Zodhess was the director, and he was the kind of director whose authority was absolute and beyond question.
So even though the unknown object might be important, Coulson had no choice but to follow Zod's orders. He began evacuating the surrounding area and allowed Thor, the God of Thunder, to enter the site where the hammer rested.
Thor was overjoyed. He tore through the quarantine tape and leaped straight into the pit, reaching out to grab the war hammer he had been parted from for two days.
In that instant, he smiled like a child.
Like a little brat, Thor's temperament was far, far from mature. If he wanted to inherit Odin's position, to become the king of Asgard, he would need sufficient tempering.
At this very moment, Thor's smile had gone offline. Before he could be restrained again, he knelt on the ground in despair and howled at the sky.
"Director, what happened to him?"
Nick Fury rushed over. His instincts told him this matter was of grave importance, and when he arrived, he saw this scene.
"From now on, you don't need to interfere. Just watch."
Zodhess said meaningfully.
...
"You might not know this, but I screwed everything up. Everything I did was wrong."
In the nighttime town, hormones were in the air, and there was no place more suitable than a bar. Though his heart was full of grief and frustration, Thor was still brought here by Dr. Selvig. While having a drink to settle his nerves, Selvig had some things he wanted to say to Thor. But it was Thor who first poured out his heart.
"For the first time in my thousand years of life, I don't know what to do next…" His expression was completely lost. He wasn't crying, but he looked like a two-hundred-pound golden retriever that couldn't find its owner.
Loki showed up to deceive Thor, just as in the original storyline. He had no idea that Zodhess had seen through his disguise and was watching his entire performance.
Their conversation was brief. Summed up, it meant this: War between Asgard and the Frost Giants had erupted, sparked by Thor's earlier invasion as the trigger. Odin, advanced in age, had fought Laufey, the king of the Frost Giants. Though he repelled his opponent, he was gravely wounded and soon after fell.
The throne of Asgard had now passed to Loki. But the renewed invasion of the Frost Giants was truly difficult to withstand. If the war continued, it would inevitably bring more death. So Loki personally ventured into the Frost Giants' territory and signed a truce. Naturally, Laufey made a demand: banish Thor!
Loki and their mother both agreed to this demand.
Thor had no right to blame them for their choice, because he had caused all these disasters. Even though Loki told him before leaving that their father had not blamed him, the confusion in his heart was unavoidable. Thor, who had lived a long life but whose heart remained that of a childish kid, underwent a great change in temperament under the pain of losing his father, combined with permanent banishment.
At the very least, he now understood words like "taking responsibility."
Want to become a hero? Lose a family member first?
"My father once tried to teach me, but I couldn't listen at all. My mind was far too dull."
"Realizing the problem is a good thing. The worst is not even knowing where you went wrong." Dr. Selvig decided to offer Thor some sage advice as an elder.
"Maybe you can't undo the mistakes you've made, but at the very least, you need to recognize the path you're going to take. Understand your direction. Think more when things happen. Even if the words of your family are hard to hear, you should listen."
"Yeah, thank you for your help." Thor pressed a hand to his forehead. In the past, he hated hearing words like that the most. But now, he wanted to hear his father say them to him again.
"No, don't thank me. I'm only doing this for Jane." Dr. Selvig slid the drink the bartender brought over in front of Thor.
"Whether you're a lunatic or something else, I've noticed the way Jane looks at you."
And at the same time, Dr. Selvig could also clearly see the look in Thor's eyes now—sincere, filled with sorrow and confusion. He couldn't help but sigh.
"I swear to you, I will never hurt her." Thor said with the utmost gravity.
Thor's uncharacteristic attitude made Dr. Selvig nod.
"Good. Now finish this drink, and then leave town tonight."
Only, did these two guys not realize they were talking on completely different wavelengths?
...
"Kill him!"
"After everything I've done for you, you're still like this? You truly disappoint me."
They were in the kingdom of the Frost Giants. The first time Loki came here, Thor had led a forceful invasion that fought all the way to the area where Laufey, the king of the Frost Giants, resided—a place one could simply call the Frozen Throne.
Everything that happened stemmed from that invasion: Thor's banishment to Earth, Loki discovering he was actually the son of a Frost Giant. Though Loki refused to acknowledge his Frost Giant heritage, firmly believing he was Odin's son, he subsequently plotted many things, including this current visit.
But faced with the new demand Laufey now raised, Loki fell silent. Honestly, he didn't want to kill Thor, the brother he'd lived with for a thousand years. Loki clearly understood Thor's childishness and stupidity. Thor was unfit to rule Asgard, or even this region of space. He was indeed Asgard's bravest warrior, but only a warrior.
The one fit to be king of Asgard is me. Only me, Loki!
"Never mind that for now. Are you interested in killing Odin?"
Loki said to Laufey.
Without a doubt, Laufey was more than willing.
Loki made the killing of Odin the condition, and in exchange, he opened a secret passage from Jotunheim straight into Asgard, one that led directly to Odin's bedchamber.
However, Loki's version of the plan was this: After Laufey killed Odin, they would have no further ties. Loki would still be the new king of Asgard, and Laufey would remain king of the Frost Giants.
Laufey agreed. He never imagined that Loki had no intention of actually killing Odin. He merely wanted to kill the invading Frost Giants right in front of the queen and Odin, to show them that he, too, possessed the qualifications and ability to be king.
At this point in time, Loki still deeply cherished the motherly love the queen gave him and adored Odin. He would never acknowledge being the son of the Frost Giant Laufey.
The Destroyer armor and Gungnir were the trump cards Loki would use to kill the Frost Giants. When the time came, he would activate the Bifrost and utterly destroy Jotunheim, as a way of demonstrating his resolve.
...
"Well then, we'll ask you a few questions next. If you would, please answer us. It's just to understand the situation." Coulson tried to be as polite as possible. After all, they had already left a bad impression with Thor and Foster earlier. There was no telling if Thor would choose to keep silent.
/-\
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