"Was there anything else you found?"

"No, but I think that's plenty don't you?"

"It's just hard to believe. I thought this was over."

Niobe rubbed her forehead, squinting as she took in the bright light. Her side ached, it didn't feel normal.

"Steve? Tony?"

Niobe fumbled around trying to stand from the metal bed.

"Whoa, slow down." Clint said as he grabbed her shoulder and laid her back down.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?" Niobe asked.

"Yeah, everyone's fine. We got what we needed, sort of anyway." Tony said.

Niobe pushed through Tony's mind. She found confusion and images of a staff.

"Who is Loki?"

"Don't worry about that. You focus on finishing your ship so you can get back." Steve said running his hand along her arm. "We can handle this."

Niobe nodded and closed her eyes again allowing the world to fade out.

oooooooooooooooo

"Niobe?"

"Anakin?"

Niobe looked down at her feet, she no longer lying in a medical bed on the ship. She was standing now. It was dark and the sound of metal echoed from under her boots.

"Where are we?"

"Coruscant, where are you?"

Niobe looked over her shoulder to see Anakin.

"A planet not in our galaxy. How are you doing this?"

Anakin smirked and walked closer to Niobe grabbing her hands.

"I'm stronger than you know Niobe. I'm so glad to hear that you are alive. I was so worried."

"I felt pain, from you; it was as though my legs were gone and my body was on fire. Are you okay?"

Anakin released her and his face grew darker.

"I'm fine, I sustained injuries. I had to fight for my life."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Jedi turned against the Republic, Niobe. They had planned to overthrow the chancellor. I stopped Windu before he could kill Palpatine and even Palpatine was injured."

Niobe's eyes widened in horror. She shook her head in disbelief and back away.

"It's true Niobe. It was horrible. I protected Palpatine and took care of those who committed treason against what we were sworn to protect."

"And Obi-Wan?"

Anakin placed his hand on her face caressing her cheek.

"He betrayed me too. He tried to murder me. He turned Padme against me."

Niobe clenched her eyes shut as a tear hit her skin.

"Obi-Wan contacted me. He told me you and Padme had died."

"Did he say where he was?"

Niobe didn't hesitate to lie. It still felt wrong. Obi-wan would never commit such a crime but she didn't want to upset him and there was always a possibility she was wrong.

"Come to me Niobe. Come home and I will protect you. You are all I have left..."

"Niobe?"

Hands pulled at her skin, shaking her until her eyes opened. Clint's face was filled with panic and she found herself standing in the living room in a small medical robe.

"Niobe, who were you talking to?" Natasha asked with a sculpted eyebrow raised.

"Anakin, he's alive."

Natasha moved from Clint's side to grab hold of Niobe's hand.

"Why are you crying?"

Niobe's hand touched her face and felt the warm tears.

"He told me terrible things. The Jedi turned against the Republic. They tried to overthrow the chancellor. Obi-Wan betrayed Anakin, he tried to kill Anakin. He turned Padme against him."

Niobe's body shook with sobs as she fell to the ground.

"I lied to him."

"To who?" Natasha asked kneeling beside her and wrapping her up in a soft embrace.

"Anakin, I said I didn't know where Obi-Wan was. I feel so confused. How could this happen? How could it be true? I can't believe that my master would do this."

Natasha looked at Clint in confusion. She couldn't understand how she had spoken with Anakin but she could not begin to understand Niobe's abilities.

"Am I meant to trust him blindly? Should I go with him or go to Obi-wan."

"There is no need to figure this all out right now, we will take you to be and talk this over tomorrow, okay?" Natasha said as Clint helped her pull up Niobe.

Niobe could feel tugs against her mind. Anakin was trying to reach her but she felt unsure. He was stronger now and he was filled with an energy she didn't recognize. It was cold and dark inside him.

oooooooooooo

Natasha had taken her back to bed and she slept until the sun hit her skin. Now she stood beside Bruce on the balcony eating breakfast. The city was loud but it didn't faze her it reminded her of Coruscant.

"You don't trust him." Bruce said drawing her attention.

Niobe sat down her fork; she hadn't touched the food but rather shoved it around. Her stomach was a rumbling mess but she couldn't keep anything down.

"No, I don't. He didn't feel right but if I don't respond..."

"He'll know something is wrong."

Niobe nodded.

"Why don't you reach out? I'll be right here, nothing will happen."

Niobe crossed her legs and closed her eyes settling into the cushion, ready to answer his call.
There was a shift in the force and she was in a room on Coruscant again. Anakin sat on a single bed with his face towards the ground. She could feel the pounding in her chest as she took in his light curls.

"I was getting concerned." He said as Niobe stepped closer.

"I had a lot to digest."

Anakin gave a small laugh and nodded his head in agreement. He turned around giving Niobe a blinding smile.

"Who is with you, I can see him."

Niobe looked to the side having almost forgotten that Bruce was beside her.

"That's Bruce, he's one of my friends here."

"Does he know about me?"

"Yes, he does."

Anakin stood and wrapped his arms around Niobe. She could feel his warmth but there was something else. It didn't feel human.

"I've tried locating you but I can't."

"My ship was close to destroyed when I landed here. It's taking some time to rebuild it. I doubt you would be able to find this planet anyway."

"Show me your ship, I can help."

With that Coruscant vanished and she was back with Bruce.

"He gone?" Bruce asked as she rose from beside him.

"No, he wants to help with the ship."

Bruce's eyebrows rose as he followed her off the balcony and into the living area.

"So he's still here?" Bruce asked pointing towards his head.

"Bright guy isn't he?" Anakin said making Niobe laugh.

"This planet does not know of the Jedi existence. Bruce and everyone else is still getting used to the idea of it all."

The journey down to the lab was quick and Anakin marveled at the state her ship was in asking how she was able to survive.

"So Bruce tells me that Anakin is with us," Tony said walking out from behind Niobe. "It's lovely to meet you, I have heard so much. Do I shake her hand our will you pop out in a big reveal?"

"I don't think you need to shake anything." Niobe said hugging Tony.

Anakin laughed at Tony's antics and asked to see the reports on the ship. Niobe moved to the holograms. It took a few minutes of combing through the images and readings before Anakin made his call.

"I don't think there will be any possible way of repairing the ship."

"You're certain of this?"

"I am, you wouldn't have the parts for it anyway. At least not on this planet."

Niobe kicked the desk she stood by and Tony gave a shout.

"What's going on, did he hurt you?" Tony asked giving a sarcastic glare.

Tony's face fell when he saw the tears.

"Whoa, hey, what's wrong princess?"

Tony wrapped her in his arms holding her while she shook.

"I can't fix the ship, it's too far gone."

"I can bring you home Niobe." Anakin said

His voice was a soft reassurance in the back of her mind and it was becoming more and more welcome. He would be her only chance to find home. Niobe replied in a soft yes as she sobbed into Tony's shirt.

"Tell me where you are?"

"Earth, I'm on Earth." Niobe said

With that, Anakin left her. A weight lifted from her mind and she could breathe again. Tony patted her braids and Niobe looked back at him.

"Anakin is coming for me."

"He's coming to Earth? How is he going to do that?" Bruce asked leaning on a desk beside the two. "You barely understand how you made it here."

Niobe brought herself to her feet and let go of Tony.

"He's a lot stronger than I am. If anyone could it would be him."

oooooooooooooooo

"Heard anything from Anakin?" Steve asked walking into Niobe's room.

Niobe turned from the window and shook her head no. She held out a hand towards the separate cushion on the floor. Steve went to take a seat before asking if she ever slept in a bed. Niobe laughed and again responded no.

"What's on your mind today captain?"

"Nothing in particular." He said with a smile.

Niobe smirked at him and Steve looked down with a blush.

"It's Bucky isn't it? I see him in your mind." Niobe said, "Do you want to tell me about him?"

"He was my best friend and I thought I had lost him when I went under."

"And you didn't?"

"Hydra took Bucky, they turned him into this brainwashed assassin. I fought him recently. I didn't recognize him at first. I need to find him."

Niobe nodded in agreement, her eyes sympathetic towards his pain.

"Do you have any leads?"

Steve looked at her in shock, his heart racing at the idea that she might help him.

"I have a few, my friend Sam is helping me while I focus on finishing Hydra. We have come to notice that a lot of the bases have been taken out before we arrive. I assume it's him."

"I would too."

"You think there's hope?"

Niobe grabbed Steve's hand enjoying the smooth skin against hers.

"Always." She said

Steve stared at her with a spark in his eyes that hadn't been there earlier. Niobe was determined to make sure it never went out.

"Should I let you get back to your meditation?"

"No, I have done enough for today. Why don't you show me around your city? I haven't been able to go out yet."

Steve rose and pulled her up off the ground.

"I hadn't even thought of that. I'm so sorry Niobe."

"Please, no apologies."

"How about we go ahead out, I can show you the parks and take you out to my favorite restaurant?"

Niobe agreed to it following him out into the hall.