Fear of Losing Control (Book #1 in the Infinity Chronicles)

Chapter 11 Preparation

I could feel the intensity in the room. Thor, Odin, Sif, the warriors three, and Loki, stood in a room with me.

Eyes stared at Loki, like he was some criminal, which he was, but like he was nothing. Not a person.

The only person who actually gazed upon Loki with respect was Thor. It wasn't much, but there was love in his eyes. He still loved his brother.

Loki, on the other hand, seemed to stare at nothing and everything at the same time. It was like he was there, he was just distant. Like a child in the corner for a time out.

He tries to ignore the harsh stares that he receives, but I can tell, they hurt him. I can't imagine what it's like, to be close friends with a group of people, and then come back and they look on you with hate and distrust. I would break under that burden. But Loki is strong. He has carried it for the past few months and is still going.

"So," I say trying to break the ice, "What's the plan?"

Everyone's gazes finally come off Loki and on to me.

"Wait," I say, "You don't mean that I'm supposed to have a plan again?"

I can tell by the looks on their faces that I was supposed to have a plan, again.

"Uh, do you guys at least have an idea of what we're gonna do? I mean like, how are we gonna stop this person or thing from getting the infinity gems?"

No response. I'm feeling really pressured right now.

"We collect them," I hear Loki say beside me.

"What?" Odin asks.

"The only way to stop this creature from taking the gems is by getting them ourselves," Loki says as if its obvious. Which, now that he put that out there, it does seem kinda obvious.

"We are not going to collect all the gems of the universe for your personal desires!" Odin bursts. The room falls silent. I see Loki falter slightly under his father's outburst. He is afraid.

"They're not for him," Thor says quietly. I have never been more thankful to him before.

"If we get them before he or it does, then that ensures that it will never collect them before we die," he says.

Odin pauses for a moment considering what his son has said.

"All right," he says, "As long as we do not use them but only keep them from this foe."

We all nod our heads in agreement.

"We already have the tessaract," Sif speaks up, "So that's one."

"And then we gave one to the Collector," Volstagg says.

"The who?" I ask.

"He's a being who collects random things. A bit of a slimy character, but we made a deal with him," Fandral adds.

"Two down," I say excitedly.

"Three to go," Hogan finishes for me.

"Alright," I say, finally feeling like we're getting somewhere, "Lets do this!"

"Then where do we find the other crystals?" Thor asks.

"I know a few creatures who would carry at least one," Loki says, his eyes never meeting ours.

"Then what do we do with them when we have them all?" Odin asks, "We can't keep them all here. Then men would go crazy with the temptation of unlimited power just within their reach."

"We find a safe place and trustworthy people to take care of them," I say.

"Well, the Collector has his kept safe," Sif suggests, "So we don't need to pay him a visit. Not that anyone would really want to."