Episode 35: Interrogation!

"What's going on here?" Demanded the man with the eyepatch, who stared down at Peter and the others. "Did you all come from Sakaar?"

"Yes, we just escaped from it," Brunnhilde said firmly.

The man with the eyepatch seemed skeptical. "How?"

From there, Brunnhilde explained what had happened while Peter filled in the details from his end. Rumlow seemed to glance every now and then at Peter's belt where his PDBs were, which Peter noticed. Seemingly satisfied with Brunnhilde and Peter's testimony, the man with the eyepatch ordered them and the other Marémon Wielders out of the cave except for several SHIELD agents who proceeded to march into the tunnel to deal with the Grandmaster with the blond-haired teen leading them. Outside the cave, the Marémon Wielders were escorted down the other side of the mountains which were more dry on the western side and less wet as the sun was just coming up behind them. The Korg didn't like the SHIELD agents that were escorting them, and so agreed to go into a spare PDB Thor had for the time-being. Below the mountains was a dry valley consisting of a large sprawling city full of neon lights and buildings of various shapes, which Peter knew was La Vie City based on the pictures he had seen in a geography book once.

###

"Are these the same kids that got mixed up with the attempted Dark Elf invasion that happened near New Asgard Town?" The man with the eyepatch said to Rumlow, pointing to Peter, MJ, and Thor.

It was late morning, and they were inside a SHIELD Station that was on the outskirts of La Vie City being questioned for more details on their experience in Sakaar.

"Yes, Nick Fury, sir," Rumlow said, looking nervous.

"Couldn't you have spared some of your men to escort them and the other Marémon Wielders over the mountains to La Vie City?" Nick Fury questioned.

"I didn't think they needed an escort. And I couldn't have spared men if I wanted to, due to the nature of the prisoners."

"Yet they slipped through your fingers anyway," Nick Fury pointed out.

"But that wasn't my fault!" Rumlow insisted. "It was something caused by that dark-haired girl which made my helicopter crash."

"Your crash was caused by the Eternal Flame, according to Loki," Thor interrupted.

Nick Fury glanced at Thor suspiciously. "Were you an accomplice of Loki's?"

"I'm his older brother," Thor answered firmly. "And he told me about the helicopter crash from his perspective since he was imprisoned in Sakaar just like us."

"And why was he not in your group of freed slaves?"

"He ran away when the Korg attacked him for calling it a 'worthless pile of rocks.' Is my father here, by any chance?"

"No, we let him go hours after he explained his part in your brother and sister's actions in New Asgard Town. While I didn't agree with his methods, nor understand his actions entirely, I commended him for culling the Dark Elf threat. So, what is this Eternal Flame?"

"A relic from Asgard that my father took, which if combined with the Crown of Surtur can summon the Marémon the crown's named after."

"Does your sister intend to summon such a monster?"

"Loki thinks she does, and for once I believe him."

As his nostrils flared, Nick Fury said to Rumlow, "Go assist Steve Rogers in the mountains to deal with Sakaar, then send a search party to find Loki and Hela. The sooner we find those two, the better. After that, look for those HYDRA agents that escaped."

"Right away, sir." Rumlow saluted and left the interrogation room.

"Now, Mr. Parker, when we checked your PDBs…I noticed there was a Hornetech inside one of them," Nick Fury said to Peter. "Do you know what that is?"

Peter hesitated to answer.

This caused Nick Fury to walk circles around Peter and the others. "Funny such a thing should appear in your possession, because the kid who created it claimed he lost the Hornetech in the battle against the Svartelm. So why do you have it?"

"He gave it to me, willingly," Peter reluctantly answered.

"Why is that?"

"Because he didn't want his creation to be used as a weapon like how Malekith used the Svartelm and Kurseed for his attempted Dark Elf invasion."

"Interesting…then he didn't tell you the real reason he gave Hornetech to you?"

"Um, no, I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"Good, then we're done here."

So Peter, MJ, and Thor were released from the SHIELD Station along with the other Marémon Wielders including Brunnhilde. They not only had their Marémon back, but also their belongings.

"Do you think Nick Fury was telling the truth, about Eddie?" Peter asked MJ.

Shrugging, MJ said, "I see no reason for Nick Fury to lie, but that was a strange thing he said."

"But why would Eddie lie to me about the reason he gave Hornetech to me?"

"He probably had his reasons."

Nearby, Brunnhilde and Thor were talking with their Marémon out including the Korg and brunette-haired Valrie.

"I can't believe I didn't recognize you right away," Thor said in an embarrassed tone. "You must think I'm stupid or something."

"Actually, I'm glad you didn't recognize me immediately," Brunnhilde responded, twirling her braided hair. "I was already embarrassed when Loki showed up, but when you arrived I didn't know how to react except to be distant and harsh."

"So are you still ashamed of being defeated by Hela, even though you helped save us?"

"Kind of, but helping you guys brought my old confidence back. So to show my thanks, I'm giving you my Valrie."

This surprised Valrie, who looked between Brunnhilde and Thor.

"You don't have to go that far," Thor insisted. "She's clearly very attached to you."

"Even so, I forced her into slavery just as much as I allowed myself to be enslaved. Plus, I think your Marémon team could use a more feminine touch."

While Thunderthor and Korg seemed confused, the brunette-haired Valrie hugged Brunnhilde tightly. Smiling, Brunnhilde stroked her Valrie's hair as she used her other hand to grab a PDB and gave it to Thor.

"Do not think of this parting as permanent, Valrie," Brunnhilde said gently. "I just need to get myself together and to atone for what I've put you through. So take care of Thor and his Marémon team for me until we meet again, okay?"

Reluctantly, the floating humanoid Valrie nodded and entered the PDB Thor held.

To be continued…