The Hulk's vision returns as Thanos' grip loosens. After taking a moment to regain concentration, Hulk spots Thor still hanging from Thanos' right hand. He doesn't look like he's moving. Thanos is clearly not paying attention to either of them, so Hulk leaps up and kicks Thanos away with both feet, forcing her to drop Thor.
Thor grunts when he hits the ground which is a reassurance for the Hulk, who still rushes to check. "Thor. Are you okay?" The Hulk asks but gets no answer. Thor is now unconscious.
"I need someone to get him out of here!" Hulk shouts looking up, and only seeing Wanda cradling a clearly injured Vision. Wanda looks a little confused.
"No," Carol says from behind Hulk. "YOU need to get them out of here."
Hulk turns around to see Carol glowing a barrage of multi colors. His right hand is glowing purple while his left is glowing yellow. "You've got the stones!" Hulk say, almost in disbelief. "We need to get those as far away from here as possible!"
Carol looks at his hands and thinks about it for a moment, before reaching forward with his left hand. "You take his one, and get it out of here."
Hulk feels the time stone pulse as Carol hands it over. "What about that one?" Hulk asks, referencing the Power Stone.
"I'm going to hold onto this one, just a little longer." Carol answers, looking at the purple energy mixing with his. He looks toward Thanos, who is now out of breath and trying to recover. "I have unfinished business." Carol says as he begins to float away.
"Captain!" Hulk shouts. "That's not a good idea! It's too dangerous."
"This is what we agreed on!" Carol snaps glaring at Hulk.
The Hulk wants to continue protesting, but somehow knows Carol will not listen. "Be careful." the Hulk says before turning to Thor and picking him up. He approaches Wanda and Vision to check on them.
*** Elsewhere ***
Three drop ships land on the asteroid near what is left of Thanos' throne and immediately human looking aliens come rushing out toward the Avengers.
"We're here to evacuate you!" one of the men says. "I'm a medic, is anyone injured?"
"We have injured this way!" Peter Parker shouts over the noise overhead, she gestures for them to follow. "This is Dr. Strange." She tells the men. "She's a doctor from Earth."
"Good, that'll help." The man responds. "What can you tell me, doctor?" the man now asks Dr. Strange.
"This woman is seriously injured." Dr. Strange replies. "I strongly advise against moving her unless we can do so without agitating her injuries." She then points toward Tony Stark, who seems lost in thought. "I need you to check on him. He may be suffering a concussion and possible broken ribs."
The man points at one of his helpers then gestures for him to check on Tony. He moves in closer to get a peak at Rogers. "How bad is it?" He asks.
"It's very bad." Dr. Strange answers. "If it wasn't for this suit, she'd already be dead."
Peter Parker gasps, causing them both to look up. She looks seriously concerned. Dr. Strange feels a pang of sadness at having to say what she is about to say.
"I don't think she's going to make it." The comment seems to solicit a reaction from Tony, who turns to look at them. His eyes lighty water but he remains quiet. The asteroid begins to shake as superbeings collide in the background. Dr. Strange reaches forward to steady Captain America.
"Is there nothing you can do?" Peter Parker asks. "Some spell?"
"Nothing that would work quick enough." Dr. Strange says. "At this rate, simply moving her could kill her. We don't have the resources nor the time. Nothing short of a miracle can save her now."
The medic studies Steve Rogers for a moment and realizes Dr. Strange is likely right. As he is juggling their next best move, something lands not too far from them.
"Whoa!" One of the helpers shouts. He turns from Tony and starts pulling a weapon out of his side pocket. "Back up."
Peter Parker looks up and recognizes the Hulk. The medic and two helpers are backing away in fear. "Wait!" Peter shouts as she rushes in front of them. "She's... He's on our side!" Peter throws her arms out in a flawed attempt to block their weapons. The three alien men don't seem to believe it.
Wanda comes floating down carrying Vision, who is awake but clearly injured also.
"We need to get out of here, now." The Hulk says, softly.
Peter Parker turns around, to respond. "We can't!" Hulk turns toward her. "The Captain is seriously injured." Peter continues. "We can't move her without making things worse..." She pauses for a moment before looking down sadly. "She may not make it."
The Hulk looks at Peter, then up toward Dr. Strange, who nods in verification.
"Perhaps this will help." The Hulk responds, revealing the Time Stone.
"Is that the...?" Peter Parker does not get a chance to respond before the Time Stone flies out of the Hulk's hand and back to its resting spot in the Eye of Agamotto.
"This will make a world of difference." Dr. Strange responds, before using it on Captain America. Everyone turns to watch. "I may not be able to heal her, but I can at least freeze her in time, allowing us to move her at will and buying us enough time to try and save her life." Dr. Strange looks up toward Peter, then the Hulk. "It's a long shot, but we may be able to save her."
Dr. Strange stands up and as she does, her cloak of levitation slides under Steve Rogers. "We can move her now." Dr. Strange says. "Let's get off this rock."
The Hulk and all of them rush to the evacuation ships as quickly as they can.
"Where's Thanos?" Rocket calls out, as they rush forward.
"The Captain is dealing with her." Hulk tells Rocket.
"Marvel?" Rocket asks.
"Yeah, I think so." The Hulk responds, trying to get into the ship, but realizes the door is too small.
"Oh, now we're screwed." Rocket says turning away. "You didn't happen to get any of the infinity stones, did you?" She asks no one in particular.
"We got one!" Peter Parker says. "Dr. Strange has it."
"One?" Rocket asks. "That makes me feel a lot better." she adds sarcastically.
"She dropped one." Wanda tells Rocket. "I saw it get buried in the dirt. She was looking for it."
"And Captain Marvel managed to get ahold of the power stone." The Hulk tells Rocket, while studying the door.
Rocket thinks about it for a moment. "Three stones against one, is still not very reassuring."
"I don't know." The Hulk replies, trying to twist into the door. "Captain Marvel seemed a lot stronger than he looks."
"Can you stop trying to force your way in?" Rocket snaps. "You're gonna break the ship before we can get out of here. Go find another rocket... Or that shrinky dude!"
"Can you turn back into Dr. Banner?" Spider-Man asks.
The Hulk steps back and thinks about it. "I don't know... let me try." The Hulk closes his/her eyes and tries to concentrate. It doesn't take long for his/her body to begin shrinking again. When the transformation is done, Bruce is standing there in her female form again, but still green and entirely naked. "I think that worked." She says in a sweet tone.
Everyone who saw what just happened is still staring in utter surprise.
"What the Hell!" Rocket shouts. "Where did your junk go?!"
*** Back to Captain Marvel ***
"You think you've won?" Thanos asks through heavy breaths. She clenches her fist and allows the gauntlet to start healing her. It's working slowly, but Carol does not seem to mind. "Your overconfidence will be your downfall."
"You should know how that feels, judging from the looks of it," Captain Marvel replies "I'd have to say that's exactly what happened to you." He smirks happily, trying to annoy Thanos.
Thanos studies Carol's face for a hint of worry, but does not see it. "That does indeed seem to be the case, doesn't it?" She asks. "But it's only a matter of time until I have that stone back in hand, along with the others."
"Not if I can help it." Captain Marvel replies looking at the Power stone as casually as if he was looking at his nails. He is trying not to show it, but he is really enjoying the feeling of strength the stone is giving him. 'I could get used to this.' He thinks to himself.
"Do you really think a single infinity stone can match the might of three?" Thanos bluffs, knowing the Soul Stone will not do her bidding.
"I don't know." Carol tells Thanos."I suppose there is only one way to find out." Carol flies toward Thanos, raises his right fist and brings it slamming down into the ground where Thanos stood only moments ago. When he looks up, Thanos is standing several meters away smiling.
Carol kneels down and prepares to charge Thanos again, but stops himself. 'She's trying to distract me.' Carol thinks and starts looking around. Before he can turn too far, he is hit in the side of the head by a second Thanos. He rolls away to avoid further injury, but there is a third Thanos waiting for him. Carol tries to avoid this one, but notices there are several more approaching quickly.
"You shouldn't have sent the others away." One of the Thanos says, rushing in to kick Carol. "It was foolish to think you could face me alone." Another says punching at Captain Marvel. Another version of Thanos comes up from behind Carol and grabs hold of his arms, saying "Now you will face the reality of your situation."
Carol rolls his eyes, wondering if that was a pun. He launches backwards and headbutts the Thanos holding onto him. Two more rush in and Carol turns around punching one and blasting the other. He sees that they are tough and can hold their own against his attacks, and it makes him smile at the challenge. Another Thanos comes leaping in from above and comes slamming down on Carol pushing him into the rock. Several more renditions of Thanos move in to observe.
When the dust clears Carol is still laying there, seemingly unharmed. "Is that all you've got?" He asks before blasting the Thanos standing over him with a plasma punch. The others begin to back away from the fresh crater as Captain Marvel floats out slowly, glowing and pulsating colorful energy. He looks at the nearest Thanos clone and sees legit panic in her eyes. Captain Marvel smiles before hitting her with everything she's got.
In the next instant Carol is flying and leaping back and forth between copies of Thanos, taking them out one at a time. He is not sure if they are weak because they are copies, or if the stone is making him that much stronger, but he is enjoying the result. With each new attack he is pushing his strength a little further. His right arm is glowing a vibrant purple as the stone continues to feed him more and more energy. At one point he hits one of the copies so hard, it dissipates into red energy.
The growing hoard of Thanos copies suddenly stop when they notice this. Carol turns to them with a very wide and wild grin on his face. "It seems you have a limit." He says before rushing into the group. Despite the danger, none of the Thanos copies stop fighting.
*** On the escape ship ***
"What is going on?!" Rocket shouts looking toward the fight as they rocket away.
"It would seem Thanos has changed her tactics." Bruce says. She is now covered by a blanket someone handed her. "She must not be tough enough to take on the Captain single handedly."
"No..." Wanda interrupts. "It's a distraction. She's trying to find the last stone."
"What?" Bruce asks. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Wanda responds. "I can see her." Wanda points at one of the craters from earlier.
"We have to warn the Captain." Bruce says, turning to one of their rescuers.
"I'm on it." The nearest person responds before rushing off. Bruce watches him rush toward the front of the ship before her eyes rest upon Tony who is still hunched over Captain America. Dr. Strange is actually using a combination of magic and surgical tools to operate on Steve Roger's injury.
"How's she doing doc?" Bruce asks as she approaches them.
"Not good." Strange answers. "I believe I was able to stop the bleeding, but I won't know until I release the time spell."
"That's good right?" Peter Parker asks.
Dr. Strange looks up at her. "She's also going to need a blood transfusion. I wouldn't feel comfortable unfreezing her unless she had more blood in her system. Not to mention, in her current state, we would need a pump to actually get the blood flowing through her. Add to that we don't even know or have her blood type."
"O negative." Tony Stark suddenly blurts out.
"What?" Dr. Strange asks.
"Her blood type is O negative." Tony repeats. "My father worked with her enough that he still had medical records around."
Dr. Strange makes a concerned face. "That's the rarest blood type." She looks up toward Peter and the others. "Without my sling rings, I can't just get some, and somehow I doubt their medics have O negative blood from Earth." The nearest medic shakes his head. "Unless one of you is O negative?" Dr. Strange asks.
"I'm O negative." Bruce speaks up.
Dr. Strange looks at Bruce. "That might help, but due to the radiation, it could kill her also. Anyone else?"
"O positive..." Peter Parker responds.
"Don't look at me." Rocket says as Dr. Strange peers around.
Steven Strange rests his eyes on Tony Stark, who only shakes his head.
"I'm O negative." Someone says from the back of the ship. They all turn. Sam Wilson is raising his hand like a student. "Universal donor right here."
"That's good." Dr. Strange says with slight relief. "Now we just need something to draw blood, and something to pump blood."
"We have medical bags." The alien medic says. "But we don't have anything to pump. We usually just let gravity or the body do that for us." Dr. Strange looks down to think.
"There's got to be a way." Bruce says, concerned.
"What about direct transfusion?" Spider-Man asks.
Dr. Strange gives him a skeptical look. "That would be archaic and far too dangerous." She tells Peter. "The amount of bacteria or infections that could get into the blood..."
"Can't you use magic to, you know... make it safer...?" Peter Parker asks.
Dr. Strange studies Peter for a moment before replying. "Even if it works, we're back in the same boat as with the Hulk." Bruce tilts her head, slightly confused. "Captain Roger's blood is contaminated with super serum and possible radiation. It could kill Wilson."
"If it can save my friend, I'm willing to take that chance." Sam Wilson responds.
Dr. Strange looks at Sam, then Peter, and finally Bruce. They all seem to have pleading and concerned eyes. She finally turns to Tony Stark, who seems significantly more aware of things now.
"Please, Doctor..." Tony says, "you have to save her."
Dr. Strange looks back up at Sam Wilson and relents. "This is insane!" She says.