'Damn, the child. I wound up teaching her too well. Both of them know that they aren't supposed to go off without a notice.' "Rachel, did you find them?" "No, and every time I try, she uses what I taught her against me. Not even the Phoenix helps, and I can still only communicate with Vision if he is within physical range, Natasha."
"Steve, isn't going to like this." "I don't like it either. How is Clinton by the way, and the rest of the Bartons?" "They are good. Pietro is growing up fast." She turns her head. "Rachel, I am sorry." "No, it is okay. I am glad and honored of Clint and Laura's choice. We better get back, before a search team is sent out for us as well."
(scene change)
"Two weeks of you trying, and you still haven't found anything, Rachel. We are going to have to change tactics. And you shouldn't feel like a failure, you are only human like the rest of us." "Yes, but a human that can't even find two missing individuals after weeks of looking. Not even the Phoenix has been able to accomplish it, so exactly what weight am I bringing to the team?"
"More than enough, we all know what can and would happen if you ever let the control you have go with any of your abilities would do." "And yet, it still isn't enough, Steve. Not in this case, so feeling like a failure is the only option that I have." "You…" she turns at the noise, blocking out rest of the words. "Rachel?"
"Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Natasha asks. She and Sam standing next to each other. "I heard a scream. There it is again. It sounds like…I don't think she did it consciously but it looks like I have found them. Sam, take Natasha and I have Steve. We have to get to them quickly, just don't get sick on me." The Phoenix manifests as the four are rapidly moving through the air.
'I saw something years ago, not long after the fallout between you and Tony. I had meant to leave but it is what has kept me here. And whatever it is, whoever it is, is now rapidly approaching. We are going to need all the help we can get. It is time that you and Tony bury the hatchet.' 'You know that is easier said than done. We all know how Tony is, not even my apology helped'
'Do you think maybe you should do it in person. It would be more sincere than the letter you left him.' 'You forgave me.' 'As mad and disappointed as I had been for you acting like a bully and how you handled things, you didn't know the one who killed my parents then defend them. So, I could never blame you, nor fault Tony for his reaction. Nor can I truly blame James as well, but this doesn't change the facts.' 'You could try to help."
(flashback)
She spends the next six months doing so. He is laying on the bed as she is linking them once more, so the two can enter the astral plane. The two finally make it to the night he murdered Howard and Maria, but can get no further before he doubles over. 'You have seen the horrors of war even before you became the Winter Soldier. Surely you can't quit now, this is has become the crux of your guilt. This one moment, it has been enough time that you should have moved past this. Succumbing to the sins of our pasts doesn't fit into what we do.'
'How can you be so cavalier? I murdered one of my friends and his wife. How many more innocents have I wound up killing?' 'The whole point of this has been to get you to see that due to the brainwashing, none of this was your fault. Nor of your making. If you had been given the choice, you never would have killed the Starks.' 'It doesn't make me any less culpable. This is the point you are neglecting, Rachel'
'But I am not. Doing what we do, means we can't be weak and succumb to any or all of the transgressions any one of us has done. Yes, we are all human or humane, so we are going to have flaws. But if we do this each and every time, then what good are we to the people we are trying to help? Or to each other? I usually keep the things I have experienced to myself. Not that the team doesn't know some of what I have gone through, but here is everything.'
He screams, overwhelmed not only by what he has done, but by what she shows him. He is struggling to breath, the tears coming down his face. As she remains standing by his side, 'how can you stand it?' 'By distancing myself from becoming too tethered to my emotions, I house the Phoenix. I do not have the luxury to do so, not if I want to keep control. I know what can happen if I do, the Phoenix can and will wreak havoc, destroying everything in its path. Plus, while my choices weren't the most righteous, I did what I had to survive.'
The two are back with the others. "Rachel?" She turns to see Steve and Natasha staring at her with expectation. "I don't think I can help him anymore. It has been months, and we still can't seem to move past that one night. And there is still so much, he needs to conquer that I have seen in his mind. Clearly, despite all my control and talents, it can't help him. I am not the person for this job.
I am thinking that I will just return to Tony. Though if I did, he would just send me if he finds out where I have been. She is about to leave his bedside when he reaches for her, grabbing her arm. "I'm sorry. We can keep trying." "The whole point is to make you better. And all we have been doing is pushing you, which has been compounding the situation. Steve knows people who can probably do a better job. Excuse me."
"Here you are. I have been looking for you. Natasha told me the gist of what happened. You know that none of this is on you, right?" "I know. But I just wasted everyone's time thinking otherwise. I am one of the most powerful telepaths to ever exist. And yet I failed horrendously." "Rachel, the two of us have abilities on a level that is usually not seen. You thought me this. And along with being a vessel for a cosmic deity, control is the key. Just because we have powers that are god-like doesn't mean we are, plus it defeats the purpose of being on a team? If you had pushed Bucky any harder, you just would have broken him. And all the help you had been trying to give him, would have been for nothing. Look at all the progress I have made so far with your help, now come on," Wanda tells her.
She gets off the ledge she had been sitting on, staring into the distance. The wind continues to blow her hair. "It hasn't even been a year, and you have already mastered so much, become so wise." Wanda remains quiet as the two keep walking to the staircase. 'It is all a matter of how willing a person is to learn, to get better.' She keeps this thought from reaching Rachel, knowing that her would be sister would just feel as more of a failure if she finds out at this moment. "That day still haunts me." "Well, it shouldn't, Rachel. You had done everything you could possibly do without going overboard. And you were right anyway, the Wakandains with their technology have had more success. And I am sorry for coming to you and wasting your time, since this wasn't the method he needed to get better. Just because you are a very powerful telepath and telekinetic, as well as harboring the Phoenix, doesn't mean that everything has to be on you, Brimstone." She remains quiet as the four start to descend.
(end of flashback)
No sooner do they land than she is gone again, forcing them to wait. Not even Sam can keep up with her; so he doesn't even bother. The three quickly come up with a plan, knowing that the fight will come to them. And occurs sooner than they had anticipated.
"Hands off." The burst of energy sends the male flying. Wanda is starting to support Vision as she approaches. "Wanda." Her hair is pulled and she is kicked from behind. As the male reappears blasting the couple through the sky. 'WANDA, VISION!' She time jumps the distance between them, only to see the fight between the two aliens, Steve, Natasha and Sam taking place.
She rushes to Wanda and Vision. She flinches for the briefest of moments upon seeing the damage. She reaches out as she starts glowing yellowish-orange to a level that can fix the damage done the best way she can. 'Even with the Phoenix, Steve and Wanda are right, there are some things outside of my expertise.' "Rachel?" She takes his other arm as she starts standing; forcing Wanda to do the same.
"I have done what I can." "You fixed him partially. Surely, you can do more, Rachel?" She hears the voice coming from behind her. "I could, but I would have to go back into time to do so. And things would just repeat if I did that, simply wasting time. And while I may know the basics due to scientists like Bruce and Tony. I am no expert on this matter. I wouldn't be much help, but they would," she replies.
(scene change)
"Wanda, Rachel, stay here. I know you two want to help but if we fail; you two will be our last line of defense," Steve tells them. "Wait. I will lend you Phoenix." She pulls the psychic manifestation out as it hovers behind Natasha. "She will keep me informed and linked to everyone." Shuri is by Vision taking his stats. The team and the Wakandaians leave the next moment. Rachel stays be Vision's bedside absorbing as much as she can, as Shuri continues working. And Wanda is pacing by the window, watching the fight unfold beneath them.
"Rachel, if something happens. And things don't go according to plan, please watch over her. I know that I really don't need to ask this of you. But I am doing so anyway." She takes his hand as a response. Reaching out and calming him due to his fear for them, especially for Wanda.
She turns her head upon picking up the distress and image of what is happening. "Go. I will handle things here." Wanda is gone the next moment, but not before linking herself to Wanda. "Why was she up there…?" She smirks upon hearing the comment. But quickly drops it when she picks up the intrusion. "I hate to break this up, but you need to hurry, Shuri. One of them is on their way."
The male appears just as she gets this out. Shuri works on getting the information, as she lifts Vision from the bed, shielding both of them. Shuri having grabbed one of the weapons she had designed. She manages to maneuver herself and Vision into a corner, watching as Shuri blasts the alien repeatedly. The ground underneath them starts shaking and part of it starts collapsing.
She reaches out instinctively for whoever is close, as they go flying through the window Wanda had been by. She buffers them from the debris of the glass shattering and flying toward them; as well as their landing. "Everyone okay?" Shuri looks to her. "Watch them." She starts running toward the battle. Upon seeing the carnage, she is about to reach out, blasting their enemies away, when he drops from the sky, sending his weapon out before it returns to his hand.
She takes to the air. Stopping above everyone, she closes her eyes. Focusing, she attempts to locate him, for she had felt his arrival. She raises her arms taking back all of the Phoenix's power. The manifestation by Natasha and Wanda vanishes. The entity appears to everyone who is still conscious. She can feel the fear this has driven into him, though she knows he will still continue with his plan nonetheless.
She touches the ground just as she sees Wanda hitting Vision with everything she has. "I feel only you." She comforts Wanda once Vision is gone. Not that it lasts long, she turns her head. Dropping her hand from Wanda's shoulder, she starts walking forward. Never once releasing the Phoenix's appearance.
"Thanos, what you have come for will never been given willingly." "Yes, I know, Phoenix. But how many more of your comrades must die? Loki is gone. As is the android, along with some of those on the battlefield. Surely, you see the logic in what I am trying to accomplish?" "I do. And because I do and have been there before, I am still the guardian of life. And I cannot allow what you are planning."
"Well, that is disappointing as well as ironic. After all the destruction you have caused, you are lecturing me. Our choices have always been for the greater good." "That is where you are wrong. As myself, it is true I have wanted these things. And losing control and faltering due to almost all of my vessels, Rachel Summers-Maximoff has shown me otherwise.
That there can be a balance, no matter how ugly and unfair things can be. There is always a silver lining and this is what you are refusing to see. We would definitely be allies if things were different." "Then I am sorry for what I have to do." "Well, I am not. Not if it stops a madman from causing genocide." She is upon him; channeling almost all of her energy in her arm.
Just as she is about to strike, he snaps his fingers. She turns to Wanda. 'I'm sorry.' She regroups harnessing his intent. And instead of disintegrating, she simply vanishes. But not before, "you may have done the only thing that could have stopped me. And bring about more casualties, as long as there are heroes out there. And hope continues, you will never win. They will find a way."
(scene change)
"Rachel!" She moves slightly at this, the voice cutting through her unconscious state. "Rachel." She opens her eyes with the next reiteration. She starts moving and getting up, to see that she is in a blinding white room. "Rachel." She turns to see who is calling her. "Jean." She embraces the other woman.
She pulls back to look at Jean as everything sinks in. "You're alive. Why haven't you come back to us?" "Not exactly, and I don't intend to, at least not for a while. All the vessels of the Phoenix come here once we no longer have a physical body." "I will stay here too then. If we can choose, then I will make this decision as well. I have seen more than enough, gone through more than enough I have ever wanted. I want to just rest."
Jean takes her hand in hers. "I know like my daughter's; your life has been unnecessarily cruel. There is still so much for you to do, to accomplish. Here." Jean shows her of the things that are yet to come. She turns her head away after witnessing everything. "Trust me. I know that your life being planned out for you isn't the greatest thing or feeling in the world.
You still have a choice. Though, think of all that you will miss out if you do so. I really hope you don't make the same decision I did. Even though, my daughter and I's relationship has gotten better. I have always held her at a level of distance for making the choice you are thinking of doing. And while either way, there will be tough times for you again. And you have suffered more than enough, these moments will be enough. Don't let yourself stop from experiencing love because of the fear and resentment, like I had.
You can't stay here much longer. If you do, the choice won't be up to you any longer. And while you are still uncertain of the choice, you will make. I do know that you still want to live and experience what it has to offer. I know he isn't the easy person to deal with, but please, forgive him. He is still your brother. And I know you still love him. And watch continue watching over my children, I am asking anyway. I know how much you treasure family and loyalty."
She hugs Jean again. "I am going to miss you." "I am going to miss you too. Tell my children I love them. And that I am sorry." "I wish you would come back with me. Don't take too long." Before she leaves the room, Jean reaches out. Letting her hand hover over Rachel's midsection, "he is going to be more like you; while I know that Katherine is more like her aunt and cousin already. She is going to need help because of this." The white shifts to black once more, making it all seem like a dream and illusion.
