A Fool's Hope
In the dead of night, the vault on Asgard had a visitor. The figure dressed in black walked confidently to the blue glowing cube that was the Tesseract and with both hands took it gingerly from its resting place.
"It seems yet again that this vault is not immune to intruders and thieves" an authoritative voice sounding in the darkness, "but I never imagined that you would be one of them my son".
Tesseract still in hand, Thor turned and faced his father with a grim expression "Loki is in danger".
"Of his own making I expect" Odin replied curtly, "and unless you plan to bring him home to face his punishment for imprisoning me and impersonating me, you shall not intervene".
"Loki will be brought to Asgard to answer for his crimes" Thor nodded dutifully.
"And why do you require the Tesseract for this?" Odin enquired.
"Loki is beyond our reach" Thor told the King, "but the Doctor believes that he can use the Tesseract-"
"The Doctor?" Odin interrupted, his voice sharp as steel, "the Doctor has a hand in this? No my son, whatever quest you have in mind, I forbid it. The Doctor is not to be trusted".
Thor hesitated "Father, I believe in this instance he wishes to help. Do not forget, it was the Doctor who exposed Loki's deception and rescued you from your confinement".
"And then proceeded to let your brother go free" Odin replied, "something which he has done twice now".
"He believes Loki can still be redeemed" Thor said defensively.
Odin raised an eyebrow "as do you it would seem".
"I do not believe, I hope" Thor said quietly, "I hope that one day I shall have a brother again".
Odin shook his head "that is a fool's hope my son, and trusting the Doctor is foolish also".
"I never said I trusted him" Thor said, "but I believe him when he says that Loki's life and perhaps the fate of the universe is at stake. What possible cause could he have to lie?"
"He needs no cause; the Time Lord is a liar!" Odin said angrily, "he has already corrupted one of my sons; I will not let him corrupt the other!"
Odin banged his staff sharply on the floor so that the sound echoed throughout the vault. Thor looked at him tentatively.
"I cannot let you leave here with the Tesseract my son" Odin said with a sympathetic look, "I am sorry".
Thor looked guiltily at Odin "it is I who am sorry. Please forgive me for this Father".
Odin nodded, thinking the matter was settled. He waited for Thor to return the Tesseract to its place. But instead Thor took a red button from his tunic and pressed it so that it glowed. He held it against the Tesseract.
"Doctor" he said to the red button and then looked up to meet his Father's gaze, "I am ready".
Odin took a step forward but was blinded by a brilliant flash of blue. He raised an arm to shield his remaining eye and when he lowered it Thor was gone. Only a few blue ribbons of energy remained. They danced and flickered briefly before they faded away.