I am so sorry about the late update I had a lot of assignments and exams come up recently and I didn't have the time to update any sooner. Hopefully, this flashback to Calliope's past will make up for that. We have 3 chapters left for the Avengers arc and after that, I will work on building everyone's story including more info on who Calliope is and how she came to be Star Ray. Like always I do not own Marvel.

She was too sweet, too kind, too forgiving, and too brave for this unforgiving world that we live in. I just arrived at the safe house in time to watch my sister get killed before my eyes. She ran as fast as she could to save an agent from getting pierced by solidified radiation and in the end, she was the one who got impaled. I froze in terror and everything just stopped moving as my sister stood there in shock not being able to process what happened to her. She didn't understand what was happening or the fact I was there but she still yelled for me, "Calliope! Help me!"

Her cries gave me the push I needed to snap myself out of my shocked state to assist her. Punching and kicking as hard as I possibly can to get the beast away from my little girl. Facing the monster, I release a roar of radiation from my mouth to the creature effectively sending it back from where it once stood. It didn't return to fight, instead, choosing to flee.

All-round me agents ran around trying to fix what's now broken. I don't bother listening to the numerous orders telling me to go after the beast. Rather than do that, I turn around to face my sister, who stands a few feet behind me with a small smile on her face as she looks at me.

"You're here. I knew you would come." Cristina breathed out slowly. Before she can fall to the floor I catch her in my arms and hold her as I slowly lower myself down to a sitting position with my sister being cradle in my arms. The radiation that hit her is slowly eating away at her skin and I can see her blood seeping through her shirt onto the floor from her wounded stomach.

Looking back at her face with a tearful smile on my face, I reply. "Of course I came. Did you really think I could abandon you, baby girl?"

"No never," she whispered to me with a wince. "I knew you would save me."

"Don't talk you need to save your energy. I'll stay with-"

"It's bad isn't it Callie?" She immediately asked me "I'm going to die aren't I?" I freeze as I look down at her, not knowing what in the world I'm supposed to say. She doesn't even give me a chance to lie to her about the situation, but then again she's not dumb, however, that leaves me without an answer. How do you tell the person you love most in the world, they might…

"I could tell from the moment you saw my wound that it's bad. You never had a problem holding back your tongue when you wanted to, but your face on the other hand gives you away no matter what, Cal."

"Ha ha ha, very funny, but don't you worry about any of this because I'm going to take care of you like I always have and you're going to be alright. Just you wait and see!" I promised her because there's no way I'm going to lose her like this. I just need some time, that's all. I reach for my comm so I can call for help but Cristina stops me as she grips my arm. "Baby, if you don't let me call for help you won't get any better. This is the only way I can save you."

"We both know that the radiation is slowly eating away at me and nothing, not even you can stop it, but you can stop that creature from hurting any more people." She whispered tearfully. I stare at her, not understanding what she just told me.

"What are you talking about? Everything is going to be okay." I told her frantically. "Just give me a second to call for help!"

"They won't be able to save me Cal, but if you leave right now you can save everyone," Cristina told me softly as she looks me in the eye with those big brilliant green eyes of hers.

"No, I'm not leaving you alone here to die! I don't care about those people, they aren't you!" I cried, not being able to hold myself back. "Why should I leave you here when I can save you!"

"Because it's too late….for me.." She told me as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Don't say that."

"Then... please don't…. don't lie to me, Cal. Leave me… and go save them," she gasped for air in between speaking, which means she doesn't have much time left... But...

"I can't leave you." I held her close to me as I tried my best to hold back my tears. I can't lose her too. Let everyone else die, but let me keep her, please!

"Yes, you can Cal… you don't need me."

"That's a lie!" I yelled, but my voice croaks at the end. "I need you! You're my sister and I love you."

Cristina's gentle smile never leaves her face as she hears me speak. All I want to do is wake us from this cruel reality, but I can't. What's worse is that it's my fault we're in this problem in the first place. Now I'm about to lose the best thing to ever happen to me. The only meaning my life has.
"Listen, Cal, you've.. taken care of me... my whole life... You don't need me...to live or to fight… I'm just a burden…" She begins to cough blood but she doesn't allow that to scare her as she continues to speak. "I'm just a naïve 11-year-old… a burden... who you had to... take care of since I was a baby... cause mom and dad died…"

"You have never been a burden to me, Cristina! You have been and always will be the greatest love of my life! You're my baby and I love you so much! I would trade anything in this world just to keep you by my side." I explain as I feel tears stream down my face as Cristina grows weaker each passing second. No matter how much I hate to admit it she's right. No one, not even I, can save her now, but I want to try. Why does she have to die? I don't want to be alone. I don't want to live without her smile! "Please don't leave me!"

"You won't be alone… I promise… so please promise me… to never give up on others…. or on life… give it a chance…"

"I promise just please don't leave me!"

"I'm sorry... momma….. I love-" she stopped mid-sentence still looking up at me, the light leaving her green eyes, and my heart begins to break.

"Christina?" I gently shake her. "Christina?! Cristina NO! It's okay, baby! Stay with me!" I looked around for help but I was all alone, "No... No no no no! SOMEONE HELP HER! PLEASE HELP HER! PLEASE!" I sobbed as I held my little girl to my chest.

I look down at my baby girl and I cried harder at that moment than I have in my entire life. She wasn't my child but I loved her as if she were mine and not my late mother's. Our parents died when we were very young and it was up to me to raise my sister but I failed. Today is the first time she ever called me 'momma', and now she's gone, and why? Because like always this stupid, ungrateful, disgusting world couldn't leave us alone. They dragged us into another disaster and expected us to fix it. Now she's…..gone. The reason I live is gone because I became a "hero" for this rotten world.

"Calliope where are you!" I heard my comm go off, but I don't care anymore. "Kid, Christopher is in the middle of downtown about 10 miles from the safe house….Kid, can you hear me? We need you!?"

Why should I care if the world needs me? Mine just died in my arms.

I continued to sit here as the world around me dissolves into chaos and destruction and I'm glad. Now it knows a small portion of how I feel right now. Why should the world be happy or at peace when she's gone and can't enjoy it? I can hear the monster's roar from here as I held my sister in my arms, and I'm livid. How dare it breathe and run rampant when it killed my sister without mercy. All she was doing is saving some worthless nobody! It didn't have to kill her! Better yet why is it alive in the first place?

"Why isn't it dead?! I WON'T LET IT GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

Looking down at Cristina one last time, I hug her close to my chest, "I will avenge you." I told her lifeless body as I slide her eyelids shut. I look down at her innocent face that's too precious for this world and I knew it was time to go no matter how much it pains me to do so, I have to. I gently put her down and leave her in the safe house to find the monster that killed her.

It isn't too difficult to find the beast since all I have to do is follow the destruction it left in its wake, along with the countless lifeless bodies that are scatter around the area. As soon as I see that thing I'm no longer tired or hurt, not even sad. All I can feel is rage burning hot inside me as reality hits me. If this thing had died long ago Cristina would be alive, so no matter what happens that thing has to die today.

Everything is a blur as I ram my fist into the chest of the monster. With an onslaught of punches, I drive the beast back and soon he's returning the favor with as much vigor. Kick, punch, fire, throw, shoot, stab. We were both relentless in the pursuit to end one another's life and we wouldn't stand to let anyone get in our way. I block his punch and grab his arm, twisting it before breaking it. He yells and I use this opportunity to unleash an onslaught of radiation in close range knowing that this is my chance to end it. I refuse to hold back in this fight, I don't care how many people die or how much destruction I leave behind by the time the fight is over. All I cared about was my sister but now she's gone and this world can finally burn for the sins it has committed after I kill this beast.

I lung forward once again and knock the monster down only for it to grab me in the next minute to throw my body into one of the surrounding buildings with a blast of its own radiation. However, the building isn't strong enough to stop me as I continue breaking through the walls until I reach the next building over. I sit there for a moment, and I see everything around me fall apart all at once as the building begins to fall apart right on top of me. I can't get up in time to escape, and I get buried alive under the weight of the two collapsed buildings. When the noise around me finally ceases I notice my body has, for the most part, been crushed. I guess even my durability can't withstand the weight of a 36,000-ton building. I want to cry out for help but I realize once again I'm alone and I don't know what to do anymore. I'm alone in more than one way, so with that in mind what's left for me to do.

The longer I lay here the worse it all becomes physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'm in so much pain but I don't know what to do about it. Normally, my small healing factor would deal with this but I don't feel myself getting better if anything, I feel worse. That's not good, especially if I have all of this sticky stuff spreading throughout my body. 'Sticky stuff?', Why do I feel something sticky all over me? I want to check what it is but my mind feels so foggy all I can think about is the immense amount of pain I feel throughout my body. Maybe this is it for me. It sure feels like the end and all I want to do is close my eyes, so maybe I should. When I finally give in to temptation and begin to close my eyes I hear a voice call out to me.

"Callio- hear me? Ope you-? KID!"

I can hear Clint speak to me through the comms. He's still alive? I guess I don't give him enough credit. He's pretty resourceful, but I don't have the energy to respond to him much less even think about him. He can handle the rest on his own, I'm through fighting. All I want is to be left alone to die.

"Kid answer me! Please let- alright!" I don't know whether it's the bad connection, some damage to the comm, or just me zoning in and out of consciousness that made Clint's voice come and go, but I chose not to care. "Please, Calliope- ARGH!"

...did something happen to Clint? I wait for what seems like forever, and all I hear is static. Is he dead? Did he get hurt? What should I do?

I try moving around, but it ends with me screaming out in pain. I can't move, I was stuck! "I'm sorry Clint.." I whisper quietly in the dark as more tears run down my face as I accept our fate. I'm healing, my loved ones are gone, Clint is about to die, and I'm just so tired. All I can hear are the screams of random strangers, but I try not to focus on them as I close my eyes once more. The screams outside get louder and louder, but I continue to ignore them until I hear Clint screaming my name, and I can't ignore it anymore. Christina may have died, but she liked Clint. I know she wouldn't want him to die like this, and if I'm going to be honest with myself, I don't want him to die either. I try moving my arms, and I notice I can only move my right arm so I immediately reach for my comm.

"Clint... " I mumbled

"Calliope, you're okay!" I can hear the mixture of happiness and relief in his voice which shocks me he cares this much for me.

"No… not really, but I'm here." I told him, "I'm stuck, and I can't get out Clint, I'm sorry." I felt so useless not being able to move while my…. what did Clint mean to me? A friend?

"It's alright kid, don't worry about it, we have it covered up here. You just wait for help to arrive. Stay on the-"

"Clint are you still there?" What if something happens to him because I'm not there to help him. "Clint, you have to answer me! Are you okay?"

There's no response and at this point, I'm panicking. He's going to die if I don't get back out there soon, but how do I get free if I'm too injured to move. It's at this moment, I think back to when I first got experimented on by those insane doctors. They were using my sister against me, they said if I didn't comply they would experiment on her. She was too young and too weak, and I knew she wouldn't survive the experiments, but I could. That's how I met Christopher, and we helped each other throughout those 6 long excruciating years of imprisonment. All we knew was pain and how to follow orders, but what they never expected was for us to fight back. They used my sister as leverage against me for the last time and my wrath could no longer be contained as I overpowered them. That was the day we all escaped and I promised my sister I would build a better life for her and Christopher. I failed them but that doesn't mean I can't end this and save him. I won't fail Clint if it's the last thing I do. I'm not weak! I'll win!

I light up one of my hands, so I can see what I have to work with. Now I understand why my left arm is hurting so much. Several rods have pierced my flesh as a slab of stone holds it down. The rest of my body isn't doing any better. Pipes, stone, steel, and so much more are forcing my body down due to the amount of weight on top of it or cutting into my body slowly. It's only then, I notice whatever material is touching my skin is disintegrating. But why is it doing that?... MY BLOOD! My blood is toxic and it's slowly destroying everything that's holding me down. Still, that won't be enough to get me out of here. I need to do something... I have an idea on how to get out of here, and maybe how to defeat that monster out there, but it might kill me. I really hope it does.

I figure since my blood is toxic it means it must be filled with radiation. This means I can use it to escape from here. Hopefully, there's enough of it to do so. First things first, I need both my arms to do this. I gather all my strength and push the rocks that were holding the rods down my arms. I cry out in pain as I feel the rods leave my body, but I can't hold it up and it slams back into my arm this time going all the way through the ground beneath me. I cry out in pain as I feel my arm get crushed once again by stone and steel. I refuse to let it stop me from trying one more time. I did my best to hold back the tears as I brace myself for the next few minutes of pain I would have to go through to free myself. I scream as I pull on the rods and the cement that holds them in place. Once I'm free, I slowly put the rocks back down as to not destabilize the rubble above me, next I move to gather my blood. It isn't as easy as it sounds since I've never dealt with radiation in this consistency before, but it's the only way for me to break free. It's difficult due to my left arm being mangled and shredded but I gathered my blood all the same. I'm hoping, maybe just this once, I won't be late to save someone I care about.

Once I'm ready, I shoot all of my blood forward to clear the rest of the wreckage that, not only holds me down but also what surrounds me. It's a painstaking process since the building keeps on caving in, but I don't allow that to stop me as I move forward to free myself. As I break through the last of the wreckage, I see Clint get cornered by the beast, and I knew what I had to do. I gather my strength as I let loose a roar of radiation flying towards the beast, forcing him back some distance. Before exhaustion can consume me, I fly forward and crash down onto the cement sending a shockwave that will hopefully keep the monster at bay. I can't move after that so I stay there on my hands and knees trying to find just one more ounce of strength to end the fight.

"Kid, are you alright?" Clint asked me as he runs to where I'm resting. Even before I lay eyes on him, I knew he looked worse than I do. He's injured from head to toe and he has no more arrows, so why is he so worried about me?

"Shouldn't you be worried about yourself, you look awful. Does your momma really let you out of the house looking like that?" I joked, not wanting Clint to worry about me when he should be concerned about his own safety first. I can take care of myself. It's not like it's something I haven't done for years. "You should probably get out of here Clint. You don't need to be here anymore."

"Fine, let's go."

I looked up at him for only a moment before I turn to face what's ahead of me. "What are you talking about? I can't go the job isn't finished yet?"

I'm too tired to look back up at him so in the next minute Clint kneels down in front of me only to say, "You're done. You have done more today than anyone else here. You're tired and badly injured so there is no way I'm leaving you out here by yourself to fight him, so let's go." Clint stretches forward to touch me, but I move away from him.

"Don't touch me... my blood is toxic... it'll kill you."

"I'll keep that in mind, kid," Clint said as he places my right arm over his shoulders to help me stand. Together, we start to walk away. I'm so confused! Why does he care about me this much?

"Why do you care about some nobody like me, Clint? I haven't done one thing right in my entire life. It was my fault my sister and I got captured. It was my fault none of us had a good home to spend our lives in. It's my fault none of us had a simple normal life, happy life! Now, it's my fault this is happening right now!" I hang my head in shame as we continue to limp forward, "I'm not worth saving! I'm not worth the trouble..."

"Yes, you are. It wasn't your fault you got captured as a kid. The world let you down when you needed help, and I'm sorry you went through that. But you don't give yourself enough credit kid! You saved Christopher and Cristina from where you were all trapped. You worked day in and day out to get them food, water, and a place to live. You gave them a life that was as close to normal as you could possibly get before we came and ruined everything. All you have ever done is care for those around you. For once, think about how much we appreciate you! The fight is over, let S.H.I.E.L.D. finish this, and let's go home."

"I can't… no one's there," I sobbed.

"Kid, I know it hurts because you lost him and I know you loved Christopher but you're not alone. Your sister is still waiting for you-"

"She's dead."

"What? I thought-"

"I didn't make it in time," I told him as the truth weighed me down. "I was too late to save her from that thing. She died, and I'm all alone."

I can still hear people screaming and fighting in the distance, announcing to the rest of the world how I failed once again.

"Cristina wouldn't want you to feel this way, and she definitely wouldn't want you to feel alone, because you're not," I heard Clint say as he takes a deep breath. "I can never replace them, I know that but if you let me, kid, I promise you I will never leave you alone. Please, just don't give up."

I stop walking, and slowly, lift my head to look at Clint. They both said they would stay with me if I didn't give up. Cristina and Clint... huh, it's kind of funny, isn't it? The people who care about me most said the same thing to me in a span of a few hours. Maybe people whose names begin with the letter C just have that in common. All I know is that I can't give up. They told me not to, so I won't. I remove my arm from Clint and turn around to finish what I started. I feel Clint grab my arm, trying to stop me, but I keep walking away from him.

"What are you doing!" He screamed at me. He's scared and I can understand why. I'm basically half-dead at this point. However, I'm not going to allow that to stop me, even if this plan does kill me.

"I have to finish this for all of us," I told him as I kept walking forward.

"Kid, stop! If you go back, you'll die. I'm not going to just stand here and watch you kill yourself!"

"Then run," I warn my only friend. Clint goes silent after that as he tries to hold me back. I stop walking so I can face him for the last time. I know what I have to do, but I also know I have to say one last thing to Clint before I leave. Being mindful of the remaining blood I have on me, I hug him close to me.

"I don't understand," he whispered to me.

"I'm not giving up, I promise," I said as I pull myself away from him, but I keep a firm grip on his shoulders as I speak. "Run. Tell your people to fall back as far as they can, but tell them to run. Don't follow me, just run."

I turn back around and kept walking, this time, without Clint holding me back. As I walk, I see countless S.H.I.E.L.D. agents running in the distance. I also notice him thrashing around like an animal. I know what I have to do to stop him from killing any more people, and hopefully, save us all. I need this to work so I pray to the heavens for one more ounce of strength, for the last time. My prayer is answered because I feel one last spark of power left in me as I walk to what I assume is my death. The monster sees my approach and we both stopped moving. It's like we both knew this is it. This is the end. Simultaneously, we walk towards the other, neither one of us running. As we walk, I begin to surround myself with radiation, and the beast does the same. Nevertheless, all I can think of in my last few minutes of life is Cristina, and how I would be able to see her soon, my baby girl. Walking to my own destruction, I softly sing the same song I would always sing to my sister when she was sick, sad, or needed to hear my voice.

She always loved to tell me the silliest stories about her day like what she saw. I always tried to look wide awake when she was speaking to me even if all I wanted to do was fall asleep. Christopher and I had to work all the time when we were out of school since we didn't have anyone to take care of us. There was no way I was going to let my sister starve when I can take care of her. Still, I would come home each night and smile at her as she told me about her day, what she did, and what she wanted to do one day with me.

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Momma's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don't sing,

Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring."

Cristina was the only family I had left after our parents died when I was 7 and she was 2. I swore I would never let any harm come to her, and for the most part, I kept true to that promise. To me, Cristina was the most important person in the world, and no one, not even Christopher came close to what she meant to me. All those years being experimented on was worth it if it meant they would stay away from her and focused all of their attention on me. There was no need for them to turn her into a monster.

"And if that diamond ring turns to brass,

Momma's gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,

Momma's gonna buy you a billy goat."

It didn't matter what I had to do whether it was working, bleeding, crying, and who knows what else so long as the world left her alone. I was nothing but trouble and bad luck, but she bought me nothing but happiness through all of my mistakes and misery. I asked for only one thing each day and that was her happiness. Now she's gone and all I want to do is follow her into the grave and see her smile one more time. The beast and I start to run at full speed to meet each other, and it's at this moment I bring all of the radiation back into my body, focusing the power on my core.

"And if that billy goat don't pull,

Momma's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,

Momma's gonna..."

I only wish I'd made it on time to save her. I will never forgive myself for letting her die. All I wanted is to see her grow up and become the person she was always meant to be. She had so many dreams and now they will never come true. As for my dreams, Cristina took them with her when she died.

I keep building the radiation in my core until the very last second.

"And if this world makes you cry

Momma will be there to ask them why….

And if this world tries to take you away

Momma will make sure they pay!"

I'm coming home baby girl, I'm coming home.

When we're about to collide with one another I force all the radiation out of my body. The moment our bodies make contact it's like a spark is ignited. I remember a white-hot intense pain shooting across my body seconds later. Then the screams both myself and the beast let out at that moment with the breaking of glass followed. Everything faded away to black after that.

It might be sometime before I get the next few chapters up since more exams are coming up but I'll do my best to keep posting new chapter. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.