The Summer Frost

Chapter 6

Thor stood alone looking over a city utterly ignorant as to the imminent danger they were facing. Was he much different from the millions of others in this city? He himself had little idea of what was going on and that scared him far more then he'd ever care to admit. What scared him more was the fact that he couldn't find the one person that he desperately needed. Oblivious to what the day would bring, he stood and watched as the sun rose over the city allowing his chest to slowly take in and release air.

Thor's thoughts were interrupted as Back in Black by AC-DC rang out. "Phoenix, slow down…. what are you talking about? Where's Pepper?"

Her words pierced through his heart causing such pain that, for a moment, he could no breathe, let alone speak. Tony's mind went blank and his throat went dry as his world began to collapse around him again. It took him a minute to find just three words to whisper into his phone – "Where are you?" Right now he needed to protect his daughter before he could begin to confront the idea that Pepper was missing.

Thor gently asked what was going on several times before the Iron Man suit launched through the glass Thor had broken through and attached itself to Tony's body. And just as quickly as Thor had come, Stark was gone. Thor drew power from his hammer and followed Stark as he flew impossibly fast and methodically through the streets of New York.

"What is it you want from me?" Loki's expression was one of confliction. He was chained to a wall in an almost pitch black cave by the same people who had just released him from similar situation. Judging by the lack of echo, the cave wasn't completely enclosed. What race are these creatures and what is it they desire? His head was full of questions.

The creature that answered stood out from the darkness and illuminated it's own solid form. The creature head was as intimidating and as terrifying as hell itself. Its torturous smile grew to a point where it was literally touching the edges out his war-torn ears. Even if you ignored the fact that the creatures flesh looked like it had been boiled, and that its arms were the size of tree trunks, no one in their right mind would ever try to piss it off. However, Loki doesn't have a right mind.

"Well, I'm not even sure a mother could love that face… or that smell. What is that? Scented Bilgesnipe entrails." Loki efforts were met by the same stubborn grin. "Nothing? Okay. So speak creature, what is it you want with me?"

"Peace on Earth." The thing responded jaggedly.

"Then I really don't see why I'm here. Peace isn't exactly my forte."

"My kind is very much aware of this. That is precisely why you are here. You create war. Havoc. Mayhem. You posed a credible threat to the human race once. You will do it again."

"Why? What would you have to gain from this?"

It took a brief moment to consider this. He began pacing the small expanse of the cave, careful not to bang his head into anything.

"My people want no strife, no war to effect our planet. However, our population is rapidly multiplying. We need a new planet. Earth is a sufficient home."

"Alright. So elaborate on your reasoning for chaining me to a wall."

"You're here to assist. We need a face for others to blame, for others to hunt as we colonize the Earth. That is your place."

"So, in summary, you need to use my face as a target whilst you take over a useless planet."

"Using your prier expertise. You know the weaknesses of the human race. We need to know all that so we can to generate a more detailed plan."

Loki gazed at him with a distinct expression that begged the question 'Why should I care?'

The creature snorted, "I would say help or die but that much should be obvious to you. Instead, you will be a general in our army. You will lead the attacks and in the end you will hold a significant place in power. You could be king. You would also have the resources to have your long-awaited revenge. What do you say?"

"Where do I sign?" Loki asked, a wicked smile appearing on his lips.