⏳ --

Omega Chronos was definitely different from the last time was there. It was worse. So much worse.

"Oh, my God..." I whispered, my voice shaking.

We stepped out of the portal to a barren wasteland under a darkish blue nebula infused dark sky. Everything around me was dead. It was as if a plague had ripped through the land, killing everything it touched.

It shattered my heart. My home. The place I thought was always going to be a safe place...was safe no longer. It was no longer a safe haven. It was a place of savagery and danger, and the aura of enslavement was strong like the tang of blood hanging on the air. It was something I never thought the Chronos would turn into.

"This place doesn't live up to its name," Tony remarked quietly.

"It has not always been like this," Astra replied, kicking a burnt rock nearby. "Eon has corrupted it."

But why? That was a question that lingered. If he wanted to enslave time, to rule every galaxy and period in existence, he needed the Chronos. It was the centre of all power. It was like the generator that ran the power in a building. If the Chronos was lost, so was our powers. So was our lives. And time would collapse. Why would Eon want to destroy his most important asset? It didn't make any sense!

I watched Astra stray from the group. I noticed a camp tucked below a hill, pushed back to a cliff, far ahead in her direction. I followed her with Steve and the others following behind.

It had been destroyed. Tents were in tatters. Small and ominous flames flickered. Belongings and clothes were scattered throughout the ruined camp. Smoke drifted off the smouldering ground. It all looked fresh. Whatever happened here had happened recently.

"What happened here?" Steve asked, investigating a nearby tent.

"We were ambushed," Astra replied. "Eon sent soldiers to neutralize us."

"Where is everyone?" Sam wondered as he examined a cluster of footprints in the middle of the camp.

"The camp was evacuated to another. The able-bodied remained to fight." She sighed. "We lost many for a useless skirmish."

Wanda spread out her hands as she strolled through. "There is so much pain here. So much misery."

Sam arrived to steady her, placing hands on her shoulder. The pain she was sensing looked to be overwhelming to her, which was hard to watch.

I watched Clint pick up a scorched child's doll, trying to brush off the ash. "There were children here." He turned to Astra. "You put children in danger."

Astra glared at the archer. "No. Mothers, children, the elderly. They all escaped. They were taken elsewhere before the fight even started."

"That's not what he meant," Nat said, crossing her arms.

I wasn't listening to the conversation between Astra and the others as I strayed further from the group, moving deeper into the camp. I was looking for clues, a hand hovering over the ground. I was looking for auras. A trail. Anything to lead me to something we could work off of.

"Legolas has a point." Tony's helmet opened to reveal a frown on his face. "From the sound of it, this place is dangerous under Eon's control, not a place for children or old ladies. Wouldn't it be safer for everyone who can't fight to hide out across time? You know, chill with the dinosaurs at the real life version of Jurassic Park or hang out with Queen Victoria?"

"Eon has hunters scouting the periods," Astra growled, clearly disliking being questioned. "The elderly and children cannot defend themselves against experienced warriors like these Walkers. They would not stand a chance. They are here to be protected."

"Yeah, you've done a great job of that," Clint grumbled, carefully placing the doll into a pouch of his quiver.

"Watch your mouth, archer."

"I can't. It's under my nose."

"That's enough!" Steve intervened, moving to stand in between the two. "We're not here to argue. We're here to help these people and stop this madman from destroying everything."

I rolled my eyes as I continued to edge away from the group. I was friends with Astra – I wasn't going to deny that. We'd known each other for a long time. But I'd known the Avengers for a long time as well, and they were as close to me as she was. I didn't appreciate her combating with them.

And then the snapping of a twig reached my ears. My attention snapped towards it. So did everyone's behind me. I held up a hand to halt them as I advanced towards the sound. My hand glowed golden defensively. A shadow scurried from behind a tent to the cliff wall, and I raced after it. I grabbed something, clothing perhaps, and dragged it from behind the wall corner to the cliff face, slamming the figure into it.

"Woah, woah, woah!"

I shocked expression flashed across my face. I recognised his voice. I recognised the spikey brunette hair. And his eyes changing from blue to green to brown to hazel.

I let him go and exhaled. "Chameleon."

He frowned. "Andi?" He looked at me closer. "Is it really you?"

I poked him playfully in the chest. "It's great to see you again."

His eyes rested on Astra coming to meet us, and they widened. "Astra! You're okay!"

"Where's Jax?" she ordered.

"At the Crescent Moon Plains camp. He's gonna be fine."

She sighed in relief, running a hand across her forehead as she perched her other on her hip. "We need to get there then."

Chameleon's eyes flicked to my friends strolling towards us.

"Chameleon," I began introductions, "these are the Avengers. They're here to help us."

Steve held out his hand. "Captain Steve Rogers."

He shook it politely. "Chameleon."

Introductions spread out among the crowd, Tony offering a fist bump to which Chameleon awkwardly shook the fist in confusion.

"Enough time has been wasted," Astra growled. "We must get to the Crescent camp." She stormed off.

Clint crossed his arms. "Is she always like that?"

"Usually," Chameleon replied, turning on his heel to catch up with Astra, "watch what you say."

"I wish I could," Clint grumbled, following him with Nat next to him.

I looked to the sky – the dark, dark sky. I missed the golden tinge, the beautiful combination of sunset and sunrise, warm and extraordinary. I couldn't remember what it looked like now. It had been dark for far too long, and that was heart breaking.

I jumped suddenly when a hand gently slipped into mine.

"You okay?" Steve asked.

I swallowed and looked away from the darkness above. "Fine. I'm fine. Let's go before we're left behind."

★     ★     ★

⏳ --

We followed Chameleon through a portal to another camp.

A crescent moon shone high in the dark sky, bathing the plains spread out for miles before me in dim milky light. It was beautiful, but terrifyingly dark at the same time. I was never afraid of the dark growing up. But seeing the darkness above me made me think differently. I was struggling to wrap my head around how people could live in this place, a place that was so behind on time and stuck in the dark. Or was it different everywhere in this universe? I didn't understand. Thinking about it was giving me a headache.

The camp was bigger than the first one we'd come across. Over fifty tents were strewn around spherically, a bonfire lighting up the night in the center. People began to emerge, watching us curiously walk through the camp to the biggest tent at the front.

I was used to being looked at. I was used to being viewed as a spectacle. I was a patriot in World War II. I toppled S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA. I led the Avengers against Ultron at the Battle of Sokovia. I was used to the eyes of the public on me.

But this felt different. Their eyes. Their eyes were incredibly old. They were like Andi's. Even though I'd known her a fair amount of time and now I was with her, her eyes were still as unnerving at times; there was still so much hidden behind them. And now dozens upon dozens of the same kind of old eyes were on me, and it sent shivers down my spine.

"Well, this isn't creepy at all," Sam mumbled next to me, which pretty much summed up what I was thinking as well.

"I know," I replied. "Just try to ignore it."

"Easier said than done."

As we approached the biggest tent ahead of us, a woman emerged. Her silvery hair was twisted up into a high hairdo. She wore what looked like a combination of armor and an elegant gown. Her eyes were bright blue like crystals. And I thought that everyone around me had old ones. They had nothing on this woman's.

She smiled warmly when Andi approached her. "Andromeda. I'm so thrilled you have returned to the Chronos."

Andi inclined her head politely. "I'm sorry, Primavera. I wanted to return earlier–"

The woman held up her hand to interrupt. "Do not apologize, my dear. The Lord gave you a mission. You were asked to complete it, and that was the priority."

I noticed Andi's eyes drop quickly and then return to the woman's face. She turned to us. "Primavera, I'd like you to meet the Avengers. Guys, this is Primavera, the Lady of Time."

Tony's brow shot up. "Lady of Time?"

"Indeed," the woman replied. "The Lord of Time is my husband."

Andi glared at him, a glare that was demanding Stark to respect the second most powerful Time Walker in existence, before returning her gaze to the Lady of Time. "They're here to help us, milady."

"I know who they are," she said. "I've seen what they can do. I've seen what they will become."

That last sentence made me shiver. I didn't surprise me that the Lady of Time knew who we were. As the second half of the Lord of Time, I assumed that she was like him – the protector of time itself, and so knew everything and about everyone within it. But it still disturbed me.

I watched Primavera raise her chin. "Who is the leader among you?"

All eyes turned to me. Andi smiled softly as I walked up to stand next to her. A strong aura resonated off the Lady like heat from a flame. I swallowed. "Captain Steve Rogers. I lead the Avengers."

Primavera gave nothing away, but I couldn't help but feel that she knew something about me that even I didn't know; like my future. "Captain America."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I have heard much about you. You know war well."

"I do, ma'am."

"Then you will be a formidable ally for us. We need all the help we can get." Her gaze turned to Astra. "There is much to do, Astra. The Avengers can lend their aid while I converse with Andromeda and the Captain."

Astra inclined her head slightly. Chameleon led the rest of my friends away with her bringing up the rear, sending me a suspicious glare.

❈Author's Note: Hey, there! If you liked this chapter, please consider giving it a quick vote! Thanks for reading!