Chapter 1 - A New Case
Another day … another day? Night? With no natural light or nearby star to rotate around, the God of Mischief had no idea how much time had passed since New York. Time definitely worked different here at the stupid Time Variants Authority, the TVA for short … or Hell as Loki liked to call it. He walked down the dimly lit, drab, boring hallway of the mighty bureaucratic order, dreading any paperwork in his future. Him and his coworker, Agent Mobius, a simple man with a few fun interests, were on a mission to find one of Loki's more dangerous variants. Variant … a term coined by the TVA to describe a person who does something they are not supposed to in the so-called "Sacred Timeline," causing an alternate version of events … that are … according to the Time Keepers, or Space Lizards as Loki liked to insult them … "were not suppose to happen." Mobius specialized in the pursuit of dangerous variants, and now, they were after one of his. Loki turned the corner to enter the office area. Of all the time lines to model the interior of the TVA, Loki had no idea why they would choose something so stifling as the 1950s on planet earth, or so he thought. He honestly missed the shiny, bright colors of Asgard in all of its glory. Loki stopped himself when he saw a strange, old man speaking with Mobius. He had very long white hair, blue-grey robes that could hit the floor if he stood, long flowing sleeves, and an odd cylindrical hat that flopped slightly to one side. He looked very out of place compared to all the office supplies, desks, and human technology.
"Loki!" said Mobius ushering him over. Loki walked with great caution. Even though no one could possess magic at the TVA, for some reason he looked like he could.
"Loki … this is … " Mobius gestured to the old man. When he turned around Loki saw that he also had a long white beard to match his hair and half moon glasses.
"Albus Percival Wulfric … Brian … Dumbledore," he said slowly towards the end, putting out a slender long hand out for a friendly handshake. Loki just stood there with a frown refusing take his hand before bursting out into a dismissive snicker.
"Did you just make that up?" he asked the old man. The old man, to his surprise, simply smiled, not offended. Mobius rolled his eyes, embarrassed for him.
"Loki, he's here to give us a lead on your variant," the agent said sternly. Loki gave him a suspicious look.
"A lead? I thought we already established that he hides in apocalypses?" questioned the ever skeptical trickster. Albus smiled lightly with a glimmer in his eye that did not give Loki any amount of fondness.
"And how is it possible that … I'm sorry," he snickered, "What was your name again?" Loki asked sarcastically.
"Loki," Mobius scolded. Albus chuckled.
"It's quite alright … it's a very long name … Dumbledore, Professor Dumbledore," he added cleverly. Loki glared at him.
"Dumbledore," the trickster continued with great doubt," how is it that you have a lead? Do you work for the TVA?" The professor simply shook his head and took something out of his robe pocket.
"I believe you are familiar with this?" he said holding a TemPad. Loki straightened up a bit. "Confiscated it from your variant after they accosted one of my students."
"Students?"
"Yeah, that's the word you would focus on," muttered Mobius, crossing his arms.
"So he's what, trapped there?" Loki asked, ignoring the analyst. The gleam returned to Dumbledore's eyes.
"For now," noted the old man.
"And you know for sure that's it's a Loki Variant?"
Mobius had just about enough of Loki's babbling with the third degree.
"Loki!" he scolded more fiercely, pointing to something on his desk. A dark, long dagger with Asgardian runes rested near his jet ski magazine. It definitely looked like one of his.
"This was left at the scene of the crime," said Dumbledore. Loki remained quiet, analyzing the blade, contemplating his words.
"And the TVA didn't notice a branch on the timeline?" asked Loki, referring to Mobius.
"Unless you consider his sudden appearance as one," answered Mobius, referring to the strange old man. Loki and Mobius had never actually had someone in person who was not a part of the TVA deliver them news of a nexus event, an event in a timeline which was not supposed to happen, according to the flow of the sacred timeline. Dumbledore stood up gracefully.
"Mr. Laufeyson, given the delicate circumstances, and your expertise on the matter, I'd like to act fast," noted the old man with calm seriousness. The trickster did not like how this stranger knew his name so casually.
"And you are not at all worried that I might do the same thing?" he scrutinized darkly. Mobius put his face in his hand shamefully. Dumbledore turned to the embarrassed agent. "Oh I do believe Agent Mobius here has assured me that you would do no such thing. Be that as it may, the moment you set foot upon my school's grounds, a trace will be placed upon you, and I will be alerted if you so desire to do something … dastardly," he threatened poetically. Loki's lips parted a bit. There it was … there was the catch.
"Right," the God of Mischief said as a matter of fact.