When Ryan said there were plenty of people like him, Loki's heart sank.
He had come to the Blue Planet with a mission: to open a Portal between it and the Chitauri.
But if there were many people like Ryan here, Loki thought it might be better not to invade the planet at all.
Besides, he had more immediate concerns.
In the car, Loki leaned against the window, listening to the engine roar. Then he asked Ryan, "Are you going to stop me? Stop me from opening the Portal?"
"No. I'm on your side." Ryan thought of his system. Completing the mission and getting the reward came first.
Loki's eyes lit up when he heard Ryan was there to help. "Once I conquer this planet, I'll give you a share of the land."
"You're counting on the Chitauri to invade, right?"
"Yes." Loki nodded, then looked puzzled. "Why?"
"Are the Chitauri any good?"
"They claim they're unstoppable."
"And in practice?"
"We can only hope they live up to their claims." Loki's answer gave Ryan pause.
Ryan remembered that, in the original story, one Nuclear Bomb had brought the entire Chitauri army down.
It was hard to feel optimistic.
But the Chitauri were all Loki had to rely on now. He looked down at the case holding the Cosmic Cube. "In any event, let's open the Portal first."
"Fair enough. So what are you offering me?" Ryan asked out of nowhere. Loki froze.
Loki stared at him, bewildered. "What?"
"If you don't pay me, I'll take that case and run."
"Don't do that."
"Then pay me. I want you to teach me magic."
"Can you even learn it?"
"I can try."
Ryan rubbed his hands together excitedly. He liked learning new spells, and Loki's magic—from illusions to shapeshifting—was useful.
Loki fell