Chapter 18: Reality Check – Extraction, Containment, and The Space-Worm Alibi
[ASGARD ROYAL LIBRARY – DAY]
The Bifrost delivered Loki, Hela, and a very wide-eyed **Jane Foster** directly into the Royal Library, right into a protective circle of runes I'd drawn on the floor.
"Welcome back to Asgard, Dr. Foster," I said warmly, stepping over the shimmering magical boundary. "I'm sorry about the unconventional extraction method."
Jane was rubbing her head, staring up at the vaulted ceiling. "The last thing I remember was negotiating the 'spiritual detoxification' fees with the Norwegian mob boss... and now there are gold walls. And is that the actual **Goddess of Death** wearing leather pants?"
"It's 'power casual,' Dr. Foster," Loki corrected from inside the circle. He gestured to Hela. "And yes, this is Consultant Helga. Try not to make sudden movements."
Hela, radiating impatience, stepped up to the edge of the circle. **"Draw the Aether out, mortal. I tire of this small talk and this confining garment."**
"The Aether is incredibly volatile," I warned. "We need a massive, controlled burst of energy to safely pull it out of Dr. Foster's system and contain it. Odin has prepared the Chamber of Ancient Energies. Loki, your job is to guide Jane and the Aether's energy flow. Hela, your job is simply to *be present* and *contain your power*."
**"Containment is not my specialty,"** Hela scoffed. **"I specialize in expansion and annihilation."**
"Then this is your first exercise in strategic patience," I countered. "If you annihilate the host, you lose the prize."
Just then, the double doors of the library burst open, and **Thor** strode in, followed by a panting **Darcy Lewis** (who had apparently stowed away on the Bifrost).
"Mother! I have vanquished the cloud!" Thor boomed. He stopped, seeing the assembled chaos. "Jane! What in the nine realms—"
Darcy, meanwhile, ran straight to Jane. "Jane! Are you okay? Did the Norwegians kidnap you for *emotional healing*? And why does he look like the scary version of David Bowie?" she demanded, pointing at Hela.
Loki quickly took command of the narrative, stepping out of the rune circle to intercept Thor. "Brother! Excellent timing! Dr. Foster is here for our **final security consultation** regarding the Space-Worm threat!"
"She is?" Thor frowned, confused. "But she is a Midgardian scientist, not a warrior!"
"The Space-Worm is an **invisible, scientific-magical entity**," Loki explained with frantic hand gestures. "It requires a scientist to identify its molecular weakness. Dr. Foster is currently experiencing a **controlled dimensional anomaly**—which Consultant Helga here is helping us *extract*—that will provide us with the final blueprint for the Space-Worm's annihilation!"
Hela, playing along with surprising conviction, fixed Thor with a deadly stare. **"Your brother is right, blonde simpleton. This woman is a vessel for highly volatile, useful instability. Interference will result in your permanent removal from this realm."**
Thor, entirely convinced this was a new, complex military strategy, immediately snapped to attention. "Understood! I shall guard the perimeter and ensure no distractions disturb the scientific process!" He grabbed Darcy by the shoulder. "Come, Dr. Lewis! You can assist me in surveying the perimeter for *molecular anomalies*!"
Loki gave me a quick, relieved wink. **The space-worm alibi held.**
### The Reality Check
We quickly ushered Jane and Hela to the **Chamber of Ancient Energies**—a heavily shielded, cylindrical room deep beneath the palace.
Jane, though nervous, was focused. "The Aether needs extreme energy. The Bifrost pulse or... something ancient."
"This chamber runs on primordial Asgardian magic," I explained. "We can channel it directly into you. Loki, the guide."
Loki took up a position opposite me, hands outstretched. I began to channel Frigga's magic, slowly opening the chamber's ancient conduits. Golden energy began to surge into the room.
"Jane, relax," Loki instructed gently, his eyes glowing with green power as he tapped into her mind. "I will manage the release. Hela, focus your anti-life energy on the Aether itself—form a *cocoon* around the release site. Do not let it touch the walls."
Hela gritted her teeth. **"I am a destructive force, not a cradle!"**
"Prove you're a strategic one!" I challenged. "Or go back to your drab box!"
Hela closed her eyes, and a massive shell of dark, obsidian energy shimmered into existence around Jane.
The golden light surged. Jane cried out, and a wave of **dark red, flowing energy** ripped itself free from her chest—the **Aether**, the Reality Stone.
It was pure chaos, trying to escape its containment. Loki expertly used his magic to sculpt the flowing liquid into a stable sphere, pulling it away from Jane.
"Now, the containment vessel!" Loki grunted, straining against the Aether's reality-warping power.
I raised my hand. The **Eternal Flame**—still contained within the crystalline vial Loki stole—flew toward me. With a grunt of effort, I channeled my magic, *forcing* the Reality Stone into the same tiny vial as the Eternal Flame.
The two ultimate cosmic forces—**Destruction and Creation, Reality and Ragnarok**—collided in the small crystal. The vial glowed violently, red and gold light fighting for dominance, before settling into a deep, stable amber.
Jane collapsed, exhausted but free. Hela's obsidian shield vanished.
"It's stable," I breathed, clutching the vial—the **Reality Stone** and the **Eternal Flame** now safely contained together. "We have the key to Surtur and the power of reality."
### Family Complications
Just as the chaos subsided, a communication crystal flared on the library table. It was Odin.
*"Frigga! The Bifrost has detected an unauthorized inter-dimensional visitor! They are approaching Asgard rapidly!"*
"Who is it?" I asked, rushing to the communicator.
*"The signal is... human, but highly advanced. They appear to be looking for Thor, but their vessel is cloaked in sophisticated technology. It's too fast for Heimdall to track properly."*
My heart plummeted. My knowledge of the MCU timeline screamed the name.
"It's Thanos's advance scouts," I said, looking at Loki. "The Reality Stone is gone. The Titan knows."
Hela, overhearing the threat, finally looked genuinely thrilled. **"A worthy challenger! Good. Let them come. Where is this visitor?"**
Odin's voice crackled through the crystal. *"They bypassed the outer perimeter. They are headed toward Midgard, but making a stop first... at **The Collector's** vault."*
I slammed my hand onto the table. "They're going for the **Aether**! They just tracked it to the last known location of the Tesseract's brother Stone!" I looked down at the stable amber vial in my hand. "We need to secure this and go on the offensive. Now."
I turned to my two incredibly dangerous new assets.
"New plan," I declared. "Loki, you are our master of deception. Hela, you are our master of destruction. We are taking the fight off-world. We need to beat Thanos to the next Stone: the **Power Stone**."
Loki grinned, already plotting. Hela's eyes burned with conquest.
"But first," I sighed, looking at the exhausted Jane Foster. "We need to hide the mortal."
To Be Continued...
***