Author's Note: A little transition before the next chapter. A coming together. Would love to hear what you think!
She felt herself succumb to the cold. The darkness embracing her. The numbness, a kiss on her cheeks spreading to her whole body deep into each nerve and bone as it greeted her once again. Christiane felt panic, almost like an electric shock coursing through her before she took another breath, feeling as if her spirit left her body as it came to stand beside the cyro-pod.
Wake up. Wake up goddammit, Christiane. Wake up!
She felt it, setting her muscles into blocks. She watched as the frost came creeping onto the pod's window.
A rattle sounded from down the arched hallway, damp and orange hued lights to another lab to a man strapped to a chair with a machine looming above him, his voice screaming, echoing as it bounced against the walls.
"Cristiana!"
She tried turning her head to the voice, the final embrace of the cold solidifying as she felt herself fall. A girl in winter once again.
Sakaar, Anya.
"I saw her Val, I saw her again." Anya sat at the foot of her bed, her face in her hands with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Tell me again, where did you see her?" Val hugged her tightly, stroking her friend's hair as she tried to calm her down.
"She's alive, I'm telling you she's alive!" She sobbed, catching onto her breath, "She was being held in some sort of ice chamber, frozen in time."
"Anya, it's a dream." Val sighed, taking Anya's hand in hers.
"It felt so real," she shook her head, barely a whisper. "It all feels so real."
Berlin
"What do you mean she was missing in action in 44?" Coulson paced, keeping piece of identification between his fingers.
"She disappeared into thin air, Agent Coulson."
"Is there anyone around from then in the agency who can tell me something?"
"Agent Carter sir, she fought alongside her."
"Give me the number? Thanks."
He put the phone down, immediately putting in the number.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Margaret Carter?"
"Depends who's asking?"
"My name is Phillip J. Coulson, ma'am. I'm stationed at the S.H.I.E.L.D. office in Berlin."
"Ah yes, you've stirred quite the racket down there. I've heard good things about your abilities to bring in good intel."
He chuckled, trying to keep his composure, "Yes ma'am," he cleared his throat, "The reason I'm calling you is if you could tell me more about a certain agent you worked with, Christiane Bougourd?"
There was a silence, followed by a sigh, "Yes, Christiane and her sister were my friends, we practically grew up together."
"She went missing in 44, is that right?"
"Yes. I remember she left early that morning at our London base back when it was still the SSR. She left me a note saying she had gone to Hyde Park for a walk. We never saw her again."
"Forgive me, but what I am about to tell you is something," he paused, "Something I can't even get my head around."
"Let's hear it."
"I had an agent in East Berlin, couriering intel for us to the West. She suddenly appeared out of nowhere, as a sister to another agent. She called herself Lelia. I was to help her and her brother to the West and eventually bring them to the States. Unfortunately, Lelia did not make it to the rendezvous point. All I found was her identification, and an old ID from the 40s, a Christiane Gérard Bougourd."
Another silence, her voice replying in suspicion and anticipation, "What are you saying?"
"I believe that somehow, your Christiane from the 40s is alive right now, posing as Lelia. She hasn't aged a day."
"That can't be possible, she would be 66 right now."
"But what if there was a way, something out of this world or by science that allowed it?"
Silence again, a breath. "If it were possible. Forgive me Agent Coulson, I must make another phone call. The next time you are back in Washington, I'd very much like to meet with you."
"Thank you ma'am."
Peggy put down the receiver, her eyes focusing on the picture frame she kept on top of the fireplace. A photograph of herself with Anya and Christiane in London.
God, Christiane, where are you?
She glanced to the filing box on her shelf in her study, years of trying to trace her down.
Peggy sighed as she sat back in the armchair by the phone, putting her face into her hands.
2012
Anya's eyes adjusted to the darkness, a wind blowing from the abyss. She was dreaming, standing on a rocky planet.
Her heart leapt. It had been so long, years like eternity since she last dreamt of Loki. She couldn't find him anymore. She couldn't hear or see him. Anya watched Loki knelt in front of her with a scepter in his hand, an icy blue glow, watching his other figure in full attire walk amongst dark figure. His eyes were icy blue like the scepter's glow, a control to his focus as if he was just a mere puppet, driven mad. A puppet.
Loki, no.
"The Chitauri are growing restless."
His voice came, eyes focused in front. "Let them gird themselves. I will lead them in the glorious battle."
Please. God I'm so sorry I couldn't find you sooner.
"Battle? Against the meagre might of Earth?"
"Glorious, not lengthy." He smirked. "If your force is as formidable as you claim."
"You question us? You question him? He put the scepter in your hand. Who gave you ancient knowledge and new purpose when you were cast out, defeated?"
Who? Who have you made a deal with Loki?
"I was a king! The rightful king of Asgard, betrayed."
No, no. Not like this. Loki, what have you done.
"Your ambition is little and born of childish need. We look beyond the Earth to the greater worlds the Tesseract will unveil."
The Tesseract? Your mother swore me to protect the Tesseract.
"You don't have the Tesseract yet.
The figure launched across, a hand at ready to Loki.
"I don't threaten. But until I open the doors, until your force is mine to command, you are but words."
"You will have your war, Asgardian. If you fail, if the Tesseract is kept from us, there will be no realm, no barren moon, no crevice where he cannot find you. You think you know pain? He will make you long for something sweet as pain."
Loki no!
A light flashed between the two as Loki's figure disappeared, leaving Anya behind. She watched the dark figure move to a large rock, a glimmer falling as it revealed a large figure with purple skin and golden armor bellowing.
"Good." He smiled. Anya felt the hairs on her arm raise, something about him put her on edge. "Did you find the Asgardian he is fond of?"
"No my lord," the Chitauri bowed down.
"His mind showed her to me. His one weakness. We can't have any distractions can we?"
Anya felt pressure to her head as her heart suddenly sped faster, pulling her back to reality as she woke gasping for air, coughing. Val quickly woke to the sound, running to her.
Val saw her look, as white as a ghost as she whispered eyes wide, "It's Loki. Something's happened."