Book 4: Arcane [Thor]

Chapter 17

Anya felt uncomfortable. When her senses began to come back, she knew she wasn't lying on the ground anymore. Someone had sat her upright. For how long, the agent didn't know. But judging by the soreness in the neck and lower back it must've been a while. Upon opening her eyes there was only darkness. The agent went to sit up, only to find the action impossible. Something held down the wrists and ankles to a hard chair.

"Are you there?" she spoke quietly.

Her voice felt scratchy from lack of water. The Aether made a noise in an ear. Instant relief filled the young woman. As long as she wasn't alone, the agent would get through this.

"Fear not, for you are found," a voice spoke in the darkness.

It startled Anya, glancing around to try and find the source.

"You are home and there is no going back. No one leaves this place."

It sounded like a woman. But computerized. A light began to fade into existence. Finally, Anya noticed the device she was strapped to. The restraints were thick. Too thick to break. Not without the Aether's assistance. And she still felt that damn metal piece attached to the neck. Better not to chance an escape for the time being.

"But what is this place?" the voice questioned.

The void of time and space opened before the young woman. A collection of millions of stars that made her feel like she was almost floating.

"The answer is Sakaar."

Multiple planets from the realms began to materialize into place. Not in an accurate way, but to make a point. A familiar song played in the background. From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. What an odd choice of music. A Midgardian one.

"Surrounded by cosmic gateways Sakaar lives on the edge of the known and unknown. It is the collection point for all lost and unloved things, like you."

The galaxy began to fall away. And turned into a tunnel full of rainbow colors. Like the Bifrost. But more vibrant in saturation.

"But here on Sakaar, you are significant. You are valuable."

An asteroid came flying at the young woman's position, her hands clenching to prepare for impact. However, she passed right through the object. A hologram.

"Here you are loved."

This simulation only confused Anya all the more. What was the point to all of this?

"And no one loves you more than the Grandmaster."

The shadow of a man in hologram appeared off to the side of Anya's position.

"He is the original, the first lost and the first found."

A city appeared beside the hologram. Smaller than the said man who ruled over this place.

"The creator of Sakaar, and father of the Contest of Champions."

This time a new hologram materialized. One that depicted two warriors, one in the process of killing the other as a still frame in a grand arena of sorts.

"Where once you were nothing, now you are something." Her surroundings grew dark once more. "You are the property of the Grandmaster."

So that's what this was. An introduction. A tactic to make those in Anya's situation try to see the good in all this. To make them feel like they belonged. That being owned by another individual was okay. But the agent wasn't cast aside. She belonged somewhere.