"Asgardians," Skurge addressed the people standing huddled before him as Hela watched, leaning against Fenris. The fearsome giant wolf growling softly as it stared down potential prey. "...some misguided soul has stolen the Bifrost sword. Tell us where it is, or there will be consequences." He looked slightly ill as he spoke, uncomfortable with the words coming out of his mouth. "Bad ones."
Asgard was now no more than smoking ruins and the people before them numbered no more than one hundred or so. The rest had either fled or had already fallen to Hela and her butchers. They all were exhausted and scared as Hela's butchers patrolled the perimeter keeping them in the plaza.
"Well?" Skurge pressed, but there was no answer.
"You." Hela pointed to an Asgardian woman. Her butchers approached the crowd who coward back and found the Asgardian woman. Skurge closed his eyes and looked downwards knowing what was coming, the axe in his hand weighing more than it ever had before.
"No! Stop!" The crowd tried to protect her, but it was no use. Hela's butchers pulled the Asgardian woman non to gently to the steps before Hela. They shoved her to the ground on her hands and knees as Skurge turned to her. She trembled as Skurge held his battle axe with both hands, his grip white knuckled.
"Well? Executioner?" Hela eyed him and reluctantly Skurge began to raise his axe above the woman's head.
"Wait!" A man called out before the axe could fall, Skurge looking relieved as the man stepped forward out of the crowd. "I know where the sword is."
-0-
Vanessa moved through the people offering aid wherever she could knowing that they could not stay here forever. She came back over to where Sif stood talking with Heimdall and the few remaining soldiers they had. Luckily though, most Asgardians was well versed in the teachings of combat.
"Heimdall, Sif, a moment." Vanessa waved them over toward the great doors away from the people. "I hate to say this, but I think we need to leave Asgard, get everyone out of harm's way. Then we can deal with Hela and her minions without fear of innocent casualties."
"Do you think we can make it out of here safely?" Sif asked gazing around at the numerous refugees.
"We may no longer have a choice." Heimdall looked to the Asgardian Citizens, Sif, and Vanessa. "Asgard." Everyone went silent at once. "She's here."
Hela in her cowl & headdress stood with Skurge outside of the mountain stronghold where the refugees hid. Hela raised her arms and fired long thin black lances, which burrowed into the crevices on the mountainside. With the lances in place, Hela bared down summoning all her focus and energy, she began to vibrate this manifestation of her powers, puncturing crevices and splitting rock apart. The whole mountain began to rumble and with a great crack Hela ripped open the side of the mountain.
There was an avalanche of rock and debris as the mountain around the doors was completely destroyed. The doors fell across the ravine, creating a bridge for Hela and Skurge. Hela waited patiently for the dust to settle, but once it had her face fell as she looked into an empty stronghold. No sign of Heimdall or the refugees. Heimdall led the migration of refugees out the other side of the mountain onto a secluded mountain path with Sif in the middle and Vanessa bringing up the rear.
"We must keep moving! Go to the Bifrost!" Heimdall called out.
Hela looked ready to just about to throttle Skurge when a loud gong sound rolled through the air coming from far away, but the deep note resonated across the land. Hela's eyes narrowed as they cut to the palace, rage filling them to the brim. Returning swiftly to the throne room to find Thor on the throne holding Gungnir, the king's spear, his father's spear. He slammed the pummel into the ground repeatedly, the gong echoing as Hela stepped into the throne room sans headdress and cowl. Thor stopped with one last resounding gong upon seeing his sister approach.
"Sister." He greeted.
"You're still alive." Smiling, Hela gradually crossed the huge space towards Thor.
"I love what you've done with the place." Thor said. "Redecorating, I see."
"It seems our father's solution to every problem was to cover it up." Hela scoffed.
"Or to cast it out." Thor agreed. "He told you that you were worthy. He said the same thing to me."
"You see, you never knew him, not at his best." Hela let out a nostalgic sigh. "Odin and I drowned entire civilizations in blood and tears. Where do you think all this gold came from?" Her mood soured once again. "And then one day he decided to become a benevolent king. To foster peace, to protect life." She bared her teeth. "To have you."
"I understand why you're angry. And you are my sister, and technically have a claim to the throne. And believe me, I would love for someone else to rule." Thor told her honestly. "But it can't be you. You're just...the worst."
"Okay, get up." Hela formed her headdress. "You're in my seat."
"You know, Father once told me that a wise king never seeks out war." Thor stood up, descending from the throne.
"But must always be ready for it." Hela finished before they charged one another weapons drawn.
-0-
Heimdall and Sif led the refugees out onto the bridge, the mist from the surrounding water hiding the end of the bridge from view. Suddenly Heimdall came to a stop causing Sif and the others to stop short as well. At the far end of the bridge emerging from the mist was Fenris, the massive war wolf guarding the observatory under the orders of its mistress.
"Go back!" Heimdall ordered and the refugees turned to retreat as Fenris charged, stopping short when gunfire rained down on him. The Commodore swooped onto the scene, Valkyrie manning the blaster and firing on Fenris holding the beast back.
"Stop!" Vanessa who was bringing up the rear called out. Coming up behind them was Skurge and an army of Hela's butchers leaving them all trapped between a rock and a hard place.
-0-
Hela and Thor fought hard, exchanging vicious blows, Hela wielding twin black blades and Thor attacking with Gungnir. They become locked, face to face, Hela glaring at Thor.
"To be honest, I expected more." Hela disarmed him, sending Gungnir clattering across the room then she viciously hit him sending Thor flying hard into a wall.
-0-
"Heimdall! The sword!" Skurge called out.
"Skurge." Vanessa stepped out in front of the crowd, her eyes glowing as Skurge took an involuntary step back. "I'll give you a sword." Her psionic sword slowly formed from her hand pulsing with misty ethereal energy and in her other hand an impressive oval shield took form engraved with the symbol of a dove in flight. She thrust her sword up into the air, the glow from the blade intensifying. "Asgard stands together." She lowered her sword pointing it straight at him. "Let your armies come!"
The people shouted, raising their weapons as well as the Butcher army charged. Suddenly another rain of bullets comes down from a star-ship flying overhead holding the butchers back. Vanessa gazed up at the ship, a smile on her face seeing her husband in the cockpit. Heimdall looked toward the palace in concern for Thor, but his attention soon went back to protecting the mass of refugees behind him.
"We must cross now! To Bi-Frost!" Heimdall ordered as he and Sif led the refugees out onto the bridge.
-0-
"Here's the difference between us." Hela had Thor pinned to the wall. "I'm Odin's firstborn, the rightful heir, the savior of Asgard." She raised Thor off the ground. "And you're nothing." Hela projected a large, spiked lance, Thor barely rolled out of the way before it punctured the wall. Thor headbutted Hela which did nothing. Hela responded with her own headbutt which did a lot. It does a lot. "So simple. Even a blind man could see it." Hela raked a black-clawed hand across Thor's face ripping out one of his eyes. "Now you remind me of Dad."
-0-
The Asgardians led by Vanessa clashed with Hela's Butchers maintaining the line and keeping those who could not fight safe for the moment. Valkyrie kept raining down fire on Fenris, but it was doing no real damage. Just pissing the wolf off. Fenris shook off the bullets and resumes charging. Heimdall saw Fenris charging and stepped out in front of the refugees with his sword. Sif stood with him drawing her own blade, both preparing for the worst.
"This stupid dog won't die!" Valkyrie gave up shooting.
"We need to get down there." Loki stood at the side opening next to the massive gun, his heart clenched with worry for his wife. Though she held her own it was clear that the massive amounts of butchers would eventually overwhelm her. Banner looked down at the carnage below and made his decision. He got up and headed for the bay doors.
"Loki, take the wheel." (Copy right pending ;P JK LOL) Banner ordered and giving him a quick surprised glance Loki nodded, heading for the pilot's seat. "Everything's going to be okay. I got this. You want to know who I am?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Val called out, glancing from Loki to Banner.
"You'll see." Banner leapt out of the ship soaring through the air in an awe-inspiring feat of bravery.
"What is he doing?" Val shouted at Loki who smirked back.
"Something incredible." Loki replied.
Banner's face was set in determination, arms churning, ready to Hulk out...except it wasn't happening happen. Worry washed over his face replacing his determination as the ground rose to meet him. With an impressive spalt Banner faceplanted on the bridge seeming to shatter every bone in his body. Heimdall and Sif glanced at each other, still ready to fight.
"You call that impressive?!" Val shouted at Loki who's face had fallen slightly.
"Give it a second." Loki replied uncertainly as Fenris sniffed Bruce curiously to see if he was dead not noticing the thick green vein pumping on his neck. Suddenly the incredible Hulk burst up with a devastating upper cut to Fenris's jaw, beginning their battle. They grappled, tumbling into the waters below.
-0-
Hela had Thor by the throat lifting him up to look over the balcony's ledge. They were well within the sight of the bridge where the butchers pushed against the Asgardians. In a last effort Vanessa had enacted a large shield keeping the butchers back allowing them time to regroup and recover. On the other side Sif and Heimdall held back their own horde of butchers.
"You see? No one's going anywhere. I'll get that sword even if I have to kill every single one of them to do it." Hela sneered victoriously as Thor looked on heartsick.