New World Order

Loki opened his eyes and solemnly looked at the scene in front of him. There was nothing left of the city, it had been razed to the ground. Slowly, Loki walked through the debris, careful not to disturb the dead. He could tell from the pattern they were scattered in that the attack had come from the sky in the north. He looked intently for signs of life, but he knew that he would find none. The last human settlement on Earth had been wiped out.

"Loki". The Asgardian turned at the mention of his name and saw Thor, King of Asgard and Ruler of the Nine Realms approaching him. Dutifully Loki saluted.

Thor gave him a cold, expectant stare "well?"

"Daleks" Loki said tersely.

Thor frowned "you are sure?"

Loki nodded "a distress call was sent an hour ago by the humans" he told Thor, "We got here as quickly as we could". He looked at the devastation around him. "We were too late".

"You Loki" Thor growled, "You were too late. I tasked you with Midgard's protection and you have failed me".

"I have been doing the best with what I have been given" Loki protested, "I do not have enough men or enough resources to hold off Daleks!"

Thor looked at him sharply "The human population here was small; the Daleks would not have launched a full scale attack. You should have been able to handle such an outbreak of violence".

Loki bristled "we would not have such outbreaks of violence if you had not broken the peace treaty with the Daleks, Brother".

Thor spun around and struck Loki hard in the jaw "do not address me so informally! I am your King!"

Loki stumbled backwards and put his hand to his face. The soldiers who were searching nearby debris stopped what they were doing and silently watched the exchange.

Loki regained his footing and looked furtively at the silent soldiers. Gingerly he touched his bleeding lip, for a moment his eyes flashed with rage, but he quickly composed himself and gave Thor a small bow "I apologise, my King" he said loudly and clearly for all to hear, "I was too bold".

Thor nodded and leaned in close to Loki. "Do not forget your place again" he hissed, "or I will have you put in chains, brother or no".

Loki swallowed and nodded grimly "of course, my King".

Thor turned and strode away from his brother; nothing with some satisfaction that Loki was trembling with what he assumed was fear.

Loki took a deep breath and turned to his soldiers who were doing their best to look busy. "Continue to search for survivors" he told them, "report to me when you're done". The men nodded and saluted their prince.

Loki walked away into the debris until he found a crumbling building. Entering the ruins he checked that he was alone, out of sight and out of earshot. Only then did he clench his fists in rage. With a frustrated scream he punched the wall of the building, causing plaster dust to rain down on him.

"Careful now" a voice spoke, "you'll bring the whole thing down on us and I'm quite enjoying this regeneration, I don't really want to trade models just yet".

Loki turned and looked at the voice's owner. It was a brown haired woman in a dark high collared dress. Loki was certain he had never met her before, but there was something oddly familiar about her.

"Have we met?" He asked with is frown.

"Not in this life Sunshine" the woman replied.

She looked around the building with vague interest. "Just checking in to see how you're doing. This is a bit of a mess isn't it? You can thank your stupid girlfriend for that. I'll be honest, it's not quite what I had planned, but isn't it fun?"

Loki's frown deepened, he felt certain he was missing part of this conversation. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh nothing, nothing" the woman replied dismissively and gestured at the wall, "so tell me, what's with the little temper tantrum? Is your big brother not playing nice?"

Loki stiffened and said nothing.

"Oh poor baby" the woman cooed, "are you going to run and tell Daddy?"

She looked at Loki's aggrieved expression and smiled "oh that's right, Daddy's dead in this world isn't he? Killed in the Time War?"

The woman tapped her head, "it's all coming back now. Galifrey fell to the Daleks because someone wasn't there to stop it. Then with the Time Lords gone, Asgard allied with Joutenhiem and launched one final assault against the Daleks, but in the battle Odin-". She ran a finger across her throat and made a gurgling noise.

Loki narrowed his eyes but remained silent.

She began to pace around Loki "a dreadfully noble sacrifice, but it wasn't enough was it? The Daleks prevailed and you've been fighting them ever since with He-Man running the show. What does Mum think of his methods?"

This time Loki unsheathed his sword. The woman looked at him with interest "well that struck a nerve".

Loki pointed the sword at her. "My Mother is gone" he hissed, "but I expect you already knew that".

Missy shrugged "maybe. How did she die?"

"Oh no, you are done asking questions for the moment" Loki told her, "I have a few of my own".

Missy smiled and spread her arms "oh by all means Sunshine, hit me with your best shot".

"Who are you?" Loki asked pointedly, "what are you?"

"A friend" the woman replied with a smile.

"I rather doubt that" Loki said with a sceptical expression. "But you have sought me out on my own" he continued with a frown, "So you want something from me, and only me. What is it?"

"Still the clever one as always" The woman observed, "and thoroughly wasted in Thor's shadow, don't you agree? Of course you do".

Loki glared at her. "If you have a point, I suggest you make it".

The woman smoothed out her skirt. "The funny thing is" she continued, "He would have been a good King. He would have led a Golden Age on Asgard. But the ripples of time..." She flicked her hand as though she were discarding a piece of rubbish, "there go the happy childhood memories, there goes guidance of elders, there go the lessons in humility and what is left? A power-drunk nitwit with a thirst for war".

Loki gave her a severe look "mind what you say or I will cut out your tongue. You are talking about the King".

The woman doubled over in laughter "oh well done!" She stood up straight "mind what you say or I will cut out your tongue" she mimicked and then grinned, "Every bit the dutiful subject, the loyal brother. It really is such a brilliantly cultivated image".

She clasped her hands together, "but let's be honest, that's all it is. An image. An illusion, if you will. You're still the same old Loki, the ripples have changed the universe but they haven't changed you. Oh yes, memories can be altered, but you cannot rearrange a soul as twisted as yours. You're still as black-hearted as you always were".

Loki stiffened "what you say is a lie".

"Is it?" The woman smiled and took a few steps towards Loki, "Tell me you haven't thought about usurping your brother. Tell me you aren't plotting his death right now".

Loki's expression was unreadable. "I am not".

The woman smiled and leaned in close. "I thought as much" and she pulled him towards her kissing him hard on the lips.

For a brief moment Loki was stunned, and then he pushed her away, recoiling in horror as he did.

The woman laughed at his horrified expression. "Too forward? Oh well then, goodbye my little Prince. I'm sure we'll meet again soon".

She began to walk away from the stunned Asgardian. "The name is Missy by the way. Try not to forget it again".

Loki remembered himself quickly enough to give chase as the woman disappeared behind a crumbling wall, but by the time he rounded the corner, she had already vanished.

Loki looked around half-heartedly, he was not entirely surprised. He looked down at his hands remembering the thudding in the woman's chest as he had shoved her and frowned. "Two hearts" he murmured, "a Time Lord..."