Trials and Errors

In the Avengers Compound, Rocket and Tina had been working very carefully on the time machine. Tony pulled more equipment. "Hey Tika, Rachet, how's it going?"

"It's Tina," Tina corrected for the fifth time, rolling her eyes.

"And it's ain't Rachet. It's Rocket. Ro-cket!" Rocket spoke with a clear voice.

"Whatever," scoffed Tony. Just then they heard the car pulling outside.

Una and Valkyrie came outside. Jesse stepped out of the car. "Jesse…" she breathed.

"I can't spend another moment moping around," he said.

Valkyrie pointed to his chin. "Nice shave,"

Tina dashed outside, but the girls didn't look at her. Jesse knew why. "It's been some time," she greeted.

"Give or take five years,"

"So, you're to help?" Rocket asked, coming over.

"Yes. And I've brought some added extras," he said. They heard car doors opening and saw two young teens stepping out.

Rocket was not impressed. "You brought two kids here? How are they gonna help?"

"Let's just I've seen some cool inventions and I've checked out their grades on machinery and mechanics," he said with a cheesy smirk. "They're gonna help us. Everyone this is Cheryl and Danny,"

"Hello," Danny greeted. "Jesse here said you had a machine you guys needed help with,"

"We are handling it very well," Tina assured.

"Hear what they have to say," her Earth friend insisted.

"We can invent anything," said Cheryl.

"Mostly me," Danny pointed to himself. "I'm the smartest of us two. Right…let us see what it is we need to construct?"

"It's almost done so we don't need any help," Rocket blocked them.

"A talking racoon?" Cheryl knelt. "He's very cute,"

Rocket growled. "Cute?!" he snapped his jaws making her shudder back.

Danny shook her finger at him. "Bad boy! Bad boy!"

Rocket got into another one of his angry moods. "I'm not a pet!"

"Rocket, easy," Tina soothed his shoulders. "They meant no disrespect,". She was actually quite fond of the children all of a sudden.

"We are not working with a pair of teens we hardly know,"

Una deadpanned. "Don't be so mean racoon. They actually might surprise you,"

"Stop calling me a racoon," he groaned.

"I'll stop calling you that when you stop resenting Peter," Una retorted, walking off.

"Shall we just go inside?" offered Jesse, desperate to ease the tension. The two Asgardians just stormed off right back into the building leaving Steve to sigh.

In another area of the compound, Nebula, Hulk, Rhodes, Scott, and George were working on time-travel suits. They were white, black and red with the Avengers logo and they were designed to function just as effectively as the Ant-Man suits. "Not bad," complimented Rhodes on the designs.

"Now for the compartment," Hulk tried to insert one of the remaining vials of Pym Particles into the suit Scott was wearing.

"Be careful with that," he snapped.

"I'm being very careful,"

"You're being hulky,"

"I'm being careful,"

"No. This is Pym particles," Scott held up the vial. "And ever since Hank Pym got…" he paused, remembering George, also in a suit next to him. "This is all we have left. We've got enough for one round-trip each. That's it. None left," he tried to insert it in the suit when suddenly it activated. HE shrank then came back large again. He deactivated his mask. "One test run," he huffed.

George smacked his forehead. "We're doomed,"

"Can't you just make some more?" Nebula asked him.

"I can't,"

"You're Hank Pym's son are you not?" Rhodes asked.

"Yes. But I'm not him. I only know everything about mechanics and how to use this stuff. Not produce it,"

"George, they've got a point," Scott said much to his annoyance and stress. "You, Hope and Hank went on the run for two years working on a Quantum Tunnel, didn't you pick up anything about how the particle is made?"

"I only worked on the machinery. I've never even watched my father make this stuff with all the time I was away at boarding school during childhood or undertaking military missions. I can't do it. I'm not a science guy,"

Scott wasn't giving up on him. "How do you know that unless you try?"

"Because I'm not like him. I'm a science geek. I've been terrible at science my whole life. I can't do it," George stormed up, too much stress pushing on his shoulders.

"George wait!" Scott called but he disappeared up the lobby. "I can't do this run without him,"

"I'll do it," another person volunteered. They turned their heads and saw Barton and his two wolf companions.

"You sure you wish to try this time travel?" asked Hiroto asked.

"I want to," Barton's broken voice gave the clear message.

Higa patted his side. "You're sure it is wise?"

"I have no choice," Barton suited up at once.

"So, who are your new wolf buddies?" Rhodes asked.

"I am Hiroto and this is my sister Higa," Hiroto introduced himself. "Barton rescued us in Japan. And in exchange for freeing us, we have agreed to help you Avengers reclaim these gems from history,"

"What remains a big question though is whether this is safe for him," Higa said.

"Only one way to find out," Barton was determined to go along with it.

"You're gonna feel a little a little discombobulated from the chromosome," Hulk warned.

"Say if this does work, why not just go back in time and kill this baby Thanos guy who wiped out half of all life?" the she-wolf asked.

"The wolf's got a point," Rhodes supported. "Why not just do that?"

"First of all that's horrible," Hulk grimaced.

"It's Thanos,"

"And secondly, time doesn't work that way,"

"You know when you come to think of it, he has a point," the he-wolf supported. "We don't wanna be messing with time,"

"And how exactly are you two so smart?" Rhodes asked. He was creeped out by Rocket being a very smart animal who could talk but them?

Higa shuddered remembering their time in the lab in cages. "We were experimented on to be like humans but retain our animal flesh,"

"Come to think of it, changing the past doesn't change the future," Hulk spoke up again.

"Why not? We get the stones before Thanos does, Thanos doesn't have them. Problem solved," Scott insisted. "We don't have a lot of Pym Particles anyway,"

Nebula shook her head. "That's not how it works,".

"Well that's what I heard," said Barton.

"From what?" Hulk asked.

"Star-Trek, Terminator, Timecop," Rhodes started listing dozens of movies with his fingers.

"Quantum Leap?" Scott offered.

"Wrinkle in Time. Somewhere in Time. Any movies that deal with time travel,"

Hiroto frowned. "You rely on moves to teach you about science?"

"Why is he still here?" Nebula asked rudely.

"Come on Higa," Hiroto led them out. Barton glared at Nebula.

"What?" she shrugged.

"They're animals but they're human as well,"

"Let's focus back on the task. If you travel to the past, that past becomes your future…" Hulk continued stating. "And your former present becomes the past which can't now be changed by new future,". Everyone just blinked. "It's the way it works,"

"I'm gonna find George," said Scott, walking off.

Tina was finishing some adjustments. "Okay. That should work,"

"Here we go," Danny was on a roller under the time machine platform. "Could use an extra wire here,"

"And another screw here," Cheryl was adjusting one of the main engines.

"Good job you two!" Jesse complimented, doing a few tweaks. "I knew you guys could help us,"

"Well, if it means bringing our parents back then yes it's worth doing," said Danny with determination.

"Which brings me to another thing. When your parents come back, how are you guys gonna carry out doing all that vigilante work here?" Jesse asked a surprising question.

"What's this now?" Tina asked.

"Nothing!" The children screamed together.

Jesse, after making sure they weren't looking, pulled out his phone and showed Tina and Rocket a TV video of two costumed vigilantes defeating criminals.

"It's just kids in costumes," Rocket's loud remark made Danny roll out from underneath.

He was insulted to the core. "I'll have you know racoon, those aren't costumes! They're super-suits,"

"You guys are superheroes?" Rocket burst out laughing. Tina cleared her throat. He stopped at once.

"Now you've done it," hissed Cheryl to her brother.

"Is the machine ready?!" Nebula entered the room with Barton, all suited up.

"Just another moment,". Clink. "All done!" Cheryl stood up, glaring darkly at her brother who awkwardly shrugged.

"It's ready," Tina announced. "Thank you, guys," she smiled at the kids. "Jesse was right to recruit you two. Let's test it!". She quickly dashed over to the consul and typed on the laptop. "All powered up?"

"Checking? Yep! All done!" Jesse reported.

The wolves followed after Barton. "Are you sure this is safe?" Hiroto asked.

"I have to be certain," their saviour said. "Don't worry. I'll be fine,". The wolves walked over to some crates to sit on. Rocket glimpsed at them and they glanced back at him; they became intrigued by one another.

"Preparing to take off!" Tina called. "Three! Two! One!"

A portal was activated on the platform and whoosh! Barton was gone.

"Please work," Jesse prayed. "Please work,"

Outside George was leaning against the balcony; he pulled out a photo of himself, Scott, Hope and Alison when they had their first date together. He missed them and his parents.

Scott's voice rang in his ears. "They're doing the first test run,". He didn't turn. "George look…" he came to stand beside him. "We don't mean to make you feel stressed. But if we're gonna get the stones and more of us are gonna come, you have to try and make some more," Still nothing. "What's got you so twisted up inside?"

"All my life…all I ever wanted was to please my dad. When he distanced himself from me and Hope after other mothers went into the Quantum Realm, all I ever wanted was to make him proud. And I thought science would do that. I tried so hard in my science lessons but I couldn't do it well no matter how hard I tried. I refrained myself from science forever when it was clear it was not gonna be enough to please him,"

"You didn't need to do science to please him," Scott comforted. "He was already proud of you,"

"I wish I could…but I can't do it," George turned his back.

Scott wouldn't give up. "Let me tell you something. When your father recruited me to be the next Ant-Man, I didn't want to. I didn't feel worthy at the time because I was a criminal and I had lost everything. But he chose me because he saw I had potential. And I know for certain you have potential too. You just have to believe in yourself. Like I do,"

George was touched. "Really?"

"Yes. All you can do is try. Because trying is the best thing you can do," Scott chose to walk away to give him some space. George reflected on his words. What Scott had told him was based on true experience. He didn't believe himself to be worthy of the Ant-Man title because of his petty thievery but with Hank's deep belief in him, he became the superhero he wanted to be in his daughter's eyes. And he did that because he tried.

The others waited patiently for Barton who didn't come back. "How'd you think he's ah…" Cheryl drifted off.

"Any luck?" Scott appeared on the scene.

Right after he asked that the portal opened and Barton flew out, slamming his body against the platform, groaning. As he did, one of the engines broke down on the machine.

"Oh, man!" Danny cursed.

"Clint!" Natasha rushed up to him, pulling up him on his feet. "Are you okay?"

He panted.

"Did it work?" Tony asked.

"No," Barton cursed. "I didn't make it to the right time and my body couldn't withstand all that travelling,"

The group huffed. "That was our only test run one left," Scott vented. "If we keep failing, that's it, it's all used up,"

"Not if we make some more," George appeared behind him. He had confidence in his spirit.

"I'm gonna keep trying to make more particles," he announced. "The rest of you should run over when and where the Infinity Stones are located. Come on Scott. Let's get to work,"

Scott beamed, proud that his speech had encouraged. "Would perhaps we lend a hand?" Hiroto offered.

George was flabbergasted. "Talking wolves?"

"That is very offensive,"

"Excuse me. It's just…I…I…never met talking animals before,"

"We were created in a lab and we know very well how a lab works and you could use some extra hands," Higa offered.

"Might as well," Scott insisted. "All right guys let's get planning and the four of us will get making,". He, George and the wolves made their way to the labs and began finding special equipment.

"This is going to be a very delicate process," George warned. "So no fooling around,"

"Check," said Scott.

"Everything must be done very carefully,"

"Check," saluted Hiroto.

"And no licking anything," he said next.

"We are not animals," Higa puffed; the men glared at her. "Well technically we are…but you know what I mean,"

Danny and Cheryl got to work on repairing the machine with Tina and Orlins aiding them. "Perhaps Rocket was right that you both shouldn't have let them help us,"

"Jesse said they were very smart and failing helps us learn to do it better next time," said Tina.

"Just like making mistakes is a lesson we all learn," Orlins reminded. Tina rolled her eyes again. When she glimpsed at the two children working together, she found herself imagining she and Peter together when they were kids with their mother.

Orlins noticed her quiet mood. "Tina?" she had lost focus. "Tina!"

"What?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," she lied, getting back to work on repairing the engine again.

He sighed. "Tina…please will you try to forgive Peter? He never meant for all of this to happen," Her skin strained at the mention of his name. "Do you think Yondu or your mother would be happy that their children have fallen so apart? He made you both promise to look after each other no matter what,"

"Why is that blue weasel talking?" Cheryl spoke up.

"That's very offensive," Orlins leapt in front of them. "I am a Guntrin and I use this collar which Rocket crafted for me to talk so no complaining about my habits,"

"Sorry Mr. Guntrin," Danny quickly apologised. "We'll just get back to work,"

Cheryl glanced at Tina who remained focused again on fixing her part of the machine. "What are you guys talking about?"

"None of your business," Orlins whacked his tail at her.

"Please," she implored. "What's got you both so twisted up?"

He sighed. He watched as Tina stepped off the ladder and walked off to get a drink. "She blames her twin brother for Thanos destroying half the universe. And she hasn't thought about him for five years,"

"That's harsh," Cheryl said with sorrow.

"If he destroyed half the universe, why should she think about him?" Danny questioned bitterly.

"He never meant to. Thanos murdered his girlfriend Gamora," Orlins's heart broke just thinking of her. "And he just…couldn't hold himself back,"

Cheryl couldn't help but sympathise. "When you come to think of it, anyone would react like that,"

"Doesn't excuse the fact we lost our parents,"

"Would you like it if I neglected you for five years because you made a fatal mistake after learning someone killed another person you loved?" Cheryl challenged.

Danny took a moment to consider her words. "Come to think of it I would be so heartbroken I'd never be able to forgive you back,"

"That's what I'm worried about," Orlins glanced again and Tina as she came back into the room. They all continued fixing the machine in silence.

In the meeting room, the Avengers and Rocket began discussing when and where in time they would find the Infinity Stones. "Nearly everyone in here has had at least one encounter with one of the Infinity Stones," said Steve. "And they've been in a lot of different places throughout history,"

"I had the reality stone, the Aether inside me," Jesse shuddered at the memory. "That was 2013,"

"And then my husband and I delivered it to the Collector," said Una. "But Asgard in 2013 is our best bet,"

"Tina discovered the Power Stone on Morag in 2014," Rocket spoke up. As they did, they began making lists of times and locations.

It was trial fifty. George dropped a red drop from a syringe on a piece of bread. Nothing.

"Nothing at all," Scott huffed.

George slumped in his seat. "This isn't working. I can't do it,"

"Now come on. Science is all trial and error," his buddy said.

"I can't do it," George tried to walk away.

"Oh no you don't," Scott pushed him down. "Failing helps you learn how to do it better next time,"

"The Ant guy is right," Higa said. "The Yakoza did many, many trials on other creatures before me and my brother. Failing helped them learn how to improve and in doing helped to morph us into the beings we are now,"

"You only fail if you give up," Hiroto said. "Now…what do we do for this trial?"

George sighed. They were not giving up on him so he wasn't going to give up on himself. "Get me some more oxide,"

It was Nebula's turn to speak up. "Thanos found the Soul Stone on Vormir,"

"What is Vormir?" Natasha asked.

"A place of death at the very centre of celestial existence," Nebula's voice broke. "It is where Thanos murdered my sister,". Everyone expressed deep sympathy for him. They took a moment of silence to allow her to mourn for a bit before discussing the next stone.

"Doctor Strange had the mind stone until 2013," said Hulk. "I crash-landed in New York when I met him,"

"Hang on a minute. If you pick the right year there are three stones in New York," Natasha realised.

George was tried. Scott felt like he was going to collapse. The wolves were already asleep. "Okay. Let's try this. Trial 100. Let's see if this works," He and Scott leaned closer and he dropped the red dot on the cup. Whoosh. It was small. The size of an aunt. George felt his insides exploding. Scott's face blushed.

"I did it. I did it! I actually did it!" George jumped around for joy.

"I knew you could do it, buddy!" Scott laughed with him and rewarded him with a big man hug.

Waking up to the sound of their cheers, the wolves woke up and when they saw the small cup, they howled and cheered.

The Avengers and Guardians could hear them through the vents. It meant one thing; they had succeeded. Now all that was left to do was make the final adjustments to the Time Machine and the plan would work.

"I knew you could do it," Scott praised George again. "Hank would be so proud of you,"

"I have you to thank for that Scott," George smiled. "That speech you gave was just what I needed. Thank you for believing in me,"

The next day, the Avengers entered the time machine room again and they saw that Tina and the others had finally finished. "We've made extra adjustments so it should be able to work better,"

"We can't proceed without a trial," Steve said.

"Well, a good thing. We've got plenty of particles," Scott said in a cheery voice. He and George with gleeful smiles came rolling a cart of Pym Particles into the room. "Good thing we have Georgie here to thank for that," he ruffled his hair.

"Stop it," he playfully brushed him away.

"Well done George," Hulk offered a fist-bump which he gladly accepted.

"Nice job," Tony complimented. "Now, who's gonna do the test run?"

"I will," Tina volunteered. She dressed up and everyone gathered around the machine. She activated her mask. Rocket, Orlins and Nebula watched her with worry. Jesse activated the machine. "Three. Two. One," Whoosh.

Tina went shooting through currents of strong interdimensional energy, her mask scanner trying to activate where she wanted to go. A green gleam sparked her vision and she was pulled towards the timeline she wished to go to.

Whoosh. She found herself on a green field in a large American town. She looked at her wrist. 1988.

"Come on children," cried a cheerful voice, one which she hadn't heard for years. She walked past some trees and she saw her mother, with long blonde hair, holding the hands of two beautiful children. A tear left her eye. She followed them to a soft bed of grass near the lake. They sat down, listening to music together. Meredith cuddles her twins close. "I'm so glad to have two beautiful children like you," she kissed Peter's cheek first.

"Don't I get a kiss?" little Tina whined.

"Of course, you do," Meredith kissed her too and they laughed. "Please promise me something you two,"

"What is it?" Peter asked.

"That no matter what happens in the future, you both will take care of each other. Nothing is more important in this world, this universe than family,"

"We will. Pinkie promise?" Young Peter offered his pinkie to his twin.

"Pinkie promise," she shook back.

Tina couldn't take it anymore. Her wristband beamed red. She had to go back. Click. Whoosh!

That's the next chapter done. What did you all think? I would love to hear your opinions. And don't worry I haven't forgotten about the dragon-humanoid creature OC. He will be appearing soon. Thank you all so much for your ideas. I really love them. I hope you all have enjoyed the holidays so far. Thank you all so much for your support. See you all soon