Ultimatrix Bearer: Mostly just that she sort of had the power stuffed into her. But the drugs could very well have effected it, her body wasn't exactly the most healthy during the experiments.

Wawv: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying it X3

Hoodedgenius98: That's what you think! But Godzilla is the REAL hero of this story!

It was already well past dark when I found my way to a bed. I doubt I could sleep out here, but laying down on something soft was nice. The Wakandan Army, this small force we'd been allotted anyways, had set up camp a short distance outside the city. Positions dug in, mounted weapons brought out from the cities armory. They were preparing for a siege, for the next wave.

Evidently, the forces King T'Challa brought to bear against this vanguard were a small sum compared to the full might of Wakanda. And while most of the army was being held back, to protect the civilians from anything that managed to get past us, we were reinforced. Nearly back to full strength, which was good. I doubt we would survive another wave otherwise.

Scanners kept and eye on enemy movements. And while some of the outriders were stupid enough to test the barrier, the Black Order didn't appear to be making a move any time soon. Hopefully we could get a good nights sleep before the killing resumed. But with every hour, the timer ticked closer to the stone being removed. It was nearly midnight, which meant we only have about twelve more hours to go. Would they honestly let us have the whole night? I doubted it...

"Trouble sleeping?" I was surprised by Titania's arrival, as she stepped past me to her own bed. Taking a seat on the side of it.

"Yeah, something like that." Insomnia, crippling anxiety, what's the difference right?

"Same." She grunted, taking a long drought from her canteen. I noticed the bandages around her ribs, I'd heard what happened. "Stupid alien bastard, gets in one clean shot... Hmph, won't happen again."

"I'd like to think you wouldn't be stupid enough to try fighting him again." I answered, rolling over and sitting up. "Where are the others?"

"Amy's resting, after she helped clear the field." Mary shrugged, "And Kane is... Fuck if I know, guy just kinda wanders around, its like he's looking for something."

"Maybe I'll go talk to him." I made a move like I was about to get up, when Titania gave me a shove putting me right back down. "Hey!"

"No, you sit right there and rest." She scoffed, "The adult can handle himself, doesn't need a kid looking after him."

I crossed my arms, quirking an eyebrow. "You do know I'm like almost twenty now, right?"

"Yep, still a kid." She answered with a smug grin, "Just relax and worry about yourself for once, fuck." Shaking her head.

She couldn't be serious right? "Of all the people I think would try to care about my health, you certainly weren't on the list."

"Yeah well, fuck you then." Titania waved me off. "I can be compassionate, and helpful."

Excuse me while I stifle a laugh, "Since when?" I was mostly joking, but still. "Did I miss the part where you dropped the totally jaded disposition?"

"Are you really gonna make me say it?" Yes, probably. "Ugh, yeah alright, fine... I care about you, and the speedy little brat, and hell I probably even care about Kane." She scoffed, shaking her head. "You three assholes have wormed your way into my head, and it sucks..."

"I know that feeling."

"I'm not the best as talking about shit like this," She scratched the back of her neck. Losing some of the edge in her voice, "Not since my son... So there you go, happy now?" Titania demanded, glaring daggers at me. "After a year I finally opened up, as much as I hate your guts... I don't want any of you to die, especially not the one that... Gave up her entire life to pull my sorry ass out of prison."

Not the answer I was expecting. "So that's why you stuck around for this?" I asked, smiling faintly.

"Well, I meant what I said before," Mary answered, leaning back and crossing her arms. "I enjoy kicking ass, but I also gotta make sure you idiots don't get yourselves killed."

Maybe our little family wasn't as dysfunctional as I thought. "Well, thanks... How about we both get some rest? I heard you took quite the ass kicking today."

"Just shut up and go to sleep..."

. . .

"Gwen, wake up."

"Hmmm?"

"Somethings going on."

My eyes opened instantly, and I was sitting up in my small cot. Looking around, I could see the rest of the Wakandan army was being roused. Warriors getting themselves together, eating quickly, and taking to the field in formation. It wasn't even sunrise yet, we were in the twilight between night and day. Not like it mattered, the sky above was mostly filled with smoke from the scorched forest beyond the barrier.

"Captain!" I was on my way to the man in charge, tracking him down quickly. "Captain! What's going on? Is there an attack coming?"

He turned to me quickly, "You're up? Good, come with me." Leading me to some kind of command tent, where T'Challa and most of the other Avengers were gathered. Along with several Wakandan warrior leaders. "So what's the situation."

"Our scans have detected several devices planted along the barriers edge over the last few hours." T'Challa explained, bringing up a hologram image of the strange metallic discs. "We believe this is how they overloaded the barrier before, and they have been charging for some time... While also gathering their entire force beyond the barrier."

"If that barrier comes down, we'll be overrun." Rogers said grimly, "We can't take the full force of that army, not all at once."

"I've given the order for the remainder of our forces to join us in the field once the evacuation is complete." T'Challa continued, "However, those devices will be finished charging soon based on our readings... We may not get the support we need in time."

"Scans show that the discs act as powerful electromagnetic bombs," Okoye explained. "Set to charge, but from what we've analyzed, they cannot be deactivated once they are started up."

"So they'll just power up and go off," I noted, "Maybe we can use that?"

"That's what I'm thinking." Widow added in with a nod, "If we can get those devices, put them on the Chitauri ship, we can knock them all out at once."

What? "Most of their soldiers and leviathans are already deployed, so how would blowing up the ship help?" I questioned confused.

"The chitauri are controlled through cybernetic links," Banner explained, "We learned that after New York... That's why, when Tony blew up their space station on the other side of that portal, they all just shut down."

"We can remove the danger to our defenses, and wipe out half the enemy in one fell swoop." T'Challa nodded. "Assuming, we can get those devices."

"Which we can't do, without opening the barrier anyways." I scoffed, shaking my head. "Sounds like we're damned if we do, damned if we don't."

"Unless, we could remove the devices faster than they can get in." Banner chimed in, looking around the table, before his eyes landed on me.

Oh no, "Why are you looking at me?"

"Because you're friends with the speedster." War Machine added, shifting nervously. "Its dangerous, but she might be able t-"

"Absolutely not," I spat quickly, "Amy is only 18, and her power is unstable, if she gets caught out there she'll be torn apart."

"Not if we keep the enemy focused on us." Captain America threw his hat into the ring. But he didn't look very happy about this either.

Okoye leaned over the battle map, examining our forces. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"We open the barrier." I wasn't expecting to hear that order from the King himself. "Make an opening for them."

"And while they are focused on us," Widow surmised quickly, "We make another opening, sending Amy out and let her get rid of those devices... Its not a perfect plan, but it might buy us more time."

I don't like, "Does it... Does it have to be her?"

"I'll do it." All heads whipped around, to see Amy standing near the tents entrance. Shifting nervously as all eyes landed on her. "I'll... I'll take care of the shield breakers."

But was she really up to this? "Amy," I turned to fully face her, "Think about this... If something happens out there, we won't be able t-"

"I'll be fine," I stopped in my tracks as she spoke. More harshly than I'd heard in... Well, a long time. "Worry about everyone here, I'll remove the devices and get them onto that ship now that it's touched down... I'm the only one that can do this."

I had a terrible feeling about this. But I knew that look on her face, she would do it whether or not I wanted her too. And that scared me. Still, our options were limited. "Okay... But if there is any sign of trouble, just call me and I'll get to you as fast as I can."

She nodded, putting on a faint smile. "Got it."

"Alright, everyone else suit up." Captain America ordered, "Even with the Chitauri gone we're gonna have a long fight ahead of us, so get ready."

As everyone began clearing out, my eyes never left Amy's own. She must know that I didn't want her to do this, but she wasn't going to budge. And the fact that she might be our only hope only made this worse.

We left the tent together, and I put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure about this?"

"Don't try to talk me out of this," She said firmly. "I heard what they said, if this doesn't get done... Well then, maybe nobody survives," I know she wasn't wrong. "And you and I both know, that you'd never forgive yourself for that."

I guess she had me figured out huh? "But... If something happens to you, I won't forgive myself either..."

Amy's hand landed on my shoulder now, wasn't I supposed to be the older sibling consoling their sister here? "Gwen, look at me."

Raising my head, I looked her in the eyes. "Yeah?"

*SMACK*

My head snapped to the left as she smacked me right across the face. My eyes widening as I looked back at her, confused more than anything. "What-"

"It's not your job to take care of me, or anyone else." Amy said firmly, holding my gaze. "You've done more than enough, you've made up for everything and you've sure as hell been better to me than my shitty family or anyone else in my life, okay?"

I couldn't think of any other response than a nod, "Y-Yeah I just-"

"So I'm gonna do this, because I'm the only one that can do this." She continued, "And for just once, I'm gonna save you."

I lowered my arm, sighing heavily. "Alright, alright... Go get'em, and don't you dare die out there." How could I try to stop her after all that? "I want to see you at the victory party."

"Ha, yeah right, like I wanna party with these freaks." She joked, before releasing a small sigh of her own. Looking away briefly, as if she had something else on her mind. "But... Just in case." Her voice was so quiet, I don't think I was supposed to hear-

My eyes widened, cheeks turning a deep shade of red as her lips made contact with my own. Her super speed put to use to secure the kiss. But just as quickly as she made contact, she disappeared in a blur of movement. Leaving me standing there with a dumb look on my face, trying to process what just happened.

"I don't... Does she think I'm- I didn't even know she was... I mean I'm not-"

"Gwen, if you do not get to the battlefield and stop thinking about... THAT! I'm going to take command, and neither of us want that."

"Right right... To battle, gotta do that now... Oh boy."

Yeah, it was probably gonna take some time to unpack that...

. . .

We hastened to the field, taking our positions and getting ready to fight. Not at all hiding our movements from the enemy, we needed them to see and try to take advantage of the opening. After careful analysis from the Wakandan engineers, we knew we didn't have much time. They'd charge up, and overload with catastrophic discharge.

And we had Forty Minutes.

So the plan was simple.

Distract the enemy, while Amy destroys the Chitauri control ship.

And while the Black Order is reeling from the blow to their numbers, we rout them.

We put on a good show at least, when deactivating the center segment of barrier the engineers made it flicker and break apart. Like the shielding was still damaged from their last attack. And to the credit of our performers, the Black Order took the bait.

Rather than waiting for their explosives, their forces were in full attack. Just like yesterday, the outriders were swarming the breech. But we held our positions this time, the emplacements brought out by the Wakandans were opening fire ripping into their ranks with powerful energy blasts. While the few leviathan's that remained were holding back, letting the small number of remaining chariots take lead as they began strafing us. Opening fire on our dwindling lines before the outriders could make contact. Soon after though, the Wakandan fighters continued their dogfighting in the sky above.

"Yibambe!" T'Challa shouted, his forces bracing with energy shields at the ready.

"Heavy hitters you're up!" Rogers added in as well. Was there a part of this plan I didn't know about?

"Perfect!" Of course, "Time to tear it up!" Why was I not surprised to find out he meant Titania?

But it wasn't just here, I watched Kane break from our line as well. Diving straight into the enemy, Titania raised her hammer and slammed it into the earth. Just like before, a sonic boom of sorts was released. Kane followed suit, slamming his vibranium knuckles into the earth with all his might. The explosions disrupted their charge, slowing the enemy down.

"WAKANDA FOREVER!"

With a spirited roar, our army charged down the hill to meet them. Countering their own advance, and using the high ground to our advantage. I lead the charge on my own flank, claws and spikes at the ready as I dove in. Making a big hole for our forces, and leaving nothing but bodies behind as I cleaved through the enemy. And it seemed our counter charge had an effect, as the outriders quickly started losing ground. I don't know what renewed the zeal of the Wakandan fighters, but it seemed to be just what we needed.

Swinging left and right, chopping through aliens as I went. I had to stop my swing, as I came face to face with Widow amidst the chaos. But we didn't exchange words, simply continued the battle. Anchoring the line with a deadly front, not a single outrider could make it past the two of us. I kept the majority of the horde off her, and she struck out with deadly speed and precision taking the enemy down with critical strikes between my larger sweeping attacks.

Our synergy was interrupted however, when something grabbed me from behind.

"I finally found you!"

And spoke in a voice I didn't think I'd hear ever again.

Before a burning blade pierced my back.

"I faced my judgement, and now you shall face yours!"

"Gwen!" But I was saved, with the Avenger's assistance. Widow stabbing into him with her electric batons, before Rogers came through jumping off the ground and clocking my assailant with one of his vibranium shields. I hit the ground, and Widow ripped the blade out of my back. "Hey! Hey are you alright?"

"Gnnngh! I-I'm okay." The burning hole in my chest was slowly sealing itself, as I forced myself up. Finally turning to face my first enemy. "Both of you... Stay back, this one is mine."

"Yes, you can take much more punishment," Umbra Cross said with a sneer. I hardly recognized him, his voice partially filtered through a mouth piece. His body was mostly mechanical now, I don't even know if Umbra counted as a living being anymore. His arms, his legs, they were all mechanical. A strange golden metal, it looked sturdy. His torso, I couldn't tell, but it was armored. And the only organic part of his head remaining seemed to be his right eye, everything else was metal plating. "And I have taken full measure of that."

"About time we could kill this bastard."

"Cross," I spat his name, but smirked back at him. "Venom and I are both ready for round two."

"Then let the purge of your vile species, finally be finished!"