Chapter 19: Xandar Strike – The Goddess of Death's First Field Trip
[ASGARD ROYAL LIBRARY – DAY]
The moment Odin's communication crystal confirmed the presence of Thanos's scouts heading toward the Collector, the room exploded into frantic action.
"Loki, take Jane Foster to the Dark Elves," I ordered, pushing the dazed astrophysicist toward the trickster. "They're the only ones subtle enough to hide a human from cosmic threats. She's a priority asset now—**Phase Five: Human Shield and Scientific Consultant.**"
Loki, recognizing the gravity, didn't argue. He snapped his fingers, and Jane vanished with a green shimmer, likely landing in a pile of velvet drapes.
I turned to Odin and Hela. "The enemy is moving. They know the Stones are in play. We have to secure the Power Stone before they reach Xandar."
Odin looked grim. "Xandar is defended by the Nova Corps. Their fleet is vast, and their technology is focused on defense. We cannot risk an open declaration of war."
"We won't," I said, holding up the vial containing the Aether and the Eternal Flame. "We're going to make a clean acquisition. **Loki and Hela are the strike team.** They are the fastest, most effective thieves and killers in the Nine Realms."
Hela smiled, a terrifying look of anticipation settling on her face. **"Finally. A worthy target."**
"Your target is the Power Stone, Hela, not the Nova Corps," I warned. "We need to get in and out before Thanos's scouts arrive. Loki, you are the infiltrator. Hela, you are the distraction—the one who draws fire and makes noise."
Loki, having rematerialized after dropping Jane off, adjusted his suit. "I prefer to *be* the fire, Mother, but I'll concede the disruptive role to my sister."
"Your transportation will be the Bifrost, opened by Odin directly into Xandarian airspace," I instructed. "But you'll need a cover story. A believable reason for two Asgardian royalty—and one highly volatile Goddess of Death—to be near Xandar."
Loki snapped his fingers again. "I have it. We are not thieves. We are here to conduct a **Hostile Corporate Takeover.**"
### Hostile Corporate Takeover
Within the hour, the strike team was assembled in the Bifrost Chamber. Hela wore her practical leather but had added her large, wicked helmet for effect. Loki was back in his green armor, carrying a surprisingly large briefcase.
Odin stood ready to open the bridge, looking at his children with a deep mix of pride and anxiety.
"Your objective is the Orb that contains the Power Stone. It is housed in the Nova Corps vault," I reiterated, looking pointedly at Hela. "No unnecessary slaughter. Xandar is needed in the fight against Thanos."
**"My definition of 'unnecessary' is broad,"** Hela noted, drawing a spectral sword.
"Keep it narrow," I commanded.
Loki opened his briefcase. Inside was not a weapon, but a terrifyingly detailed, thick legal document written in glowing runes and signed with elaborate, fake seals.
"Our cover," Loki announced. "We are operating under the mandate of **Asgardian Imperial Holdings, subsidiary of All-Father Acquisitions.** We are claiming the Power Stone under the ancient, completely fabricated **Treaty of Cosmic Resource Allocation, Section 7-B.**"
Loki winked. "We're not stealing. We're seizing collateral."
Odin actually let out a small, weary chuckle. "The sheer audacity is... impressive."
"It's corporate raiding, Father," Loki said proudly. "Hela will provide the **Hostile** part of the takeover. I will provide the **Corporate** part."
I placed my hand on Hela's shoulder. "Distract their fleet. Make them focus entirely on you. You're the show."
Hela looked at Loki's briefcase, then back at me. **"I shall make the kind of entrance that shatters stock prices."**
I gave Odin a brief, nervous kiss. "Bring them back alive, All-Father."
Odin nodded, raising Gungnir. The chamber began to hum, the Bifrost roaring to life in a column of glorious rainbow light.
[XANDARIAN AIRSPACE – MOMENTS LATER]
Loki and Hela materialized high above Xandar, the massive planet looking like a sparkling, organized jewel beneath them.
Hela didn't hesitate. She threw her head back, and a wave of pure, dark energy radiated outward. She summoned hundreds of her spectral Necroswords, throwing them into the void, aiming not for the city, but for the defensive fleet orbiting above.
**"LET THE AUDIT BEGIN!"** she roared.
The Nova Corps fleet immediately scrambled. Hundreds of ships broke formation, firing upon the sudden, inexplicable appearance of a black-armored goddess summoning weapons from thin air.
Loki, meanwhile, dropped silently onto the nearest, most official-looking Nova Corps transport ship. He smoothed his robes, opened his briefcase, and walked calmly toward the bridge.
The Xandarian officers inside immediately raised their weapons.
"Halt! Identify yourselves!" a Nova officer demanded.
Loki merely placed the massive, glowing legal document onto the control console. "Gentlemen, I am Prince Loki of Asgard. I am here to discuss your imminent **Hostile Takeover.** Your collateral—the Power Stone—is being seized due to a breach of the **Treaty of Cosmic Resource Allocation.**"
He gestured out the viewport, where Hela was currently single-handedly tying up the entire Nova Corps defense fleet in a spectacular, deadly light show.
"As you can see," Loki continued, adjusting his tie, "my enforcement officer is already initiating the freeze of your planetary assets. I suggest you give me immediate access to the vault before the collateral damage necessitates a hostile liquidation of the entire planet's infrastructure."
The officer looked at the impenetrable, glowing legal document, then at the destruction outside, then back at Loki's utterly sincere, polite face. The sheer absurdity of the corporate claim, backed by the undeniable power of the Goddess of Death, paralyzed the Nova Corps' chain of command.
Loki smiled. "Take me to your vault manager. We have paperwork to file."
To Be Continued...
***