CHAPTER 1: tergum ut initium
A black sedan sped through the empty highway. The tires rumbled over the crumbling concrete road, it had been years since it was last maintained. Overgrown grass was slowly covering the edges of the road. It was as if nature was reclaiming the land. The pine trees were towering and unkempt. Early morning fog rolled over the trees, the forest was quiet as if waiting for something to occur.
A young redhead girl, somewhere in her late twenties looked in the rearview mirror. Charlie's hands clenched nervously on the steering wheel. She had managed to divert the Ravagers' trucks fifty miles ago. She hoped it would be a fair enough distance, she desperately needed the head start. The cybernetic army of mutant-hating men, now led by HYDRA, were following Charlie for the past five months, trying to get a drop on her.
Mutants had become a rarity in the new world, once considered the evolution of the human species, they managed to fade out of existence. Though Charlie knew better, she had documents showing Transeign releasing a mutant gene suppressing virus into the world, thus, reducing the number of natural born mutants.
The only mutants born were those out of Transeign's horrifying experiments. And those that did survive the Great Purge hid themselves away. Choosing to protect themselves first rather than fixing the world.
Though there wasn't much one could do on their own, not with HYDRA forcibly putting trackers on all mutants, Inhumans, and Enhanced they could find. Charlie was lucky enough to escape and dedicated the past ten years of her life to find a way to fix the world as it was before the Purges and before HYDRA's rise to power.
She collected articles of all the past major events, grimoires, various sorcerer books, and continued her training. All important information regarding the timeline was written down in several journals, along with notes and video ports. She consulted with sorcerers on the repercussions, the consequences, and the side effects of the jump. She took accounts of many surviving mutants and collected obituaries of dead mutants.
Charlie meticulously prepared and planned every last detail, going over the plan more times she could count. She knew what she was risking, but this was the only way, it was for the greater good. She needed a way to go back, to fix the deaths of those lost, revive the supernatural, and to make sure mutants would never be gone.
Whatever it takes, she thought. Nothing would stand in the way of her goals, it was all she had left.
Charlie accelerated the car, going as fast as she could, tires squealing on the road, leaving dark skid marks. She had to reach there before twelve, otherwise it'll be too late.
Ahead, she saw an old, rusted metal bridge leading into the small town.
Crossing the bridge, Charlie steered the car to the right, off the road. Branches cracked and leaves crunched under the tires. She hit a large pine tree, its branches scratching the windshield. Turning the car off, she tossed the keys into the cup holder, and grabbed the large red duffle bag from the back seat.
Her eyes hardened in resolve and clenched the bag tight in her hands. She shut the door hard and breathed in the morning air, then started walking. Charlie needed to reach the tomb. Her steps quickened as she glanced behind her every few minutes. It wouldn't be long, she presumed. The Ravagers always managed to find her, even after she rid herself of all her trackers.
Charlie arrived in front of the deserted tomb, decades of neglect clung to it. Darkened by the dirt and unruly vines, it was a travesty for the tomb of such a respected family. Regardless, Charlie shifted the vines to the side and carefully entered the tomb.
SCREECH.
Charlie ducked her head in time as a large group of bats flew out of the tomb, their wings flapping, sending dust particles up in the air. The inside of the tomb was filthy, cobwebs littered all around and dust floated in the air. She coughed, covering her mouth with her jacket sleeve. Charlie placed her duffle by her feet and started clearing out the ground.
If it all worked out well, she would reach there in about twenty minutes. Charlie crouched and unzipped the bag, the machine was painstakingly sealed inside a glass container.
"Dammit Howard, why did you have to keep it so preserved." Charlie whispered to herself.
Charlie paused, then pushed her auburn hair behind her ear and listened. Dried leaves crackled, slowly getting louder as it got closer to the tomb.
She placed the glass container enclosing the object carefully on the dirt ground and quickly made her way to the entrance of the tomb. Closing its doors, Charlie got out her device and scanned the doorway, a dark blue light emitted from the device and created a forcefield. A wall of blue covered the doorway. It was strong enough to withstand the force of the Juggernaut, or at least that's what it claimed.
This would buy me some time, Charlie thought.
She couldn't afford to use her powers, lest the men used their Sentinel trackers. It was an old concept created and discarded by Trask Corporations, but once taken over by HYDRA, they changed its main functionality. Prior to the change it was used to track those with the mutant gene, but now it was used to locate mutants using their abilities. The powers emitted a specific radiation wave, allowing groups like the Ravagers to track down escaped mutants, Inhumans, and the Enhanced.
She rushed back to the glass covered device. Uncovering the object, Charlie scanned her finger on the side of it.
"Access granted. Welcome, Charlotte Grey." the British voice stated.
"Hi FRIDAY. Bring up the screen. It's time to get to work."
A holographic blue screen and keyboard shot up from the device. It painted the inside of the tomb in bright white light.
Charlie quickly entered in the specifics. The machine was a miniature version of the original, recreated by one of the brightest minds in the world. With added magic and protection, the device will lead her to a better future. Instead of sending her future self to the past, creating a copy of herself, and therefore creating a parallel timeline. This device was designed to replace her past self with her future self. Howard Stark II had told Charlie she would retain her memories of the future, her fighting abilities and control over her mutant powers.
Charlie took off her jacket and quickly pulled her hair in a ponytail. She gathered her jacket, placing it back in the bag. Charlie was bringing along several important artifacts, all necessary items needed for upcoming fights. She clenched the bag tighter.
"Okay FRIDAY, bring out the platform. I'm ready to go." Charlie said nervously. Her hands started sweating.
She could hear the voices of the men outside the tomb, the sound of gunshots ricocheted against the door and then the forcefield. They had brought out large caliber guns, the gunshots easily pierced through the tomb's door. Sweat gathered on her brow. This had to work, she pleaded. I will not go back to that hellhole.
"As you wish, Ms. Grey." FRIDAY said.
A dark blue platform formed from the machine, allowing Charlie to get onto it.
"Start it up." Charlie whispered, her voice trembled in anxiety. She took a deep breath, calming herself down and reminded herself of her goal. Memories of the people she lost flashed across her eyelids. It's all for them...I owe it to them to at least try.
"Good luck, Ms. Grey. You can do it. Give my greetings to Tony when you see him." FRIDAY's voice softened as much as an AI could.
"Thanks FRI." Charlie smiled, FRIDAY's comment strengthened her resolve.
The machine hummed. It emitted light, flooding the entire tomb in white.
Charlie straightened her posture and her hands gripped the bag.
She smiled.
Whatever it takes.
A flash of blue light and Charlie was gone.
The device flashed red. Tick Tock.
5...4...3
Tick Tock.
The Ravagers broke open the tomb, discovering the shattered time travel device.
BOOM.