"No longer safe-not return-Coruscant-contact when safe."
Niobe frowned at the broken connection. She shut off the link and ran a hand over her brow trying to dull the ache that had grown throughout her flight. Niobe's mind was in turmoil, crying in pain. The over bearing presence of unknown death suffocating her as she attempted to regain a shred of composure in order to focus on her mission of search and rescue. She hoped to at least save a few if not many.
Niobe pulled up a map, she still hadn't reached the sector Anakin had sent her to. Questions began to buzz through her thoughts, an endless flood of worry for her closest friend. He had seemed so anxious when they had spoken last. Perhaps he wouldn't have been attentive enough, what if he was among the souls that now had a home in the eternal. Niobe searched the force pushing through the grief of her fallen comrades until she found him. Anakin was still alive and despite the torture she felt, her heart stopped in relief at his confident but distorted aura.
Niobe turned back to the controls of her ship deciding to make a hyper-jump in order to reach her destination faster. The sooner she was done the sooner she could return to aide in the battle. As Niobe switched the toggle on it came to whimpering halt. Upon flipping it again she continued to receive no response. In a blip of frustration she hit the toggle causing it to bend into an unusual position. The ship jerked, flinging her head back into the hard seat. The light was more blinding then normal, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Niobe rubbed her eyes, attempting to push the switch back. This left her watching her ships rapid approach to a planet with similar form to her home Naboo.
It happened so quickly, the atmosphere took her in as a small pond would a rock. All Niobe could do was brace for the impact. Her R2 unit screeched as the land in their view offered no safe outcomes.
Despite the planets green image she seemed to be headed for a lot of sand. It was the most bizarre environment but it was not the time to dwell on it. Niobe searched through her thoughts and reached for the force to slow her now flaming ship. While it helped there remained no promise of retaining her life. Panic rose within her yet somehow a small wave of bliss as well. It was certainly not a battle that would take her as did her brothers and sisters but it would take her.
The impact was undoubtedly painful. If it weren't for that she would have guessed she died. Glass splintered her skin, the metal twisted in a hundred directions, and sand buried into her fresh wounds as she hung out of the side window. Niobe was uncertain how long she laid there watching the planets sun fade away. She counted three passings before voices reached her ears. Gentle though they were, Niobe could not stop the screech of pain that left her lips as they pulled her out. A sharp voice and a dark shadow were her last memories before the sweet abyss captured her mind.
oooooooooo
"Think she's Asgardian?" Natasha asked looking down at the strange girl from the observatory.
"We will need to contact Thor but I don't think so. We would have heard from him by now." Fury offered holding his chin in his hand.
"What else could she be?"
"Honestly? Anything."
oooooooooooo
Days passed as doctors monitored the unknown female. On day five Stark broke in and on day six the rest of the avengers found their way inside the facility holding her and began to argue on her behalf. A few thought she could be dangerous and many thought she should be given a chance before they decided to chain her up. On day seven a scientist lost a hand when he attempted to wield what Stark had deemed a high tech flash light. After the show of her weapons two changed sides and decided it was best to keep her locked away. It wasn't until the tenth day that the girl moved.
When Niobe's eyes fluttered open white filled her vision. Was this eternity? She thought it would be different some how, that she wouldn't hurt so much. Turning her head she smiled at a blurred yet familiar face.
"Master Windu, I am so pleased to see you again. I could hardly believe that your life had been taken but to see you now is so warming to my heart." She said rising, ignoring the sharp tugs from her muscles. As her vision started to return she realized her error. This man wore an eye patch and a strange style of black clothing. He was not Master Windu.
"My name is Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. we specialize in cases similar to yours."
Niobe's smile faltered and her eyes narrowed.
"So I still live..."
"Yes, you do. Funny how those things work out." He said pushing Niobe back to her pillow. "I saved your life now you help me keep my people safe. Who you are and where exactly you're from?"
"I am Niobe, a Jedi Knight. I was not headed in the direction of your planet but my hyperdrive had broken and I overshot my intended destination."
"And what exactly is a Jedi Knight?" He asked folding his arms across his chest.
"What do you mean? Are you joking with me?" Niobe said with a laugh. "The very people protecting the entire galaxy for hundreds of years and you have no recollection?"
"Not too long ago my plant was being invaded by an alien race we knew nothing about and that all started by one of them landing in a desert here. Now you show up crash landing in a desert in an unidentifiable aircraft with technology that once again we don't understand. So no, I am NOT joking."
"I apologize for my arrogance, I forget my training. However, I fail to understand how your planet could not know who we are. Especially with consideration of the war we are in."
"What war?" Fury said in a steeled tone as he leaned in closer to Niobe.
"What planet am I on?" She asked, her mind completely baffled.
"Earth."
"I have been to many planets and systems but none bear that name." Niobe felt ice run through her veins. She was lost in an uncharted system. Who could say when she would return to Anakin or her troops? Niobe opened her mind and glanced at the man hovering over her. His thoughts were clouded with hints of fear but an overlaying determination. "I find myself feeling afraid as well Director Fury." His scowl deepened at her suggestion and she continued. "I dearly need to return home."
"Well on that we both agree. Why don't you tell me what you think might help get you back?"
"I will require my ship and a space to rebuild it. I do not know how long the repairs may take. I was never good with the contraptions as my near death experience proves."
Fury gave a sharp nod and turned away.
"Don't worry, you'll have help."
ooooooooooooo
"What do you mean she isn't a threat? You spent 2 minutes with her!" Natasha exclaimed in a soft tone as she followed close to Fury in the halls of their base.
"I mean that she is harmless. The girl barely has a clue about where she is. I doubt she could be any danger and if she doesn't know our planet then neither will her enemies."
"I find it hard to believe that you can trust her so easily." Natasha said as the pair walked into the observatory where the rest sat.
"She's a warrior fighting to save what could be billions of people of many different species. If you don't consider that a hero then what do you?" Steve asked giving Natasha a look of warning. She nodded back in understanding and Tony took the time to stand.
"Well, I'm going to go make an introduction. She deserves at least one friendly face." The group watched as he strutted out of the room some partially interested in what he might get out of her.
oooooooooooo
"Hello, my name is-"
"Tony Stark." The man stopped in surprise. "You have an incredible mind Mr. Stark." Niobe said smiling at the genius to her left.
"How did you...?"
"Oh forgive me. While some might claim it's my Jedi abilities I've always explained it as a gift from my species. We can go further into a mind by simply sensing the presence of the individual."
"That must come in handy."
"No, in fact I do not use it around my friends and it ends up dulling these talents that Jedi do naturally. I try to work alone but I can't always." Niobe said "Why do your friends hide? Do they not wish to speak to me as well? I know they're curious." Tony glanced at the two way mirror and shrugged.
"Perhaps they're intimidated. Very few aliens have been kind to us."
"Why do you not communicate with your neighboring planets?"
Tony walked to the chair by her bed.
"Well, we try but we're a little weaker than the others out there. It makes us an easy target."
Niobe nodded in understanding as he sat down.
"So I hear you're lost?"
"Indeed I am, it is most unfortunate. My galaxy is dying and I fear that I am to far to help." She said sitting up fighting Tony's efforts to keep her down. "I feel my brothers and sisters pain. Their deaths become my own and here I sit in comfort."
"Can you tell if anyone is alive?" Tony asked taking a seat beside her bed. Niobe frowned and let her eyes fall on the grey floor. Shutting her eyelids, she opened her mind and sought out Anakin. Tony waited in long silence before the girl let out a haunting shriek. Niobe dropped to Tony's feet, her eyes lacking any pigment but black.
"MY LEGS! WHERE ARE MY LEGS?!"
Tony, in panic, attempted to hold the shaking woman down while his companions ran to his side.
"I-I can't...breathe!" She gasped, her lungs on fire. "An...akin..please..."
Tony watched in horror as her face twisted in agony, crying out for what he thought maybe a friend.