The doors closed behind Mobius as he left the office. Loki sat on the couch, gesturing with his hands as if to ask "Well?"

"We're on." Mobius confirmed.

Loki leapt from the couch, bumping his fist in the air.

Loki followed Mobius back into the locker hall.

"We are doing some good work today." Mobius stated.

"I thought so too." Loki said as he followed the analyst.

"I'm telling you," Mobius began. "You actually help us catch this Variant and who knows, my friend."

"What? Good enough for a face to face with the Time Keepers?" Loki inquired.

"I didn't say that. One step at a time." Mobius said, arriving at his locker. After he opened it he took off his suit, and reached inside for something.

"All right." Loki agreed. "One step at a time."

"Just in case..." Mobius said, extracting a set of daggers from his locker. Loki gasped in awe as Mobius placed them in his hands.

Mobius smiled at his reaction. "How do those feel-"

"Absolutely not." B-15 interjected, snatching the daggers from Loki's hands and shoving them into her locker. "Gather around for a briefing."

All of the Minutemen circled around at the center of the room.

"Roxxcart is a vast superstore common to the era." B-15 explained. "It consists of a series of sprawling sections, including a large warehouse. This warehouse is being used by civilians as a shelter trying to ride out the storm. Remember, this is a class ten apocalypse. While the Variant shouldn't know we're coming, he could be hiding anywhere and should be considered hostile. So stay alert. Everytime there is an attack, the Variant steals a Reset Charge. He's planning something. We just don't know what. So keep an eye out for the missing charges, and if you see a Loki, prune it."

"The bad one, preferably." Loki chimed in.

***

The neon billboard sign for Haven Hills, Alabama was immediately swept away as the massive winds of the storm blew. With the apocalyptic flood, the entire landscape had become a vast sea. The Roxxcart superstore facility stood amidst it all. The Time Doors formed at the parking lot of the store. Rain soaked the entire company of Minutemen as they emerged from them.

"Anything?" Mobius shouted above the rain.

"Nothing yet. Move out!" B-15 ordered. Mobius, Loki, and the rest of the company charged forwards. They entered into the store.

Everyone got settled into the store. Loki squirmed disapprovingly, clearly uncomfortable with being drenched. With a deliberate shrug, a shimmer of green scanned up his body, immediately evaporating all of the rain as if he had never gotten wet.

B-15 flinched at the magic. "The hell was that?"

Loki looked at her. "That was me. Using magic. To dry my clothes." Loki told her impatiently. "So I don't announce myself with every squeaky footstep like the rest of you."

Thunder rumbled and the lights flickered in the store.

"Take both teams and sweep the storm shelter." B-15 said.

"Yes, ma'am." One of the Minutemen affirmed.

"Loki and I are gonna check out the Green House." Mobius said. "We'll meet-"

"No." B-15 said firmly.

"No?" Mobius questioned.

"You go with D-90." She answered. "He stays with me."

"What do you mean?" Mobius protested. "He's under my supervision."

"This is my field op, Mobius." B-15 said. "If he's not a threat then it shouldn't be a problem."

"Of course he's a threat. Do you remember the Time Theater?" Mobius said. "That's why I want him with me."

B-15 sighed. "You are more than welcome to go back to the TVA and litigate with Renslayer, but right now-"

"We're here." Mobius said firmly. "We're not going back, the Variant is here."

"Mobius." Loki cut in. "It's fine. It's fine. You can trust me. I understand I have to earn that, so, I will."

"Why is that the people that you can't trust are always saying "trust me."?" Mobius conceded before departing. "Okay, try and hold onto your Time Collar this time."

"We'll see you in the showroom." D-90 said, following Mobius.

Loki shot them a glance before following B-15.

***

The security camera feed displayed everything that happened since the TVA showed up. In the security room, a hooded figure pressed several buttons on a device before departing from the area after scanning the feed. The device was revealed to be a Tempad. The timer on it read 20:00 before it's seconds started counting down.

***

Loki and B-15 were strolling down the plant aisles of the store.

"I for one am glad we're getting to spend this time together-" Loki began.

"SHHHH!" B-15 shushed him.

"I feel like we got off on the wrong foot-"

"Quiet!" B-15 urged.

Something shattered in the distance; the pair turned to investigate. In the plant section stood a man in a blue coat.

"Hey!" B-15 beckoned.

The man turned and faced her, throwing his hands up in an instant. "Whoa, whoa. It's okay, it's okay."

"What are you doing?" She demanded.

"Shopping for plants." He answered.

Loki produced a puzzled look. "In this storm?"

"Hurricane sale." He said. "Azaleas are half off."

"Could that be you?" B-15 asked.

"I mean, I probably would have worn a suit but yes, maybe." Loki confirmed.

B-15 approached, Timestick at the ready. As soon as she got close enough, the man in the blue sweatshirt reached out with his hand, grabbing hold of B-15's arm for the briefest of moments. A green current of energy traveled from B-15's wrist all the way up her body; her eyes illuminated with green light. As it did, the man in the blue sweatshirt collapsed onto the floor in an instant.

"Is he dead?" Loki asked.

"No." The posessed B-15 answered. "They usually survive."

The posessed B-15 turned to Loki, crossing her hands behind her back. "So, you're the fool the TVA brought in to hunt me down."

"Me, I presume?" Loki said looking at B-15.

"Please." B-15 scoffed. "If anyone's anyone, you're me."

Loki smiled, attempting to contain his obvious annoyance. "How nice to meet you."

***

Mobius and company entered into the warehouse area of the store. Several people were huddled around the area.

"Check the bags for the Reset Charges." D-90 ordered. The Minutemen nodded and got to work.

"You guys FEMA?" One of the workers asked. "National Guard?"

"Could be any one of them." D-90 said.

"Well, hey, if you got a 'copter or other transport, now's the time to use it." The Roxxcart worker said. "We got women, and children, and that weather ain't playin'."

"No, I'm sorry we don't." Mobius said firmly.

"Well how the hell did you get here?"

D-90 shoved the worker out of the way abruptly and began scouring the bags for the Reset Charges.

"What are you doing?" Mobius said, catching up to D-90. "Hey! These people are scared."

D-90 stood up from what he was doing, staring at Mobius coldly. "They're about to die. They should be."

"Okay, not of us." Mobius said. "Take it easy."

"Sir!" One of the Minuteman called to Mobius.

Mobius followed him into the security room. Hunter C-20 was on the floor leaning back against the wall, staring forward blankly.

"It's real. It's real. It's real..." She uttered repeatedly.

Mobius approached her.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

***

Loki followed the Variant around the aisles of the shopping center.

"Enchantment is a clever trick." He regarded. "Cowardly, a bit amaterurish, but clever."

"Almost as cowardly as working for the TVA." The posessed Hunter B-15 responded.

"I'm working for me." Loki responded.

She scoffed in response. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"Yeah."

The Variant chuckled. "And here I was worried that they'd found a better version of me."

A tall, thin man dressed in a Roxxcart uniform approached the two of them. "Hi, are you guys looking for the disaster shelter?"

"No." B-15 said, grabbing hold of him.

As the green energy left B-15, she collapsed onto the floor. Loki knelt down to her immediately.

"Oh bless." The Roxxcart employee smirked. "Are you going to call your little friends for help?"

Loki followed him. "What's the matter? Too scared to meet me face to face? Show yourself."

The employee silently resumed walking.

"You know, gaining their confidence was no mean feat."

The employee stopped and turned around, with a viscous smirk on his face. "Oh, my god. You went undercover."

Loki let out an impatient sigh. "If you could possibly sheathe your smarm for a moment, I have an offer for you. That's why I found you."

"Go on." The employee said.

"I'm going to overthrow the Time Keepers."

The words forced the employee to stop walking.

"And, uh, cards on the table." Loki said. "I could use a qualified leftenant."

The employee produced an amused look. "And I assume you mean...me?"

"What say you?" Loki said with a wink. "Loki?"

"Ugh. Don't call me that." The Variant moaned in disgust. "You can call me..." he looked down at the digital nametag pinned to his shirt. "...Randy."

Loki sighed once more. "God, now I understand why Thor found this so annoying. Listen, enough of your games. I've been trying to help you. I kept them vulnerable at the Renaissance fair for some time."

"Oh gosh, and that was just so nice of you." Randy remarked. "But after eight to ten seconds of consideration the answer is no. I'm not interested in ruling the Time Variance Authority."

***

"It's real. Its real. It's real." C-20 continued.

"What's real?" Mobius asked.

"She's off the dial." D-90 said.

"I want to go home." C-20 said.

"Okay, we're going to get you there." Mobius said, turning to the other Hunter. "Call the TVA, let the infirmary know-"

"No, no, no." C-20 rejected. "I gave it away. I gave it away."

"What, did you give away?" D-90 pressed.

"The Time Keepers. I gave it away, how to find them." C-20 said.

D-90 produced his Tempad and spoke into it. "B-15 what's your status?"

***

Outside in the halls of the store, B-15's Tempad sounded with D-90's voice.

"B-15, come in." It spoke. "What's your status."

B-15 awoke at the sound of D-90's voice.

"B-15, do you copy?" It continued.

She looked around, shuddering in confusion at the sight of her surroundings.

***

"If you don't want to rule the TVA, then what do you want?" Loki asked.

"It doesn't matter, you're too late." The Variant responded.

"I think you'll find I'm well ahead of schedule. I found your hiding place like that." Loki proclaimed with a snap of his fingers. "I'd say that makes me the superior Loki, wouldn't you?"

Loki stopped following Randy for a moment and looked to one of the shelves. On top of it was a wired Reset Charge.

Loki sighed. "I see. That's your plan. Lure us all here so you can blow the place up?"

Loki looked around for an answer but found nothing.

Suddenly, a leg was thrust out of nowhere to kick him and before he knew it he was sliding across the floor.

A big burly man in a vest and green camouflage jacket emerged, chuckling as he approached Loki.

"I miss Randy." Loki said before the Variant sent him flying again with another kick.

The Variant produced another chuckle. "Thank you, for helping me stall for time. You really do love to hear yourself talk."

Loki said. "You're the first person to tell me that-"

The Variant grabbed him by the collar and threw him across the floor again.

"Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh." The Variant mocked.

Loki sighed to himself. "I would never treat me like this?"

Loki got to his feet at the Variant arrived. "Hi."

The Variant threw his arm into a punch. Loki dipped to the right, causing the fist to fly straight into the television screen behind him. Loki reached back to the shelves behind him. A round keyboard module responded to the call, sailing towards his hand in an instant. The Variant struck again, Loki blocked with the keyboard. As the blow connected the Variant grabbed ahold of it.

Loki wrestled against his grip. "Come on. Stop hiding."

With a sudden spurt of force the Variant tugged the keyboard to the side out of Loki's grasp, sending him onto the ground once again. The Variant tossed the circular keyboard to the side and made his way towards him. Loki recovered quickly, grabbing a nearby vacumn cleaner from off the racks, using it to parry the next incoming hit before striking back at the Variant with the hose; as the Variant dodged, Loki fluidly connected with a follow up attack using the other end of the cleaner. The Variant intercepted it, effectively tugging out the hose from it. As Loki swooped in for another hit, the Variant dipped left and immediately locked him into a chokehold with the hose.

"If you had any honor you'd fight me as yourself." Loki struggled against the grip.

"I've got shit to do." The Variant responded.

"Enough!" Loki exclaimed.

The Variant threw Loki into the set of shelves behind him, causing all of the products to fall on him. One of the I-Dogs activated, rolling towards him and pecking at his forehead.

***

Mobius and D-90 scavenged the aisles. B-15 reconnected with them.

"Mobius." She called.

"Where is he?" He asked.

"I lost him." She answered.

"What happened?"

"I-I..." She said in defeat.

"Looks like your favorite Loki betrayed you." D-90 taunted.

"Oh, just move!" Mobius ordered as the three of them sprinted down the hall.

***

The Variant grabbed their Tempad and attached it to some module of wiring leading around the entire store. The timer read 1:18. On the other end, Loki got to his feet. He stared in the distance at the other Loki at work with a look of annoyance and impatience.

He made his way toward him. "What do you want from me? What is this about?" he demanded.

The Variant looked back at him with a smile and began chuckling again. "Brace yourself, Loki."

The green left the bulking man's eyes and he collapsed onto the floor like all of the others before him.

"What do you want from me? What do you want from me? What do you want from me?" A voice overhead echoed. "What is this about?"

Loki turned around to see a hooded figure in a green cloak. Hands shimmering with green energy as the voice continued.

The figure stepped forward and removed the hood, revealing a woman with blonde hair with a single-horned crown on her head. "This isn't about you." She said.

"Right." Loki responded looking to her in surprise.

The timer on the Tempad had reached zero.

The female Loki smiled in mischief as the lights in the entire building shut off.

"Engage." The Tempad screen read.

Suddenly, the light of all the Reset Charges stationed around the store shifted to purple with activation and in the next moment minature Time Doors emerged under all of them, sending the charges slipping through them one by one.

Mobius stopped and stared as the charges disappeared.

"Where are they going?" He asked.

***

In the TVA the timeline monitor suddenly began to warp as dozens of new branches began rapidly emerging.

Two analysts sitting at the desk in front of it looked up and noticed it.

One of the analysts scrambled to the phone. "This is Analyst 1182-E, uh, reporting a code, uh, 000. Branches rapidly forming at a slope-"

The other analyst snatched the phone from him. "Someone just bombed the Sacred Timeline."

In her office, Renslayer looked in horror at the screen on her computer, getting up from her chair immediately to grab the Timestick sitting on her cabinet.

All over, the TVA had turned into a frantic scramble, the Minutemen rushing into action and Timedoors opening everywhere.

***

The lights in Roxxcart superstore became flooded with red. Loki turned to see his counterpart bending over to retrieve the Tempad, immediately tapping a few buttons on it to produce a new Time Door. Twiddling her fingers at him in goodbye she walked through it, half of the lights flickering back to normal upon her exit.

Down the hall, Mobius and the Minutemen sprinted through the other side.

"LOKI!" He screamed as he ran to the other side. "LOKI wait!"

Loki looked at Mobius and then to the Time Door.

"Loki wait!" Mobius protested again.

Too late. Loki had already ran through the Time Door at the last minute.

"No wait!" Mobius exclaimed as the Time Door dissipated. "Damn it."