Disclaimer: Thor & the MCU are owned by Disney/Marvel. Worm is owned by Wildbow.

Intro

I shouldn't be here.

A single day amongst the largest collection of heroes I'd never even heard of.

They'd left me alone for the most part at a small collection of tables with a large hunk of some sort of meat, boiled potatoes, and a giant mug of honey mead. Birger, the self-appointed receptionist, told me two things upon my arrival: eat as much as I want and drink as much as I want, that and everyone would give me a little time to acclimate before descending upon me wanting to know how I got there.

Apparently, the only form of entertainment was telling war stories. I had no desire to take part in the other two forms: wrestling and feats of strength. Vikings were a really weird bunch.

Not to say that was all that was here, but they took up the vast majority. There were others, actual capes, but none that I recognized. They mostly kept to themselves in the corner farthest away from me. I figured it was for the best. If they recognized me, then things might get a little dicey.

That was the thing though. I wasn't wearing anything that could give me away, just a pair of jeans, and a gray hoodie. I don't remember the last time I was out of costume, and those times were usually because I was asleep.

The mead was thick and sweet, and the light alcoholic buzz in my head was near constant. Normally, I wouldn't even think about getting drunk, but seriously, after what I'd been through for the last few years, I figured I was due – below drinking age or not. At least I was considered an adult now.

Happy birthday, the Apocalypse is here; I hope you didn't have anything planned.

"It's time," a familiar male voice said from my left.

I jerked in response. I don't remember the last time someone had the ability to sneak up on me. I'd gotten so used to having my bugs scouting every square inch of the area, nobody had the chance, but at the moment I was powerless.

Thanks, Contessa – bitch.

Birger stood there for a moment and then took a seat at the bench cattycorner to me.

"Time for what?" I asked warily.

"Your story. How you managed to arrive in Valhalla. Not many women of your… build can accomplish the feat. This should make a grand tale for the evening feast."

Build, right.

I managed five-eleven before taking two to the back of the head there at the end, but I was still skinny, or maybe lean would be a better word. Years of constant training and battles gave me a decent amount of muscle, but it wasn't anything like some of the musclebound women present. Shield Maidens if I had to hazard a guess.

"Killed a lot of people, saved the world," I said dismissively. "I honestly don't know how I got here."

He nodded and let a grim smile fade away before tossing his head back, flinging long wavy red hair behind his shoulder. "Brunnhilde brought you herself."

That name meant something to me, as if it was hidden in the recesses of my brain peeking its head out and waving slightly. It was a Norse name, obviously, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary considering where I was. I could make the connections though: Valhalla, two to the head, lots of Vikings… or maybe Asgardians.

"A valkyrie brought me?"

"Not just any valkyrie," he answered. "The leader of the Valkyrior herself, Odin's first chosen. It takes a special type of warrior to draw her attention outside of battle. So… your tale."

This wasn't something I was particularly interested in relating. While I didn't recognize any of the more modern inhabitants of the place, I wasn't exactly memorizing all the faces and costumes while I was snatching people across the numerous worlds and throwing them at Scion. Some of them might very well take exception of me being in a place meant for the honored dead. I knew the concept of where I was; I also knew that it didn't really mean anything to me in the grand scheme of things.

Valhalla was supposedly in Asgard, part of the nine realms, supposedly in a different dimension from Earth's. The honored dead resided there until Asgard's own apocalypse, Ragnarök, came about. At that point they would be released for the final battle… or something along those lines. I wasn't exactly an expert on the subject, but I did run across the topic during my studies.

Who knew my GED would actually come in useful for once?

"No thanks," I started to say, but the main door opened, cutting me off halfway through the denial.

An extremely tall blonde woman took two steps inside and her attention was immediately on me. Piecemeal silver armor faded away around her into a blue lightshow that dissipated as fast as her protection. What could only be called leather britches and some kind of jerkin was all that was left, but she still held onto a very large and lethal looking ornate spear resting in her grip at her side.

"Taylor Hebert of Earth Bet," she announced to everyone. "The All-Father commands your presence."

Birger turned back to me. "Well, you don't see that all too often. Off you go, Taylor Hebert. It's best not to keep Odin waiting."

Story Arc 1: Asgard

1.1

When I approached Brunnhilda she set the end of the spear she was holding on the floor and gestured with the shaft toward me. I ignored it for a few seconds in lieu of the person that would be escorting me. Most women I've come to know on Earth Bet were shorter than I was, so it was somewhat novel to see that she had me by at least two inches if not more due to her boots. Corn silk blonde hair reached just past the small of her back with two thick braids and numerous smaller ones on either side of her face. Other than that, Brunnhilda was like most of the more muscular woman I know. It definitely wasn't a bad look for her and I was annoyed to realize my old insecurities were alive and well in the afterlife.

"Take hold of Geirr and do not relinquish it until you are given leave."

The thing had to be at least seven feet tall. I measured its length and noted the material it was made of could have been poorly wrought iron, if they had that sort of thing here. I couldn't take anything for granted on a different world, and there was no doubt as to what this place had to be if it was indeed Valhalla.

"Is there a reason you're giving me your weapon?" I asked.

I had the feeling that she wasn't used to being questioned all that often when she gave orders – working alongside the PRT for so long I definitely recognized the type. Then I remembered Birger saying that she was the head Valkyrie which was something probably akin to general I would presume.

"Outside the halls of Valhalla, were you not possessing Geirr or at the very least in physical contact with a valkyrie, you would succumb to the mortal wounds that brought you to my notice."

That took me back to wherever it was Contessa and I had our little chat and she decided to assassinate me. All I remembered was dropping boneless to the ground there and the next thing I knew I was walking through the door here.

"So, in here I'm healed," I concluded, "and out there I have two bullet holes in my head."

Brunnhilda pressed her lips together before answering. "Unless you are fluent in how the process is accomplished through magic and science, it is difficult to explain. Simply trust that it will work as I have said. I have no desire to feel the wrath of the Allfather if I fail to deliver you on time as commanded."

That seemed to end that conversation. I took hold of the spear and waited for something magical to happen, only to be sorely disappointed.

So much for magic.

"Come," Brunnhilda said before turning and striding out the door. "We will converse along the way."

Any seven foot spear, made of some weird metal, should have weighed a lot more than I was expecting, but the thing was as light as the proverbial feather as I made sure not to scrape the doorway on as I followed. Apparently Valhalla was in the middle of a large grassy plane and civilization of any type was nowhere within eyesight. However, within seconds I noticed something was off about the whole scene.

It was all too perfect: the temperature, the slightest hint of a breeze, the total lack of pollen in the air even though it seemed like spring was in full bloom. It didn't feel natural.

"Where are we?" I said before clarifying myself. "I mean what is this place?"

She turned her head slightly and sent a measured eye on me. "Valhalla is a place out of natural space and time. Here, even the most dire wound will be given time to heal naturally. Once Ragnarök comes, all the valiant heroes within will be tasked to take part in the final battle. Consider this a way station between then and now."

That explanation obviously set me off. "Even against our will?"

Brunnhilda didn't take the bait. "Everyone here has been given the choice of staying or moving on to whatever afterlife awaits them."

"I didn't get the memo."

That confused her, but she let it roll off her broad shoulders. "You were brought here for a specific purpose, Taylor Hebert, and you will soon be given your choice."

I surveyed the area ahead and even took the time to throw a look over my shoulder to see how far we'd gone already. A day without my bugs gave new meaning to the word paranoid in my vocabulary.

"And that is…?"

My question was ignored; instead, she asked one of her own. "Why did you make use of your expanded powers at the end?"

Ah, that.

"Why do you want to know?"

"If you want an answer to your question then you will answer mine as well."

I rolled my eyes and pressed on. Obviously this was going to be a quid pro quo sort of conversation. I could deal with that.

"The short answer is that, in the end it was every man for himself, and there was no way we could have won against Scion unless we all came together… everyone."

Brunnhilda gave a single nod in return. "Mortals are capable of reason. Why did you choose to take away their free will and enslaving them instead of turning them to your side with reason?"

I sighed and concentrated on the low thumping sound I was making with the spear each time I took another step.

"If I'd taken the time then billions of people, trillions, would have been dead while we sat there arguing over whose plan was better."

"So you understand what it truly means to be a leader of warriors."

My brow furrowed when I looked her way. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged. "Only that there is a larger purpose out there amongst the nine realms and the multiple variances thereof. Most mortals can't comprehend that there is something larger than themselves, a reason that life must endure, even if it is at the cost of their own or many others they call enemy and friend."

Right – whatever.

"I did what needed doing," I clarified. "Whatever I get called in the end, it doesn't matter, because my world still lives."

"And the greater universe?"

"What's your point?"

We continued on a few more steps before Brunnhilda stopped and turned to me. "The entities that invaded your world are not the only threats out there, Taylor."

I felt my muscles tighten up with dread. "There's more of them?"

"Most certainly; they are not an immediate concern to us at the moment. If they approach, the Allfather will deal with them."

One guy would "deal" with the entities. That sounded unlikely. Granted, it was Odin we were talking about here, but still. She made it sound like he'd just wave his hand and they'd shrivel up and die. We definitely could have used that sort of help a few days ago. An actual god would have really been useful.

"Why are you asking about all of this? Am I being judged or something?"

She gestured and we continued on. "Not in the manner you are most likely thinking. We aren't the final adjudicators in terms of the disposition of your soul. You are not technically dead, so there is no need."

"Technically," I said as I pondered the various differences of deadness.

"You are being judged regarding your worthiness for a different sort of position."

This whole mess fell into place with that statement. I was being recruited. Considering the job qualifications and my previous experience that we'd been going over, this didn't sound like something I'd particularly be interested in. Not to mention I wasn't qualified for much of anything at the moment, since I had no way of interacting with my bugs.

"I don't have powers anymore."

Brunnhilda wasn't the least bit surprised. "Although your talents in that area would be useful in the coming years, it's your character of which I am most interested."

This was starting to become tedious. I didn't exactly want to die, but I did my part in saving the universe, or at least my little part of it anyway. It was time for a vacation and if that meant I wasn't being pulled around by someone that obviously can't lay the problem on the table and wait for a yes or a no, then I had better things to do.

"This is the second time I'm asking: can you get to the point? I really dislike word games."

She shook her head. "This isn't a game, Taylor."

"Fine," I shot back. "You clearly brought me here for a reason. You know I'll do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it winds up pissing off everyone in charge. I'm pretty much worthless without my power, or at least nothing more than a tactician, but if you're actually a valkyrie from legend then you could probably run circles around me in that area. So what's the point of having me here and grilling me?"

Brunnhilda had stopped and spun around midway during my rant, watching me.

"You're doing well so far; continue."

I scowled at her and defiantly planted the spear an inch into the ground while I thought about it. If this was the real Asgard, Valhalla, and so forth then they had more than enough people to take care of any problems. They didn't need a broken cape from Earth Bet to tell them anything they didn't already know, so it had to be something personal about me. What was I being recruited for?

I didn't have enough information to make a decent guess, so I didn't bother.

"Not enough information," I said. "I'm not speculating any further."

She actually smiled at my answer. It was small, but it was there nonetheless.

"The Valkyrior has lost one of our own recently and the Allfather has seen a turbulent future for Asgard in the near future. The ranks must be filled."

I blinked at that. "The Valkyrior…."

"Valkyries, Taylor, those who carry warriors that will die honorably in battle to Valhalla; that is our primary duty. However, a millennium ago we were ordered to restrict Asgardian contact with Midgard, what you call Earth. At that time our duties increased. We are the Allfather's finest warriors save for a select few that lead his armies into battle: Sif, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, and of course the Odinson, Thor."

My mind skirted on the edge of going completely blank. "What does…?"

"What does this have to do with you?" she said, cutting me off. "Special missions from the Allfather require special warriors to carry them out. The Valkyrior are those warriors, and we are one short."

I'm not exactly sure when my mouth slid open – at least I wasn't gaping like an idiot.

"Right." I spun around and started heading back to the Hall. "Good luck with that."

"Taylor Hebert. You have been chosen."

"Don't know anything about being a warrior, much less swinging a sword around or throwing a spear. Thanks anyway."

I probably got about ten feet before Brunnhilda was suddenly in front of me with her fists balled up on her hips, striking an impressive figure.

"Your power will be returned to you."

Of course, she would know the one thing that would make me pause, which I did. Being virtually helpless for a day was driving me crazy. What would it be like in a week or a month, or even a year down the line? Would I grow used to it or would the paranoia drive me insane in due time?

"Did I not say that if you were in Valhalla long enough that you would be healed eventually? I didn't just mean physically. Though it will take years to fully regain such a talent, it will happen." Then she answered the unasked question. "The Allfather has the means to return you to your previous glory. All you need do is pledge yourself to the Valkyrior and to the king of Asgard."

I closed my eyes and rubbed at where the holes on my forehead should be before whispering, "Fucking Asgardians."

"Why me? You probably have hundreds of better people that actually want the position." I asked.

"You would be correct." She stared at me for a few moments and pressed her lips together. I was coming to the conclusion that was her go-to expression for annoyance. "As I mentioned, Asgardian presence on Midgard has been restricted…."

"Ah!" I figured her out. "I'm not Asgardian and you need someone on Earth for something."

"Correct."

Excitement almost made its way back to me. Then I actually thought about it some more. "Is this my Earth?"

"No. Heimdall, the keeper of the Bifrost, has witnessed two of what you would call Parahumans on Earth at this time, but their powers were acquired solely though science. You would be more than equal to their ranks, though you would have more advantages as a valkyrie. This is as much as I can say unless you choose to join us."

I blew out a breath and thought it over. I'd be on Earth and not really under the thumb of these guys, but eventually whatever mission I went on would end. Then I'd be screwed.

"No offense, but I don't know any of you. I can't honestly swear allegiance to Odin or you like that, even if you're tempting me with my power."

"Understood. The position is not permanent. If you accept and complete the mission and then realize you can't commit any further, you will be released from duty. We want loyal warriors, Taylor, not reluctant fighters."

I could deal with that. Even if it winds up being something I'd normally rail against, it might be worth it in the end. "One question: will whatever I'm going to do hurt innocents on Earth?"

She nodded, probably seeing where I was going. "Just the opposite. We'll likely save billions of lives, possibly the entire planet and the nine realms as well."

Oh… fuck. No pressure or anything. And here I thought I would never accomplish a ten-thousandth of what I did before.

"Fine. Let go see the wizard."

"The Allfather," she corrected.

1.2

"I was resigned to another, boring evening's repast." I flinched at the smooth male voice belonging to the person who snuck up from behind me. He smiled, probably knowing that he'd already gotten under my skin. I was so familiar with the type. "Then Hilda appears with sight unseen in these oh so hallowed halls."

Green and black, trimmed with gold went well with his pale complexion and dark hair. He had me by at least three inches and his regal bearing made me want to crawl away somewhere and hide, at least until I could find something to wear that would fit in better amongst those that I've already passed on the way to the Hall of Asgard. Brunnhilda was speaking to the King while I waited in the very back.

It was times like these that strengthened my resolve to get my powers back, if for no other reason than to never get snuck up on again. At least I recovered quickly enough.

"Sight unseen?" I asked.

He nodded lightly and I watched as his attention drifted to Odin. "My father would sooner blind his other eye than to allow a mortal free reign within."

"Well, I'm not exactly free… reigning." Dear God, Mom would have been so disappointed with my ability to speak, or rather my lack of ability in this particular instance. "Hold on. You said father."

A smile accompanied his nod, along with a hand held to his heart and a slight bow in succession. "I am Loki, Prince and son to the Allfather, and judging by the spear you wield, are late of Valhalla, I presume?"

My degree of nervousness increased tenfold. "Uh… yeah. Today… just the one day."

I had to stop and grit my teeth before appearing even more like an uneducated idiot.

"My name is Taylor Hebert of Earth Bet. Brunnhilda brought me to Valhalla just this morning."

There; success; a complete sentence! Two even!

His brow furrowed and I watched transfixed as he cocked his head in curiosity. "Earth… Bet. I am familiar with hundreds of planets, and a thousand civilizations, none of which is the purview of the valkyries. No, they alone travel the Nine Realms in their duties, one of which is Midgard otherwise known by its inhabitants as Earth."

When I just stood there contemplating the part where he said, "thousands of civilizations," and the implications thereof, Loki had to prompt me once again.

"Shall I alert the scribes that a new edit is fast approaching? I dare say that they should all be flustered at the thought."

"Alternate dimension," I clarified. "An alternate Earth."

Finally, I seemed to have taken him off guard. His eyes widened only a fraction, and it was more surprise than disbelief, so he had to be aware of the concept.

"Why would…?" he started before a resounding thump cut him off and both our attentions were brought to the throne. "Ah, another time. My father often maintains business before pleasure. I look forward to continuing our conversation, Taylor Hebert."

Not me. Definitely not me. While I could appreciate the intellectual conversation, not to demean the eye candy, I really didn't like to feel so out of place. Loki was a prince, or possibly a god, or maybe a demi-god, and I was… well, I was me."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, L… Prince Loki."

Quickly, I made my way across the length of the giant hall, eventually to the side of my soon-to-be boss.

The ceremonial armor Odin was wearing made judging his actual size problematic. He was big, and the spear he held beside his throne even bigger. He cocked a measuring eye at me and even went so far as to raise a brow before shifting his attention to Brunnhilda.

"Do we not have something more formidable, Hilda? We risk much imposing our presence on Midgard without just cause."

Was I just insulted? I think I was. Fucker. "Hey, I…."

"Taylor," Brunnhilda said, stopping me before I wound up killing myself at the end of Odin's spear, most likely. "I do not choose this mortal lightly, my King. Her actions speak for themselves, not to mention her tenacity. Her power is ideal for this mission."

He leaned forward and stroked his close-cropped white beard while I wondered how his eyepatch wasn't falling off since there wasn't anything obvious holding it on. I highly doubted they used super-glue on Asgard.

"Very well. I accept the terms," he said to her before turning his full attention to me. "Heed me well, mortal woman. Times like these rarely occur. Twice my father, Bor, brought mortals from Midgard into Asgard, granted them power beyond their imagination, a station amongst the warrior-elite, and twice he had them beheaded on the battlefield soon thereafter for their incompetence."

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

"My valkyrie has confidence in your skills that you have proven on your homeworld; I do not. However, this mission will be your testing ground – a quest if you will. You will be granted a temporary commission amongst the Valkyrior and all that entails. Your body will be mended and your power will last only as long as the mission. When… if you return from Midgard successful, you will be granted a permanent position if, that is your wish."

Well at least he was straight forward and didn't jerk me around. I could respect that for what it was. At least until I got my bugs back.

I won't go into the experience of having my arm regrown or even the feeling of two white hot spikes being driven into my head from where Contessa shot me. I will however expound on what it was like for my passenger to reawaken and its being bound to me.

Even with Bonesaw's villain monologue on her thoughts regarding the shards in every parahuman's brain, and including Lisa's numerous theories on the topic, I didn't really think of it as an intelligent being. What I mean by that is I thought of it more as a living component of a greater whole, working in concert with me to do… something. As to what, I still wasn't all that clear on. People threw their thoughts on the subject at me, but in the end it wasn't really all that important, save for the destruction of Scion. By then I was all but dead anyway, so it didn't matter.

When Odin did his thing, I actually felt when it reawakened.

It wasn't what I would call intelligent. Maybe it was right at the cusp of being so or maybe it was me projecting my hopes and fears on the thing, but I could have sworn, as Odin's power coursed through my body, that I felt the slightest tinges of fear.

Like I said, it could have been my own. It probably was. Most likely.

Whatever it was that I felt was immediately quashed, imprisoned in my mind, or possibly my brain. That was something I was sure of – don't ask me how. All I know is, seconds after it happened, the world came alive around me once more and a cruel smile rose on my face at the thought. With my head bowed at the knee of Odin and his massive hand resting on the crown, nobody would have seen, but I knew it for what it was.

Weaver and her goals of defeating Jack Slash and Scion afterward were gone. This was more akin to the feeling I had after I had defeated Lung and carved out his eyes for the protection of those that would come afterward and haul his fiery dragon ass away to the Birdcage. It was triumph – facing the unbeatable foe and coming out on top once more.

People doubted me so many times: Lung, the Nine, the Protectorate, Tagg, Alexandria, all of them. They doubted the abilities of the bug girl, Skitter.

When the pain eased away I took a cleansing breath and pushed that part of me down, the desperate part that would do almost anything to insure victory at all cost. She wasn't who I was anymore. Mere months she was alive before Weaver took her place. Khepri was closer to what I truly was even more than my second guise – Skitter returned with what amounted to godlike power, but she was dead too. What stood here before the throne of Odin was something altogether different.

My passenger didn't define me anymore; I defined it.

~O~

"Taylor," Brunnhilda almost scolded me. "What are you doing?"

We had been given access to the Palace Armory for the valkyrie's tools of trade. Odin wouldn't even think of having anything made specifically for me until I'd proven myself in his eyes. Not that it was my primary goal or anything. I was fully alive once again, more than I was even when I was on Earth Bet. All of my ills were cured: old fractures, torn ligaments, my lingering issue with the concussion that Amy had gifted me with at the bank job. I felt new, fresh off the conveyer belt, on the showroom floor new. Most of all was my connection to the alien bugs around Asgard.

"Sorry. It's all the new species. We didn't have anything like this on my world. There's… so much and they're going to be so useful."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "None of which you can take with you to Midgard. Introducing them to that environment could be dangerous to the extreme."

I was about to protest, but the rational part of my brain chose that point to see what she was talking about. "Damn."

"Well, I'm making a costume out of the spider silk anyway. It feels stronger than even the Darwins on Earth."

"What…," she stopped and looked around, "kind of spider?"

I called out the mated pair I'd found in one of the unused alcoves. They came skittering across the floor unafraid of anything. I was fascinated at the seven extra limbs that were solely devoted to web manipulation and the multiple venom sacs with varying degrees of poison inside. The body was a good four inches long and an inch or two wide. The things I could have done with a few hundred of these in Brockton Bay.

Brunnhilda took two steps back and watched as the spiders raced to me, crawling up my legs to my waiting hands. They scurried up my arms to my shoulder, one on each turning to face my new boss.

"Aren't they beautiful?"

I actually heard her swallow harshly. "You have total control of those… creatures?"

I nodded and reached up to run a finger along the strange exoskeleton. I bet with their speed and this armor they were really hard to kill.

"Oh, yeah. No problem. Even in my sleep or if I was knocked unconscious, they'll defend me or keep on with whatever their last command was that I gave them."

She nodded in understanding while she kept a good distance away from me. In a very measured voice she asked, "Are there anymore on the palace grounds?"

I thought about it for a few seconds. "I don't think so, but I'm still processing all the new life. It's a little overwhelming, but it shouldn't take too much longer."

That information seemed to ease her mind. "When you are finished with them I would suggest you cage them or kill them, and do not ever bring them into the presence of the Allfather."

I realized then that I was back in creepy-mode for the average person that couldn't truly appreciate what these bugs could accomplish with the proper guidance – or maybe that was exactly what she was afraid of. Heh.

~O~

"I don't really need all of this," I complained at the full outfit of tightfitting armor and giant spear. "They don't exactly wear armor like this on Earth."

While it wasn't full plate mail, the stuff was still fairly heavy. Most of it was some kind of composite fiber that I'd never seen before, obviously. The rest was made from the same stuff of which Brunnhilda's spear was comprised. The outsides of my legs, knee, forearms, shoulders and breasts were plated up. I could move well enough, and the really hard stuff didn't get in the way. I suppose it was specifically made that way to protect the places more apt to get hit in a swordfight. Still, it was a little much.

"The is the armor every valkyrie wears. Once we chose a sword for you, it can be dispelled at your leisure and recalled whenever needed," she answered as she was looking over a vast amount of weapons.

"Dispelled? You mean it wasn't my imagination that you were wearing something like this when you came to get me in Valhalla?"

"You will find the sword of an Asgardian is more than a sharp form of metal with a handle, Taylor. It is a true weapon and utility of ours. With it we can change from casual clothing to battle armor with but a thought channeled into the sword. We can absorb energy and physical blasts from the enemy and return our own, and certain weapons are enchanted to do much more."

Well, that made a lot more sense than some advanced alien race relying on ancient blades to fight with.

"Here, this one," she said while taking a sword from rack with a dozen identical ones alongside. "Grasp it with your hand and hold it up to your breastplate like this."

It was a kind of salute, which I performed for her. "What did that do?"

"Until your mission is over that sword is yours, attuned to that armor. Now wave it downward in front of you and think about dispelling your armor."

Which I also did. Everything from the winged helm to the armor covering portions of my boots glowed blue and faded away until the base clothes I wore underneath was all that remained.

"I could have used this years ago," I murmured.

"Now hold the sword out to your side and dispel it in the same manner."

Oh, excellent! I get to do the disappearing sword trick!

In another moment it was gone and without her urging I did the same trick to the spear I was issued. All gone… uh.

"Where did everything go?"

Brunnhilda gestured to the door and explained as my two spiders ran to catch up.

"Some call it the Heavenly Realm, while others explain it as a pocket dimension. I personally care not, as long as they are always returned to me in the condition in which they left my presence."

I nodded and was pretty much of the same mind. I really don't think I'd need any of it in the first place once I had my new costume made. Speaking of which.

"Can I store other things there? Like supplies and…."

"No."

"But…."

"No."

"Bugs."

She glanced down at me. "You will not take any Asgardian bugs with you to Midgard, Taylor."

"No, I mean when I get there. I could build a swarm, store them away, and it would be a lot less noticeable to the civilians there. I could…."

"No. Only the items made specifically for a valkyrie's use can be attuned to the Heavenly Realm."

"Damn." I thought about that for a few moments. "How, uh… do they attune items like that?"

Her brow furrowed. "Ask someone more fluent in Runelore than myself. I know only those that are pertinent to my duty."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Well, obviously Asgardians live long lives. Why not learn more things that might be useful under unusual conditions." It was me that cut her off this time, before she could counter my idea. "When I first started as a cape, people constantly underestimated me. I was the bug-girl – the one with the creepy useless power.

"So I thought of ways to use it to my advantage. The spider-silk armor, using my bugs for reconnaissance, using flight capable bugs to carry those that weren't so I could deliver a bigger punch, covering certain bugs with a liquid that burns sensitive areas, and so forth. You can get so much more out of what you have when you think creatively using other items in new and useful ways."

Brunnhilda stopped and turned to me. "You would have me become a Runescribe so that one day I might use said talent in… creative ways?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea what's involved, so I don't know."

She looked like it was far too much work. "Carving – endless amounts of intricate carving. Besides, only Loki ever had the patience for the art, and Odin is the only one with the power and knowledge to use them for anything other than minor things. I highly doubt the Allfather will take the time to teach it to a mortal."

I nodded as we moved on. "So, Loki then."

1.3

Asgardian books were virtually nothing like the kind you could find in the dollar rack at the local convenience store on Earth Bet. They were mostly gigantic tomes that had to be manufactured out of science and magic. I think this was due to the whole Allspeak thing they had going on. It hadn't occurred to me that the Asgardians were actually an alien race and not just genetically superior humans in some form. That's why I didn't think anything of them speaking English.

Sure, maybe they'd call it something else, but it sounded and came across as English. I was wrong.

Allspeak in its most basic terms is the language of the soul or perhaps the heart. Things like that are fairly difficult to put into written words. I found that out when I opened up the first tome and found everything was written in a language I didn't have a prayer in comprehending without an Asgardian to English dictionary. Then the movie started playing in my head, complete with sound, smell, and in my face action.

I'm not embarrassed to say that I fell out of my chair the first time that happened. By the window, Loki, still wearing green and black, had himself a good chuckle at my expense before returning to his own much smaller book while I laughed internally about his lack of wardrobe choices.

This was the second day that I purposefully set myself up in the library after hearing that he often wound up there. I'd leave it up to fate to give me an opening I could expand upon if he ever chose to have another conversation with me. If I deliberately sought him out then I'd have to owe him. Judging by the average Asgardian around here, I chose not to go in that direction. There was no telling what kind of favor they'd call in.

I concentrated on one of a dozen or so books Brunnhilda set me up with. My current one was the tale of a race of beings known as Celestials and a bunch of gems that were called Infinity Stones. The things these stones could do would make Scion look like a toddler mining for interesting prizes deep inside his own nose.

My research mainly surrounded what these things could do and how to handle them if I came across any particular one. Basically, I don't. I don't physically touch it, but somehow manage to contain it and then call for Heimdall for the exit plan. Simple.

I could have actually been told all of this by Brunnhilda, in a very short span of time. Instead, I was secluded in a room full of books that I was nervous about reading. Loki didn't make it any easier. He kept glancing my way with a look of quizzical interest. It definitely wasn't because of my wonderful fashion sense or my glamorous looks. Every female Asgardian I'd come across was unnaturally beautiful in various shapes and forms. Most of the males were that way as well.

It was a misogynistic nightmare realm to tell the truth. Mom would have probably been caught in a dozen fights alone on her first day here, let alone at any of the feasts. Musclebound blonde guys tended to have three or more women hanging off them and loved to toss around empty mead mugs while yelling, "Another!" Me? I just stayed in the background and tried not to piss anyone off until such time as I could make it outside the palace grounds.

Why would I want to do that?

Mainly because I wasn't overly familiar with these people at all: their strengths, weaknesses, how they fight, whether or not it was even worth my time to try if needed. Odin was one thing. The man was imposing in a way that would have made Alexandria second and third guess herself before taking him on. Not to mention every time I happen to catch a glimpse of him he was always carrying around that spear of his as if he was hoping to get a chance to use it, mainly on me.

I think Brunnhilda told him about the spiders.

So, why was I studying about these strange and powerful gems? Because, it was part of my mission which had finally been laid out for me. Odin had been having a troubling series of visions of the Earth, a war, a white eagle flying on a black background, and an iridescent blue beam of light. It really wasn't much to go on, but there were a few faces to go along with the bad news. I had several hand-drawn portraits of each of them from various angles.

A rhythmic clicking sounded in my lap and I glanced down to see the female spider looking up at me. A quick check to see that Loki was engrossed in his book and I guided what passed for a butterfly around these parts through an open window and to my lap. The spider lunged, biting the insect that was half its size, and began to devour it. There was no waiting involved, no webbing, no cocooning, and no desiccation. Two crunches later and the purple butterfly was gone.

Of course Loki took this moment to look up at me again and cock an ear. "Mortal biology has changed much since my most recent visit to Midgard, if your kind no longer consumes your meals through traditional methods."

What did he think… oh, eww.

"My… pet needs feeding. There's only two of them I have them working overtime making a costume for me."

Loki's general attitude of aloofness changed slightly as he slid down on his seat to take a look at what I was talking about. Then he started chuckling.

"This is what has father stalking the halls with Gungnir held tight in his grasp. I had hopes the Svartálfar hadn't been exterminated millennia ago, and were roaming the palace in search of the…." He stopped and threw a knowing smile at me. "Is that what has him bending his own laws?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I really didn't.

Even with Allspeak, sometimes a word doesn't get translated properly, likely because it's the proper name of something that the listener is unfamiliar with. Svartálfar was one of those words.

"The Conjunction; the event approaches in a few years. Has the Allfather misplaced the Aether?" Loki snapped his book closed and stood quickly. "That's it; isn't it? My fool of a grandfather hid it on Midgard?"

Before he could go on, I had my spider scurry up my chest and stand guard on my right shoulder, watching Loki's every move. That stopped the Prince in his steps. He watched my guardian curiously before directing his attention back to me.

"You have nothing to fear from one such as me, dear valkyrie. I confess my curiosity has risen to new heights with your appearance. Even a mortal, with your limited lifespan, must recognize the agonizing boredom that entails living on Asgard over the course of centuries."

Closing my own book, I slid my chair backward. "I wouldn't know about that. Mortals like me are too dumb to think deep thoughts."

"I've offended you," he concluded. "It was not my intent, simply a statement of fact. We exist for thousands of years."

Somehow I doubted that he didn't intend to offend me. "I'll live. Looking down on people from other realms seems to be a national pastime around here anyway."

Loki shrugged knowingly. "If you had personally traveled these realms then you would realize the futility of treating its inhabitants as intellectual equals. They are not. Most of them are savages. The Jotuns of Jotunheim exist in squalor willingly and would love nothing better than the head of Odin to decorate their king's throne. Muspelheim is a volcanic world which serves no useful purpose other than to spew forth mindless beasts that ravage the other realms when given leave. I could endlessly wax philosophical about the others…."

"Please don't," I replied. "Aren't there any worth the time to rule over benevolently?"

Holding his hands behind his back, Loki leisurely paced the ends of the stacks. "The Dwarves of Nidavellir are a useful race, if primitive. They are the ones who take great care in producing weapons of war for the Allfather. Your valkyrie sword, spear, and armor are most assuredly of their manufacture."

This gave me the opening I was looking for. "So they're the ones who etch the runes in the metal?"

Loki stopped and threw a look over his shoulder. "Aware of runes, are you?"

"I can see their usefulness. Brunnhilda said that was how we're able to move our weapons and armor to a pocket dimension when they're not in use."

"Indeed. A beneficial bit of magic; an underappreciated art."

"I agree. With a power like mine it would be very useful."

A grin slowly widened on his face. "Which leads us to this fortuitous meeting."

Damn. I was busted. "What?"

"Surely you did not think I wouldn't see through your attempts at subterfuge, dear valkyrie. Why else would you have been here, in a library that few visit, save for my mother and myself on this day?"

I looked down at the book in front of me. "In case you didn't notice, I was reading. I was here yesterday, and I was here today before you showed up. If anything it's you that are stalking me."

That seemed to amuse him. "I stand corrected. A prince of Asgard has his dastardly plans revealed. What reason shall we use for the guards when they drag me away, hmm?"

I rolled my eyes and leaned back. "Fine, Brunnhilda told me that you and your father were the only ones that know Runelore, and Odin would probably swat me away if I even came close enough to ask about it."

He stared at me for a good five seconds, just long enough for me to wonder if I should make a break for it or not. "The art is not for mortals. You do not possess the talent, the patience, or the artistry needed."

When I made a move to protest he simply held up a hand to forestall me. "One does not simply scratch out a few symbols and hope for the best. Each one has to be perfectly etched in specific size and form, with specific tools, in a specific way. The end could result in tragedy if performed incorrectly."

Oh, ye of little faith. "Try me. Do something incomplete. If I can't copy it exactly then you've lost nothing but a few minutes of your self-professed considerably boring life."

Loki cocked an eyebrow at me, probably for the challenge. I assume he doesn't get many, especially about so esoteric of a subject, and almost certainly not from a dull-minded mortal such as me.

"The stakes?"

Ah, he was playing this game. "What is it you want?"

He pulled out the chair across from me and flamboyantly seated himself with a snap of the garment he was wearing.

"If you do not produce an adequate rendering of the runescript I use as your template then you will remain on Midgard after whatever folly Odin has you involved in has ended."

I returned his challenging glare with one of my own. "Have the property values dropped since I landed in Valhalla or something?"

"Not at all," he said with cheer. "I have need of a minion on Midgard, and you will do nicely."

"A minion," I returned flatly.

"Someone that will do my bidding. Surely a mortal such as you is familiar with the concept. I contact you with a duty; you perform for me. In return I shall supply you with shelter and means for your survival."

"A minion." I thought it over for a few moments. "What's the catch? Are the special tools I need something only an Asgardian can use?"

Loki's lips twitched. "Nothing so infantile. It is simply a test of extreme skill. Your only tool would be this knife."

With a swipe of his hand he retrieved a very small dagger was dangling it off the tips of his fingers.

"Is there something special about that knife or…."

"It is my own creation, but there is nothing out of the ordinary. The size, shape and the markings alongside the blade are themselves crucial. Depths are just as important as any curve or straightedge; a single etching too shallow and the result will be entirely different than your intensions."

I nodded. "Fair enough. If I fail you get a minion on Earth. What do I get when I succeed?"

Loki measured me with his gaze once again. His smug smile faltered minutely in the process. "You are so sure of yourself."

"My prize, Loki. I want all of your notes or whatever on runes. What they do."

He barked out a laugh. "No. You ask too much."

"You want me to be a damn minion. How about you be my minion on Asgard."

His eyes narrowed. "Watch your tongue, mortal, lest it be cut out for your impertinence."

"Yeah, I'm bored," I said as I stood while tucking my book underneath my arm.

"What of our wager?"

With a pause I returned his glare. "The last guy who threatened me wound up blasted out of existence across a thousand realities. I'd rather not annoy Odin more than I have to when he goes looking for his son and finds a wet splatter of goo on the library floor.

He totally ignored the shot I took. "You speak from experience."

"I do."

"Hmm. You've witnessed many wars, have you?"

"I have."

"And yet you are so young, not even arrived at the prime of your life."

Was he trying to compare himself to me or something? I had no idea where he was going with this train of thought.

"I started fighting when I was fifteen, saw and fought my first eldritch abomination before I turned sixteen, and then fought one every three months or so ever since. That didn't include all the battles in-between with the regular horrors on my planet."

He smiled wide, looking on with a faked sort of delight for some reason. "Eldritch abominations? How exciting! And you did this with spiders?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You know what? I think we're done here."

"No, from listening to tales of my brother's exploits I would say spiders would lack a certain… punch. He loves his hammer, you see; never goes anywhere without it, in case he feels the sudden desire to pound something out of existence. You did something else."

He just kept talking as if I wasn't in the process of walking out the door. I'd just have to live with not learning about Runelore. It simply wasn't worth the aggravation of dealing with his type.

"Did you care for the wounded? Perhaps ran errands for those more suited for direct confrontation? With…."

"Loki," I said as I stood at the archway leading out of the library. "Don't underestimate me."

His hands went behind his back as he stood with a curious smirk on his face. "Pray tell, young warrior, why not?"

"You – everyone around here – you're Asgardians. You're long-lived, but you're not immortal. You're powerful, you're knowledgeable, and every one of you that I have met is so full of themselves that it grates on a number of my nerves, but you aren't gods. That much I'm sure of. You think you are, and that's fine. There was a guy who invaded my planet. He probably thought he was a god, he had the power to destroy thousands of planets, absorb the energy of what was left, and then move on to his next conquest."

It seemed I had his attention. "Sounds like an interesting fellow. Where is he now?"

"I personally killed him on Tuesday. I did it with my power to control things, like this spider for instance. That was three or four days ago. I forget… being mortal and all."

Horse's ass.

~O~

The seventh time I had to pick up my sword I was beginning to think this was a lesson in futility. I didn't have the strength in my arms to wield the thing for more than a few minutes with someone pounding theirs atop mine. I think Brunnhilda realized this; at least I hoped she did.

"I have centuries more experience than you, Taylor, and I learned much the same way," she explained with a nice even voice. "Frustration is a fine motivator."

I returned that bit of advice with a grim smile. "I'm not frustrated with that. They stopped using swords as a standard weapon on Earth a while back. They use these things called guns now that shoot these things called bullets, really fast. They make big holes in your enemies who usually fall down and die soon after."

She nodded in understanding. "You will not be on Earth forever."

"It looks like I'll be leaving after this thing," I said before raising my sword in the ready position. "Everyone I've met here, with the exception of you is a pain in my ass."

Brunnhilda let her weapon fall to her side and fell out of her attack stance. "They caused you physical pain?"

I shook my head and relaxed. "No. It's a figure of speech. Look, Odin is only putting up with me because he needs a mortal down on Earth. I just had my first real conversation with Loki before I came down here, and he's…."

She held up a hand. "I know how Loki behaves, and it is not only you that he treats in such a way."

"It's not just him. At the feasts, everyone looks at me like I'm a leper," I explained. "I've dealt with this type of thing before, so I'm not really excited about doing it again. I'd much rather go down to Earth and make my way around there, or maybe you could bring me back…."

I had to stop that verbal train of thought. I probably wouldn't be welcome back on Earth Bet, even if I wasn't Khepri-powered. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd be killed on sight, or at least they'd try.

"Nevermind. Let's just do this thing so I can leave."

Brunnhilda grimaced at my final word on the subject and her sword disappeared. "Very well. If that is your wish, then finish your research and you may leave for Midgard. I will alert the Allfather of your decision."

I nodded and vanished my sword. "He'll probably be relieved."

"If there is one thing I've learned above all others in my considerable lifetime, it is to never assume what Odin will think on any subject. Oft times you will be wrong a vast percentage of times more than you are right."

When Brunnhilda left I made my way down to the kitchens, or wherever they cook the evening feast in order to find something to eat. They didn't prepare food as much as they just roasted something and tossed it whole onto a giant platter. I just wanted to take something back to my room, make a game plan, and go to sleep. If all went well then I'd leave in a couple of days.

When I arrived, there wasn't anyone around, and there was something vaguely pig-like turning by itself on a spit. It was highly unappetizing, so I chose to go with some fruits and maybe a raw veggie or two. After grabbing a platter I loaded it up, found some cheese and a small loaf of bread, and then headed out.

Thankfully, there wasn't anyone around on the way back to the Valkyrior dorms. I say dorms, because they were arranged that way, not that they weren't any less opulent than the rest of the palace or its grounds. I had a comfortable bed, bath, and even a separate room where I studied during my down time.

Nothing was changed when I arrived. I think it was because the spiders were hard at work in my bedroom and pretty much everyone in the surrounding area knew it, so maid service was a no-go. At least that's what I thought before setting the platter on my worktable amongst a dozen or so books that Brunnhilda said were pertinent to my mission.

There was an extra, much smaller addition to the collection, set in front of the single chair.

I knew there wasn't anyone in my bedroom at the moment because, spiders.

Using a single finger I edged open the front cover and found a note written in English. The calligraphy was elegant. I appreciated the effort it took to complete since I'm sure not a lot of people around here know how to speak let alone write in other languages due to the Allspeak.

Dearest God-killer,

In the event that I am discourteous to you again, please refrain from informing the leader of the Valkyrior. I will in turn assure that you are suitably recompensed for whatever slight I have caused.

Loki

"Huh. I don't even want to know."

The book, more of a notebook really, didn't look like the sum total of his knowledge, but more of a primer on runelore, and when the contents started sinking into my brain I realized it was exactly that: Loki's first delving into the art, over five hundred years old.

"This just might do."

1.4

I stared at the surprisingly detailed map of the southwestern portion of the United States that Heimdall had laid out for me in glorious holograms floating above a very tiny emitter. There weren't any state lines drawn or even any major cities marked, but the largest urban centers were more than obvious.

He had his finger pointed a very brown and seemingly empty space. "Here."

I cocked an eyebrow and frowned. "Is there any particular reason you'll be dropping me off in the middle of nowhere, in the desert?"

"Less chance of being seen by mortals," he said bluntly. "There is a local superstition regarding extraterrestrials. If anyone was to report a sighting of the Bifrost while activated, it will most likely be ignored as erroneous."

Taking a closer look, I rolled my eyes. "You guys are responsible for all the Roswell sightings?"

The more I learned about this particular Earth, from Heimdall, the more certain things remained the same up to a certain time period. Cities, for the most part were identical, barring those that were hit by Endbringers on my world. A lot of the costal cites seemed to be flourishing a bit more, but nothing stood out as differing majorly. At least I wouldn't get totally lost.

The whole situation reminded me so much of the alternate Earths back home. Only this one was different in a lot of ways around the forties, and then periodically through the decades. Technologically, they seemed more advanced in some avenues, or at the very least some people thought in radically different ways. The presence of scientifically made capes was proof of that. They didn't have to rely on traumatic trigger events or buy their powers from Contessa and Doctor Mother.

I envied them their ability to choose.

"No," Heimdall answered. "I merely take advantage of what is already there."

With a mild grunt I thought about the distance I had to travel. "I guess it's not that far."

"I would advise practicing with your armor's flight capabilities, young valkyrie."

I was really getting tired of the whole "young valkyrie" thing everyone had going. Yes, I was the most recent addition to the Valkyrior, and yes, I was the youngest member by about eight hundred years, but still. That crap gets annoying after a while.

"I have. I've just been busy making last minute arrangements."

He looked down on me and I almost took a step back from his overly creepy yellow eyes. "Yes, I have been watching and listening. Judging by your talent with runes, you are most fortunate that you are not currently enslaved by Loki. The wager was foolhardy."

A little chill ran up my spine when I realized he was spying on what I was doing. "I can do them perfectly fine with my spiders."

"Spiders you cannot take with you to Midgard. By command of Odin, You will present them to me before I activate the Bifrost for your journey."

Giving him a quick compliant grin, but not actually saying anything, I activated the iridescent wings on the back of my armor and lifted off the platform in order to fly back to the palace.

They weren't actual wings, and I still didn't have a clue as to how they worked, but they did make traveling much easier. They were some sort of energy construct that made me light as the proverbial feather and provided propulsion I still have yet to test at full throttle. Luckily, I had my own flight pack back on Earth Bet, so I wasn't a stranger to flying the friendly skies.

When I landed on the Valkyrior training grounds, Brunnhilda peeled away from a conversation with one of the other valkyries and nodded in my direction.

"Heimdall showed you the location?"

"Yeah, and he's been perving on me just in case you didn't know."

She'd probably be quite happy when I left. I don't think the Allspeak was quite getting my point across a lot of the time.

"Perving?"

"Watching me in my room… in private."

"Heimdall?"

"Yeah. Someone needs to keep an eye on him. It's probably on Odin's orders but seriously, he's a guy that can see and listen to anyone, anywhere in the Nine Realms."

"Heimdall's honor is above reproach," she stressed more than was needed.

"Uh-huh. Keep on thinking that when you're in your bath after a long day of doing valkyrie stuff. I'm a mortal, so I'm probably safe, but you actually have Asgardian assets that he might be interested in."

Hopefully he was listening. That should make him think twice about jerking me around about my spiders – probably not, but hopefully. Either way, the next time she was in the bath, I had no doubt she'd remember my words. Not that she had anything to be ashamed about. The leader of the Valkyrior was the perfect model of blonde goddess perfection. At least she had a decent personality to go along with the perfect body.

Long ago, relatively speaking, I'd learned to deal with not being the perfect physical specimen. Genetics were against me there, but at least I'd finally grown out of the gangly teenager I was three years ago when I went through a massive growth spurt while I was with the Undersiders. I hadn't been mistaken for a guy for quite some time. Granted, that could have been due to my reputation, but I'd like to think it was because I filled out a little.

Having the armor didn't hurt.

Most shapely women look fat in armor if they didn't have the height to pull it off properly. Me? I looked pretty damn nice. It almost made me rethink the whole spider silk costume, but that was what I knew. Using something a lot heavier would affect the way I fought, and I was too far along at the moment to do something like that. Maybe later, when I had time to train properly, I'd go with something different.

Of course, I wouldn't be a valkyrie by that point, so this train of thought was fairly pointless.

"When will your preparations be concluded?"

I shrugged as Brunnhilda motioned inside. "My costume is ready. I just need a little more time to finish the runes on a few more things."

"Not the spiders?" she asked warily.

"No, not the spiders; I have to give those to Heimdall so he can stab them to death with his gigantic sword on orders from Odin."

"They are dangerous creatures, Taylor."

I shook my head. "I get it. I just hate wasting resources if I don't need to, and this is my one chance to work with them."

We continued along the corridor until it opened up into the main hall which eventually led to the kitchens and Odin's giant hall.

"The position will remain open until you return from your mission, if you happen to change your mind."

"And stay a valkyrie?" I confirmed.

Brunnhilda returned a single nod. "We perform important work, similar to your current assignment. Having someone that is unlike others in the Valkyrior opens avenues to Midgard that we were unable to use before."

That was something new. "So, I'd most likely stay on Earth even after this is over with?"

"Stay?" she replied with a glance toward me. "Not necessarily. However, the majority of your assignments would return you there often enough."

Once we made it to the big hall I noticed the feast was already in full swing. The tell-tale sound of a mead mug crashing to the floor alerted me that Thor was back from wherever he disappeared to the other night.

"Another!" he yelled while he was groping a chesty redhead.

I almost expected another girl to pop up on his other leg, but I guess he was inquiring after more mead. With an annoyed sigh I stopped and gestured to Brunnhilda.

"I'm going to eat in my room."

She frowned and looked over to Thor's table. "You must not let them intimidate you."

"It's not intimidation. They don't scare me. It's the nausea I feel when I see all these women throw themselves at him like he's God's gift. It puts me off my meal."

She shrugged. "Thor will be the next king of Asgard. The position of queen is highly sought after, inevitably dulling the minds of women around him."

My nose involuntarily wrinkled at the thought. "And you wonder why I would rather be on Earth?"

With a resigned look on her face Brunnhilda turned to me. "I will procure us a meal and we will retire to your quarters, if you wouldn't mind the company."

This was a first. It had been almost two weeks since I had arrived and now my boss wants some private time, probably to talk me into staying after I was finished on Earth.

"Uh, sure."

When Brunnhilda disappeared into the kitchens, I leaned against the wall and took in the idiots at the tables. Loki looked bored and even took the time to glance my way with a genial smile. One of Thor's friends, the one with the small Van Dyke beard even went so far as to poke him followed by a gesture in my direction, and then laughed uproariously. I could imagine exactly what was being said while I scowled in the guy's direction.

The brunette, sitting across the table, turned and looked curiously at me and then her eyes widened as I had one of my spiders quickly drop from the ceiling on a strand of webbing, coming to a stop on my shoulder. She nudged Thor with a kick under the table, and I'd finally come to the attention of another prince of Asgard.

He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment and then turned his attention to Odin, who was sitting on his throne speaking to a short line of people. Somehow the big guy knew he was being started at and raised his attention to his son and then to me. I watched as his grip tightened on that spear of his, but eventually he turned away, ignoring me entirely.

That didn't seem to satisfy Thor. He set his mug down and waved off the women surrounding him, grabbed his hammer and stood just as Brunnhilda exited the kitchens. She held two platters of food, one of which was significantly smaller than the other.

My boss immediately noticed something was off about the situation. Probably comes from being the head valkyrie and the whole thing about knowing when someone was about to die power they possessed. When she saw the presence of my spider, she followed my line of sight to the beefcake at the table.

"It is not wise to threaten the Odinson."

I shrugged. "I was just here leaning, not doing a thing. Blame the pretty guy with the tiny beard. He started it all by poking Loki."

"Fandral, close personal friend to Thor; threaten him all you want."

Brunnhilda and Thor shared a long moment across the distance. Her side of the exchange was grim and somewhat annoyed, while Thor's was more on the uncomfortable side. It was probably the reason he sat back down followed by the low thump of his hammer back on the floor.

"You actually stared him down," I said with mild disbelief.

"Hm." Handing my platter to me she gestured away from the hall. "We were lovers once, long ago, before Odin took me into service and created the Valkyrior. It was unseemly for him to associate with me afterward."

Someone had to be high when they decided that. "Unseemly? You're like the catch of the century."

I received a nod for that. "I agree. However, it is widely known that Odin prefers his son to wed the leader of his armies, who sits across from him, the Lady Sif."

Once we were clear of the hall I commented, "Judging by the women that are pawing him right in front of her, I'd guess he doesn't exactly want a political marriage?"

She grunted, which I found she usually does when she really doesn't like something. "I bear the Lady Sif no ill will, but she's a fool if she considers Thor will take her as his queen. Yet, she thinks if she waits long enough he will eventually accept her."

"Friend-zoned. Been there; bought the shirt."

Brunnhilda shot me a look at that. "Oft times I merely misunderstand one word, and now you offer me two sentences of nonsense."

With a chuckle I started down the stairs that led to my quarters. "Friend-zoned means someone that… well, an unrequited love. Thor thinks of her only as a friend."

"Ah, a statement that bears much truth."

"Been there; bought the shirt, means that I've personally experienced something like what she's going through."

Once we reached my room, I pulled an extra chair from the bedroom and dropped off my guard-spider to continue weaving a roll of extra silk for the future. I might not have another chance to work with them once I leave, and this way I'd have something to mend my costume if need be.

"What are your plans to retrieve the object?" she asked once I sat down and broke off a piece of what passes for poultry around Asgard.

I shrugged. "Heimdall says they're keeping it in southern Nevada, so I'll stake the place out, send in some bugs to confirm, and then go from there."

She looked at me, confused. "That's it? What have you been doing all this time?"

"Without blueprints of the place I can't exactly make a plan yet. I can do that with my bugs. Trust me. This is what I do… well, it's what I can do. I used to just fight other capes, but in unfamiliar territory I had to get there and form a plan first."

Brunnhilda thought it over and nodded. "I suppose that is prudent."

"I've been learning Loki's runes also; preparing."

She swallowed and took a long drink at her mug. "You are actually learning?"

I nodded. "It's easy enough with the spiders. One measures the rune and the other mirrors it onto whatever I need. That's one of the reasons I like them. Their front four legs are strong enough to cut into metal easily. So, I'm pretty much stocked up on weapons, food…."

"Food?"

Leaning back, I smiled. "Yeah, mostly fruits and veggies. Those trays they have on the tables at the feast replenish themselves constantly from the kitchens. I just carved the runes onto the tray and stick it in the pocket dimension, poof, fresh food whenever I want it. I'll still need to stop by a sports store whenever I get there and load up on my usual equipment, but… what?"

Brunnhilda was sitting there staring at me. "I owe you my apologies, Taylor."

"Why?"

She dropped her meat and wiped off the tips of her fingers. "When I envisioned you wanting to learn runescript for "creative" reasons, I did not care to think you might want it for something other than a place to store spoils you might come across after your battles. You aren't the first person to think of using the Heavenly Realm in such a way. Perhaps I misjudged your intent. For that, you have my apologies."

"Oh… um, thanks. You're not the first though, so don't beat yourself up over it. Most of the capes I fought back home didn't think much of me when we first met, especially the overpowered ones."

"They came to regret their initial thoughts," she concluded.

I grinned. "Yeah, you could say that. When a lot of them saw my bugs they thought since they could regenerate, had near-invulnerable skin, or used fire or something to surround themselves that they were safe enough. Sure, they'd be annoyed, but they could crush me eventually and then the bugs would go away; end of story."

A thoughtful look dropped over her face. "I must have missed these times."

"It was early in my cape career." Shifting uncomfortably, but decided to go ahead. "I did some things I'm not exactly proud of."

"You regret them?"

"That's the question, isn't it? I'd like to think I'd do things differently, and there are some… events that I actually would, but overall, what I did and the reputation I built allowed me to save the world. So… no. I don't regret what I did. I'd probably wind up doing them in a different way, because of my experience, but in the end if I didn't do the same things then trillions of people and a number of alternate Earths would be dead."

We moved on to lighter subjects and finished our meals soon enough, then I brought out my serving platter full of fresh fruits, plucked one off the top and offered her one. Brunnhilda grinned and shook her head before taking a yellow apple.

"How long have you been doing this?" she asked.

"About five days I think. They don't exactly miss anything, so nobody complains."

"They wouldn't. A number of us pilfer the kitchens between meals due to irregular hours. What I mean to ask is how long you have been partaking of these."

She held her apple up and showed it to me before taking a sizable bite.

"These are my favorite. Very juicy and it tames my sweet tooth. Why?"

"Hm? Oh, no reason. I'm happy that you will have a personal supply of them. Try to have one every day. They're very… nutritious."

Right. Thanks mom.

~O~

I wound up with four feet of silk before the morning hit. My spiders were exhausted. I had them etch the needed runescript onto the edge before sliding into the pocket dimension along with all the rest of my crap that I'd accumulated over the last week. Hopefully they didn't have a precise inventory of the palace, because I had a lot of stuff tucked away that might prove useful in the future.

With my costume on as a base, I called my valkyrie armor and took a last look around the room. Grabbing Loki's notebook I headed out to the small terrace and activated the wings before taking off down the rainbow bridge toward the Bifrost.

Heimdall was waiting for me with a stern look on his face while I guided my spiders down my armor and onto the floor.

After neatly killing them he looked to me. "Do you have any more of these creatures?"

"Those were the only two on the grounds, Heimdall. I made sure of that before I left."

His creepy yellow eyes bored into me before he was satisfied. "Are you ready to begin your journey, young valkyrie?"

"Sure," I said, gesturing toward the Bifrost. "Let's crank this thing up."

"You need only call out to me for your return, ideally without mortals looking on, ideally in the same place in which you arrive…."

"Ideally, in one piece," I mumbled.

"That goes without saying."

Sliding his giant sword into the control mechanism I watched as the room started spinning around me and eventually a blue beam of light lanced out into space.

"Yeah, that doesn't look safe at all."

"I find that the journey is easier if you hold your breath," he said as a final goodbye.

"That makes sense, I guess." Girding my loins, so to speak, I approached the light and then said, "Fuck it. I've been dead before."