"So what is the story here?" Niobe asked.

Tony stood in front of the suit he picked.

"He's a friend of mine," Tony said. "Been keepin an eye out for him."

"Not a part of the team?" Niobe asked.

The suit crawled over him, locking into place.

"Uh," Tony said. "No, not really. Thinkin bout it. He's a little green."

"Well, let's save the day then," Niobe said.

Niobe nodded, holding her arms out to be lifted into the air.

OOOO

Traveling by Iron Man suit was not Niobe's favorite mode of transportation, but Tony was quick and efficient. As they approached the building from the video, the man in red and blue flew around attacking the giant lizard.

"Your planet is insane," Niobe said. "How often do such creatures attack civilization?"

Tony let out a sharp laugh as they flew closer to the roof.

"What? No lizard men attempting to destroy life as we know it in your galaxy?" he said.

"There are lizardmen, but no planetary take over," Niobe said.

Niobe dropped out of Tony's grasp onto the rooftop with a roll. A police officer held a gun at the lizard man. To the side, the man in red and blue laid.

"Poor, Peter Parker. No mother. No father. No uncle. All alone," The man said.

"Think again, Spyro," Tony said.

The lizard looked up to Tony who hovered above them. Niobe ignited her lightsaber and ran towards them. She shoved the police officer to the side with the force and swiped at the man's stomach, bending backward at a sharp angle to avoid a hit from a swing in her direction.

The lizard shrieks in pain at his sliced open stomach. The man called Peter covered the lizard in nitrogen, slowing the lizard's healing.

"Hey, a gift from Gwen!" The officer said.

The man handed Peter a tube and waved him away.

"We got this, Peter! Go!" The officer said.

Niobe watched Peter climbed towards a spire on the roof.

"I'll work on crowd safety," Tony said.

The officer turned to Niobe.

"I am Niobe," she said. "We are here to assist you."

The officer gave a sharp nod. They shared a gaze before the sound of ice cracking turned them back to the lizard. The creature was breaking out of the liquid nitrogen ice coating.

"Annoying," the creature said.

The lizard backhanded Niobe into a wall and impaled the officer with its claws. Niobe screamed in anger. The Jedi forced herself up and readied herself. She ran. Niobe leapt into the air with a yell, bringing her lightsaber down onto the lizard's neck. She struck hard, but not hard enough.

The lizard roared in pain, clawing at her side. Niobe stumbled but continued blocking his attacks. As she went for a swipe of the lizard's legs, the claws went through her stomach. She gasped, dropping her lightsaber. Niobe was unfamiliar with this sort of agony.

The claws retracted and she collapsed eyes wide. She took in every detail. The sick grin the lizard had as he looked her over. The way his scales reflected the city lights. The humanity in his eyes regretting his actions. Outside he was proud of himself. Inside he was in pain. Niobe fell onto her back. After everything she had gone through, this was not the expected ending. There was never a chance for her to find peace, was there?

Niobe could see Tony. He had returned and was now fending off the lizard. Before they could lose hope, Peter shoved the tube into place. A mist fell over the city. Niobe sighed, hoping that meant they had won.

She heard Tony scream her name. She received glimpses of white as Earth faded into another world. Anakin's mind was still active in the force.

"Obe!"

Anakin grasped at her face. He knelt beside her.

"What happened?" Anakin asked.

Niobe's body could not remain standing. Her knees buckled under her weight. Anakin held her tight.

"Wanted...to help," she said.

Anakin's chest jerked, fighting a sob. His eyes were full of unreleased tears.

"Couldn't have waited at least a little longer?" Anakin asked.

"And miss out...on t-the fun?" She said.

Anakin kept his hand on the back of her head, supporting her as she teased him.

"They'll save you," he said. "They'll save you...just hang on a little longer."

Niobe gave a weak nod and watched the world fade away.

OOOOOOO

"An eerie calm has set in over New York City. Apparently, some sort of aerosolized antidote was launched from OsCorp Tower, which seems to have counteracted the biotoxins. Residents of lower Manhattan can rest peacefully, knowing that the alleged mastermind of this terror plot, Dr. Curtis Connors is behind bars," a voice said.

Niobe squeezed her eyes. She wondered what caused the ache in her head. She groaned, attempting to roll onto her side.

"Obe?"

"Ani?"

"I'm hurt that he's your first guess," the man said. "I mean, he doesn't even come close to my good looks."

Niobe smiled to herself.

"Tony," she said. "No doubt."

A laugh came from the opposite side of the voice.

"Agreed," they said.

Niobe forced her eyes open.

"What happened?" She asked.

"You took a mean hit," Tony said. "But Helen here is a miracle worker."

"Did you expect anything less?" Niobe asked.

Tony gagged.

"I'll leave you two cheese balls alone," he said.

"How is Ani?" Niobe said.

"He went into a fit last night," Helen said. "His body reacted in unexpected ways for someone unconscious."

"I believe that was my fault," Niobe said.

Helen looked down at her from the tablet.

"He visited me when I got hurt," Niobe said. "Anakin is still mentally connected to the force."

Helen stood beside Niobe's bed.

"This was supposed to be a simple mission," Helen said.

"Yes," Niobe said. "But not everything goes according to plan."

Helen leaned over.

"Gone an hour or two and almost died," Helen said. "I just got you in my arms and you're already fighting to get out."

Niobe laughed.

"Not at all," Niobe said.

Niobe reached her hand up to Helen's cheek. Helen leaned in and their lips met. They began a slight war. Helen laced her fingers into Niobe's lose passion twists. Niobe attempted to push herself closer but let out a hiss of pain at the attempt. Helen released her grasp.

"I'm sorry," Helen said. "I should get back to monitoring Anakin's progress."

Niobe relaxed into the pillow, wishing she could argue. Helen left with the tablet in hand.

"You seem happy."

Steve stood in the doorway.

"Hey, Steve," Niobe said.

She waved him into the room and he went to make himself comfortable in a chair beside her bed.

"What is on your mind?" Niobe asked.

Steve shrugged.

"So you and the doc?" he asked.

"I knew from the moment I saw her," Niobe said. "Acting on those feelings is another story."

"It's good seeing you smile," Steve said.

"Do you have someone?" Niobe asked.

"No," Steve said. "I had someone, but I missed that chance."

Steve looked at the floor. He appeared to be mulling over memories of the person he lost. Niobe chewed on her lip.

"Surely you do not believe that is permanent?" Niobe asked.

"Isn't it?" he asked. I can't seem to…adjust. Everything is different now and I spend all my time, fighting."

"Have you tried? Niobe asked. "I mean, really tried. I have found avoiding things is easier when I give them little thought. Doing so makes pretending the problem is not me, simpler."

Steve sat back. He raised his brow, eyes still on the floor.

"Wow," Steve said.

"it is one thing to not be ready to let go," she said. "it is another to not be willing to let go…you have a wonderful family here. You seem to take that for granted."

"I don't-," Steve said.

"You are so caught up in what you lost that you fail to see what you have gained."

Steve's face scrunched up. His nose became a pale pink. He seemed to be holding back tears.

"What would I do without you, Obe?" Steve asked.

"Abandon the ones who love you most," she said.

"Probably…" he said.

"So," Niobe said. "what happened with the Peter guy?"

His chest heaved. He was relieved by the change of topic.

"Peter guy?" Steve asked.

"The guy I almost died for," Niobe said.

"Tony said he would speak with you about the incident later," Steve said. "You had us all pretty scared last night."

"I am sorry about that," Niobe said. "I was unable to save someone and my emotions got the best of me. I should know better."

Steve leaned forward and grabbed onto her hand.

"Don't expect so much of yourself," he said. "People make mistakes."

"Yes, I suppose I should start thinking like this. The Jedi order is gone," Niobe said.

"You don't have to abandon your training," Steve said. "I just don't believe they would want you to beat yourself up over something you had no control over."

Niobe squeezed his hand.

"Thank you, Steve," Niobe said.

"I'll leave you to get some rest," Steve said.

Niobe nodded and watched him leave. She hoped she had been able to give him enough to ruminate on. She hoped she would be able to change the outcome she could see.