Chapter 2
The Plan
A few rooms the Facility survived the battle, so they agreed to gather there and speak about the last part of the mission. They still wanted to follow the plan, even the plan didn't exist.
Sam was sitting on Steve's left, Buck – on the right; Rhodey and Lang sat opposite, Banner – at the head of the table. The suitcase with the stones lied between them.
They had been sitting there for fifteen minutes, but the meeting hadn't yet started. They exchanged short awkward glances. Minutes passed, but Banner kept printing something on his computer. That silence was getting uncomfortable.
"Sorry, are we waiting for someone?" Rhodey asked at last. "I thought I'd be just us."
"Yeah. What are waiting for?" Lang added. "Every time has some limits… except when you're time travelling, of course."
"Time for a roll call," Sam said. "Thor left Earth with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and that girl - Captain Marvel, right? She vanished without saying goodbye."
"She always does that," Rhodey murmured.
"T'Challa returned to Wakanda, Clint reunited with his family, Parker promised to come back to school. Wanda is out of touch, but she promised to be okay..."
"We're waiting for someone to consult us about returning the stones properly," said Banner shorty, rereading all program codes for the upcoming mission.
"You mean, like a real consultant?" Scott asked. "Sounds like we're waiting for some kind of detective."
A sudden crack was heard behind them. A portal opened, and Stephen Strange entered the room.
"Sorry, I'm late. Had to fix some problems at the Sanctum," he said, taking his seat, his Cloak waving as if saying hi to them.
"So strange," Sam said, watching it. He missed five years, and a lot of stuff still looked new to him. Rogers almost chuckled. He knew what it was like – missing years of life when the world didn't stop living.
"Now, when we all are here, it's time to begin our conversation," said Banner. "I promised the Ancient One to return all stones to the right timeline," he glanced at Strange. "Stephen, what did you get? Do we need to return the stones in any special order?"
At that moment everyone realized that Strange was still wearing the Eye of Agamotto, Time Stone glittering with green.
"I used it for the last time," Stephen explained, having noticed their surprised looks. "I tried to see how to return the stones."
He sighed and opened the Eye. The Time Stone left it, flew in the air, and jumped in the suitcase that opened like a magic box.
"There'll be no problem to return the stones to Vormir, Asgard and New Jersey," the former Doctor turned and looked at Steve, "mostly because you didn't create much trouble there. Just try to stay unnoticed. If something goes wrong, use the Mind Stone and delete all the evidence."
Rogers nodded.
"What's about 2012?" Lang asked. "We failed to get all the stones there, Loki grabbed Tesseract and vanished into thin air."
"Well, that's a problem," Strange admitted. It looked like he had his own, not very pleasant memories about Loki. "But you can ask the Ancient One to reverse time and help you replay everything. It's against all rules, but we all break rules sometimes."
"But I thought Loki had already created another timeline branch," Hulk answered.
"Yes, you're right. Loki's actions created at least one branch of reality that threatens the safety of dozens of alternative worlds. I've spent some time, trying to solve this problem, and, eventually, I've managed to talk about it with somebody special… and they promised me they would fix Loki's problem."
"They?" Rhodey asked. "Who are they?"
"Don't tell me it's aliens again," Sam added, a little irritated.
Doctor Strange paused. It looked like he couldn't or didn't want to give them details, but, in the end, his desire to explain everything won, and he said:
"There is a secret organization that controls the course of different time branches. When I found its… members, they have already known about Loki's trick. They won't let him escape justice."
"Okay, but what's about Morag?" Steve asked, changing the subject. "Tanos from 2014 is dead, as well as old Nebula. We can't bring them back there."
"Thank God," Lang answered.
"Well, there's something that can't be fixed," Strange said. "Our actions changed the future for both realities, and now we have an alternative timeline where the world lives without Tanos. Just bring the stone back where it was."
Everybody was quiet for a while. Sam turned to Cap.
"Are you sure you can do it?"
"There's no one else who can do it," Banner interfered immediately. "We also need to return Mjølnir to Asgard, remember? Steve's the one except for Thor who can do it."
"And we used to joke if the elevator is worthy," Rhodey said, turning to Lang. Scott glanced at Rhodey, having no idea what he was talking about, then looked back at Cap and said:
"Hank Pym created a new portion of Pym Particles, but he wanted to talk to you about something first."
Rogers nodded.
"Thanks. I'll visit him later."
"This mission won't be that simple," said Strange to Cap, serious now. "Alternative realities are in danger until you return the stones. It's not only about our reality now – it's about saving more lives than we can ever imagine."
"Don't worry about it," Cap reassured him. "I'll do it."
I have nothing to lose, he thought but didn't dare to say it aloud.
Steve suddenly realized how heavy and big his burden was. In everybody's eyes, he was still a soldier, not a living person. A symbol he never dreamed to be. Steve was so tired of this, and he envied everybody who just lived life. Tony was right…
"Strange, can you see what the future brings?" Banner asked, making Cap return to reality.
Doctor Strange paused again. He was looking at Cap as if trying to tell him something.
"I said it once, and I'll say it again: if I tell you what happens, it won't happen."
Rogers didn't know what it meant.
"Sorry for interrupting. May I come in?" Steve asked, standing at the door.
He and Bucky went to Pym's house when the meeting ended. Sam couldn't join them – personal reasons, he said. Steve hoped Sam would be alright.
Doctor Strange suggested transport them there through the portal, but Cap and Bucky refused – they were too old-fashioned for that. Buck had been waiting for him outside – it looked like Hank Pym wasn't a big fan of having visitors.
Pym turned and noticed him.
"Mister Rogers! Come in. Call me Hank, please. You must be older than me, right?"
They shook hands, and Steve suddenly recalled how he tricked young Hank when he had to get the Particles in 1970. He blushed, unable to hide his shame.
"Scott said you wanted to talk to me," he said.
They went to the display case with small red bottles inside of it.
"I made the Pym Particles enough to transport you to the alternative timelines," Hank said. "But you also have to return the portion you stole from 1970. Do you remember how many Particles you took?"
"Four, if I remember well," Steve answered. Somewhere inside it was still hard for him to lie. And he didn't need to lie. Why would he?
Pym nodded.
"Okay. I'll give you another four bottles… and a few more, I guess? Just in case if something goes wrong."
"Thank you," Cap answered. "It's very kind of you."
"Don't thank me, my actions are selfish," Hank said with a short laugh. "I can't say I like you, but to be frank, I can't imagine the world without Captain America."
His words almost hurt. Steve sighed. He was invisible again. Captain's image absorbed him, and nobody knew the short skinny guy he used to be in the past. Except for Bucky, of course. And Peggy. But he lost her already.
"Funny, but it feels like I already know you," Hank suddenly added.
"Maybe it's because you worked in New Jersey?" Steve suggested, glancing at the Particles.
Pym shook his head.
"It's not what I meant. I've got a feeling that I saw you in the past. Maybe, my memory's wrong, but I even remember the day when you tricked me when you stole the Particles. Isn't that weird?"
Steve didn't know what to say. It was impossible. Impossible, right?
"How did it go?" Buck asked when Cap went outside.
"Fine. We talked about how many Pym Particles I must return to 1970… And Doctor Pym also gave me this."
Cap showed his friend a small box Pym also gave him. Bucky saw the little copies of instruments and tools.
"He resized everything I might need, including the Scepter," Steve explained. "I can't return the stone alone. I'll change its size when it's needed."
"They look just like toys," Bucky said, holding a tiny instrument that Cap would need while returning the Reality Stone in Jane Foster's body.
Rogers looked forward and noticed something strange. His heart missed a beat.
"Are you okay?" Bucky asked, worried.
On the other side of the street Cap noticed an old man who looked familiar to him. A forgotten image from the past filled his head. The man reminded him of his grandfather, Roger, who died when Stevie was about five. Cap thought he didn't remember him, but…
"Everything is fine," Rogers answered. "It's time to go home."