Tally Marks

Chapter 2 - Asgard Welcomes the Contenders

Nick Fury watched as the Avengers stood on the ground where they would be 'beamed' up to Asgard.  They were all rather nervous and twitchy, having never experienced this before.  "I hope my innards don't wind up being my outards, if you know what I mean," Clint said.

"If that was a risk, I don't think the King of Asgard would allow his son to travel via it," Natasha pointed out and Clint made a face at her.  She just grinned back.

"I just hope it doesn't stress me out is all," Bruce commented.  "I'm sure most people do not want to see me stressed out."

"I've got a big bag of weed if you do," Tony Stark offered.  Steve gave him a look, and Tony shook his head as if to say 'no I don't'.  Bruce just rolled his eyes.  

"Just make sure you all represent earth well," Fury cut in.

"What is this?  The Olympics for the Universe, and you're the team coach?" Tony challenged with a grin.  Fury gave Tony a long suffering look before he turned away and just gave them a dismissive wave.  

"Have fun!" he taunted just as rainbow lights enveloped them.  

"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!" was the long drawn out expletive that left Tony's mouth right before they landed.  Of course, he was still saying that even after they landed.  When he opened his eyes, he was getting looks from his fellow Avengers, including Thor and his buddies.  

"He does that," Thor briefly explained to his associates before he walked up to the Avengers and smiled at them.  "Greetings, friends!  So glad that you could come and represent Midgard in this tournament of honor!"

"We're really hoping it's not everything it's cracked up to be," Clint retorted and Thor got a puzzled look on his face.  

"Come with me.  I can get you settled and then introduce you to my father.  There will be a feast tonight to celebrate all the contenders and you'll all be there," Thor said, leading them out of the Bifrost dome.  Horses were waiting for them and Thor quickly mounted his.  "Anybody need help?" he asked with a smile, anxious to show up some people.  Natasha easily swung into the saddle, as did Clint.  Steve hesitated for a few seconds before he climbed into his saddle and situated himself accordingly.  Tony and Bruce were not so lucky and struggled desperately to get on and keep the horse still.  Thor smirked at their discomfort (particularly Tony's) before he kicked his horse and sent it at a slow canter towards the palace.  The Avengers followed.  As they rode, they saw the populace observed them, whispering about mortals being on Asgard.  

"Are we such an oddity?" Bruce asked.

"Jane was the first mortal to visit Asgard in centuries.  So, having a bunch of you here is truly a sight for them to behold," Thor answered.  Bruce already felt out of place on earth; he did not need to feel out of place anywhere else.  A few people cheered for them, thanking them for defeating the 'Dark Prince'.  

"Is that what they're calling Loki?" Natasha asked and Thor sighed.

"Aye.  Father has had his name cut from all our History and the royal family.  He is well and truly gone," Thor admitted sadly.

"So, he's dead?" Clint asked and that earned him a glare from Natasha, and a smack from Steve.  Thor did not grace Clint with a glance or a response.  His silence was answer enough.  

"Have a care what you say," Steve whispered to Clint and Hawkeye shrugged his shoulders.  He felt minutely sorry for Thor, but not at all sorry for Loki.  The bastard got what he deserved.  

The Grandmaster got off the Bifrost and adjusted his shimmering, golden train.  His two models were behind him, with Topaz immediately on his left.  He glanced back and saw that Scrapper 142 was standing next to Loptr, giving him a concerned look.  "Val!  Up front with me," the Grandmaster commanded.  Valkyrie gave Loptr another glance before she moved up and walked next to the Grandmaster on his left.  He smiled brightly, waving his hands to the Asgardians as he past by.

Loptr was wearing a black duster with a hood pulled up to cover his hair, and a cloth covering his nose and mouth.  His red eyes were the only things people could see; and what the Asgardians did see, made them withdraw.  Loptr liked it that way.  He was going to keep his competitors on edge.  He was not allowed to make an appearance at the opening banquet that night.  En Dwi Gast said he wanted to shock everybody.  Who was there to shock?  I don't know anybody here, Loptr thought as he simply followed in the wake of his master as they made their way to the Asgardian royal palace.  

"Who is that?" Tony asked when En Dwi Gast and his entourage arrived.

"That is the Grandmaster.  His a homicidal maniac ruler of a garbage planet called Sakaar.  Father invited him because he is from an ancient race and would have been insulted otherwise.  He registered only one fighter to represent Sakaar.  As you mortals say, no pressure," Thor responded.  The Avengers picked out the 'fighter' immediately as the hooded figure.

"Red eyes?  He's got red eyes," Clint said before they turned to look at him and he looked away.  They gave him the creeps.

"Isn't that one lady wearing Asgardian style armor?" Natasha asked, glancing at Thor.  The Prince of Asgard nodded, watching the group as they were greeted by Odin.  

"Welcome to Asgard, En Dwi Gast," Odin said in a somber voice.

"Thanks for inviting me, sweetheart!  Oh, I'm sorry!  All-Father," the Grandmaster said, deepening his voice when he said 'All-Father'.  Sif growled something under her breath, and Topaz glared at her.  Odin gave Scrapper 142 a sideways look, quickly appraising her before focusing all his attention on the Grandmaster.

"You only put forth one champion for your planet.  Daring, En Dwi Gast.  He must be good," Odin commented, making small talk.  The Grandmaster twirled his finger around daintily and smirked.

"Oh, he is!  And he's a surprise!  Nobody is going to meet him till the first match," En Dwi Gast answered.  Odin nodded before he looked over the Grandmaster's shoulder to see the hooded figure standing behind him.  The red eyes looked back at him without flinching, blinking or dilating.  It was certainly rather unsettling; not that the All-Father would ever admit that.  He never admitted being afraid of anything.  Loptr just grinned beneath his mask.  He would show them what he could do.  It would just have to wait.