Thor Ragnarok, page 5
Thor looked at the controls as a familiar face appeared on the screen: It was Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. She and the Hulk had been close friends back when the Hulk was still on Earth, fighting alongside the Avengers.
“Hey, big guy,” she began haltingly, her features sad and worried. “Not sure if you’re out there. Not sure if you’re even getting these. Fifth I’ve sent so far. I know you must be scared out there, wherever you are. But everything will be fine.” The screen flickered for a moment and Black Widow reappeared. “I miss you. And the sun’s getting real low. . . .”
The image faded as the message ended. Thor turned. The Hulk’s gaze was transfixed on the screen. He reached out to touch it, and as he did so, his arm began to shrink, along with his entire body.
Slowly, the Hulk transformed back into Bruce Banner.
Thor raced to embrace his friend. “She encoded a trigger phrase! Brilliant work! I wish I knew about that one. It would have saved a beating and a lot of hurt. But welcome back!”
Bruce was in a state of shock. He pushed out of Thor’s friendly embrace and looked around wildly. “Where—where am I?” Memories began to come racing back, and he started to panic. “Ultron! Sokovia! We have to stop him. I didn’t want to harm anyone else. I wanted to—”
Thor tried to calm Banner. “My friend, please. Listen to me. Ultron was defeated. The Avengers destroyed him.”
“When? How?” Banner was baffled.
“Two years ago.” Thor sighed, hating to deliver the news.
Banner’s eyes widened. “Two—two years?” Looking around, he took in the alien sights and sounds. Turning to Thor, a terrified look crossed his features. “Hulk. He’s been in control this whole time. Do I even want to know what he’s been doing?”
“Probably best you don’t. Let’s just say you’re quite popular here, and very recognizable, so try and remain calm and in control.”
“Says the god of thunder.” Banner’s voice was tinged with panic as he tried to breathe.
“Not so much on this world.”
Banner looked at Thor, desperation in his eyes. “So, what’s the plan? How do we get out of here and back home?”
Thor nodded to the Quinjet, which was now torn in two. “Well, our first option is off the table. But I know someone who might be able to help.”
“You’ve lost them both? The blond one I can kind of understand, but the Champion, too? How do you lose a two-ton green killing monster?!”
Valkyrie winced as the Grandmaster’s tirade continued. The Grandmaster, for his part, tried to calm himself as he paced his chamber. “Think, think, think. Ah! A game!”
“Game?” Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. Now did not seem the time for games.
“A contest. See who can find them first. You or”—he turned to face Loki, who was seated comfortably in the corner—“his brother.”
Loki appeared taken aback. “Me? Whatever reason for? Games are my forte, but not these sorts. Mine are more… cerebral, shall we say?”
“You are related. You know how he thinks. And . . .” The Grandmaster paused, a gleam in his eye. “You love money.”
This piqued both Valkyrie’s and Loki’s interests. “How much are we talking?” Valkyrie asked.
“More than you’ve ever been paid. Combined.” The Grandmaster’s face turned serious. “The first of you to find my Champion and return him to me wins. As for the Asgardian, do whatever you want with him. He’s too much trouble as it is.”
Valkyrie and Loki eyed each other, sizing up their new competition. “What are you waiting for? Go!” the Grandmaster ordered. With that, the contest was on between the two new rivals.
“This is insane. You know that, right?” Banner was racing to keep up with Thor. He was wearing new clothes found in an emergency compartment in the Quinjet: jeans and a T-shirt that read STARK RULES.
“The situation is a bit dire—I’ll give you that,” Thor replied.
“I meant all of this.” Bruce gestured widely to emphasize his point.
The two were racing through the streets of the marketplace. Everywhere, there were vendors selling Champion merchandise. Hulk masks, shirts, fists that roared when punched together.
“I told you; he’s quite popular here.” Thor led them out of the market and accidentally straight into a parade celebrating the Champion. A band was playing, and green powder exploded everywhere.
One parade-goer pointed what looked like a party favor at Bruce’s face and pulled a string, and—POP!—Bruce was covered in the green powder.
Bruce could feel himself starting to lose control in the face of all this Hulk-mania. He fought for calm. “The sun’s getting real low.… The sun’s getting real low,” Bruce repeated as he stumbled through the crowd, blinded by the powder. He crashed into a rather unpleasant-looking alien, who immediately took offense. Bruce looked around, but he had lost Thor in the crowd. The angered alien began to raise his fist, ready to pummel Bruce when… ZZZZZZAP! He began to shake uncontrollably and fell facedown.
Bruce examined the alien and saw an Obedience Disk attached to his back. “You’re new,” came a voice from behind him.
Bruce turned and saw Valkyrie. She was holding the controller for the Obedience Disk in her hand as she looked him over. “Too bad you’re of no use to me. You wouldn’t last five seconds in the arena.”
“You have no idea how wrong you are,” Thor said, pushing his way to them.
“Arena? What arena?” Bruce’s confusion was compounded the longer he stayed.
“Valkyrie, meet your Champion.” Thor motioned toward the baffled Bruce.
Valkyrie looked stunned at the sight of the once-unstoppable force of nature reduced to this human standing before her. “This? But he’s so”—she wrinkled her nose—“puny.”
Banner stood a little taller, taking offense. “I prefer the term academic.”
Thor moved to Valkyrie. “I’ve been searching for you.”
“I was about to say the same thing,” she replied.
“Please. Tell me you’re here to help.” Thor’s face grew hopeful.
Valkyrie scoffed and motioned for the pair to follow her. She shook her head. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. Thickheaded, but persistent.”
CHAPTER
The trio made their way through the parade, dodging and weaving around overly enthusiastic partyers all celebrating the Hulk’s triumphs. Bruce still couldn’t believe there was a place where his destructive alter ego could be so beloved.
“So, how do you two know each other?” he yelled to Valkyrie and Thor above the din of the revelers.
“She is a great warrior of Asgard lore,” Thor said.
“He was my prisoner,” Valkyrie said at the same time. “I brought him to fight you.”
Banner was taken aback. “We… fought?” His eyes grew wide with dread. “Did I hurt you?”
Thor waved away his friend’s concerns. “Nothing time and maybe some healing waters and fine wine in Asgard can’t cure.”
Valkyrie smiled at the notion that Bruce was unaware of his actions as the Hulk. “He’s lucky you two are friends,” she told him. “You’ve been the Champion for a while for a reason.”
Banner seemed despondent. “This celebration, these people, they adore the Hulk. What did I do to deserve this?”
“Well, you managed to successfully ki—”
Thor interrupted Valkyrie, desperate to change the subject. “Where are we going?”
“My ship. The Grandmaster wants you, and I’m turning down a lot of money for doing this, so I might change my mind.” Valkyrie’s tone had altered since they’d last spoken, Thor noticed.
“Why the change of heart?” Thor was genuinely curious.
A sigh came from Valkyrie. “Hela. You had to go and tell me she was back.” The warrior shook her head. “It is a Valkyrie’s duty to protect Asgard from her. When she attacked before, I was too young and naive to think I could handle her on my own.” She paused, remembering her past. “I didn’t last beyond the first wave of her attack.”
“So you’ll return with me to Asgard and finish what you started?” Thor was pleased he had finally gotten through to her.
“I’ll do what I can to get you to Asgard. Then we’ll see what I do.” Valkyrie motioned for them to follow her. “We’re here.”
Thor recognized the sleek vessel from earlier, when she’d captured him to deliver him to the Grandmaster. Valkyrie’s ship was clearly one of the finer ships flying the Sakaarian skies. The three got on board.
“You’ll need to sit up here with me. We have company in the back.” Valkyrie turned their attention to a bound and gagged figure in the rear of the ship. It was Loki. Thor immediately grabbed the nearest object, a wrench, and threw it at his brother. The wrench hit Loki squarely in the chest, and he let out a muffled cry.
“I had to be sure,” Thor explained. “He’s known for his illusions.”
“I had to be sure he wouldn’t beat me in the Grandmaster’s bet in case he found you first and took you to the crazy fool, like the lapdog he’s become.” Valkyrie clearly had no patience for the Trickster.
Thor chuckled. “You’ve come to know my brother well.”
“Loki’s here? Are you guys insane? Don’t you remember what he did to us all the last time?” Bruce was warily eyeing the tied-up villain.
“Yes, and I’m sure he remembers who it was that helped put an end to his mad quest. If he moves, feel free to go green on him again.” Thor smiled as Loki visibly paled at the memory.
Valkyrie was punching coordinates into her navigation system. “I figure our best bet is to get to Xandar, refuel, and stock up on supplies. If we maintain top speed, we should reach Asgard in eighteen months or so.”
Thor was aghast. “Eighteen months? Asgard may not even have eighteen hours if Hela has truly returned and is as deadly as you say!”
“I’m the one with the ship, but I’m open to suggestions.” Valkyrie sat back, confident that hers was the best option.
“Is there a faster ship?” Thor asked. Valkyrie shook her head. He scanned the sky, looking at the many wormholes. “We came here through one of those. Perhaps we can return the same way.”
Valkyrie laughed in his face. “Okay, Thunder God. Pick one and I’ll tell you how that won’t work.”
He pointed at the vast wormhole that took up nearly a third of the sky. “That one. It seems like it could lead us wherever we need to be in the shortest amount of time.”
Slack-jawed, Valkyrie gazed at Thor in silence for a moment before bursting into a fit of hysterics. “You expect me to fly into the Magnetar? This ship wouldn’t last a minute in there, and I didn’t sign up for a suicide run.”
Banner pushed his way into the cockpit to get a better view. “You have a Magnetar wormhole here?”
“You know of this?” Thor asked.
“I studied it as part of my fourth doctorate.”
“Then you can help us navigate through it. Perfect!” Thor beamed.
Bruce didn’t look as convinced. “I don’t think you understand. The interior of a Magnetar wormhole is such that even a teaspoon of its atmosphere would have the mass of a hundred million tons.”
Thor looked at his friend, not grasping the issue. “Sooooo . . .”
“We drink and toast to an impossible plan,” Valkyrie answered.
“Surely there is a way, Banner.” Thor was insistent.
Bruce thought for a moment. “Well, assuming none of us black out from the pressure during the journey, then we would still need a ship that could withstand the geodetic strain of the wormhole without shields, and some kind of off-line power-steering mechanism that could function without the onboard computer system.”
Valkyrie stared at Bruce. “You’re right. Academic suits you better than puny.”
“Can we find such a vessel here?” Thor asked.
A series of muffled grunts and sounds came from the back. They turned to see Loki trying to spit out his gag. Thor cautiously approached his brother and took off the binding around his mouth.
“Finally. Thank you. If you had let me join the conversation earlier, I could have avoided Doctor Banner’s physics lesson.” Thor moved to replace the gag, but Loki dodged him. “Apologies. One tends to get a bit testy when tied up in the back of a strange ship and having tools tossed at him.”
“You said you had a solution? Spit it out.” Thor’s patience was wearing thin.
“The Grandmaster gave me a tour of his palace, and he has a collection of only the finest ships in the galaxy in his garage.”
“So we hot-wire a ship from the guy that’s held me hostage for two years?” Bruce asked incredulously.
“Have you a better idea?” Loki retorted.
Bruce shook his head. “Just making sure we were screwing over the right guy.”
Loki turned back to Thor. “Free me, brother, and I can lead you to where he stores his ships. I have studied his compound and am certain we can easily evade detection and find the ship we need.” Loki looked and sounded sincere. Thor paused for a moment before unbinding his brother.
The unlikely pair began to exit the ship before Thor stopped, looking back to Valkyrie. “For this to work, I think it best if we have some sort of distraction.”
A grin crossed Valkyrie’s face. “I think I know just the thing.”
As Loki and Thor exited the ship, Valkyrie lifted off and headed toward the arena.
Thor looked at his brother. “We’ll only have one chance at this. Do not mess it up.”
Loki smiled. “Trust me, brother. I have everything under control.”
Bruce watched as Valkyrie landed her ship in the middle of the arena. “What are you planning?”
“If I were you, I’d worry less about that and more about staying small and pink.” Valkyrie smiled. “Everyone out there might love the Champion, but these guys may not be so happy to see Big Green. You’re their main competition.”
Banner waited in the ship as Valkyrie easily took out two guards stationed in front of a dark cavern. Within moments, he began to hear an approaching roar and felt the ground shake. Valkyrie came bolting out of the entrance to the cavern. Bruce couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw what followed her.
Dozens of aliens came pouring out of the cavern. Weapons were being passed around to each as the freed prisoners armed themselves. Valkyrie’s ship began its ascent, and she and Bruce flew over Korg, who had taken control of the freed prisoners and was readying the group for battle.
Valkyrie flipped a switch, and a loudspeaker projected her voice to the crowd below. Looking at Korg, she said, “The god of thunder sends his best.”
With that, she flew off as a full-scale riot began.
CHAPTER
Can anyone please explain to me how things got to this point?” the Grandmaster demanded as he made his way through the corridors of his massive ship. Looking onto the dismal scene below, he saw his finest fighters, who he had been grooming for his beloved Contests, inciting a riot, running through the streets, destroying anything that bore the Champion’s face.
A guard approached the Grandmaster. “Well, sir, the slaves—”
The Grandmaster cut him off with a glare. “What have I said about that word?”
The guard, chagrined, corrected himself. “The ‘prisoners with jobs’ were freed, it appears, by Scrapper 142.”
Topaz snorted from behind the Grandmaster. “Figures. I told you she couldn’t be trusted,” she said smugly.
“Now, now. This is not the time for petty jealousies. We need constructive criticism. And a plan. An extra week’s pay for the person who comes up with the best plan. Go!” The Grandmaster settled himself in the plush captain’s chair on the deck of the ship and watched as his city erupted in chaos. His ship was soon flanked by a half-dozen warships meant to end this riot—and quickly.
Below, Korg looked up to see the man who had pillaged his beloved city for sport. His chance for redemption, and to complete the uprising he’d once been a part of, was finally at hand. With a cry, he ordered his fellow freed fighters to direct their attacks toward the ship. The Grandmaster’s vessel was suddenly bombarded with blasts, rocks, and anything the rioters could throw or fire at it.
Growing more agitated, the Grandmaster repeated wildly, “The plan? Anyone?!”
“What is your plan here, brother?” Thor whispered as the two Asgardians skulked quietly through the depths of the Grandmaster’s palace.
“Patience, dear brother. First we must worry about the two guards blocking our path.”
Acting in tandem, the sons of Odin disarmed the guards and knocked them unconscious with one fluid movement.
“You’ll help us free Asgard from Hela’s grip when we arrive? I can count on you?” Thor asked.
“Of course. After all, I’m sure you blame me for her resurgence. It’s the least I can do.” Loki appeared contrite. “Although, I am curious, why the sudden change of heart to become Odinson and assume the throne?”
“It is what is needed to defeat Hela. Therefore it is my duty,” Thor said plainly. He let out a small sigh, his voice almost apologetic. “In the past I demanded the throne when I hadn’t earned it, and then refused the throne when Asgard needed me most. You stole it. Twice.”
“Yet you are always forgiven,” Loki said, trying not to sneer.
“My point is that our self-centered conflict over Asgard has ruined our kingdom. We have been so focused on fighting for the top we’ve forgotten there’s a middle and a bottom. If I’m to be king, then I want to be a custodian, not a conqueror.”
“Why the sudden baring of your soul to me?” Loki asked.
Thor turned to his brother. “Because I want to change. I want to be better. And I think you can, too. Helping us escape has shown you can take strides toward that.” He looked at Loki earnestly. “Make a fresh start, brother. It’s time.”
