The 00 cyborgs saw little of Jet for the next several weeks; he had no interest in associating with them anymore. He disposed of his uniform long ago, trading it in for a plain tunic and a cloak fastened with a gold fibula. When he wasn't off converting humanity with the gods the team would catch sight of him tagging along after Thor or Odin in the halls. At meals Jet would wedge himself next to Odin, displacing Thor or Freya, and talk loudly about nothing.
But lately Jet would vanish on his own for days at a time. The gods didn't seem to mind, if they even noticed at all. Jet came and went as he pleased and the cyborgs wait for any sign from him for a plan of escape. None came and even Joe began to worry.
It was a rare chance that Joe happened upon Jet alone in the corridors. The redhead was tucked away in the shadows of one of the warped folds of the wooden walls, smoking a cigarette. Joe might have missed him were it not for the glowing ember.
"Didn't know you started smoking again," Joe said by way of greeting. He didn't know what else to say.
"Yeah, well, it's been an interesting couple 'a weeks. Needed the nicotine."
An awkward silence that didn't belong between them settled, Jet taking a long drag while Joe shuffled his feet. He sighed.
"You know I trust you, Jet, but we haven't heard a word from you since you went god-mode, much less a plan of escape. What are we supposed to think?"
"Sorry." Jet at least looked remorseful.
"What's going on?"
"I had to wait for them to trust me, to give me free rein. They were watching me too closely in the beginning so I had to play the part. That meant cutting you guys out."
"You could have told us your plan beforehand. We still don't know what's going on."
"I didn't want you all involved if things went south."
"We're a team, Jet! You shouldn't carry this yourself!"
Jet smiled and held up his hands, "Trust me, it's for purely selfish reasons. If my plan goes wrong I'll be in deep shit and I'll need you guys to pull me out."
Glancing around to ensure they were alone, Joe moved to stand by his friend and leaned against the wall. Jet's cigarette smelled foul; it wasn't his old brand.
"So we can escape? Now that you can move freely?"
"Escaping isn't part of the plan."
Joe's head snapped around, eyes wide. "What?"
"Think about it, Joe. I let us all out, then what? We'll be back to square one in our fight against them and my leverage will be gone. We already know we can't beat them head on, not as things stand."
"You defeated Loki," Joe said.
Jet smiled wryly, "That was mostly 001. I wouldn't have stood a chance by myself, especially since Loki was expecting me to turn on him."
"You contacted Ivan?"
"Of course! Actually, he found me. He and Gilmore came up when they didn't hear from us. I told him my plan. He thinks it's stupid but he and the professor are hiding out in the town ready to go. Well," Jet looked sheepish, "after 001 wakes up. Taking on Loki took a lot out of him."
"What is your plan, Jet?" Joe's tone was firm, he would not be left in the dark.
Jet only sighed, took one last drag from his cigarette, then flicked the butt away. "You know, it's like they don't even remember the other guy. As far as they're concerned I've always been one of them."
He pushed off the wall and walked away, ignoring Joe when he called after him.
Jet vanished again and it always made for a quiet meal. Cyborgs and gods ate together in silence. Joe had passed on the news of Ivan and Professor Gilmore's arrival and it improved the team's morale greatly until he told them of Jet having no intention to free them. Joe considered withholding that part, but considering his own annoyance at Jet's cryptic behavior he could hardly do the same. Besides, he was the leader and it was best to keep his team prepared for anything. Unfortunately that meant that they had questions and he had no answers. It made for a tense meal indeed.
The great doors to the hall flew open and Jet strode in, his cloak and hair soaked. Had it been raining or had the snow not yet melted. It struck Joe hard how long it had been since he saw outdoors.
Jet stood there, dripping, blue eyes like fire as he glared at the gods.
"What the hell is this?"
It was almost comical the way the cyborgs' heads snapped around to see the gods' response.
"Mind your tongue when speaking to the All-Father, Trickster," Thor growled.
"Why? He's pretty carefree with his," Jet snapped, advancing on the gods, "Didn't you promise me that you'd never take even a sip of drink before me, your brother? Yet here you are, feasting and drinking without a thought to me. You cats are all just talk."
Joe watched the exchange closely. What the hell was Jet talking about? Whatever it was, the gods appeared dumbfounded, even Odin's single eye widened slightly.
Jet didn't back down. Ignoring Freya and Thor, he faced Odin as though primed for a fight.
"What is he doing?" GB hissed through gritted teeth.
Odin's eye narrowed as he and Jet stared each other down. Finally, the king of the gods dipped his head slightly, as though nodding to himself, and stood.
"You speak truth, for once. I did indeed swear this oath to you, and I ask your forgiveness."
Jet's smile was triumphant if brief. He then smirked and shrugged. "Hey, no big deal. Next time I'll be home for dinner."
Like a switch had been flipped, Thor's mood changed from hostile to friendly as he offered his seat beside Odin to Jet.
"Come, eat and drink, and tell us of your adventures, Loki."
"Don't mind if I do," Jet said and settled himself in his new customary position at Odin's side.
"They called him Loki."
Francoise voiced what everyone else was thinking as the cyborgs hurried from the feasting hall. After Jet's outburst things settled into the routine and Joe stood and requested Odin's permission to leave almost immediately after. None could simply leave Odin's presence. The god waved them away with little more than a glance, like uninteresting children. The 00 cyborgs returned, unthinking, to their usual bed-down place in the halls.
Pyunma stopped and leaned one shoulder against the wall. "It was as though 002 was testing them," he mused to himself, though loud enough for the others to hear.
"But testing what?" Chang said.
"I don't know. Whether the gods are following the myths or not?"
"He told me before," Joe added, "that it was as though they no longer remembered Loki, and then today they call him Loki."
Great Britain smirked. "Like an understudy."
The team glanced at him. "What was that?" Joe asked.
"You know, like in a play. When the lead actor can't carry on, the understudy takes his place. The audience doesn't know the difference because who cares who's playing the role so long as it's done well, right?"
Joe stared at GB, his mouth agape. "You're right. You're absolutely right."
"What?"
"They're playing the parts! They're cyborgs, and it's like 004 said, all they have are the myths! I think I get 002's plan now, we have to play the parts too."
Francoise moved next to Joe and laid her hand on his arm. "To what end? 002 said he had no intention of escape."
"I don't know. Maybe to influence them? Gain access to their power source?"
"I don't think it's a good idea," Albert said, leaning against the wall next to Pyunma with his arms crossed, "How do we know 002 isn't under their influence? Am I the only one who saw what that spear did to him?"
Joe sighed. "I think that was just for show."
"Could be, but how do we know for certain? What if they've done something to him and are using him to pull us in too?"
"Then I'll do it alone. If they are influencing Jet, we shouldn't risk the whole team."
"Why you?" Pyunma spoke up, "If something goes wrong, we'll need you on our side."
"Because if something goes wrong I won't risk any more of you."
"But you think we'll readily risk you?" Francoise cried, gripping his arm.
"No, but it's my stupid idea. I'm not gonna put someone else in my place."
"Joe…" Francoise began.
"I'll do this," he smiled, that almost shy, innocent smile that didn't belong on the face of a man who'd grown up a delinquent, "Trust me."
Joe knelt before Odin's throne, humbling himself before the god. While the team, standing some distance behind him, knew of his intent they were no less anxious. It worked in their favor as it seemed Odin suspected nothing.
As before Odin sat upon Hlidskjalf, Thor and Freya beside him. The only difference now was Jet, perched on the armrest of Odin's throne as though he owned it. He was smiling.
"I've come before you to ask to become a god," Joe announced.
Odin narrowed his eye. "Why should I grant you this? You who so callously denied my offer and continued to defy me, despite my generosity?"
Joe ignore Geronimo's exceptionally loud snort of derision behind him and said, "We cyborgs have devoted ourselves to the protection of mankind and saw you as a threat, but I understand now, what you plan to do. That you are truly gods who intend to guide humanity. You are only being cruel to be kind. I wish to be a part of it." Joe lowered his eyes, "To serve you and better mankind."
Jet leaned close to Odin and whispered, "Doesn't he remind you of Baldur?"
Odin glanced at him briefly, then back to Joe. "He does indeed. We could use one such as that," he shoved Jet away and stood, raising Gungnir. "If you speak truly and will serve my will for all time, then I shall bestow upon you godhood and an honored place in my hall."
"And the humans?" Joe asked.
"Together we will lead them to prosperity through obedience. Those who worship us shall be spared further punishment."
"Then I swear to serve you until the end of my life."
"Swear upon this sacred spear and receive your godly due," Odin said, placing Gungnir before the cyborg.
Joe could not help but hesitate. Would he be changed and turn against his teammates? He looked to Jet, who gave a barely perceptible nod, and took firm hold of the shaft.
"I swear to you my life until the end of my days."
Pain and electricity shot up his arm and through his entire body that he could not help but cry out. It passed quickly and he was left gasping for air, one hand clutching his chest, but he felt no different. If he were changed would he even know?
"Welcome, god of Asgard," Odin intoned, "I will give you your title and duties after some consideration." He turned from Joe and regarded the other cyborgs, "Your leader has abandoned you for sense and yet even now you stand against me?"
Pyunma crossed his arms and lifted his head, the image of defiance. "We do."
"A pity. You will learn in time."
Odin turned and left the hall, Freya and Thor in his wake. Jet slid off of Hlidskjalf and hurried to Joe's side.
"You okay? Gives quite a shock, doesn't it?" Jet took Joe's hand and pulled him to his feet.
"Now what?" Joe said, gazing back at the rest of the team. Appearing both disgusted and disappointed, they turned and left the hall the way they'd come.
Taking Joe by the shoulders, Jet began to guide him toward the door, following the gods. "Now you play the part, and that means turning away from them. At least in appearance."
Joe spared one last look after his family. It was just a ruse, but it still felt no less than a betrayal. "What part is that?" he said, suddenly feeling tired.
"Baldur, Odin's son and shining god of overall goodness. Or something."
"And how do I do that?"
"Just keep being your good, overly-serious self. Let me handle the rest."
Darkness closed around them as they left the silvered hall for the much dimmer corridors. His cybernetic eyes adjusted instantly but Joe couldn't help the frustration that settled in with the dark.
"So that's it. I sit around while you do the work. Ever consider that they are purposefully separating us?"
Jet couldn't help the trace of annoyance in his voice, "Look, Odin talks to me, I'm Loki, his blood brother. Just lay low for a bit while I plant a few seeds so he begins to think of you as Balder, but after that you're gonna hafta sell it. You got to be the loving son and paragon of goodness and all that crap."
"Then what?"
"We'll worry about that when we get there. In the meantime, schmooze."
"I'm not fond of the idea of mingling with these people," Joe said, dusting Jet's hands from his shoulders. Jet shrugged.
"Thor's not so bad, actually. He just does what Odin tells him all the time, otherwise he's pretty laid back. Hell of a drinker, too."
"Great, so I'll just eat, sleep, and plan world domination all day," Joe muttered angrily.
Jet slapped him on the back, "That's the spirit!"
Doors opened for Joe now. He walked the halls throughout Yggdrasil and found a library, the armory (with enough weapons for an army, he noted with alarm), another cache of gold, and his own assigned quarters. The large, four-poster bed covered in furs within remained unused so long as the other cyborgs continued to sleep on the floor. He still found no access to the power source nor any controls thereof.
Joe kept his head down as Jet indicated, mostly keeping to the library and reading through the old Icelandic texts the gods had most likely stolen. During meals he found himself sitting beside Freya who gave him the occasional glance but little more.
Ignoring his friends was not as option, regardless what Jet said. Joe's acceleration allowed him free movement and he made use of it, visiting his teammates often to prove that he was indeed unchanged. Pyunma was intrigued by the fact that Joe had free access to all the rooms now and suggested that Odin's spear trick wasn't entirely for show after all.
"Figure out what's causing it and maybe we could emulate it without joining 002's little show," Albert agreed, but Joe was useless in that endeavor.
It was two weeks into his godhood when he happened to come across Jet, who'd been scarce as usual, in the corridors on his way to the library. He passed Joe without even looking at him.
"Sell it," was all Jet said.
