Sif's hand rested uneasily above the hilt of her sword.
She had snuck away to Midgard before, many moons and many seasons long past. She and Thor together had adventures with Gods and Monsters from before the time of Gods had truly come to an end. This Midgard was not the same one now as it had been. The landscape was more grey, less natural. While Asgard was a great city, the city was designed with colour and character. Each building told a story. Whereas here, everything seemed somewhat drab and miserable. Even in the cool mid-morning sun, the orange glow did little to brighten the environment.
"Thor, like from that TV show? The Viking guy?"Sif didn't fully understand all that was said, but the urge to roll her eyes was still great.
Viking Guy. That was a gross oversimplification of who he was.
"Are you okay? You kind of fell from the sky?"Sif looked at the crater behind her.
"Aye, I am fine. I have fared worse." "What are you?"Sif smiled as she walked towards the woman. Ignoring those around her who pointed their strange rectangles in her direction, if they had been weapons, they would have attacked her by now. A loud, piercing wailing could be heard now from around the corner, as people surrounding her started to move away slowly.
"I am Lady Sif of Asgard, and I am here to find Thor and return him home.""Ooooookaaaay.""Do you know where he is?""Well, he's not-he's not real?"Sif walked towards her, hand still on the hilt of her sword. The woman went to recoil slightly, as Sif outstretched her free hand and placed it on the woman's shoulder.
"And am I not real?""Well, I'm not sure..."There was a resounding screech. The wailing came around the corner, as two of the loud horseless chariots came racing around the corner. Sif pulled back, and as she spun, her sword was removed from its holster in one fluid motion, brought up into a ready stance. The vehicles came to a stop in a plume of dust and smoke coming from the tyres. A heavy clunk, as the vehicles opened. Two people emerged from each vehicle, cowering behind the doors, small objects in their hands pointed directly at Sif. Directly at her chest, centre mass.
These were weapons.
Her feet moved, almost an imperceptible amount. The one closest was on her left; he would be the first to hit her if he fired his weapon. He would also find himself to be the first one hit by
her if he tried anything. A thick caterpillar moustache had nested on his top lip, his eyes hidden behind black reflective circles. His accent was heavy, and his voice boomed with authority that had been given, not earned.
"Ma'am. I need you to put the weapon down. Step away from the crater, then kneel on the ground with your hands behind your back."The sword spun in her wrist, palm up, blade pointed directly towards the man in charge. The warriors in their khaki clothes recoiled slightly. Their thumbs moved on their weapons, with the faint sound of four clicks piercing the silence.
"I have come in peace, but I will not disarm, and I do not kneel."
SOME TIME AGO...
//OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS OVERRUN
//PRIMARY DEFENSES FAILING
//SECONDARY DEFENSES FAILING
//MULTIPLE HULL BREACHES DETECTED
//ACTIVATING B3T4
The Parademons swarmed the hull of the lone vessel, her engines flared and faltered. Gun emplacements were torn free of their housing, tossed into the mess of bodies, shell casings and debris that surrounded the vessel like its own asteroid belt. As one of the Parademons found a crack on the hull, it screamed and they swarmed. Grappling and clawing in a frenzy, as if every moment they were delayed meant another eternity in the pits. They weren't far wrong, for their master tolerated no failure.
The survival of this ship, constituted a monument of their failure. A world converted to ash and debris, the living souls converted and the planet destroyed. One less civilisation to stand up against the might of Apokolips, and yet. In a final act of defiance a singular vessel managed to break passed the blockade and flee, carrying with it the hope of its people. The hope that they would survive, that Apokolips could be delayed and defeated.
A hope that could not survive. A hope that could not be
allowed to survive.
The creatures clawed and scrambled, pushing against the rush of air as they broke through the hull of the ship. Fighting their way passed the air as the compartment became depressurised. They rushed in, tearing at themselves and eachother to push in. Body parts and armour cast out into the growing cloud of debris. Red warning lights greeted them on the other side, as they spread out. The low glow of the light casting long shadows, as the faint sound of a far away alarm could be heard reverberating around the ship. They moved in packs, fanning out from their entry point until a group came across a door.
THUNKThe dull noise could be heard even in the vacuum as a large dent appeared on the door.
THUNKThe Parademons looked at eachother, perplexed. Something appeared to beating it's way
towards them. Perhaps some of their kin had already breaxhed from the other side?
THUNKKAWHOOOOOOMThere was a roar of air as the door was broken open, the air from deeper in the ship catapulting the door and turning into a ballistic missile. It collided with demons, some lost body parts whereas others found themselves crushed. One demon remained, pushing itself back to its feet it roared into the newly opened doorway as a lifeform approached.
