One morning, about two months before I came to earth, I saw Bellia's ship flying out of the base. I was the one who assigned Bellia's missions, and usually I went with her, so I thought she was just recklessly joy riding. When her ship left the atmosphere, I knew something was wrong. I went to find Thanos to alert him, then I would go after her. But he already knew. When I found him, he had been waiting for me. The Createan man and his other men around him. He told me that Bellia was ready for her first mission; she was going to an Ocum planet, one of our greatest and most powerful enemies at the time, to assassinate their commander. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had come up with that plan, except I was going to be the one to sneak in and assassinate. Even then, there was a high chance I would die in the process. We gave up the plan because we knew it would be a suicide mission. I started to argue with him, that she wasn't ready, we had to radio and turn her back, she would die… and then I stopped. Thanos didn't argue with me. He didn't try to reassure me that she would make it. He just looked right in my eyes. Then I knew he had sent her there to die.
The crackling flames spread quickly, making the smoke denser and blacker by the second. Even through it, Kara could hear the thud of Titan metal boots against the floor. THUMP. A hand reached down and grabbed Kara by the scalp, pulling her up slightly off the floor. Kara could see Nivana's glowing purple eyes through the smoke.
Kara remembered the plan. Her family would come to get her, they would make it look like a kidnapping, they would make it look real, like Kara didn't want to go with them. Kara was supposed to put up a fight, but finally allow them to take her. Back to Titan. Back to her home… Kara remembered the plan, but when this moment came, it suddenly didn't feel like a performance. It felt like she was really being taken away, against her will. It felt like she was going to be torn from everything she held dear. And suddenly—without thinking it through—what was supposed to be a quick and easy retrieval became a fight for her life.
Kara's leg swept out knocking Nivana off her feet and to the floor with a thud. Another soldier from Titan shot a rocket at Kara's chest, knocking her back, but otherwise unharmed. She sat back up and the soldier was loaded and ready to fire again, when Mjölnir hit his chest and sent him back through the crumbling wall and crashing into the next building. As Mjölnir flew back into Thor's fist, Nivana stood, realizing she would have to take out another obstacle before she could retrieve Kara. Flashing her arms to her side shot out her hidden blades; she charged at Thor.
Hearing sirens in the distance, screams from the apartments beside her's, flames engulfing the hallway, Kara knew she had to take this fight away from the city. She knew Nivana cared not for human life and would do nothing to minimize the damage during the fight. Trying to stop Nivana would cause more harm to those around her, she had to run.
As Nivana charged at him, Thor swung his hammer. He didn't know how quick she was, because as he swung at her she dodged him, dove for the floor and let her blades slice his ankles as she slid past him. Surprising was the pain this alien metal caused him. Thor fell to his knees. Nivana, turning her attention back to Kara, realized she was gone. Leaping over Thor and jumping through the hole in the building, Nivana followed Kara on foot. Three more alien soldiers followed close behind on flying hover boards. Kara had always been fast, but Nivana was lighter and faster. However, just a few second head start had given Kara the advantage. She dashed through empty streets, navigating her way through the city.
Nivana was gaining, Kara could sense it. She could feel the bullets hitting and bouncing off her back as she ran. They brought the weak-ass weapons, Kara thought, they weren't expecting a real fight. She followed the highway away from the city, sirens fading into the distance as the police couldn't keep up. Instinctively, Kara headed upstate towards the avengers' compound. She didn't know how this fight was going to go, she just knew she wasn't ready to leave. She wasn't ready to give this up. She wasn't ready to see him again.
Annoyed at how long the chase had gone on, Nivana quickened her pace and within minutes closed the gap between them. Leaping out, she wrapped her arms around Kara's neck and tried to throw her body into the ground. While her light weight body did little to move Kara, she stopped in order to throw her off. Thudding to the ground, Nivana huffed, "You can stop running now! There is literally no one around!" She rose to her feet, dusting herself off, "Enough with the act."
Kara stood towards her sister, her guard up. Nivana was right, they were in the middle of a field, no one around for miles. They could speak plainly.
"Your mission's over, Sister. You don't have to spend another moment on this god-awful planet."
"My mission's not done, there is more I can do. Go tell Father I need more time."
"HA!" Nivana let out a scoff, "This desire to stay wouldn't have anything to do with the Asgardian we found in your bed, would it?"
"He is part of the mission." Kara responded through a clenched jaw.
"I know Father told you to get close to the enemy, but you are taking it to a whole new level." Nivana's eyes held a hateful smirk. "Your heart was always too soft, Kara. That's why Father got rid of you. You stopped being useful to him when you started caring more about people than the mission. He hoped this time away would change you, toughen you up. But I see the opposite is true."
"You've always seen love as a weakness, you get that from him. But what you don't realize is that the anger and hate you hold makes you just as weak!"
"Your love makes you soft, while I use my anger against our enemies." Nivana scoffed
"Except when you take your anger out on me." Kara retorted.
Nivana's face changed. Anger took over expression. "You let him die!" She exploded across the field and charged at Kara. Her fist swung at Kara's face, but the impact only hurt Nivana, making her stumble back and hold her arm in pain. Kara crouched down to meet her sister's eyes, "It wasn't my fault our brother died. He died in battle." Kara could feel Nivana's hardness soften as anger was replaced with sadness. "He was my brother, too." Kara said as she laid a hand on her sister's shoulder.
Nivana looked up to meet Kara's eyes, her glowing purple now a soft lilac, "He was more than that to me."
The soldiers came flying into the field, finally catching up to the women. Their conversation halted as they both remembered why they were here. It was time to go. Kara couldn't find excuses to stay, and she knew she couldn't tell Nivana the truth- the truth that she loved it here, that she dreaded going home, that she found it harder and harder to fight for Thanos' cause… that she wanted to be on the right team. She needed more time to figure out which team that was. If she left now, she might never get to come back to earth. If she stayed, would her father ever welcome her back?
This wasn't the moment where Kara had to decide, for out of the sky, in a trail of thunder, the Avengers descended.
Action scenes always intimidated me… but I actually find them easier to write than emotional/romantic scenes. Romantic ones always go so well in my head, but when I go to write they come out like a big ball of cheese. Anyone have the same issue? I am trying to force myself to write more, so hopeful more chapters will come soon :)