"Well, from what I know about them, that may be the best course of action.", Claus says.
Then he looks surprised.
"... What do you mean, you don't think he can be stopped? Nobody is invincible!", he says, trying to encourage him.
"How long did Porky elude people before he finally died? ... granted, he did it to himself and he's still around now, but the moment the Great Light finds that guy Porky will be gone forever. And how long did it take before we dealt with Sombra?"
He smiles.
"Hell, Thor, we got through Galeem and Dharkon, and their minions too! If that doesn't prove there's always a chance, even if it's abysmally small, then I don't know what does. Even as a Chimera I'm not as strong as you are, Thor, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna back down. Once the circumstances change and Thanos returns, I'll be there to fight him again."
He nods, looking really confident, an expression he hasn't shown often.
"What you need is trustworthy information on Thanos' resources and abilities. If you have that, you can start planning and recruiting allies strong enough to defend themselves. You don't always have to be the strongest to win a fight."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Despite his less-than-optimistic attitude regarding his chances of victory over Thanos, Thor manages to crack a slight smile, pleased that Claus had the common sense to know that Troa and Katre had to die.
"Warlock knew practically everything about Thanos, and was supposedly powerful enough to defeat him... yet Thanos crushed him as if he were merely an insect," he says, shaking his head. "No matter what plan we came up, he always knew exactly how to outmaneuver us. The most I could do was scratch the bastard while I was fortunate enough to have survived a fight with him at all. Loki's group was discovered and forced to retreat before they could so much as dent his Odin-damned warship... Need I say more, Claus?"
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 19th 2020 at 11:58:14 AM
Claus furrows his brow, looking conflicted.
"Hm... isn't a part of his strength that gauntlet of his?", he asks. "What if you managed to steal it before engaging him?"
Edited by DevilPsyco on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:01:47 PM
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
"Loki and I tried that already. The only thing we learned was that Thanos is nigh-impossible to steal from," Thor says.
"Ah... uh... have you tried stealing it from him mid-battle instead? He could be distracted by people long enough for someone to grab his hand, and all you'd have to do then is make him unable to knock that person off and prevent him from snapping his fingers."
Claus makes a cleaving motion with his arm.
"Or cut off his hand with the gauntlet still on it. It's only for one hand, right? So him still having his other hand would be meaningless since he wouldn't be able to put it on again."
He then scratches his cheek.
"Dunno how much chance of success that plan would have though. I'm not nearly as good as Pseudo at this kinda stuff."
Then he looks... disgruntled.
"Although not all of his plans are competent ones, I learnt today."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Thor strokes his chin as he contemplates Claus' suggestions for dealing with Thanos' gauntlet.
"I suppose those methods could be worth a try. Granted, they're most assuredly going to be easier said than done, but not impossible. At least, I hope that will be the case..."
He then raises an eyebrow.
"Wait... what's this about a failed plan of Pseudo's?"
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 19th 2020 at 12:24:58 PM
"Ah? I'm glad you're at least considering plans against Thanos possible again.", Claus says with a smirk.
Then he sighs again.
"Well, Pseudo... he called everyone in his organization together for a meeting on how to deal with the Cyber Angels and the Assassins. He invited me too because he said one of his ideas would need my approval."
His expression sours.
"So his 'brilliant' idea was to use Lucas as live bait for the Cyber Angels to draw out Hub, so that the Cyber Angels would start targeting the Assassins too. Any Cyber Angels or Assassins killed wouldn't come back thanks to the curse, and once both sides were weakened, we'd take them both out at the same time."
"I don't think you need to guess how I reacted to that idea."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Once Claus finishes explaining what Pseudo's plan was, Thor can only raise an eyebrow in response.
"You're joking... right? I mean, why the Hel would Pseudo, of all people, suggest needlessly putting Lucas' life in danger? It's not like him to be so... callous."
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 19th 2020 at 12:45:17 PM
"He thought that Hub would show up guaranteed and be able to protect Lucas. The thing is, he seems to have forgotten that Hub didn't do crap when Lucas was kidnapped by Ken Tahn.", Claus says. "Yeah, he started looking for him, but after that, nothing. Hell, the Assassins shot at Tahn's hideout! There's no way Hub doesn't know that."
Claus shakes his head.
"I don't think Hub would come. And even if he does, there's no guarantee Lucas won't still get shot. It'd be even worse if he gets shot after Hub arrives, because then the curse would take effect!"
He glances away with a sheepish look.
"My reaction may have been a bit overboard though. ... Let's just say my throat is a bit sore from my furious yelling."
Then he looks back at Thor.
"I also said that, if he puts that plan into motion, he and I are no longer allies. I'd become his enemy again if it meant protecting Lucas. Luckily he dropped the idea, even saying that it was merely a suggestion and that he wouldn't go through with it without my consent. He still wants to try to trick the Assassin and Cyber Angels into focusing on each other, but he won't use Lucas to do it if I don't want him to. That calmed me down a bit, but I'm still a bit frustrated."
He then raises his arms.
"And yeah, I know! I didn't think he'd put someone's life at risk like that, especially with how obsessed he is with keeping his base and everyone in it safe. Lucas isn't a member, but he met Pseudo and briefly talked to him after we saved him from Tahn, right before Galeem attacked."
He crosses his arms.
"After the meeting, as I was leaving, Botar also mentioned to me that Pseudo seemed to be more on edge lately. I'm guessing it's just stress getting to him for a moment."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
"Regardless, I think someone ought to keep an eye on Pseudo, lest he do something... reckless."
Thor learns forward in his seat.
"Speaking of Pseudo, I believe Loki once told me something about how he plans to play the Assassins, Cyber Angels, and Thanos against each other."
"Yeah, I asked Ninten and Botar to do that. The latter's around him a lot, and Ninten..."
He looks slightly sheepish.
"Well, I trust Ninten a great deal. ... Even if he has the tendency to ramble all the time."
Then he appears interested.
"Oh, he has a plan? What is-"
He pauses.
"... do you think it'd be safe to discuss that plan out in the open?", he asks to be sure.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
"To be honest, I'm not certain he gave any exact details about this plan. Perhaps it's still a work-in-progress," Thor replies.
"Ah. Well, Loki's a trickster, right? If anyone can pull it off-"
"Pardon me.", a new voice suddenly says. Claus immediately turns to see a boy with blond hair
◊ approaching them. Claus doesn't know him, though does find him a bit familiar-looking.
"You are allies of Pseudo Porky, correct?"
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Thor's gaze flickers to the new arrival as well, and he nods.
"We are, yes."
"Excellent.", he says as he takes a letter out of a bag.
"I have a message from my current employers. They did not fill me in on the details, only that it's important that it reaches him in any way possible."
Claus is about to talk, but the boy beats him to it.
"I am also under strict instructions not to reveal my employers' identities to you. However, it is included in the message."
Claus doesn't talk, showing that was what he was about to ask.
"... how do we know we can trust this?"
"I'm not too sure how anything can go wrong by opening a letter. Regardless, I was only tasked with bringing this to either Pseudo or someone who can see him in person. What you do with the letter after you take it does not matter to me."
Claus hesitantly takes the letter, keeping his eyes on the boy at all times, just in case. Nothing happens though.
"With that, my work here is done.", he says.
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
"Well then... thank you for delivering this message, I suppose."
Thor shifts his attention back to Claus and the letter in his hand.
"Whatever the Hel this thing is, it had better be something useful and not one of Loki's elaborate pranks."
As the boy leaves, Claus looks at Thor.
"I hope so too. ... I suppose it wouldn't be right to open it here before showing it to Pseudo?"
He gets out his cellphone.
"Either way, I'm contacting Botar to get this letter to Pseudo."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
"Hmm... perhaps we should allow Pseudo the first look at whatever this letter might contain," Thor says.
"Yeah, that's fair."
Then Botar arrives.
"That was fast.", he says, smirking. "But I assume it went well?"
"Yeah, it did. But, um, just now some random kid gave us a letter for Pseudo. Someone tasked him to give it to us."
Botar looks confused.
"A letter? Wouldn't it be better to approach one of us in person?"
"I dunno.", Claus says.
"... well, I suppose I'll give it to him then. Thor, do you want to come along?"
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Thor shrugs, then gets to his feet.
"I see no reason as to why I shouldn't."
"Alright then. Goodbye, Claus.", Botar says as he takes the letter.
"See you both later."
After Claus says goodbye, Botar warps himself and Thor to the room in front of the hall.
"For once, it's me who has to walk through here.", Botar says. "To make sure nothing fishy is going on with this letter. You can just run through if you want."
Edited by DevilPsyco on Feb 19th 2020 at 10:52:56 AM
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
After being warped into Pseudo's base, Thor simply nods to Botar in response before heading down the hallway.
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 19th 2020 at 1:52:38 AM
Once Thor gets close to the main monitor room, he might hear Pseudo talking to himself.
"-but then again, we have two Giegues here. Together they could prove quite the offensive force. They'll definitely prove useful if we need to perform a quick attack. ... yet, that still doesn't make for any possibility of the Assassins getting dragged into the conflict as well..."
In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Thor, upon reaching the monitor room, decides to announce his presence by clearing his throat.
"I hope I've not disrupted anything... important."
"Excellent. If there's a single good thing to come from this blasted debacle, it's that Deut won't be able to stop me from finally executing those irredeemable hags and sending them to Hel..."
Thor lets out a heavy sigh.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Claus. Truly, I do. However, after our 'battle' with him... I honestly don't think Thanos can be stopped."
Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 19th 2020 at 10:55:50 AM