Posted by Odin's Eye on
March 06 2000 at 18:46:31 PST
Chapter 1 - Midgard Madness
**************************Worldengine************************************
Loki stands before the monstrous machine that is attached to Yggdrasil, the tree of life.
Many years ago, a mortal, Price was his name, built and operated the machine, this
worldengine as it is called. And at the bidding of the dark world, the mortal programmed
the worldengine into setting into motion what was supposed to be the beginning of the end.
But Loki's accursed 'brother', Thor, god of thunder, along with others, thwarted the plans
of the dark world and saved the universe for the time being. But Loki has not been idle
since the defeat of Wotan and the dark world. For these many years, Loki has remained in
hiding, studying the secrets of the worldengine, and restoring the worldengine to
operability.
But this time, Loki would use the machine differently, although his purpose ultimately is
the same. Now, the time is at hand. The god of evil will wait no longer. Without a word,
he sets the worldengine in motion. And as the worldengine again returns to operation, the
world again starts to change.
**************************Midgard******************************************
The man is lying in what appears to be a hospital bed, his sheets drenched by his sweat.
His dreams or nightmares have been haunting him for.......he cannot remember how long. He
does not remember how he arrived at the hospital nor can he remember why he is here. Heck,
he does not remember his own name. He has been conscious for but a few minutes. So intense
was his nightmare that he forced himself to awaken. He feels the cold sweat dripping from
his brow and oozing from his body. He tries to wipe his brow and realizes that he is
restrained. It is then he realizes that he is in some sort of mental hospital.
He thinks of the dreams and the nightmares. Images of universal armageddon, fires burning
everywhere, people he no longer recognizes or remembers, people that may not be real. The
only thing he can remember is that at one time he wielded the power of the gods. But he
cannot remember what power or what gods. He strains to remember but to no avail. But he
does know that he does not belong here and that somehow, someway, he must escape.
Suddenly, he hears voices from outside his room. The voices seem to be drawing nearer. The
darkness of the room is invaded by the light from the hall as the door starts to open. He
decides to pretend to be asleep as perhaps he may be able to learn something about
himself. He cracks his eyes open and sees a doctor escorting.......police
officers?....into the room.
"We don't know who he is or where he came from. He stormed in here a few nights ago
screaming for help. He was ranting and rambling about the death of the universe, the death
of the gods and goddesses, the end of the world. He claimed that he was there, that he saw
it happen..........I don't know......He said a few more things, claiming that a huge
machine is the cause of the pain and destruction. Then he screamed or yelled and passed
out. And he has not awakened since."
One of the officers replies to the doctor, "Keep us posted. We wish to talk to him
when he awakens. Meanwhile, we'll keep trying to find out what we can about him."
And the officer walks over to the bed and stares at the man. "Strange, I swear I have
seen him before."
The officer turns and he along with the doctor and the other two officers leave the room.
The man opens his eyes and dwells upon what they said. Although his thoughts are foggy
with regard to what he heard, he knows he cannot stay here any longer. He tugs at his
restraints and finds that they are loose. Apparently, the doctors did not think that he
would awaken this soon or perhaps they felt that he did not pose any threat. Maybe they
just were sloppy. Whatever the reason, it does not matter. With minimal effort, he is able
to free one hand. In seconds, he is free. Again, he hears someone approaching. He
positions himself to be behind the door when it opens. It is the doctor returning.
The doctor sees that the man is not in bed, but before he can sound an alarm, the man
strikes the doctor with his fist knocking him unconscious. Quickly, the man takes the
doctor's clothes and without hesitation, makes his way for one of the exits. As he is
leaving the hospital grounds, he hears the general alarm signaling that one of the
patients has escaped. And the man, never looking back, continues to run, to where he does
not know.
Chapter 2 - Summoned To Asgard
**************************Midgard**************************************
The last few nights have been strange indeed for the god of thunder. Memories of a past
that he does not remember dwell inside his head. And these memories replace events that
did happen or he thinks have happened or now, he dreams that have happened. And he stands
outside on the balcony overlooking the crowded city streets below him. He does not hear
her approach him from behind.
"What is it that troubles you, Thor? For many nights now you have not been able to
sleep. For that matter, neither have I, plagued as I have been by dreams. Things are
different in this world of mortals, different from how I remember or how they should be.
Ever since the discovery of the dark world."
Thor never turns to look at Amora but replies, "Then you sense it, too. Yes,
something has changed but I cannot imagine what. It is just that things seem
different."
She puts her arms around him and questions, "Are things different between us, my
love?"
And the god of thunder smiles at her touch, lowers his head and turns to look at the
goddess. But before he can respond, their tender moment is interrupted by a roar of
thunder that only their ears can hear. They look skyward and see the image of Odin,
adorned in all his majesty.
"Sire, what is it that brings you Midgard?" asks the noble Thor.
"My son, you are to return Asgard at once. I fear that the eternal city,....the nine
worlds once again needs the might of the god of thunder. There is something amiss in the
nine worlds."
"Of course, sire, I shall come at once."
And the image of Odin disappears.
Amora continues to stare at the sky. "Do you think that his summons has anything to
do with the changes we are sensing, Thor?"
Thor dons his cape and takes hold of Mjolnir. "I cannot say for sure, Amora, but I
can see no other reason for such a summons."
"Do you wish me to go with you?" she asks.
Thor senses her request is based on the fact that in all probability, Thor will see Sif
while in Asgard. "Do not doubt the love that the son has for you, Amora. There is no
need for you to accompany me to Asgard as my journey will be brief, I am sure."
Gently, he kisses her goodbye. And whirling his enchanted hammer above his head, the god
of thunder disappears into the vortex that will take him to the eternal city of the gods
and goddesses, Asgard. And Amora watches him disappear and silently curses herself for
ever doubting his feelings for her. For years, no, for centuries she plotted to trick the
god of thunder into loving her. And suddenly, both she and the son of Odin found
themselves on Midgard, exiled from and foresaken by Asgard. And the two found love with
each other. And after the battle with the dark world, he chose to return with her to
Midgard, leaving his
life on Asgard behind. And his life on Asgard included the warrior goddess, Sif.
*********************************Asgard******************************************
In a flash of light, Thor appears before his father inside Odin's throne room. Thor
realizes that he and Odin are alone. "Sire?"
"Ah, Thor! Welcome home, my son. You will forgive me if I dispense with the niceties
for now for I do sense the winds of ill fortune are knocking on our door once again. It
seems, somehow, that the events of the past have been altered. Dreams and memories are
becoming so intertwined that I no longer can tell which is which. And somehow I sense that
the mortal's tampering with the world ash is responsible."
"But sire, the worldengine, that which the mortal used to trick Yggdrasil into
thinking that Ragnarok had occurred, is disabled. And before it was disabled, I did force
the worldengine to run in reverse to negate the occurrence of the Ragnarok within the
world tree."
"Yes, this is true, Thor. But this did not reverse the effects of the worldengine, at
least, not totally. You see, when the gods and goddesses simultaneously existed in Asgard
and on Midgard, a temporal anomoly was created in the past. And the anamoly surged forward
and caused a temporal explosion in Asgard, destroying the city. But the occurrence of the
gods and goddesses on Midgard decades ago caused subtle changes to the past we once knew
and experienced. At least, I believe the past has been altered. As I said, I no longer can
tell the difference between reality and dreams."
For a few seconds, neither speaks. Until, finally, the god of thunder responds, "I,
too, am experiencing the sensation that things are not the way they should be, father. And
aside from the reason you have given, I do not know the reason why. But let us assume that
the past is changed, what concern is that with the present or the future. Are we not who
and what we are now and do we not determine the future based on our actions in the
present?"
Odin nods, "Much of what you say is true, my son. But the events of the past
determine how one might react in the present which in turn impacts the future. And the
events of the past also determine who may or may not impact the future."
**********************************Midgard**************************************
Dr. Strange is strolling along the street not to far from his home. He is lost in thought
and he never sees the man running towards him. The man, running from something, also is
not watching where he is going and he collides with the sorcerer supreme. Strange looks
into the face of the man and gasps, "No, it cannot be you!" And Doctor Strange
is beseiged with visions of life and death. He grabs his head as if it feels as if it is
about to explode. And Dr. Strange tries in vain to remember the man's name.
And for a few seconds, the man stares at Strange, as if trying to recognize him, but he
does not. And without a word, the man jumps up and runs off, leaving behind a stunned Dr.
Strange.
Chapter 3 - What Life Is This?
"What can we do, father? And how does this foretell of ill winds for Asgard?"
Odin just shakes his head. "I do not know, my son. And yet, somehow I should know.
Somewhere, it is written........Alas, I cannot remember....I somehow just sense that not
only the realm, but the nine worlds as well, again is in peril by this. But I am not sure
how."
Again, after a few minutes of silence, Thor speaks, "I will return to Midgard for
now, father. Perhaps I can visit the worldengine and see if any answers can be found
there."
And Odin merely nods as the god of thunder again uses his enchanted mallet to traverse
space and travel to the world of mortals. He is flying towards Amora's apartment to tell
her of his findings, though in truth, he has learned little. But the feelings his father
described about a portending doom, well, he has those same feelings. And like his father,
he does not know why.
Suddenly, the god of thunder finds himself at the edge of Bifrost, standing before the
guardian of the rainbow bridge, Heimdall. His sudden appearance apparently startles the
dedicated guardian for Heimdall starts to raise his sword. Realizing that it is Thor
standing before him, the noble Heimdall bows his head and addresses the god of thunder.
"Forgive me, my liege, for I did not know that you had left the realm."
Thor looks at Heimdall somewhat confused. The words 'my liege' do not fall on deaf ears
but the god of thunder chooses not to address them at this moment. He continues to look
about and wonders how it is that he again is in Asgard. What power could snatch him from
the skies of Midgard and bring him back to Asgard? What power indeed except for Odin!
Without revealing what is transpiring, Thor whirls Mjolnir above his head. Bidding
Heimdall farewell, the god of thunder again opens a pathway to Midgard. And again he is
soaring above the Midgardian skies and heading for Amora's apartment. He quickly arrives
to where her apartment should be and is stunned to find a shopping mall in its place. The
apartment, the houses that had adorned the area, the park that used to be across the
street, all are gone. Now he start to realize other subtle changes. This Midgard is
different from the one he left a short time ago.
He senses a crowd of mortals gathering and overhears some of their conversations and
remarks. "I thought that he would never return!" "Is it really him?"
"We haven't seen the likes of him for years!" Perhaps he has acted too quickly.
Perhaps he should have stayed in Asgard. No, Midgard is his home. But things definitely
are amiss. Perhaps he should seek help from the Avengers. No, better still, he would seek
the aid of Dr. Strange.
Whirling his hammer above his head, he warns the curious mortals of this world to stand
back so that they will not be harmed. And in a flash, the god of thunder disappears from
their view. And in that same instance, Thor finds himself back in Asgard, this time in
Odin's throne room. Only Odin is not here. He hears a voice behind him, "Where did
you disappear to, my husband?"
He turns to behold the fair Sif standing before him. 'Husband?' he thinks. And he feels
his heart start to tear, torn between his love for Amora and feelings he still has for the
fair Sif. 'But, husband?' He smiles at the warrior goddess. "Hello, Sif, it has been
a long time since my eyes have beheld your beauty. How fares Asgard's warrior
goddess?"
To which she answers, "Thor......, why are you acting so strange?"
And Thor responds, "It is not I who am acting strange, fair one. For just a short
minute ago you did call me 'husband'............" He pauses then continues, deciding
not to pursue this any further for now. "Tell me, Sif, where is Odin?"
To which Sif responds by crying out, "NO!! NOT AGAIN!!" Then her voice softens
and trembles, "Tell me you are well! Tell me that you are not afflicted again with
the warrior's madness!"
"What madness? Pray tell, what it is that you are talking about!"
"You do not remember, do you, my love?"
"Remember what!" Thor asks starting to become enraged.
"Odin is dead! Odin has been dead for years!"