Episode 29: An Offer from HYDRA!
Arriving at a large colosseum in the center of Sakaar, Brunnhilde brought Peter, MJ, and Thor into a series of living quarters on the bottom floor where their belongings had been taken. Next, they were forced to wear black robes similar to Brunnhilde's and given several tasks to do. Among them included cleaning the colosseum, serving the Grandmaster and his guests who came to bid on the competing Marémon, and polishing the PDBs where the Marémon were kept when they weren't fighting in the colosseum's main arena for the preliminary round of the tournament. It turned out the Marémon were fitted with Obedience Disks too, and were summoned into the main arena by two women that wore matching gold dresses. Brunnhilde explained they were the Grandmaster's personal servants, and the only ones allowed to handle PDBs for battle purposes.
"I can't believe this," MJ complained while scrubbing the toilets in one of the colosseum bathrooms alongside Peter. "We should be getting to Sokovia City for our next badge and ribbon. But instead, we're prisoners of Sakaar with no way to get ourselves and our Marémon out of here."
"Let's hope someone calls SHIELD to look for us," Peter said optimistically.
Groaning, MJ said, "If the Grandmaster has managed to outsmart SHIELD for this long, what makes you think they'll know where we are?"
"Well, if I can get the right tools, I could put an IP address into the Obedience Disks so they can be tracked by SHIELD's advanced computer network."
"But assuming that works, how are we going to remove the Obedience Disks afterward?"
Just as Peter was about to answer, Brunnhilde entered the bathroom.
"Finish whatever you were doing and follow me," Brunnhilde commanded. "One of our guests wants you to see him."
"Him?" MJ blinked. "Do we know this person?"
"Would you rather get shocked?" Brunnhilde said threateningly, holding up one of the remote-shaped devices.
This caused MJ to keep her mouth shut, while Peter did the same as they finished cleaning and followed Brunnhilde. On the way, they met up with Thor who was sweeping the colosseum's dusty floors. He blushed the moment Brunnhilde showed up, and didn't object as she ordered him to follow. So they silently ascended the stands of the arena, which were full of spectators that included shady-looking businessmen and some familiar faces.
"Loki!" Thor exclaimed, seeing his younger brother sitting next to Ar-I and White Wolf. "I thought you were heading to SHIELD Headquarters with Team HYDRA and Hela."
"Yes, we were, but then Hela decided to crash the SHIELD helicopter just as we were reaching the end of the Vanaheim Forest two days ago," Loki explained. "It seems she stole the Sacred Flame from under our father's nose, which she used to summon the dead colony of Svartelm to attack the helicopter. Once we got out of the wreck, she decided to venture into the mountains in order to search for the Crown of Surtur. So I tagged along, but we got separated during a storm and I ended up here as a slave like you. Then these two showed up after surviving the helicopter crash, and I made a deal to help them scout out the best Marémon in exchange for my freedom."
To prove his point, Loki parted his raven-black hair revealing the lack of an Obedience Disk on his neck.
"So why are you gathering Marémon here instead of in New Asgard Town?" MJ questioned Ar-I. "I'm assuming that's why you teamed up with Malekith."
"You assume correctly, Fräulein," Ar-I nodded. "Though we needed to enter New Asgard Town for 'other' reasons. But anyway, the reason I summoned you and your friends is to make an offering: I will release you from slavery if you give me all your Marémon."
"No way!" MJ objected. "I would rather get shocked a thousand times before letting you take my Noirstel."
"Or my Spidermin, and Cassie and Hornetech!" Peter added.
"But haven't you forgotten something?" Thor said, getting everyone's attention. "This is a Contest of Champions our Marémon are participating in. So why make this deal before you've seen what they can do?"
"Hmm, you bring up a fair point," Ar-I admitted. "Okay, how about this: if your Marémon survive the Contest of Champions tournament, I will buy them and free all of you."
"And if our Marémon fail, you can do whatever you want with us," Thor offered. "I mean, you still want payback for the times we foiled your plans, right?"
This made Ar-I hesitate for a moment, then he said, "Deal!"
Peter and MJ were genuinely shocked as Thor patted Ar-I on the side of his computer body in a friendly manner.
"Now, since your Marémon are on the line, it seems fitting for you to watch them in action," Ar-I decided. "You may go now, Brunhilda — or whatever your name is."
Brunnhilde bowed politely and walked away. So Peter and MJ reluctantly sat down on the empty seats next to Thor, who sat next to Loki.
The Grandmaster's voice then boomed over the loudspeakers, announcing the first battle in the official Contest of Champions tournament. Below the stands, the Grandmaster's female servants held trays containing five PDBs each. Next, they pressed the upside-down triangles on each PDB with each finger and summoned teams of five Marémon to the arena. On the right side stood Thunderthor, Hornetech, Spidermin, Noirstel, and Cassie the Shadusk. Meanwhile, their opponents included a green ursine Hulbear wearing armor on its body, a red cricket-shaped Marémon with bladed weapons, the same Korg that had been guarding the cave, the winged brunette-haired Valrie, and a brown mantis shrimp-looking bug with tentacle-like mandibles and red pupil-less eyes.
"I think the cricket-like Marémon is a Miek, while the one with the red eyes is a Brood," Peter guessed while MJ cringed upon looking at them. Though Peter checked by consulting the MarGuide he was allowed to keep while the others weren't looking.
To be continued…
