Sorry it's been a while, but here is the next chapter.

Before we get started, lets take a moment to remember Chris Gauthier, who sadly passed away a few days ago.

The Surface

Fitz and Jemma sat across from Deke and Owen as River watched curiously. For a long moment, it was silent.

"I can't believe it," Fitz finally said.

"It is hard to wrap your mind around, that our daughter survived to have a family," Jemma agreed.

"No, I mean that our daughter married a belligerent space goon and gave birth to a Deke!" Fitz exclaimed and Deke scowled as River chuckled.

"Fitz," Jemma hissed at him before turning to Owen and Deke apologetically. "I am sorry…for that."

"It's all right, Jemma. It's not that different from how he reacted the first time when he found out about me and Alya," Owen said with a laugh.

"What was she like? Our daughter?" Jemma asked after a moment and Deke stopped glaring at Fitz to smile.

"The best," Deke said longingly and Owen smiled at his son before turning back to Jemma and Fitz as they waited for a bit more details.

"She was very much like you, Jemma. Smart, kind, stubborn, wise, she always knew how to see the positive in even our dire situations. She had a saying. The steps you take don't need to be big-"

"They just need to take you in the right direction," Jemma finished softly and Owen nodded.

"She always said she learned that from you," Owen said and it was silent for a beat.

"I'm sorry…that you lost her," Jemma said softly and Owen smiled tightly.

"Hopefully, if you ever make it back, you can make sure we never do," he said.

"That's the plan," River said, speaking up for the first time since the conversation had started.

"And you must be River," Owen said as he looked over at her curiously. "Fitz told me about his parents who traveled through time. Insisted they would change this future."

"What happened to us, in this future? Do you know?" River asked curiously and Owen shrugged.

"Can't say for sure. All Fitz would say is that you were both 'gone'. Jemma said once you both died trying to stop this," Owen said, gesturing around.

"That does not surprise me. The Doctor would die trying to save the world," River noted.

"You don't seem too broken up about that," Deke said, surprised and River shrugged.

"These kinds of events are in flux. Now that we know what happened, it'll be easier to prevent. The Doctor doesn't like to mess with these kinds of things, but given this future, I'm sure he'll make an exception," River said, wondering how her husband was going to react to everything they had learned.

The Lighthouse

Same time

The Doctor, Mack, Elena and Flint began moving down the darkened corridor after Elena had checked to make sure there were no Roaches.

"It's not much further," Mack said when he noticed Flint hesitantly lagging behind.

"You're sure?" Flint asked uncertainly.

"We've made it off this floor alive before," Mack reminded him.

"Yeah? And then what? Back to Level 10, where my friends want to kill me? At least the Roaches will be quick," Flint argued.

"They're just scared Flint, none of them truly want to hurt you. They best way to help you is to help them," The Doctor told him gently.

"Hey," Mack called out and they looked over to see him looking around a corner, gesturing them over.

As they walked over to him, they could hear a hissing sound. Following Mack's gaze, they saw a man spraying a mist onto the floor.

"That's the stuff the Blues use to keep the Vrellnexians away," Flint said.

"What's he doing on this floor?" Elena wondered.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," The Doctor said as he narrowed his eyes, watching the man leave.

"I'll feel a lot safer with a real weapon in my hand," Mack said grimly.

Not long after, they found the weapons, Mack pulling out his Shotgun-Axe.

"Hello, gorgeous," Mack said to it.

"Doesn't the axe make it harder to shoot?" Flint wondered.

"It makes it easier to chop heads off," Mack argued.

"A bit too violent for my tastes but, in this situation, it will prove very useful," The Doctor said before grabbing an ICER. "A weapon that doesn't really hurt anyone. This is more my style."

"Hey," Elena said as she walked up to them. "I scoured the whole floor. I didn't see a single verollex…verol…verle…I'm not even trying. All the Roaches are gone."

The Doctor and Mack exchanged an uneasy look, something Flint noticed.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Flint asked.

"Not if Kasius sent them somewhere else," The Doctor said, a pit of dread forming in his stomach.

Mack then opened the door and they walked out, pausing as they heard screams and the sound of an unknown roar.

"Oh no," Flint said, horrified as they saw an open elevator. "The elevator. They released them downstairs."

Not long after, the four of them made their way back to Level 10. Flint paled as he saw a dead body before they heard a screech from one of the Roaches.

"Come on, we can't stay here," The Doctor said, gently pulling Flint by the arm, hoping they wouldn't run into any of the Vrellnexians.

The Surface

Not long after

Coulson was sitting down alone, deep in thought when he felt someone sit down next to him. Turning his head, he saw it was River.

"Having trouble coming to terms with what Jack said?" River inquired and Coulson grimaced.

"The sad thing is…I can actually believe what Jack said. At least about Daisy. In the back of my mind…I always knew I had a blind spot for her, more than one person has called me on it over the years that I've been Director of SHIELD. But I just…I could never accept it, could never admit that it was a problem. Until now," Coulson said with a heavy sigh.

"The first step to fixing a problem is admitting it exists. You know you have a blind spot for Daisy. You love her, that's not a problem. But trying to make everyone else love her is. This isn't a hierarchy, it's an intelligence agency. It's not about picking favorites; it's about who you think is most qualified to do the job after you're gone. And from what Deke and Jack have said, Daisy is far too emotional and reckless to do that," River told him.

Coulson grimaced, not liking it but knowing he couldn't deny it either. He'd been acting like SHIELD was a kingdom, it had seemed logical to him that Daisy would carry on once he was gone. But SHIELD was not a kingdom, it was an agency. And Coulson knew enough about history to know what happened when leaders were blinded by their emotions. And after knowing what happened when he put Daisy in charge last time, Coulson he had to pick someone else to take his place.

And he had a good idea who.

The Lighthouse

Same time

"The fog must have driven all the Roaches down here," Mack said as he led the others down a dark corridor.

Then then heard a scream and ran towards its source. In a salvage yard, the woman who had first accosted Flint was screaming corner by one of the Roaches.

"Hey! Over here, you big ugly bastard!" Flint shouted, making some noise.

The Roach turned towards them, roaring before Mack and Elena opened fire, quickly cutting off its legs and in fell face forward. As the other rushed towards the woman and helped her up, Mack brought the front of his weapon down on the Roach's head, cutting it off.

"Shotgun-Axe. Nice. I get it now," Flint muttered as they helped the woman up.

"Are you all right?" The Doctor asked the woman kindly.

"The Roaches, they're everywhere. I don't know how many," she said fearfully.

"We need to take people to safety, then clear the floor, room by room," Elena said.

"That'll take too long, even for you," Mack disagreed. "I got another idea. Can you grab something from upstairs, fast?"

"You got it, Turtle Man," Elena quipped.

"Okay. For this to work, I'll need access to the air-filtraction system," Mack told them.

"I can get you there, but what are you gonna do?" Flint asked and Mack removed the safety on the axe, putting in another round.

"Take back this floor."

The Surface

Not long after

May rounded a corner, pausing when she saw Jack arguing with a man around Owen's age, maybe a little older. With a look of frustration, the man stormed off. May waited until he was gone before she approached Jack.

"That seemed intense," May noted and Jack grimaced.

"It always is. Voss is part of a fraction of my men that have some very…extreme ideas on what to do with you and your friends," Jack explained and May immediately understood.

"They want to kill us?"

"They blame SHIELD for the state of the Earth, think you're responsible for all this," Jack explained and May was silent for a long moment.

"Are they wrong?" she finally asked.

"Not entirely," Jack acknowledged. "But a lot of people were responsible for what happened, it wasn't just SHIELD. But that's all I'll say, Coulson knows everything. If you want to know, you'll have to ask him."

"I don't know you, but from what you say, we're friends. So I'll trust you have your reason for keeping quiet. That's actually why I sought you out," May said and Jack raised an eyebrow. "You said it was good to see me again. We've met before."

"Yes, yes we have," Jack said, looking like a painful memory had come back to him. "I know you have questions May…but please, don't ask me. If you do succeed, it may not even matter. Just…please, don't ask me."

Jack then walked off, leaving May staring after him in bewilderment.

The Lighthouse

Not long after

Using the Air-filtration system, Mack spread the gas through the floor, forcing the Roaches into one room. But Elena was waiting for and, as they moved towards her, she used super speed, placing a Splinter Bomb on each of them. Once she had, she returned to her original place as the bombs went off, reducing all of the Roaches to dust.

"Whoa," Flint said in awe as he, Mack and The Doctor entered the room, seeing what was left of the Roaches.

"Dial it back a notch, Pebbles," Mack quipped as Elena grinned.

"Very effective," The Doctor noted as he looked around. "And now that we have the floor-"

"It's time to fight back," Mack finished, nodding his agreement.

The surface

Not long after

"That's mine," Fitz said in shock as Deke showed him the tool he had gotten from his grandfather. "I engraved the number on it because I couldn't remember the name after my injury."

"Well, you gave it to me. You want it back?" Deke asked a slight edge in his voice.

"No," Fitz said after a moment, handing it to the surprised Deke. "Feels right. That it should stay in the family."

Deke looked down at it for a moment before nodding, pocketing the tool as Jemma and Owen watched, Jemma smiling slightly.

"Well, I think that's enough family reunions for one day. We should get back to the others," Owen said, moving towards the door.

However, when he moved to open it, he frowned when it was locked before the realization washed over him.

"Damn it!" he swore as the others looked towards him.

"Dad? What's going on?" Deke asked.

"Voss. He's always been saying that we should kill all of you to prevent this, but Jack would never allow it. Looks like Voss is making his move," Owen said grimly before banging on the door frantically. "Hey! You need to stop him! Voss! He's gonna kill her!"

Outside the door, Coulson and River were passing when they heard the banging. Turning around, they saw two men.

"What's going on?" Coulson demanded before the two men drew weapons.

"If you don't put up a fight, you don't have to die," one of them said.

"Is that so?"

Startled, the men whirled around, seeing Jack was behind them, aiming a gun at them.

"I can pull this trigger a fast faster than you can swing that machete. Put them down. Now," Jack ordered and, fearfully, the two of them complied. "Now, what is Voss planning?"

"I'll make sure this never happens," Daisy promised Voss after he explained what he knew.

"We can tempt fate…or we can make sure you never get back," Voss said and Daisy noticed some men walking up behind her.

"What is this?" Daisy asked before Voss pulled out a knife.

"It's your life for the lives of billions."

Voss began to lung for her when two shots rang out. The men behind Daisy dropped dead, blood leaking from a wound in their heads as Daisy and Voss looked behind them, seeing Jack aiming at Voss, May, River and Coulson behind him.

"Drop the knife Voss! Or I will shoot you! Daisy, get over here," Jack ordered and Daisy complied, walking over to where the others were. "Robin, get back inside."

It was at that moments the other noticed Robin had come out of her den, staring at them with a blank look.

"This is the last day," Robin said cryptically.

"You'd risk billions of lives, for her?!" Voss snarled, glaring at Daisy.

"An old friend of mine once said we can be better. We've all done terrible things to get here but we don't have to keep walking this path. I've already told Coulson how to stop this," Jack said and Daisy looked surprised.

"I want to believe you Jack…but I can't," Voss said, looking behind him at Robin. "I was hoping I could get to her, but since I can't, this is the only option I have left. I can't let you give them the answers. I'm sorry."

Knowing what Voss was about to do, Jack fired but it was too late. By the time the bullet hit Voss in the shoulder, he had already stabbed Robin. Voss went down, groaning in pain as Robin stumbled back, grabbing the knife and pulling it out of her. She dropped it to the floor before falling back, landing painfully on the floor.

"Secure him!" Jack shouted at Coulson before running over to Robin, May hot on his heels.

As Coulson and Daisy secured Voss, Jack and May rushed over to Robin, seeing the blood spilling out of her.

"Robin! Robin, stay with me," Jack said as he and May helped her sit up.

"You're okay, you're okay," May said softly, knowing it was a lie.

"Mom? Dad?" Robin asked weakly as she opened her eyes.

"I'm sorry, they're not here," May said softly and Jack smiled tightly.

"Yes, we are," Jack said, looking at May, who eyed him confused.

The Lighthouse, many years ago

"Mom? Dad?"

In their room, Jack and May were going over some notes when they looked up, seeing Robin sitting up in her bed.

"Everything all right, honey?" May asked.

"I can't sleep."

"Too many thoughts going around in your head again?" Jack asked as he walked over.

"I wish I never got this power. Every night, I close my eyes and I see people hurting," Robin said sadly. "People dying. Even Mom."

"I know, Honey," May said as she walked over.

"You're not afraid?' Robin asked as May and Jack sat on either side of her.

"A little. But I know you'll be there, by my side. And that your dad will be there, watching out for you," May said with a smile at Jack before turning back to Robin. "And I'll be there for you, at the end."

"I don't want to lose you, too," Robin said softly.

"We're special. Remember, we never have to say goodbye," May told her with a smile.

Now.

"We…raised you?" May said shocked, looking down at Robin.

"After my mother was gone, the two of you took me in, took care of me," Robin said with a smile. "And eventually, we were a family."

"Why us?" May asked in confusion.

"We were the only ones who weren't afraid of her power," Jack said with a tight smile.

"You said I had a gift. And one day, I could help save the world," Robin told May.

"And you have. I gave Coulson the missing pieces. All because of you," Jack said, trying to keep his voice even.

"There's still more to do," Robin said, growing weaker as her eyes closed.

"They can handle it. You've done all you can," Jack said, his voice trembling as he pressed a kiss to her hair.

"I know you two can save the world. I've seen it. I just haven't lived it," Robin said softly, her eyes growing heavier. "I think I can go back to sleep now."

Robin closed her eye and didn't say another word. As River restrained Voss, she, Coulson and Daisy walked as Robin finally rested, held by Jack and May.

"This is what she meant," Jack said, tears now flowing freely from his eyes, his voice trembling. "The day it all ends."

As May found her own eyes wet, Jack clung to Robin, burying his face in her hair as he sobbed freely.

The Lighthouse

Same time

"The Roaches are dead!" Flint shouted as he, The Doctor, Mack and Elena walked back into the salvage yard. "You're all safe now!"

The woman from earlier then led out the rest of the people, all looking around frightened.

"Thank you."

"This isn't over, we can't let Kasius pit us against each other anymore," Mack said.

"Mack is right. It's time for the human race to take back its freedom," The Doctor said firmly.

"Who's first?" Elena said, holding up the Metric gun.

As Elena began removing the Metrics from their wrists one by one, The Doctor and Mack exchanged a look. It was finally time to face Kasius.

And that's the end of 5x08.

Hope you enjoyed all the twists and turns of this chapter. And there will be even more to come.