Many in the courtroom turned in awe and admiration as the crown prince of Wakanda walked to his place on the stand.
"The T'Challa is your first witness? The long-lost prince?"
"It is an honor to speak for my good friend today." T'Challa greeted. "Though he knows me better by my professional name I took up during my time in the Ravagers: Starlord."
Most of the humans didn't react to that name, but the Niveisians and a few other planets' representatives lit up with excitement and adoration upon seeing the famous young man in person. Loki and Gilfred Gruenwald both seemed confused and a bit perturbed.
"That's not the Starlord I met in Thor and King Loki's timeline." Loki thought. "His name was Peter Quill, nor do I recall him being royalty."
"Is it a multiversal variant thing, like how there's a woman and an alligator you?"
"I don't think so, unless his name was changed, like Sylvie did. Who knows, perhaps he was adopted by royalty, perhaps Quill was adopted and his name was changed, perhaps he's a different person entirely, under the same nom de guerre?"
"Mmmmm, we shall seeee." Healer purred with curiosity.
"Well then, Mr. Starlord, when and how did you meet the Mad Titan?"
"I was still a child at the time. Thanos turned out to be fond of orphaned children, which I was, so he explained his plan to me to bring balance to the universe, and he listened to my suggestions in return. I proposed that he help give to those in need, like my team of Ravagers do, instead of taking lives needlessly. There are always those who take more than they need and steal from the needy, so I convinced him to join the Ravagers, and together, we've been giving those hoarded resources to those who truly need them, like we recently did with the Embers of Genesis on Knowhere."
"Oh, so you're saying that this team of yours, the 'Ravagers,' take things from the rich and give to the poor, like Robin Hood?" Gilfred questioned him.
"Mostly. We sometimes lean a bit more towards Indiana Jones, finding guarded treasures in ancient temples, but still using them for good."
"But you do steal from the rich? You break the law to help others, you say?"
T'Challa smiled. "By Earth laws, yes. However, many of the worlds we visit have their own laws of possession, and the owners of the items we're after, more often than not, come into possession of them by illegal means themselves."
"So you're the leader of a band of thieves."
"Not thieves, more like noble vigilantes."
"Then if you break the law, what help is your testimony of Thanos's supposed reformation?"
As T'Challa prepared to answer, Mobius raised his hand. "May I? There's some people in the audience who can testify for Prince T'Challa's character."
"Mr. Paradox, he's my witness."
"I'll allow it." The judge ruled. "They seemed ecstatic to see him when he walked in."
"Thank you." Mobius said.
"I'm from the planet Krylor, and I can speak for Starlord's heroism." A reddish-pink-skinned woman explained. "In his recent adventure on Morag, he took the orb from the temple to restart our solar system's dying star and save us all from extinction! He's a true hero! If he says Thanos is good now, that's good enough for me!"
"Could I say something too?" Another alien asked. "I'm from the once dead planet of Omnino. We were facing disease and starvation, but both Starlord and Thanos worked together on Knowhere to take the Embers of Genesis, and since they used it on my home world, we personally haven't seen hunger or sickness since! In time, many more planets will receive the same treatment mine was given, and then you'll see that they're both good people!"
"You see now, that is my new goal." Thanos summarized. "I must help as many as I can. However, there is one more who can speak on my behalf: my daughter." The courtroom looked on as a blue woman with wavy blonde hair walked up beside Thanos, who took the same oath as the rest.
"State your name."
"Nebula, daughter of Thanos. I don't have a last name."
"You're Thanos's daughter?" Gilfred interrogated. "What was that like? Did he raise you to bring 'balance' to the universe, as he called it?"
"Thanos adopted me as a baby after he killed my original family and half the planet's population, like he always did. He was abusive, tortured me, trained me to be a killer…" She parted her hair to uncover her left eye, revealing it to be cybernetic. "When I failed him, he replaced my 'weakness' with a stronger part, wanting me to be as cold and strong as he was." The people in the courtroom gasped, their deepest sympathies evoked.
"Is it still too late for us to switch sides?" Healer wondered.
Loki shook his head. "Even tortured his own children… he makes Odin seem as good as Thor believes him to be by comparison."
"That sounds terrible." Gilfred replied to Nebula.
"He was, but he's changed. I know, I didn't believe it myself for a long time, but back on Knowhere, he was ready to sacrifice his life to save me from my former adopted siblings, who are definitely still evil: whole other story there. Anyway, the Thanos who raised me wouldn't have bothered to protect me, always making me fight my own battles to toughen and harden me, so that's definite proof that Dad has changed for the better."
"How are you sure he's not lying, trying to deceive you?"
"He's not. Even at his worst, my father never once lied to me."
"It's true, Nebula has been handling our cases for many years, so she can testify to her father's honesty and good deeds." T'Challa asserted. "Thank you."
"Anything for you, Cha-Cha." She flirted as the judge dismissed them, and they sat in the gallery. Just before they reached their seats, the judge was brought back Mobius's evidence.
"I have just received the Niveisian contract: it's 100% official. Any more questions from the defense?"
"…No, Your honor."
As the jury made their decision, Gilfred again glared at Mobius, who sat back confidently. The jury was unanimous, and The Barter Brothers and their attorney were sentenced to jail time. Gilbert turned to his opponent one last time.
"How dare you trick me like this, make a fool of me!? Don't you trust your own son!?"
Mobius looked at Loki and smiled. "Yes. Yes I do."
"Well done, Dad." Loki complimented. "Nice use of trickery and illusion with the contract."
"I have been told I have an eye for detail. Would you say the student has surpassed the teacher?"
"Ahaha, no. But for someone with less than a hundred years of training, you're quite remarkable!"
"Well, I guess that's pretty good for an analyst/therapist/lawyer/detective/dad/part-time magician."
"And amateur artist?" Sylvie teased.
"It's more impressive with 3D animation."
Thanos approached the Time Detectives. "Well done, Mr. Paradox, the animals have all been returned to their natural habitats and the poachers have all been given their due punishment." He gave Mobius the payment for his and his team's detective and lawyer services, and a device with the Ravager logo on it. "If you ever have need of me, you can call me with this. Now, I will leave this planet with my team of Ravagers to help more creatures in danger of extinction."
"Wait just a minute!" Loki objected. "You still have to stand trial for your crimes against all those other planets, including Niveis!"
"And I told you, Mr. Ouroboros, no jail can keep me from helping the universe; I've changed my ways, and I'm making up for my past crimes while I go. If they want to sentence me, that's fine: I admit I'm guilty. But I have a greater duty to help the helpless, and I can't do that while I am locked up.
"And your father-son bond has inspired me to further reconcile with my own family." Loki and Mobius both tried to argue, but Thanos immediately left the courthouse for his spaceship, beckoning his daughter to follow.
Loki shrugged. "Perhaps I misjudged him: he's still bull-headedly stubborn."
"And he's still a total nutjob!" Sylvie added.
Nebula rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. Sorry about him, he's always had a one-track mind."
Loki smiled. "Yes, it's never easy, being raised by a galactic ex-warlord. I'm sorry you've suffered so much by him, Miss Nebula."
"Yeah, me too, but what can you do? Dad's still Dad though."
"Heheh. But he means well." T'Challa replied.
Loki turned to T'Challa. "So, you're the Starlord of this universe." He put his hand to his chin. "What's your favorite Earth film?"
"The Lion King."
"The Starlord I met in Earth 199999 would have said Footloose."
The Wakandan prince chuckled again. "A music lover. It's just a personal preference: they're both wonderful movies."
"Yeah, you're thinking of Peter Quill." Mobius reminded Loki.
"Oh, if I remember correctly, that was the name of the boy Yondu was supposed to pick up in Missouri, but he accidentally took me instead, and he inducted me into the Ravagers."
"Well, it's been a pleasure to meet you both." Mobius and his team shook T'Challa's and Nebula's hand, and he left for home as Nebula boarded her dad's spaceship, disappearing into the far reaches of outer space.
"Are you alright, Mobius? This case was terribly personal for you." Loki put a hand on his shoulder. "If you need to talk about it, I could listen and be the therapist, for a change."
Mobius smiled. "Man, with the kinds of detective jobs we undertake, I'd almost have to be crazy not to need therapy! Sure, it'd be nice for me to talk about my problems and have someone else listen for once. But I am proud of how you put aside your pain and, if you'll pardon the term, grievances from your past to help your worst enemy!"
"Why thank you. In retrospect, if Nebula can forgive him after all the damage he's done to her, I suppose I can give him a chance. I'm proud of how you tricked your adversary, even though he's your son's variant, very Loki-like. And Sylvie, I'm proud of your conquering that eight-legged sea sucker."
"Tasted like chicken." Sylvie replied, licking her lips. "Chocolate-coated chicken."
"Are you proud of me?"
"Sure Healer, you didn't bite off a single head this case."
"Awesomesauce!"
The detectives returned to their headquarters after they bought theirselves some food, particularly more durians to enjoy, despite the overwhelming aroma. A few days later, after a few much-needed therapy sessions, they got another call.
"Time Detectives, on your case."
"Hey Mobius, it's me, Loki." Kid Loki responded. "Would you get my variant on the phone?"
"Child me, hello! Are you calling about Røskva?" Detective Loki inquired.
"Yes. We had, what her people would call, a 'date.' We made some smørrebrød open-faced sandwiches, we talked, and we danced to some unfamiliar music. It was… enjoyable. I called to thank you for bringing her over: it's been quite some time since I had someone my own physical age to be around."
"Ah, you're very welcome. I'm happy for you two."
"Yeah, I hope her parents didn't mind." Mobius added.
"No, they approve of me, said I have good manners for a teenage boy. Feel free to bring her over again sometime, and I'll put my second-in-command in charge when I visit her."
"Speaking of Røskva, do you think Thor and my kingly variant would like to meet her?" Loki wondered.
"Well, let's find out!" Sylvie suggested.
"What about you, Little Lord Loki? You wanna see your brother in New Asgard with us?" Mobius invited.
"…I can't. He's got plenty of other adult Lokis around, and I have a bad history with Thor…"
"You and just about every other Loki in existence." Detective Loki snarkily argued. "He'll be more than happy to see-" He was cut off as his child self hung up. "-you."
"He'll come around when he's ready." Mobius stated.
The detectives later returned to Norway of 2025, this time bringing their young Danish friend to see the future New Asgard. "This is Røskva, the young lady from Denmark who cared for Jörmungandr while we were separated. She's my number one fan." Detective Loki introduced.
"Ah, lovely to meet you, Miss Røskva." King Loki greeted.
"Your biggest fan?" Thor repeated. "Røskva, haven't you heard of Thor, god of thunder, Avenger, hero of Midgard?"
"Yeah, but I really prefer Loki to you." Røskva replied.
"I beg your pardon?" King Loki said.
"I like Loki better than Thor."
"I'm terribly sorry, could you repeat that in my good ear?" Røskva circled around him and stood on her tiptoes to deliver the message, but he shook his head. "Not that ear." King Loki walked up to Thor and pointed to his brother's ear, trying to suppress a big grin. "That ear."
Thor growled at his brother while Detective Loki and Røskva grinned too.
"I'll write it on his cape if you want." Røskva teased.
"Or maybe you could place those words on that Loki shrine you have tattooed on your back, Brother?" King Loki sassed.
"A Loki shrine tattoed on his back?! Can I see?"
"Yes, unfortunately for you, though, Thor is already my biggest fan, so you'll have to settle for second biggest."
"Very amusing." Thor deadpanned as the two snickered together. "Teach her some magic and she could pass for a Lokidottir."
"That might get weird, since I'm dating a young Loki." Røskva figured. As King Loki gave her a tour of his home, a very familiar looking man approached Mobius.
"Wow, you really do look just like my dad!"
Mobius turned around, shocked to see Gilfred, about 10 years older than his lawyer variant. "Gil!?"
"Yeah, it's me. Some guy named Loki said a doppelgänger of my dad would be here in Norway today, and that he lost his doppelgänger of me, and you adopted him after he lost his dad?"
"Yeah. This is gonna sound weird, but we're time travelers. Did Loki bring you here via Tem- uh, his time machine?"
"No, this here is my present day. I came by plane."
"Oh, well…" Mobius put a hand on his biological son's shoulder, his eyes getting misty. "It's great to see you again! I really… really appreciate you coming to see me!"
Gil grinned. "Great to see you too, Other Dad!" Loki and Sylvie smiled too, watching the heartwarming moment of father and son hugging.
"I really have the best sons a guy could ask for." Mobius said to himself.
Gil looked out towards the North Sea. "So, since we're surrounded by all this water, how about a jet ski race? I bet I can beat you this time, Pops!"
Mobius smirked. "You kidding? My jet ski's top of the line: I'll ride whirlpools around you, kid!" After they started their engines, Mobius turned to the Lokis. "Hey Loki 1 and Loki 2, you two wanna get in on this?"
"Oh, you're going to regret that, 'Pops!" Sylvie responded. "But we only have one jet ski among the three of us."
"That's no problem." Loki opened a Time Door, and Jörmungandr slithered out. The mischievous couple mounted his back together. "Are we at the ready?"
"Hey, no ancient water snakes, this is a skiing race!" Mobius complained. "Besides, he's so long, he could probably reach the finish line from the starting point without moving!"
Loki shrugged. "Fine, why don't we officiate?"
"Yeah, because old Mobius is afraid to lose to us!" Sylvie sassed.
"On your marks, get set… go!" The two Gruenwalds sped out to sea on their jet skis, enjoying the beautiful day as they moved forward at full speed, riding the waves together.
