Chapter 48 – Prime Minister

D10/348 BBY

The siege of Paralas – a terrifying time for the nine realms. By using the reality stone, Malekith the Accursed would have brought never ending darkness throughout the universe, and to combat him Odin had donned the Destroyer armour.

Fenrir witnessed the defeat of Malekith, the destruction of the Destroyer armour, the loss of the infinity stone and the near death of Odin.

As Odin was dying, Fenrir heard a small voice inside his mind, "Do it", it whispered, "Fulfill your destiny."

"ENOUGH", a booming enraged voice was heard by all in the Battle of Ryloth.

Fenrir snapped out of his recollection and saw that where Galactus and the Destroyer were facing off was now simply the Destroyer looking at empty space.

In the distance, Fenrir felt three lifeforces – his true parents and… 'Jormungandr?'. Before the shock of feeling his brother in over a few millennia could settle in, the Destroyer powered down and Fenrir heard a voice, "Fenrir help me up."

Fenrir turned around and saw Thor struggling to get up. Fenrir stood near him with a firm look, "What have you done Thor?"

"I lacked the strength to repeatedly brain that monstrosity, so I summoned the Destroyer", Thor answered and somehow brought himself up to the sitting position.

"I witnessed its destruction, as did you."

"I remade the armour to help combat a future threat", Thor answered Fenrir's unspoken question. Thor then raised his hand towards Fenrir who grasped it and helped him up.

"Whose voice was that?"

"Buri", Thor whispered.

By now the Ghost had landed near their position, Galactus and all his minions were nowhere to be seen.

Fenrir had this nagging feeling that Thor was not telling him something important.

"Father", Hera approached him as Thor began walking towards the armour and waved his hand, following which the armour disappeared.

Thor turned to Hera, "The threat has passed. Ryloth and Midgard are safe from Galactus. Our work here is done." Thor turned from her and flew off.

Fenrir saw the look of disbelief in her face, he exchanged a quick glance with Kanan. Above them Abathur had ordered the fleet to move out, and the children were transported to the Starbird. It took 10 minutes for the fleet to leave and during this time Hera, Kanan and Fenrir remained absolutely quiet.

After the Aesir had left, and the Eurazanian fighters remaining coordinated with Ryloth ships for the cleanup, Hera broke her silence, "What happened to him? He…he gave no explanation."

"I had seen that armour die in Paralas. Thor brought it back to combat some unknown future threat", Fenrir said.

"I saw that thing kill my mother, my brother and my father", Hera whispered and Kanan gently rubbed her back.

"Baldur", Fenrir said. By now the three lifeforces he was feeling were moving away instead of coming closer until they faded completely.

"Whose voice was that?", Kanan asked.

"According to Thor…Buri. It seems this battle angered him", Fenrir answered.

In hyperspace Allfather Thor flew alone, his wings unfurled and wariness creeping in. He could feel Buri's powerful gaze upon his back and noticed that the magic of runes was gone.

"This is the price you have paid for forcing my hand", Buri's anger spoke to him.

"I accept", Thor answered.

"Arrogance, Thor is not a virtue. You dare believe you are in a position to accept!?", Buri spoke, "What you were going to do is unpardonable. The runes have left you and will return when humility does, Thunderer."

D350/10 ABY

"He has been acting a little off for a while now", Vanathur spoke to the person in the hologram.

"That is to be expected, since the encounter with Amora on New Coruscant", came the hologram's answer.

"It is almost like he doesn't know where he is. He is good at hiding his problems, but after a threshold they always show."

"So, what do you think happened Vanathur?", the person in the hologram asked.

"Allfather, I believe that he may have accidently killed Zenin, reacting rather instinctually. After all no one saw what happened once Zenin activated that spell, and our dear friend Tarre has no memory of that event."

"It was premature of me to clear Tarre for combat duty so soon", Thor lamented.

"On the bright side he did help thwart a major terrorist attack on the outskirts of Nidvaller, an action that has earned him some praise even from the usually obstinate core world dwarves", came a third voice from a separate hologram. His name was Eladrin, his stature was a little above the average height yet on the taller side for his species. He had a rocky texture similar to Talia and the fiery eyes of a Sun-Elf. His and Talia's species were called Dwelf (Half Dwarven Half Elven).

"Aye Prime Minister Eladrin, if we focus on the bright side of the issue, then the Champion helped thwart a terrorist attack. But if we focus on the less illuminated side, then his actions could possibly start a war", Vanathur spoke.

"Come now Vanathur, where is that obnoxious confidence of yours gone?", Eladrin grinned.

"Oh, my dear friend, if the Curse Lords go to War, then my Battalion and I will win and defeat them all", Vanathur smirked, "but I worry about the collateral damage."

"Enough jests you two", came Thor's voice following which the two lowered their heads slightly and wiped the smirks off their faces.

"Tarre will be given an extended leave from all combat missions, at worst you may employ him for logistical support", Thor addressed Vanathur.

"May I make an alternate suggestion my king?", Eladrin who in the third last year of his term asked Thor.

"Very well."

"Regarding the two new city states the Parliament has approved of, we should make Tarre the new Mayor of both. This could serve as both reward and the disciplinary action that is needed."

"Mayor? The same man, who can't tell what is real and what is not? You know what he said when I asked him to explain his actions Eladrin", Vanathur protested, "In his own words – 'I saw Lucifer and everything around me was on fire'."

"Please let me finish General. Tarre will only be a figurehead, after all you can't do the job of Mayor for two different cities. It will allow him to rest his mind and be under observation, while other trusted bureaucrats would manage the day-to-day activities."

"Allfather, I doubt this idea will work. One of those city states is for dwarves who have openly declared their disgust for Tarre", Vanathur turned towards Thor.

"The Dwarven Master Craftsmen named Thorsager has personally asked for Tarre Vizsla to be Mayor of his nascent city state on Hominum. Given the conditions of dwarven treatment on Hominum, and the fear Hominum's king has on Tarre…this would be a good deed on our part", Eladrin offered his views.

"You have my approval Prime Minister", Thor said before Vanathur could protest.

"Thank you, my king. I will prepare the necessary paperwork."

"After which you will give your full attention towards the enactment of the new bill."

"Very well sire."