Episode 24: Reluctant Partings!

After the Svartelm and Kurseed were absorbed into the vortex created by the Black Hole Grenades, it disappeared.

"Well, that was convenient," MJ remarked. "I thought the vortex was just going to keep going until it sucked everything up."

"The reason it disappeared is because Black Hole Grenades have a limit to how much matter they can absorb weight-wise," Jane explained. "So when Peter and Eddie had their encounter with the Kurseed in the basement of the Vanaheim Forest SHIELD Station, the activated Black Hole Grenade grabbed a few Kurseed before disappearing since it reached its weight capacity. Now given the number of Black Hole Grenades that exploded just now, the weight capacity was greater. Therefore, it reached its limit when that whole army of Svartelm and Kurseed were sucked in."

"Okay, that makes sense," Peter agreed. "But where did our Marémon go?"

"Up there," Thor said, motioning his thumb toward the cemetery on the eastern hill.

Indeed, all the Wielders' Marémon were there including Hela and Fenwolf. But unlike before, the Marémon looked confused.

"Looks like Ar-I's Brainwash wore off," Sif noticed.

"I wonder why that is," Peter muttered and consulted his MarGuide.

"Ar-I's signature attack, Brainwash, is effective as long as the Marémon it's controlling is nearby," replied EDITH. "Now whether this attack can affect humans in the same way or not is debatable, though Team HYDRA did perform human experiments with Ar-I during the Second Marémon War."

"So because our Marémon were transported far enough away from Ar-I, his Brainwash attack no longer affected them," Peter realized. He then looked down the field at White Wolf, who was still immobilized by Cassie's shadows and staring ahead with his eyes obscured by black goggles. "That does make me wonder if—

Peter's train of thought was interrupted by a loud whirling sound that came from a line of trees beyond the cemetery to the east. Above them rose a black helicopter with an emblem of an eagle-like bird Marémon on the side.

Jane's eyes widened. "It's SHIELD!"

"We didn't get the chance to call them when we got out of that prison," Eddie realized. "So they must be here to investigate the apparent silence coming from the Vanaheim Forest station."

The SHIELD helicopter then landed on the field between New Asgard Town's southern entrance and the three immobile figures. From the sides emerged several men wearing black uniforms that were led by a tall muscular man with shaved dark hair. He approached the crowd of Marémon Wielders with Odin standing in front while Frigga restrained Loki as Friggablade did the same to Lokeen. Jane and Eddie approached the tall dark-haired man, saluting to him.

"Commander Rumlow," Jane addressed.

"Intern Jane Foster, and Eddie McDonough," the tall man said as he saluted back at Jane and Eddie. "Explain why you abandoned your post in the Vanaheim Forest!"

Flinching from Rumlow's aggressive tone, Jane said, "We had no choice, sir. The Svartelm and Kurseed that have been infesting Vanaheim Forest attacked the station, so we came to New Asgard Town for help."

Rumlow raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't get in touch with us here because?"

"I can explain, Mister Rumlow," Odin spoke up.

"This had better be good, because I'm not a very patient guy and neither is my boss Nick Fury," Rumlow responded grumpily.

###

After Odin explained Loki and Hela's scheme along with the subsequent battle with Malekith, Rumlow ordered his men to secure the Dark Elf leader and his Team HYDRA accomplices. This caused Peter to order Cassie the Shadusk to release them from her shadowy tendrils, which made her sigh with exhaustion. So Peter placed Cassie in his shadow, and that seemed to replenish her energy. Meanwhile, the other Marémon were led from the cemetery back into the town by Sif where they reunited with their Wielders. Noirstel jumped onto MJ's shoulder in an excited manner, while Spidermin hugged Peter's legs and Hornetech flew up to Eddie. Even Shieldsif was nuzzling her massive shield-shaped head against Sif's shoulder. Everyone then approached Nurse Linda, who gave them all Healing Factor Juice for their Marémon.

"Didn't you have four other Marémon?" Peter asked Quill as the two of them healed Spidermin and Starlure respectively.

"Yeah, but they're not as obedient compared to Starlure, who's really come a long way despite his occasional moments," Quill explained, just as his crawfish-shaped Marémon snapped his pincers at him in a teasing manner. "So I didn't want to bring the others out in case things got out of hand."

"Makes sense," Peter agreed. "I just wish I had more Marémon."

"Honestly, I lucked out on the ones I got. The first one was caught after it tried to steal something from Starlure, while the other two were found in Vanaheim Forest being attacked by those Svartelm, and the fourth one happened to be in the New Asgard Town Prison."

"Wow, that is lucky…."

"I'm sure you'll get other Marémon soon enough, Pete. Otherwise, what's the point of calling you my rival?"

Peter made a small laugh and looked down at the tiny shadowy figure that was Cassie the Shadusk. "You did great today, Cassie. I'm sure your former owner will be happy to take you back once they've seen what you can do."

Cassie made an excited sound in response that was no less distorted from her usual noises. Nearby, Hela and Loki were being taken into custody and placed into the SHIELD helicopter while their Marémon were placed inside their PDBs. Malekith and White Wolf were already sitting inside along with Ar-I, whose computer body had been put in Sleep Mode to protect the SHIELD agents from his Brainwash attack. As for Jane and Eddie, they were ordered by Rumlow to accompany him so they could explain their story to Nick Fury at the SHIELD Headquarters in the city of Wakington, which was south of Yortown.

"So, I guess this is goodbye for now," Jane said to Thor before she boarded the helicopter. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."

"Yeah, I hope so," Thor smiled.

Then as Jane walked over to the passenger side of the helicopter, Eddie walked up to Peter and discreetly placed a PDB in Peter's jacket pocket.

"I want you to have him," Eddie said, choking on his words.

To be continued…