⏳ 2016

The all looked at me in shock. I didn't blame them. We'd been closely knit since first coming together in 2012 and the addition of Wanda and Vision and Sam last year. With something like this coming out of nowhere, I knew what they were thinking. They thought I was going to leave them. Steve's worried expression proved that. He didn't want me to go, not after everything we'd been through. Not after what we've finally managed to accept.

But I had to go. Since finding out I wasn't the last Time Walker after meeting with Astra last year, I didn't want what I thought was my reality to really become it. I had a chance to save my people. I needed to go.

It that wasn't my plan to just abandon my friends. To abandon Steve. That wasn't what I intended. I'd promised Astra that I would bring help with me. And it was time to tell the truth. All of it.

"So, you're...leaving?" Wanda interjected, hugging her body.

"I have to. My people need me. I can't sit around and let Eon wipe them out. I won't. Time will fall into chaos if the all the Walkers die, and time will be in even more trouble if Eon is the only one left to control it. I have to go home and lead the Resistance."

"She is right."

I turned to the lab entrance. With Dr. Cho's help, Astra limped into the lab. She looked ghost white. Her beautiful long black hair had been cut to a choppy do, so unlike how she'd looked the last time we'd met. Her purple eyes watched me carefully. She looked nothing like her elegant self the last time we met. She looked like a calmly enraged warrior ready for any battle to be thrown at her.

"Andromeda must return with me to the Chronos," she said. "The Time Walkers need her."

"But we need her here," Steve countered, stepping next to me protectively. "The Earth needs her."

"She's the best we've got," Sam added. "We need our most powerful to protect our people."

"And what about her own people?" Astra fired back. "What would you do if the human race was in peril while you stand on another planet? Would you let it fall to protect another when you have a chance to return to it?"

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?"

She didn't reply.

"Then we need to get to the Chronos as fast as possible."

Astra stood straighter. "When can we leave?"

"As soon as everyone's ready." I left her to suit up.

★     ★     ★

⏳ 2016

I stood in my room, lacing up the bodice of my suit.

I was worried. I was worried about what I was going to see upon returning home. I hadn't been there in so long. And the last time wasn't pleasant.

I began to slip my boots on when Steve walked in, dressed in his suit and ready for battle, shield on his back. "You okay?"

I zipped up one of my boots. "Nervous would be a good word for it. But even that doesn't describe what I'm feeling."

He crouched in front of me. "Everything's gonna be fine."

My eyes flicked to him, my brow furrowed. "Wait until you get there, Steve. Fine is an understatement."

I couldn't help but shudder when he slowly zipped up my other boot, stood, and pulled me to my feet, gently holding my hands. "Then we'll make it fine. We'll fix everything. We'll get this universe we're going to back to normal and we'll kick Eon's ass." He edged closer to me, his hand sliding down to my lower back and pulling me closer. "And then I'm taking you to dinner."

I smiled, brushing his chin with my thumb. "Language. And I'd love to."

He grinned. "I'm really getting tired of that."

I affectionately pecked him on the lips. "Fat chance of that." I headed towards the door, leading him with me. "We better get a move on."

We headed to the hanger where everyone was waiting. Clint was preparing his arrows. Tony was configuring his suit while talking to Rhodey. Sam was outstretching and folding his wings. Wanda and Vision were deep in conversation while Nat used her phone. We'd decided that not everyone could go. Someone had to stay behind and keep an eye on the base and the people. Rhodey had volunteered and Vision was made to stay. The rest were going to the Chronos.

Astra paced in front of a swirling portal as Steve and I descended the stairs.

"You ready to go, Astra?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. "We must leave now."

I turned to the Avengers – my friends – gathered before me. I took a deep breath before talking. "I'm going to warn you all in advance. Where we're going is unlike anywhere you've been before. The people you're going to meet are like no one you've ever encountered. What we're going to do is the hardest mission you've ever been on. It won't be easy. Death is highly probable." My eyes flicked to Steve quickly before looking back at the group. "So I have to know now: are you all absolutely sure that you want to do this?"

There was no reply straight away. Everyone just looked at each other, contemplating their decision. I wasn't going to force anyone to come with me. I was perfectly fine saving all of time with only my fellow Walkers. But I'd promised Astra that they would help us. I wasn't riding on their help. Neither was my people. But I certainly could use it.

"You've done more than enough for all of us since we've known you, Andi," Nat spoke up, "and even more for humanity. We're with you. Right, guys?" Nods echoed through the small crowd.

I tried to hide a sigh escaping my lips. I was glad that my friends were with me. I needed them with me, especially at a time like this.

I glanced at Astra. "We're ready when you are."

Astra's purple eyes flicked from me to my friends, a look of skepticism flashing there. She didn't think they lived up to their name, to what I've told her during our last meeting. She was going to get a shock when they got into gear.

"Let us go, then," she simply said, and turned on her heel and walking through the portal.

I took a deep breath. Steve's hand slipped into mine, and we walked through the portal together.

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