The Path of Time ★ [3] ? (EDITING)

Are You Sure?

Tony went to reply, but had no words to throw back. Astra had made her point. Everyone in the lab knew for sure what the answer was if they were in that situation: they would return to Earth to save the human race. I was in the same predicament. And I knew my answer as well.

I looked up at Steve. He looked back at me, his beautiful blue eyes pained and confused which rocked me to the core. But I had no choice. My answer was clear, and there was no convincing me otherwise. "I have to go."

His brow furrowed into a worried expression, his eyes staring deep into mine. The pain and confusion dissipated to a determined gleam. I knew that look. I'd seen it many times. "Then I'm going with you."

Nat stepped forward. "So am I." She smirked. "I'm not gonna let my best friend wander off without me."

Clint offered a sideward grin. "Sounds like fun to me."

Sam grinned. "I do whatever you do. Just slower."

Wanda clasped her hands. "I understand what you are going through, Andi. I've been through it with my own people." She looked at me and smiled. "And so I will be at your side."

"As will I," Vision added, stepping closer to Wanda. She looked up at him with a gentle smile.

I watched Tony's hand shoot up like a child in school would to ask something. "Question: can we get donuts on the way to Omega What's-It?"

I frowned. "No."

"Oh. Well, I'm still game."

"Me too," Rhodey jumped in.

I turned to Astra and beamed. "Meet the Avengers I told you about." I frowned slightly, retaining my grin. "The members of mankind that I've been frolicking with."

I used her own words against her. She always hated it when I did. The way she squinted and raised her upper lip ever so slightly. "And what good has it done for our people?"

I breathed out. She was bitter, that was easily detected. And I wasn't surprised. But it seemed like there was something...else there. She was angry about something else. Judging by her newly healed wound, the scorch marks on her clothes, and ash peppered on her face, she was battling before turning up here. Judging by the angry glint in her eyes, something had happened. And the outcome wasn't great.

I tipped my head to the side as I took a small step towards her. "What happened? What were you doing before you came here?"

I watched Astra's lower lip quiver. She balled her fists angrily. "Jax..."

Jax was her best friend. They'd been side by side since childhood. I didn't know much about him, but we were friends all the same. And the way Astra reacted at the sound of his name, something terrible had happened to him.

"What happened to Jax?"

"I don't know. We were fighting an army sent by Eon. He was gravely injured. I don't know if he's even alive."

I shared a look with Steve. It was official. We were going to Omega Chronos, and we were going now. I was going home.

"Suit up," Steve ordered. "We're heading out."

Everyone split up into their own directions to prepare to leave. I remained with Astra, watching her trying hard not to crumble under the pressure of the unknown. "How many casualties?"

"Many," she replied simply. "So many. Gilliam was in command of the Resistance as well as me. He was taken. They took him."

I ran a hand through my hair, stepping away with my other hand on my hip. "Then we're in trouble, aren't we?"