An Adventure Paved In Silver
Quicksilver ran through the Nova Corps headquarters quickly and quietly trying avoiding any confrontations with any of the Nova Corps that had stayed behind. After being guided by Lucy, Pietro eventually found the room the Orb was being kept in. After picking it up he ran back to where he came from to the front reception and saw the main entrance but as he sprinted to escape he failed to notice the floor he was running over now had a slippery substance over it and with the speed he was running at, he slipped and his feet rose so he landed on his side and his shoulder, dropping the Orb which rolled away. Turning over to his front, with a groan Pietro held his hands out to stand back up but slipped again and landed on his front and side of his face. He looked around to see the substance shining off the floor then to see Mira who had a few cuts and scrapes on her face with her clothes torn land from above in front of him outside the slippery substance 'looks like Nebula got her licks in' thought Pietro.
"After our last encounter I came prepared and thought of a few ways to slow you down." Said Mira winking at Pietro and tried to reach for the Orb. Pietro looked over to see what she was reaching for tried to get back up again only to fall back down.
"Sorry cutie pie but this object is a bit out of your league so I'll just be tak-." Mira was interupted when Nebula tackled her from her side, causing her to drop the Orb and sending both women falling to the ground but outside the slippery floor. Pietro sees the Orb roll away from the two women who carried on their fight and tried to crawl over to it not daring to try and stand up only to fall down again. He could hear the struggle of fighting between Nebula and Mira behind him as he managed to reach the Orb and pick it up, Pietro then crawled outside of the slippery floor and this time successfully stood upright, rotating his arm and shoulder to stretch it out, he looked over to Nebula who had knocked Mira out and stood over her, Nebula raised her staff to finish Mira off but Pietro stops her by grabbing her arm not wanting her to kill the only person who's willing to tell him anything about his origins.
"Come on, we've got the Orb lets go." Said Pietro.
"Get your damn hands off me!" Nebula shrugs off Pietros hand with force. "And NEVER get in my way like that again." Shouted Nebula holding her staff at Pietro, she then turned back to finish of Mira again but suddenly nine Nova Corps officers holding rifles burst in aiming them at Nebula and Pietro and surrounding them.
"Drop the Orb and your weapon then put your hands above your head." Shouted their commander.
"Not a chance." Growled Nebula springing into action stabbing the commander in the chest with her staff and started fighting the others around her whilst Pietro using his speed, super man punched one in the face knocking him out then with a running side kick bowled over another then hit him with a right hook to finish him off. He looks over to Mira who is struggling to get back up holding her midsection. She looks at him, they exchange a look before Mira takes out a blaster and points it at Pietro who holds up his arms and turns his head instinctively but Mira shoots a Nova Corps officer who was about to shoot Pietro from behind, Pietro turns around to see what Mira had done only for another officer try to shoot him, better prepared this time, Pietro speeds over to him knocking the gun out of his hand, knees him in the stomach and by grabbing him by the back of the head with both hands Pietro threw him head first at the main reception desk. He looks back over at Mira but she had disappeared, after looking around to see that she was no where to be found Pietro was going to start looking for her but was interupted.
"Quicksilver get out of there now." Said Mr Harper over the earpiece, Pietro looked over to Nebula who is wiping the blood off her staff as Pietro noticed all the mutilated bodies around them with blood everywhere, A wave of guilt suddenly washed over him, he did not want to kill anyone, he tried to avoid any confrontations with anyone to avoid this. Before he could grieve any longer Mr Harper spoke over the earpiece again.
"Quicksilver, move before the reinforcements come back." Said Harper. Pietro started moving, leaving by the front door leaving Nebula behind to find her own way back, he didn't care about what would happen to her. He made it outside and found a quiet alley to stop and think about everything that has transpired today with his back leaning against the wall. 'I can't remember anything from my life but surely if I feel this guilty then I wouldn't want any part of this if I could' thought Pietro taking deep breaths to steady himself. He stepped out from the alleyway to see the carnage around him caused by Nebulas distraction to allow him to get in side the Nova Corps so easily. People on the floor wounded with doctors treating them, others trying to hobble away with friends and family helping them.
"Momma, Momma where are you?" Called a young voice, Pietro looked to where the voice was coming from, it was coming from the little girl from earlier playing with her brother, she looked around her searching frantically for her mother with dust all over her clothes and hair. Pietro heard a noise above him he looked up to see a large piece of rubble had fallen off the nearby building and was falling towards the little girl who was too busy searching that she didn't notice the shadow that was forming underneath her as the rock fell closer. Pietro ran as fast as he could to grab the girl and ran away to safety before the large rock landed on them. Pietro set the screaming girl down and gently grabbed her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze to calm her down and started speaking with the gentlest, calmest voice he can muster.
"Hey, hey, hey its okay, its okay you're safe now. Do you remember me?" Pietro asked as the girls teary eyes changed to the look of recognition and replied with frantic nods.
"Okay good, wheres your brother?" Asked Pietro as the girls face changed to a look of being reminded.
"He was over here, please we have to find him." Said the girl grabbing Pietros hand and started leading him in the direction she last saw her brother.
"How did you two get seperated?" Asked Pietro in a fast paced walk whilst looking around him for any sign of the girls brother.
"We were with Mommy before the big bangs and big rocks fell everywhere and we lost Mommy and now I lost him to." Said the girl with a shaky vioce as they came to a street with piles of rubble everywhere.
"This is where I got lost." Said the girl, Pietro stepping out in front looking around for any sign but could only see piles of rubble and small pockets of smoke around him. Upon a closer look he could see a small pile of rubble with a small arm with blue skin sticking out at the bottom, he rushed over, picking off the rubble and kneeled down to see the girls brother lying on his stomach, unmoving with a deep cut on the side of his head with blood wetting his hair and his eyes wide open but staring into nothingness.
"Brother." called the girl seeing her brother and running to his side, next to Pietro as she tried shaking him as if to wake him up.
"His eyes are open but he isn't moving, why isn't he moving?" Said the girl looking at Pietro who found he couldn't speak at that moment. How do you explain to a little girl that her brothers dead and in this state, the girl went back to shaking her brother by his sides panicking more and more every second the boy doesn't move with tears starting flow freely.
"Why won't he move?" The girl started to cry and Pietro with tears in his eyes himself did the only thing he could think of: slowly wrap his arms around the girl into a hug making her look away from her brother as she cried into his uniform.
"I'm so sorry Dragi (Serbian for sweetheart)." Said Pietro as she continued to cry tears onto Pietros uniform as he held her. He looked at the body again but suddenly feeling a headache coming on as he closed his eyes instinctively.
Looking down as the dust settled Pietro felt the feeling of shock flood over him, too much to move his body or even breathe as he looked up to see a man with a bow and quiver full of arrows attached to his back in front of him next to a bus, hunched over on one knee with his back to him holding a small boy. The man then looked ahead then back to see Pietro with the look of shock coming over the mans face looking at his body as Pietro looked down to where the mans eyes were looking to see his body full of bullet holes with blood forming around them. Pietro looked back up at the man understanding what had happened and his body suddenly feeling heavier and heavier.
"You didn't see that coming." Said Pietro as he could no longer stand and collapsed onto his front, the last thing he hears is the scream of anguish in the background and the deep feeling of sadness it brings as everything fades to black.
With a sharp intake of breath Pietro opens his eyes to see he is back on Xandar still hugging the little girl who was still crying. 'was that another flashback? Was that how I got injured? Who was that man? And who was that screaming in the background' thought Pietro getting more and more frustrated at memories returning but having more questions then answers before a voice brought him out of his deep thoughts.
"What do you think are you doing?" Asked Nebula in harsh tone.
"Wha...what?" Asked Pietro taken by suprise gently moving the girl off him who took his hand and held it whilst Pietro stood up.
"I catch up to you to find you here with a little runt, why haven't you gone back to the ship already?" Snapped Nebula.
"She needed my help so I helped her." Replied Pietro as the girl let go of Pietros hand and hid behind his legs away from the angry woman in purple.
"Did you prevent her death?" Asked Nebula.
"What?" Asked Pietro.
"Did you prevent this girls death" Nebula repeated raising her voice.
"Yes I did." Replied Pietro.
"Fool, you will regret that you bloody fool now lets go." Said Nebula turning around to leave, leaving Pietro confused as to what she means by that.
"I can't just leave her." Pietro called after her who rolled her eyes exasperatingly then turned around stomping back towards Pietro.
"That is exactly what you will do, look at her, she's lost and she's alone, she's not going to last long by herself."
"Which is why I can't just leave her."
"People die, its what they do, they won't wait for you, what are you going to do? save everyone in the Galaxy? Not even you are fast enough to save them all." Said Nebula getting in Pietros face.
"But I was fast enough to save her." Pietro nodded to the girl behind him.
"Like I said, you will regret that." Said Nebula stepping back slightly leaving Pietro distracted thinking about what she means by that, taking her chance she punches Pietro in the jaw as hard as she could causing him to stagger backwards as the girl runs away screaming leaving Pietro who takes to a knee to balance himself only for Nebula to hit him across the head with her staff knocking him out.
Pietro slowly woke up and immediately and subconsciously grabbing his head as if that would help the headache go away.
"Easy, easy Nebula clocked you pretty good down there." Said Lucy taking a seat next to him making Pietro realise he was back on the ship and laying on a bed.
"Here drink this it'll help." Lucy offered a glass of what looked like fizzy water, Pietro took it and drank it.
"How are you feeling?" Asked Lucy.
"Terrible." Pietro replied rising to lean on his elbow closest to Lucy.
"How did I get here?"
"Nebula dragged you here, we had to fly closer to you both so we could leave quicker before the Nova Corps could regroup." Lucy answered whilst turning Pietros head to check on the bruise where Nebula had hit him.
"Have you got the Orb?" Asked Pietro remembering the reason they were there in the first place.
"Yeah we got it."
"Hope it's all worth it." Said Pietro bitterly to which Lucy gave no reply.
"Did she tell you what happened?" Asked Pietro.
"In so many words yes she did."
"She was a little girl who had just lost her brother and for all she knew her mother I couldn't just leave her-." Pietro started but Lucy cupped her hands around Pietros jaw with both hands.
"It's okay Pietro, you don't have to explain yourself to me." Said Lucy.
"What happened to her?" Asked Pieto.
"I don't know she must have ran off after Nebula hit you." Said Lucy as Pieto sat fully upright and turned so his legs dangled off the edge of the bed.
"I hope she's okay."Said Pietro.
"Yeah me to." Said Lucy looking away from Pietro who gave an involuntary sniffle, she looked back to see his eyes getting watery as she pulls Pietro into a hug as Pietro hugs back, fighting to hold back a sob.
"It's okay Pietro, it's okay." Said Lucy kissing Pietro's hair. After Pietro took a deep breath and calmed down Lucy stepped away but keeping Pietro's hands in her own. Pietro feeling he could trust her decided to ask her about what Mira said and tell her of the flashbacks.
"Look Lucy while I was down there, when I was waiting Mi-." He was interupted when the door swooshed open causing Lucy to drop Pietros hands as Legano stepped inside.
"So you're finally up last." Said Legano in a sarcastic tone.
"Now's not the time Legano." Sighed Lucy.
"Sorry but when you've had to put up with Nebula's angry ranting while he's been here sleeping through it, your nerves will be fragile too." Barked Legano pointing his finger at Pietro as Mr Harper stepped in.
"Thats enough, its true that all of our patience has been tested but now is not the time to lose our heads." Said Mr Haper who moved to standin front of Pietro.
"How are you feeling?" Asked Mr Harper.
"Pretty rotten." Pietro replied.
"Yes that could have gone smoother, Mira's interference was unforseen as it was unfortunate but at least we still walked away with the Orb." Said Harper with a steady voice with Pietro considering arguing if that was all he cared about and bring up the little girl and everything Mira told him but didn't have the energy to go through with it.
"So what now?" Asked Pietro.
"We're back on Sanctuary, We're presenting the Orb to Thanos now. So you'd best get ready to make yourself look more presentable, Miss Bellman please take Pietro and help him get cleaned up."
"Yes sir." Said Lucy as she led Pietro left the room, Mr Harper waited for the door to swoosh close again before speaking again.
"How would you describe the relationship between Mr Maximoff and Miss Bellman?" Mr Harper asked Legano.
"Lots of flirting with the occasional sideway glance when the other is not looking. Who do you ask sir?"
"Because Mr Maximoff is going to regret saving that alien girl. I'll be going alone with him to meet Thanos, I need you to stay here and do what needs to be done when the time is right and after that have the labs back at base prepped, we will begin the experimentation right away." Said Mr Harper.
"Yes sir." replied Legano as Mr Harper left.
Sanctuary
Domain of Thanos
N5X2 1O6311411+2123518
Nebula, Pietro and Mr Harper who is carrying the Orb are walk to the big wide area of the asteroid where Thanos sits on his throne suspended in the air with his back to them.
"We have successfully taken the Orb." Said Mr Harper holding up the Orb for Thanos to see whos throne turns around to face them and lowers so Thanos can stand up as he walks over and takes the Orb, twists it so it splits in half to reveal a purple stone, Pietro stares at it, mesmerised by the beauty of it whilst Thanos gives it a closer inspection.
"Finally, at long last I finally have the Power Stone in my hand." Said Thanos enthralled at the sight of it while Pietro turns his gaze downward not wanting to draw attention to himself.
"We as always are happy to help." Said Mr Harper pulling Thanos out of his hypnotic gaze as he looks back to the three with Harper in the middle.
"Are you certain what you propose is possible Human?" Thanos questioned Mr Harper.
"I am, we have the perfect candidate for this endeavor, one with prior experience with Infinity Stones back on Earth. After being exposed to the Mind Stone it gave him his superspeed." Pietro looks up and looks to Harper realising they were referring to him.
"I can only imagine how powerful he could be with the power of the Power Stone coursing through him and after learning how it is possible, I believe we could instill these abilities into others and build your army." Said Mr Harper as Thanos sealed the Stone back in the Orb and handed it back to Harper.
"The last person I entrusted with a Stone failed me spectacularly, do not make me repeat my mistake." Said Thanos as he, Harper and Nebula turn to face Pietro.
"Wha... What are you doing?" Pietro asks Harper whilst stepping back away from them only for two Chitauri to appear from behind him grabbing his arms and kicking the back of his knees so he is on his knees and is being held securely as he struggled but the Chitauri would not budge.
"I'm afraid we'll be needing your services in a rather different capacity Mr Maximoff." Said Mr Harper as Thanos stood in front of him.
"On Xandar you denied what was intended for Death. You snatched away from her that which is not for you to take." Said Thanos. Pietro looks at him confused as Nebula from behind Thanos spoke.
"I told you, you'd regret saving that girl." Said Nebula.
"And To appease her we must give back what you took away." Said Thanos as Mr Harper stood out in front of Pietro, reached into his pocket pulled out a disc like object and pressed into it to reveal a hologram of Lucy.
"Pietro? Whats going on? Are you okay?" Said Lucy who looked scared looking at Pietro.
"Lucy? What are you doing?" Pietro asks Mr Harper.
"Mr Legano would you kindly..." Said Mr Harper as Legano appears on the hologram standing behind Lucy, pulls out a gun and shoots Lucy in the back of the head and her body drops dead as Pietro screams in despair while struggling to break free but to no avail. When he stops screaming he looks to see Legano has stepped out of the hologram leaving Lucy's dead body there, her dead eyes staring back at Pietro who sinks down defeated looking back at her.
"Right the sooner we get started the sooner we will have results." Said Mr Harper turning off the hologram and putting it back in his pocket and steps away as Nebula steps forward and kicks Pietro in the face knocking him out again.
AN: Reviews are always appreciated even constructive criticism so please leave one to let me know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong. Wanda and the Avengers will be back in the next chaper, thanks.