Chapter 8: The Big Week Pt. 2
When Alistair regained consciousness he was met with the sight of the starry night sky. Remembering what happened when he fell unconscious he quickly reached for his shoulder but found no dart. Hearing mewling he looked to his left to find Maleficent playing with the dart. Sitting up he groaned at the stiffness of his body.
"Damn tranquilizers." He grunted as he stood up. Looking down at the cat he found her gnawing at the dart, "Don't play with that, trust me it's not fun." He warned before taking the dart from the cat's jaws.
The cat hissed at him but he ignored her. Looking at the dart he sighed. Stuffing it into his pocket he stood up. Stretching out his arms he felt a stinging pain in his arms. His skin stung in a terrible burn. That much time in the sun without shade or sunscreen must have given him a sunburn.
Yelping at the pain as he put a hand on his arm, "I hope this works with sunburns." He huffed as his fingers glowed gold. The glow spread throughout his arm. He sighed as the pain faded away, "That's better."
Looking around he found himself in the middle of nowhere. He quickly weaved signs before two balls of light appeared in his hands. Raising his hands he fired the two orbs into the air. The orbs converged as one before bursting into blinding light.
The light lit up the darkness of the night. Looking around he found that he was nowhere near any form of civilization. Maleficent let out a soft meow before pressing herself to his leg.
"You're right, we gotta get to the crash site." He replied before opening a portal, "I know that I can't understand you like that but it comforts me that I pretend to do so."
Maleficent let out a lower meow.
"I'm going to pretend that I didn't pretend ro hear that." He replied before they walked through the portal.
Appearing at the foot of a hill Alistair saw the light from the other side. Pulling his scarf over his head he began to walk up the hill. The moment he found the Shield research base he immediately crouched down to remain out of sight. The rumble of thunder signaled that it was nearly time for Thor to infiltrate the base.
When the rain began to pelt down on the earth Alistair knew it was time. Laying on his front he rested on his elbows and watched the sight keenly. Finding the man in question crawling under the fence he watched with enthusiasm.
From his position, he could see Thor approach an assault buggy with two agents in it. The God of Thunder punched the first agent across the face easily knocking him out and then using his gun to quickly dispatch the second agent. Alistair flinched as thunder roared in the sky as Thor take one of their poncho's and pulling the hood up. The blonde then walked out of his view causing Alistair to sigh.
"And so it begins." He whispered before he heard an alarm ring out in the rain.
Laying on his back he looked over at the cat, "Do me a favor. Look after my body." He said before he closed his eyes.
With a grunt, he ejected his astral form his body. Floating over his body he saw Maleficent laying down on his chest. Smiling, he looked up at the base seeing agents scramble around trying to find the intruder. Flying down the hill and through the fence he entered the base to its heart. Floating above Mjolnir he quickly looked around, waiting for Thor.
A flash of lightning revealed a shadow above him. Looking up he found Hawkeye inside a basket hanging off a crane bow and arrow in hand. Behind him, Thor rips off the plastic flap on the wall. Alistair looked at the exiled god as he approached the hammer. He floated away from the hammer as Thor placed his hands on it.
From above Alistair watched as Thor began to pull on the power. The blonde struggled to lift the hammer. He quickly began to grow frustrated with it and began to yell. He sighed before he turned and fly away. He gasped as he flew through Hawkeye causing the archer groan at the strange sensation resonating through his body.
"Fucking idiot." Alistair scolded himself before continued to fly towards his body.
A flash of lightning revealed to Hawkeye an unconscious body, "What the hell?"
The person in black jolted up before he created a portal and hopped through it. Looking around he tried to find any trace of the man but instead saw a woman scramble to her jeep and driving away.
Alistair landed in his room in Kamar-Taj with water and mud falling from his clothes. He quickly began to pace his room and muttered to himself. Maleficent hopped on the bed and began to lap at her fur, cleaning herself. Alistair began to remove his damp, dirty clothes before grabbing a robe.
"Hawkeye saw me, shit!" He nearly screamed, "He's going to tell Coulson who's going to tell Fury and Fury is going to put a hit out on me. Fuck!" He groaned before he exited the room.
The cat hardly spared him a glance as she cleaned herself. Once she cleaned herself she stretched out her body before laying down on the comforter. Before she could fall into slumber however Alistair burst into the room. He had gone to shower given that all the muck and grim had been cleaned off his body.
"In the shower I realized." Alistair announced getting the cat's attention, "I've been learning how to fight like a warrior but I also need to learn to fight like an assassin. I need to know how to sneak around and break into places." He explained putting on a blue robe, "Opening a portal does come in handy but it's not exactly subtle."
Maleficent made a chattering sound and Alistair sighed, "Who can teach me?" He hummed in deep thought, "There's a few options, Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Electra, Stick, anyone in the Chase. But finding them and gaining their trust is a whole different thing. I'd have to save them or something." He sighed before he smiled, "That's it!"
The next day Alistair had abandoned the dark clothing and had opted to go with a white sleeveless robe. His face is no longer hidden behind a scarf and glasses giving anyone who saw him a clear look at him. He had shaved the sides of his hair leaving a long mohawk on top of his head. He had thought back to one of his favorite characters, Daken, when he decided on this hairstyle.
He stood atop a hill overlooking the Shield agents as they inspected the Asgardian runes. Sif and the Warriors Three had arrived an hour ago but have since gone towards town. At his side stood Maleficent with a content purr. He had told her of his plan and she seemed to be excited with her part in it.
Alistair looked up to see dark clouds swirling in the sky. The wind picked up an unusual cold wind. He took a deep breath, "It's here." Alistair crouched down so he could speak to the cat, "Remember we give the Shield agents enough time to get away before we lead it to town so that Thor gets his power back, got it?" Maleficent gave a confirming hitter getting a smirk from Alistair, "Great. Into a Bengal Tiger."
A blast of rainbow light shrouded by dark clouds came down from the sky. Alistair slipped on his sling ring as the dark clouds dissipated revealing the Destroyer. He watched as the Automaton walked towards the convoy of agents. They didn't back down however as Coulson took a blow horn and began to speak to it.
Alistair quickly began to make a portal on the ground with the other end appearing above the agents. Even from this far, he could see the Destroyer charging up its beam, "I'll distract it, and you get it from behind." He ordered the black tiger before he jumped through it.
Landing between Coulson and the Destroyer Alistair quickly sent a blast of lightning at the mech causing it to stumble and send its blast towards the sky. Alistair took the split-second opportunity to turn to Coulson, "Run!" He yelled before he faced the Destroyer once more to face its beam.
On instinct, he quickly made a large shield. It successfully blocked the attack but the sheer force of it sent Alistair flying. He collided with one of the black SUVs before falling on the ground. The Destroyer began to bear down on him before a flurry of bullets bounced off its armor. The mechanical guard looked over to see the Shield agents firing at him.
With the Destroyer distracted Coulson quickly ran to Alistair's side helping him up, "What part of 'run' don't you get?" He asked once he was on his feet.
"Running from danger isn't really what we do, Mr. Sanz." Phil replied looking up at the Destroyer, "Although I do see we're a bit out our league here."
"I'll distract it long enough for you to get away." The younger man said before he shrugged off Coulson's hand and began to walk towards the mech.
"You can't give me orders." He replied before the Destroyer destroyed two SUVs, "Fall back I repeat fall back!" Coulson ordered over his walkie talkie.
Alistair quickly made a whip before he made a portal above the Destroyer. Jumping into it he quickly wrapped the whip around the Destroyer neck and used his weight to pull its head down. Its beam missed its next target and instead hit the floor. The distraction didn't last though as the Destroyer grabbed Alistair.
It raised him towards its head and began to squeeze. Alistair struggled against the grip of the Destroyer before he began to scream in pain. While he struggled against the iron grip he felt a rise in hear. Looking up he saw the light inside the mech burning bright.
"Too late, Loki." He smirked causing the Destroyer to hesitate before a fierce roar sounded.
The Destroyer stumbled forward revealing a black tiger on its back. Alistair took the opportunity to conjure a sword and quickly stuck it into the wrist of the metal monster. Falling roughly on the floor Alister scrambled back from the Destroyer as Maleficent slashed her claws into it. Getting up Alistair ran around the mech and quickly weaved signs.
"Maleficent, out of the way!" He yelled before he completed the spell.
The black tiger jumped off of the Automaton just in time for Alistair sent a strong gale force wind at it. The wind pushed the Destroyer back but it slammed its fist into the floor anchoring it. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the Shield agents have driven far away enough so he could pull back.
"Time to pull back." He informed Maleficent before a shadow swallowed him.
He looked up just in time to see the Destroyer's hand backhand the left side of his torso. An audible crack rang in the air as he flew across the desert. Alistair wailed at the pain in his ribs before he coughed out blood.
Maleficent let out a roar and moved to pounce but Alistair shouted, "No!" He yelled rolling over. He used his right hand to push himself up, "We gotta go!" He said before raising his hands and winced in the pain in his ribs.
Maleficent circled the Destroyer distracting it so Alistair could make a portal. He struggled through the pain but he eventually made the portal, "Maleficent now!" He yelled as the tiger narrowly dodged another beam of energy.
Falling through the portal he fell into the library of Kamar-Taj with Maleficent close behind. Looking up he saw the Destroyer charge a beam aiming for the port. Alistair hastily shut the portal just as the beam was fired.
Falling back on the ground he reached out for his side but he didn't have enough energy, "First a tranquilizer and now this." He groaned before he fell unconscious once more.
Once Alistair came to he immediately felt the familiar cushions of his bed. Sighing he looked around and found the Ancient One petting Maleficent who was on her lap, "Is falling unconscious becoming a habit of yours?" She teased getting an eye roll in return.
"How long was I out?" He asked sitting up.
"Two hours." Maleficent answered.
Alistair blinked and pointed at the cat, "What?"
"I simple translation spell. Surprised you didn't implement it when you met your little friend here." The Ancient One replied as the cat jumped off of her lap and onto the bed.
"The hammer-" Alistair began.
"Is safely back in Asgard along with its owner." She quickly answered, "You saved those men from total annihilation." She added.
"Too bad I barely saved myself." He muttered lifting his hand over his ribs.
"You're only human as am I." She chuckled, "Your ribs were shattered, your stomach was punctured and you had internal bleeding. I healed your wounds but you should rest." She ordered.
"But-"
"As I said you're only human, you don't have enhanced healing." She explained, "You're not Captain America." She laughed before walking out.
"Wish I had a super-soldier serum though." He sighed.
"You could go anywhere you want, why not just take some?" Maleficent asked sitting in the bed.
"It doesn't exactly grow on trees." Alistair replied laying down and closed his eyes ready to go back to sleep. After a moment of realization he opened his eyes, "But it does grow in a flower." He whispered before he quickly sat up, "It grows in a flower!" He exclaimed.
Maleficent watched as he hopped out of bed and put his black clothes from the desert back on, "Where are we going?"
"A place in Africa, it's called Wakanda." He informed tying up his boots, "There's a plant called the Heart-Shaped Herb, it gives whoever ingests it heightened abilities, strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes and even healing."
"Have you ever been there?" She asked hopping off the bed.
"No, but I know where they keep it and what it looks like." He replied getting his sling ring from the bedside table.
"Need me to turn into anything, a lion?" She asked hopefully.
"No, this is strictly a covert type of thing." He replied before he closed his eyes, "Picture it in your mind."
In his mind's eye, he saw T'Challa lie down on the orange dust and drinking the water from the herb. Moving his arm he opened the portal and when he opened his eyes he saw the garden. Pulling up his scarf he covered his face. Stepping through the portal he found that he was alone.
"What now?" Maleficent asked as Alistair stepped into the water of the garden.
"Inside the flower, there's the herb." He replied reaching in the nearest flower until he felt it. Wrapping his hand around it he gently tugged it until he plucked it. When he finally laid his eyes on it he gasped.
Hearing a gasp he looked up to see a woman in a purple dress with a matching wrapped headdress. They stared at each other for a second before she quickly ran away. Alistair moved like lightning, he grabbed Maleficent, jumped through the portal, and shut it.
"I got it, I got it." He muttered in disbelief before he looked down at the herb in his hand.
Getting up from the floor he sat on his bed. His gaze never leaving the glowing herb. Maleficent jumped on the bed, "Do you eat it now?"
"Yeah pretty much." He replied before he stood up and walked over to the window and slammed the shutters close.
The only light source in the room was the purple light from the herb. Alistair took off his shoes and laid on the bed. Raising the herb over his mouth he opened wide. Pooping it into his out he cringed at the taste as he chewed into it popping it like a balloon.
Alistair suddenly felt tired and his eyelids began to feel heavy, "Ancient One's right. I'm making a habit of getting knocked ou-"
His mind replayed that night in the fire. He was trying to get his nephew to safety. The beam falling on them. The fire consumed them.
Jolting up found that he was laying down on his couch. Sitting up he found that he was home. The spicy smell of Pozole caused him to stand up. He made his way towards the kitchen where he found his mother stirring the contents inside a tall pot.
Walking up behind her he asked, "Is it ready yet?" He asked excitedly looking over her shoulder to see the red stew.
"You tell me." She replied before she began to fill up a bowl with the stew.
Suddenly he was a little boy once again bouncing in excitement, "Yay!" He exclaimed in excitement.
"Siéntate." His mother ordered gently.He ran to the table where his father, brother, and sisters all sat with their bowls.
Sitting down he continued to bounce before his mother placed his bowl before him. He quickly grabbed one of the cut limes and squeezed it over the bowl dripping the juice inside.Taking his first spoonful he moaned at the taste.
His mother chuckled, "You know if you watched me in the kitchen it you could learn how to make it yourself." She suggested.
"Why?" He asked before he took another spoonful. Swallowing down, "You already make it for me."
"Well, when you get older you'll have to make it for your kids." She replied, "Abuela taught me, and you know how good her food is."
Everyone around the table hummed in agreement, "See how I cook for everyone? One day you'll do that for your kids, same with tour siblings with theirs."
"Like how you take care of everyone?" He asked curiously.
"Exactly." She replied before she continued to eat her soup.
"I'll have to take care of everyone." He muttered to himself.
Gasping he found that he was in darkness. He then remembered that had shut the window and turned off the lights. Getting up he turned on the lamp on the bedside table. The sudden light made him flinch and jump across the room where he collided with the wall. However, he hardly felt anything.
He carefully stood up and leaned against the wall. Testing out his new strength he went to jump and ended up colliding with the ceiling. Falling, he easily landed on his feet. Raising his hands to his face he closed them into fists before he spun around and punched the wall. His fist easily went through it.
Pulling back he looked at the hole in the wall and smiled, "I can get used to this."