(Sunday, June 19, 2016)
(2:00 PM)
As she turned to face her alarm clock, Gwen herself shot up from her bed in alarm.
It's two o'clock already?
Shooting up from her bed completely, Gwen exited her room and headed toward the conference room, slowing upon hearing the voices of the other Avengers. To put it mildly, they were not happy.
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor," Colonel Rhodes spoke up first, "which is one more than you have."
The "You" he was referring to was Sam, who acted understandably repulsed as he and Rhodes argued back and forth.
"So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"
"117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, "No, that's cool. We got it.""
"How long are you going to play both sides?"
"I have an equation," Vision finally spoke up, prompting Rhodes, Sam, and the others to turn and face him.
"Oh, this will clear it up," Sam crossed his arms.
"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man," Vision began, "the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period...the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."
"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve furrowed his eyebrows as he read a thick book of some sort.
"I'm saying there may be a causality," Vision contradicted, "Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict...breeds catastrophe. Oversight... Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."
"Boom," Rhodes nodded in understanding as he walked around Mr. Stark, who was lying on the couch with one hand over his face.
"Tony..." Natasha glanced over to him, "You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal."
"It's because he's already made up his mind," Steve in turn glanced over to her.
"Boy, you know me so well," Tony snarked as he stood up from the couch and headed toward the kitchen, rubbing the back of his head while at it, "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort."
Grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee, Tony groaned in disgust at an unpleasant sight, "Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?"
He then placed his phone in a fruit basket and tapped it to project the image of a smiling young dark-skinned man.
"That's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a floor level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul, before he parked it behind a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where? Sokovia."
As the others looked shocked, horrified, and/or devastated by the revelation, Tony was briefly fazed as he took a pill and drank it down with his beverage, "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass."
Sighing, bowing his head, and pinching his nose bridge, Tony continued, "There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check. Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys."
As the group contemplated their choices, Steve eventually spoke up after listening to Tony's assessment.
"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up."
"Who said we're giving up?"
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions," Steve looked at the thick book with disdain, "This document just shifts the blames."
"I'm sorry. Steve," Rhodes shook his head as he interjected, "That... That is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, it's not HYDRA."
From around the corner, Gwen's eyes widened as the memory of both the dream and her conversation with Peter and Kate came rushing back to her at full force.
So they know what HYDRA is...
"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change," Steve continued as Tony spoke next.
"That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing."
"Tony, you chose to do that," Steve counterargued, "If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."
Tony wanted to agree with Steve. He really did...but he could not.
"If we don't do this now, Steve... It's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty."
"You're saying they'll come for me," Wanda realized.
"We would protect you," Vision took her hand in his.
"Maybe Tony's right."
Everybody, especially Tony himself, turned toward Natasha now in surprise. The SHIELD agent herself attempted to explain,
"If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off..."
"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam crossed his arms again, this time in disbelief.
"I'm just... I'm reading the terrain. We have made... some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
"Focus up," Tony interjected, "I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?"
"Oh, I want to take it back now," Natasha winced as Tony shook his head, "No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Okay, case closed: I win."
As Tony said this, Steve's phone buzzed and prompted him to check the text message. Upon reading it, his facial expression became grim and somber.
"I have to go..."
Sharply shooting up from his chair and dropping the document on the coffee table, Steve made his way downstairs as the others (Gwen included) looked with concern. He stopped near the bottom and leaned against the banister, bowing his head in sorrow.
. . .
. . .
. . .
"Steve?"
The Captain looked up from his daze to find Gwen approaching from above, "I guess the meeting didn't go well as planned?"
"I guess you can say something like that."
"What happened?"
"I... I lost someone yesterday. Although I didn't find out until now."
. . .
"Oh. Oh, Steve... I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. It wasn't your fault."
. . .
"The funeral's this Tuesday in London."
"Can I...go with you?"
. . .
"Sure."
Remaining in silence for a moment, Steve noticed Gwen had shared his solemn attitude, prompting him to hug her in comfort. Another moment was spent remaining in the hug before they both pulled away and Steve examined Gwen from head to toe,
"But I wouldn't recommend going dressed like that."
Her eyebrows shooting up in confusion at Steve's words, Gwen observed her clothes for herself and subsequently frowned:
And I'm still in my pajamas...
"Oops..."
"Wonderland is known as the Land of Madness, where nothing is as it seems, and everything is as topsy-turvy as a rabbit running past you is wearing a waistcoat and a pocket watch, taking playing cards painting white roses red, and where tea time is all the time..."
Celia shook her head in shock and disbelief as she read the Travel Guide. For the past two hours, she spent every single one of those minutes learning about new worlds, new dimensions, new universes, and new multiverses. Apparently, the term "multiverse" defined a group of co-existing universes comprised of co-existing space, time, matter, and energy. Her eyes and mind widened at the several different realms beyond the Isle and Auradon. Of course, the possibility of a marching band of migraines also widened, causing her to take a momentary break and let her head relax. When it did, she immediately went back to work, and that work specifically included making a list of these alternate universes.
Glancing over to her list, Celia made a "Huh" expression at the amount she had so far. Glancing now back and forth between the book and the list, Celia continued writing her new entries after a brief moment.
I guess I can add Kumandra to the long list...
"Hey, Gwen...! Whoa, what's with the dour getup? You look like you're going to a funeral."
"I am going to a funeral. I'm leaving in the morning."
Indeed, Gwen was dressed in a black long-sleeve dress with matching flats and a headband used to keep her hair back and out of her face after getting dressed. Peter and Kate were on the call again watching her check her reflection.
"Really? For who?"
"I'm not sure, but Steve seemed pretty despondent about it. He must care about her a lot enough to be a close friend."
"Her?" Peter's eyes widened in realization, "Oh... Mr. Rogers is probably talking about Miss Carter then."
"Oh..." Kate's mood considerably doured as a result, "Yeah, she's definitely a close friend."
"Um, guys?"
"Right, sorry. So, I'm gonna give you the rundown: Margaret Carter was a member of the Strategic Scientific Reserve, which basically served as the foundation for S.H.I.E.L.D. in the 1940s. She was one of its founding members and...one of the main reasons why Steve became Captain America. They used to work together until a mission that saw the fate of the world hang in the balance resulted in... Well..."
The 1940's? That would be almost 70 years ago. But how? Steve still looks young and...buff.
An uncomfortable feeling rising in her chest, Gwen nonetheless pressed on.
"What happened then?"
It was not Peter and Kate who spoke up and answered for her.
"I went in the ice."
Instead, it was Steve himself who responded. At the same time Peter and Kate's expressions tensed up, Gwen's head whipped around far quicker than it should. They all found him standing in the doorway wearing a navy blue suit with a matching necktie and waistcoat in addition to a forlorn expression that mirrored Gwen's.
"I had a choice to make. One life over millions more. Who would die...and who would live to see another day. In the end... I chose to lay down my life on the line so others could go on."
Gwen knew from her own gut feeling that Steve and, by extension, and the rest of the Avengers would face hardships due in large part to their status as the defenders of the universe she found herself lost in. However, this was something else entirely. To lose the people you love dearly while laying one's life on the line to save others could do damage to one's psyche. And judging by what Kate said, that would mean that Steve was cyrogenically frozen for approximately 70 years. So, seeing him here alive and well while coming to terms with his fate was heart-wrenching to say the least. Making it worse was the fact that he seemed completely content with it...or he just did a really good job at hiding his trauma.
"Steve..." Gwen had no idea what to say to him, now at a loss for words, "I'm so sorry..."
"You don't need to apologize, Gwen," Steve shook his head, "It wasn't your fault. It was my decision."
"But still..."
"Still nothing," Steve approached and laid a hand on her shoulder, "I went down in the ice 70 years ago to prevent millions from perishing. 70 years later, I resurfaced and they said the world won, but never what they lost. Being a hero means making tough choices and personal sacrifices, Gwen. It's like what I said to Wanda: You can't save everyone, but you don't give up either."
Gwen gave Steve's words a thought before eventually nodding, "I hope you're right."
"Me too..." Steve murmured to himself as he nodded.
Without thinking, Gwen lunged forward at Steve to engulf him in a hug, resting her head against his chest. Caught off guard at first, Steve gave in and returned the hug, remaining enlocked with her for a few moments.
. . .
. . .
. . .
"This is beautiful."
Gwen and Steve looked up from their embrace and turned back to the former's smartphone. Peter and Kate were still on the call, the latter having her heart melt by the admittedly touching scene.
"You guys are bonding more. It's amazing."
As the both of them exchanged incredulous looks at each other, Peter cringed the same time as Kate bashfully grinned.
"I, uh... I ruined the moment, did I?"
Gwen nodded while Steve awkwardly smiled in return.
"We'll just...hang up now," Kate chuckled as such, "See you in a few days, Gwen."
"Be safe, okay?" Peter waved as he and Kate left the call.
Gwen chuckled and broke away from the hug. Just as Steve turned to leave, he called out to her.
"It's going to be a long ride there, Gwen. I suggest you get some rest on the way there."
"Got it."
Gathering her light luggage, Gwen pulled it behind her and headed with him to the Quinjet, where Natasha and Sam were waiting for them. She stashed her luggage in a safe spot before taking her seat and strapping in. As the engine started up, she indeed took Steve's advice and closed her eyes to get some rest before they arrived.
You can't save anyone, Gwen...but you can't give up, either...
Peter: Kate? Are you still there?
Kate: I wasn't until you texted. What's up?
Peter: Do you ever get the distinct feeling that something bad is going to happen?
Kate: More often than not. But I don't need Peter-Tingles for any grim foreshadowing.
Peter: ...What? Peter-What?
Kate: Based on what you explained to Steve and Natasha on our first few days at the Compound, you have an extrasensory/precognitive ability to sense potential danger before it even occurs. I call it the "Peter-Tingle".
Peter: Why can't you just call it a "Spider-Sense" or something?
Kate: Because "Peter-Tingle" relates to you more.
. . .
Kate: Plus, it's a nickname that you would never live down.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Peter: Why did I text you again?
Kate: Because you had a bad feeling about something. Did it have anything to do with Gwen by any chance?
Peter: Not just Gwen, but...wait, why did you ask me specifically about Gwen?
. . .
Kate: Come on. We both know why...
A/N: So, I got four reviews in a row from AvatarUzumaki. She had a number of questions for me, so I'm just to got simplify things for the foreseeable chapters in the future.
1.1) "Will the remainder of the Core Four find their way to Mal? What did Celia stumble upon?"
2.1) "Will the events of Civil War change since Peter actually knows and interacts with Steve? Will he still help Tony?"
3.1) "What craziness is happening back in Auradon and The Isle?"
4.1) "What could her connection with Ruby mean? Will she eventually tell the Avengers or will she look into herself with help from her friends?"
5.1) "When will Mal's own powers start to come back? Will she choose a side in the upcoming Civil War?"
1) "Yes, but it won't happen until later on in the story. Because Spider-Man: Homecoming chronologically takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, it is plausible that they could appear in that section. Meanwhile, Celia discovers from Uma and her crew that the Anti-Heroes Club were brutally murdered and, because she loved Hadie more than just a friend, decides to help take revenge by traveling to Auradon when Uma is arrested. It is there that she finds a book labeled The Travel Guide To Different Realms And Universes, which is presumably how Mal traveled to Earth-199999. These two storylines will cross over and Evie, Carlos, and Jay will use the book to transport themselves to (hopefully) that same place."
2) "Tony may not know that Peter trained with Steve, so hiring him would throw a real curveball into the story and explains Steve holding back against Peter when fighting him. I would feel that he still would help Tony, but he would be more apologetic to the rest of the Avengers he would be fighting."
3) "Mal's disappearance has caused chaos on both Auradon and The Isle. In The Isle, several power grabs have occurred in the seven weeks that followed; In Auradon, several publicity scandals have erupted at the same time. Afterwards, as mentioned in Point 1, Uma is arrested while Celia stows away with her in order to inflitrate Auradon."
4) "Because Mal and Ruby share the same actress in Dove Cameron, the possibilities are endless. The main priority is the both of them meet, bond, and become at odds with each other before coming to terms with each other. Plus, an opportunity for Dove Cameron to play two people at once again is just too good to pass up."
5) "Mal's powers will eventually come back, but it won't be for a while. Plus, choosing a side would be difficult since both of her new parental figures are on opposing factions, but Steve and Natasha probably wouldn't let her choose or force her to. Instead, they would gently persuade her to stay out of the conflict for her personal safety."