Chapter 5
They all start walking on the dirt landscape heading towards the town. Sylvie is the one leading them walking fast to their destination. Pieces of rubble is still felling from the sky and landing all around them.
"I've seen you glazing at the landscape, back at the mining house, does it remind you of something?" Loki asks Soren.
Soren smiles, "Yeah, it does. Back at Plovthea, it was kind of like this. I never lived there, but I have visited a few times to the capital. I will say, that it's not this purplish though. Also, Macrodemia is mostly where my childhood was," Soren sighs.
"Hopefully, it was a good childhood your mother gave you," Loki says. Soren looks down and a bit sad, "I would say, it had some good parts after the war. So much of it though, wasn't that great. It was rough and mostly just survival. My mother did what she could, did some bad things here and there before finding her Aunt; and from there I spent my teenage years on Earth before going on my own," Soren explains.
Loki looks displeased with her and upset by her response, " I'm sorry to hear, dear, I really am. When I was younger, back on Asgard, I had some rough times as well, maybe not as rough as yours, but with my father, he was hard on Thor and I. I have done terrible things back home and on earth, my point is to not be angered by the past but to move on and learn from it, I wish I had done that, I am sure your mother had her reasons to support you during those times. I am curious that you didn't bring up Thor."
"Thor? He wasn't really there, I did spar with him sometimes. Taught me some skills and learn more about... my grandmother and grandfather, he had tons of stories about you. He was happy that he had a niece, but he was in his own emotions when he lost everyone. Drank kegs of beer almost everyday. New Asgard was on it's own mostly. My mother and Valkyrie were the ones that ran things for a while, until another war happen to get everyone back. After that, Thor went his own path with the guardians and left everything to Valkyrie until he returns."
"That is outrageous!" Loki says with frustration in his voice, "He is suppose to help family and the people, that is the role father has always put on us as boys, and just to abandon a role, and go for his own frivolous pursuits, yet they didn't want me as king? Knowing now that he was just going to leave and hand over the kingdom to a Valkyrie; that knows nothing about politics or ways of our home."
"I understand that," Soren sighs, "from what I heard, the kingdom is doing great. I also think it was irresponsible of Thor to leave his duties behind. I also think, if you were alive in my timeline, you would be ruling New Asgard."
Loki listens to Soren's words and takes a moment to gather his thoughts. His expression softens, a hint of sadness and longing visible in his eyes.
"You may be right," Loki replies, his voice tinged with a touch of wistfulness. "To think that I could have had the chance to rule New Asgard... It's a bitter irony that fate didn't grant me that opportunity. But I suppose destiny has its own plans, and I find myself here, caught in the web of time."
He pauses briefly, reflecting on the complexities of his relationship with Thor and the weight of their shared history. Then, with a faint smile, he continues, "Regardless of what could have been, I hope that New Asgard thrives under the care of Valkyrie. Though our paths may diverge, I trust that she possesses the strength and wisdom to lead."
"You don't really mean that," Soren says.
"Of course I do, I'm not there. I can't exactly change how things are now, given our out of time situation." Loki says.
Soren has a slight chuckle, "'Out of time situation' how ironic" she rolls her eyes, "By the way, ruling isn't everything," Soren speeds up her pace to catch up with Sylvie.
Loki sit back behind the group for a bit and ponders Soren sayings. (Perhaps she's right about ruling. Even New York didn't go as planned, besides the whole Thanos alliance I had. Maybe it's about something else or something more meaningful. However, why did she say 'out of time situation' ironic? Hopefully she'll open up about it, I'd hate to think it was related to her illness. I wouldn't know what to do if it was.)
The trio reaches the old mining town, Sylvie goes up to the sign and pulls her hand, "Alright, now I need the tempad.
"You're joking right? A small ol' neon sign, isn't going to charge a interdimensional time device," Soren crosses her arms in anger.
Loki has a slight laugh, "You really think we are that stupid, to just hand it over."
Sylvie throws her hands up in frustration, her brow furrowing with annoyance, "Well, something has to be big enough to charge it, does anyone else have any ideas," she says with annoyance in her voice.
Loki and Soren ponder for a bit, "I actually know someone that can help,"
"You do?" Sylvie judges.
Soren shoots Sylvie a piercing glare, her eyes start to glow blue around her pupil, she dials Alta.
Loki and Sylvie look at Soren with confusion.
"Ugh, fine I can hologram it," Soren Puts the call on hologram through her eyes so they can see.
"Hello? Soren?"
"Hey Alta, I have a question."
Loki and Sylvie see a small version of Alta on the hologram screen.
"Are those two Loki?"
"One of them is, the other is the nuisance,"
"Ah, I see, what's your question?"
"What would be big enough to charge a tempad?"
"Hmm, something related to time travel it has to be a big engine or rocket. If I may, where are you so I can get some deets and location."
"Lamentis one, year 2077, a bit in a hurry cause a huge ass planet is going to blow this place sky high if we don't move fast enough. "
Sylvie leans over to Loki, "How can they pin point where we are?"
"Good question, I was just thinking that."
"Aright, so you have about nine hours until total annihilation. There a city near by about 2 hours to get on that train, I will say it's heavily guarded so proceed with caution. Once in the city, there's a Ark, a escape vessel up north, it carry's the same energy and more than enough to charge it."
"How do you know all about this?" Sylvie asks.
Alta chuckles a bit, "You don't think TVA has all the info about time travel do you? Some of the technology was here is barrowed from Tony Stark, Soren and I made it more advance, that tech, helps me and I can see through Soren's eyes, I also have access to some of the TVA files," Alta explains.
"That's how I ended up in trouble to begin with, I once made a device, Wade was the one to steal it and take for a joy ride. So, I was charged with the crime and not him. I'm guessing cause he's too much to handle." Soren adds.
"You made a time-traveling device on your own?" Loki questions, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"You might as well tell them Soren," Alta suggested.
Soren shakes her head, "I'm not proud of it, but I made a lot of bad choices. Before bounty hunting gigs, I did weapon dealing to some terrible people and good people too. I was making a time device thinking I could fix those choices."
"Soren..." Loki's disappointment is evident in his voice, and his brows furrow in concern.
"I didn't have much choice. I was... we were struggling," Soren stumbles over her words.
Sylvie observes them intently, her gaze shifting from Soren to Loki, trying to gauge their emotions. She intervenes, "So, the train to the city is our best idea. How far is it?"
"About one hour north of your current location, there's a train station. It will take approximately two hours on the train to reach the city. We don't have much time, so I suggest you all start heading there immediately," Alta informs and closes the call.
"That's our plan. Let's start heading over to the station," Sylvie leads.
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Loki, Soren, and Sylvie arrived at the station. Before boarding the train, Sylvie scanned the area and noticed guards denying entrance to the line of desperate civilians. The trio paused to devise a plan that would allow them to board the train unnoticed.
"Well, this is a shitty situation," Soren commented.
"I say we should just hijack the train," Sylvie suggested.
"Killing them won't help. Remaining undetected would be the better approach," Loki interjected.
Soren leaned on a pole and crossed her arms, sporting a soft smile.
"What are you so happy about?" Sylvie questioned Soren.
"You two are trying to one-up each other, showing off who's better. I find it funny. But... I do agree that hijacking would be easier," Soren agreed.
"We finally agree on something," Sylvie remarked.
"Soren, I'm sure you would also agree that killing people is wrong," Loki attempted to lecture Soren.
"Seriously? Coming from you? The one who waged war on New York out of pettiness from your parents? Or the one who tried to kill a bunch of icy giants?" Soren challenged.
Loki looked disappointed that he couldn't get through to her. "You know?" Loki shook his head. "What I'm trying to say is, back during our walk, I mentioned that I made bad decisions. However, you also mentioned that you tried to fix your own poor decisions. Could this provide an opportunity for both of us to be better than what we were?" he explained.
"Does any of that matter if all of them are about to die anyway?" Sylvie asked.
Soren looked at Loki, giving him a soft glance, acknowledging that he was right. She tapped Sylvie on the arm. "It does matter," Soren answered. Loki smiled softly at his daughter's agreement. Soren then looked at the train and the crowd of people in line. "What was your idea, Loki?" Soren asked.
"I'll pretend to be a guard escorting you two onto the train," Loki replied.
"I think that would look suspicious," Soren added.
"I can enchant them in case things go wrong," Sylvie offered.
"That sounds great for you two. I can find another way to get on while you guys enter," Soren suggested.
"I would be deeply concerned if your plan doesn't work and you end up being left behind. We don't have much time for a more thorough plan," Loki expressed with worry in his voice.
"I'll be fine. I'll go through the back. I've done this before; it's not hard," Soren answered confidently.
Loki nods and heads to the front of the train with Sylvie. As they get closer, Loki uses his magic to disguise his clothes to match the guards' blue outfits with helmets. "This is a shit plan," Sylvie whispers. "It's a great plan, just follow along," Loki says, and Sylvie rolls her eyes but complies with Loki's improvisation.
They approach one of the guards. "Taking this one to Suru. She's coming from the top to board this train," Loki lies convincingly. Sylvie notices the guard's hesitation and touches his arm to enchant him. "Is everything okay?" the other guard questions. "Yeah, everything's fine. Right this way," the enchanted guard moves aside to let them pass.
They enter the train. The interior of the compartment has a green dome-like appearance with diamond-shaped windows. It also features bars and tables for the passengers. They find their seats. "I can't have my back to the train," Loki remarks.
"Well, I never set my back facing away from the door," Sylvie retorts.
"There are doors on both sides."
"Just sit down."
They both take a moment to breathe as the train starts to move. Loki starts to feel a small sense of panic about Soren. "I hope she got on," he says with a slightly worried voice.
"She seems capable. I'm sure she's on here. It might take her a moment to reach the front," Sylvie comforts Loki. "You're probably right," Loki eases himself.
On the back of the train, Soren manages to slip onto the end car, where the rails are unattended. Leaning over for a moment, she catches her breath, watching the diminishing figures of the people left behind. Wrapping her black poncho tightly around herself, she reflects on the inadequate evacuation efforts. "How awful that they didn't do better in preparing for this. They had months to plan, but I suppose building an ark isn't something you can accomplish in just a few months either."
Observing the rumbling destruction gradually crumbling into scattered fragments, Soren takes another moment to compose herself before entering the train car.
As she steps inside, Soren closes the door as gently and quietly as possible. Suddenly, a guard demands, "Hands up where I can see them." Soren slowly turns around, lifting her hands slightly and facing the guard. "No need for that," she calmly responds. "I was just taking a quick breather. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I needed some fresh air."
The guard inquires about her ticket. Soren hesitates before answering, "Um... The entrance guard took it, and I didn't get it back."
The guard raises his gun and approaches Soren. "They would have returned your ticket," he asserts.
"They would?" Soren nervously jokes, swiftly kicking the guard's gun away and overpowering him. She throws him against the outer rail of the train and, in a moment of desperation, swiftly impales the guard on the side of his head with her sickle, causing blood to splatter onto her gloves. Soren then pushes the lifeless body off the rail.
Breathing heavily and sighing, Soren curses to herself, realizing her mistake. "Shit, I wasn't supposed to do that," she mutters, shaking her head in disappointment. Glancing at the bloodstained rail and ground, she quickly searches for something to clean up the mess. Spotting a tarp and tape inside the train, she takes them and begins the task of concealing her impulsive act by taping the tarp over the bloodstains.
"I feel like it's taking too long for Soren to be just at the back of the train," Loki expresses his concern.
"Maybe she's just snooping around. The train is very long, or she could be enjoying the view outside. I'm sure she's on here; just give her a moment," Sylvie reassures Loki. A waiter approaches with drinks and serves them. "Could you bring two more, please?" Loki requests.
They both take sips from their drinks.
"If she's your daughter, does that make her my daughter?" Sylvie asks, curious. "Would another child of an alternate Loki make us related?"
Loki ponders for a moment. "It would be complicated. In the timeline I was supposed to be in, before this mess of a timeline, Soren would be my future daughter."
"Interesting. So, you feel like you have a parental role to fill with her?"
"I do. I don't fully understand it, but being around her and getting to know her, I feel like I have to fulfill that role."
"Even though you don't have to?"
"Sure, I don't have to, but deep down, I want to be a part of my family. I don't have much information about the mother; the tape made her blurry. All I know is that she has blond hair."
Sylvie touches her hair. "I definitely hope it isn't you," Loki adds with a smirk.
"How charming," Sylvie sarcastically remarks. "So, you have that parental unconditional love for your child?"
Loki ponders the question. "I guess you could say that. It's quite a shock to discover you have a child you never knew about, especially from the future."
"So, someone must have loved you quite a bit to bear your chaotic child."
"Maybe. I would hope so. My love life hasn't been the greatest or turned out well..."
"Something we have in common. Others breaking our trust and betraying us." Sylvie ponders for a second, "is that why you followed me? Away from Mobius?"
"It was an idea. Back at the fair and learning about the Time-Keepers through Ms. Minutes, I thought there might be a way back. How about you?"
"Revenge, mostly. Taking everything away from my dimension. I didn't even know why I was taken."
"Must've been difficult."
"And you, Loki, why are you here?"
"Supposedly, I wasn't allowed to take the Tesseract that fell out of the case. Somehow, it caused a break in the timeline."
"Well, that's unfortunate. Also, pretty lame how you got caught."
"I wanted to be caught. There's more to it, but I don't want to get into that."
Sylvie looks away and yawns, feeling tired from their journey and the stresses they've faced. "Getting a bit tired?" Loki taunts, "well, feel free to take a nap." Sylvie gives Loki a death stare.
A few moments later, Sylvie falls asleep with her arms resting on the table.
Loki nervously shakes his leg while waiting for Soren's arrival. He hears the door behind him open and looks over to see her. He stands up and approaches Soren.
"Where have you been?" Loki questions.
"I got distracted," Soren answers.
Loki directs Soren to sit in a different booth away from the sleeping Sylvie.
"That's not a good enough answer, Soren," Loki remarks.
Soren shakes her head and places her hands on the table in a relaxed manner. Loki notices specks of blood on her gloves.
"Why are your gloves bloody?"
(Shit...) Soren thinks, taking a deep breath. "I tried to follow your plan, I really did. When I boarded the train, a guard demanded to see my ticket. I did my best to convince him, it didn't work, and he almost called for backup. So... I had to kill him and cover the scene as best as I could." Soren hesitates, seeing Loki shaking his head in disappointment. "It was somewhat self-defense; he had a gun pointed at me, and I didn't harm anyone else," Soren tries to redeem herself to Loki. "Just forget it," Soren says, crossing her arms in anger.
Loki looks at her and touches her arm. "You tried, that's all that matters. I appreciate your honesty, Soren. You followed most of the plan despite a slight obstacle. It was only one guard, and I can't be mad if it was self-defense," he says with a soft smile. "You did well, Soren."
She smiles back, she glances at Sylvie passed out in the other booth, "What's up with sleeping beauty?"
"Just tired from our journey," Loki answers while he downs another drink.
"And your just partying it up?" Soren teased,
"It is the end of the world, did you want one?" Loki offered,
"Yeah, why not," Soren agrees,
The train's vibrant energy sweeps them up, and the sound of music fills the air. People around them are dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves.
Loki orders more rounds of drinks for them, and they clink their glasses together. "To the end of the world" Loki proposes, raising his glass with a playful grin.
"To the end," Soren adds, matching his grin.
They take sips of their drinks, letting the carefree atmosphere wash over them. Soren starts swaying to the music, her inhibitions momentarily set aside. Loki joins in, dancing with exaggerated movements and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
As they let loose and revel in the moment, Loki catches sight of a fellow passenger giving them a disapproving look. He glances at Soren, recognizing the same carefree spirit in her, and a mix of amusement and concern fills his expression.
"You know," Loki says in a lighthearted tone, "part of my parental duty is to guide you in making responsible choices."
Soren laughs and playfully nudges him. "You mean like showing me how to party responsibly?"
Loki chuckles. "Touché, my dear. But remember, while it's important to enjoy life, we must also balance it with responsibility."
Soren nods, her smile softening. "I get it, Loki. We can have fun, but we need to be mindful too."
"Exactly," Loki affirms, appreciating her understanding.
They continue to enjoy their time on the train, dancing, laughing, and creating memories together.
An hour later, Sylvie wakes up and sees Loki singing in the Norse language while Soren claps her hands to the beat. She also notices the guards giving them suspicious looks and whispering to each other. Loki and Soren wave to Sylvie. As he finishes his song, Loki downs another drink and smashes the glass on the ground, demanding another one. Sylvie gets up to confront Loki and Soren about their irresponsible actions.
She pulls Loki aside. "You're drunk," she tells him.
"No, I'm just full," Loki replies.
"You should try the figgy port," Soren adds.
"Ah, yes, the figgy port. I don't remember who has it," Loki says.
Sylvie shakes her head. "Unbelievable! We're supposed to remain undetected."
"We still are," Loki reassures Sylvie, though she remains unconvinced.
"Where's your uniform?" Sylvie questions Loki.
"It's the end of the world; no one cares," Loki jokingly answers.
"I think something is happening," Sylvie says.
"Yes, that planet is going to crash into us," Loki sarcastically remarks.
"Don't be an ass. I saw the guards looking at you two suspiciously," Sylvie says. "Aren't you supposed to be less chaotic than him?"
"I mean... it is the end of the world," Soren interjects.
"Just like him..." Sylvie shakes her head.
Soren becomes visibly angered by her comment. "Okay? So what? What if there's a chance we don't make it back? I'd rather have a little fun than spend my last few hours sleeping it away," Soren shoots back.
Loki looks at both of them. "Come on now, let's not fight. We're pretty close to our destination," he says, tapping Sylvie's arm. Sylvie pushes his arm away. "No! I don't care that you two are related. I've been having issues with your attitude lately, Soren," Sylvie challenges.
Soren looks Sylvie up and down. "Well, I'm not the little girl who had a hissy fit and planned to blow up the entire TVA. I would've helped you there if you weren't so cowardly about it."
Sylvie is taken back by Soren's taunt. (She knows about my past too.) Sylvie becomes angry and pulls out her sword, narrowly missing Soren. Soren grins. "Here we go again." Soren's eyes glow bright blue around her pupils as she throws a medium-sized blue energy ball, blasting Sylvie and sending her flying across the room.
Loki, shocked by Soren's power, tries to intervene. "Soren, stop. We don't have to fight this out."
"You saw, she tried to slash me."
"I know, but..." Loki gets interrupted. "Heads up, guards," Soren warns.
(I guess we really are fighting this out.) Loki thinks to himself.
Sylvie throws something at Soren, capturing her attention. "You just don't quit, huh?" Soren says as she approaches Sylvie. "Soren!" Loki calls out. (I wonder where she gets her stubbornness from.) he thinks to himself as he fights the guards by himself.
"Not for some privilege princess," Sylvie mocks Soren.
"Privileged? I come from a war-torn city, practically living in the slums. I've seen some shit. Anyone who's more preppy is probably you," Soren's hands crackle with the same blue power, now tinged with hints of purple.
Soren releases a blast towards Sylvie, but Sylvie manages to dodge it.
"So, I hit a nerve by calling you out like your father?" Sylvie taunts back. She attempts another swing, but Soren intercepts it with her power, sending the sword flying to the side.
"I'm not like him. I'm actually worse," Soren threatens.
In a desperate moment, Sylvie tries to grab Soren's arm to enchant her, but she's unable to do so. She only catches a few glimpses of Soren's life.
As Soren shakes Sylvie off and prepares to unleash a devastating attack, a guard throws a bomb at them. The explosion propels both of them out of the train window, crashing onto the unforgiving rocky gravel outside.
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Loki rises from his tumble and grows angry as he spots the two of them on the ground. He strides over to them, his figure towering above.
Soren's nose begins to bleed slightly from the strain of her powers. She quickly wipes it away, while Sylvie and Soren take a moment before getting back on their feet. Loki exhales deeply, his frustration evident.
"Have you two had your fill of fun?" he asks in a serious tone. Sylvie and Soren slowly rise from the ground, sensing his disappointment. Loki's frustration boils over.
"Please, you two were already partying like there was no tomorrow," Sylvie comments.
"Yeah, but you had to be the killjoy and make smug little remarks. We would have been just fine...," Soren fires back.
"Enough! Both of you are acting like children," Loki interjects, his voice filled with anger.
"And weren't you acting like a child not too long ago? What kind of father parties with his child and drinks to excess?" Sylvie counters.
"It was innocent fun. Back in Asgard, we would have done the same thing. But that's not the point," Loki responds.
Soren paces away from them, taking a seat on a boulder. Loki's voice grows more assertive as he addresses her, "And I'm not done with you either, Soren."
"You didn't have to escalate the fight, neither of you," Loki says firmly.
"She didn't have to draw her sword on me," Soren retorts.
"You could have de-escalated the situation instead of fueling the flames. I am highly disappointed and angry with both of you," Loki states, placing his hands on his hips. Soren looks down at the ground, expressing remorse.
"You know, we could have avoided this whole ordeal if you had just given me the tempad," Sylvie intervenes.
"You're right," Loki admits, revealing the broken tempad. "You asshole."
"Well, I did take quite a fall," Loki responds nonchalantly.
Sylvie walks away, seething with anger, and unleashes a burst of green energy in frustration.
Soren approaches Loki to examine the broken tempad. "I'm sorry, Soren," Loki apologizes.
"Here, let me see it," Soren says softly as Loki hands her the pieces. "I'm sorry too. I lost control of my anger. I'll do better next time."
Loki sighs. "It's okay. We've all made significant mistakes. Does being compared to me truly anger you?"
"After what you did in New York, it wasn't easy for me on Earth. I tried to distance myself from that mess during my time in the Young Avengers league. It wasn't the only reason I stopped, but I wanted to be my own person and not live..."
"...in the shadow of another. I understand that feeling all too well," Loki finishes her sentence. "We are quite similar, but I must say, Soren, you will surpass me in every way."
"I guess I just didn't want to believe it," Soren admits.
Loki offers a gentle smile. "What's the plan with the tempad, knowing that death may be imminent?"
"I can fix it, but we'll need some backup plans. I can contact Alta," Soren says as she starts dialing Alta's number and displays it on the screen for Loki to see.
"Hello?" Alta answered.
"Hey... so... the tempad is broken. I know I can fix it once we get to that city, but do we have any possible backup plan?" Soren asked.
"Hmm... Well, if you guys manage to arrive there an hour early, board the ark, and take off before the planet fragment hits, there's a chance of survival."
"Wouldn't that be nearly impossible?" Loki questioned.
"In your current situation, the best course of action is to get the tempad fixed and fully charged," Alta suggested.
"Okay, thanks, Alta," Soren ended the call. "It's still possible, but we need to make our way over there."
"I suppose we should retrieve Sylvie as well."
"Can't we leave her behind?"
"Soren... We can't. She's our ticket to the Timekeepers."
"That ticket has caused us some problems."
"It's not just her; it's all of us being irresponsible, myself included," Loki admitted, and they approached Sylvie, who was sitting on a log, gazing at the darkened purple sky.
"Did the... scream help relieve your frustration?" Loki inquired.
Sylvie gave Soren and Loki a death glare but softened it, realizing there was no room for further conflict.
"Yeah... It did," Sylvie sighed. "I'm sorry for starting a fight with you, Soren. I was out of line."
"Don't worry about it," Soren forgave Sylvie.
"So, we're simply going to be obliterated?" Sylvie asked, a sense of defeat in her voice.
"Not quite. Soren, would you mind explaining?" Loki offered Soren the opportunity to outline the plan.
"I'll fix the tempad and charge it in the city. However, if we can reach our destination an hour early and initiate the ark's launch, we all have a chance to escape," Soren explained
"If we did that, wouldn't the timeline branch off?" Sylvie questioned.
"Perhaps, but at least we would be alive. Even if the TVA apprehended us, we could still find a way out. It's better than staying here," Soren reassured.
"Avoiding the TVA is wise until we reach the Time-Keepers," Sylvie remarked, standing up.
"It would be, but even then, would any of them truly know who they are?" Soren pondered.
"You know, don't you?" Sylvie inquired.
"Know what?" Loki chimed in.
"I've seen their files prior to this mission. Everyone in the TVA is a variant," Soren revealed.
"I must say, I'm impressed," Sylvie commented with a hint of amusement.
"And they're oblivious to that fact," Loki added.
Soren nodded in agreement. "When did you start delving into the secrets of the TVA?" Sylvie asked.
"Since I arrived. Something felt off about this place. So, I hacked into Ravonna's computer to bring Alta in and scan some files. I definitely didn't want any trouble, especially when Wade was being reckless. Plus, Ravonna attempted to blackmail me, and that's when I discovered your case. I knew about the Wanda situation back on Earth, I also assisted with a spider problem that surprisingly ties into all of this. That's when I became more aware of the multiverse," Soren explained.
Loki smiled, impressed by Soren's intellect, while Sylvie was stunned by the wealth of information.
"How remarkably intriguing," Sylvie marveled.
"You're incredibly clever, Soren. I'm proud of you," Loki praised, patting Soren on the back.
"Do you have any ideas regarding the timeline?" Sylvie inquired.
"A few theories, but only one seems more plausible. Essentially, the timeline isn't meant to be controlled, and that's what's causing the fractures. The countless individuals, their diverse destinies and choices, being micromanaged rather than left to one's own will, leads to more fractures and branches. Through various simulations, the best course of action is to free the timeline, allowing it to flow naturally and expand into the void, creating a multitude of possibilities. Keeping it trapped in an endless loop only creates further problems. In that case..."
"The Time-Keepers are meant to be overthrown," Loki concluded, and Soren nodded in agreement.
"That's right. But what's intriguing is that it all comes down to one individual causing the issues. If the Time-Keepers truly exist, they would undoubtedly be aware of who is in charge. Or the Time-Keepers are fake. Either way, we need to eliminate the head vampire," Soren added.
"Head vampire?" Sylvie scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"It's a metaphor," Soren clarified.
"Well, in that case, we should get going," Loki suggested.
The trio embarked on their treacherous journey towards the mining city, their steps hastened by the looming darkness of the sky and the impending disaster. Neon lights illuminated the city, casting an eerie glow upon the chaotic scene as crowds of panicked people scattered and shouted in fear.
Sylvie, her determination evident, voiced her question, "So, we're going for the vessel first?"
Loki chimed in, his resolve matching Sylvie's, "Might as well."
Sylvie locked eyes with both of them, a sense of grim anticipation in her gaze. "Better brace yourselves, because this is going to be rough."
With synchronized determination, Soren, Loki, and Sylvie pushed their way through the frantic throng, navigating towards the city gates. In a brief pause, Loki's frustration seeped through as he observed, "They're just going to let these people die."
"How do we even get in?" Soren questioned, her voice tinged with urgency.
"By going around it," Sylvie responded firmly.
They sprinted towards the other side of the gate, maneuvering past the surging mass of people, their progress accompanied by crashing debris and billowing clouds of dust.
The world seemed to pause as a cacophony of shattering sounds filled the air. Their hearts sank as they witnessed the planet fracturing further, colossal chunks hurtling towards them. In a split second, a massive rock exploded nearby, sending Sylvie and Loki stumbling backward. Without hesitation, Soren rushed to their aid, pulling them to their feet.
"Are you okay?" Soren anxiously inquired.
"Yeah," Sylvie and Loki replied in unison, their voices laced with determination as they pressed on, seeking refuge in another building. Amidst the chaos, an assailant managed to snatch Sylvie's cloak, prompting Loki and Soren to fend off their attackers. They forged ahead, traversing a stretch of land, when a towering skyscraper segment threatened to crash down upon them. Utilizing his powers, Loki summoned his abilities, narrowly averting disaster as the structure was lifted back into place.
A thunderous roar resonated through the air as an even larger piece of the planet broke away. The collective masses, including Soren, Loki, and Sylvie, stood transfixed as the devastating impact sliced through the ark, causing it to erupt in a catastrophic explosion.
Devastation washed over Soren, Loki, and Sylvie, their aspirations of boarding the ark utterly shattered. Soren, her hands pressed to her head in disbelief, simultaneously scanned the area for a tech shop, a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. Sylvie walked away, her emotions veiled, while Loki surveyed the wreckage of the ark, his expression a mix of sorrow and determination.
Moments passed as Soren contacted Alta, seeking answers in the face of imminent catastrophe.
"Alta, how many hours until total doomsday?" Soren's voice quivered with urgency.
Alta, taken aback, replied in shock, "About three hours left. Is there a time device in this hideout?"
"No, it was taken. I only managed to create one, but it's not fully functional yet," Soren responded, her mind racing with a desperate plan.
Soren stepped into the tech store, her gaze fixed on the tools she needed to repair the tempad. She hastily gathered the necessary equipment, her actions fueled by a sense of desperation.
With a heaviness in her voice, Soren posed a question while uncovering her left arm from beneath her armor. "Do you think my power stone powers can charge the tempad?"
Alta's response was cautious, tinged with concern. "It's possible, but Soren, you'd have to make a deep incision near the artery vein. One wrong move and the consequences could be..."
Before Alta could finish her warning, Soren interrupted, her voice choked with tears. "I know... I know this is a terrible idea, but if it means rescuing my dad and Sylvie, then I'm willing to take that risk. Besides..." Soren's voice trailed off momentarily as tears streamed down her face. "What's a few more years, anyway? I'm going to die regardless. The power stone has been killing me since my battle with Alpha and all the other fucked up heists I've done in Macrodemia, driven by ambition and greed. Now, I'm left with malfunctioning cybernetic systems and a failing body."
"Soren... you're far better now than who you were a few years ago. There's still hope. We can still fix your powers and your condition. But here, at this moment, if you go through with this, I don't know if I can put you back together again," Alta pleaded, her voice tinged with a mix of emotions.
Soren leaned over the table, her breathing shaky, tears cascading down her cheeks. "If I can do one good thing that would make me feel like I've made a difference, then bringing my dad back to my mom would be worth it. Whether I make it or not, I want you to know that I'm grateful to have had you by my side through all my reckless ideas... Alta."
Alta, on the other end of the line, fought back tears of her own. "I'm grateful to have been created by you, Soren. You've been my creator and my best friend. I promise I'll take care of your mother. I'll stay by your side until the very end."
Soren wiped away her tears and heard the door open. "I'll call you back," she abruptly ended the call, her voice trembling.
"Soren?" Loki's voice called out, filled with concern.
Soren turned to face Loki, her eyes reddened from crying. He approached her and gently wiped away her tears. "I'm deeply sorry for breaking the tempad. I feel foolish for destroying our only means of escape from this dying planet."
"Don't blame yourself. We would have been in the same predicament regardless," Soren replied nervously.
"Are you planning to fix it?" Loki inquired, his voice filled with a mix of hope and apprehension.
"We have three hours before the clock strikes twelve. I can get it done in two," Soren affirmed, her determination shining through.
Loki, struggling to hold back tears, mustered his words, "In case we don't make it, I want you to know how immensely proud I am of you, Soren. Despite all the ups and downs, I am grateful to have you as my daughter."
Soren and Loki embraced each other tightly as the weight of impending doom surrounded them. Soren managed a smile through her tears. "Be back in two hours, and you..." She struggled to find the right words to alleviate her father's concerns about her own safety. "We should be able to go home. Just don't worry about me," Soren lied, shielding her father from the truth to spare him pain.
"Alright, I'll leave you be. I'm going to find Sylvie. Just be careful, dear," Loki said, his voice filled with love and worry. He walked away from Soren, his steps heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Soren covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, muffling her own scream of anguish.
Alta's voice rang through the communicator, breaking the silence. "I'm ready whenever you are, Soren."
Soren took out a photo of her family and placed it on the working desk. Soren took her time, reconstructing the tempad, following Alta's instructions, and referring to the blueprint of her original time device. After an hour and a half of meticulous work, they completed the device. "Now, all we need to do is charge it," Alta informed.
"You can close out if you want. This is going to be a bit graphic," Soren advised Alta, aware of the gruesome nature of what was to come. Soren searches around the room, she spots a jacket on the hooks and cuts the sleeve off it, and ties a tourniquet around her left arm.
"Well, someone has to guide you through this or at least help you connect it," Alta replied, determined to support Soren through this difficult process.
"Before I begin, do you believe they will be able to escape from this planet?" Soren asked, seeking a glimmer of hope.
"I do," Alta responded, her voice carrying a mix of assurance and determination.
Soren nodded, bracing herself for what lay ahead. She found something to bite down on, then took a scalpel and made a deep incision in her arm. Blood gushed forth, splattering the surroundings, and pain shot through her body. Soren stifled her cries, biting down harder on the cloth, determined to endure. With trembling hands, she pulled open her own wound, reaching for one of her power supply veins. Among the tangled web of veins, she found the one connected to the power stone's power. Soren cut and extracted the vein that remained linked to her. As blood continued to flow, she grew increasingly dizzy and lightheaded, her life force seeping onto the floor.
Alta's voice became distorted, sounding increasingly distorted to Soren's fading senses. Nevertheless, she managed to connect the tempad to her power supply. In an accidental moment, the call with Alta was disconnected, leaving Soren alone in her struggle. She sank into a chair, her systems going haywire, displaying critical error signs in her mind. She brought her wounded arm closer to the tempad and rested her head on her other arm, she manages to hold the picture in her hand, glancing at it with tears as she slips away to unconscious slumber.
Loki spotted Sylvie amidst the wreckage, lost in her own thoughts as she contemplated the dwindling time they had left on the planet. With the crashing planet drawing nearer, fires burning in the distance, and debris still raining down, the scene was one of chaos and destruction.
"There you are. I've been searching everywhere," Loki called out to Sylvie.
"Thought I'd take a moment to catch my breath before our impending demise," Sylvie replied with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"Don't speak like that. Soren is already working on fixing the tempad, and if anything, we should be making our way back to the shop," Loki said, trying to inject some hope into the grim situation.
"Do you think she'll have enough time to put it back together?" Sylvie questioned, her concern evident.
"She seems determined, and I trust her. If we head back now, she should have it ready," Loki reassured Sylvie, placing his faith in their companion.
Sylvie let out a sigh, her doubt still lingering. "But how will she charge it?"
Loki pondered for a moment, contemplating possibilities. "Perhaps there's some secret technology she's aware of."
Sylvie regarded Loki skeptically. "I think she would have mentioned it, unless she said it just to ease your mind."
"If she's anything like me, she'll have another plan. It's just that I didn't plan for this particular scenario," Loki admitted, acknowledging his own shortcomings.
Sylvie's gaze dropped to the ground. "If she does have something up her sleeve, then it's worth the risk."
They both gazed at the planet drawing closer, surrounded by devastation and fires. The city lay in ruins, a testament to the catastrophic events unfolding.
"We should make our way back to the tech shop. It's been over two hours," Loki suggested, breaking the somber silence.
"Okay," Sylvie acquiesced, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and determination. Together, they turned and started their journey back through the broken city, navigating through the remnants of destruction in search of a glimmer of hope.
Loki and Sylvie cautiously enter the tech shop, greeted by a scene of disarray. Wires hang from the ceiling, and the floor is cluttered with debris.
"Soren?" Loki calls out, his voice filled with concern. Silence lingers, causing worry to creep into his mind.
"Maybe she's in the back. I don't see any signs of a struggle here," Sylvie suggests, leading the way towards the back room.
As Sylvie opens the door, her breath catches in her throat. Soren lies unconscious on the work desk, surrounded by a pool of blood. Shock courses through Sylvie's veins as she fears the worst. Trembling, she approaches Soren, only to discover the tempad connected to her. The realization hits her like a devastating blow: Soren used her own power cords to charge the tempad, bringing them closer to escape.
A heavyweight settles on Sylvie's chest as she unplugs the tempad from Soren's prone form.
"Is everything alright?" Loki's concerned voice reaches her ears as he approaches the door.
Sylvie's eyes widen, and she rushes to block the doorway, preventing Loki from entering.
"What's going on?" Loki questions, his tone filled with suspicion. "The planet on the verge of destruction."
Sylvie steps into the room, still blocking Loki's path. She searches for the right words to convey the situation delicately. "You shouldn't enter this room," she finally manages to say.
Loki regards her with a mix of distrust and seriousness. "Why not? Is Soren alright?"
Sylvie averts her gaze, trying to find the strength to ease his worries. "I think... she would want us to leave this planet," sadness seeps into her voice as she hands Loki the blood-stained tempad. His heart sinks at the sight before him.
"What's behind that door?" Loki's voice grows more intense. "Sylvie!"
"You really shouldn't go in there. She managed to charge it in an unexpected way, and I believe she would want us to go," Sylvie pleads, her voice filled with a mixture of grief and determination.
"Nonsense. Leaving her behind is not an option," Loki asserts firmly.
"I know... but I think she's..." Sylvie's voice trails off, unable to bring herself to say the words.
"Sylvie, either you move or I will make you move," Loki threatens, attempting to forcefully push past her. Determined, Sylvie anchors herself, refusing to budge. Loki, fueled by his own resolve, employs his magic to yank Sylvie aside, managing to slip through the doorway.
In a harrowing sight, Loki's heart sinks as he sees Soren slumped over the table, blood still dripping and pooling beneath her.
"Soren!" Loki's voice trembles with concern as he rushes to her side. He gently shakes her, hoping to rouse her from unconsciousness. His eyes drift to her resting arm, where a picture is held. He carefully takes the photo from her hand and gazes at it—a snapshot of Soren, Alta, a long-haired blond woman of captivating beauty, and an older lady. Loki tucks the picture away, saving it for later, and cradles Soren close to his chest. He listens intently, hoping to detect a faint heartbeat or any signs of breathing. Meanwhile, Sylvie remains in the doorway, observing the heart-wrenching scene.
"She's alive, but barely holding on. Why would she take such a reckless step?" Loki's voice quivers with sorrow and confusion.
Sylvie looks away, her distress evident. "I believe using her powers was the only option she had to charge the tempad."
Loki's voice trembles as he admits, "I don't know what to do. I can't heal her."
Sylvie moves closer to Loki, her voice filled with compassion. "Loki..."
"There must be something here, something we can use..." Loki's voice trails off, searching desperately for a solution.
"She's fading away, and I think deep down, she would have wanted her father to escape this predicament," Sylvie softly shares, acknowledging the painful reality.
Tears well up in Loki's eyes. "It's unnatural for a child to die before their parents."
"I know..." Sylvie's voice carries understanding and empathy.
Loki clings to Soren, holding her even closer as if trying to transfer his own life force to her fragile form.
In a sudden blaze of orange and yellow, dimensional gates burst open, unleashing a surge of TVA agents who flood into the shop. With swift precision, they apprehend Sylvie, tearing her away from Loki's side. The agents converge on Loki, forcefully separating him from his beloved daughter, their actions a blur in the midst of chaos. The cacophony of voices and urgent shouts melds into a disorienting symphony of distortion and static, assaulting Loki's senses.
In an instant, they find themselves whisked away, back to the dreaded halls of the TVA—the place of control and manipulation that has haunted their existence.