Jadis was walking up to Loki and Thor, who were having a conversation at a window, when she saw it. A huge ship, easily over a hundred times bigger than theirs, rose in front of them, creating a shadow that took over the whole ship.

A blue ball shot out from the other vessel, flying towards theirs. Jadis cried out, crouching and putting her arms in front of her head. The blue shot washed over the stolen ship, turning off all the systems, including the electricity and engines.

Loki was by her side in a moment, dagger drawn as he searched for danger while making sure she was all right.

"Who is that?" asked Thor, stepping towards the window.

A small pod detached from the other ship and floated towards them. It seemed... peaceful at first. Then it opened fire upon the door, bringing screams from the Asgardians standing near it. Thor, Loki, and Jadis ran over to the crowd, Jadis hanging back just a touch as Thor and Loki advanced towards the pod, which had ceased fire as soon as the door was ripped apart.

Several Asgardians had fallen with burning wounds from the surprise shots. A few men ventured forward to grab them and drag them back quickly as Scrapper 142, apparently now known as Valkyrie, joined the brothers, weapons brandished. Jadis took a step closer, but Loki shot her a look over his shoulder that clearly warned her to stay back.

The front of the pod opened, revealing the people inside. The first two jumped out, cocking their guns, clearly ready for battle. No one made any attack moves yet though.

The next person, a man with grey skin, stepped forward, raising his chin. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said regally in a voice clearly meant for making announcements. "I give you Thanos." He stepped away, allowing the huge, purple man behind him to take the stage.

The giant swept his gaze over them all. His eyes were unnerving—completely cold, but with intelligence sparking in every centimeter of them. "Asgardians," he said. "A time for rejoicing approaches. You are to be part of a plan that benefits the entire universe. You are a well-blessed nation."

Thor and Loki exchanged a glance.

"What mean you by that?" said Thor, clenching his fists. "Asgardians have no quarrel with you. Allow us to leave in peace and we shall give you no trouble."

Thanos's eyes rested heavily on him. "I fear you do not understand, Thor, prince of Asgard. Your role in this is important, as is everyone's. Difficult choices have been made to bring me here, I have no intention of allowing an opportunity such as this to pass me by."

The female of their group aimed her gun at Asgard. "Split into two equal groups."

Valkyrie snarled and threw her dagger at the female, who took it in the shoulder, but retaliated with a shot that skimmed Valkyrie's side. The previous scrapper fell backwards from the impact.

Thor was the first to leap into the battle with Asgard at his heels. Loki went to Jadis, who had scrambled against a back wall. She was no newcomer to violence, but she had never been trained in any fighting, so she knew she would be of no help.

"Hide," Loki hissed, shoving her into another room. "I'll find you when this is over." He shut the door before she could say anything.

The woman hid behind a large seat that occupied a corner, trembling as the sounds of battle pierced the walls. She stayed there for what felt like a long time, but she had no idea what the reality was. After a time, the screams quieted into whimpering's and soft cries.

Thanos's voice easily rose above the noises. "Search the ship. I need everyone alive present."

Jadis's heart pounded harder than the drums in a Sakaarian parade. They're coming for me. Is Loki all right? Who is this person? Why is he attacking us?

The door opened. Jadis didn't dare hold her breath, for fear she would not be able to go without breathing for too long. Instead, she adjusted her breathing to be shallow and soundless, frozen in her hiding place.

Whomever was searching walked around the room, adjusting a few things as they presumably looked behind the other furniture. Jadis's chair was pulled away from her and she stared fearfully up at the male with a gun. He grabbed her without a word, making her cry out a little as he dragged her back to the main room.

He threw her forward, but she managed to stay on her feet. The sight that greeted her was horrifying. Asgardians littered the ground, dead from battle wounds. Their blood pooled around them, creating a foul stench in the air. The remaining number was fearful and crying, huddling together as they avoided the fires that crackled around the ship.

Jadis's hand covered her mouth as she stared at the destruction. Her eyes wandered over Thor, who was lying on the ground, obviously defeated, then to Loki, who was standing, enclosed by Thanos's warriors.

The man with grey skin was picking his way slowly through the carnage, giving a speech in an unhurried, collected voice. "You think this is suffering... No. It is salvation. The universal scales tipped towards balance because of your sacrifice. Smile—" Jadis flinched as the female warrior shoved her spear into an Asgardian. "—for even in death, you have become children of Thanos." The man stared chillingly at Jadis.

Loki glanced back at her, eyes widening. He dropped his gaze to the ground, then back at her. Heeding his silent instruction, Jadis slowly lowered herself to her knees, trying to appear as nonthreatening and compliant as possible. The other man raised his chin and looked away.

"I know what it is like to lose," said Thanos from where he stood near Thor's mostly limp body. "To feel so desperately that you're right, yet to fail nonetheless." He leaned down, armor clattering slightly as he picked up Thor by his front collar. The king groaned as he hovered above the ground but hadn't the strength to struggle. "It is frightening," continued Thanos. "Turns the legs to jelly. But I ask you to what end?" He stalked towards Loki, Thor dangling from his hand. "Dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same. And now it's here, or should I say... I am." He held up his other fist, showing off the golden gauntlet that covered it—a purple gem glowing like an ember. He rearranged his grip on Thor, so the man was kneeling with Thanos's hand covering the top of his head.

Thor was defeated, blood dripping from his mouth, yet he still managed a rebellious, "you talk too much."

Thanos ignored him. "The Tesseract, or your brother's head," he told Loki.

Jadis shivered. Loki would give anything up for his brother. Despite all their brawls, I know he loves Thor. I don't know what the Tesseract is, but his brother's life is surely more important.

"I assume you have a preference," said Thanos, waiting for the man's answer.

"Oh, I do," said Loki. His voice was hard, sharp, unflinching. "Kill away."