Chapter 6
Jane gave a yelp as whatever invisible force it was that was toying with her jerked her forward and into a large open space. Falling face first into a rocky surface, Jane groaned as she pulled herself up to her feat. Shaking her head, Jane blinked as she took in her new surroundings.
She was standing on the edge of a cliff in a large, vast chasm. Looking up, Jane saw no trace of light, and wondered if she had been teleported underground. Was this where the schisms had been leading to? If so, why hadn't she gone back to Earth like the rest of that junk they threw in? Without any idea of how to get back, Jane started to feel scared.
"DARCY?!" Jane shouted, her voice echoing throughout the abyss. "HIKESH?! HELLO?!"
When she got no answer except for the sound of her own voice bouncing along the rocky stone walls of the chasm, Jane shivered as a cold air swept up around her. Jane's heart suddenly froze up in fear when she heard faint whispers, and looked around in different directions, unable to point to the source of the unseen voices.
"Here... We are here!"
When those words were spoken, Jane was able to sense the direction from where they were spoken. Turning around slowly, Jane was surprised when she saw an enormous stone structure, standing only a few meters behind her. It was large and rectangular in shape, and was made of an ancient stone that seemed to have withered away over the years. Moving closer to inspect this strange object, Jane studied it closely, noticing several ornate markings surrounding it.
"What...?" Jane said, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"In here... We are in here!" The whispers caused Jane to jump back slightly, and she blinked when a thin, red glowing line appeared in the center of the artifact.
"Help us! Release Us!" The whispers sounded desperate this time. For reasons she herself did not even know, Jane reached forward to touch the strange red glow. But as soon as she did, the stone pillar suddenly split in half, the upper half floating up from the lower, and in between the two halves, a bright, red glow lit up the dimly lit cavern. Jane looked at the bright red glow in awe, her eyes boring deep into it. It looked so beautiful, so hypnotizing, that Jane reached forward again. She would soon regret doing so.
A flowing red matter suddenly swam up from within the stone, hissing and distorting its shape as it comprehended its new freedom. As Jane stared at it in curiosity, the red matter seemed to detect her presence, and like a plague, it hissed and soared through the air, immediately closing the distance between it and her as it enveloped her body. Jumping back, Jane frantically rubbed at her skin in an effort to rid herself of this mysterious force, but watched in horror as the red matter sank deep into her flesh before disappearing.
A faint, red glow seemed to envelop Jane as she suddenly fell to her knees, gasping for breath as if she were suffocating. Gripping her chest, Jane fell forward, convulsing slightly. As the glow faded, Jane's eyes fluttered as she fell into unconsciousness.
ooooo
On the dark world of Svartalfheim, two Dark Elves stood guard by the mysterious cave that Malekith had discovered many years ago. Suddenly, a loud, machine-like wail was heard as a red glow filled the dark skies above. The two guards looked up as a gargantuan form suddenly broke through the cloud bank and descended fast to the ground. It was a ship, but just any ship. It had a large, robotic and cephalopodic appearance. It was made of a dark purple metal with numerous lines in between its joints, which glowed with bright blue lights.
The two guards glanced to the entrance of the cave when a much taller Dark Elf with dark skin emerged from it, followed closely by other members of his race. He watched expressionlessly as the alien ship landed nearby, its large tentacle-like appendages touching the ground gently. A large red eye in between the front two tentacles gazed at the Dark Elves in front of it, and with a cybernetic howl, it stepped forward, the ground beneath it quaking as it drew closer.
The Dark Elves all backed away slightly as it approached, by Algrim, the aforementioned dark skinned elf, just stood still, his hands folded behind his back as he looked up at the ship. The ship soon stopped mere inches from the Elves, who watched as a blue light was cast down from the base of the ship and in front of Algrim.
A form materialized within the light, and Algrim immediately bowed when the form took complete shape.
Malekith stepped from the light, which disappeared shortly thereafter. For some reason, the pupils of Malekith's eyes were glowing bright blue instead of the dark yellow that his comrades possessed. Malekith looked down at his oldest friend and faithful servant. "You may rise."
Giving a nod, Algrim stood, facing Malekith. "You have returned?"
Malekith nodded, and glanced up at the enormous ship that stood over them. Turning back to Algrim, Malekith gave a sinister smile. "We have detected the Aether. Someone has found it."
"Who?"
"I do not know." Malekith said, and then turned to the ship. "But he has demanded that we find it as soon as possible. The Convergence is nearing, and if we do not find the Aether in time, it will be to late."
ooooo
The great hall of Odin's palace was alive with festivities and celebration. The victory on Vanaheim had brightened everyone's spirits, and called for immediate celebration. Music was playing and Asgardians were dancing merrily. Fandral sat in the arms of two women, jabbering away on stories of his past battles and experiences. Volstagg sant contentedly with his beloved wife and daughter, wolfing down on the enormous banquet before him. With his daughter seated on his lap and his wife sharing a beer with him, Volstagg finished off the drink in seconds, with a loud yell, he smashed the drink against the floor, demanding another. This was met by cheers and laughter.
However, not everyone was celebrating. Outside, Sif sat leaning over a bridge, gazing out at the starry sky. Admiring its beauty, Sif felt content at the peace. It was moments like this where she was able to cast aside the thrill of battle and relax, if only for a time.
"Not going to join us for a drink?"
Giving a smile, Sif turned to face Fandral, who was standing in the open doorway to the hall. "I have celebrated enough for tonight, Fandral. But thanks."
"That doesn't sound like the Sif I know." Fandral said with a smile. "I remember you celebrated the battle of Haragon so much that you almost started a second."
"Well, the first was so much fun." Sif replied with a smirk. She and Fandral shared a laugh at that, before Fandral took her hand gently.
"Take a drink, Sif." Fandral said softly. "Even you deserve to have a little fun every now and then."
Rolling her eyes, Sif smiled as she let Fandral lead her back into the great hall, when an Asgardian soldier suddenly stopped them. "Lady Sif?"
"Yes?" Sif answered curiously.
"Heimdall requests your presence. He said it was urgent."
ooooo
Sif marched along the Bifrost and towards the obseravatory, the bridge glowing with a pulsing rainbow light as energy was drawn to the structure before her. As usual, Heimdall was staring out into the darkness of space when Sif found him. "You requested my presence?"
"Yes." Heimdall said, not even turning to face her. "I apologize if I interrupted your festivities."
"Festivities in Asgard are a common occurrence." Sif assured. "Missing one will not kill me."
Chuckling, Heimdall gazed admirably into the stars. "I know you cannot see it like I can, Sif. But it is beautiful. All of it is. So many different worlds, all with a unique tale to tell. But I fear that all if it will soon be in grave danger."
Sif frowned. "What do you mean?"
Heimdall finally turned to face Sif. "You know of the Convergence, yes?"
"Of course." Sif said. "It is the alignment of worlds. It approaches, yes?"
"Yes." Heimdall nodded. "But I find it quite unusual that it happened at the same moment that this pestering alien signal emerges. The Nine Realms are all experiencing its strain, the humans especially. But, while I was observing Earth, to see how they were handling the strain of the alien signal, I discovered something unusual. A good friend of our earthbound acquaintance, Darcy Lewis, has disappeared. I can no longer see her."
Sif blinked. "What do you mean? Are you saying she's no longer in the Nine Realms?"
"I don't know, Sif." Heimdall said. "While trying to find the source of this signal, Darcy Lewis and her friends came across echoes of the Convergence. Her friend, Jane Foster, has vanished from my sight."
"What are you asking me to do, Heimdall?" Sif said, frowning.
Heimdall looked at Sif hard. "Sif, so many things are happening at once, and it is all to big to be a coincidence. I fear there are lives and secrets at stake here. I have caught glimpses of something sinister sailing through the vicinity of the Nine Realms, and it carries something from the past with it. With the Convergence approaching, added with the psychic call and Jane Foster's disappearance, I feel we must investigate this."
"You want me to go back to Earth." Sif clarified.
Heimdall nodded. "Yes."
Chapter six done. Next chapter, Darcy and Sif reunite on Earth, and that's not necessarily a good thing, lol. Review please.