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blankdblank · 2 years

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The White Dove Pt 37 - Sweden

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This one’s a fair bit longer but it all fits into the next leg of the story so it’s all worth it in the end. :)

Masterlist

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The day before holiday break and you had taken your final bow for papers the next morning to be gathered with copies of magazines that covered the show and your performance in it. All to distract from the pain left from an introduction to the Repetition Ranger who was able to create doubles of people that after a few fights you had to put an end to the chaos by finding out the doubles would repeat anything said on certain frequencies. So a song was used to signal which were the fakes and right away all of them burst into dust upon the discovery. That pain and the call from the Ambassador of Sweden who had arranged a flight out on your behalf for you and Eddie.

Like wildfire your name and involved emancipation case had lit up the papers and now it was official business. Now that you were reinvigorating a near decade old hope that degenerative diseases could be reversed or at least halted from progression a home was rented on behalf of yourselves nearby the research center. For court and transportation, as you were licensed to drive, a car was assigned part of the package deal. For what you could offer your country on top of being known for the homeland of one so talented already none of this would cost you a single cent.

Shy of one million people Stolkholm was a large city, and on the outskirts of it the lab sat for adequate silence and space with a smaller suburb nearby that would be patrolled to ensure your privacy from press and loitering public alike. They wanted you to have a peaceful Yule and prying eyes would only harm that chance.

Clothes already were packed inside a new set of suitcases you had bought for this trip, each with white rabbits on it around the same quote, ‘How long is forever? Sometimes, just a second.’ From Alice in Wonderland that you hoped would be unique enough to not be taken by anyone else inside the airport upon landing. Now you just had to tuck the honeycomb shaped mechanism into your clothes to keep from being jostled about. Being inside the checked bags surely would have it pass by with little irritation to your things to being loaded in the back of the plane. Already you had dropped off the gifts for your friends and Gwen since you were missing it, and even nervous beyond compare you couldn’t even bother to look at their messages of well wishes for the trip as it would only worsen things.

“Have my passport, underwear, jacket, spare boots, got my pop up typewriter you made me. Everything on my list is marked off, yours? Wanna bring your shark pillow?” he asked and you nodded making him grab it to add to the blanket he’d pulled off your bed to fill the spare space in his medium sized bag around his pack of paper and legal pads to keep busy while you were in the lab to finish off his story.

“Thank you,” you whispered feeling tears already brimming in your eyes luring him over to hug you tightly.

“I can work anywhere and you are not going alone in this. Courthouse and lab alike. I know it’s a couple hours from the town your parents moved you to as a baby, but it’s still their lab.” You nodded and he said, “Now, let’s go take the things down to give Eldfall a few minutes before we go to apologize fully for not having the time to ship him to Sweden with us. And just hope we don’t get a four am phone call the garage is in flames.”

“I’m certain if he throws that big a tantrum we’ll wake up with him inside the cottage,” you said making him chuckle to your weak giggle. Apologies were given to Eldfalls, who heart breakingly gave off a low pitched hum as if it was readying to cry like a mechanical whine but seemed to fall silent then power down its engine that had you on the verge of tears and need to step out a moment, only to find the car there to pick you up.

Six suitcases checked and two carry on bags in hand in line for security you waited for the gradual shared steps forward until you both nearly fell down taking off your boots to pass through the metal detectors. Armed fully with your bee metal weapons in shorts under your jeans your eyes traveled upwards to the slide of hands down the center of your inner thighs from the TSA agent. Who after a second verbalized pass dipped lower to feel around your ankles and then work their way up the outer sides of your legs to feel better around your waist under the base of your lopsided sweater. Around the underside of your bust her hands moved to pat and smooth across your back, warning of a move of the chunky braid to reveal a glimpse of a Yoshi band-aid surrounded by a green bruise. “You have an injury on your shoulder?”

And over it you glanced at them and nodded, “Scared my neighbor’s cat off a shelf right out of a nap,” instantly making them smirk.

“My tabby likes to sleep on top of open doors. Quite familiar with that terror of a clawed hat.” Making you giggle and force back the memory of being slammed into a wall by the Goblin who you stopped from stealing his oddest goal yet, the parade car meant to hold Santa’s Sleigh. Right in time for on a sort of probation Iron Man was let off his leash to take him on and grant you this break away from the cackling dingbat.

Right up to your scalp careful fingers smoothed through your curls to ensure your thick locks weren’t concealing something before you could be cleared and allowed to add your shoes and jacket again. Out of the tray when that was through items from your bags were inspected, including the pen disguised allergy injector you had in there just in case, along with all the things you both carefully had packed to be easy to bring out when needed. Such as your pop up lantern, stove, wheelbarrow and spade disguised as a small set of compact folding portraits and mirrors of various powers to not cause them any worry or you any hassle of explaining why you had any such materials inside your purse.

All the same beyond that you were freed once you had hold of your hat and patchwork fox fur prada bag from Carter you chose in its larger size to help you at the lab and court as well to hold as many papers as necessary. Eddie in a shift of the grip on his bag turned to take hold of your hand and lead the way to your gate. A few second looks your way came the whole time you felt you crossed the entire building twice over to check in and take your seats inside a secluded lounge linked to your airline direct to Sweden.

So close to eight hours once you had boarded into the front of the plane hushed utterances came from those in areas close behind and those in the rows around yours on their way back home for the holidays who recognized you and Eddie right away. Into the far left window seat you eased to take up the pair to ready for takeoff and not get distracted.

Clear boat enthusiasts promptly filled the two seats in the middle row. Their passion shown by sailing themed sweaters and buttons on their coats who gave you both quick waves and grins you and Eddie returned while groggy bodies filled the far right pair of seats in your row. Two seats in each row would change to two outer rows of three seats and a middle row of two was the layout for the back of the plane. Not much more space was to be had up front but you did get a few fancier takeaway gifts and a few more inches you of everyone most certainly didn’t need for your stature. But for Eddie’s sake you accepted the few inches more so he could be more comfortable.

It was all timed so you could arrive two hours from when the court proceedings would kick off. Every two hours there would be a sort of meal, two small snacks and a larger meal to be followed by a third snack without time for a fourth as you were to land by then. Even the built in monitor for an entertainment system did little to keep your mind off things but at least after the second snack with his own nod off Eddie wordlessly lured you into a nap. Still eventually a dark sky was seen through the windows everyone opened for landing.

Outside of the snow dusted tarmac views of the airport came to be all your window could show. Getting off the plane seemed to be easier than getting on as you were let off amongst the first group nearest the door to collect your things.

“I did warn you about the sunlight, right?”

“Yes.” Eddie answered behind you but still looked out the window and then to the clock on the wall he used to wind his watch to the right time. “I didn’t think it’d be this dark still though.”

“Well, we should, get our luggage and then head to the car rental.” But beyond a glass wall a line of rope barriers held back a group of reporters who began to steal pictures of the both of you as the same Ambassador who came to visit you stood with a smile readying to greet your older self and adopted brother. “Oh, this is new.”

“I don’t remember hearing about the welcome wagon.” He muttered to you.

“Neither do I.” You muttered back and closed the distance to have him offer a hand to shake.

“Welcome back to Sweden Miss Pluto. We wished for you to have a great welcome and I do have to warn we are moving courthouses as the heating has gone out in the original one. For these instances the Supreme Court building will be used until the repairs are completed and I myself are here to apologize and act as your guide for a tour of the lesser traveled parts of the building as there will be a time gap between arrival and the hearing.”

“Oh, thank you. Sounds like fun.”

“Do you have luggage?”

“Yes, quite a bit, I wasn’t sure what I’d need.”

His grin spread in greeting Eddie who looked at you as you began to stroke the palm of the hand that Eldfalls had bitten in its beginning to prickle. A flash of a silver scar in an Asgardian rune on your skin was here then gone explaining the sensation you had back on Svartalfheim you hadn’t paid mind to. The sudden cloud of flames stirred shrieks and a drop of bodies to knees or crouched between those who locked up to peer up at the sudden occurrence. Right in the middle mere seconds after the flames erupted Eldfalls became visible causing you to just keep standing still staring up at the humming ship who proudly seemed to say hello in its defiance for remaining behind.

“Take a picture! Take a picture!” The boat enthusiasts from your flight said fumbling out their phones while your hand lowered from its grip around your necklace. They found their feet as many others did while you simply stared at the ship that had you glad this was a high three story section of the airport to leave room for it to hover above your heads.

“I’m sorry,” you said to the now chuckling Ambassador who eyed the ship in awe. “Eldfalls sort of, pops up when I leave the city sometimes.”

“King Vili’s ship,” a few people murmured as the press turned to snap a few pictures while the crowd behind you spilled out into the larger space now filling with more bodies to get a better look at the magical ship.

Just as soon at it arrived over its scales the snap of metal had your eyes narrow. In an unsettling sort of contortion that warped the scales in angles and the mast to bend this way then that as each section of the hull warped and wiggled until the head of the dragon on the front started to expand and behind it a body of a dragon appear stunning everyone all the more. Now five feet long the large winged metal beast with gnawed of tail and gashes on its back to show where the missing section of mast went to Eldfalls lowered to stand on his back haunches beside you with a pleased look on his face. “You have never done that before.” You said flatly in Swedish making the metal creature actually chuckle deeply to the remark.

King Vili in the legends you knew of was rumored to have a great dragon as a companion in battle and now all the more this was proof you had found his very same ship that had followed you here. He did answer you, but in Asgardian to share that you had not repaired his wings and hull yet. The blank look back at him however had him smirk and blow smoke rings to show his missing parts.

“Simply stupendous!” The Ambassador exclaimed in a clap of his hands, “The museum in Norway will be beside themselves in ecstasy knowing that he is here to tour the museum exhibit with you when you travel there.” And he said, “For now, your luggage.” He said and you nodded following him to the baggage claim as Eldfalls began to hover to float over your head on a ripple of ghostly flames wafting under his head, neck and belly all the way through the maze of stunned people throughout this maze of a building.

Your six bags were simple to find and with the smallest propped on top of the middle one you and Eddie wheeled the bags toward the exit gate where the security warned over a radio set simply peered up at Eldfalls as those waiting outside did the same. Most having laughed at the verbal warning of a dragon coming out that swiftly changed to people snapping pictures.

“The car rental is this way.” The Ambassador said gesturing to your right to follow the walkway to the visibly marked rental shop where a line free counter was suddenly opened by means of removing the paper sign it was closed. Normally guests no matter their standing would have to wait to not draw attention to anyone in the usual Swedish fashion of Lagam lifestyle, moderation, humility and a treasuring of comfort and simplicity. However there were court times to keep on track for an important state matter and this once you could hold exception to the usual. Even more so as those in line wide eyed gawked at the hovering dragon who turned and twisted to get inside the building where a few patient children approached him upon his landing.

“Is there an age limit on car rentals?” You asked the Ambassador softly who chuckled and shook his head.

“You are considered legally an adult in America so legally you can rent a car here. Why do you ask?”

“You have to be 24 in America.”

“Why?” Was all he asked and you shrugged.

“Not sure you can marry, drink, buy guns and vote by that age not sure what they need other than demanding a credit card. Do I need a credit card?”

“This is just a formality, we have backed the car chosen for your stay they merely need to copy your driving information and ID to complete the transfer.”

“Oh,” you said. And flashed a grin at the woman who ushered you closer to the counter you stood on your toes and still couldn’t see over. Luring Eddie forward to prop you on a raised leg he pinned to the counter to have you seated and within reach of what they required upon his thigh in a one legged stance amusing a few people in line who moved to split into that line now that it was open again.

Like he said the ID was scanned and you signed the proper slips and took hold of the keys to the mystery car to which you were assigned. A short distance across the walkway you took your bags with Eldfalls behind to enter the rental garage, following the numbers to a giggle worthy mint two door sporty coupe. “Oh this is adorable,” you whispered to yourself making Eddie chuckle at the click of the trunk opening when you tapped the button twice to make it do so. Suitcases loaded easily with the larger four in the trunk and the smaller pair and your carry on bags you filled the back seat with.

Outside the garage now was a car the Ambassador climbed into having shared he would lead the way to your rental home first so you could unload your things at least and then turn right back around to follow him to the courthouse. Waving your hand Eldfalls in a fiery mist warped through the seats to fill what space was left in the backseat to not have to fly atop the roof of the car.

“I don’t think they were expecting us to bring a dragon,” you said turning out of the garage making Eddie chuckle in his adjustment to the radio station.

“Why wouldn’t they expect us to bring a dragon? Downright rude to not think we’d bring a dragon.” He said making you giggle. From what you recognized you named all the way through the white coated city barely lit by just hints of moonlight through the snow dropping clouds.

“Oh we got a red house,” you said excitedly as you passed the women on a walk with their dogs in the dark early morning usual routine with a couple cyclists to follow who were curious at the flag donning car and mint one behind it. Around a corner you saw wooden red houses in rows along a curving street. Fenced in small plots of yards had each little barn like structure look quite quaint to be able to stay in while you were here. A guard on the street opened a side gate that allowed you to drive around to the hidden front of the house that helped have a touch more privacy and a clear shot of the surrounding trees to the suburb and sky overhead that gorgeous view to exit the lovely hone each day. “Oh this is nice,” you sighed and helped to bring your things inside the door the Ambassador unlocked for you.

“Two bedrooms, and two baths. The kitchen has been newly remodeled so the stove would work with the solar panels over the garage.” Beyond the front room he had stopped to gesture to each room he named then after your glances into each deep grey or pale orange space he showed you the side sitting room with a fireplace off the side of the larger living room sharing an open space with the dining table opposite the kitchen. “Living room and a side study that can act as an office as well, that cabinet pulls down into a work desk. As does this bookshelf.” He said about a pivoted empty set of shelves that with a simple press moved to lay flat and lock into a second desk. “Does this suit your needs?”

“Oh it’s more than I expected, thank you. Our places are one room, so a house to rent is wild in comparison of space.” You said making him grin.

“Now, back to the courthouse and your tour.” Excitement in his voice had you a bit curious, and with just hold of your purse again you were out the door as Eddie made sure he had his pocket notebook and a pen in case he needed it.

Alongside the car keys, on a keychain you had brought with you, the house keys were hooked on in the drive back out of the driveway that a bee hidden in your hair memorized the location and house number in case the task had slipped your mind. Discussion again of the wait for new heirs had Eddie changing the station again in the Swedish share on the newly married Crown Princess you had heard echoes of from crowds on your way through the airport. News of that and the Prince who was rumored to be kindling a secretive romance with a certain someone after being single a few years now after his first public relationship that ended amicably.

Gossip came up, much like a headline you only glimpsed within those walls, of a man you’d only seen online, grandfather, father to the only maternal aunt you had who was a professional Ice Dancer and didn’t want nor couldn’t have children, an Earl whose picture was right next to yours. You didn’t get a good look but while you drove your bees were searching online for the copy of the story and at a light you looked to the ac vent beside the radio where Chester projected the story off his back.

“What’s that say?” Eddie asked and looked between your picture and the man’s. “Who is that?”

“My grandfather.” You sighed and in a ripple of the letters you looked back to the road as the light changed. Across the Swedish papers also similar to the story in Norway noted the same lineage that Eddie raised a finger to scroll through the now translated story.

“Says you’re marked as his heir since his eldest daughter got bumped off the lineage, for what they say as permanent lack of an heir.” He looked to you, “What does that mean?”

“Nothing much he doesn’t have any real say over anything. There’s 200 families of nobility in Denmark, he’s got property but we’ve never met. I think he does something with fishing boats, like an assembly line or something,” you said turning the wheel as you reached the courthouse.

“Are you okay with this?” He asked slightly concerned about your stoic expression.

“Doesn’t mean anything.” You said shaking your head, “I mean he’s barely over 50, the man has just a glimmer of silver hair.”

“And he doesn’t want to meet you?”

You shrugged and said, “Not sure. I never met the guy and mama barely spoke about him, he’d probably just assume I was after something to contact him now.”

“I think you should write him.” Eddie said, “Even if to say ‘hello I just want you to know you have a little Viking named Pluto in your bloodline. I have a dragon and have enclosed a picture of him for your castle.’” He said making you giggle.

“He doesn’t have a castle.”

“Manor,” he teased, “Upon his vast estate he will have a picture of you and Eldfalls.”

“Alright,” you giggles and said, “Tonight I’ll borrow your typewriter and print a picture of me and Eldfalls.”

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“Oh I’m certain. I hear he’s quite proud of being a bloodline not of German heritage. Like for Sweden and I believe Norway as well they’re German not Scandinavian.”

“This has Queen Victoria all over it.”

“She did breed an empire.” You said making him chuckle.

“Be good to know he’s got a true blue Viking in his line still.”

“I read he’s Protestant, might try to cast me off for being Norse Pagan.”

“Oh he’ll have to get through Eldfalls to do that.” He said making the metal dragon throatily growl in agreement making you steal a smirking look back at him in the rear view mirror as his four feet of claws were flexed again to not tear into the back seat.

Into a garage you were shown and the bar to block entrance for payment remained up for the man in the booth to wave you in as guest of the Ambassador to not have to pay. Safely into a spot you parked and climbed out to watch Eldfalls float and wiggle his way out of the car making you withhold a sigh to how badly this can go. Onto your seat you left your hat to not forget it as you tucked the handle of your bag in the bend of your arm and locked the car.

“We called ahead about the dragon, they’re gonna let him in.”

A guard said and you replied making him chuckle to himself, “And here I thought we’d see true results of storming Supreme Court with a dragon.”

Out into the street from a side exit you walked to spot a group of people talking over a newspaper they had bought across the street. All whom fell silent and looked up to stare, not just at the dragon but yourself from the picture on the paper. “The Viscountess,” one of them whispered and drew out a phone to capture a picture of you.

Deeper in the article it covered your numerous public works from performance to credits of your inventions and single award so far from competitions Columbia to go alongside enrollment and team wins for both Color Guard and Academic Decathlon championships since you had been accepted. Travels and link to a surprisingly unnamed American reporter joined a note of the biggest Scandinavian related news once it had mentioned your orphan status and twice missing branding as a child, Eldfalls. Aside from that this medical patent and research business was more than enough to dig up old ghosts of your lineage to tie you to just in case you might have been from a long line of greatness.

This you could look past, Eddie however felt even more upset that your mother’s family now had cast you off or hadn’t bothered to look for you at all. He could only assume some plot to keep the inheritance away from you or some other seedy venture you were being excluded to keep hidden from your knowledge. But he had to calm down as his forehead and jaw had clenched and furrowed to a level so prominent he couldn’t ignore it or allow the expression to stay and possibly be shown the door for poor attitude leaving you alone in this.

Wands in a security check within the front etched glass door blocked front hall were held by numerous guards who took care to check you all and then your bag only to simply peer on as Eldfalls in his Asgardian metal glory didn’t phase the detector arch at all when he passed through it. As if they had imagined him behind your group that was gone all there was to do was to scan and inspect the pool of press who were bent on hurrying to line up for seats as you were turned to head for the more exclusive floors for the start of your tour.

“We are here today to hear the case of IE Research Center vs Sweden, to petition the courts for emancipation upon the case of one Pluto Lagertha Pear to loosen the patent restrictions upon the methods used by the minor’s parents who developed them. Correct?” Affirmative answers were given as you stole a glance over the ring of judge seats one lone Judge sat in the center of, then to the legal council representing the claim to keep you a minor on one table opposite the twins, Idun and Epli. The duo who helped to found the center with your parents and had been keeping the same study alive all this time since their disappearance. Merely collecting long term data of effects of the initial compound. They looked exactly how you remembered, right down to the lockets like your mother’s from other gods that bonded the three of them so deeply. One word whispered by Yggdrasil to you now in view of them through the wooden barrier between the front row you sat in to their table as parties within this case had your eyes narrow a moment, “Beserkers.”

The Judge though had your eyes on him as he said, “Before I hear either party I would first wish to hear from Miss Pear. She is amongst us I see.” He gestured a hand to the podium in the center of it all right across from his seat adding, “Ominous I understand however there are no evidence boxes to call you to young lady.” And with a nod you stood leaving your purse behind to walk to the podium. The wooden gate you brushed apart, stealing a glance at the twins gave you a kind apologetic grin for forcing you into this. Behind you Eldfalls straightened up, keeping his glowing eyes locked upon your back as you stepped onto the attached wooden steps to be able to see over the wooden barrier that were added upon word of how short you were like they did for other vertically challenged people summoned here for one reason or another.

“Miss Pear, kindly tell me a bit about yourself.”

“I live a fairly simple life,” you answered plainly already making the corners of his mouth ease up at the pleasant answer compared to what little was known of a major gap of your youth so far. “I live in an apartment, attend school for my High School degree and also Columbia University as well to gain ground on a Bachelors degree. I work, and have hobbies, I dream and invent, spend time with friends and my brother Eddie, and during the summers we have traveled the past couple years and plan to again this summer.”

“Tell me about the dwelling you have chosen for yourself, if you please?” He questioned and you drew in a breath to answer.

“I live on the top floor of a building in Queens usually for immigrants, for the space rent is quite fair for New York. I built my own heater and air con, even New York can get rather hot in the summertime. All of it is one room, aside from the bath and closet. When I first moved in through my job at a theater I found my bed, it was a prop in a play. There is a second hand furniture shop I found in lower Manhattan. I have an odd collection of lamps, three ostrich feather and two shaped like trees. Three whale themed chairs, a sloped couch and one like a cloud. Most of that I got good deals because the owner felt he couldn’t get rid of them,” you said making him and a few of the reporters grin at the mental images. “He also somehow came across two wardrobes my ancestor built from his furniture line, just out of nowhere, like a sign from the Norns I hadn’t lost my history as well as my home.”

“Does your job in the theater pay well?” You gave a list of your jobs and basic pay, with an average on commission you earned and that you tried to put away half of each check if not for rent but for savings. “How far are you in your education?”

“I was set to graduate High School this year until a bill was passed raising core credit requirements so I will have to take a few more classes next year. I am also almost halfway through my Bachelor degree requirements.”

“I understand you were taken to Russia from your family home, you were rather young, but do you remember how you were taken?”

“I would rather not talk about that, if, you wouldn’t mind.” A noise from the gallery of press and the Ambassador had you turn your head to glance back making the Judge shift his head to your almost mournful gaze that dipped back behind a mask of a glance up at him.

“To understand your case, I must ask and insist, however I will say this,” he looked to the woman keeping record of the case, “Miss Belle, stop recording,” the woman complied and laid her hands on her lap as he looked to the press. “All members of press turn off your recorders and raise your pens in the air, none of this answer is to be taken down or made quotation to or reference in any publication.” Sharply you drew in a breath to the sound of every person of press doing just that, and he asked again, “Now, Miss Pear, as best you can remember how were you taken to Russia? No court within this country issued you there.”

Steely your eyes sank from him to the crest on the table in front of his seat, “I remember, I was with my mother, in her room. We had a metal vase and it fell over. I came out, and saw my father kill the first eight men,”

“The first eight?” he whispered to himself as a few members in the press covered their mouths.

Warmly a tear fell down your cheek in stating what you knew would only cement nightmares later on, “He told me to run, but they shot me with something, and I couldn’t. They took my parents, and the house was on fire. I just remember the fire, then I woke up cuffed to a bed. I didn’t know where I was, it was all stone, set up like a school, without windows, and always cold. The older girls said to behave,” off your belly you raised your hand to blot your curled sleeve against your cheek to keep from nearly tearing the wool apart by clenching your grip any tighter. “There was no child prostitution ring, everyone thinks that. They took us, taught us languages, all the subjects, and when they taught us enough they assigned us to families. Where we were taught to fly, skydive, dive, hike, track. I don’t know what to call it aside from doomsday preppers. We were put in dance classes, taken to hair appointments, but they never left us alone, we weren’t allowed to talk. We were not allowed to fail.”

You paused and in that silence he asked, trying to understand the deepening look in your eyes you kept off of him, “How did they keep you there when they took off the chains? The older girls did not try to help you escape? There must have been a good number of you there to all remain complacent. If you did fail, what happened then?”

“I tried to run. We all did. They did what they did to all the girls, beat us and hung us inside a sack in a sensory deprivation room, we weren’t allowed to have friends. When one of us showed a bond kindling with another girl they killed one of the pair,” gasps and sniffles could be heard behind you while Eddie mentally urged you to keep strong. “The first time I failed an evaluation they broke my femur,” you said causing his lips to part he promptly closed again to keep calm as more tears fell down your cheek, “I was told if I failed again they would break my other leg. So I passed. I always passed, and listened to my teachers. One especially who taught me to never let them think I stood a chance.”

Shakily you drew a breath and continued while a few members of the press with pens raised still felt it hard to keep their hands from shaking, “I made myself a magnificent liar, be close to perfect as possible. I did as I was told. I was assigned a family, and one day, they stopped locking the door and leaving the room to answer calls. I was cast in The Nutcracker. The plan, was to come to New York and refuse to leave, but they suddenly planned on moving me and my fake sister. So I got dressed for ballet rehearsals and came back on time, packed a bag with a few things, I knew where the safe was. Took it all, they had my parents’ jewelry with my papers, and I walked right out the door. Took the bus to the airport, I saw two women there to get me, but I managed past security and on the plane.

First step was a p.o box, then a bank account, then a burner phone I could get internet access through. But by the time I had landed my fake parents had killed themselves, all the girls were gone, houses up for sale and empty or burned down. One of my contacts with the military in the States said they found a number of the girls not long ago, asked me if I knew their real names for their headstones.” A few people behind you took a few moments to hunch forward at the next trembling breath you drew in, “I only knew what the girls shared by accident, habits, names they made up for themselves. What some of them looked like before they were put into procedures to hide their true faces. But there were so many other girls they hadn’t found yet. I got citizenship in America, and met Eddie not long after. He got me into therapy. I’m better, but I can’t say I wasn’t a little bit terrified to come back here again.”

You wiped your cheeks with both fingertips and sleeves as a few people behind you did the same to the Judge clearing his throat to not let his voice waver. “Thank you, I honor the strength it must have taken to withstand that for eight years then survive alone until you began to build a new family unit every child requires, and I do hope you find peace after such painful experiences.” You nodded and he said, “We are going to go back on the record now,” you nodded and the press was given warning to have chance to make notes again as the party acting against the case of emancipation adjusted their position in their seats uncertain of what to feel in this task of theirs. “Concerning this case, what are your feelings about being in the center of this lawsuit?”

“I lost eight years of my life,” you said and lips parted behind you in shock at possibly bringing up what you had just shared again on the record. “The very last entry in my father’s notes was a check on my mother’s blood work. She volunteered as a subject in their approved trial on humans. And it came back negative for Wilson’s disease.” That won a few gasps as the twins behind you nodded and smirked at both your strength and continued means to stay calm for this. “75% of the other cases came back negative or markedly lower on their own blood work showing the illnesses were reversing. My parents cured Wilson’s disease and several others. My mother showed improvement on daily functions such as mobility and was closer to being able to breathe on her own again. But we were divided and our home was burned down. Eight years so many people have suffered without my parents being here to continue their work.”

Again you paused to inhale, a pause he noted and waited for you to finish. “I might not know what I want to be when I am older, or what I want to study in for graduate courses. But I know their work, I built a smoother machine to help the process and shorten it by weeks to recreate the compounds. I used it to make my own anti-anaphylactic injections before the medical system was improved in the States. I want to continue their work and help people and stop their suffering.”

“You have a birthday soon, yes?”

“January 14th. I am turning 17.”

“More than justifiably you have proven to show that you are more than capable to provide for yourself and act to the responsibility of adulthood and all the trials that come with it. You have self reliance and a support system should you fall short as we all do from time to time. For these reasons I will grant emancipation and permit clearance of use of any patents and information inherited to and belonging to you from your parents currently barred by your age to grant freedom of medical trials surrounding those properties which are rightfully and legally yours to use how you deem fit. And I wish you all the best of luck for your endeavors to finish your parents’ fine work and then build upon it.”

You were excused back to your seat to find Eddie with Venom pooled in his sleeve a bit around one of your bees he was using to help translate what you said who proudly took hold of your hand as you sat down again. Final tasks of the closing of the case including signing of paperwork and well wishes for IE research center were concluded with the slam of a gavel. Idun and Epli once outside remained with you as the Ambassador guided the press away noting their need to be elsewhere, Eldfalls up at the duo peered and began to speak in Asgardian and answered back sharing how long they had been on the planet, the same amount of time as he had been here.

“So, you aren’t from lines of Vikings like you told my parents?”

Epli answered, “We do apologize, we wed amongst Vikings, however we right away saw the brilliance of both your parents and helped to assemble the center. And we understand Norman Osborn has been up to genetic mutation research.”

“This is because we had help hiding Dr Connors after his bad experiment, right?”

“Exactly,” Idun answered. “We have no doubt the solution will work and be vastly improved upon. However we did require legal backup before he could try to have any contracts or, well,”

“Blackmail,” Epli cut in, “They mean blackmail. He would stoop to it, we heard from Elliot that he is rather forceful upon gaining ideas from gatherings of yours he can interrupt. We have been keeping the study subject health progress up to date. After an initial show of proof the compounds work on tissue samples we can have more volunteer donors and get back up to a second round of human trials. Once that has begun any other study using the patents and formulas can be punished severely and possibly have their right to apply for trials suspended indefinitely for the act.”

Idun said, “We were off to breakfast, care to join us and we can leave it today or possibly give you a tour of the place tomorrow?”

“If I was to get anything done I’d have to go back and grab the machine I made for the solution testing.”

“And we shall stop after we get you two fed,” Epli said with a grin.

And Idun added with a smile of their own, “Look like you could both use a good meal.”

The internet already had begun to spread around that a well mannered dragon was on the loose and following a certain duo around. So finding the corner in the wall to eat at welcoming to him was not entirely unbelievable. From your pocket in a need to get your phone you had to turn it on and wade past the unread alert bubbles of the past almost two days to your notes to show them what you required.

Inside your hair the bees there compiled a few pictures from the travels to post and drop playful comments on each day to help distract those when they woke up so you would have a bit more free time to catch up with what they had sent already. And while you savored the meal the duo shared their initial intention to have the other Beserkers ease the news to you over the next year that they were their kin and wished to ease a meeting with you. After a surely awkward or emotional reunion they could touch on the research study and the notes your parents had hidden away with you alone knowing how to get access to it.

Like a time capsule as you held the honeycomb device to your belly mid tour you noticed the forest scenery wallpaper had been freshened up, with new flooring after the carpeting had given out. Up in the hills in a small curve the castle like stone building the quartet had bought and fixed up together now stood as a minor clinic for the nearby town on top of the research subject progress to keep doors open until you were old enough to be talked to about the patents.

Tall towers trimmed flat in alternating rise and dips of square tan blocks to truly show this place as a castle alternated with those that were domed with stained glass or steeped to a point in a mixture of Medieval and Gothic styles. Each made to be libraries of information for each office nearby or open for patients waiting there. Every door had a carving of some ancient scene from Nordic legends and tapestries around the walkways from wing to wing with an open kitchen and grand dining hall that also did serve meals publicly for those in need free of charge.

All restored, and while some parts were modernized with insulation, wiring and environmentally self reliant means of power to not tax the city nearby the monument was amongst the landmarks of the city that visitors could enjoy tales of how the ruins had been left and now stood in reminder of its resonate glory.

You loved to explore this place as a kid and more so now, and now you were co-owner, not a founder but no less suited in their eyes for what they knew you capable of achieving to pick things up again.

Right out of a movie however an ornately framed oval silver plated etching of your mother had you frozen at the reflection of your face beside hers. While you had your father’s eyes and hair most of your face was hers, aside from your ears that was a smaller blend of both of theirs and a nose that must have been older than either of them off a relative you hadn’t had the chance to meet. Her portrait hung next to his outside the lab wing in a memorial beside a smaller one of your younger self the twins said they would have a more current one to hang up without taking down the old one. More proof this place could grow and remain firm through the years.

Inside the lab samples of various subjects were labeled inside of a clear doored wall of fridges marked for specific order to not mix things up. Perfectly organized and not a thing out of place to ensure efficiency for your visit, it began with you hanging up your jacket and purse in the proper locker along the wall. An empty new desk had been assembled to hold your work, and was engraved as such, that you put your machine on. Sleeves were rolled up and hands washed with gloves passed around for a third Beserker to come and film the process to have solid proof to get the research project backed.

Without opening the sample a ring from the top of the hive contraption was removed to encircle the sample releasing lasers as it did to gather the genetic code of any sample in the center of it. The beginnings of a buzz of the machine grew louder to an array of lights passing between seams around the outer casing of it as if it was a partially see through hive and bees internally could be traced going about their work. An empty vial just two inches tall and barely the width of a penny was added to the small slot designated for it in the wait.

For three minutes you explained the process the machine was carrying out until it gave off a few trilling notes and a rubber pointed nozzle was seen lowering into the open vial to release just enough of the compound to fill it. With a syringe the liquid was emptied from the vial and added to the genetic sample.

Notes for the process by another Beserker were taken and a new sample was brought out to get onto the second of ten samples to try. As it readied the solution you were seen swapping the vials and using a mixture of sterilizing compounds to clean the rubber tube you swapped for a second out of the sealed pouch you had set aside. Like an assembly line the process was completed and then it was called for the day enabling you all to clean up and sanitize the lab with samples sealed under watch of a camera to ensure it would be monitored for absolute proof they were not tampered with.

Now you just had to think of a name for the new method attributed to this trial as you couldn’t reuse the original name your parents had chosen for their method with hopes to cure these diseases.

Alone with Eddie to the rental you went, both simply eager to be alone after the exhausting trip and tasks you had to carry out. And while he sat at the end of the couch working on a notepad of his latest ideas for his story you sat on the floor halfway slumped onto the coffee table staring at the tries to write a letter to your grandfather. You were living well, surviving, alive.

Simplicity was taken advantage of and a simple share of your apartment in Queens, two schools, and two steady jobs until the summer were shared to show you were financially sound and not asking for money. You didn’t know if you had ever met before, as it could have happened before your memory allowed you to pull from, and you said as much.

A simple inquisition of familial relations you might have as the family ledgers were lost in the fire you hoped to add to one day. Note of having written to your busy aunt was made as well as an easy scapegoat of reason to have been reluctant to contact him. He was a nautical expert and perhaps could relate to your predicament of having trouble on perfecting a new mast for Eldfalls. You didn’t ask for help, simply shared the work you had done on the magical ship so far to where you were stuck.

Just a hello and distant wave from afar with note of an email and phone number to cofactors you at anytime to go with the address used for your stay. Two pictures were added and after a pop by the post office to buy some stamps needed to get the letter to Denmark you dropped it in the slot to be sent off and then had to walk away to head back to the house and stare again at your notes on that stubborn mast.

Even with a miniature model you had printed of what was already there Eldfalls stood by with an amused glimmer in his eye to every zap he gave the model that didn’t keep steady again after you lowered it in a means to lift it up again. It just kept falling down and you had to glare at the stubborn thing until you were stomping into the kitchen to stress cook luring Eddie off his notes to help you prep the meal he would help to eat and clear up after.

Daily plans were made on a sheet of paper and tomorrow a trip to a nearby Viking and series of museums were to be explored while the twins would be testing the samples for progress to present to the officials holding the reigns on a new trial.

“Hey, the museum for my ancestor’s furniture is open tomorrow,” you said having been procrastinating from glaring at your model making Eddie smirk and take the notepad.

“Adding that to the top of the list.”

With a smirk you asked, “You won’t mind taking a tour of cabinets and wardrobes for three hours?”

“We can take it twice and I will still love it. Make it a full day. Squeeze as much into one day as we can for museums.”

“Did you want to drive or take the train?”

“Train might be easier on you if you’re up for it.”

“Well it’s a 7 and a half hour trip.”

“When’s the next train?” He asked making you smirk, “Get some good night footage for your travel videos before we sneak footage of the museum tour.”

“Train’s in two hours,” you said and he pulled his wallet out to have the card you were given for travel funds to order the tickets.

“Rest we can take care of over there. Still have a few grand from the jackpot you helped me get on that poker site. How’s your original video going?”

“Good. Everyone says they like it and they wish me well and all that. Everyone has their trip, Harry’s had some party he hoped I could have gone to. Apparently he invited the football team and the cheerleaders and pretty much everyone who is popular. Still making his bundle of connections. Soon he might have so many friends he’ll forget I exist.”

“Well if his party was a smash hopefully by New Years you won’t be hearing about his next party at all,” he said smiling at you widely making you giggle.

“Okay, so we have to squeeze in a stop by the Viking museum as well. Maybe we can get them to let Eldfalls look around too. Let him see how popular he is and possibly have to break him out if they try to get him to stay.” In front of the smoldering fireplace curled up in a sort of ball his body was coiled, not sleeping but relaxing within the quiet space with just you two.

“So we make a day of it and take a late train back.”

“I got a return set too on credit, so we can choose when we come back.”

You nodded and he scooted closer to give you a hug, “We can sleep on the train. Break in the beds tomorrow.”

“I don’t think I would get much sleep anyways.” After a moment a message on your social page made you smirk as a lifelong friend of your dad’s sent you an offer to put you up for the final two nights of Yule. To not miss it amongst people who love and care about you with mention of pictures of your last time at the celebration with them when you were a small child. “Some of Papa’s friends invited us to stay at theirs for the final nights of Yule.”

“Oh we are going, adding that to the list.” He said making you smile at the eager addition.

Second glances from those in the sparsely crowded train station filled the walk to the self check in station that printed your tickets and the actual entrance to the lower levels where you split groups of people who all peered up at Eldfalls. Cumbersomely he managed past the conductor at the door and through the thin hallway to your sleeper car where he slumped both on the end of your empty bench and most of the floor as you and Eddie removed your boots to ready for a try to sleep.

For almost eight hours pops of flames entered your dreams to be blown away by thundering gusts of wind while ghostly faces of memories of time in the Red Room fled at the sound of roars. Through your skin at the first squirm in Eddie’s arms Venom had oozed and got to haunting your very nightmares into a kinder albeit boring eventual dream, when your subconscious caught on you were being watched, of yourself arguing with customers over books that don’t exist inside the water park that oddly took the shape of your book shop.

Overnight copies of the former first round of the human trial with personal identifiable information on subjects still blocked out were released online to science journals, that paired with your quote in court of your parents curing Wilson’s disease and others proved it to be true. Your email blew up as anyone who knew how to get in touch with you tried to as papers and science journals spread the word.

Drastic news to be followed by news of the name you had chosen for your new round of the trial that could possibly be approved soon. SMDottir. To honor of your parents who used their initials within their method’s name and your label as their heir to continue the work. A machine of your creation used to speed up the process drastically was not missed either.

And by the time you were half an hour from Oslo station you had gotten a call from the Ambassador of Norway, who had gotten word you were on the way to their country and he wanted to know your itinerary for the day trip. He and some unnamed figures wished to meet you and after your trip to the furniture museum at the Viking museum they wanted to meet you and the dragon known to be traveling with you.

“Another Ambassador?” Eddie asked and you nodded leaning back into his chest as he heaved a sigh. “Wonder who he’s dragging along to meet you.”

“I don’t know, but if they make me miss our trip to the open park before it gets dark I’m gonna be so upset. Sunset there is incredible.”

True to your word it was hours in the furniture museum, but Eddie didn’t care at the incredible show of detail and craftsmanship put into each piece. Two of which the curator of the museum himself had assured you he would make note of your having mentioned you found a copy of them in New York and the creator’s descendant had owned some of the very pieces in display.

Outside the Viking museum after the hefty walk and bus travel to get to the grander side of town you stopped at the flag donning car in front of four more outside the museum. “I’m guessing that’s the King’s car.” Eddie said with a nod and turned, “I wore my good sweater at least.” He said making you giggle and turn with him, looping your arm back under his to head for the door with a long line already outside of it. The floating dragon at your side when you readied to take the back of the line had a uniformed guard approach you and say in his native tongue, “Miss Pear, they are waiting inside for you, tickets already purchased.”

“Oh, thank you,” you said and translated for Eddie, “Said we already have our tickets inside.”

“Well, so it begins as Theoden would say.” His eyes sealing a moment to glance at one of the bees in your hair shivering it’s wings to release the snowflakes that gathered on them. Over one side of you head your curls were flipped, the other half braided back secured by bees, and braids within the larger bit helped to have your bees gather to help with recordings and watch for any sign of people who might try to hurt or take Eldfalls. Or at least that was what you told yourself you were keeping them on guard for. Subtly your fingers adjusted on Eddie’s jacket sleeve on the quicker trot to the front doors. There a second guard let you three inside and held it open long enough for Eldfalls, who was being filmed by nearly everyone in line to get inside safely down to the end of his gnarled tail.

You weren’t handed any tickets. Simply greeted with hand shake after handshake and several eager men, who guided you back, Beyond the crowds of people already paid inside and waiting for tours to start who were filming and taking pictures of Eldfalls hovering over your head. To show you to the proper exhibit that was currently closed off by rope barriers moved for your group upon sight.

And right in the center of the front entrance, being told about the opening pieces on display up front, your mouth dropped open to see, not just the King of Norway. But his wife and two children beside the Queen of Denmark, who had her own two sons, who were opposite the King and Queen of Sweden with their two children.

“Okay,” you muttered to yourself, “Bit more than just an official or two,” you said to Eddie who inched a bit closer to your side as the group began to turn at notice of the rope barrier being moved.

“Here you are,” the King of Norway said first in English, the language chosen so that everyone would understand one another. To the lot of them you gave a quick curtsy greeting him formally and he spoke again, “Viscountess Pluto, welcome back to Norway, this may seem like an ambush but we all wished to have a time to meet with you here and get to know you all ourselves.”

He introduced his family and then let the King of Sweden take his own turn and the Queen of Denmark last who said with a pat of her hand on the back of yours she gained a hold of with a stunning offer of her palm to you. “I myself am very proud of your work, all fields. Quite accomplished. I am proud to know you are bonded to me by a distant cousin in law. You remind me so much of your mother, one of the loveliest of my relations I ever had the joy to meet. Have you spoken to your grandfather on a possible trip to meet this holiday as you have traveled here?”

“I wrote him a letter. Unless he met me when I was a toddler or younger I don’t have recollection of meeting him, I have written to my aunt though a few years back and she did not want to have much to do with me. So I wasn’t going to press him to have contact with me.”

“Your grandfather speaks so fondly of you. From afar he has been keeping me abreast of your achievements and gave us notice of your show. We purchased copies, of Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, you were magnificent. Pay no mind to your aunt, a wild card that one refused much to do with any of her duties to her country and name aside from her sport. Throwing it all away. I shall contact him later today to warn him of your letter and to contact you for your trip to Denmark, we will welcome you warmly as you have been here and Sweden.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” More questions for Eddie, who was being shuffled and greeted as well came before the awe stricken stares when Eldfalls moved to the exhibit that fed into a large room lit up brilliantly around the hologram of how you found the ship day one that blended through phases. At the final image, in dragon form, he himself walked closer and in his awkward snapping contortion of scales changed back to his ship form to hover for the awed museum workers and nobles who listened to your share of the repairs you had done just leaving the mast and sail before you would give it a flight test.

Scans of him were granted with a tent being erected to let the team do that while you moved to the rest of the exhibit then return in time for him to be uncovered by the same team who scanned him the first time. Sound of other bodies entering now that the rope barrier was removed gradually voices of guides grew closer as you were asked by the scanning team, “Miss Pluto, what metal did you use for the hole in the hull?”

“It’s an Asgardian metal, it’s a long name but it means Hue-Blue, when it’s in liquid form it turns a deep royal blue. I’ve met a few exiled Asgardians here who helped me with the diagrams and they shared the name of it.”

The King of Norway asked, “Exiled Asgardians?”

“Yes, self exile, there was a war between the realms and they chose not to continue the war and remain here instead of returning to Asgard. Most of them were stone masons, artists or gardeners and bakers. They all served in the required training on smaller skiffs than Eldfalls, this model was for the Ruling Clan. Others used models without masts and sails so they only have a vague idea on how it is constructed but they were a great help.”

The Queen of Sweden asked, “Did they help you trade for the metal from Asgard?”

“Oh no, sorry, um, I have a 3D printer I developed that can atomically scan and replicate any metal, even Hue-Blue. I still have to find a compatible chord for the sail however. Might have to do some sleuthing on varied kinds to find one both strong enough and light enough to handle his speed and requirements as it helps to power different aspects of the ship’s defenses as well.”

The King of Norway said, “Our stores are open to you, any chord you desire and quantity will be yours to finish this magnificent beauty.”

“Thank you,” barely was able to escape your lips in a near loss of your voice from shock.

The Princess of Sweden asked with a curious grin, “Have you managed to find the hatch into the hull yet? Or do you still had to wiggle down beside the mast?”

“Still wiggling,” you giggled back, “Still searching for hidden hatches. He loves being a living mystery.” Pictures of both him and the families here were stolen by those who could steal the hasty trek into the first groups where you also answered a few questions they had as well before you were asked to a lunch stunningly at a place nearby they rented out fully for privacy.

And in a stolen moment at your side the King of Norway waited to get near to you and Eddie to say he would do all he could to have another round of the trial pushed forward. As a young child in his family had been diagnosed with MS and they had been given poorly prognosis for treatment in the years ahead for her to look forward to. A claim that did not have you any less concerned for how the new round of these trials might go and how he especially might take it if it went sour in the end. But they weren’t the only ones, big names online had been shoving the names of loved ones they knew who would be grateful for any chance to improve their daily lives amongst hundreds of average people who were doing the same. Shouting into the void for a chance to get better.

Glad to stay behind and be living proof of your hard work Eldfalls remained only adding more excitement to the tour as the real ship was still here even if the young woman in the repair videos had gone to eat. Progress from the first images were monumental and once repaired fully only left wonder for what an Asgardian ship could really do.

You, however, didn’t feel as thrilled in wait to fill a seat in the car the Queen of Denmark arrived in. Just a glance at your phone for a second to silence the alert tones of your social pages that had suddenly blown up and your heart dropped to your stomach.

Pictures from Harry’s party had been all over the majority of pages tagging yours, a great chunk of which showed pictures of him either with his arm around Gwen or with them on his rooftop balcony kissing her in the moonlight. Ricky and your friends within the marching band tried to be supportive of you while shutting down the number of claims from Beverly’s group of friends who were claiming that Gwen had made a major upgrade. Online you didn’t do a thing, simply sent a private message to your friends to just let it lose steam.

You’d seen it and they all just had to wait and be supportive any way they could as most imagined your holiday ruined at the news. Silenced again even the vibration was shut off as you closed the text that came in from Harry. The first of a stream you ignored in pocketing your phone as it spelled the pair of them just couldn’t hide their true feelings anymore when they were forced to confront them.

Into the car you lowered to take up the seat with Eddie behind you to fill the sideways angled seats, both listening to the Princes who kept the conversation going on the short drive before you got out again. Oddly casual each of them chose their seats around the two you and Eddie chose, a special menu had been prepped for the official visit to be respectful of allergies, out of which drinks and meals were selected. Mingled in the questioning and talks of the others the Queen of Sweden asked you, “Pluto, would you happen to be seeing anyone at this time?” Having spent a short time sharing on how her son had just begun a new relationship while their daughter was well known to be just married.

“I happen to be single,” you said making Eddie, mid sip of his drink, steal a casual glance your way. “I was seeing someone for a couple months but we decided to just be friends.”

And her smile grew, “Well we certainly know a good number of fine young men to draw your eye.”

Rather charming you felt you appealed to their comfort levels of being around. Not entirely official and one who they could not feel entirely obligated to be around or nice to. You were pleasant, poised, behaved beautifully and were assured to be welcomed for official visits again soon once their holiday plans had passed.

Just as the King had promised a car was waiting outside to take you both to the best spot for a surplus of choices for sail materials. The driver nodded his head to your thanks at opening the door in the night cast car that only drove home you had missed the sunset you wanted to show off to Eddie. In the driver’s hurry back to the front of the car Eddie asked, “Alright, you want to explain the single comment?”

Out of your pocket you brought up the posts first dropping his jaw and then the now stream of messages from Harry who had been expecting and now demanded a response. “Oh he is so lucky we are on a different continent.”

With a shrug you said, “He gets what he wants, and he didn’t want to share my attention it seemed.”

Lowly he said in a lean closer, “For a second I thought it was an issue with being in a gay relationship.”

“From what I know there’s a great deal of acceptance, at least publicly in Scandinavia.”

“Well if I can’t go after him I am tearing a limb off his dad.”

“I just know if he is right and he is my mate I’m cutting his head off.”

“He is not your mate. That little creepy troll doll will never deserve you no matter how hard he works to make himself human.” After your glance at the window to the night sky, “I can see the sunset anytime, Sis. We are coming back for Yule, remember?”

“Yes, and I can show you the park there, they had this huge wooden playground set with cool tunnels and slides and everything.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“Oh wow.” You both said once inside the endless red painted steel rack filled building. Rows of finer thread making the burly man who let you in chuckle and gesture his hand to the side.

“Feel free to browse as long as you need. Our King said you are to get all the supplies required to help complete a sail to complete the famous Eldfalls. Let us know if you need any help.”

“Thank you,” you said and they stepped away to leave you, pausing as you asked, “Is it okay if I film some stuff?”

“Absolutely. We keep all the super secret product in the back and out of view. Be proud to be part of your online record to completing your new sail.” And with a chuckle he stepped away to get back to work so you can get to exploring.

Playfully the commentary from you and Eddie was recorded by the bees hovering around you, capturing the enjoyment you got out of the task and few comments of being promised supplies just for the ship and not for your own hobbies. Using a square scanner a few ends of the large spools to see if they would be compatible or not.

Some colorful choices had you pause and adorably for the worker who came to check on you say, “Ooh,” and have him bring out a handheld to scan the barcodes for them to save for your order. “I think these five, my original design had blue but this gold and emerald shiny one could be perfect with a tweak to the design.” Measurements were given and onto the next section you were seen moving to in what took longer to go for the base material that would support the thread to embroider the design you had just chosen.

Shock by another worker in Eldfall’s sudden appearance when the museum was readying to close warned you to the head that floated up beside yours to look at the end of the sample you had just scanned. “You wouldn’t be willing to help pick a base sail material for me would you?” lowly he chuckled and with a nudge of his hand began to move you and Eddie along. Looking himself over the choices until he found a silver thicker wound wool sample you scanned and smirked in seeing it matched the base material of his tattered sail, even if it didn’t match the color.

“That one?” the closest worker asked in a check on you guys and you nodded.

“Eldfalls says this is the one.”

“Hmm,” he said, “Can’t say we’ve ever sold any, normally customers go synthetic,” and with a scan of the barcode he said, “Yup, so you’ll have plenty to do what you need with it. Just how much were you needing?”

“I figured he would like the most natural one you had, and wool would fit the ticket. This should go nicely with the metal based threads in his sail to secure the currents sent through it.”

“Really going to be something,” he said with a grin to Eldfalls. “Do you have a company in the States up to weave it for you?”

“Oh no, I have been adapting my loom, going to do it myself. Going to take a while but I have a plan and mockup on how to break it down and complete it. Just have to get the mast rebuilt first to hold the sail, if anything to help when I need to dry it from the heat soak.”

The address to the garage by your place was taken down and in the middle of January they confirmed it would be delivered for you to sign for the materials for your sail and back out to the street you walked. Having told the car earlier you could call for a cab when you didn’t know how long it would take. But in the nice night air you both choice to take the snowy hike back to the train station as you confirmed the return trip time on the way.

Sharing one of the beds on the train you slept, clinging to your brother while he tried to not let his anger for how Harry had treated you have him jolt awake and spoil what sleep you could get as Venom protected you in your dreams again. The meal halfway in the meal car was greatly appreciated and somehow timed itself to when you were bothered awake by more phone notices. But another nap later and you were back in the garage collecting your rental car to get back to the rental to freshen up and have some privacy.

Overnight the Wilson’s disease samples and several others had been proven to be free of any trace of the illnesses with others greatly reduced, and proof by means of documentation and footage were taken and consulted by the council in charge of clearing another round of the trial. So close to the holidays no matter what it would wait until at least the day after that anything would happen. Still stories in papers of all three countries had run of the meeting of the nobles with a ‘true daughter of Scandinavia’ as the Queen of Denmark had named you, parents of two countries, and you born in the third, bringing a Viking relic back to life. Sure most of it was for press, but the hopeful talk of that endeavor and the research at least brightened your mood a little.

Once changed by the fire you both relaxed, him again on work with his notes as you edited the footage of your trip to Sweden and others to have a few videos to post, the first of which you did to add to your notifications. The video that would have the nobles in it however would just have a few of the press captured pictures to not have any unapproved footage of them in it to upset them. And by the time you would post the one of the sail hunting venture the company chosen in return would leave ample thanks for your praise and mention of their company name in some form of return for to being able to pay, as you shared the King had graciously promised you any supplies necessary.

“Viscountess,” a voice asked when you had arrived at the first stop of the few you’d planned when you decided to go exploring more of Sweden in your rented car.

“Hello,” you answered the man with the camera who caught your fix of the scarf around your neck to enable you to zip up your leather jacket.

He named his press outlet and asked, “We were just wondering what your plans for Christmas were?”

“While I’m not Christian I am heading back to Norway for a couple days to stay with a friend of my father’s in his home town.”

“Not Christian, Catholic then?” he asked curiously only widening your grin.

“Norse Pagan, as my parents were, they invited me to the end of the Yule festival out there. Haven’t been since I was very little.”

“A Pagan noble, wow, well I wish you safe travels and a merry Yule.” He said making his retreat to grant you both privacy.

“And a bountiful Yule to yourself,” you replied making him chuckle and nod and made your way to Eddie’s side doubling his grin as he got to loop an arm around your back. Softer you told him, “That will make a lovely headline.” Making him chuckle and look onward to where you were headed.

“Oh, any hint of your teacher Max yet?”

“Messaged me earlier, he and his mom are going to come by the festival too. Spending the day with her for a private gift trade and said she’s excited to both come and to meet me and my adopted brother.”

“Funny, you are clearly the draw in this.”

“I will have you know she married a journalist. Loves a good scoop,” you said making him chuckle.

Shoulder to ankle you made use of your emerald and white velvet and lace long sleeved dress, with tall boots, tights and your dragon decorated shawl. Eddie also wore the best sweater and jeans he had to go with his boots and couldn’t help but smile as you worked your nerves about the meeting with your grandfather away amongst the other teens to weave you and him holly and leaf headdresses after you had help in painting your faces. Songs and languages he couldn’t understand made all the more beautiful by the light of the bonfire and open lanterns for the field chosen to celebrate in surrounded by hay bales to help lock in what heat possible. He truly could feel what you shared in the past year of what this felt like, celebration of this faith amongst all your people who loved and cherished you while accepting your love and warm wishes in return. The feast was inside, but the dancing and events were all out in the star lit snowy night lit up more by the bright nearly full moon.

Memories, both painful and now becoming clearer of your last time here as a small child only made this more poignant enough to wish the night would never end. That this trip would never end. All through his camera roll for several rolls of film he had captured all he could between bouts that small children would steal it away for small bursts to add their own mysterious pictures to the mix. Capturing warm hugs and star brightening smiles of those who remembered you and shared of old times and who was unable to be here with you all.

And much like the past days a few members of press had take to joining in the masses to be quite obvious in recording just how this new noble would intend to participate in this holiday, amongst the masses or off to the side in observance. Eldfalls however in the mix of pictures would provide a memorable one, you atop a wooden ceremonial seat acting in your own turn for model for the supply of portraits to be hung from this festival, with him draped adoringly at your side with his head atop your lap. Countless people had taken pictures with him and small children clambered all over his playful self, having even taken part in pretending to foil a mock battle as kindly asked, but he always gravitated back to his beloved master he claimed who basked in this ceremony.

Max in the mix at the feast beside his mother did have to laugh as you said, “Either of you call me Viscountess and I will scream.”

To which Max chuckled in reply, “The proper way to address you is Lady Victory,” making you roll your eyes, “But I will keep that just in my head.”

Two days and several copies of pictures of your last Yule later and you were napping on a five hour train to Denmark. Not at his estate, in fact a good while away for the week your grandfather had rented a place closer to the station where you would meet him. There he had a meal prepared you could enjoy in private as he got to know who you had grown to be. With white blonde hair in a well tended braid and pale green eyes your mother had inherited the man who was tall and lanky, built more lean to show a finer level of sports he had been raised into enjoying suitable to his rank. Out of his usual suit in a sweater, blazer and warm slacks that partly showed his colorful socks and dress boots when seated, he hoped to give a warmer impression of this meeting than in business attire.

The temperature for you however had you in black jeans, tall socks and boots with a warm sweater and your double breasted jacket as Eddie reused his nice sweater he washed from a few days before. Right inside the front entrance an aid had let you into the warm space and accepted both of your coats then turned to guide you beyond a glass set of doors to the living room. There the man himself stood up smoothing his hands anxiously over the front of his pant legs in their adjusting fall at the motion and then to his blazer he kept from buttoning to remind himself he was not in a suit. “Pluto,” he said with a creeping smile at finally seeing you in person again.

“Grandfather,” you said hushedly and flinched a grin in return. To your right you gestured to Eddie, “This is Eddie.”

Right away his hand extended for them to shake hands, “Yes, Thengel Beornson, and I thank you, whole heartedly for caring for Pluto as your own.”

Eddie shook his head, “Didn’t stand a chance when I first crossed her path. I’m glad to meet you.”

Their hands released and Thengel looked to you again, “The last time we met you were three years old, I was informed by the Queen of your letter, and I do understand why you bore reluctance to contact me. Especially,” he let out a sharp breath and drew in another, “Sigurd, has always been more tempestuous than Sigyn, always, so secluded off the desire from anything aside from chasing her dream on the ice. Even quite venomously against myself and,” shakily he drew in a breath and was clearly fighting tears from building into his eyes, “Sigyn and now you. I am so terribly sorry.” His hands raised palms up having broken them from a moment of smoothing his palms together.

Shaking your head you said reaching out to graze your fingers over his forearm to pat your palm there in a comforting bit of contact that had his hand angle to rest his fingers around your arm in return. “It’s painful, I know I look like her at least halfway. That was partly why she said she didn’t want to talk to me again. And to be honest what I can remember about them most times,” you paused and stole a glance at your arms.

“You must have been through something so very daunting,” he said making you look up again, “We must be so terrifying. You are enjoying your trip to Sweden?” he asked with concern at the tears pooling in your eyes.

“I was so scared,” you managed to whisper, “Out in New York I rarely have nightmares now thanks to my therapy. But coming home, it seems people have an impression of me, and me being afraid,”

That had his free hand come to rest on your shoulder, “No one, is a stranger to fear. I am not in the belief that fear makes you lesser. I know, Magnus and my Sigyn gave you all their strength to get you here today, I will never flinch in my support of you. You have built a life, come, I have pictures, and so much more.” From snapshots and clippings of your achievements to a box of letters he drafted in a means to mail to you, and had been able to once he paid a man in New York to hunt down your address to be able to write to you.

Hours over tea, a meal and warm drinks after seemed to at least get you closer to the point were you were able to move in for a timid hug he melted into and pulled back. Confirming he could meet with you after his week away on a stop to Sweden once his business was finished that was taking him away. “I will see you in a week, my magical girl.”

“I think that went well,” you said luring Eddie to draw you into his side.

“It did. He seems open to let you choose what you’re willing to do with your life.”

“And he likes you, that’s good.” You said looking back at the box of letters and scrapbook of copies of pictures he had been sent of you with copies of letters your parents sent to him.

“My mama wrote to him about the garden, do you think he knows what I can do? He called me magical.” You asked looking up at Eddie.

“Well we can check the letters on the train. Even if he did know, I mean I hate to belittle things, but, what could he say about it and to who?”

“You have a point, just, be odd if he did know. Most people who know have powers too, all Gwen knows is I have duct tape and grappler chords.”

Halfway across the world LA seemed to be coated in black cloth. Seven of the Kardashians, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Justin Bieber, the younger two Jonas Brothers, Mathew Morrison, half the main casts of Glee and Grey’s Anatomy and other actors and reality stars on the way to an award show were amongst others traveling elsewhere who were shot out of the sky. Quickly it was realized a rocket the Green Goblin had shot into the sky caused every private jet in the air to plummet down to the earth while all commercial carriers and the Blackhowls currently aloft felt no impact at all grounding all celebrities and elite who kept their own craft at hand.

That was phase one it seemed as major dealerships across the country who sold the smaller crafts began to be attacked by tiny green robotic drones that had been ejected from his rocket. Havoc was being wreaked upon the elite causing them to suffer the ghastly task of sharing aircraft with the common people by flying commercial thus doubling their customer base who were clawing for first class seats to have the most privacy possible.

Both acts only summoning confirmation calls for you that your craft were safe and didn’t seem phased at all as you assured the systems would be undetectable for most emp’s and devices like them that could be used to target aircraft from afar in a single pulse. But it did have them breech the topic of another set of Blackhowls and a safer craft for the President to fly in.

For three days Eldfalls made stops in the Viking exhibits within Denmark and Sweden as you helped to gain samples of blood work to check the status on the thirty patients who were chosen for this new round. Just as he had said the King of Norway had added pressure to answer what physicians had already been doing as part of your legal case and beside a small girl inside one of the rooms at the castle he stood in wait for your arrival. She amongst others had been assigned their own rooms and hooked up to monitors already to track their results, the twins already had gone to greet the ten year old girl and grinned as you entered with the wheeled cart holding your machine on it.

The King asked, “Do we get to remain here for the administration of the medicine?”

“I wouldn’t see why not,” you said then greeted the girl who gave you an anxious grin, “Though that will be a bit, your potassium is a bit low.”

Making her mother say in a defeated tone, “We are being sent away then.”

Epli responded, “Quite the contrary, just a shot of potassium and we will check her levels in half an hour and we should be able to start.” Calming the family who watched her get the simple shot in her iv port and was left to try and relax as you moved on.

Amongst the number of Parkinsons patients an actor was seated atop his armchair in the room, having been weaned off his meds the day prior looked you over in wonder as he had asked to meet you. “Hello,”

“Wow you look young,” was his response making you chuckle and he apologized. “Sorry, that, sounded rude.”

“Not rude at all. I’ll be 17 soon, I’m not an official doctor yet,” you said as he eyed the twins who readied their tray of supplies for the injection as you readied the ring off the top of the machine. “Hence Idun and Epli here monitoring me, I made the machine that quickens this process, used to take two weeks to ready a dose, now it’s a few minutes. May I scan your hand?” you asked and they nodded watching you take hold of their fidgeting hand gently strapped to the railing on the bed at their request to not trouble the process with too much motion.

“Of course.”

“Shouldn’t hurt at all,” you said, “So I just man the machine and they handle the actual patient care.”

“I read the original study, said patients with symptoms more than a decade weren’t cured the first dose. How many do you think it will take?” They asked clearly showing the weariness in their eyes of the weight of the disease.

“From what I recall there were only two doses given in the initial trial, three months apart. I would hate to give you a number and disappoint, but I wouldn’t imagine it would pass ten. My mother had two doses and it cured her Chorea, which is similar to the physical motions Parkinson’s sets off. Of course it didn’t reverse the damage done, she was ready to work in rehab for physical motions to come back to a degree.”

He nodded and said with a half hearted smile, “I’ll take less than ten. Do my best to not fight the process.”

Every patient had you on the verge of tears, more so when after an hour of injection severe fevers and fluctuating physical responses had you outside for air with the families while the twins kept the patients under care of their fellow Beserker staff members. News of the new round however brought a slew of visitors from the initial round, most still in wheelchairs or on crutches but far beyond compare to what they had been like over a decade ago. Them and their family members who came with them shared support and warm thoughts to those in wait and yourself, most of whom recalled hearing about or even seeing in passing at the start of the new round. They knew it would work, possibly better for this batch with new eyes on it to help it along in improvement.

One day the patients would be in and out of trouble while you recorded all the notes you could with the typewriter your parents used in their study to help the twins keep on top of the thirty struggling patients. File folders meticulously kept until a break of calm came about with soothing wet cloth baths to help them all freshen up and be prepped for the following blood work. This would begin the following three months of monitoring.

“Eighteen have no further genetic code for their illnesses.” You said and looked to Idun who grinned mid elated chuckle.

They said, “For now, that is good, daily checks on fluids and after a week we go for the second dose and placebo dose for those who show no trace. Then we wait three months and see if we can expand the trials to a new round of 30 new patients.”

Epli, “End of the year they should approve us to administer the drug how we please. Contact foundations to send information for patients to be sent for to receive the doses.”

“And we can’t tell them their results yet, King should love that.”

Idun replied, “He understood the terms, he is being rather patient. So no concern after the next dose when you head back to New York.”

Epli said, “We aren’t going to keep you here the entire trial. The final months are all review of results, which we will keep you in the loop.”

“I feel bad leaving you to deal with all this.” You said making them chuckle and shake their heads.

Idun answered, “You enjoy your exploring and time off, get yourself a nice manicure and pedicure, I know you said you usually keep your appointments rather regularly.”

So you did. The next stop on your trip was to a small spa that for you and Eddie laid out a full body and facial set of massages as well as a pedicure and manicure that leisurely took up half your day. New health drinks between sessions at the lounge were enjoyed while you relaxed in the plushy robes given to you. Mid stare at the smoothie draining out of the recyclable straw had Eddie ask you, “Straw clogged?”

“There’s a tube inside the mast,” you said looking at him widening his smile, “What if the tube channels and concentrates the currents of the engine to keep it solid?”

“Certainly could give it a shot,” he said making you smile and calm the staff who were wondering at your pause in enjoying the drink with a big sip of the blended mixture you fought against the grimace that wanted to settle on your face at its almost rancid taste.

While a spa didn’t seem to some a decent way to spend money from the card given to you each and every museum or spot you stopped in was given reviews on your page. To show more of your travel adventures since you couldn’t share anything on the trial to keep it confidential until approval for public use outside of studies. And given what the Ambassador knew of your past and how well the original trial round went any bit of touring funds to keep you in good spirits was well worth it if these deadly diseases could be cured or at least curbed.

Afterwards, once terms of the offered contract was detailed to you, a deal to have you use the commercial airliner designs you had drafted up when the US Military had first mentioned talks of you coming up with a more stable craft for the President to use. Alongside a lawyer you signed the deal with an aircraft company in Sweden that would produce the cleaner planes for use throughout Scandinavia.

Already Sweden powered most of the country by means of recycled goods converted to energy complete with busses using food compost as fuel and a way to fly without using oil could change things drastically for their independence power-wise. Detailed down to the final screw a simpler less lethal way to build the system that was not for military use, and therefore not breaking the term in your contract to keep the Blackhowls exclusive to the US for the time being, pretty much any engineer who followed it to the letter could build them. Shock for them would come in the numbers that would have it be far more lenient in weight issues and greater in ability to wire within the passenger cabins for more options to comfort and entertainment.

Surely it would take half a year to have a decent fleet and the pilots up to standard on the new flight system you handed over a simulator program for. But would be more than worth it as into that trust of yours for every plane you would get $5 million each and a bonus of $20 million when they have the entire planned fleet in the air. 20 years they would have permission to use your design with a term that should they have to replace any aircraft once they have a number remade enough for a new fleet the bonus sum would be paid again. A deal further cementing your future, whenever you had reached 24 years old and could gain access to it finally.

Two days after the second dose however when your grandfather had to get back to work in another country, in the start of a new year, now proudly with three evenings spent with his granddaughter, back at the airport you found yourself posting a message you were headed to New York.

Already you would be late for the new semester and Morita had said to take a spare day when you did get back if you needed it to recover from the travels. Through your bees you saw Eldfalls as agreed had flown himself back to the garage and would wait for your return to hear how your miniature models would fare to test the design of a new mast to be replicated on a grander scale.

*.*.*

“Found a plan to crack the Goliath code.” Tony Stark said through the phone once Rhodey picked up the early morning call.

“I already don’t like the sound of this, but I’ll bite. What’s the plan?”

“The kid, you said she has a commercial flight design she made for a possible Air Force One they haven’t touched yet.”

“And?”

“I bought a plane factory and a private plane airline. I’m gonna sign her as designer of the airline, and for every jet we sell I’m giving her half the profits. Talked to legal, will have to go into a trust for her age, but I can pay her 40k for the first 50 we make and each 50 after.”

“Tony, I’m not seeing how this cracks the code?”

“Because I’ll be able to see how she codes this and I can work backwards from there.”

“And just what happens if you can’t crack this code either?”

“Well then, I’ll look into selling Stark industries to the kid because clearly I am out gunned and she deserves it.” Making Rhodey chuckle to himself.

*.*.*

Pt 38

@devilishminx328. @theincaprincess, @lilith15000, @jesevans, @jiminapickle

#Escaped Child Assassin #Eddie Brock #Venom #Found Family #Old Wounds #Court Case #Research Trial #Green Goblin #Air Attack #Scandanavia #Gwen Stacy x oc doomed #Harry Osborn #Marvel #Hurt/comfort

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