Avengers Compound
Afternoon
Barry groaned as he felt someone tapping his cheek. Barry then yelped, his eyes snapping open as he felt the person slap him.
"Oh thank god," Caitlin said relived as she helped him sit up. "Are you okay?"
"Besides you slapping me? Why do you always need to slap me awake?" Barry grumbled as he looked around at the rumble around them. "What happened?"
"We got hit by the biggest lightning blast in the history of the world, followed by a bunch of smaller lightning blasts," Tony said as he picked up Steve's shield.
As Barry and Caitlin stood up, Barry assessed his surroundings. They were in the rubble of what had once been The Compound, that was for sure. Bruce helped Natasha to her feet, who seemed a little dazed but otherwise unhurt. Thor, holding his injured arm, was standing at an opening in the rubble, a grim look on his face. Tony walked over to an unconscious Steve and knelt down, trying to shake him awake.
"Come on buddy, wake up," Tony said almost desperately and Steve's eyes snapped open, his mouth opening as he let out a breath. "That's my man. You lose this again; I'm keeping it."
"What happened?" Steve said as Tony helped him up.
"If I had to guess, Thawne or Thanos, maybe both," Barry said as Steve accepted the shield from Tony.
"My friends," Thor called out and the sic of them looked over at him. "We have a problem."
Down below, in the rubble of the Compound, Mack had been knocked unconscious, but was dimply aware of someone calling his name. Mack opened his eyes, seeing Rocket pinned under some debris.
"Let me out let me out let me out!" Rocket said in full blown panic as Mack stood up.
"Don't worry, I got you," Mack said as he walked over, seeing his Shotgun Axe on the ground.
Mack picked it up and used it as a lift, lifting the debris off Rocket. Rocket quickly ran out from under it and Mack let go, causing the debris to fall again. It was then that they heard a loud noise. They whirled around as something gave and water came rushing through. Before either could do anything, they were caught up in the current.
"Mayday, mayday, does anybody copy?! The lower level is flooding!"
In another part of the rubble, Scott pulled himself out as he heard Mack's distress call.
"We are drowning! Does anyone copy!?" Mack shouted.
"I do, I'm here," Scott said as he tapped the Comms piece in his suit. "I'm on my way."
Elsewhere under the rubble, Bobbi helped Fitz to his feet.
"Easy Fitz, we took a big fall," Bobbi said gently.
"Story of my life," Fitz chuckled as he got to his feet. "Thanks, I can manage."
As they began walking down what resembled a tunnel, Fitz spotted something. Kneeling down, he picked up his gauntlet all six Infinity Stones still there.
"Oh Leopold."
The sound of the voice made Fitz jump, his heart hammering in his chest as he paled. Bobbi was confused, not recognizing the voice. But Fitz did, and it was a voice he never wanted to hear again.
"We need to go Bobbi, now," Fitz hissed and Bobbi was confused even more.
"Fitz, what's going on?" Bobbi asked.
"If that's who I think it is, we are all dead. And she cannot get her hands on the stones. Come on!" Fitz snarled, grabbing her hand and dragging her down the tunnel.
Up above the rubble, standing on had once been The Compound, Bruce, Natasha, Tony, Steve, Thor, Barry, and Caitlin stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down at what had once been the front yard of The Compound. As Barry predicted, it was Thawne and Thanos, who had been armed with a robotic arm, gold in designed and looked to have slots exactly like the gauntlet. But they had not come alone.
"Loki," Thor said as he stared at his smirking brother, who wielded knives.
"How is this possible? I thought Loki was dead," Bruce said confused.
"He is," Barry said and they all looked over at him. "It's a time remnant. Thawne had Joe steal him some tachyons from Star Labs. Thawne used it to go back in time and get Loki from another time to come here."
"Which explains why Zoom is here," Caitlin said, glaring at her former boyfriend, standing next to Thawne.
"Okay, who is the lady with the weird headpiece and how can she lift Thor's hammer?" Tony asked as Hela smirked, twirling Mjolnir.
"My sister, Hela," Thor said and everyone looked at him in shock. "Long story. She's the goddess of death, she is extremely dangerous. Although, with Asgard gone, she will be far less powerful."
"Which is probably why Thawne gave her your hammer," Steve mused and Thor nodded in agreement.
"Not all of them are remnants. Like Blonsky," Bruce said as he stared at the green humanoid that seemed to resemble Hulk in certain ways.
"Who is he?" Barry asked.
"He used a mutated version of the same process that created the Hulk," Natasha said and Bruce looked at her sharply. "I was there in Harlem."
"Bruce is right, they're not all time remnants," Caitlin said as she stared sadly at a man covered in ice.
"Cait, who is that?" Steve asked as Barry put a hand on her shoulder.
"My dad," Caitlin said, shocking The Avengers. "At least it used to be. He's been taken over by a psychopath who calls himself Icicle. He has the same powers as Killer Frost."
"And I thought I had daddy issues," Tony joked and everyone turned to glare at him. "Okay, that was crossing a line. Sorry."
"It's not like you're wrong," Caitlin sighed.
"Are you up for this Cait?" Barry asked concerned.
"I have to be," Caitlin said a steely looked entering her eyes.
Barry eyed her before nodding. He wasn't sure he believed her but in the end, he guessed it didn't matter. She was still going to have to fight.
"Malcolm Merlyn, he was trained by Ra's al Ghul, leader of a group of dangerous assassins," Barry noted as he saw the man. "Probably not a time remnant."
"Sara told us he worked with Thawne before, so probably not," Caitlin agreed as she saw a huge gorilla. "Grodd. He's a gorilla with genius level intellect."
"Like a gorilla with my brain?" Tony joked.
"No, smarter," Barry said, stunning them all. "He has telepathic powers; he can attack your mind and even take control of your body. Don't let your guard down for a second with him."
"Good to know. And the guy who really needs a haircut?" Tony asked as he gestured to a man with dark hair stretching passed his shoulders and a beard.
"Vandal Savage, an immortal warlord set on world conquest. He knows every style of fighting known to man and how to use every weapon imaginable," Barry warned and it was quiet for a moment.
"What have they been doing?" Tony asked.
"Absolutely nothing," Thor said bluntly.
"Where are the stones?" Steve asked concerned Thanos may get his hands on them again.
"Somewhere under all this, along with all our friends," Natasha said and it was quiet for a moment, all of them worrying for the rest of their team.
"They'll have to take care of each other for now. Thanos doesn't have the stones, we have to keep it that way," Tony said in a voice that left no room for argument, not that anyone disagreed.
"We know it's a trap right?" Thor asked.
"Of course it's a trap," Bruce said.
"I don't really care," Barry said his eyes on Thawne and Zoom from behind his cowl.
"Just so we're all in agreement," Thor said, holding out his injured arm.
After a moment, there was the sound of lightning before Stormbreaker flew into Thor's hand. Lightning flashed in Thor's eyes as the burn on his arm faded away.
"Let's kill him," Thor sneered.
"All of them," Barry agreed as he glared at his parents' killers.
Caitlin sighed as her hair turned white and her eyes turned blue.
"Let's do this boys and girl," Killer Frost said as she stared at Icicle.
Natasha pulled up a her electric batons and tossed Barry his sword. Barry caught it, nodding his thanks as they made their way down. Bruce waited before jumping into the air and landing as Hulk, who unleashed a mighty roar.
"Well, that was dramatic," Loki said as the seven heroes reached them.
"I do not wish to fight you brother, but I will if I have to," Thor said, his eyes sad but his face resolute.
"Brother against brother. How very American," Savage drawled as he looked between Loki and Thor.
"Where are the stones?" Thanos demanded.
"Somewhere you're not getting them," Steve said as he clenched his shield tightly.
"One way or another, we'll be getting those stones," Malcolm said with a smirk.
"You know Merlyn, I'm surprised at you," Barry said as he stared across at Malcolm. "I mean, I get Zoom, he's a psychopath. And Grodd is basically Thawne's lapdog."
"Grodd is no one's lapdog!" Grodd roared but was ignored.
"But you? I always knew you were power hungry and crazy, but teaming up with Thanos? Doesn't seem your style," Barry noted.
"Whatever Thanos is doing has no interest to me. There is only one thing I care about in this life anymore: Taking from Oliver Queen all that he took from me. My son, my daughter, my vision for a better city, the League, everything. And I'm going to start with you and your little friends Barry Allen," Malcolm said maliciously.
"You'll try," Natasha said, whirling her electric batons.
"Hello Caitlin," Zoom said in his monstrous voice.
"Hunter," Frost said disinterestedly before turning to Icicle.
"Hello daughter," Icicle said and Frost sneered.
"I am not your daughter," she hissed.
"You're right. You're a mistake, one that I will be glad to correct," he snarled back, both their hands starting to give off an icy mist.
"I'm thankful to all of you. Now, I know what I must do," Thanos said as they all turned to him. "I will shred this universe down to its last atom. Then, using the stones, create a new one, teaming with life that knows not what it has lost but only what it has been given. A grateful universe."
"Born out of blood," Steve said disgusted as Thanos picked up his double edged sword.
"They'll never know…because you won't be alive to tell them," Thanos said.
Then, it was on. Frost and Icicle shot beams of ice at each other as Barry began engaging Thawne and Zoom, trying to get them with his sword to no avail. Thor roared as he began to fight Loki, Hela, and Savage while Hulk began to wrestle with Blonsky and Grodd. Natasha used his electric batons to block Malcolm's sword before pushing back as Steve threw his shield at Thanos and Tony fired a yellow beam at the mad Titan.
In the remains of the Compound, Scott, shrunken down, was swimming through the water towards Mack and Rocket, desperately trying to reach them.
In the tunnels, Fitz was dragging Bobbi along as they ran.
"Fitz, what is going on? Who is that who called out to you?" Bobbi asked bewildered.
"We have to get away, she can't be stopped!" Fitz shouted, only confusing her more.
Suddenly, a blue flashed appeared in front of them and they stopped, Bobbi's eyes widening in recognition and Fitz paling. When it faded, a dark haired woman stood in front of them, blocking their path.
"Hello Leopold," AIDA greeted him coolly.
"This isn't possible, you're dead," Fitz said and Bobbi noticed he was trembling in fear as he clenched the gauntlet to him.
"So I've heard. Give me the stones," AIDA demanded.
"Why do you want them?" Fitz demanded as he took a few steps back.
"So I can tear this universe down. I'm going to make you watch, so you can know that it was all your fault," AIDA snarled as she took a few steps towards him. "Then, once you see your precious Jemma die with the rest of the universe, I will ripe out your heart."
Shots suddenly rang out and AIDA stepped back, shocked as blood began pouring out of her. Fitz and Bobbi whirled around to see Fury aiming a gun at her.
"Who the hell is this?" Fury demanded.
"We don't have time, we need to go!" Fitz shouted, grabbing Bobbi's hand and beginning to run down the tunnel away from AIDA.
However, AIDA shook it off, holding up her hand. Fitz and Bobbi hit the ground and Fury ducked out of the way.
"She has Gordon and Lincoln's powers?!" Bobbi shouted in surprise.
"She has the powers of over twenty Inhumans!" Fitz shouted.
Suddenly, there was swoosh and Fitz blinked as the gauntlet was gone. Heart hammering in his chest, he looked over his shoulder to see AIDA now had the gauntlet.
"Including Yo-Yo's powers," AIDA said mockingly. "You've lost Leopold."
Suddenly, to AIDA's shock, the gauntlet flashed red and was yanked out of her arms. Fitz, Bobbi, and Fury stood up as it flew over to Fitz, who caught it.
"Not yet we haven't," Freya said as she walked into view, standing in front of the others, her hands glowing red. "Get the stones out of here, I'll deal with her."
"Freya, she can't be stopped!" Fitz tried to reason with her.
"She hasn't faced me yet," Freya said, staring stonily at AIDA. "Go!"
After a moment of hesitation, Fitz, Bobbi and Fury ran back the way they came. Snarling in rage, AIDA shot electricity out of her hands, which Freya countered with a wave of red energy.
Down the tunnels, Fitz, Bobbi, and Fury were running when a dark haired man wearing a brown leather jacket walked into view. They stopped as he aimed a pistol at them. Fitz and Bobbi glared at him as Fury regarded him coolly.
"Hey Fitz," Grant Ward greeted. "I'm gonna need those stones."
"So now you're Thanos' bitch Ward?" Bobbi mocked and Ward smirked.
"As long as he helps me burn SHIELD to the ground, he can do whatever he wants with the stones," Ward said, aiming at Fitz. "Hand them over Fitz."
"You'll have to kill me first. If you can," Fitz mocked.
Before Ward could do or say anything, a Billy Club came flying out, hitting the gun and knocking it out of his hand. Ward looked up as Matt jumped down, slugging him, hard. They two then began exchanging blows, Ward surprised at how Matt was able to keep up with him.
"You want those stones, you'll have to go through me first," Matt snarled as he punched Ward.
"With pleasure," Ward said as he aimed a fist at Matt's head.
Matt dodged the strike and punched him, throwing him into a wall. A shot rang out and Ward was hit in the chest. He jolted as several more shots were fired, killing him. Everyone looked over as Frank, armed with a smoking rifle, Nebula, and Rhodey walked into view.
"Friend of yours?" Rhodey asked as Ward slid down the wall, bleeding out.
"No," Fitz said stonily, glaring as the life left Ward's eyes.
Outside, Tony fired missiles at Thanos, who deflected with his sword. They landed behind him and exploded harmlessly as Tony shot off a beam which missed Thanos by a wide margin. Thanos was confused until Steve used his shield to send the blast back at Thanos. Thanos whirled around, whirling his sword to make the blast useless.
Hela used Mjolnir to strike Thor was lightning but, being the god of Thunder, this barely fazed him. Thor roared as Savage engaged him, kicking the warlord back before grabbing him and throwing him into some debris. He whirled around and faced Loki. Thor hesitated, faltering for only a moment, but it was the only moment Hela needed. She threw Mjolnir and Thor was a half a second too late to dodge it. It struck him in the face and he went down, Stormbreaker falling from his hand. Hela, Loki, and Savage moved towards Thor, none of them noticing Loki's brief look of indecision.
Malcolm and Natasha continued training blows, Natasha continuously blocking his sword with her electric batons. Malcolm whirled, attempting to strike her with his sword but Natasha ducked before kicking him in the abdomen. He went down before quickly getting back up.
"I'm impressed. You are a strong warrior. But you won't win!" Malcolm snarled before he rushed towards her.
Hulk was thrown into some debris, becoming momentarily dazed from the blow.
"Come on, get up you pig pussy!" Bruce shouted at him as Blonsky and Grodd approached them.
"Looks like you're not the strongest after all," Blonsky mocked. "You're weak."
Angered at this, Hulk got up with an angry roar. Grodd tried to take control but was surprised that there was already another mind inside Hulk's body. Hulk roared as Grodd found himself blocked out.
"Yeah, that's right you overgrown ape, there's already two minds in this body! Let's show him what we're made of!" Bruce shouted.
Hulk roared in agreement before he reentered the fight. Blonsky tried to hit him with a piece of metal but Hulk dodged, grabbing onto it before punching Blonsky. Hulk then used all his strength and threw Blonsky into Grodd. The two fell to the ground as Hulk roared.
Barry, Thawne, and Zoom were speeding around the battlefield, Zoom and Thawne dodging Barry's sword strikes. Suddenly, Zoom made a movement with his vibrating hand and Barry saw half his sword drop to the ground, broken in two. Angrily, Barry threw the remains of his sword to the ground as he turned to face the killers of his parents.
"Let's see how good you are without your toy," Zoom mocked and Barry smirked.
"I don't need a weapon to take you guys. I've been waiting a long time for this," Barry sneered as he glared at them.
"So have I Barry, so have I. All the times you've failed to kill me and I only need to kill you one time," Thawne said gleefully.
"Then stop talking about it and actually do it," Barry said, getting into a stance Steve had taught him when he first started training him. "I'm not the same kid who needed Eddie to save him from you."
"I know. You've become the man I fought so many times before, the man I hate. Which will make this all the more satisfying!" Thawne snarled before he and Zoom rushed Barry.
On his knees, Thor reached for Stormbreaker but Savage stepped on it, stopping the weapon.
"Not this time brother," Hela said with a smirk before looking over at Loki. "Considering your history, I feel the honor of the killing blow should go to you."
Loki drew his blades, stepping up to Thor. However, perhaps it was his imagination, but Thor thought he saw a flicker of doubt enter his brother's eyes.
"Loki, please," Thor said pleadingly.
"In the future…what happens to me?" Loki asked, surprising his allies.
"You die. Thanos crushes your throat when he massacres half our people," Thor said, hoping to turn Loki against Thanos.
"And…what becomes of us?" Loki inquired, causing Hela to frown in suspicion as Thor laughed.
"You betray me. Several times. But, eventually, we become allies. You become my brother again," Thor said his voice thick with emotion.
"Enough of this," Savage said, out of patience. "If you won't kill him-"
Loki then whirled around, sending a blade to Savage. Savage dodged but this freed Stormbreaker. Thor summoned his weapon to his hand, charging it, before throwing it at Hela. She dodged it and the weapon returned to Thor before the blood children of Odin rushed each other, their weapons meeting in a clash of lighting.
Meanwhile, Loki and Savage exchanged blows, each wielding daggers.
"You will pay for betraying us!" Savage snarled.
"Perhaps, but my brother, for all idiotic nobility, seems far less insane than my sister, Thanos, and well, all of you. And, I am mischief," Loki suddenly smirked.
To Savage's shock, Loki suddenly vanished before Savage was stabbed from behind.
"For an immortal warlord, you are very easy to fool," Loki said amused.
Hela was thrown back, her lightning powers inferior to Thor's. Thor then threw Stormbreaker, which made Hela again go for the clash of weapons. However, Thor had anticipated this, and instead Stormbreaker cut into her flesh. Hela screamed as her hand fell, Mjolnir falling a few feet away. Thor then raised his hand and Stormbreaker returned to him. Thor then raised his other hand and Mjolnir flew into it.
"You see sister; you've spent so long alone you're just a shell of rage and anger. You're still stuck in this mindset of 'father cast me out'. I get it but, at some point, grow up, move on," Thor said and Hela shimmered with rage. "Life's about growth, change. You just can't let go of the past. It's why you failed."
Hela glared at him for a moment before the fight left her and she fell to her knees, looking every bit the broken shell Thor had described.
"Do it. End it," Hela said as she looked up at him.
"No," Thor said, surprising her. "You're still my sister. Perhaps, in time, you will find peace. For now, I have a battle to win."
Thor then rushed off, leaving Hela behind to seethe.
Thanos threw his sword at Tony, who ducked to dodge, firing a yellow bam at Thanos. Thanos used his robotic arm; which seemed to absorb it as the sword came back, like a boomerang.
"Tony duck!" Steve called out in warning.
Tony did so, narrowly avoiding the sword as it returned to him. Tony flew towards Thanos as Thor charged in, his two weapons charged. Thor used Stormbreaker to give Mjolnir a jump start. As the hammer flew towards him, Thanos grabbed Tony, using him as shield and the hammer hit Tony in the helmet. He went flying and hit a pile of debris, out cold.
Engaged, Thor and Steve rushed forward. Steve aimed a kick at Thanos' head but Thanos grabbed him and tossed the super soldier aside before using his sword to block Stormbreaker. Thanos, with his robotic arm, grabbed Thor by his neck and threw him into some debris.
"So much for the mighty son of Odin," Thanos mocked.
Snarling in rage, Thor rushed back in.
Barry was exchanging blows with Thawne when Zoom struck him in the face. This dazed him enough that Thawne was able to grab him and throw him into some debris. Zoom then shrew a lightning bolt at him, which him Barry in the chest. Barry cried out in pain as Thawne then sped in, punching Barry several times.
"Against the two of us, you can't win," Thawne said gleefully, pulling the weakened Barry up and forcing him on his knees.
"Then why don't you just end it," Barry sneered, not wanting to give Thawne or Zoom the satisfaction.
"We don't want you to miss the best part," Zoom said, looking up into the sky.
Barry followed his gaze, seeing Frost and Icicle were up there, building ice bridges as they fired at each other. Frost fired an ice blast, which hit the bridge icicle was on. For a moment, it appeared she was victorious.
Then, Icicle emerged from the mists, throwing an ice dagger at her. Taken by surprise, Frost was hit in the shoulder and fell off the bridge, to Barry's horror.
"No!" Barry cried out.
Frost landed hard on her back, reverting to Caitlin, hurt but alive. Icicle jumped down and began to stalk towards her.
"And now comes the best part. Before I kill you, I want you to see your best friend die," Thawne said gleefully as he and Zoom restrained Barry.
"Jay, please! I know you care about her!" Barry pleaded as he looked at Zoom.
"She betrayed me. For that, she will die," Zoom said coldly.
Barry watched in horror as Icicle reached Caitlin, kneeling down and yanking the bloodied ice dagger out of her.
"I wanted you to be perfect. Now, I have to erase you," Icicle said.
"No, please, don't!" Barry begged, trying to find a way, any way, to save Caitlin.
Suddenly, unseen to anyone else, Mjolnir slowly started to rise off the ground.
"Goodbye, daughter," Icicle said as he prepared to deliver the killing blow.
"No!" Barry shouted as Caitlin closed her eyes.
Suddenly, Mjolnir flew in, striking Icicle in the head. Caitlin's eyes snapped open as he went flying, hitting some debris, out cold. The magical hammer then hit Thawne and Zoom before flying into the stunned Barry's hands. He gasped as he felt the power rush through him.
Nearby, Loki stared stunned at the scene
"He's worthy?' Loki asked in shock.
As Thawne and Zoom stood up, Barry, with the power of a god rushing through him, turned and sent lightning at them. The two speedster were hit and cried out as Barry sped in, striking both of them with the hammer. They were sent flying before Barry sped over to Caitlin.
"Cait, Cait are you okay?" Barry asked in concern.
"I'm fine, I heal fast remember," Caitlin said as she stared at the hammer in his hand. "Is that…"
"Yeah," Barry said as he followed his gaze. "Apparently I'm worthy of the power of Thor."
"Then go end this. I'll be fine," Caitlin promised.
After a moment, Barry nodded and stood up. Thanos was still fighting Thor, and was unfortunately winning. Thanos had somehow managed to get Stormbreaker from Thor and was trying to stab Thor in the chest with it. The Asgardian was managing to stop him, just barely, but it wasn't looking good. Barry sped over, his eyes flashing with the power of a god, and brought the hammer down on Thanos. Thanos went flying as Barry landed on his feet. As Thanos hit a wall of debris, Thor stared at Mjolnir in Barry's hand, stunned.
"Need a hand?" Barry said, offering his hand and Thor shook himself out of his shock.
"Thank you, man of speed," Thor said, grabbing Stormbreaker and accepting Barry's hand.
"I hear this is yours," Barry said, offering Mjolnir to Thor but the Asgardian shook his head.
"It has deemed you worthy. It is yours in this fight," Thor declined, leaving Barry feeling humbled and shocked.
"Wow, thanks. Feel up to a little tag team?" Barry grinned as Thor smirked.
As Thanos grabbed his sword off the ground, Barry sped in, striking him across the chin with Mjolnir. The blow sent Thanos flying into the air before falling on his back. Thanos grabbed his sword as Thor threw Stormbreaker, using the blade to bounce the weapon back to its owner. Thor caught it and Barry then used Mjolnir to summon lightning, which he directed towards Thanos. Thanos cried out as he was electrocuted and Thor rushed in. Thor made a swing for the head, but Thanos, ignoring the pain of the electricity coursing through his body, grabbed Stormbreaker, stopping it inches from his neck, to Barry and Thor's shock.
Thanos then head butted Thor before punching him. Thanos threw Thor into some debris as Barry sped in. Barry tried to strike Thanos with Mjolnir but Thanos grabbed Barry by the neck and slammed him onto the ground. Barry lost his grip on Mjolnir and Thanos punched him before throwing Barry into some debris. Thanos picked up his sword and began to move towards Barry when Steve's shield hit him in the head. Steve's shield returned to him and Thanos growled as he moved towards Steve.
Seeing this, Thor moved to get up but Loki was there, pushing him down.
"Stay down brother. I fear this is one fight you and your friends may not win," Loki said grimly.
Thanos brought his sword down on Steve's shield, which barely held up. However, Thanos brought it up and back down on Steve's shield a few more times, using it as a hammer, and Steve's seemingly unbreakable shield broke in two. Steve was sent down on his side and Thanos kicked him in the stomach. Steve grunted as he was thrown back several feet. He landed on his back, painfully. He wanted so much to give up, to stop fighting. But he couldn't do that, the fate of the universe was counting on him. So, with a grunt, Steve stood back up. Or rather tried to, falling to his knees in the attempt.
"In all my years of conquest and violence, slaughter, it was never personal. But I'll tell you now, what I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet...I'm going to enjoy it, very, very much," Thanos said as Steve looked up at him.
There was a flash and Steve looked up. More people had arrived. Thawne was with them, a second Thawne. More time remnants, Steve realized with dread. He recognized some, like the three aliens that had arrived n Wakanda, leading Thanos' army, as well as one he recognized from the news reports in New York. But most were complete strangers to him.
"So this is the future. I'm not impressed," Damien Darhk mused as he looked around.
Steve looked around, assessing the situation. Barry, Thor, and Tony were down for the count. Caitlin was injured. Natasha was preoccupied, not only with Malcolm, but Savage as well. And Hulk was still busy with Blonsky and Grodd. He saw Zoom, Thawne, and Icicle getting up as well, ready to continue the fight.
He was the last line of defense between Thanos and the stones, not to mention the earth. Steve got up, tightening his hand around the remains of the shield. He was walking towards Thanos and the army of time remnants when-
"Cap?" Steve froze as he heard a familiar voice on the Comms. "Cap, it's Sam, do you read me?"
With a shaking hand, Steve tapped the comms piece in his helmet.
"Sam?" Steve said breathlessly.
"On your left."
Hearing something behind him, Steve turned around to see a golden portal open up. T'Challa, Shuri, and Okoye exited it. T'Challa retracted his helmet as everyone stopped to stare. Sam then flew out of the portal as more portals opened up.
Doctor Strange exited one with Peter Quill, Drax, Mantis, and Peter Parker.
Out of another came Melinda May, Daisy Johnson, and Elena Rodriguez.
Out of another came Lance Hunter and Hope Van Dyne.
From another, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Danny Rand emerged.
From another, Sif, Valkyrie, Korg, Miek, and the surviving Asgardians emerged.
From another, Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, Roy Harper, and Logan emerged.
From another, Sara Lance, Ray Palmer, Mick Rory and Firestorm emerged.
From another, Fate emerged leading Supergirl and J'onn J'onzz out.
As Wakandian soldiers and the Masters of the Mystic Arts exited the portals as well, a Breach opened up and Cisco exited, followed by Wanda, Bucky, and Groot.
"I think you're a bit outnumbered," Natasha said with a breathless look on her face, grinning at the uncomfortable looks on Malcolm and Savage's faces.
Hulk roared in celebration as Tony and Barry came to, seeing everyone who had arrived. Caitlin laughed, out of exhilaration, exhaustion, or relief, she wasn't sure. But it was clear the tide was turning. And Thanos knew it, by the look on his face.
"Is that everyone?" Strange asked as he looked over at Wong.
"You wanted more?" Wong asked sarcastically.
Suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound as Scott, in his Giant-Man form, broke through the rubble. He opened his palm as Mack and Rocket emerged, Rocket with his Ion Cannon and Mack with his Shotgun Axe, as Scott lowered them to the ground.
There was a blue flash as AIDA and Freya arrived, landing on the ground. As they stood up, they looked around in awe, Freya pausing as, for the first time she could remember, she saw her mother, who looked at her curiously.
Then, there was an explosion from the rubble. Rhodey flew out, landing on the ground as Fitz, Bobbi, Fury, Nebula, Matt, and Frank all followed him out, stopping and looking around in awe.
"It worked, it really worked," Fitz said with a relieved smile as he saw his friends, who all smiled joyously as they saw him.
Fate waved his hand and the half of Steve's shield on the ground flew towards the half in Steve's hand, merging the two once they met, as if it had never been broken at all. Steve nodded in thanks as Thor called Stormbreaker to his hand.
"We may just win this one yet brother," Thor said with a grin as they all stood together.
"Avengers!" Everyone was quiet as they heard Steve's cry. "Assemble."
T'Challa, Quill, and Peter put on their masks as Caitlin returned to Killer Frost as the two sides rushed each other, determined to end the battle for earth once and for all.