The astral plane.  A majestic site to behold.  Only a select few were able to witness the emptiness, yet fullness of the astral plane.  Where colors seemed to merge, they split, and vice versa.  Few had the power to control the images of the astral plane.  Others were simply granted the gift of travelling it. 

Dr. Stephen Strange, the Master of the Mystical Arts, was one of the priviledged able to travel it.

Odin wants me to contact Thor, yet he has not told me where to find him.  Either he has great belief in my abilities, or he has little time to spare to grant me that knowledge.  Strange continued to "fly" through the astral plane, his astral image a mirror image of his physical self.  Curse me for a novice!  I should have thought of this before!

Strange ceased his "flight", and tucked his legs up into the floating lotus position.  He concentrated, and ever steadily he willed the astral copy of the Eye of Agamotto to seek out Don Blake.  The Eye rose out of it's casing, and became fixed to Strange's forehead.  Within seconds, the Eye had found Blake.

Dr. Strange continued on.

"I'm telling you Eugene, that's what he said," said Donald Blake.

"You serious?  Odin, the Big Chief of the Gods, contacted you to tell you Dr. Strange is on the way to talk with you?" asked a disbeliefing Eugene Milton Judd.

"Us, Puck.  Not just me, us," corrected Blake.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," mumbled Judd.

"Look, Eugene, I'm going to tell you something.  You know why I've pushed to go after Mjolnir?" questioned Blake, staring hard at Judd.

"Because it's the ultimate weapon, or something like that," replied Judd.

"Yes, that's one reason.  But an inscription on the hammer states that if the person is worthy, then he will be granted the power of Thor," explained Blake.

"And you think you're the worthy one?"

"Puck," said Blake, "I know I am.  I used to be Thor, the God of Thunder.  I was there when the Avengers were killed.  I couldn't stop it.  I tried, but I could not.  Do you see, Eugene?  I.  Couldn't.  Stop.  It.  Now I have to make amends for my failure."

"You can't be serious, man!  Okay, say you were Thor.  If you tried, that's all you could do.  Nobody can ask more than that," said Judd, trying to comfort his friend.

"Somebody can ask for more.  Me."

Gentlemen, interrupted a voice, May I suggest you quit bickering.  We have work to do.

Silence.  That is all that I can  hear.  No person walks the street.  No stray dog barks at the moon.  All is peaceful.  None dare to break the silence.

Save for me.

In a graceful arc, the man cuts through the air on a cord, quietly slicing the air.  He retracts his line, and flips onto a building with a minimum of noise. He crouches on a ledge, listening to all that happens.  I hear the heartbeats of children, afraid of making a peep.  I hear the hushed breathing of their parents, trying not to disturb the silence.  I hear fear.

I am a man without fear.

"Sweet Mother Molson!" cried Judd in surprise.  Greeting the two men was the astral image of the Sorceror Supreme, Dr. Strange.

Hello to you to, Mr. Judd.  Now, Mr. Blake, I am in need of your assistance- began Strange before Blake cut him off.

"As am I of yours.  I assume that, as I have, you have had communications with Odin."  It was a statement, not a question.

Yes, but how could you have - ahh, he has contacted his son in this matter, said Strange.

"Odin's son?  That means, you really are Thor!" exclaimed Judd.

"Isn't that what I told you, Eugene?" It was a rhetorical question.

Seeing as how Odin has already briefed you, I will not waste time explaining our objective.  I need you two to come to my home, in Greenwich Village.  Once you reach the village I will guide you from there, said Strange as he began to disapear.

"Wait!  Why aren't you guiding us the whole way?" asked Judd.

I wish to consult my mystical tarot cards, to see if we have more allies in our stand against the Master.  Once more, I will guide you when you reach the village.  With that said, Strange's image disappeared.

Sighing, Judd began to leave the room.  "Eugene, where are you going?  We have to get to Greenwich Village!" stormed Blake.

"Wouldn't want to leave without the appropriate dress, eh?"

Strange instantly returned to his physical body.  He felt the almost unfamiliar weight of his body.  Hurriedly, he walked over to his mystical tarot cards.  Floating in a lotus position in front of the cards, he began to murmur a spell to command the cards to seek out the appropriate allies in his upcoming battle.

One by one, the cards rose in front of their master, and turned over.  On one card, there was an image of Dr. Strange.  On the card next to it, Eugene Judd.  The next card puzzled Strange.  It was an image of a figure hidden by shadow, crouching on a ledge.  But the next card was the greatest mystery of all.  The card had a picture of Donald Blake, but the card was upside down.  Strange supposed it could have to do with Blake hopefully changing into Thor, but it could mean many things as well.  It could mean they shouldn't take Blake with them.  Yet Odin had commanded Strange to get Blake the hammer.

Dr. Strange weighed the possibilities, and chose to take Blake with them.  For one thing, Strange didn't want Odin after him for disobeying the All-Father's order.

Strange strode over to an orb in the middle of the room.  The Orb of Agamotto.  He peered into it, and witnessed as Blake and Judd were confronted by the same man that was in shadow on the tarot card.

Strange watched.