I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Eury smiled with pride as she welcomed the large group into the control room of the futuristic ship.
The control room contained monitors and many machines that Asia and the others didn't know how to operate, but thankfully, Eury seemed to have that covered as young agents under her leadership stood at her side before bowing their heads.
"Welcome, my fellow agents, to the Nautilus ver 1.02. Although it is still an experimental creation of mine, I have confidence in this prototype. Be at ease and enjoy your time inside while on this mission, " Eury tells the team.
Asia nods. "The pleasure is ours, Lady Eury. We trust your creation, but I do have a few questions. Can this ship deal with the rough caverns of our destination?"
Eury smirks. "The Nautilus won't have any issues with the caverns or other terrain. I created it with the intention of offering the alliance smaller ships with the ability to face any challenges that might appear in the future. It is a ship that can help with infiltrations or combat as any team deems it. It can take many hits, so defense won't be an issue. It will take us anywhere we need to go. Just leave the ship to me and my staff."
Asia nods once more before she turns to face the rest of the team. "I have no more concerns. Does anyone have an issue with our departure?"
The entire team shakes their heads.
"Alright, Eury, let's take off. I don't want to waste any more time. Someone is waiting for us in Nidavellir." Asia says.
"Great. Team, get into your seats. We'll depart." Eury orders as she approaches a terminal. The goddess presses a button. "Nautilus here. We're ready to depart. Clear the catapult."
"Nautilus, we hear you loud and clear. You have a clear path. Prepare for launch." A masculine voice replies through the speakers.
Eury sits in her chair in the control room before placing her hands on two floating light orbs. "I advise the rest of you to take a seat. We're pushing the engines to the limit. I want to reach Nidavellir in less than 30 minutes."
Many members of the team begin to sweat profusely as they take their seats. Some, like Ravel, put their seatbelts on, while others, like Quetzalcoatl, just smirk as they await to witness the potency of the Nautilus.
"5." The voice in the speaker starts a countdown.
"4" Across the ship many agents move to their position as the ship seals its doors and releases its restraints.
"3" Within the hangar of the unicorn, many watch with high expectations as they witness the ship coming to life.
"2" The hangar grows silent as the ship's engine shines, emitting pure divine energy like flames from human engines.
"1" The ship, which has the shape of a silver bird, spreads its wings as wide as it can.
"Launch!" The catapult launches the ship forward at an impressive speed, which is then triple with the aid of the thrusters of the ship, thus breaking the sound barrier in a matter of less than 3 seconds as it flies through the skies of the underworld.
"Open the portal!" Eury orders.
Her team operates the consoles until a large portal appears before the ship, thus leading them outside the Underworld and straight into the maze between realms.
The metallic bird flies at full speed through the tunnels of bright light without any issues while still keeping its impressive speed. The unicorn can't even compare to the small ship, which speeds up even more with each second.
Asia eases her breathing as she accommodates herself in a better position within her seat. "That was incredible. I have dealt with high-speed vehicles before, but this has to top all that."
Eury smirks as she spins her seat around. "Thanks for the praise. I put all my effort into making this prototype the best possible with so little time at hand. The final product will be much better."
"We'll wait for the results. Now, let's change gears and touch base. We have less than 30 minutes before we reach our first stop. We're meeting an Asgardian envoy. We didn't get a name to look for, but we can expect a top-ranking member of Asgard to meet us. Thrud, do you have any idea who they might send to meet us?" Serafall asks as she glances at the young goddess.
"Only two come to mind. Tyr or Freyja are the only viable agents to send out in such a mission. Tyr might be the god of war in Asgard, but he's far more approachable than many others. He has a calm mind that is not easily swayed by anger. Freyja is similar in that sense, except when Fafnir is involved. Either one will suit our mission, but I doubt they will send both at once." Thrud explains as she recalls the respect she still had for the two older gods even though they were no longer allies.
"So either a god of war or the beautiful goddess of legend. Wait, shouldn't we expect Odr to come along if Freyja is the chosen representative?" Serafall asks as she recalls the famous always-missing husband of Freyja.
Thrud scratches the side of her head with an apologetic expression. "Odr is Fafnir. Freyja has never officially married him, but he has been considered her husband for a long time. Odr is one of the names he used to charm any females foolish enough to fall for him."
Everyone present shakes their heads in disappointment and disgust as the knowledge of Odr is revealed to the team.
Back in Shangri La.
Fafnir sneezes as he follows a group of agents who are getting ready to depart for a new mission.
"Are you catching a cold dragon-playboy?" Tannin asks his fellow dragon.
"No, that would be impossible. Freyja placed a spell on me long ago, which prevented almost all sickness from ever affecting me." Fafnir explains as he cleans his nose.
"Freyja… another one of your many lovers. You should have settled down with her long ago. Someone who's worried enough about you to place such a spell on you is worthy of the title of a bride. She's likely the only one with the guts to stick around so long for a fool like you." Fafnir added with visible disappointment.
Fafnir sighs. "... I'm not marriage material, Tannin. I can't be the husband she expects me to be. I like casual relationships far too much. The thrill of enjoying new lovers each time and returning to old flames is far too enjoyable. I can't be like you, Ddraig, Yu Long, or any other male dragon. I know what I am, and Freyja knows it. Now, it is practically impossible for us to meet each other."
Tannin shakes his head. "Fear the obsession of a female that can't let go. Fafnir, you're old enough to know this, but I'll say it again. If a female's feelings for a male are strong enough, not even death can't prevent her from chasing after the object of their attraction. Freyja will come back for you, maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day, she will appear before you, and that day, she will ensure you can't run away anymore. Goddesses are dangerous lovers; they can make the impossible into a reality."
Fafnir gulps as he imagines the warm hands of his lover placing themselves around his neck. The pressure around his neck felt playful at first, but with each second, it increased as it tried to choke him to death.
"Oh, my sweet dragon. I will always be your number one, right? You can stick your dick on as many females as you want, but you're mine."
His mind recalled her beautiful face as she locked eyes with him with eyes worthy of a femme fatale.
"Freyja…. Wouldn't…" Fafnir stops himself as he decides not to ignore the danger his lover presents. "... She's going to cut me into pieces."
"She'll do something worse. Death is far too quick for you. Let it be known that this is all your fault and nobody else. A true male dragon shouldn't play around with maidens' hearts, especially with those who can defy death. You should have either let her go or settled. Now, you have no way out. Take time to prepare yourself for what comes next. She might not be the only female that comes for your neck." Tannin jokes as he continues forward.
Fafnir remains motionless as he senses the multiple hands of his past lovers reaching out for him. Many had passed away from old age, while others still walked around the realms.
Sadly for him, his luck was close to running out.
No playboy can evade judgment for all eternity, and even a dragon was bound to face severe consequences for playing with other's hearts.
Back with Asia and the others.
"So Tyr is our best choice. I prefer it that way. I doubt any of us wants to face the wrath of a heartbroken goddess who's still chasing a disrespectful womanizer." Asia adds without showing a glint of respect for Fafnir.
The other females nod along. The males gulped as they sensed the ominous aura emanating from their allies and friends.
"Indeed. Tyr is our best option. He is the god of war, but he has gained the respect of all allies of Asgard. The old man stayed with the dwarves for years to earn their respect and acknowledgment. Dwarven hands made each of his weapons and armor with the care that only a friend would show. His aid will prove helpful in discovering the truth behind our intel." Thrud says.
"... He's bound to be somewhat angry when we meet him. It is hard for anyone to acknowledge that their allies might have betrayed them." Quetz adds.
Silent takes over as nobody can't deny such a cruel yet true fact. But the silence is suddenly broken by one new voice.
"Pride, ambition, and obsession have driven the dwarves for much longer than even my father remembers." A young-looking alliance agent says as he turns around in his seat. His stature was comparable to Asia, but he was far from being young. His expression seemed mature as a short silver beard covered his chin. "My mother always said that the obsessions of the dwarves were bound to lead them to their demise, and this might be the start of their fall."
"Xevitas. I didn't expect the oldest son of Midgardsormr to be part of this mission. Glad to know you're part of the team." Tosca says as she locks eyes with the young-looking Draco hybrid.
Xevitas nods. "The pleasure is mine. Master Eury accepted me as one of her students, and I have been working under her for some time. When I learned about this mission from her, I couldn't skip the chance to travel to my mother's homeland."
"The child of a dwarf and a dragon was unlikely to be welcomed with open arms. I see why you haven't visited such a realm, child." Quetz says with a concerned expression.
"I appreciate if you didn't call me child, Lord… Lady Quetz. I'm far too old for such titles, but you're right. My kind is not welcome in a realm that actively discourages marriages outside their race; my siblings would have much worse if they were to visit such a realm. As half-elves, they would likely be shot on sight." Xevitas eyes then turn to face Lenos. "I highly recommend that you don't exit the ship unless it is completely necessary, Prince Lenos. Mom recommended extreme caution when dealing with the dwarfs."
Lenos face shows no expression. "I understand your concern. I was already thinking about such a possibility. I understand your mother left their side long ago, but I must ask if there is any chance she offered any other information we could use to our advantage?"
"She did." Xevitas turns around before he uses his console to activate a holographic map. "This is old information, quite possibly outdated, but Mom did say that we should try to map the surface of the realm with our drones."
"But the surface is covered in volcanic gases which are far too deadly to face without the necessary equipment. Hephaestus said that no dwarf could survive a second in such an environment without any form of protection." Isaiah says as he joins in.
"Lord Hephaestus is right about that, but that is also the perfect cover for any secrets someone wants to hide from the public. Mom said that back in the day, elders regularly blocked access to the surface with lies of any kind to prevent youngsters from exploring the surface. She inferred that there had to be something they were trying to hide from curious eyes such as hers. If they are working with Loki, the surface might be where they keep some of their secrets." Xevitas explains his theory with visible confidence.
Quetz looks at the young hybrid with interest. "You seem to be confident about such a possibility."
"... Mom told me tales about how she wished to live on the surface. To find a way in which her people could finally conquer the challenges of their home, but the elders always objected to the idea. For a race capable of creating massive weapons of war that could challenge the very gods, not being able to figure out a way to conquer such a difficulty didn't sit right with her. She feels sorry for anyone who continues to live underground without the will to step outside of their tunnels. I find it ridiculous for them to object to something that is not beyond their capacity." Xevitas continues.
"Makes sense." Asia looks at the hologram with interest. "We need to cover all of our bases. Xevitas and Lady Eury use any resources to map the surface of the realm. Focus on the areas that are directly on top of any settlements underground. We need confirmation, and if any secret lab or base is being kept on the surface, I want you two to request the support of a different team. No stone should be left unturned, and if any weapon is being developed in such a building, I want it to be erased from the map before it takes off."
"No divide and conquer?" Isaiah questions Asia.
Asia shakes her head. "I need our entire team in one place. I can't have any of us breaking off and doing a separate mission while facing enemy forces underground. Send a message and tell the others to prepare in case we find something."
"I'm sending the message," Eury says as she types in her console.
"Are you sure we will expect any fights underground?" Serafall questions the young exorcist as a way to test her mindset.
"Always expect the worst. I'm not excited about facing the dwarfs, but I can't ignore the danger they pose. Raynare has shown me what the Gogmagogs were capable of. If they have produced something that's far more dangerous than that, I want it destroyed before it dares to put a foot in Shangri-La or any other place. Ddraig is sleeping as we speak, and Gaia could also be targeted. I want to prevent anything that could threaten our homes or him." Asia replies with an expression full of determination and maturity.
She wasn't one to crave violence nor someone who hated other races, but Asia had matured into an agent who wasn't foolish enough to let her goodwill get in the way of preventing the Alliance from being targeted.
Serafall smiles. "That's a proper answer." Her eyes turned to face Gabriel. "This has to make you happy. Your student keeps surprising us."
Gabriel smiles as she closes her eyes. "I never deny that my student has repeatedly met my expectations." The Seraph opens her eyes before she spins around to glance at each of the youngsters present. "I am proud of each of you like any other member of the Alliance, but that doesn't mean you should let it get to your head. Any enemy is a thread, regardless of how strong you might become. This mission is as real as any other, and one mistake could spell doom for the entire team. We adults are here to prevent such scenarios, but nobody present in this room should ignore the dangers ahead of us."
Asia and the others nod in acknowledgment, as they aren't mere kids anymore but proper agents who have to face the challenges ahead with determination and minimal doubts about their actions, for one mistake could spell doom for the entire team.
Several minutes later.
The Nautilus finally reached its destination as its silver body crossed a giant gate, transporting them inside Nidavellir.
The realm's sky was tainted with a bright amber color while a white sun shone, but as soon as the ship descended, endless clouds of yellowish volcanic gases began to envelop it. As the ship descended deeper, it started to release small floating spheres that dispersed themselves as they began to scan the surface while the Nautilus continued its path toward its target.
The ship's systems continued to alert everyone inside about the harsh conditions outside, which confirmed the realm's fame as a harsh place to survive.
"Remain calm. I know what I'm doing." Eury told the team as she guided her creation in its descent with zero visibility besides the constant scans, which prevented them from crashing into a mountain or any other obstacle.
After a few minutes of tense flying, the team finally witnessed a bright beacon of light that seemed to guide them toward their target.
"Don't bite your tongues off. This is going to be a rough maneuver." Eury said as she took a sharp turn before she spun around the beacon once, followed by a straight dive.
As the ship dives down, they enter a large mine shaft, which is big enough for the Nautilus to pass by.
"We're changing forms!" Eury shouts.
"Yes." Her team replies in unison.
The shape of the Nautilus transforms from a silver bird into a weird armored badger with large claws. The new form quickly allows the Nautilus to decrease its descent as it digs into the walls of the mine shaft.
After several moments that seemed to last forever, the Nautilus finally reached the end of the shaft.
"My Gaia. Tosca, I'll never get angry about your flying ever again." Isaiah told himself as his eyes looked at the darkness surrounding the ship, thanks to the multiple monitors.
"He's here," Thrud says as she senses a presence hiding within the darkness. The goddess points her finger to a specific monitor.
The team looks at the monitor closely and witnesses three bright spheres of light rising from the darkness. The spheres illuminate the area, and the team finally witnesses a small building made from rocks.
From said building, three figures appear, one of which is a tall Asgardian general whose face didn't look amused as it approached the Nautilus with two valkyries at his side.
The mission had finally met its first stop.