on opposite sides of the barricades. But you can take your time, I was going to hijack his plane anyway."
"Loki…" A heavy sigh and a reproachful look.
"Okay, okay, I arranged for him to drop us." 'No-longer-stylish-glasses' kindly agreed.
"Sometimes it seems to me that you are not a thousand years old, but only fifteen years old," the telepath shook his head.
"The main thing is not to grow old in soul!" I smiled. "And that was the seventy-sixth case. Let's go to?
"Yes, I'm ready," and we headed to the secret hangar with a secret stealth plane to secretly fly to the secret research camp of the secret organization. Hmm, does it seem to me or is there a bit too much of the word "secret"?
Scott was already warming up the engines, and as soon as we got up, he gave the command to take off. After getting rid of the heavy visor and the risk of arranging a laser show, just sleepily opening his eyes before putting on his glasses, his character softened somewhat, and he respected me so much that he was even ready to endure my inimitable sense of humor. Or is it due to a new security system? Perhaps he is not hopeless, and the idea of throwing circular saws will still meet with his understanding and approval. I would also like to see Storm here, purely moral support for and aesthetic feelings for the sake of, but, alas, the beautiful mulatto was busy with the young generation, who had exams on their nose, with all the consequences, so it's not destiny.
The flight itself was rather boring - Charles, as promised, did not ask me about anything, Scott was piloting, but for the most part of my consciousness I was busy delving into the affairs of Asgard, praise to the eternal spark of creation - at least so far without visitors and supplicants. You could sit in the desert almost anywhere - thanks to the ultra-lightweight and ultra-strong Blackbird polymers, so I wasn't worried about that. But then the adventure began ...
"I see the camp," said Cyclops on the way. "It looks like something like a quarantine zone, but there are no air defense and radars."
"Even if there were, I disguised ourselves even during takeoff," rising from the seat in the cabin, I went to the cockpit. "Yes, that's right - this is exactly the place. Can you sit on that mound over there?"
"We will be there at a glance."
" It's not scary - my illusions will calmly hold out for about five hours, and they themselves will not go up there in patrol cars."
"But what is this place?" All the same, Xavier was curious, watching with us the approach of the earth, sitting in the seat of the co-pilot.
"SHIELD temporary base," I replied to the elderly man.
"And why are we here?" Smoothly starting the bird for landing, Scott looked sideways at me.
"I ask you to be patient for just ten more minutes, you will see for yourself soon."
"Okay," the professor nodded ahead of Summers.
Soon, leaving the bowels of the plane, we moved to the secret camp of the top-secret organization. Since I was not entirely financially in Midgard, Cyclops had to push Xavier's wheelchair through the bumps and grass. I immediately covered all traces with telekinesis, and then - now, avert your eyes to the personnel and equipment, and step forward. Charles, however, was eager to help me with his own telepathy, but I dissuaded him - it would be better that he did not use his powers when it all began. So after the designated ten minutes we were already inside the perimeter, approaching the main point of the route. Here is the last turn in the corridor covered with plastic film, and we find ourselves at a crater, in the middle of which there was a piece of rock with a hammer half-sunk into it.
"Hmm …' Prof looked at the instrument carefully, "just don't say it's Mjolnir."
"I will not say, you yourself have already understood everything."
"And what is he doing here?" Scott asked with a slightly nervous smile.
"Depicts Excalibur. The harsh Nordic version. Although in fact Caliburn, because Excalibur is the sword of the Lady of the Lake, and it did not stick out in stone during the election of the king of Britain, you people always confuse even the tales of your own composition, not just real events. And the level of education of Hollywood scriptwriters is a separate story altogether, with such an approach to educating young people a little more - and you will again slide into the Stone Age, honestly …"
"Loki…" the telepath sighed wearily, looking at me.
"Okay," I raise my hands in a protective gesture. "My moron brother screwed up very much. So much so that he was banished to Earth and deprived of his strength, and then Odin did not think of anything smarter than throwing the Hammer after him. Probably, an educational moment was planned for the guy to suffer, but now this hammer is being studied by a crowd of warriors from a muddy office, into which the office is even more muddy. Anyway, I need this hammer to stay with someone normal until I can clear up all this hemorrhoid. And I can't find candidates better than you, professor. I'm not going to Eric?"
"That's not all, is it?" Looking at me shrewdly, said Xavier.
"Not everything," I nodded in agreement, "but I can't tell you more and I can only ask you to believe."
"Okay…" Charles nodded. "What should I do?
"Yes, almost nothing - just take it and hold it with you for now."
"Okay," there was something in his gaze between 'why didn't you just drag him away?' and 'you make an old invalid pull heavy war hammers, you should be ashamed.' Then Charles turned back to the artifact and held out his palm to the hilt.
"I will help," Cyclops jerked to help with weight lifting.
"Not worth it," instantly creates another phantom on his way, forcing him to recoil. "Believe me, I'm not just asking Charles."
"Um …" the mutant glanced at his teacher, but only met a calm covering of his eyes, after which Xavier nevertheless touched the handle with a brown leather loop ... and without the slightest effort pulled Mjolnir out of the stone pedestal.
My real body, sitting on Odin's throne, held its breath as the illusions hastily dispersed away from the professor.
And around the telepath, magical energy had already thickened, literally pulling him off his chair and hanging him in the air. I saw the magic and essence of the hammer rush into his body, healing a worn out body. With an inaudible crunch, the damaged spine recovered, and the legs replenished with their former strength and mobility. Wrinkles smoothed out, and lightning flashed in blue eyes. Lightning also enveloped Mjolnir. The heavens turned black, swelling with fat clouds in a matter of seconds, thunderstruck, and a wide white lightning struck the weapon, saturating and restoring the reserves of magic spent on healing a person. And immediately, from the subspace pocket of the hammer, armor began to incarnate on Xavier, binding his body in high-tech scales and placing a scarlet cloak on his shoulders. And, Gods ... Charles Xavier in Thor's costume looked indescribably surreal, but very ... very brutal.
"Ha, now you are for sure - Dad Storm," in Asgard I wiped the drops of sweat that appeared on my forehead - to maintain a magical illusion and suggestion on a whole crowd of people during such a riot of forces was difficult even with the support of Gungnir and the throne of the King, which was specially created to facilitate remote magical influences and far-sightedness across the boundaries of worlds. But nothing - he did it, out, everyone is quietly walking around and studying the printouts, as if they just hadn't blown half of the "sarcophagus" over the weapon by lightning.
"Professor!" Scott jerked forward, wanting to either help his mentor not fall when landing, or just to make sure that everything was in order.
"Loki, what's going on?" Smoothly dropping his feet to the ground next to the Cyclops, bewildered, the telepath looked around at his new appearance.
"It's okay," I dispel one extra phantom, "just a small bonus in the form of healing and rejuvenation ... more precisely, the transition of the body to a state ... mmm, no, not quite the word ... the concept of an asgardian."
"But why? So, what is next?" the freshly baked Thunderer continued to wonder.
"Nothing, everything is as I said. I ask you to keep the hammer until I fix Thor's brains, well, or until they fall into place on their own, and as a "payment for keeping the artifact" your health has improved a little. Although," I pretend to be thinking, "I can still offer the position of acting. Thor in Asgard. We have a wonderful climate and even more beautiful landscapes, as well as health insurance, benefits packages and all that …"
"No," Charles shook his head, "I have an institute in charge, and that's more than enough for me. But now you can satisfy my curiosity, why was it necessary to hide all this? Were you afraid that I would refuse?"
"No," I waved it off, "it just wouldn't have been a surprise. Well, more seriously, you would not refuse with your mind, but you could wind yourself up to the point that subconsciously you would put a block, convincing yourself that you are not worthy of such power. In addition, Mjolnir is a semi-sentient artifact, and even Odin ordered him to 'find Thor worthy of the power.' The problem with semi-intelligent artifacts, unlike normal things with a neural interface, is that you will never understand what is on their minds and what they think is worthy and what is not. Tell you why all this is needed, and, even without problems on your part, this piece of iron could balk, they say, how is it, they slip candidates bypassing natural selection ?! Leaving it here ... you see - not a good idea. It's not so much even about SHIELD research, but the fact that these guys would have enough brains to find some decent, but not too smart patriot who could lift the hammer and gain the power of the Thunder God. And then this power is joyfully and without asking unnecessary questions to use on evil commies, dirty natives and other enemies of democracy and all progressive humanity - just as the big uncles say, hanging medals on his chest."
"But why didn't you pick it up yourself? Charles looked askance at his own legs in disbelief and stepped carefully, remembering how to move in general.
"Well, first of all, I already have enough problems now," I smile crookedly, trying to convey with facial expressions the full extent of how happy it makes me. "For as a result of Thor's jamb, I am now a little ... King of Asgard," I create the illusion of Gungnir in my hand, "and I already have Odin's spear," both mutants stared at the golden shaft of the artifact. "Secondly, Mjolnir is still a semi-intelligent artifact, and he borrowed a lot from my brother, in particular, the holy belief that I am a loser-botanist, so he will not be given to me simply out of principle, but you can sit and hack his brains for fifty years. Oh yes, I also have a cunning plan!"
"And what is it?" the professor smiled, catching the change of intonation in my voice.
"I expect that one pretty teacher will kiss and go on a couple more dates with the charming bastard who cured her disabled father."
"For some reason, I assumed something like that ... But you say that you became the king of Asgard?"
"Yes, but I can handle it! I already have a plan of how to escape from there and at the same time not unleash a general galactic war! I think I will manage in two weeks," I assured the mutants, bending down to the ground myself, so that, having chosen a suitable pebble, I would transform it into a decorative red flag on a stand. For everything is in the name of Intrigue, yes! SHIELD. must suffer! "But let's discuss this a little later, - I get to my feet, - it's quite difficult to fool all the surrounding technology and minds. Would you like to stretch your legs?"
"Why not, Loki? Without commenting on my manipulations, Charles took a cautious step. - Why not…
Same time, Asgard.
My illusion with mutants hastily left the SHIELD camp, explaining to Prof how to remove the armor and turn the hammer into an elegant, unsurprising cane along the way. At the same time, I had to endure a migraine from stress in order to prevent people and their equipment from noticing anything, but Tron helped, and there was very little left to hold out.
A sterile silence reigned in the throne room, in which not even the breathing of the Einherian guards, who were carrying guards at the foot of the dais, could be heard. There was no official coronation, but when I emerged from Odin's bedchamber with Gungnir in hand, the lined up guard knelt in one motion, recognizing me as master. Everything had been prepared in advance by Frigga, and the whole palace was just waiting for me to appear in order to earn money around the new King. And if you think so, she achieved her goal - a terrible woman, she talked to the God of Deception ...
I looked around the huge empty hall. Somewhere inside, a small contented spark was burning, whispering that it was all mine now, but the old childhood dream of old Loki hardly touched me anymore. It was he who dreamed of power over Asgard, as a kind of super-prize, which, like, will clearly prove to everyone his superiority over Thor and that everyone who previously neglected him sat in a puddle. Personally, it was much more interesting for me to find out what kind of faces these guys depicting statues will have if I put the Internet here and put a prefix. And that, everything is much better than imposingly sitting on this regal chair and majestically staring into an empty hall. Rather, I worked with the Throne's neural interface and could literally look through the boundaries of the worlds, coordinating the actions of Asgard's troops, meeting with the rulers of the allies, giving orders to distant corners of the power and so on, so on, but from the outside it looked exactly like that. Look, Laura already seems to regret that she decided to go with me, look at the "work of the king", and not stay with her mother or Yuriko in the rooms allocated to him. Or not? Nothing is ever clear about this girl, so now she is wandering around the hall, staring at the armor of the guards and studying the frescoes on the ceiling, showing no signs of fatigue or boredom.
Silently following the girl with my eyes for several minutes, I waited for the moment when the "Blackbird" of the Xmen took passengers into itself and took off from the ground. After waiting a little longer, I allowed myself to relax, dispelling the illusion and mental suggestion on the SHIELD facility. Immediately it became easier, and the nasty, continuously screwed screws were removed from the temples.
Oh, so the little men ran around - they noticed the loss of the hammer, traces of lightning and a small red flag. It's already warmer in my heart ... Yes, everything is according to the principle: if joy settles in the heart, it means that someone has done something nasty. And what a pity that the Soviet Union in this world also collapsed, that the guys at Lubyanka would have caught the lulz, start sending them angry telegrams and photographs of Fury to prove that the commies are completely morose and fucking be like that. On the other hand, now the poor ex-Master Windu has no one to present even a claim, which is why he will obviously burn much stronger. Although ... maybe it will run over the Chinese, but the Chinese are still a people, where you sit down on them, you get off there - grabbed at the Vanir, you know ...
While I smiled vile, watching the panic of Fury's chicks, a crazy thought quietly entered my head. I would even say a bad idea. Harmful. Inappropriate. Bad ... very bad Loki! Don't think about digging a shipping channel between Mexico and Canada using the Rainbow Bridge! This is a non-core use of high-precision technology of spatial movement; self-respecting intellectuals do not hammer nails with a microscope!
Self-hypnosis helped ... little. But prompted a new thought.
Thanos.
As the king of Asgard, I could try to solve the problem of its existence at the root. It was risky and dangerous, but ... it had a good chance of success. He was not yet ready for full-scale war and the collection of the Infinity Stones. Almost ready - yes, but not ready. His army is probably already huge, but the Asgardian army is not yet battered by the pacification of the Nine Worlds after the anarchy that reigned with the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge, the attack of the dark elves and the liberation of Hela. Besides, joking aside, you can really hit with the Rainbow Bridge, if not on some kind of metropolitan world, which Thanos may not have, then on his huge ship ...
A quick check showed that the Throne of Asgard was preventing me from piercing the regions of the galaxy rumored to have been inhabited by the fallen titan. The radius to which the throne allowed me to send my feelings was limited to the Nine Worlds and slightly from above, and when trying to "bring the image" to a great distance, the "picture" was blurred, almost in complete analogy with an optical movie camera, although, of course, it was perceived completely differently ...
However, Heimdall should not have such restrictions. His eyes are a phenomenon, such a strong embodiment of the divine aspect that they have earned the title of legend even within the framework of Asgard. For the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, one can become invisible and inaudible, but his very gaze can penetrate any part of the galaxy. If Thanos does not have magic or technology that allows him to hide all his armies, then Heimdall will find him, and then it will be possible to strike ...
If I decide to do this,
Will I make up my mind? No matter how carelessly I grimace, I am far from the strongest warrior even in Odin's family. Both the Allfather and Thor surpass me in a direct clash, they are real warriors, real fighters who are not afraid of the battle, who are in their place in it - in their element. I'm different. I hate to fight. I can. And I can. But it turns me on. It's much easier for me to kill someone than to fight him. This is not a joke - to kill, you don't have to come face to face and exchange blows, you don't have to plan the course of the battle, you don't have to do anything at all. You may not be able to punch your opponent in the face, but at the same time be able to easily twist his neck or stab him in the throat. I, and the former Loki, was one of those people who do not catch courage from battle , we do not feel somehow special, waving our fists in a fight, it was always easier for us to kill than to win. True, both he and I have been limited all my life by the framework of society, which does not allow such behavior, only he is only within the framework of Asgard, and I - in general. But the point is that this kind of character does not allow one to surrender to the battle headlong and risk this head with complete dedication, at some point in the battle relying only on one's own luck and the enemy's failures. Odin and Thor could do that, I couldn't. I will not be able to rush into battle with a willingness to die, if fate wills so, I will not be able to lay down all of myself for the sake of defeating Thanos. And the fallen titan is not one of those who can be defeated without strain and risk. At the same time, I have no one to send in my place - Odin is asleep, Thor is exiled, and no one else can pull it, not even Heimdall, although he is a very serious fighter by the standards of Asgard.
Again, the plan was: to get out of this universe, and not overcome its problems, like what Superman is. If I had the power of Superman, I would have thought, but alas - I am a skinny ice giant half-blood, who cannot even fly, and not the Last Son of Krypton.
And now, by the way, there is also trouble - what to do with Lafey and the coming war? The canonical plan to eliminate the biological bati was not bad, but, for objective reasons, it is not available to me, because I did not escort the jotuns to Asgard, so Lafey won't listen to me if I asked him to go into a trap. A full-fledged war with Jotunheim ... Well, you can, in principle. Jotunheim is in decline, their entire techno-magic industry has been gouged by Odin, there is no analogue of the Rainbow Bridge, and they will not restore it very soon, even throw all your strength into it now. By the way, yes - they had their own analogue of the Rainbow Bridge, but it was destroyed, and restoration is prohibited under an agreement, the execution of which the same Heimdall tirelessly followed. But here, too, the trouble is, the war with Jotunheim is long and troublesome. This is Asgard - a Discworld the size of a large island, and there is a full-fledged planet, the local population of which will play guerrilla war with the army of aces and Vanir with great pleasure, and even sympathizers from all the Nine Worlds will run. Again, having no alternative, over the past thousand years, the ice giants have gotten a good grip on walking the paths of shadows ...
Suddenly, the smooth course of my gloomy thoughts, which were slowly leaning towards the option: "and indeed, should I smash Jotunheim with the Rainbow Bridge?", Was grossly violated. And in general, the peace with the pacification of the ancient hall scattered like a crystal vase under the foot of the landsknecht.
"Allfather! We urgently need to talk to you!" At the head of the three degenerate friends Thor, Lady Sif burst into the side doors, almost running towards the throne. At the same time, on her face, she managed to maintain an air of respect and humility.
The guards did not even raise an eyebrow, though why should they? The "guests" at the court had a high position on their own, and the entry into the retinue of the Prince, even if he was now in disgrace, made this position even higher. But then all this cavalcade saw me and went astray.
"They came …" I smiled, waiting for their approach. Well, yes, it was not said under the protocol, but he cared for me in the end.
"Loki ?! Are you back?" Sif was surprised, for a moment unable to keep her face and showing some dislike. Well, yes, "brother-nerd" "friends-hooligans" Thor did not do much favor, and this lively girl was no exception. "What happened? Where is Odin?"
"What happened? I raised an eyebrow." It happened that Thor's trick almost brought his father to the grave, and now he is in Odin's Dream and will wake up only after a few decades, at best! "I didn't have to portray irritation, the whole situation pretty much infuriated me." As a result, I had to drop everything and rush to Asgard, so that there was someone to lead the army in the war unleashed, including by your efforts, with Jotunheim. And by the way, Sif, take the trouble to explain to me how it came about that you didn't put Thor in the right mind when you heard about his plan? "I don't ask why they didn't do it - a gesture towards the trio of soldiers - but I had a better opinion of you! Where was your feminine intuition when the five of you went to storm the whole planet of creatures, in no way inferior in strength to Asgard ?!"
"… How can you say that?!" The girl did not immediately find the words, but she needed a pause just to go on the attack. "Thor wanted to save you!"
"To rescue?" not believing my ears, I ask again with a very characteristic physiognomy, expressed by a phrase starting with "what" and ending, as a rule, with an unprintable exclamation. Did she really ignore half of my speech? "From what? I didn't need to be saved! Nobody kidnapped me, I was not captured by enemies during the campaign, I just went for a walk away from Asgard, so as not to spoil the Torah holiday with my sour face! He even left a note so that they would not look for me and twitch. And instead of that, for some reason, he climbed to the jotuns and, in fact, unleashed a war. And now the result: the father is asleep, the mother does not leave his bed, Thor is in exile, and I became a king who needs to disentangle all this. So tell me, friends, how should I speak in such a situation?" if I could condense poison from my voice, only with the last phrase could I start wholesale deliveries.
"King?!" my brother's friends shouted in unison.
In response, silently (I clenched my teeth, trying with all my might not to swear) I turned the Gungnir in my hand, making the shaft slightly jingle with a stream of magic. A thin, insinuating sound swept across the entire bulk of the throne room, forcing the four guests to immediately turn on the ingrained reflexes and bend their knees together, pressing their fist to their chest in the region of the heart.
"Eh, leave it," I winced, feeling Laura's eyes on me. The girl clearly noticed the hostility in the air and became genuinely interested in what was happening and the personalities of the visitors. - I know perfectly well how "glad" you are to see me at this place, so let's leave the formalities: say why you came and we'll end it.
"We…" Sif began again, but at the last moment she restrained herself and, reflexively licking her lips, again tried to play acting: "My King," an attempt to smile respectfully was counted, but did not pass. No ... With such a smile, she can only heat the iron in front of the interlocutor tied to the chair "we ask you to return Thor from exile."
Unable to restrain myself, I leaned my right cheek on the exposed fingers, looking with sincere sadness at Thor's friends, who were also my friends. More precisely, it just so happened that the former Loki spent a significant part of his time in their company, playing the role of such a detachment nerd, which all the time speaks of caution and who is always brushed aside. On the one hand, Torah clearly should be envied, because not everyone has friends, that even in such a situation they will try to protect and save you to the end, including openly substituting themselves, as these four did now, but on the other ... How I wanted to take four pans, put them on their heads and play the drummer! I was not so eager to even get out of all this ass when I just got into this body and realized this ass depth! And I didn't want to kill them - some notes of old attachment buzzed on the edge of consciousness, as if someone had asked them to do this, I just ... I just wanted to hurt them! Let, damn it, their brains feel what it is like to exist!
"First, the new King of Asgard cannot overturn the last edict of his predecessor. This is the law. And secondly ... Did you think well? The Allfather did not send Thor into exile for a torn tablecloth! Do you even understand that if Thor had arranged what he had arranged just a few days later and after Odin fell into his sleep, you would already be all dead and Asgard beheaded? The new King of Asgard is killed while trying to invade Jotunheim - great prospect, isn't it? Very conducive to peace and tranquility in the Nine Worlds. What should I expect if he comes back now? That in a week he will arrange for us a war with the Kree empire? The punishment should bring results - forcing the punished to draw conclusions and improve, but what conclusions could Thor draw in just a few days? And what conclusions will he draw if, even for such an offense, he is immediately forgiven and returned? Can you honestly say that he has already improved? Can you vouch for this with your honor and good name? Let's! "I straighten up on the throne, mockingly looking at the supplicants." If you do that, I'll think of something. Well, I am waiting.
"None of this would have happened if you had not disappeared!" already trembling with indignation, Sif hissed, shooting me with a flaming gaze. Alas, he was not burning with passion to grab my "innocent" body and show a master class in the riding pose.
"Oh yes, of course, no matter what happens - Loki is to blame for everything, how could I forget?" I lift up my eyes to grief. However, in fairness, on the faces of Ogun, Wolstagg and Fandral one could read the understanding of my arguments, expressed in deep shame, and Sif objected, clearly out of stubbornness. "Okay, let's leave that, especially since you gave the answer," I alternately meet my eyes with all four. "Something else?"
"If you will," feeling obvious discomfort, Volshtagg thumped uncertainty, "I dare to ask ... Your Majesty …" Here the gaze of the red-bearded big man finally snatched from the surrounding space a beating detail, in the form of Laura, who came closer to see everything better. "And who is it?" here and others noticed the 'undocumented element'.
"This is …" I look at the child and respond exactly the same, that is, simple, direct and with a slight interest. 'My advisor,' I shrug, turning back to the four.
"Counselor?" Fandral asked with an air of "I misheard".
"Yes. My most important advisor," I put my fingers on my free hand to my chin. "Each dark ruler and the embodiment of universal evil and deceit should have a child advisor to check his plans for adequacy. Am I right?" I throw a glance at Laura.
"…" the girl clearly understood little, at least her eyes, running from me to Thor's friends and back, said that we were all complete psychos, but, having decided something for herself, X-23 nodded in agreement.
"Dark Lord?" Wolstagg asked, amazed.
"Embodiments of universal evil?" Fandral echoed.
"…" Sif's face, with which she was staring at Laura, generally deserved an Oscar. I could not clearly express why and in what nomination, but it deserved it one hundred percent! I even kept this image in the memory of the Throne next to the record of how Xavier raised Mjolnir - then I will definitely transfer it to a portable holoprojector and review it when I want to feel my chic.
"Oh, just do not pretend that it is not your efforts that I have a reputation of an evil God on all Nine Worlds. Although Surtur is with him, let's skip this joke as too subtle. I repeat the question: do you have any other business with the King of Asgard?"
"We ..." Wolstagg began again, but I interrupted him:
"Except for the return of Thor."
"We need to talk to the Queen!" Sif blurted out, once again convincing me of her complete impenetrability.
And again I did not know whether to envy the Torah or sympathize with me. On the one hand, such a loving and selfless woman is a reason for envy, especially since my predecessor was secretly in love with her at one time, after all, Sif was indeed a beauty against the background of many and many other Asgardian women, plus a strong-willed character, constant stay around and all that. To remove the mole from her face and give her a normal breast instead of a flat plain - in general, such a candy would turn out that I would not resist and began to drool no less than on Storm. On the other hand, with such a temperament, she can bring problems to her man many times more than bring benefit, especially if she really goes with him into those serious relationships when it is permissible to find out any topics, no matter how personal they are, and show her attitude without being ashamed of anyone.
"Speak," meanwhile, without distracting from reflections, I answered with an indifferent look.
"What? .." Asinya bumped into the wall, obviously expecting another shock from my side.
"I don't mind you talking to my mother," I explained my position. "I'm against you breaking into Odin's bedchamber when she's there, but as long as you like the rest of the time."
"Thank you," Sif muttered in confusion, and the looks of the others expressed a fair amount of bewilderment.
"Please," I nod back. "And now, if you have everything …" I pause, as if offering to speak.
"Um ... We are grateful for your time ... Your Majesty," Wolstagg bowed awkwardly, starting to bother his friends with an eye to the exit.
Having patiently waited until all the knocked-down four disappeared, I caught Laura's eye and tried to convey to her with my face how sad it all was. The girl seems to understand. I was even wondering when these figures will realize that Frigga does not leave Odin's bed at all? At the same time, I was not going to underestimate the woman - if she wants, she will talk to anyone without getting up from the chair. True, there was a big question in all this, namely, would she want to talk with Thor's friends? The memory of the former Loki suggested that it was more likely no than yes. Well, of course, as soon as this is revealed, I will be again appointed to blame, like, a dastardly deceiver and all that, but hey, who would have doubted at all?
So where did I stop there? Oh yes, the elimination of Lafey ...
A little bit later. In the hallways of the palace.
Lady Sif walked irritably along the bedroom wing of the palace, intending to look for the Queen in her chambers, while anger bubbled up in Asinya's soul. On Thor, who climbed to save this ungrateful, on fighting friends, who hardly stopped her mouth when she wanted to express everything she thinks, and, of course, on the new "Tsar", smugly sitting on the Throne of Odin and portraying a sufferer, only with all this, he didn't put a finger on his finger to get his brother back, hiding behind traditions and unwritten rules! Thor didn't give a damn about it all to go after Loki! And such is his gratitude ?!
Latent thoughts and a lonely voice, timidly wondering why the God of Magic had to be saved at all, was completely ignored by the asynya, who was in an extremely nervous state. Well, at least the "Tsar" generously granted an audience with Mistress Frigga. A big mistake on his part - his mother will surely be able to correct Loki's brains and make Thor return! True, I had to argue a little with my friends, who unanimously asserted that since Loki allowed the visit, there would be no sense from this visit - and this is even if you are lucky, otherwise it would not turn out worse. Only Sif stood her ground, and in the end they gave up, muttering something like "well, maybe a woman will understand a woman better", as if it required some kind of special understanding at all, but what to take from them?
But the plans for an immediate conversation had to be drastically changed - passing by the guest quarters, Asinya heard Frigga's voice, and she was clearly not alone and talking to someone. It was unworthy of a warrior to eavesdrop, but ... since they did not activate the defense system, then it's okay? The fact that only members of the royal family could enter this wing of the palace without permission went unnoticed by her. And the girl turned to ear.
"… So how did it happen that mortals began to travel with my son? - mortals ?! In Asgard? Sif had to try not to give himself away with a surprised exclamation.
"The master saved me from a fate much worse than death," answered a calm soft voice, "therefore it is my duty to serve him, for my life now belongs to him," - Loki saved someone? Not that it was something out of the ordinary, but now Sif was very angry at the second prince and with much more enthusiasm would have believed in any of his sins and dirty tricks than in a heroic act.
"And he accepted your service?" Frigga was surprised.
"Not right away," the voice of the respondent trembled slightly, "but ... yes. Even now I realize that it is unlikely that he will ever need her."
"And how quickly did he agree?" more and more interest sounded in Frigga's voice.
"I'm not sure… a minute or two…"
"Indeed? It's amazing," Odin's wife thought about something. " And you?"
"My case is somewhat similar to that of Yuriko," another female voice replied. " I was a research scientist, geneticist. And because of her work …" the defendant hesitated, "became a prisoner of people who wanted to use my knowledge to create intelligent weapons. Loki pulled me and Laura out of captivity and offered his help."
"Loki did what ?!" - the warrior froze like a stone statue.
"Proposed?" Frigga was unfeignedly surprised. "Himself?"
"Yes," there was bewilderment in the voice, " as I understood, he got information about Laura and me from interrogating the captor Yuriko, at the same time preventing the outbreak of world war …" the respondent hesitated again.
"Something is wrong?" Frigga asked softly.
"Well… he said he did it for the potatoes."
"For ... potatoes?" Queen Sif's surprise was completely shared. She knew what a "potato" was, but to commit, it seems, deeds worthy of the legends of the skalds for her sake?
"Yes. According to him, she does not grow in Asgard, and since he loves her very much, he could not allow the death of the Earth and humanity."
"This is Loki," laughed the asinya, "he never admits that he did anything at the behest of his soul, instead coming up with a whole bunch of reasons. This is how he was from childhood. Although I am surprised by his behavior immensely."
"Surprised?" asked again ... it seems that she was called Yuriko ... a strange name.
"Yes. For more than a thousand years, Loki has not acquired his inner circle, always preferring books or Thor's company, and it is all the more strange that after helping you he stayed, and did not go further" now Frigga's voice acquired some interesting notes. "It is interesting. Although, of course, I am especially amazed at the way he treats this girl, your daughter, as I understand it, " she obviously turned to one of the interlocutors. "My youngest son has always avoided children, and she allows him to follow her around the palace. Amazing."
"Laura also treats him strangely," the second woman, whose name has not yet been announced, awkwardly admitted. " But I think this is understandable, because he is the first man who ... well ... does not perceive her as a thing and a test subject."
"Do you really want to say? .." The Tsarina's voice trembled with concern.
"Yes, that sane weapon I was working on was Laura. She is a mutant with the ability to regenerate. People from ... the very top wanted to make an ideal soldier out of her, and in the future - to establish the production of clones as soon as the training technique was worked out, - the speaker's voice trembled, giving out serious tension and how personal the told facts were for her, therefore, deciding, that further listening would be completely indecent, Sif knocked on the door.
"Come in," it took Frigga just a moment to change his voice from the soft rustle of an ordinary woman to the imperative notes of the Queen. This quality of sharing personal communication and an official tone always aroused some envy in the young asinya - she could not do that.
"My Queen," the guest bowed courteously, not forgetting to look at the silenced interlocutors of Odin's wife.
One of them did not arouse any interest - an ordinary woman who hardly took in her hands something heavier than a spindle or a ladle, besides, her strange clothes looked rather ridiculous and alien in the setting of the palace of the rulers of Asgard. Another ... Her clothes were also unusual, as were her facial features, at first glance - similar to those inherent in people from Vanaheim, but still not quite the same as those of the women there, but this was not the main thing - a fleeting glance of the warrior was enough to recognize a fellow warrior. The posture, the expression of the eyes, the position of the hands - now this mortal was relaxed, but her whole body simply screamed about its readiness to rush into the attack at any moment. This was not a signal of distrust or aggression, just a habit, a developed and fixed reflex. And she was also beautiful, - asinya noted with a grain of jealousy, - with such an exotic beauty of the Vanir, which she looked a little like in face. Sif even began to suspect why Loki so quickly agreed to the service of this woman ... men, what to take from them.
"Lady Sif," the older woman nodded, letting a slight chill slip in her intonations. A bad sign, which, undoubtedly, the guest would have caught if she were in a less agitated state, but alas.
"My Queen, I would like to talk to you …"
"Can't it wait? I am now somewhat busy with my son" the degree of cold has increased.
"I beg your pardon, but no, the conversation will touch upon your son …"
"Okay," Odin's wife answered with a sigh and turned to the mortals. "I beg your pardon, I think I have urgent things to do. I suggest we continue our conversation at dinner tonight, if you don't mind."
"O-o-f course, Lady Frigga," the 'peaceful' mortal replied. Her warrior friend just nodded.
"Then we will leave you," the Tsarina politely bowed her head and smiled warmly. "I recommend spending some time at the observation platforms - the sunset will begin soon, and you will have a wonderful view."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Yuriko bowed politely.
Smiling again, this time with one glance, the elder Asinya turned to the exit and beckoned Sif to follow her. They soon found themselves in the hallway.
"So what did you want to talk about?" the smile on Frigga's lips did not last long - she had only to turn to the warrior.
"About Thor and Loki!"
"King Loki," the woman corrected her in a tone that did not allow even a hint of disobedience. "My son is your King," at this moment Thor's faithful companion began to suspect that the friends were right and this cunning bastard did not just mind their conversation with his mother.
"I beg your pardon, lady," Sif bowed her head.
"I'm sorry. What did you want to say about Thor and Loki?"
" Loki ... he! .." The girl took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "We asked him to return Thor from exile, because Asgard will need the power of the Thunder God more than ever, but he refused, referring to some obscure excuses! And that's after what Thor did for him! He has seized the throne!"
"You. You dare. Blame. Mine. Son. In the seizure of power?" Slowly, without raising her voice, but so that everything inside Sif trembled, the Queen asked. "Are you claiming that he has 'unintelligible excuses'? Do you know that he himself went to Midgard so as not to interfere with Thor? That I had to personally look for him and persuade him to take the throne of his father, and he agreed only after I called out to his Duty ?!"
"B-but… exile…" Sif blewed lostly.
" Was imposed fairly. As a mother, it pains me to admit this, but as a Queen, I understand my husband's decision. And I am extremely disappointed with you, who called themselves friends of Thor ... and Loki. I'm extremely disappointed with you, Sif. Instead of stopping the prince's fervor, you decided to indulge his childish whims. And so," the angry woman waved her hand, as if offering to look at what was happening with the world around, "the All-Father fell into a Dream for decades, maybe centuries. And all you do is slander the ace that you were forced to take on his burden? Is this why, after a thousand years of life in Asgard, Loki did not dare to accept at least someone as his friend? Get away and don't you dare catch my eye!"
"My King …"
"I said - get out!" a magical blow knocked the air out of the girl's lungs, and threw her back a few steps. The results of the audience were clearly not in line with Sif's expectations.