During the course of his life, Steve Rogers had seen more than his fair share of death, but this...this was unthinkable. Countless people just gone, erased, reduced to ash at the whim of Thanos. The depth of the loss made his chest ache and each breath was a struggle….
Warm spring winds stirred the air, incongruously gentle. All around them, ashes - people- floated on the breeze. For a moment, a terrible moment, memories washed over him, an off the book mission with the Howling Commandos to aid their Soviet Allies. They'd helped liberate what was called a labor camp in Lublin, Poland, only to find their worst suspicions true. Acrid smoke had still been pouring from the crematorium, black ash falling like snow in July as they saw first hand a new definition for the worst humanity could do to each other.
Nearly ¾ of a century later and Steve once again fought to retain his composure, unable to even breathe without drawing ash - people, possibly Bucky - into his burning lungs….
He couldn't be having an asthma attack, it simply wasn't physically possible. But even after all these years he remembered the burn and horror as his lungs betrayed him, refusing to pull in air. Coughing wasted breath, but he couldn't help it, wheezing as he clawed at his collar, needing to be free of the heavy fabric….
ZZZZZZTTTTT!
"Hey!" he yelped as a shock coursed through him, making him stagger to his feet and whirl around, breathing hard...but breathing.
Natasha gazed at him, unfathomable sorrow in her eyes, one of her Widow's Bites still crackling with energy. "Sorry, Cap, you weren't with us," she said grimly and he swallowed, glancing around at the others in the small wooded grove.
"Our enemy retreats," Okoye said, looking out over the fields as the remaining alien attackers fled back through the opening in the perimeter. "When they are gone, reseal the barrier." She paused a moment. "Shuri?"
When there was no response, she turned on her heel and began back toward the heart of Wakanda, shouting orders to Ayou and the other Dora Milaje to keep watch on their enemies and ensure that they were driven out of Wakanda. At the moment, needing something to do, something to focus on, Steve followed her, trailed by the other remaining Avengers.
Upon reaching the city proper, where the buildings prevented the ash from scattering, another wave of pain hit. Men, women and children cried in the streets, voices echoing out from inside houses and businesses, mourning their loved ones and friends that were torn from them. Barely breaking stride, M'Baku scooped up a small girl, alone and sobbing for her parents, patting her back as they continued to the palace.
Shuri's lab had been attacked and damaged, though Steve knew her real lab was buried deep within the mountain. "Princess!" Okoye called, stepping over fallen bodies, both attackers and defenders. "Shuri! Are you…."
"I am all right."
At the far end of the room, a door opened and Shuri stepped out, vibranium gauntlets on and clutching a sonic spear, Ramonda, also wielding a spear, beside her.
"Thank Gods," Okoye breathed, walking towards them. "Are either of you injured?"
"Nothing more than bruises," Ramonda said, looking them over and seeing the stress on their faces. "Okoye, What has happened? Where is my son?"
The question hung heavy in the air until Okoye opened her mouth. Nothing came out, so she cleared her throat and began again. "I am afraid we failed in our duty," she said, voice steady despite the emotion in it. "Thanos took the soul stone and...so many, just gone. I watched my king fall to dust."
"No!" Ramonda said, hands clenching around her staff.
Shuri's young face crumpled in pain. "What do you mean 'fell to ash'?"
"That was Thanos's plan," Bruce said, voice heavy with loss. "Half the living beings in the universe...gone."
The young princess shook her head and touched something on her bracelet. The feeds from several news channels were projected into the air, the anchors looking badly shaken, a few visibly crying, as they spoke of the devastation.
One called it a bloodless decimation, another a bloodless global holocaust.
Neither term was quite right.
Many had bled, many had died in Wakanda, even before the Gauntlet was used. That was in no means bloodless and decimation wasn't nearly broad enough, as to decimate was to reduce by 10% not 50%. And, as they knew, the deaths were not confined to Earth.
For a long moment no one spoke, not until Shuri stirred and deactivated the feeds. "The...the enemy has left. We need to recall those who took refuge in the mountain, provide aid for the wounded and assess who is no longer with us."
Her voice was steady as the spoke, moving toward a bank of computers. A map of Wakanda flared to life before her and one of her slimm hands balled into a fist. "Mercy," Ramonda breathed as Okoye spat a curse.
"Not all of our people have biometric implants, but...nearly 80% did. There should be so many more," she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief as she looked at the glowing blue dots on the screen.
"You will face no challenge from the Jabari," M'Baku said, placing a big hand on Shuri's shoulder and giving a brief squeeze. Steve didn't know enough about Wakandan practice to know what that was about, but both Queen Ramonda and Okoye seemed relieved.
The princess - wait, was she queen now- gave the big man a nod. "Your support is greatly appreciated," she said, offering him a shaky smile. "Wakanda needs unity now more that ever and I would appreciate your advice and counsel."
He responded with a nod of his own. "I will return shortly. I must see to my people, account for those lost."
"Of course," Shuri agreed she agreed, as Ramonda took the small girl from M'Baku's arms. "We will see to our wounded. A glider will be at your disposal."
M'Baku squeezed her shoulder again before offering Shuri the cross armed salute and uttering, "Wakanda Forever."
"Wakanda Forever!" she agreed, returning the gesture.
A woman appeared from the hall as M'Baku departed and the Queen handed the little one off to her. From a corner, Steve heard Natasha gasp, "Clint! Thank God, I was...Oh, no. No, I'm so sorry." When he looked to her, Steve saw that she had a hand pressed to her lips, but moved it to mouth, "Laura and Cooper."
Clint's wife and oldest boy.
Damn.
"Pepper!" Rhodey was also making calls and Steve shook himself long enough to follow suit.
No answer from Fury.
Or Hill.
Or Sharon.
"Cap, you're gonna crack the casing if you squeeze any tighter," Bruce said gently and Steve had to visibly relax his hand.
A screen before Shuri flared to life and she greeted the man on it, an average looking fellow with greying sandy hair. "Everett."
"Princess," he said, inclining his head even as his eyes tracked around the room. "Is…."
"It took my brother," she told him and he cursed.
"Mine too...though I liked yours more. My niece is all right, but she's in New York, which is already in chaos. I wanted to call you, warn you to keep your shields up until things quiet down," he said quickly. "No one in power is taking this well and cool heads are not prevailing."
"Our shields are in place, Everett," Shuri said somberly. "Thank you, my friend."
"You too, Your Highness," he said and the call ended.
"Medical teams are responding to the battlefield," Ramonda intoned from her own computer. "I will join them."
Thor had obviously read the room and turned to face Shuri. "What tasks do you have for us, Highness? It is best to keep busy after such a loss."
The young Queen took a breath. "There are many injured. Those of you with medical training might help with triage and others could help load the wounded onto transports."
Steve nodded. "Everyone up for that?" he asked, eyes roaming over the group. When his eyes fell on Natasha, he saw how she was holding her side. "Tash, can you stay here? Keep trying to contact S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
For a moment, he thought she was going to protest, but she bit back a wince and agreed. "I'll keep you posted."
"Friend Rabbit, would you be so kind as to assist her?" Thor said to the talking Raccoon (Steve had to ask about that later) perched on his shoulder.
"Whatever," the Raccoon grumped, hopping down and wandering toward Natasha.
Before today, Steve didn't know raccoons could look despondent.
"Let's go," Steve said, feeling tired down to his bones, but knowing that stopping to rest would leave him with only the taste of ash to keep him company. Instead, he, Thor, Rhodey and Bruce followed Ramonda from the lab and back out onto the field of battle.
Thanos's culling had spared the dead, but not the wounded, so there were far fewer than Bruce had anticipated. Still, he and Rhodey joined the medics in triaging those left behind. Steve and Thor had been with them for the first few hours, before breaking off to go help shroud the dead.
Bruce did not envy them that task.
"You got anyone you need to check on?" Rhodey asked him as they ran a portable sanitizer over their hands between treating people. His eyes were haunted. His sister and her husband were gone, leaving their 3 children, the oldest being 10. Pepper had already sent someone to pick them up and and was having them brought to her at James's request.
"No," Bruce replied softly. "I mean...I would have been curious about Betty, but...she's fine." Rhodey gave him a puzzled look. "Everett Ross, Betty's uncle, called Shuri. Mentioned his niece was okay."
"Ah," Rhodey said with a nod, then let his gaze travel across the field. In the distance, they could see Steve and Thor draping cloth over bodies. Once the wounded were all returned to the city proper and hospitals, the medical gliders would begin recovery operations. "Do you think Gods and super soldiers get PTSD?"
Bruce huffed out a breath. "Pretty sure we all came into this fight with at least a little of that already. Now...yeah, definitely."
"Is that what's happening with the big guy?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. He's refused to come out since Thanos...ah. I see. Thanos hurt him. Beat him," Bruce said, standing and walking toward a Wakandan warrior with a gash down his thigh.
James nodded. "Not wanting to go up against Thanos...Hulk's smarter than all of us."
"Never before has mankind witnessed a loss of life on such a grand scale. It is estimated that approximately 3.8 billion citizens of Earth were wiped from existence in mere moments, reduced to dust in the wind at the whim of an Alien we have now learned is called Thanos. Reports are unclear, but our sources report Thanos was in possession of a powerful device and though he was met with unflinching and admirable resistance in Wakanda from their army and The Avengers, he used the device to destroy half the life in the universe."
"The Universe."
"How do we, as rational beings, even begin to quantify a loss on such a magnitude? I, for one, don't think we can. Everything we've known, everything we've held in value above life must be reassessed in the face of such staggering slaughter of innocents."
"Today I beseech our world leaders to stop. To think before lashing out, before fear drive reactions and misplaced blame cause any more death. Every life the world over is precious. That should be more evident than ever…."
Several news broadcasts from around the globe were playing on screens around the room. All had reporters talking about the unfolding chaos in the wake of Thanos's culling, but all save Anderson Cooper were muted. The man was showing clear sign of strain, the days events seeming to have aged him.
Christ.
It had only been 13 hours since the battle had ended.
Since they'd lost and so many had died.
Could they call what had happened to everyone death? Their bodies hadn't failed them. They hadn't been hurt or ill. Physically, they just crumbled.
Fuck, James had hated philosophy class when he was younger and he hated it now.
"Eat," Bruce said, shoving a bowl of hearty stew and a thick slice of bread in front of James. The scientist and Natasha each had their own food and took seats near James. The three of them ate in silence for a time before Natasha asked, "Any idea when Steve and Thor plan on coming in?"
The super soldier and God has remained out with the relief crew, still respectfully recovering the dead. "I don't think they're planning to stop any time soon," Bruce answered. "They're trying to work themselves to exhaustion."
James pushed a spoon through his stew. "I'm exhausted and still can't sleep."
"We should try," Natasha said softly. "There's more to do tomorrow."
None of them slept.
Space….a long way from Earth
"What's our count now, Korg?" Valkyrie asked, looking over at the Kronan from where she was bending over a coughing child.
"137 survivors," he replied, sorrow clear in his voice.
They had been on a supply run when the Statesman had been attacked. Finding the wreckage, Valkyrie knew they had a limited window during which they could save anyone exposed to the vacuum of space.
A new, large ship was needed fast.
It seemed fitting that the passing ship she liberated belonged to the Grandmaster.
"Oh, that's going to stain," the eccentric former despot whined. "Do you see that carpet? It's from Titan! They don't make Titans anymore!"
"Shut up or I'll toss you out the airlock," Valkyrie snarled. Her heart ached. They had managed to pull nearly 300 from space and had begun recovering the dead when people vanished.
None of the bodies disappeared, only the living..
She jerked her head around when a groan echoed from the side of the cargo bay where they were laying the dead.
"Maybe 138?" Korg offered, stepping over and very carefully moving aside bodies. She appreciated the care he showed her people, even when they were far beyond feeling it.
"My, my, you Asgardians are quite durable," the Grandmaster said from where he was bound to a chair. "Surviving the vacuum of space, now that is a...Oh, hey you!"
Of course it was Loki Korg had pulled from the pile. The dark haired man looked very unsteady on his feet and blue in the face...but as she watched, the color receded.
"Thor," Loki croaked, voice sounding rough, and as he rolled his head from side to side a disquieting crunch filled the air.
"Thor was not among the wreckage," Valkyrie said, crossing toward Loki. "What happened?"
Most of the others had been too dazed to make much sense.
"Thanos must have taken him," Loki said, coughing slightly. "We must…."
"Ooh, Thanos, hmmm, maybe we should not," the Gamemaster said, shaking his head adamantly. "He-ah-he tends to be notoriously bad news. Avoiding that one is best. Yes, let's do that."
"Shut up!" Valkyrie snapped, her tone echoing through the bay. "Thor's allies are on Midgard. We go there and deliver the rest of our people to them. Then I will end Thanos."
"I always appreciated your pluck, 142...shutting up."
Standing, Valkyrie surveyed the remaining Asguardians and declared, "To Midgard."
As she strode out of the bay, she heard Loki comment, "They prefer to call it Earth."
"Oh my God, what is this being held together with? Bubblegum and kitten kisses?
Nebula glared back at Tony as she pulled a floor panel up. "Your species is barely capable of traveling to the rock that orbits it. Do not lecture me on proper ship maintenance."
The human huffed. "I just don't feel like dying before I have a chance to try to fix this."
"There's no fixing death," Nebula said, frowning at the charred and smoking circuitry. "I told you, we should not have left Titan. My ship was badly damaged."
"So we repair it," Stark said, leaning over and reaching for a mangled part.
Nebula slapped his hand. "Do not touch that. I despise the smell of burnt flesh and I can't exactly air out the ship."
It looked like the human was about to reply when one of the proximity alarms chose to go off.
Perfect.
"Don't touch anything," Nebula ordered, jumping up and rushing to the helm. A small, sleek ship was closing in on them. Normally, she wouldn't be concerned, but the shields and weapons were down.
Well, the shields were down.
"How did you manage that?" She demanded, glancing back to where Stark was hanging into the open floor. Humans were a backwards people. He should not have been able to understand, let alone repair ships systems.
"That's kind of my thing," he replied, heaving a second panel off the floor with a grunt and beginning to tinker with the pulse cannon system.
A voice, strong and lightly accented, rang through the crackling comm system. "Identify yourself."
Nebula jabbed at the communication panel. "Identify yourself."
She could almost hear the annoyance. "I am Lady Sif of Asgard. You?"
"Nebula," she replied. "I have no business with….."
"Sif? Thor's battle buddy?" Stark asked, heaving himself up with a grunt. The human was trying to mask injuries still. "Hey, name's Tony Stark…."
"The man of iron who fights with his mind as much as his might," Sif interrupted. "You are very far from your home."
"Yeah, well a tick soaked in Grape Kool-Aid sent his minions to steal something from Earth and while attempting to stop him I wound up on a ship, then an alien planet," Stark rattled off, sweat beading on his brow. "Shit hit the fan and we're trying to get back to Earth."
There was a moment of pause. "Midgard was Thor's last known destination," she said softly. "I was on a mission when Asgard was destroyed and Thor believed our remaining people would find refuge with yours. I was on my way to meet up with his ship when the locator beacon died."
Nebula's eyes widened. "Asgard has fallen?" Had Thanos done something? She hadn't heard him boast of such a feat, but he didn't tell his prisoners everything.
"If they made it to Earth, we'll get them settled," Stark said and Nebula could hear the pain in his voice. There was a 50/50 chance that this Thor they spoke of was gone. More than that if he had tried to fight Thanos.
"Would you be heading to Midgard as well?" Sif asked. "Your ship appears gravely damaged. I could tow you with no trouble."
"That would be acceptable," Nebula agreed. She had no real inclination to go anywhere and Stark was set on returning to his home world. At least with a tow, they could get there faster and she could work on repairs en rout.
Once there, if they found allies who could help her kill Thanos...all the better.
Every time it seemed like they might get a bit of peace, something pulled the rug out from under their feet. Everyone aboard Zephyr 1 was in a state of shock. May, Mack and Fitz sat on the floor together as Daisy set them down in a wooded clearing somewhere in Northern Maine.
Chaos had broken out when people crumbled to dust with no warning. But instead of grieving, the power struggle began moments later, a vicious struggle between government agencies. A cube on the Director's desk had lit up, an evacuation message from Fury and Daisy had ordered the remaining agents to go to ground. She had dragged may onto the Zephyr while Mack, still crying silently, had carried an unresponsive Fitz.
Once they were safe, away from people who would try to order them to obey their self serving commands. Daisy stared out at the green field and trees. She wondered if animals had met the same fate as people. Slowly, she rose and stumbled back to collapse with the others. Fitz was curled up in a ball, huddled between Mack and May and Daisy wrapped her arms around him.
Deek had faded away before her eyes.
Mack and Fitz had been eating lunch with Elena and Jemma when the latter two disappeared before their loved one's eyes.
Daisy had found May sitting frozen on a couch, Coulson's ashes beside her, some still clutched in her hand.
Nothing had prepared them for such a sudden, shocking loss.
She had no idea how long they sat there, grief heavy in the air, but, by the time daisy shifted into a new position, her knees ached. "I guess the avengers didn't win this fight."
"No one wins every fight," May replied, sounding so, so tired.
That was so true.
For the first time in hours, Fitz moved, stiff joints cracking. His eyes were still fixed in the distance, but he tipped his head slightly, temple pushing into Mack's ribs. He mumbled something, a single word she couldn't make out.
Fortunately, Mack had always had an understanding of Fitz. "The beeping is bothering him," Mack translated, then blinked. "What is that? I don't recognize it. It sounds...annoyed."
"That's got to be Fury's contingency plan," may agreed, swallowing grimly. When she rose to her feet, it was with less grace than Daisy had ever seen from her.
"How could he plan for this?" Daisy asked in disbelief, joining May by the console. When The older woman entered her access code, three lines popped up on the screen.
GET (Captain Marvel Symbol)
FIND (Captain America Symbol)
FIX SHIT
"That's not very...you know what this means," Daisy said, noting the flash of recognition on May's face.
Heaving a sigh, May smiled sadly. "Phil is going to be mad he missed this…."
TBC…..