Relativity
A/N - I've had this idea bouncing around in my head for a better part of a year. But knowing that Ultron was coming out, I wanted to see how my story would fit in with that world, and it seems to work out pretty good.
So, this begins 25 years after the events of Avengers, 24 years since IM3 and 23 years since Ultron. A lot has happened in those 23 years since Ultron and we'll go back to the past to establish events that have occured before we do some real time travelling. And of course, I'm no expert in any field of science so my mumbo-jumbo technobabble will be just that. So, don't be too picky - doing a fic involving time travel is hard enough... In an upcoming chapter, I'll set up the timeline...I have major events locked in, it's just the in between...
So...hold on for a ride...it's going to get a bit bumpy...
23 years after Ulton...(25 years since Avengers)
Another attack was imminent. That much, Coulson knew. He was surprised that it would finally come nearly 25 years after the first Chitauri attack on New York City. So many years had passed since their last attack that it almost seemed like a lifetime ago and their return was more unlikely. When Loki suddenly showed up 7 years later, the Chitauri had gotten their revenge against Stark, so Coulson had thought. If they were coming back again, it wasn't good.
He sat at the computer looking at a profile, the light of the screen illuminating the dimmed room. He reached for the folder beside him and opened it.
The higher than normal radiation readings that were continually being scanned in the upper atmosphere for over two decades finally sent out an alert to S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson looked grimly at the findings that were given to him. He put the report down and ran a hand through his grey hair before looking back at the computer screen.
They knew this day would come and had been preparing for years. But now that the day was finally upon them, he had no idea what he should do.
S.H.I.E.L.D had recently been working through a theory that Tony Stark himself came up with a few short months after Ultron was destoryed.
Time travel.
Unfortunately, that program came to a screetching halt following Tony Stark's death 18 years ago. It had limped along since then with the help of some of S.H.I.E.L.D's brightest minds, but none could figure it out. They had made some lee-way but now with the attack more imminent than ever, it was crutial to implement it. With the program, hypothetically they could send an operative back in time to warn them about the danger of the Chitauri's return and possibly even prevent Stark's death. But of course, there was the repercussions of how just the operative's presence would change the course of history. There were just so many variables that Coulson didn't know what to do. They were running out of options.
The woman on the screen was someone who he believed could decifer help Stark's algorythms and bring the theory to life. After all, she was Tony's daughter.
"Excuse me, director," a man said as he stood at the door, waiting for his orders from Coulson. Coulson had forgotten the man was there. He had been staring into the eyes of the woman on the screen, seeing an all too familiar smile looking back at him. "We can have S.H.I.E.L.D operatives pick her up in a few hours. We just need her location."
Coulson sighed. Besides a few trusted agents, he was the only one within S.H.I.E.L.D who knew of her whereabouts and he intended to keep it that way.
"No," he replied. "I made a promise to her parents that I would help protect her and keep S.H.I.E.L.D away from them. If anyone is going to approach her or her family, it'll be me."
But there had to be other options. Coulson wasn't about to go back on his word unless absolutely necessary. He knew of one other person who had the knowledge and skill to help.
"Did you find Banner?"
"We got a positive ID on a TSA security camera of him boarding a plane bound for West Palm Beach, Florida a few days ago. We lost him after that," the man told him.
Florida.
A smile pulled at his lips as he glanced at the Caltech student profile on the screen and noted the date of birth. Coulson knew then precisely why Bruce Banner would be visiting Florida. The man had kept a relatively low profile since Ultron. Banner would have known that he would be spotted by S.H.I.E.L.D while travelling on commercial airlines. He'd come out of hiding for only special occasions. It was an important day afterall.
"And what about Rogers, Romanov or Barton?"
The agent shrugged. "We can't locate them. They've gone off the grid, sir."
It wasn't as though they informed S.H.I.E.L.D of their every move, their address or cell phone number. The avengers hadn't been needed for years and most likely dissolved themselves into a private life. Thanks to him, much of their whereabouts and identities were erased from public record. Not only was it for privacy but also for their protection.
"How much time do we have?"
The agent looked down at the tablet in his hands.
"Radiation levels are still at a minimal level," he said. "More than when Loki arrived last but no where near the limit when the portal was opened over New York City 25 years ago. I'd guess a few days to a week."
They certainly were running out of time. The Relativity project suddenly became a top priority as Coulson quickly realized. But that also meant that he'd have to go back on his word.
The moment the agent left the room, he turned to his computer to bring up an agent on file that had been assigned to keep an eye on his interest for safety sake.
"Encrypt transmission to coordinates 539602, Boca Raton, Florida," he said aloud to the computer.
"Transmission encrypted, voice designation - Director Phillip Coulson," the computer dutifully replied.
"Send to known S.H.I.E.L.D reciever, voice designation Agent Daniel Rogers."
"Transmission enabled," the computer stated. "Stand by."
It only took a moment before he heard the tired voice of Agent Rogers.
"You could have given me more of a warning before contacting me," Daniel stated, his southern Florida drawl evident over the communication. "It's one in the morning here."
Coulson smirked. "You're always on the clock when you're working for S.H.I.E.L.D, Agent Rogers."
"I understand, sir."
Coulson smiled at the younger man's polite tone on the phone, something that he was certain was inherited from his father. It certainly wasn't the way his mother would deal with late night or early morning communications with him.
"How are your parents? I haven't heard from either of them in a long time."
"They're fine, sir," Rogers replied. "But I'm guessing that you didn't contact me just to ask about my Mom and Dad."
"No, I didn't."
Agent Daniel Rogers knew what his assignment was; or more particularly who his assignment was. There wasn't any other reason for Coulson to be contacting him.
"Is this about Anna?"
"It is," Coulson replied. There was an audible pause. "We're going to need her help."
"It's happening again, isn't it?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss it at the moment, but your job at protecting her has become more serious and a priority until she's in protective custody. Not only do we need her but she may also be in danger."
"That bad, huh?"
Coulson sighed. "Yeah."
He could hear Daniel take a deep breath.
"Sir, I've known Anna for my entire life. As someone who is her friend and who is also assigned to protect her, can you let me know what is going on?"
Coulson looked at the monitor in front of him; at the face looking back at him. He had worked so hard to maintain not only Anna's cover but that of her parents as well. That was one of the reasons why he had originally approached Daniel without his parents knowledge. If S.H.I.E.L.D wasn't able to get close to Anna and her parents, he could still have someone near them that both he and they could trust. Anna and Daniel were already close friends and the family knew him. He had grown up around them.
"It's above your clearance level."
With that, Rogers dropped it. He knew better than to pursue something when Coulson put such a finality on it.
"So," Rogers began, taking a deep breath. "I'm assuming you'd want me to bring her in."
"No," Coulson replied, surprising Rogers. "I started all of this. I'm not going to put you in the middle of it. Keep your cover. I'll take care of it."
"You're coming today?"
"I'll be landing at 0800 your time."
"You do know that it's her birthday today," Rogers reminded Coulson.
"I know," Coulson stated, knowing it was he day that he would never forget. He remembered the first time he held her, just moments old. He had been in awe at the life that had just witnessed coming into the world. Everything had happened so fast that Stark rushed onto the small jet, and ejected himself from his Ironman suit just as Anna was being born. Coulson had been enamoured by Anna just as much as her parents. For the three years he knew her, Anna had Coulson wrapped around her finger. He loved that little girl as though she was his own. Yet now, at 21 years old, he would be a stranger to her.
"And I have a feeling this is not going to go over well."
After a few more exchanges, Coulson hung up.
Coulson stood up and looked out the window towards the open ocean as the sun was going down on their part of the world. The constant, peaceful drone of the helicarrier was a welcomed sound. He closed his eyes, knowing that in a few days time, things will be different.