The fly from the City to where the nearest Deviants were was fast, but felt like ages at the same time. Ajak kept sneaking glances at me the whole time, but I barely noticed as I thought over Icarus's words.
Picking myself up from my gloomy thoughts, I threw on a slight smile as I thought about killing deviants to improve my skills.
But things would very quickly take a turn no one was expecting.
-
As we stepped off the ship, we looked around at the woods surrounding us, as Makkari did a quick lay of the land. She was able to hand sign the same thing Phastos was able to say; "Sixteen deviants ahead."
All our bodies tensed slightly at the number, knowing this wouldn't be easy, even with the numbers we had. Not to mention Ajak was a non combatant for the most part, her only job being to heal others.
Makkari was on cleanup, as usual.
Icarus and Gilgamesh were on muscle duty, pinning down anything that needed to be, and dealing crazy damage with their strength and Lazer eyes.
Sprite was on distractions, keeping some of the Deviants off of us while we took care of the rest.
Sersei was on support, making traps, snags, etc. Anything to keep them off our backline.
And then the Asgardians, led by Thena, who were left to be the execution squad. Our weapons, being of high quality, were perfect for cutting off deviant heads.
Druig and Phastos stayed back at the city to keep an eye on things in case Deviants showed up there.
We all quickly launched into action when the deviants broke through the tree line, snarling and growling as they rushed at us. However, something was amiss.
They were coordinated.
Deviants usually simply attacked without mercy, but they never worked like a true pack. They would gang up on people, but they'd never use true teamwork.
That all changed today, when we barely pulled through with a victory of our own. The only reason we even won was because Ajak was able to continuously keep everyone healed up, and that we had a decent formation.
They always moved in trios, never leaving their designated groups. If one was attacking you, three were attacking you, and they never let up. Not to mention the four fliers that focused primarily on Icarus, tag teaming him and keeping him away from Ajak, slowly chipping away at him. The only reason he didn't die is because Avaria shot two of the Deviants down for him.
By the end of it, Ajak was working overtime to heal everyone, and I mean everyone. The most fucked up person was Icarus, having been jumped from the start by four of them. His arm was nearly ripped off, his head bloody, his legs mauled by their teeth. Even one of his eyes was popped out of the socket.
Thr rest of us weren't much better though, as most of us had at least one limb that was injured in some capacity.
"Something was wrong... They were using strategy... they never use strategy." Said Sersei, one of the least injured.
"Yeah, they singled out Icarus, like they knew what he was capable of. Are they evolving even further? If so, what are we gonna do?" Said Sprite, the only one of us that only got hit once, a big slash across her chest.
"Is it possible they're being led?" Said Gilgamesh, the ever dependable.
"Like by a pack leader? It would make sense. Why else would they move like that? They were coordinated for once, which is highly unusual." Said Ajak, who had moved to the next most injured person, Thena.
"It didn't help there were more of them than us. I think the MVP has to go to Sprite on this one. She worked overtime to keep those damn deviants off of us long enough to kill them all." I say, trying to spread some positivity. Everyone looks at me, and most of them agree, heads nod, and everyone thanks her for her spectacular work.
"Anyways, MVP aside, the Alpha never showed up, so it goes to show it's still out there, and that it can't be tracked by our sensors, which is extremely dangerous." Says Icarus, now fully healed.
"Agreed, we should head back and inform the other two. We need Phastos to make new sensors." Says Gilgamesh, and everyone agrees.
-
"Hey are you okay?" Ask Avaria to me, and I nod. I had been hit in the head by one of the creature earlier, and Ajak had healed the wound, but I was still rubbing my head due to a splitting headache I am currently experiencing.
"Yeah, I'm good, just have a headache." I say reply back, giving a thankful nod to her.
"That's wierd, you've never had a headache, even after that time Thor accidentally hit you in the face with Mjolnir." Said Axl, laughing after remembering the incident. I had a welt the size of a plum after that.
"Ugh, I know, that's why it hurts so much. Plus, I don't even think I got hit that hard."
"Well, I'm sure it'll pass just-"
"AGHHHHHH!" I suddenly scream out, my head feeling like it's splitting. My eyes begin to glow a polychrome light once more, this time however, they're even brighter, the colors much more distinct.
"Verdan!""Verdi! What's wrong!" Axl and Avaria call out, the Eternals running over to see what's happening.
I drop to my knees in pain, it feels like my eyes are being stabbed with hot iron rods, and it's the worst pain I've ever experienced. I can't stop screaming, and I can't even think about anything. After what felt like 100 years of searing pain, the pain finally subsided, but once again I'm seeing double.
"Verdi! What's wrong?! Talk to me bro!" Two Axls yell out, clutching my head to look at me. However, before I can even respond, I begin to feel the pull of unconsciousness.
"Verdi!...Verdi...verd...ver...ve...v..."
-
"Heimdall, good friend, how are you doing today? Good I hope?" Thor says, walking up to Heimdall, who stands guard at the Bifrost, sword planted on the ground.
"Thor, good to see you. And I'm doing just fine. I feel like I have the best job in the universe, getting to see everything in the universe while standing at the bifrost, an ever watchful guardian. Anyways, what can I do for you?" Heimdall replies, not bothering to turn around.
"Could you tell me how my brother is doing? He's been off on his mission for only a few days, but I have a strange feeling." Thor says, a solemn look on his face.
"Okay... got him, he's currently on midgard, like he's supposed to be. He... He's in pain. Clutching his head like it's about to burst. I wonder what happened-"
"What?! He's hurt! Send me there this instant!" Thor says, frantic as he grabs Heimdalls shoulders.
"Woah, Thor, Calm down, I can't just send you to midgard without the Allfather's permission-"
"Screw that, he's hurt, send me there now!" Thor yells, his anger growing as a faint sound of thunder resounds in the sky, the weather responding to Thor's rising emotional state.
Heimdall signs in response, knowing he wont be changing Thor's mind any time soon. "Fine, I'll send you." He replies, grabbing his sword and plunging it into the keyslot to the bifrost, activating it. The Ancient machine whirs to life, the dome beginning to spin as it aims towards midgard.
"Come back safe. Even The Eternals look beat up, so be on guard in case something strong is there." Heimdall warns.
"Aye," Thor replies as he enters the portal that comes to life, the rainbow bridge sucking Thor into it as he is launched through space/time.
-
Back on Earth, most of the Eternals have been healed, and at this point, everyone is watching Verdandi writhe in pain as he clutches his head and screams bloody murder. A brilliant polychromic light has been shining from his eyes for twenty minutes now, and everyone is becoming increasingly worried. At this time, Thor enters the Bifrost, and the rainbow bridge begins affecting the atmosphere around where the Eternals are congregating. They all look up, confused as to what is happening, before a brilliant rainbow pillar of light breaks through the clouds, creating a loud crashing noise as Thor exits the Bifrost, his cape billowing behind him as he begins running to where his brother is.
"What happened?! Why is my brother in pain?!" Thor yells out, his anger increasing as he listens to Verdandi's yells of pain. His eyes glow with brilliant blue lightning, and the sky cracks with deafening thunder as it darkens with Mystical storm clouds.
"Woah, Thor! Chill out, dude! We don't know what happened either! He just started writhing in agony all of a sudden, and Ajak tried to heal him, to no avail. We thought this was an Asgardian thing!"
"Yeah, do you know what's happening, Thor?" Ajak asks, having finished healing everyone. There is evident worry in her voice, which Sprite notes as she raises an eyebrow.
"I know not." He says, shaking his head. "I will take him back to Asgard to ask Father." He says, lifting Verdandi with ease and calling for Heimdall, the Bifrost opening and crashing into the ground as Thor immediately steps inside and is once again sucked into the wormhole.