Loki did not need the reminder that his Anthony loved him, but it soothed him all the same. He was an insecure creature at the heart of him, and reassurances of love and respect were very important to his continued happiness. He rewarded his Anthony with coupling that lasted almost all night, and then sleep wrapped in one another's arms. These were the moments he could allow himself to be attached back, for none could see. A lesson Thor deeply needed to learn.

The four days of travel went without much incident. Loki inspired his troops of both Aesir and slave alike. Bruce instructed Anthony on what to look for in slaves to be bred (strength, good bones, beauty, brains), to be kept or sold (children), or to be discarded (the infirm, the weak, or the elderly). Steven worked with the warriors to be ready to fight the armies of Midgard, though very little resistance was expected.

And then all of a sudden the Void was opening up and blue skies appeared, the waves of an ocean with a salt tang to them, and cities on the horizon made of steel and chrome and glass. And humans everywhere dressed in odd garb, screaming at the sight of the great flying fleet without even attempting to mobilise themselves to fight as any other realm under attack would.