The cell was a slab of rock, floating in space, invisible force fields keeping Loki from throwing himself off the edge. He was sitting on the ground, leaning back against a large boulder, and holding his head in his hands. It was throbbing painfully. He had lost count as to how many times Thanos had probed his mind with the Infinity Stone. None had been as painful as the first, but each time had been excruciating enough.

Loki had also lost track of how long he had been here. Weeks? Months? Time had blurred as he spent his time between this barren rock and visits with Thanos. Painful visits.

It had been clear after the first time that Thanos had found something that interested him but Loki couldn't tell what. When Thanos dug into his mind the pain was too great for him to focus, to try and figure out what Thanos was looking at.

Each visit after the first, Thanos seemed to be digging deeper as if searching for more details, more exact information. It tended to stir up Loki's memories, bringing things to the forefront that he had kept buried.

That was probably why, he told himself, he couldn't stop thinking of Frigga now. What was the last thing he had said to her? What had Odin and Thor told her about Loki and his actions? What did she think? They would all believe he was dead now. But would she mourn him?

His head throbbed painfully and he let out a groan.

Why was he thinking of Frigga? Surely he had larger concerns?

A few hours ago, Nebula had brought him to Thanos again. His mind had been once more raided and then, instead of sending him back to his cell, Thanos had offered him a deal.

"I know you little prince," he had said, his voice booming across the empty space. "I have seen your mind. You want a throne and as it happens I have one to offer you."

Loki, his head still reeling from the most recent invasion, blinked, confused. "What?"

"I find in you some affection," and the way he said the word 'affection' showed his utter disdain for the concept, "for the planet Earth. I will give you that planet. If you serve me well."

Loki almost laughed. It somehow made sense that this cruel, brutal man read his mind and yet had understood so little of it. "And how would I serve you?"

"There is something on Earth that should rightfully be mine. Another Infinity Stone. I have seen in your mind your powers and your abilities. I believe you could retrieve the stone for me."

Loki thought he must be going mad for again he had a wild urge to laugh. It took Thanos to see in him abilities and power? What a horrible, ironical world it was.

Thanos continued: "With your magic, and using the Mind Stone's connection to the Space Stone, the one I am after, I believe you could force open a portal just large enough for yourself to step through. Once on Earth, with the power of the Mind Stone, you would be able to build a loyal following, harness the abilities of the Space Stone, and open a new portal, one large enough for my army to enter. I desire a foothold in Nine Realm for my future plans. My army will take control of Earth and make you its ruler. Loyal to me, of course."

Loki stared at him. The man was mad. "So simple," he said, icily. "I wonder you need me at all."

"Do not make the mistake of believing, that because I make you this offer, you are more than a prisoner on whom I would enjoy to see untold pain inflicted. If you think what you have experienced from the Mind Stone has been torture, you know nothing of what I am capable of. Know this, little prince, you will aid me. The only question that remains is will you receive a reward at the end of it? Or will Earth be obliterated from the universe."

The ultimatum had shaken Loki, but at least Thanos had not demanded an immediate answer.

Loki was pulled back from his memories by the sound of a small transport approaching his prison. It landed at the edge and Nebula stepped out. He supposed that it was time. He would be brought back to Thanos and he must give his answer.

But she did not place the customary chains around his wrists; instead she came over and sat down opposite him. He waited, sensing suddenly that she was not here on her father's behest, but rather had something of her own to say.

At last she spoke, and when she did it was abrupt, as if she'd been trying to build up the courage to say it. "When I was a child, my father would pit me against my sister. We would fight. And every time I lost, Thanos would take me, and take away another piece of me. My eye. My hand. Pieces of my brain. Making me better, more efficient. Do you know how often my sister won?"

He shook his head, though looking at the various pieces of metal attached to her, it must have been quite often. But she wasn't looking at him. She was staring off into space.

"She won every time. No matter what I lost, she always won." Nebula dragged her gaze back to Loki. "When my father says he will destroy this planet he spoke of, destroy it he will. If you care for it at all, you will take the deal."

Loki frowned. "You've come here to argue his case?" he snapped.

"His case does not need arguing. He will win. You will do as he says."

"No," said Loki flatly.

"Yes. You will. The only question is how many pieces of you he will cut away before you agree. Because you will agree. And by then this planet 'Earth' will be doomed. You think you know my father? You think you've seen what he's capable of. But you have no idea. You cannot even begin to imagine. You think you desire death? You cannot imagine how deep that desire can run." She stood up. "You will eventually give in. Do so now, before it's too late."

Loki's fist clenched. "I can resist him. I can withstand the pain."

"You know nothing of pain. But even if you could…what then? Your help will make things easier for him. Simpler. But it is not vital. His ships can reach Earth the long way. I suspect he would leave you alive long enough to watch him decimate the planet. Though I'm not sure the state you would be in could properly be termed 'living." With that, she turned and walking back to her ship.

"I don't know what the pain is like," said Loki suddenly. "But I do know what it's like to always lose. I fought my brother again and again, in one way or another. And he won every time."

She looked back at him.

"All I wanted, was to be his equal. All I wanted a brother," he said. "But I lost every time."

"And you will lose this time as well."

The two stared at each other for a moment, a shared pain bonding them for that one moment of time, and then it was over. She nodded curtly and returned to her transport.

And Loki, left alone, considered what she had said. And he knew suddenly, that she was right. The only way to save earth, would be to destroy it.