2 | 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 ▹ LOKI LAUFEYSON

xx. the accuser

A M O R A

The air in the small vessel was filled with nothing but tense silence and the occasional beep of the controls. Gamora's white knuckles gripped the steering as they slowly made their way through Kree Space. Loki and Amora stood just behind her, scanning the expanse of stars for any sign of hostile ships.

However, their flight had been eventless, so far. No Kree battleships had descended on them yet. Only the occasional flicker of a speck of light in the distance gave any indication of the war being waged between the two empires.

Loki shifted impatiently. "Perhaps we will be able to pass through unnoticed," he said, but his voice was tense.

A new sound rang from the controls, startling everyone onboard. Gamora leaned forward to look at the warning on her screen. "We're being hailed."

Amora huffed and glared at Loki. "You had to say something."

His eyes widened and he raised his hands innocently just as a staticky voice spoke through their communications.

"This is the Kree Accuser Corp. Prepare to be boarded."

A patch of stars seemed to ripple and part to reveal a great ship. Gamora cursed and fiddled with the ship's detecting system, muttering something about cloaking technology.

Amora took a few steps back and turned to Loki gravely. "They are not going to take kindly to the presence of Asgardians."

Loki places both hands on her shoulders and offered a smirk. "Fortunately," he said, and his image shifted to that of a grizzled Centaurian, his pale complexion turning bright blue, "we don't have to be Asgardians."

Amora returned the smile and looked at Gamora. "They wouldn't dare disrupt a mission for Thanos, right?"

Gamora frowned, perplexed, but she still nodded and answered slowly, "Right."

A flash of green filled Amora's vision for an instant and she looked down to see blue skin where metal was not covering her. Loki backed away slightly at the image of Nebula, and Amora frowned at the new tenseness of his demeanor.

The entire ship gave a jolt as the sound of metal locking onto metal echoed. Gamora straightened, a hand hovering near her sword, and walked to the main entry. Her hand went up to the button and she glanced back at the others. Amora and Loki both nodded, and the assassin pushed the control.

The door slid open to reveal three Kree soldiers towering over them. Gamora stepped back silently to allow them entry. The first of the Kree slowly looked around the ship from his place just inside the threshold as the other two moved to make a search.

The leader's eyes slowly moved from Gamora to the disguised Amora. "Gamora and Nebula," he inclined his head, "I have heard stories about you—"

"Then you know it is unwise to hinder a mission for Thanos," Gamora interrupted coolly.

The Kree nodded as his men returned to his side; one gave a slight shake of the head and said, "Nothing, Ronan."

Ronan gave a nod and turned back to the three, assessing them. "What reason would Thanos have to send two of his children to Kree Space?"

"That is none of your concern."

The words had barely left Gamora's mouth when one of the Kree soldiers brought a sword to her throat, the end of the blade just barely grazing her skin.

"You will answer Ronan properly," the soldier hissed.

"I only answer to Thanos."

The Kree turned to his commander for an order of action, but Ronan's gaze was traveling around the ship yet again. He stopped at something just past Amora.

She turned and nearly gave a jolt to see the map lying in full view. They had not even bothered to put it away.

Smoothly, she took a step to the side, hiding it from Ronan. He looked up; his eyes boring into hers for what felt like an eternity. Amora narrowed her eyes, hoping that Nebula's intimidating appearance would discourage any questions.

Ronan turned to the soldier still holding a blade to Gamora. "They may pass."

Gamora visibly relaxed at the removal of the sword, but straightened as Ronan took a few steps forward to tower over her.

"If I even think that you are aiding those wretched Xandarians and their empire," he growled, "I will descend on your ship and send your ashes back to Thanos in a box."

As he made his way to the door, Ronan paused, looking at the disguised Loki fully for the first time. "Who is this?"

The Kree commander slowly turned to the two women. Amora gave a slight wave of her hand and a pair of handcuffs appeared around Loki's wrists.

Gamora glanced down at the restraints and quickly said, "An unwilling passenger."

"Thanos wishes to deal with him...personally," Amora said, startled by the rough sound of Nebula's voice.

Loki glanced at her and swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. She would have thought that it was a convincing act, but the way his fists clenched and unclenched sporadically made his fear seem too real.

Ronan simply gave a disinterested hum and exited the ship with his two soldiers close behind. Only after the doors closed and the sound of the Kree ship's engines became distant did the three breath a sigh of relief.

The two sorcerers dropped their illusions and followed Gamora to the cockpit to watch the larger ship disappear into space. Amora could feel Loki's eyes flicker back to her frequent until he turned back and moved to examine at the map.

Amora leaned over his shoulder and watched as the lines shifted to show the area of stars between their location and their destination. Her heart rate picked up when she saw how much bigger the image of Vormir had become. They were close.

"Guys," Gamora called from the cockpit, her voice excited but tense.

When the two came behind her, she pointed out ahead. In the far distance, a small planet just barely distinguished itself from the stars.

"That's it," the assassin said, "That's Vormir."

Amora let out a shaky breath, a new nervousness coursing through her.

"This is it."

* * *

This chapter was a little shorter than usual, but I felt that some sort of interaction with the Kree would be necessary.

But I am SO excited for the next few chapters to come! Things are about to happen!!

Anyways, thank you so much for staying with me this long! You guys are awesome!