Disclaimer: All Marvel and PJO/HoO characters belong to respective owners.

Chapter 11

The silence dragged out, weighing down heavily. Suffocating her to the brink. It's overwhelming and constant pressure was never-ending, it was crushing her. Who'd ever thought that silence could be so loud? Growing up in a camp full of demigods, it was never quiet. Never a moment to herself to think. Or to catch her breath. Even at dead of the night, it was loud. Snoring, sleep talking, and night terrors, it was always something. Back then, she would sneak out to the beach for a midnight swim. It was the only she could really think. It was so quiet under the water.

Now, she hated how quiet it was. Made every thought she had louder. Too loud to focus on one singular thought.

She was in shock, dumbfounded. Bucky's unforeseen death had hit her harder than she anticipated. She could not understand why it was, having him declared dead before.

Although, the last time was different. At that point, they weren't friends. They were cordial, at most, to each other, always professional. She was his Colonel, despite not knowing. He respected her, and she returned the sentiment. After certain circumstances and revelations, they became friends.

And now, he was gone. Lost into a freezing river carrying off. There wasn't even a body to bury. Had she been there, would he still be alive? She would have swept in with Phillip, pull him out. Andromeda stopped the thought before it was too far. She couldn't dwell on the "what if…", it would only lead to pain and confusion. After her mother's death, she spent years wondering what if she better trained. What if she was quicker? What if she was stronger?

What if only caused her to hope for a different outcome when nothing can change. What if will go forever unanswered.

Inhaling, Andromeda gathered the sheet of paper and headed out. Yesterday's tragedy had reached everyone, creating a very somber atmosphere in the halls. Steve had vanished the moment he had given her the full report of the mission. While he had maintained his composure, his grief was evident. Anyone could see it plainly how much the loss of his closest friend had affected him. Giving the report took longer than usual, although it was expected. Multiple pauses and breaks to compose himself, she asked him at times to repeat himself. It pained her to ask but she wanted, no, needed to know every single thing that happened in that train. Tears escape from Andromeda each time Steve choked out Bucky's name.

She came up to the interrogation room when a man came up from another direction, holding a tray.

"What's this?" She asked the soldier eyeing the thick steak with broccoli and potatoes accompanied by a small glass of milk.

"Lieutenant General Martin ordered for dinner to be delivered."

Anger flared inside, she locked her jaw to avoid spilling her wrath. Bucky was dead, his frozen body floating down the river, while Zola got a fillet mignon.

"Didn't know this was a five-star hotel." We should get him silk pillowcases next time.

The soldier looked at her nervously, unsure of what do to next. He didn't have to worry for too long for she snatched the tray from his hands and order him to open the door.

He was different yet familiar from what she last saw him in her dream. His facial features hadn't changed, carry the same look of a nervous and frighten puppy yet the curiosity of a cat. The rest of his appearances had seen better days, with his hair and clothes in complete disarray.

"Sit down." She nodded to the chair, setting down the tray on his side.

He slowly sat down while peering at the tray. "What is this?"

"Steak." Andromeda sharply answered.

"What is in it?" He asked a bit too dumbly as if purposely wanting to annoy her.

"Cow." Although, I wish it wasn't. She smiled tightly at the mortal sitting down and placed her hands on the table. "Doctor, do you realize how difficult it is to get ahold of a prime cut like that out here?

"I don't eat meat," Zola told her arrogantly with a grin.

Son of bitch. Her smile vanished. "Why not?"

"It disagrees with me."

Oh, how badly she wanted to slap him. She thought of all ways she can knock him out. "How about cyanide? Does that give you the rumbly tummy, too?"

He only smiled at her, all too secretive.

Andromeda swiftly rotated the tray to face her and started to help herself to his meal. First, by placing the glass of milk away, she never understood people who drank milk with a meal. "Every Hydra agent that we've tried to take alive has crunch a little pill before we can stop him. But not you." She harshly stabbed a piece of meat with the fork. "So, here is my brilliant theory. You want to live."

Zola grinned as she took the bite. It tasted bland to her, still, she chewed, despite the desire to spit it out. "You're trying to intimidate me, Colonel."

"I brought you dinner."

There was brief silence where Zola stared at her and she kept eating. Swallowing the tasteless meat, Andromeda slid the paper to him. Zola inched it closer to read it.

"'Given the valuable information he has provided and in exchange for his full cooperation, Dr. Zola is being remanded to Switzerland.'?"

"I sent that message to Washington this morning. Of course, it was encoded," She prepared to piece of potato. "You guys haven't broken those codes, have you? That would be awkward."

"Schmitt will know this is a lie."

Andromeda was growing tired of that smug grin. "He's going to kill you anyway, Doc. You're a liability. You know more about Schmidt than anyone." Andromeda swallowed uncomfortably when Zola's smile widened. The piece of potato landed like a rock in her stomach. "And the last guy you cost us was Captain Rogers' closest friend, so I wouldn't count on the very best of protection."

Zola quickly glanced down at the steak and her grip tighten at the implication. She even knew it was a lie as words exited her mouth. Many wanted him alive, needed him to be alive. Or they wouldn't have gone through the trouble to get him and give him a juicy steak for dinner.

"It's you or Schmidt. It's just the hand you've been dealt." She took another tasteless bite. Gods, she wanted to spit it out so badly.

"Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of the gods."

Andromeda's stomach twisted; the food she had swallowed threatened to reappear. She began to wonder how much he knew. Still, she remained unperturbed. "Hmm."

"But you would know more about that. Only the world itself will satisfy him."

There was her answer. Her heart was racing, it didn't waver her tough stance. "You do realize that's nuts, don't you?"

Zola chuckled weakly. "What? The sanity of the plan is of no consequences."

"And why is that?"

"Because he can do it!"

"What's his target?"

"His target…is everywhere."

Andromeda inhaled sharply; she had heard enough. Schmidt had gone beyond everyone's worst nightmare. Despite everything he had done, she foolishly hoped that he would stop at one point. Finally, realize that his actions were wrong. That he still had a small ounce of respect for mortal's lives. Maybe she was a bigger idiot than she initially thought. The curtly clanged onto the tray, and she stood up. Snatching back the paper, she headed to the door. Hand on the handle, his voice stopped her from opening the door.

"You also walk in the footsteps of the gods, don't you?"

A dark chill washed over her, so cold that her entire body froze.

"I always enjoyed the smell of the ocean."

The door squeak loudly and slammed loudly behind her, closing out his snicker. His words haunted Andromeda the entire way back to her office. No one dared to speak to her just after a single glimpse. They knew better given prior incidents. Once at her office, she demanded her assistant to get Howard before locking herself inside.

Her ears were ringing from how fast her heart was pounding. And worst of all, it was because of that shrimpy of a man. It made her all the angrier that he was affecting her so much.

"Fuck him," she muttered under her breath.

She just wanted to smash his annoyingly smirk onto the table.

"No thank you. He's not my type," Howard's voice teased leaning on the closed door with legs crossed at the ankle. "I prefer blondes and of the opposite sex, that is a must. And you know, not a mad scientist."

Andromeda huffed at his remark, her mood too soiled.

"I'm guessing it didn't go away as plan," Howard commented softly seeing the stress on Andromeda's face.

She took in a shallow breath before giving him an account of what happened in that dimly lit room.

"I don't know why I'm surprised," Andromeda muttered from her chair "Of course, he'll tell his henchmen. All this time, I thought, that maybe, Zola was being forced, like Erskine. Or threatened."

"What man, who's dedicated his entire life to science and engineering, would follow a Greek demigod into war? Who would've thought?" Howard clicked his tongue and shook his head. "He should get check out."

The tiniest smile cracked her hard shell. The similarities between Zola and Howard couldn't be dismissed, with one big difference. Howard wasn't helping Andromeda achieve world domination.

"I don't agree with Zola, but I get it. When someone tells you their father is Ancient Greek god," Howard shrugged. "It changes everything you knew about the world. It went upside down, I tell you. Feels like the whole world went crazy, almost made me go crazy."

"Almost?" Andromeda quipped.

Howard frowned at her although it lacked conviction. As if he could ever be angry with her.

"He's smart, maybe on the right side..."

She sharply clicked her tongue and shook her head. "I don't know. Something about him doesn't sit right with me. I don't trust him."

"You can't let him go. You know that. I know that. Almost everyone knows that."

She did know that. But she still didn't like where this was going. "He can't be a war prisoner forever, either."

"Then cut him a deal." Still, she was unconvinced. "I'll keep an eye on him."

Andromeda scoffed humorously. "Howard Stark; inventor, engineer, and now, babysitter."

For once, Howard was wrong with his hypothesis. He could be angry with her.

"Johann Schmidt belongs in a bughouse. He thinks he's a god," Andromeda felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her back. She always hated conducting meetings. "And he's willing to blow up half the world to prove it, starting with the USA."

"Schmidt's working with powers beyond our capabilities," Howard's voice rang out as he approached the group, and confidently took an empty seat. "He gets across the Atlantic, he will wipe out the entire Eastern Seaboard in an hour."

Although everyone knew that situation was bad, Howard's words only amplified it. The magnitude of the dire situation increases the terror of it all. There was an unnervingly silence the echoed in the room.

"How much time we got?" Jones broke the silence by the dreaded question.

"According to my new best friend, under twenty-four hours." She answered sharply.

"Where is he now?" Someone else asked.

Andromeda held up a picture of snowy mountains. "Hydra's last base is here. In the Alps, five-hundred feet below the surface."

She tossed the photos in front of Jim.

Morita quietly spoke, "So what are we supposed to do?"

"I mean, it's not like we can just knock on the front door," Jim replied.

Andromeda almost laughed, imagining the Howling Commodes politely ringing the doorbell. It was absurd yet comical to envision Johann opening the door and inviting them all for a quick cup of tea before the battle. All gathered around, sipping on tea and munching on scones and biscuits.

"Why not?" Steve asked rhetorically.

Andromeda, along with everyone else, focused on Steve. She briefly worried that he didn't understand sarcasm. Wondering, if he should even be here so soon after Bucky's unfortunate death.

He steadily looked up; cold eyes scanned the room. "That's exactly what we're going to do."

Steve looked to Andromeda, hoping she would readily agree with him. Instead, he met a cool stare.

Before anyone could get another word in, let alone Steve. Andromeda ended the meeting and swiftly called Steve to her office. But not one person moved from their place, they all watch with interest as Colonel Phillips walked away with Captain Rogers. At the sound of the door closing, chattered broke out. Some planning out the next step, although most spoke of could be happening behind the closed door.

Steve took in a deep breath as Andromeda closed the door, the clicking of the lock resonated.

"I know it may be stupid to ask but are you up for this?" She asked somberly.

"I'm ready."

Andromeda nodded in doubt. "You sure? Because planning to knock on Johann's door isn't the greatest plan."

"It's not the worse one," Steve argued softly, slightly awkward to be alone with her. Just a few days ago Bucky had told Steve how he planned to ask her out. Looking at her now just reminded of the life Bucky was robbed of.

"Nope, just the stupidest one," she retorted then directed him to sit down on one for chairs opposite from hers. After a quick inner debate, she sat on the other empty chair next to him. Leaving her office chair empty, she didn't want to be a colonel right now.

It was quiet, no one knew what to say next. Andromeda had kept her distance, thinking she was the last person he wanted to see. Then again, Andromeda wasn't sure what to say, she was never great at condoling someone. Her thoughts tended to come out wrong or misunderstood, it was better to just listen.

"I need Hydra to go down," Steve said softly but with determination. Those gentle blue eyes were downcast, shoulders slumped, the picture opposite of the strong Captain America.

Andromeda sucked in her lips and inhaling deeply through her nose. When she realized that he wasn't going to say more, she spoke. Kicking herself in the processes.

"Do you know what a Hydra is?" She asked gently, watched as his eyebrows furrowed. "The actual monster Schmidt named his organization after."

Steve shook his head in response.

"It's a multi-headed monster, almost like a dragon, but with a twist. Every time a head is cut off, two more grow back."

Steve was even more confused, wondering how could kill a monster like that. Then slowly understood what she was trying to say. Slowly lifted his head to meet her eyes.

"As long as one head is standing, it won't die." She added grimly.

"Are you saying it's pointless to try then," he stated, anger began to blossom in his tone.

I just never learn, do I?

"That not what I'm saying," Andromeda shook her head, frustratedly rubbed her face. "What I mean to say I don't think taking down this base will end Hydra. Schmidt isn't an idiot, and he has many supporters. Supporters that may know who he is."

"Even if he's gone…" Steve muttered, connecting the dots.

"There will always be one to take the mantle. Ready to continue where he left off." Andromeda nodded. "Taking down this base, may wound them, shut them up for a while, but not forever. It'll take years after tonight to eradicate them all. This fight is far from over."

"Then it's a good thing I promise not to stop until all of Hydra is dead or captured." He looked directly at her with a newfound fire burning in his gaze. The missing spark had returned with a vengeance.

While Andromeda still thought his plan was stupid, her decision had been made. She wasn't going to let him go alone. That's a given fact. In the back of her mind, Andromeda wondered different outcomes of that train ride had she been there. Despite telling herself not to dwindle on it, her mind inexplicably wandered. This wasn't the first mission she had to sit out but it had the worst outcome. The unimaginable result no one saw it coming. And that's, what haunted her.

Death was a tragic constant in her life. A devastating lesson learned too young, starting with her mother's death. What once was a vague concept turned into a prominent figure in her life. It came with the territory of being her father's daughter. Ironically, she'd had more brushes with death than with her father. She didn't fear it and wasn't counting down the minutes to her final breath either. Just never saw the point of running. Only and truly despised the hollow hole it left in her life. It always came into her life like an unwelcome guest to a party. Never wanted, yet always expected.

Pointless to act like it doesn't exist, stupid to think you can hide from it. Mad to defy it.

However, she will not wait idly by for death.

"Departing at 1400," she said clearly, her voice commanding as the tides.

Steve didn't bother to ask if she was coming, he already knew. It was left unsaid, no point to speak what both knew. With nothing more was left to said, they grimly exited her office.

No one knew what happened in that room, not even Howard, Andromeda never had the chance to tell him. Everything happened so quickly once the Colonel and the Captain returned. Once more, various voices filled the hallowed space. Had it not been for the impending doom of the world, she would have relished it. Brief flashes of her younger years at camp washed in, strategizing plans for a game of capture the flag.

A plan was set, although she didn't agree with it. Difficult to put her many concerns and objects, nearly impossible to stay hidden while Steve purposely got capture.

"No turning back now," she muttered quietly as Steve was hauled inside.

"So far so good," Peggy commented tensely.

Andromeda threw a glance. "Don't count your blessing just yet, Agent Carter."

Tension was high, everybody unnecessarily and repeatedly checked their guns. All an excuse to keep their hands and minds busy. Andromeda could hear her pulse racing, hand clenching and unclenching around the gleaming trident. She always thought guns were too loud, almost barbarian-like.

The Mist, as always, concealed it from the rest. No one spared her a second glance and not a single comment was made when she walked with it.

"Sir," a soldier addressed her, holding out a telephone.

Andromeda nervously took it, and brought it to her ear, ready for the signal. At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was theorized after many were lost, that monsters easily found demigods after using a telephone. There were many hypotheses as to why it happened, but once the dots were connected, demigods avoid telephones like the plague. The most popular and likely idea was that monsters were able to hear the demigod's voice in the air. How exactly, nobody knew. At first, it was easy to avoid using a phone, widely inaccessible to many. Others, manly older age groups, preferred to stick to handwritten letters and notes or telegrams, but that didn't last. Eventually, telephones grew in popularity, became more affordable, accessible. In short, the telephone was everywhere, nearly impossible to avoid it.

While mortals praised and applause the marvelous telephone, demigods were hunted down at an accelerated rate.

Rules had to be established; first, avoid using a phone as much as possible. Secretaries and assistants came in handy, obviously, mortal ones. If the first rule was broken, then keep it short and quick. The faster the call ends, the less of a chance a monster can find you. Once the call ends, run.

Andromeda prayed to the gods that it wouldn't be long and luckily, her prayers were heard. For three minutes later she heard Jim yelling that they were in.

"Move out!" Andromeda shouted out before handing it back. Now came the running part.

The roar of footsteps, voices, and guns firing collided like waves crashing during a storm. Blue rays fired at them, she watched from the corner of her eyes as her men were obliterated. Puffed into a dark cloud of ash. They didn't even have a second to scream. Well, she will scream for them.

An angry cry broke from her lips as she slashed through any skeleton soldiers that came her way. Her eyes saw through all the flying dirt and smoke. She kept moving, effortlessly and dangerously. No one or thing could stop her.

She didn't slow once inside the building, just kept going, evening through she had no idea where to go. Her feet moved on their own, the rest of her body ready for anything. Taking a sharp right, Andromeda picked on a very familiar clang of a shield bouncing off a wall. She would know that noise anywhere, after all, this time. She followed it straight into the line of fire, literally. Intense heatwaves hit her face and through squinting eyes, she saw Steve pressed against a wall.

One quick breath was Andromeda took before she ran directly into the fire. Engulfed in flames, steamed hissed as the fire touch her skin. It was too warm, almost uncomfortable, slightly painful even. Moving quickly before the fire could destroy her clothes, Andromeda launch the trident at the skeleton. It pierced through fire and air until the pongs met the target. A perfect hit in the head.

The flames instantly stopped as the skeleton fell, a single thump it fell. Steve had open his eyes to see Andromeda engulfed by flames before they were gone. Steam surrounded her, rising from her skin. It took only a second for Steve to notice the brunt parts of her uniform that showed patches of healthy and unburnt skin.

His mouth opened to say something, anything. Nothing came out. What could Steve say when he wasn't sure what he just saw. He thought nothing Andromeda did could surprise him anymore.

"Are just going to stand there or what?" She asked him, patting down some parts of her uniform.

Still mute, Steve shook his head.

Andromeda nudge her head to keep moving forward and resume running, Steve followed behind. It was only a couple of steps when Peggy popped out from a connecting hallway. At her appearance, Steve found his voice.

"You're late," he said rather cheekily given the circumstance, stepping a little too closely.

He's been around Howard too much. Andromeda thought, rolling her eyes at Peggy's dazed expression.

Thankfully Peggy took notice of her presence and expression and sharpen up again.

"Weren't you about to…" She began to question.

"Right," Steve stated sharply, looking down where Schmidt had gone.

"Come on, lover boy," Andromeda shouted to him as she ducked underneath the shield that was serving as a door stopper. "Agent Carter, be careful!"

The doors promptly closed as Steve removed the shield, leaving a worried Peggy on the other side.

"What the hell was that?" Steve shouted as they spirited ahead. Guns firing could be heard in distance, getting louder with each minute. Better to ask her now when it's just the two of them.

"What?" She yelled.

"You ran straight into the fire, and you're fine. How's that possible?" Steve exclaimed just as they entered the fight. A full-blown battle inside the Hydra base, both sides shooting blue rays.

Spirits turned into a jogged which became a stop, panting as they took what laid before them.

"If we survive this," Andromeda panted, looking around. "I'll tell you."

She was off before Steve could say anything else, the end of her braid swinging in the air. Her trusting trident glowing as wield it. In a blink, Steve followed. Both had their eyes set on the Valkyrie, steadily picking up speed. Steve rushed after but Andromeda realized that on foot neither would reach it. Dark sea-green eyes hurriedly scanned until they landed a sleek black automobile. She raced towards it, jumping over the door and thank the gods that the keys were on the dashboard.

"Colonel!" She miraculously managed to hear above all the commotion. Howard ran towards her, Peggy right at his side. Howard stopped and nudge with heard for her to scoot over. "I'll drive."

No time to argue, Andromeda nodded and slid down to the passenger side as Peggy jumped behind him. In no time Howard was off, speeding down the runway. When Andromeda spotted Steve's figure, she hopped to the back. She didn't bother to sit down again.

Howard stopped the vehicle right to Steve, and with a crooked deviously grin he said, "Need a lifted?"

Steve didn't bother answering, opting to just jump into the car. They were off once again, racing after her cousin.

Howard gritted his jaw as the jet seemed to get further away. He pressed harder onto the pedal, the car groaning as it pushed to go faster. Just as the speedometer reach the limit, Howard's eyes landed on a bright red button.

Please don't let it be a self-destruct button. Howard pleaded as his finger push it. The result was a whoop of excitement instead of a scream.

Everyone was unprepared for the sudden boost in speed, Andromeda grabbing onto the back of the seat to steady herself. She rose from a slight crouched as they approached the Valkyrie. Steve also lifted from his seat, swinging one leg over the door.

"Keep it steady!" Steve yelled to Howard.

"Wait!" Peggy replied in desperation before grabbing Steve's arm, causing him to turn around. In an action that made Andromeda cry and gagged, Peggy firmly pressed her lips to Steve's. Andromeda had to look away, partially to give them a moment. She made her decisions, not to do or say anything. None of that made it any easier.

And now wasn't the time to think about that.

"Go get him," Peggy said to him with a small grin once she pulled back.

Steve looked to Andromeda with a star-struck face before turning to Howard.

Howard smirk at Steve while his heart went to his demi-god friend. "Buy me a drink first!"

Steve rapidly shook his head, swung the shield to his back while Howard pushed on. They were so close, inches away. They were right there. Steve carefully and steadily moved alongside the care to the hood, Andromeda slowly behind him, putting her trident down to use both hands. Ducking immediately as they drove underneath the propeller. Her fingers ached from how tightly she was holding on. Her heart leaped when the car was roughly jostled.

Passing the propellers, Steve hastily moved the very front of the car with Andromeda behind him.

At the sight of wheels beginning to raise, everything happened in flash. She launch right behind Steve the second he jumped. Her arms instinctively locked around his waist, while Steve held on to the jet.

"Son of bitch!" She yelped out in pain as her head slammed against the shield.

"What's wrong?" He twisted his head but only saw his shield.

"Nothing! Move up!" Uneasiness began to form in her stomach as the earth become small until it vanish behind a sheet of clouds. This was Zeus' territory now, a very dangerous move for her. Zeus wasn't very forgiving when the children of Poseidon and Hades were in his domain. And here they were, one of each, trespassing.

Through groans and grunts, Steve and Andromeda manage to climb up to a more secured spot. Holding onto the metal strut with one hand, she reached out to her trident with the other one. A minute later, it was in her hand.

Shortly after, the landing brakes began to lift into the jet. Each preparing for what may be inside. The latch closed their fates, there truly was no turning back now.

Andromeda hopped off first, cautiously and quietly walking on the bridge. Stomaching churring painfully as the sight around her. Multiple bombs were lined up, waiting to be dropped, labeled with different cities in the US. New York stood out the most. She looked to Steve; eyes locked on the same bomb. It was clear what they needed to do.

Multiple footsteps forced them into action, Steve slightly pushed her to go on without him. Naturally, she refused to leave him behind, fervently shaking her head. She didn't want to abandon her friend. Still, Steve nudged again with a look telling her to go on. The steps were getting closer, sharp clangs getting louder with each breath. Andromeda gave him a relent and begrudging nod. She was gone by the time the fight broke out. The sounds of Steve's punches muted out by the door closing. It was eerily silent while she crept through the jet, her trident locked in position. When she finally managed to reach the main control room it was suspiciously empty. Evermore ready to strike, she cautiously walked in. Johann was notorious for using shadow travel in combat.

It was the hissed in the air that gave it away. Coming from the left, instantly she whipped around to block the attack. Stygian iron clashed with celestial bronze; the sharp clang echoed. Loose strands of hair shifted from the impact.

"Welcome abroad, Cousin Andromeda." His bright red skin was only inches from her face. He smiled sinisterly, his pearly white teeth starkly contrasting his complexion. Johann strongly pushed down his sword, a slightly curved weapon, almost resembling the blade from a scythe.

Her foot slipped slightly before she reinforced her posture and shoved back harder than he anticipated. The smile slipped as he was forced backward resulting in a tiny smirk appearing on Andromeda's face.

"Some greeting, Cousin," she grunted fiercely before shoving him completely away. Smiles and smirks quickly vanished as they engaged in a deadly battle.

The sound of their weapons clashing filled in the silenced. Swift and precise movements only gained after a lifetime of training; not even Steve would be able to keep up. No matter of training of battle could have prepared for this, to fight another one of her kind. Even someone as evil and twisted as Johann still felt wrong. The repercussions of how this battle would end weighed on her. Kill or be killed.

And the realization hurt as much as his blade cutting her right arm.

"You seem to be distracted, cousin," Johann pointed wickedly, lifting his blade to observed her blood being absorbed by it.

Andromeda clenched her arm; warm blood soaking her palm. "Maybe it has to with all those bombs you have. You really do belong in the bughouse.'

"The sooner you realize that mortals are beneath us, the closer you are to reaching your full potential. We have the blood of gods flowing in our veins! Descendants of Kronos!"

She didn't exactly see that as a selling point to being a demigod. Being related to a guy who ate his children, one of them being her father. She wouldn't him best grandpa ever or even grandpa.

Andromeda clenched her jaw from the pain. They slowly began to circulate around the power source, emitting a soft blue between them.

"We hide in the shadows while mortals arrogantly believe themselves the owner of this world! When we, should be worshipped!" Smirking wickedly, his slow steps halted but she kept moving. His gaze never wavered from hers.

Grinding her jaw, she began to feel the effects of the Stygian Iron. It was small, almost undetectable, still, she could feel what was happening. Felt weaker. Although she refused to show it, so Andromeda kept move until she stood right in front of him.

"Oh, you call this, hiding?" Andromeda rhetorically asked in a tone of pure wrath, waving her bloody hand around. "Then what do call all those bombs you have?"

"Putting them in their rightful place." His tone had gone stone cold, deadly. Hades' children specialty.

He attached at her so rapidly it caught her off guard. A swish of a dark purple was the only way she detected the sword. And once again, they were off in a sequence of attacks and retaliation. The sounds of their clashes echoed repeatedly.

One cut became two when the sword skimmed her upper thigh. The third one is on her left arm. Each slice leaving her more drain than the last and each time the sword just absorbed her blood. She landed some blows on him, a few cuts here and there but none had the same effects of Stygian Iron.

Sweat covered her face, her heart racing so fast she could hear it. Johann kept coming at her, madly swing his sword with wild eyes. She swiftly fake a dash to left and just as he turned, she went right. Using the flat of the trident, she slammed out to his back. He lost some traction but quickly recovered. Andromeda didn't hesitate to attack, faster and harder than before.

Now it was him being backed up. Her jaw and mind were locked, everything became about her next move. Adrenaline filled every part of her body.

But Johann was a skilled fighter, more brutal than her. While she aimed to disarmed him; Johann aimed for blood.

He had swung his sword overhead in which Andromeda blocked using the staff. Her hand slid down to the base, grabbing it tightly. Instantaneously, she dropped her arm that held the other half of the trident and carried out the force on the other end to hit Johann on the cheek.

She almost hear his jaw-breaking, that's how strong her throw was. But Johann didn't let that stop him, if anything, it was the encouragement he needed. He let out a war cry as his attacks became wild, and in a small window, landed his final blow.

He used the same trick she used on him, feign coming in from the right then went left. How did she feel for it? She honestly couldn't say. Her screams drowned out everything else as the bladed penetrated her.

The agony was overwhelming. Her vision traveled to where the pain came from all while Johann grinned viciously. Andromeda stop breathing when she saw how the sword disappeared into her body. The pain went beyond the physical penetration, it was draining. She was being absorbed by the Stygian Iron.

It was an ugly sight that Steve walked into, his shield was in the air a second later. A swirl of red and blue barreled in right in between them, breaking them apart. The sudden impact caused Johann to fall back. Andromeda sighed in relief as the sword was pulled out then groaned from crashing to the ground. Still, she somehow chuckled in satisfaction as Johann groaned out in annoyance while the shield vaulted back to Steve.

"You okay?" He asked her from his spot.

Andromeda nodded weakly, managing a tiny smile. "Never better. About time you showed up."

But Steve couldn't be fooled, he saw past her smile. Saw how pale her skin was, sweating profusely as she pressed down tightly on her wound. This was worse than when she fought the minotaur. And he didn't think it could get worse. The sight was disheartening and devastating to see such a strong woman, his friend, like this. Still, her smile was hopeful. And he promised, then and there, to always keep her smiling.

"You don't give up, do you?" Johann shouted interrupting their little chat.

Steve turned him and responded with a simple. "Nope!"

Johann and Steve met in the middle with a bang. Andromeda's ear rang almost painfully when Johann's sword slammed to Steve's shield. It went on like this for a minute, Johann strongly slamming down on the shield. He had nowhere to go but back until a flying trident zoomed centimeters away from his nose. The tip of a prong barely grazing his skin. No damage was caused, yet it was enough to lose focus for a split second. Enough for Steve to disarmed him and kicking his sword far away.

Andromeda tiredly leaned against a large metal crate. Throwing the trident exhausted her more than expected. She was oozing blood and had no signs of stopping. No nectar or ambrosia on hand to heal, and meters away from water. The odds were stack against her.

Andromeda had no idea how it happened, but suddenly she was flung to the ceiling. Her head slammed hard to the metal ceiling. Crying out as her skull crack from the intense contact. Her consciousness and vision went in and out after this. She wasn't sure what was happening anymore, everything was blurry. Black dots covered her eyesight. Sounds of struggle were nearby, a lot of grunting. It sounded like a gorilla. She couldn't remember a gorilla being on board.

She isn't sure how long it has been, but just as suddenly and without warning, she flopped back to the ground. Everything was hurting. Andromeda's head was throbbing in such pain her eyes barely stayed open. She needed complete darkness, not even a speckle of light. Andromeda faintly caught Johann's loud voice but it was all muffled nonsense to her. Nothing was making sense.

She just wanted everything to go away. For the pain to disappear.

With a painfully groan, Andromeda, popped open one eye and watched as Johann reached for the blue cube.

No! She wanted to cry out. Stop Johann! But her voice failed her. Her body was failing her.

It wouldn't matter anyway since the second he held it, stars lit up the ceiling. Now Andromeda was ninety percent sure she was hallucinating, but it was still beautiful to watch. Then she blinked and it was gone. And so was Johann.

"Andromeda," Steve's warm hands carefully lifted her head. She looked up to him, dazed and distorted. Where was Schmidt? And the Tesseract? "You're okay. You're going to be fine."

She slowly tried to speak but Steve stopped her.

"Don't talk, it's okay. Schmidt's gone. We won." Steve told her with a watery smiled, his fingers had already felt the crack on her skull. Felt a warm liquid pooling in his fingers. It was her blood. He had lost Bucky and it nearly broke him. Losing Andromeda would shatter him.

When he saw her for the first time after Bucky died, Steve took a vow to protect her the way Bucky would have. Keep an eye for her as Bucky would have. And he failed him and her.

She looked to him, slowly processing his words, and somehow found the strength to smile back. But she wasn't happy, not fully. She wanted to be. Cheer their victory. Yet, sorrow wiggled inside her.

She just wanted to sleep. Maybe for a whole day. Or two. Maybe three. And swim, how her body ached for the ocean. Spend hours and hours under the surface.

Her eyes slid shut again, and when they opened again, Steve was sitting down in front of the control panels.

"Come in. This is Captain Rogers. Do you read me?" He said into the microphone unsure if it would reach anyone.

She faintly caught the voice of someone communicating back, who it is was? She had no idea. It was too faint for her to tell, luckily she didn't have to guess for long.

"Peggy, Schmidt dead!" Steve said.

Of course, Peggy. It just had to be Peggy. Is Howard with her?

There was a pause from Steve, Peggy must asking or saying something. Then Steve's voice replied.

"That's a little bit tougher to explain."

Another pause.

"I don't he's gonna make it. He's in bad shape."

Peggy probably asked about her. Or was Howard? Andromeda was having a hard time staying awake. Her mind was getting muddier, her body felt heavier.

"But I can try and force it down."

Force what down? What's going on? What did she miss? Everything was dark.

"This thing's moving too fast and it's heading for New York." He paused looking out to the horizon and turn around to his friend. Dried blood covered a side of her face, eyelids closed. It terrified him how still she was. Couldn't even tell if she was breathing "I got to put her in the water."

Andromeda felt as if her ears twitch when she caught the word water. Yes! Water, that's what she needed.

"Peggy…I'm gonna need a rain check on that dance."

And that was the last thing she heard. Her mind drifted away into the dark abyss.

Had she been awake, Andromeda would have felt the valkyrie crash into a frozen glacier. Maybe she could have managed to get Steve and swim away. Get them to safety and be proclaimed heroes by mortals and demigods. Watched as Steve and Peggy fell more and more in love each day. Eventually finding the will to be happy for them. Go drinking with Howard. Maybe show him around her camp after so much begging. And living out the rest of their lives.

Alas, she wasn't awake. Already in deep sleep when the Valkyrie crashed into the glacier. Her body was tossed around like a rag doll before settling in a small corner. Didn't feel the water enveloping her body and quickly healed her wounds. She felt nothing.

Didn't feel as the icy cold water began to encase her body like a warm cocoon. At least, to her, it would have been warm. If she was an ordinary mortal, she would have died. Her body was frozen like ice. But she was a daughter of Poseidon, a daughter of the oceans and seas. And it is because that her heart continued to beat. Slowly and steadily while the rest of her body hibernate in the frozen water.

As the Valkyrie sank deeper into the cold ocean, Steve and Andromeda sank into a similar deep sleep. Dreaming.

But when did a demigod ever had a normal dream?

Water glistened beautifully under the soft blue sky, adjourn with white puffy clouds. It looked heavenly.

The thought made her pause. Was she dead? The last thing she remembered was lying on the cold floor of the Valkyrie. Hearing bits and pieces of Steve's conversation with Peggy. Then nothing. Everything went blank.

Did she die? Was this Elysium?

"Sir?"

It was such a natural reaction, she didn't think twice to turn around to see who it was to address her. And when she did everything change.

She wasn't dead. This was a dream. A vision. And it was Howard who was behind called.

Andromeda watched a serious Howard walk away from the window to a man with glasses behind a monitor. She had seen Howard serious, it wasn't often, but she'd seen him be serious. And this wasn't serious, he looked worn down.

Devastated.

Lost.

She watched Howard come to stand next to the man and stared at the monitor with him.

"Take us to the next grid point." He order the Captain that joined them, what it was that they found must have been important. There was tiny speckle of hope in expression. Andromeda hastily walked over to Howard to peer at the monitor. Her eyes widened at the sight of the Tesseract being recovered from underwater.

How did it end up there? Andromeda tried to remember the last time she saw it, and while her memory was fuzzy, something did come to her. Last she saw was when Johann grab it. And when he was gone, she never saw it again. At least, not in the Valkyrie.

"But there's no trace of wreckage. And the energy signature stops here." Glasses man said to Howard.

She knew Howard wasn't listening him. Howard lifted his glaze from the cream to the ocean in front of them and said, "Just keep looking."

Thank you for reading and hoped you enjoy it. Many thanks to those who have favorite, follow, comment, or just simply read it. It is very much appreciated. Let me know what you think.