heh. this is what an almost three months of writer's block looks like.
this is a continuation of chapter 7
and, yes, this fic is now an AU of Infinity War. :)
In all honesty, T'Challa didn't know what he was expecting to find when M'Baku arrived to Wakanda regarding an urgent matter, asking the king to personally see a visitor that had come from the sky and was found barely alive at the snowy mountains within the Jabari Tribe's territory.
Extraterrestrial life was long acknowledged by the world, Wakanda included, that T'Challa was no longer surprised if the visitor who had crashed would turn out to be another being of a different world, like the famous hammer-wielding Avenger, Thor.
While the Jabari Tribe, with their seclusion from the mainstream Wakanda and refusal to adapt its technology, were not aware of such—The Avengers, at the very least—M'Baku had taken the news with a stride for someone who still heavily embraced the traditional way. Not that T'Challa was expecting any less.
"With the vast skies out there, a man has to wonder if he's a mere speckle," M'Baku said afterwards.
T'Challa agreed. He once wondered the same thing during bouts of pensiveness.
He was led to the same location where he had been placed during his short comatose, and at the spot where T'Challa had lain down was a man with blue skin, almost as dark as midnight, with intricate markings etched on his face.
The stranger wasn't clearly human, nor the same as The Avenger, Thor, but apart from the skin, the unknown man's features gave a sense of familiarity that T'Challa was sure he had seen the same person somewhere.
His breathing was shallow, and small cuts were littered on different parts of his body. To T'Challa's fascination though, a small laceration closed itself right in front of his eyes.
"He could heal himself fast," M'Baku told him after seeing T'Challa's expression. "When we found him last night, he was bleeding on the side of his stomach. Come morning, the injury healed without a scar."
"Did he wake?"
M'Baku shook his head. "The healers mentioned that he never did. They said it could be because his body was conserving energy. For healing magic, they suspect."
Being in an era of superheroes and aliens and growing up with the belief that magic was one of the fundamental forces of Earth, T'Challa was no longer surprised at the concept of magic moving freely as the air. M'Baku must have shared the belief as well.
"He will come with me to Wakanda to bring him to Shuri. She will take care of the rest. Thank you for bringing this to my immediate attention. I will make sure that he knows who he owes his survival first."
A few Jabari hauled the gurney aboard the jet as T'Challa, M'Baku, and Okeye oversaw the process. The visitor—what T'Challa formally dubbed him as with his refusal to call him simply a man or an alien—didn't once twitch at the whole duration of the ride back.
Okoye, who has been quiet for a while, set the jet on autopilot, staring at T'Challa like she was figuring him out. T'Challa would have been miffed if it was somebody else. He was used to this gesture of hers.
"What is it?" he asked, faintly amused.
"Not that I'm questioning your decision, but do you think it's a good idea to bring an unknown entity with us? We know nothing of him or his kind."
It was true that they didn't, or anything in regards to extraterrestrial life for that matter. The Wakandans used to be too focused on their own country that they barely paid attention to what was outside them, until T'Challa opened the real Wakanda to the United Nations. He wouldn't call the Wakandans ignorant of the foreign affairs, but like him, they were still learning. In way, it was as if they existed in their own world and were blind to the significant change for the better that they could contribute to the rest. T'Challa had inherited the same prejudice of his predecessors to the people living outside Wakanda, always thinking that the Vibranium would fall in the wrong hands, and while it did happen in an unpleasant way, T'Challa wouldn't generalize the foreigners anymore just because of the actions of a single man.
"We'll take precautions to make sure Shuri will be safe with the presence of our visitor since. WE know not of his intentions and why he landed here," T'Challa said. "But the same reason can also be applied as to why we couldn't judge him for something he has not committed yet. As long as he is on the soul of Wakanda, we treat him as guest, and this guest of ours needs a better medical attention after the Jabari did their best."
Okoye was somehow placated by his reply, though her guard remained (and T'Challa supposed it was something she would never let down seeing as she was the head of the king's security). "And the council?"
"I will handle them once we arrive. And while I am occupied proving my stance in this, I want you to bring the visitor as soon as possible to Shuri."
When Loki awoke, his vision was bathed with soft lighting from above him.
He could feel the soft padding of the surface he was lying down that wasn't a bed. He heard a low whirring nearby that seemed to be emanating from the machine arching over him. Distracted by the three beeps, Loki saw a few feet to his right a large display of what appeared to be his vitals that displayed the Midgardian alphabet and numerical systems.
He was successful in his escape then. Although as to where exactly he was in Midgard, Loki was yet to find out.
Judging by his surroundings, he was in a laboratory that also served as a workshop heavily riddled with technology far advanced than what he knew of Earth. It reminded him of that tower in New York that belonged to Stark. He didn't get the chance to look around that time, but he could tell that it was the pinnacle of technology of New York, or perhaps of the whole country even.
There was a wall of looking glass that Loki approached—and stopped when he heard the oncoming footsteps.
Loki whirled around and saw six females clad in red and silver. Ironic that it wasn't their weapons at hand that gave them away as guards; Loki could detect hostility mingling with wary underneath their rigid stances. In the midst of the female warriors though was a girl no more than a child in his eyes, holding a strange tablet of sorts. She paused upon seeing him awake and standing, surprised and… in awe?
She put away the object she was holding, approaching him ahead of her escorts much to their worry. She raised her hands with the intention of placating him perhaps. "Hello? Do you—Do you understand me?" she asked in a heavily accented English.
Loki could pretend that he didn't; he could gather more information by acting naïve, but he needed help too. He needed to find Thor soon. Be damned if Midgard could still recognize him.
"Do you not know of me?" Loki asked back.
"Oh, you speak perfect English," she murmured. "Should I?"
"Then you do not remember the last time I was here in Midgard?"
She tilted her head, confused. "Assuming what you mean by Midgard is Earth, I don't think we had an encounter with you… or your kind."
Your kind. Loki looked at his hand, taking note of his Jotun skin.
Frigga had advised him, in that brief moment during his brink of death, to embrace his true nature. In fact, this form would give him a lot of advantage in terms of survival. Still, easier said than done.
"Where am I?"
"You're in Wakanda." She sidled beside Loki, barely minding the personal space. The tablet she was holding was pushed to his hand while she tapped on the glass screen that displayed the planet of Midgard as a sphere of blue and green. She pressed on a particular spot in the eastern hemisphere. "You're here. This is the continent of Africa, and you are here in Wakanda. The whole Nation of Wakanda used to be hidden from the rest of the world until recently."
Loki let her rambled on the basic information on Midgard that he already knew. When she finished talking, he gave her a querying glance at the tablet she was holding, and once she excitedly passed it to him, he imitated her gestures, tapping on the western hemisphere of the digital rendition of Earth. The screen flashed him numerical values alongside the familiar Midgardian metric system for distances. He didn't have to do a quick mental calculation to know he was too far from New York, and with his magic that was yet to replenish after pulling that escape from Thanos's ship and healing himself after sustaining life-threatening injuries, Loki would only reach half of the distance in between. Time was what Loki didn't have with Thanos in possession of two stones already. He knew there were two hidden in Midgard, and he was bound for this planet any minute, if they haven't already.
"You know New York?" she asked, pulling Loki out of his thoughts. When she peered at him, he could almost see her piecing the clues together. She might be young, but she looked intelligent for an average human. "You've been here before," she concluded.
Loki knew he had to be careful—he might be lucky to land in a place where he wasn't known as the invader, but it was obvious that Wakanda has the means to figure out his identity now that they were no longer isolated, and if he was correct, they also have the better means to stop him. There was also the matter concerning Heimdall and the Asgardians. While they likely arrived safely on Norway, on that place where Odin passed away, he still had to make sure, and only then he would have to get into contact with Thor's Midgardian friends.
Loki couldn't believe it himself, but he was actually thinking they might stand a chance if the fight was brought here in Midgard.
As much as it pained Loki to admit it, these were tasks that he couldn't accomplish with the current resources he has and with the clock ticking on his back.
"I was here before, trying to invade New York," Loki finally said, holding her gaze. He opted for honesty, all the while wishing he could lie his way out of this. "I am Loki."
There was a pin drop the moment the words left him, leaving him fully aware of the odd machines beeping and whirring within the room. With his true form in display, his senses were much sharper compared when he was wearing his Asgardian skin. He could feel the women's more intense wave of alertness and animosity as they start to form a closing position around him, although Loki was confident that they wouldn't charge in with this girl this close to him.
While Loki was sure his red eyes were terrifying as they could get, the girl didn't break the stare, her eyes narrow instead and arms crossed on her chest.
"Last time I checked Loki is not blue, and he has horns."
Of course. Of course her concern would be his appearance. Midgardians.
Loki shifted to his Asgardian skin, letting the guise dominate without breaking the eye contact. Let them see. If his name alone was enough to warrant a non-friendly reaction, more so would his Asgardian form. He was itching to conjure a small blade for self-defense, but he knew that as swift as he called forth his magic was the pointed ends of five spears that would stab him in an instant on his vital points.
He paid them no mind for the mean time. If he wanted to gain their trust, he would have to display a semblance of vulnerability. Loki turned his attention back to the girl whose reaction was of immense surprise mixed with… he paused, staring evenly.
The girl stood, mesmerized as she took in his new form from up to down. "I've never seen magic in action before."
Loki blinked.
"That's shapeshifting, isn't it? You're a shapeshifter. Does that mean you can turn into animals and inanimate objects too? Are all your kind like you? Your magic must be something."
That… That wasn't the response he expected.
"Sadly, the monitor can't pick those up and study them. I might have to do a tweak with them later on. Are you from some far away planet? You're not from any of the planets of the Solar System, are you? I have more questions to ask you if you'll be willing to—"
"Alright, stop," Loki said tersely.
"Sorry. I rarely babble like this, except when I'm excited. Please don't think of me as an evil scientist." Loki barely suppressed a snort. She was too young to know about the evil in the heart of men. "I'm just curious. That's all."
Loki straightened, refraining to show how he was momentarily thrown off guard. He mustered a disarming smile, raising his empty hands. "How about I let you study me, and in return I get to have an audience with your king?"
"Why would you like to meet him?"
"Princess, this man is dangerous," the leader of the female soldiers hissed, aiming her spear threateningly to Loki, the movement imitated by the others.
"Princess, is it?" Loki said, interested. It would explain the number of escorts flanking her. "Allow me to reintroduce myself, from one royalty to another. I am Loki, Prince of Asgard." He considered something briefly. "Odin's son and the rightful king of Jotunheim." He made a grand gesture of bowing down to appeal to the human girl's vain side, knowing any person of royalty possessed even the tiniest bit of vanity. More so a human.
"I'm Shuri," she replied rather enthusiastically. "And we no longer do the bowing down thing here anymore."
Loki twitched internally. He easily recovered, giving her a delighted grin. "Whatever you say, Princess."
"Shuri is fine," she said dismissively as Loki's eyes followed her fingers flying across her tablet again. "Back to my question. You said you want to meet the king. What for?"
"I can explain once he's here, if you don't mind. You are free to listen to what I have to say. When is the soonest I can get an audience with His Excellency?" Loki asked politely, knowing at least five people who would take his eagerness the other way.
"I'd say in a few minutes if the council will not be a pain in his ass. Don't worry, he'll find my message more interesting than them so he'll come up with any excuse to get here as fast as he could," Shuri assured him.
Loki raised an eyebrow. That was fast for a king to respond to a summon from a mere princess, although it would explain it if Shuri happened to be the king's beloved daughter that he would even personally go here than face him in his throne room.
"Thank you. I suppose I can answer any inquiries you have while we wait."
"Before that," she said, turning to her escorts with a sigh. "You can stand down, Xoliswa."
"Princess, we have orders from the king to ensure your safety from this man."
"Yes, yes. I know. I'm not asking you to leave me alone with him, just… ease up a bit? I'll be fine."
Reluctantly, they did as told but kept their close distance just in case. Shuri grinned at them in gratitude.
Loki remained unfazed at the scowls directed at him. Message received.
Shuri walked to the monitor where Loki's vitals were currently in display, making a swiping gesture to change screen. The glass also functioned without physical buttons too, Loki noted.
"This shows that the toxin is finally out of your body. We only speed up the process since your body already began to naturally treat you. To be fair, it was quite a toxin. I took a sample to make an antidote for it, just in case. If you don't mind."
"Not at all." He also wanted to know what lethal toxin was laced on Proxima's weapon. With a feeling that he would be seeing her again, Loki had hopes that he developed an immunity that could serve as an advantage on their next encounter. Proxima dominated him in their previous fight, and Loki would have been a sure picking if it wasn't for Gungnir.
Speaking of which.
Gungnir remained concealed to his person, it seemed. Loki wasn't planning to reveal it in the presence of humans after establishing that he was unarmed of any physical weaponry.
"You didn't land directly here in the Golden City. The Jabari Tribe found you in their mountains yesterday morning. They informed the king, and you were brought here since you needed a more advanced medical assistance," Shuri said.
Loki entertained the possibility that some parts of Wakanda wasn't as technologically advanced like where he presently was, which was obviously the capital.
He dismissed the thought away, focusing on something else at the moment, thinking mainly of the right approach he should take on a Midgardian King that he never met.
Not that it mattered anyway. He wasn't called a silver tongue for nothing.
It was finally clear why their guest looked familiar to T'Challa.
He had only seen images and video coverages of the attempted invasion in New York six years ago, where The Avengers was founded to defend Earth. The Avengers became an independent team that protected the Earth against inner and extraterrestrial threats, working with the peaceful interest of the whole world rather than a specific country or organization. Until the United Nations noticed the casualties they caused during battles that left much to be desired, where a rift within the team itself began with the debate of whether to sign on the Sokovian Accords or not. With the government of Wakanda one of those that signed the Sokovian Accords, T'Challa was informed of the events that led to the death of the former king of Wakanda.
If T'Challa was to see the big picture, it all began with Loki and his invasion.
It could all be an act, T'Challa reminded himself, when Loki dropped the pleasant expression he has while entertaining Shuri's inquiries, putting a more solemn one upon T'Challa's and Okoye's arrival. It didn't escape T'Challa that the Dora Milaje he assigned to be Shuri's guard were on edge than usual.
"Shuri," he called firmly, betraying none of his wariness, but far from the tone he usually reserved for her. "If you will please leave us and our guest here. It will not take long," he promised.
Shuri was momentarily hesitant to be kicked out of her own laboratory, though she agreed without a word once the felt the tense atmosphere that appeared when her brother arrived. Besides, she could always watch the security camera later. T'Challa wouldn't mind.
Only two females escorted Shuri out, while the rest were left by T'Challa's side. "I see that you have healed completely."
"I did, in expense of most of my magic, but you have my thanks for coming to my rescue as well. Your aid kept the poison from infecting me further."
"The Jabari Tribe did their best first. They deserve your gratitude the most."
"Then I will give it to them once I have the chance."
T'Challa allowed the small talk as a respite. "What is your business with Wakanda?" he asked, directly going straight to the matter at hand.
"Would you believe me if I said that this isn't an intended destination of mine?" Loki asked back. He shook his head. "Pardon, I do not mean to reply with a question. What I said is true—this isn't a destination in mind that I have. I only wished to escape from where I came from."
"In Asgard, where you were imprisoned?" Although, if Loki had indeed escaped his prison, he shouldn't be here wasting his time by asking for an audience.
Loki shook his head. "Asgard is gone. An enemy invaded after the death of King Odin. The battle that commenced resulted to the destruction of Asgard. I escaped with my brother, Thor, along with the Asgardians who survived. Hopefully, they arrived in Norway safely."
T'Challa immediately caught on. "What happened on your way here?"
"Thanos went after us since I have the Tesseract with me. The Tesseract contained a stone, one of the Infinity Stones that Thanos is searching for. There are six of them, and counting the Space Stone that was inside the Tesseract, Thanos is already in possession of two. Two more are here in Earth and one of it is in the scepter that I had with me during the invasion, so I assume that it is in New York, in possession of The Avengers. As for the other… I could be wrong, but it's possibly being guarded by a person that I only met briefly. His name is Doctor Strange." Loki paused, letting the information to sink in. The more he spoke, the more T'Challa's mind created questions. He let him continue, nonetheless. "To elaborate further, Thanos intercepted our ship, but he allowed them to continue its journey with the condition that I give him the Tesseract and I am to be his prisoner. I agreed."
T'Challa frowned. "But you escaped," he said, despite the huge who this Thanos was.
"Thor didn't agree with the conditions." Loki gave a wry smile. "But since he was the king of Asgard then, he restrained himself until our ship left safely. He said he already passed the mantle of king to somebody aboard before he asked to be left behind. He tried to rescue me." Something flashed briefly across Loki's features that was too quick for T'Challa to pick up on before his expression became neutral, continuing his story about Thanos that T'Challa was wanted to know.
Loki spoke concisely of Thanos, a Titan warlord who has been on the quest of gathering the six Infinity Stones for years. Loki even told him about these stones that seemed to be deeply sought for in space—which wasn't surprising if each one possessed immense power and beyond comprehension if together. These items and Thanos's existence only served to remind T'Challa how insignificant he was in the universe, like a small grain of sand on a desert.
"Thanos was the one who sent me in New York," Loki said. "He provided me the army and the scepter to help me conquer Earth while I give him the Tesseract in return."
"You were once an ally of this person who you said will be coming down here on Earth, and for all we know you are an ally of his again. You might be working for him in exchange of your freedom. How can I be sure that I should trust the words of an enemy of this world?" T'Challa asked reasonably.
"I understand." Loki nodded. He looked like he was expecting the question. "I told you that there should be Asgardians that arrived in Norwa. Among them is Bruce Banner, The Hulk. It's a long story, but my brother and I came across him in another planet. He should be with them, and he can tell you himself the encounter with Thanos."
It was difficult to see past Loki's persona as the invader, but T'Challa didn't fail to see the determination and the hint of desperation behind his carefully blank mask. And while T'Challa, as a king protecting his people from threats, remained clueless as to Loki's true agenda in his return to Earth, he did appreciate the civil way of Loki's approach.
"And if Bruce Banner can vouch for your character, what then?"
"I need help," Loki replied. "I need to reach The Avengers to give warning and prepare them for what is coming, but I doubt it will go down peacefully once they see me even with Banner's account of the events." T'Challa withheld the information about the break up of the team, knowing Loki might exploit the knowledge to his benefit. T'Challa had to be very careful and logical. "That's why I need to find Thor."
Although he didn't show, T'Challa was puzzled. For a second, he thought Loki would be asking him to contact The Avengers.
"No offense, Your Highness, but I don't think they will trust you if they find out that you have been talking to me. They're not above suspecting that you are under mind control after I've been known for that technique."
Ah, so Loki wasn't aware of the recent events in Earth if he didn't know the alliance the Black Panther has with both Tony Stark and Captain America, the leaders of the newly divided Avengers.
"What happened to your brother?"
Loki was somewhat hesitant to answer. "Frankly, I do not know. He was thrown in space in the middle of the battle we have against two of Thanos's children."
T'Challa had no knowledge of Asgardian physiology, but being lost in space meant sure death.
No. He's not dead, a voice that sounded like Loki's rang inside T'Challa's head. I can feel that he's alive somewhere, that's why I need to find Thor immediately.
T'Challa had no idea how to guard himself against telepathy, and thankfully it didn't come as an attack, for now. Still, it was disconcerting to know that this was also an ability of Loki. T'Challa schooled his expression easily. Loki appeared to be unable to accept the possibility of his brother's death of he couldn't speak it aloud.
"How will you look for him?"
"I need a room."
"He is using you, My King," Okoye said, steadfast by T'Challa's side as he gave instructions to a servant to prepare an empty spacious room that was ideal for deep meditation.
I have a staff with me that can hopefully aid me on my search. I do not intend to show it now, they might not take it well, Loki had said telepathically before their conversation ended. T'Challa initially thought that was the end of it, until Loki spoke again in his mind, saying, I will be indebted to you after this. To express my gratitude, allow me to share the knowledge of sorcery that I have. Although to be fair, Wakanda isn't far behind magic. Magic is only science that is yet to be understood.
"And you're letting him," Okoye said accusingly, with a huge tone of concern.
"Because he has no resources at hand." And he's desperate. "The room is something that I can allow."
T'Challa understood where Okoye was coming from. They have no idea what would be going on once Loki started his meditation while using his staff. He could be contacting Thanos, and he could also be giving his location to the enemy. T'Challa would be none the wiser.
Loki was the God of Mischief and was a known liesmith—to believe in his words was a foolish venture. But somewhere in T'Challa detected sincerity, no matter how ironic that sounded even to his own ears.
T'Challa entertained an imagination where the situation was reversed, where he was the one searching for a lost sibling that he was firm to believe had lived despite the impossibility of it, despite being a lone man where the whole world was his enemy. Could he swallow his pride to ask them for help?
T'Challa knew he wouldn't do it differently.
Strange already detected the presence of Loki here on Earth beforehand. His life force was incredibly low then that it almost went past Strange's detection.
Though the most baffling was the lack of Thor's presence accompanying his brother.
When Strange tried to search for Loki's current whereabouts, he came across interferences that he wasn't expecting. Whether it was Loki's doing, Strange couldn't be sure. It was nothing that he could get through, only it would take him a day perhaps, since to his understanding the obstacle didn't feel like sorcery—the kind he was practicing, at least. In fact, Strange could compare it to an electromagnetic interference.
At his second attempt of locating Loki, Strange was startled when Loki himself appeared in his astral form to him. Instinctively, Strange left his body cross-legged, deep in trance.
"Well, at least you are this easy to get ahold of," Loki said with a slight smirk.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
Strange frowned. Was Loki aware of Strange's search? "Why?" Strange asked carefully.
"I need you to check whether the Agardians arrived in Norway in one piece," Loki said. "I need to know if they escaped."
"Why would they escape here?"
"Asgard is destroyed, and Thor left instructions for them to continue here on Earth. Bruce Banner should be among them. He needs to tell his old team about the threat of Thanos." Loki's gaze lowered at where the Eye of Agamotto was sitting. "You have to know, too, that Thanos will also come looking for that stone on your neck."
Strange's hand closed protectively on the necklace automatically. "Are you in league with him? You seem to know an awful lot of this plans."
Loki snorted. "Doesn't take a genius to know. He went after us the moment Odin and Asgard are out of the picture. He already got the Space Stone and the Power Stone. We don't want him to get another one, do we?"
"I will protect this stone with my life. It's a sworn oath of the Masters of the Mystic Arts," Strange replied, irritated at the subtle insult on his capabilities.
Oddly enough, Strange caught Loki's approval on his answer. "Gather reinforcements, Thanos and his children could be here any moment. I don't have the time to tell you all about Thanos. You'll have to hear it from Banner."
"Wait," Strange called when Loki began to leave. "Thor? Is he de—"
"No!" Loki interrupted forcefully, surprising Strange. "No," he repeated calmly. "I don't know where he might be, but I'm working on it now. Do not look for me," he warned before disappearing completely.
Strange, meanwhile, wasted no time to open a portal to Norway, where he sent Thor and Loki previously to Odin's location.
His mind was already brimming with questions that needed answers soon.
The first thing Banner touched was the grass.
It felt surreal, as if it was only a few days ago that he left Earth. In the last twenty-four hours, he did a last minute escape from a planet that was about to be wrecked, and earlier, he was running for his life with the rest of his companions while they left Thor and Loki at the hands of Thanos.
Banner was glad to be back home, but at the same time he knew he should have been there, or he should have been more persuasive to keep Thor from his suicidal rescue of Loki. He had been afraid to complain to Thor's decision of how he should go out in his own way. Thor was a warrior, and his choice would be to die in battle. But was it worth it in the end? Thor was sacrificing himself for his brother who barely appreciated his love and forgiveness. Banner knew he was kept in the dark about their history, just like the rest outside of their family, and he could be speaking out of his bitterness too, not completely forgetting how The Hulk was manipulated before. Banner never understood where Thor's positive outlook regarding Loki came from. Sometimes, Banner couldn't help but compare Thor to a loyal dog, sticking around no matter how many times he was kicked by his owner.
He's the only family I have left, Thor had said. It's something that I can never change despite what he became. I let him fall once, and I don't plan on repeating the same mistake.
The sound of sniffles brought him back to the present. The boy he helped on the ground was shivering and had been sobbing. Banner deftly tightened the blanket around the small frame; the breeze was frigid when it swept past them. He didn't utter any assurances, though he did place a palm on top of the small head. It was a close call, if not for Heimdall, and they might not be out of the clear yet, with Thanos's next destination that was clearly Earth.
It was strangely quiet, as oppose to Banner's expectation of being flooded around with media—their ship was large enough to attract attention, and their arrival wasn't entirely silent either. Banner took it as a short reprieve, the calm before the storm.
The otherwise peaceful state was broken when Banner heard a number of frightened gasps and whispers. He stood, on edge and ready to release The Hulk if needed, while Heimdall and Valkyrie guided the Asgardians backwards from a large ring of orange sparks that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Korg and his companions from Sakaar formed a line of defense as a glowing orange circle was formed, looking more of a portal of sorts. It revealed a single Caucasian man with red cape and blue kimono tunic, appearing very human as he surveyed the assorted bunch with fascination and confusion.
"I am looking for Doctor Banner."
TBC
