Authors Note: If you like stories about friendships/interactions between humans and extraterrestrials/aliens who deal with the human adventure (e.g. TV shows like "Mork & Mindy," "My Favorite Martian," "3rd Rock from the Sun," and even "Perfect Stra...
Doctor Strange had emerged from a portal. As he walked over to us, the portal closed behind him.
"May I offer my assistance?" he asked.
"You can help him?" I asked with anticipation.
"Only if he wants my help," Strange replied. "All he needs is to ask for it."
Closing my eyes for a moment, I sighed heavily. While I was grateful the Mystic Master had arrived on the scene to help, I wished he would have delivered his words better. I did, however, suspect he deliberately said it that way, considering who he was, to show some air of superiority.
In doing so, I thought it a jerk move on Strange's part that Loki didn't deserve - to make him beg for the Mystic Master's help. But, after another few seconds of thought, I soon realized this was not the situation. Despite how it was said, Doctor Strange had simply made his meaning plain.
It was just like the time when we had breakfast at the Sanctum, and Strange and Wong wanted their teacups refilled. I can only hope Loki learned from that moment and understood now what he needed to do...
"Please," Loki said, his voice strained, "Doctor Strange... I could use your help."
Bingo.
"Then you shall have it," Strange said. "I'll need you to stand up."
I helped my friend to stand, then Strange stood behind him. Placing a gentle hand on Loki's back, in a sotto voice he said, "I can remove those things quickly, but you would suffer greatly, so in lieu of a sedative..."
He pushed Loki in such a way to make him lurch forward. My friend now appeared unconscious, his arms dropped to his side.
Turning to look at the stage - I noticed the illusions had now vanished!
Come on Strange, I said to myself, I know good work takes time, but whatever you're doing please hurry!
In what seemed like seconds, Strange's hand had passed right into Loki's back, retrieving the micro-tech spheres like magic, although that's exactly what it was. Suspending the spheres into the air, he observed them curiously.
"Chitauri," he said with a frown.
Opening a small portal, he dispatched them through it, then closed the portal right away.
Strange then yanked Loki back. No longer unconscious, his eyes snapped open...
"What..." Loki said in a bit of a daze, "what did you just do to me?"
"I pushed your astral form out of your physical form, to get rid of the micro-tech. Now go finish the routine," he smiled, gesturing to the stage.
Loki looked at Strange with astonishment. "Thank you," he uttered, with a hint of a smile. "But I think... another routine is now in order. Please... remain here."
Taking my hand, Loki and I walked onto the stage, stopping when we got to the middle of it...
The audience began to clap and cheer.
We took a bow.
As we raised our torsos, I noticed a gleeful smile appear on my friend's face. He slowly put a finger to his lips in a gesture to hush the audience.
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