𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 || 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘳

"ATTENTION ALL S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENTS, THIS IS STEVE ROGERS." Steve's voice echoed through the intercoms that were throughout the Triskelion and surrounding facilities on the secluded piece of land. "You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth."

Nova flew past the intercom station, sending a wave to Sam, Steve, and Maria. Landing on the single bridge leading to the Triskelion, she grabbed her pack and began placing satchel charges.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader," Steve announced. "The S.T.R.I.K.E. and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you."

Once all were set, she set the timers, she tossed the bag over the edge of the bridge. "Bridge going down in ten seconds."

"They almost have what they want. Absolute control," Steve stated. "They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them." He stopped when the loud boom of an explosion went off. The sight of a fiery ball of orange appeared in his peripheral. Nova appears to hover just outside the window.

"I know I am asking a lot. The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay," Steve said. "And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

A smile peeled across Nova's lips. "Where did you learn to give speeches like that, Cap?"

"Years of experience. Now, we have to head down-" He couldn't finish as the hidden bay doors beneath the water began to open. The water swallowing and sliding in the opening where the Insight Hellicarriers were revealed, slowly began to elevate.

"They're initiating launch," Maria announced.

Nova huffed, "Alright, stand back." The group did as what was asked and she shot her repulsors at the glass, shattering it. "I can get you down to those Quinjets, but that's as far I can go before I got a tail."

Steve nodded, backing up a few steps before running and leaping out the window. Nova caught his hand, groaning at the significant weight that jostled her down. Grabbing the scruff of his suit, she activated her thrusters and flew down to the Quinjets. Already noticed a few being commandeered. Getting close to the edge of the landing pads, she yelled, "Alright, this is your stop!"

The moment his hand slipped from hers, she banked left and pursued the Quinjets. Shooting her repulsors, she took out one wing of the jet and watched it spin out of control, descending to the bay floor and exploding.

When she went to pursue another, the anti-air cannons on the Hellicarrier took aim and began to fire. Explosions erupted around her like fireworks, forcing her to take evasive maneuvers in an attempt to evade their shotty targeting.

"Nova, how you holding out there?" Sam asked, alerting the girl of his shared set of circumstances.

Unexpectedly, a laugh ripped from her throat, evading the gunfire like second nature. "I'm in my element!" She grinned.

"You do understand that you are unhinged at times, right?" Maria inquired, a smile evident in her words.

"Nah, I only get like this when my adrenaline is pumping." She glanced down at the cannons firing at Sam and pulled up abruptly. Flying up high enough that the cannon fire started to lose aim. "Like this." Killing the thrusters, she gently glided up, lost momentum, and began to descend.

Her hud lit up with pentagons appearing around each cannon. Aiming her repulsors and missiles that emerged from her shoulders. Firing, they whistled through the air with faint clouds of smoke trails coming from them. And she watched with an open smile as the weapons blew up, sending the entire landing strip full of soldiers in disarray.

But her excitement faltered when a loud crack in the sky grabbed her attention. Spinning around in her freefall to see a large orange ball of fire falling rapidly, and directly toward her. "Oh, shit!" Activating her thrusters, she flew out of the way just in time for it to miss her. Its heat reached her, eliciting a grunt from her lips as she watched it crash down into the Hellicarrier.

Flying down, she landed a dozen feet away and frowned. "Uh, are we expecting any company from the sky?"

She couldn't hear Maria's response as what Nova guessed to be a large drop pod, the doors flew off with 5 soldiers stepping out. Their gear is nothing of S.H.I.E.L.D. or any real task force in the world. They sported helmets, heavily armoured tact gear, weapons, and an insignia she'd never seen before. Large packs were strapped to their lower back with each of their left hands holding a similar look that had a dial on the back. Everything screamed a higher level of tech that even S.H.I.E.L.D. was trying to mimic.

Nova peeled her helmet off, tucking it under her arm as she said, "You from Meridian?"

The five turned to her, seemingly knowing her at first glance, and approached. "Sergeant Kinley, leader of Unit 6-4. Heard you guys needed help."

"I need you guys to secure this Hellicarrier. Take this-" she handed the targeting blade, "and replace it with the one in the lower level of the ship. After that, if you're able to provide support with those jets and gain weapon control and give my team some support-"

"Nova!" She could barely finish her words before Cooper came flying down and swept her up. His shoulder drove into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs. Disabling her till her body was driven into the side of the Triskelion. Head swaying slightly as Cooper punched her in the stomach. He grabbed the scruff of her suit and flew her down to a nearby rooftop where he slammed her face into the ground.

She could taste the metallic bitterness on her tongue. Barely able to try and sit up on wobbling arms before Cooper kicked her in the stomach, sending her rolling. "What was it you said before? That I should've learned more from you?" He pulled out a knife, twisting it in his grasp, holding it in reverse. "Get up and let me show you what I've learned."

Nova's arms shook under her weight, body slightly swaying as she stood to her feet and desperately sought balance. Able to get a good look at her Co-pilot and feel a sense of horror. His suit was scratched and disfigured by the burns of her powers. The cheek of his helmet burnt down to the frame, barely holding it together.

He was something out of a horror movie–the worst possible version of herself. Made from the decisions of others around her.

"What happened to you? This isn't who you are," Nova groaned.

Cooper shook his head. "You know I am right for what I'm standing for! You've always known but you just can't accept it!" He yelled. "What I am fighting for is justified–we are saving the world!"

"Killing thousands to millions of people is not your choice to make!" She cried out, teeth grinding, shakily rising to her feet. "Or is that who you are now? A killer for an organization that will replace you? You don't get to decide who dies!

"I don't decide?" He questioned hysterically, marching towards the woman. "Everything I did was to keep the free world safe!" He slashed at her, narrowly missing as Nova continued to back peddle. Heart jolting with each jab and slash of the blade. "Everything I did was to benefit us! If we do what HYDRA asks, we won't ever have to shed innocent blood again–no one will be able to control you again, Nova!"

Kicking her away, he flipped the knife and tossed it at her–brandishing a grin when he saw the knife pierce her shoulder, her steps faltering as she dropped to a knee, grasping her arm.

A sickening grin peeling across his broken lips, "Have I learned enough?"

Nova somehow managed a scoff of amusement. But it was short-lived, replaced with a groan with her hand pressing around the knife.

No matter how strong she thought herself to be, she wanted to cry. Maybe it would've been easier for her to accept something like this. But death was knocking at the front door. She wanted nothing more than for tomorrow to be another day with Cooper. She didn't want to have to miss him. But that look in his eyes was hard for her to see it happening.

God, she was fucking afraid.

He crouched in front of her. "You know what I'm fighting for is right. Why won't you just admit it?" He spat.

"I'm not going to be responsible for taking any more people away from their families," she grunted, shaking her head. "I always thought I would be the one to turn. But it breaks my heart knowing I couldn't have done enough to save you."

"You don't have to save me, Nova." A laugh fell from his lips. "Don't you see? This is the best actionable route we can take," he said. "Just surrender. I promise you nothing bad will come for Natasha."

Although she wished to believe him, she couldn't help but purse her lips. Lifting her gaze "What about Steve?"

The man exhaled slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I think you already know my answer."

An exasperated breath fell from her lips, head falling forward slightly. "God, why would you put me in this situation?"

Before Cooper could even respond, Nova ripped the knife from her arm, lunging at him. Cooper acted quickly and twisted her arm forcing the blade into her stomach, causing a grunt to slip past her lips. With her other hand, she shot a repulsor, hitting the side of his helmet and causing him to fly back. He rolled across the ground as he groaned loudly. Ripping off his helmet, he grasped the side of his face. Shaking uncontrollably as he sat on his knees.

Nova placed her hand around the knife, applying just enough pressure to stop the blood flow. Tears stung her eyes with a weak whine falling from her lips. She looked up to find Cooper still leaning over, face in his hand. Her lips wobbled as she cried, "I loved you, Cooper. Why? Why did you have to do this?" She yelled in hysterics, uncontrollable sobs racking her body. "You promised me we would fix the world together. You promised!"

Cooper removed his hand and turned his head toward her. Revealing the tears that were streaming down his cheeks with the burns of the repulsor blasts. A brand on his skin. His eyes were bloodshot. He limped towards Nova, slowly gaining more ground as she tried to back away, feeling the pain from the knife twist and deepen. She managed to get to her feet, biting her bottom lip. "Don't do this. Please, Coop."

"But I need to," he cried. "Nick... He used us, Nova. Can't you see that?" Sweat rolled down her face which was deathly pale as she groaned, bowing her head. "We killed innocents on that mission. We took children from their families."

"It's what we signed up for, Coop!" She exclaimed. "But it was out of our control. We couldn't have known what would've happened. I should've called it off and that is my responsibility to hold. Not you!"

"But he did!" He yelled, pointing in the direction of the Triskelion that stood tall in the distance amongst the chaos. "He sent us in with the knowledge of the innocents that were on the ground down there. And now, he has to pay for his mistakes."

"Cooper, it isn't too late to change this," she groaned. Hissing as she stood to her feet, coming face to face with her once co-pilot. "What you are fighting for is doing what we swore against. But it doesn't have to happen. We make mistakes and it happens. But what we do next after that, dictates us as people. It's never too late to come back home again, Jack." She extended her hand, shaking her head softly. "We can still fix this. Together."

Cooper's eyes welled up with tears as he shook his head. Clenching his jaw with his hands curling into fists. He yelled out in fury, charging at her, making Nova act on instinct. Pressing her hand to his chest she used her repulsor it watched the orange current of electricity shoot out from his back. Blood splashed across the pavement with the sight of his eyes wide with tears. His footsteps faltered as he leaned into Nova. Blood slowly leaking from his lips and hitting her shoulder plate.

Nova watched with pants, eyes wide as they flickered across his face. Unaware of her action blood leaked from the corner of his lips and he crumbled to her feet. Kneeling in the slowly growing pool of his blood, head leant against her stomach.

The shock once overwhelming her mind soon passed over with sorrow as two whispered words fell from Cooper's crimson lips.

"I'm sorry."

Nova's lips wobbled, eyes clamping shut. Her hands fell to Cooper's head, with her fingers threading through his hair. Hoping that this final touch of comfort might make it easier. But he was dead way before that.

So many memories. So many moments.

Gone within an instant.

Lifting her gaze to the sky, she felt herself adrift amongst the chaos. The Hellicarriers crashed from the sky. Their echoing guns blinded her senses. A sensory overload from the flashes of orange flames from each cannon fired upon one another. The Triskelion collapses in on itself, falling toward the open river with the sight of a helicopter able to be seen in the distance creating space from the destruction.

She was marked. A stain left on her skin she'd never be able to escape. 'Cause she knew him before this. Nova knew him better than anyone else. And that's what hurt the most. Someone she loved dearly faded with depression and resentment. Far out of her reach to save.

Why couldn't he have stayed by her side?

"Nova, do you come in? Nova, come in!" Maria's voice echoed through the com link.

"I-I'm here." Nova pursed her lips.

"Thank God! Your comlink went dark. Thought you got shot out of the sky or something," she said. "Where are you? The team is coming to pick you up."

After giving her her coordinates, Nova painfully laid Cooper on the ground. Resting on her knees with a hand resting on her co-pilot's chest. Hoping to feel the faint drum of a beat. Wanting nothing more than to hear his teasing for her crush on Natasha. Or to hear his laugh once more. So much space inside her mind now housing every waking moment they'd spent by one another's side. A sense of family was found with one another.

Now, suddenly, gone.

The helicopter being flown by Nick and housing Sam and Natasha touched down a few dozen feet. Natasha was the first to hop out and jog over. Her pace faltered at the sight of Nova. A haze over her eyes and dissociation from her surroundings.

"Nova..." Natasha had nothing to offer, truthfully. She didn't know what she could say that would comfort the girl. Wanting to hug her, but with the distant look in her eyes, Natasha knew that'd have to wait.

Nova clenched her jaw and stood to her feet. She groaned with a hand finding itself around the knife, jutting a thumb over her shoulder. "We need to bring him."

Sam looked at her, slightly unsure. "Nova, we have to deal with the knife. Steve is M.I.A.-"

"No!" She exclaimed, tears threatening to slip free. "I need to bring him."

The lack of room for pushback, Sam looked at Natasha before moving past the pair to take care of Cooper's body.

Natasha's lips parted to speak, but Nova was already limping past. Climbing into the helicopter and sitting in one of the chairs with a groan. Biting her bottom lip, Natasha climbed in after and sat across from the girl. Eventually, she helped pull Cooper's body to rest in the center and the helicopter lifted up.

They all slipped headsets on with Sam glancing down at Cooper's helmet before holding it out for Nova. "I wasn't sure if you would want this."

Nova looked between the helmet and the man. She took it with a quiet "thank you" before holding it tightly in her grasp.

"Did he have a family?" Natasha mused, swallowing the lump in her throat as her gaze filtered on Nova.

Nova brushed her thumb across the crimson-soaked metal. She clutched it in her hand with her gaze lifting to her better half. "You're looking at it."