The Many Adventures of the Avengers and Friends

💛✨💧 Across the Stars (Part 2)

Sunset had started to fall over the deserts of Tatooine, casting a warm glow over the sands and rock formations on the planet. Loki continued riding on his borrowed speeder through the varied strata of the land, determined to find his mother. He caught a few native junk traders known as Jawas just as twilight had fallen. They knew the land well and they knew where the Raiders made their camp. Loki thanked them for their help before speeding off again.

Once night had fully fallen and the moons shone clear in the sky, Loki found the camp the Jawa had told him about. It was in a clearing a short while away from the cliff he had parked on. It was a small camp, only maybe 25 huts, each one illuminated by firelight.

Loki leapt down off of the cliff, using the Force to slow his fall. Carefully, he crept around the camp, trying to use his senses to find which hut contained his mother. Finally when he passed a particularly large hut, he could sense her. Walking around the back, Loki ignited his lightsaber and cut an entrance through the hide walls. He kicked the section of hide through and stepped inside.

Sure enough, there was Frigga. She was tied to a pole with leather straps, covered in bleeding scratches and cuts. Her hair was a mess, as were her clothes. She was breathing, but her eyes were shut. Frantic, Loki went over and started to carefully untie her wrists from the wood bar.

"Mother? Mother?" Loki asked, hoping to get a response from her. He pulled her down and cradled her body in his arms.

"Loki? Is it you?" Frigga whispered weakly.

"I'm here, Mother. You're safe."

"Loki? Oh, you look so handsome." Frigga weakly reached up with one of her hands to rest it on Loki's face. "My son. Oh, my grown-up son. I'm so proud of you, Loki."

"I missed you." Loki said, tears streaking down his face. His mother was fading. Her signature in the Force was flickering.

"Now I am complete. I love y--" Frigga wheezed.

"Stay with me, Mother. Everything--"

"I love... I... I love..."

Frigga's head fell back as her eyes glassed over. Her breathing ceased as Loki sensed her signature flicker out for good. He looked at her for a moment before shutting her eyes with his hand. It made it look like she was sleeping. Emotion crashed over Loki in waves. Sadness... Pain... Rage. His mother was dead and it was because of the Raiders outside. They kidnapped her, they tortured her, and they killed her. Killed his mother.

Loki's expression changed to that of enraged determination. He gently laid his mother's body down before storming out of the hut. He ignited his lightsaber and proceeded to decapitate the two Raider guards sitting outside. The rest of the Raiders either hit or prepared to attack. The first one to get even close to Loki was cut down fast enough.

They would all pay for what they did to his mother, and it wasn't going to be pretty.

***

The Next Morning

Loki arrived early on the speeder, his mother's body wrapped in blankets with him. Olivia, Bruce, Jean, and Odin all clambored out of the homestead to greet him. It wasn't a relieved or joyous reunion, rather, as soon as they realized that Loki was carrying his mother's body, a chill seemed to hang over the hot desert air.

Loki went down to the workshop while the family prepared for a makeshift memorial service for Frigga. Olivia, dressed in comfortable desert clothing, followed Loki with some food and blue milk.

"I brought you something." Olivia said, offering Loki the tray. "Are you hungry?"

Loki didn't look up from the machine part he was busy fixing.