She gulps.
"Steve… I…I think I need to be in San Francisco. I…I have to stand by my people…"
"Go. Go Tan. Just…come back. When you've done whatever you need to do, come back. Because we'll need you."
"Steve… the adamantine armour… It hold under Uru. If… If you need it…"
"You keep it. You'll need it more than I do."
She nods slightly.
"Stay safe Discus-Boy."
"Tan… What are we facing? I know you know."
She lowers her head.
"We are facing fear Steve. We are facing Fear itself. And our kind will fall. I… She… Death will come to an Avenger. One of the Big Three. One of you is going to die."
"Tana…? Who?"
"I…I don't know… It's all confused… Steve…"
"Yes?"
"I…I need you to trust me. I need you to realise that no matter how bleak this looks, I am not abandoning you. I will return. But… I have some stuff I'll need to do first."
"Of course. Go save the X-Men."
"If Odin causes problems… Tell him the Black Angel might be able to prevent what he fears the most. He will understand."
"Tana?"
She smiles slightly and sadly, then vanishes. And I go back to planning the attack. Logan arrives a number of hours later, looking the worse for wear, but no Tora. And no Etana. And then when Tony brings the stuff, she still isn't there. And neither's Tora. And Thor goes to fight the Serpent and they aren't there. And then they arrive, Etana in her blood-red armour and Tora standing beside her. And I march up to her.
"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!? WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? WE'VE BEEN NEEDING YOU!"
Tora shakes her head.
"We needed permission. We had to ask for permission."
"From who Tora?! Who do you answer to?! You're Dragon for Pete's sake!"
"There are greater powers than I, Steve."
Tony runs over.
"Got your armour Tora…"
She wrinkles her nose.
"Pitiful Uru. I have my own version."
Silver workings slip over her uniform, gleaming and bright in the darkness, reflective where the Uru is dull, a dragon gleaming in the night as the helmet, a leonine face, slips over her golden eyes. Etana nods.
"Good."
Tony turns.
"I didn't get you anything. You've got your armour. Any weapons that can kill those…things…?"
Etana is frozen, staring at Thor. Tora shakes her head.
"You know the prophecy. He has to fight this. And he'll die."
"Maybe all he needs is some help…"
I grab her arm.
"No Tan! You'll die!"
She looks so sorrowful.
"You can't kill what's already dead. And what was the point of asking permission to interfere if I don't do it properly?"
Tora is shaking her head violently.
"I was only able to get permission for you to stop the death of the Earth… You aren't allowed to do it… You can't…"
Etana smiles slightly.
"I always thought the rules were more…guidelines…"
She turns to me.
"I'm sorry… I should have told you…"
And then she draws a curved sickle sword from nowhere that bursts into pure white flames and the fire starts to spread up her arm until she ignites…
