Steve Rogers also known as Captain America crouched behind a section of one of the few buildings left standing. Hydra and Allied soldiers engaged in combat around them, with the rat-tat-tat of bullets and the whine of planes providing a chaotic cacophony. Hunkered down beside Steve was a woman with blonde hair and a mouth like a sailor. Bullets rained down on their location as Margaret Peggy Carter reloaded her assault rifle.
“What’s our plan, Captain?” she asked. “We can’t exactly stay here.”
Her sharp blue eyes looked at him as if he should have the answer.
She’s right, we’re sitting ducks if we stay here, Steve thought.
He slowly moved closer to the edge of what remained of the wall. He counted at least a dozen Hydra soldiers before returning to her side.
“How many more grenades do you have left, Peggy?” he asked.
Peggy Carter glanced down at her belt and counted. “Five.”
He nodded, “That should be enough.” He then slid his shield off his back, creeping toward the edge of the wall again. “Once I give the signal, toss one.”
“Please, be careful,” Peggy said, as her brows knitted together and a frown marred her otherwise beautiful face.
I wish we were anywhere but here, thought Steve. But we’re soldiers and this is war.
He flashed her a small smile. “Always.”
With his shield at the ready, he crept closer to the edge. Peggy lowered her assault rifle with one hand while reaching for the grenades on her belt with the other. Once there was a break in gunfire, Steve moved out from behind the wall and threw his shield at the closest green and yellow-clad Hydra soldier. Peggy stepped out from behind the wall and tossed two grenades at a cluster of Hydra soldiers.
Natalia Surana, also known as Nat and the Hero of Ferelden, raised her metallic staff and set some nearby darkspawn aflame. The creatures cried out before they were cut down by Alistair or sent flying into what remained of the nearest homes by Shale. Wynne sent a rock-shaped fist into a cluster of hurlocks, sending them flying into a neighboring home nearly consumed by flames.
“The Archdemon is just ahead, I can sense him,” Nat shouted over her shoulder. “Come on!”
We have to hurry, otherwise this will all be for naught, she thought.
Alistair, Shale, and Wynne followed Nat through the smoking ruins of Denerim. While Nat set fire to any darkspawn in their way, Alistair and Shale made quick work of the ones that remained. Wynne healed any party members whenever necessary.
Nat’s heart pounded in her chest as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She raced up the stairs to Fort Drakon as Shale swung her giant fist, sending genlocks flying into the closest wall.
This is it, thought Nat as she approached the enormous gates. This is where the Archdemon is.
“Wait,” said Alistair. “I need to tell you something.”
Nat whirled around to face him, not even bothering to remove the strands of hair from her face. She saw Shale and Wynne look at one another with raised brows.
“What is it?” Nat asked.
“This,” he replied.
Before she could react, Alistair stepped forward and pressed his mouth against hers. Taken aback, it took a second or two before Nat responded in kind. Although she didn’t want this moment to end, both had a job to do. Reluctantly, she pulled away.
“Let’s end this thing once and for all,” she said.
Nat shifted back to the gates and with Shale’s help, opened them.
“For the Grey Wardens!” she shouted, raising her staff before rushing inside.
Pepper stood in Tony Stark’s office with a clipboard pressed to her chest. Her green eyes were wide and her mouth hung open as she watched a thin green-skinned man speak on the giant monitor on the back wall. The gamma-irradiated villain, calling himself The Leader, wore a black and orange suit with a slim gray headband around his forehead.
“For I am your Leader,” The Leader finished before the screen turned off.
Pepper’s heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced. She vaguely heard her pen fall to the ground, but it sounded as if she was underwater. She found herself staring at the now blank monitor.
Who was The Leader? Why had he sent that message? Where were The Avengers? And, more importantly, where was Tony? These questions, especially the last one, swirled around in Pepper’s mind like shifting grains of sand in an hourglass.
“Jarvis, lockdown the entire building. Don’t let anyone in or out,” Pepper instructed, bending down to pick up her pen.
She knew this wouldn’t actually do anything except delay the inevitable. However, it made her feel better to be able to do something, anything, to address the situation.
“Right away, Miss Potts,” said Jarvis.
Shades slid over the enormous office windows, making the room much darker. Pepper walked to the door, placing one hand on the knob. She glanced over her shoulder at the empty office.
“Please, Tony, come back to us,” she murmured before closing the door behind her.
Commander Casimir “Caz” Shepard used his strength to remove the enormous metal beams that lay on top of Garrus and Jack. Once both metal bands had been removed, he and his companions pumped their legs as fast as they would go. Caz’s heart thundered in his chest as adrenaline pushed him to keep running.
“Human, you’ve changed nothing. Your species has the attention of those infinitely your greater. That which you know as Reapers are your salvation.”
Harbinger’s voice taunted them as seeker swarms surrounded the trio, but Caz didn’t let either distract him. Garrus and Jack fired their weapons as they ran, while Caz kept moving. He partially twisted behind him, firing his Claymore at the remaining Collectors. The shotgun was supremely effective, cutting down his foes quickly and efficiently.
In his peripheral vision, Caz saw Garrus and Jack reach the safety of the Normandy. He kept his Claymore at the ready as he continued running.
Up ahead, lay his salvation. The SR Normandy 2 waited for him, like a light at the end of the tunnel. The bay door was wide open as Joker fired his Avenger at the other Collectors behind Caz. Standing beside Joker was Jack, with her brows furrowed as she sent a biotic shockwave toward a wave of Collectors.
“Shepard, get your ass in here now!” yelled the psychotic biotic.
As Caz grew closer to the edge, he slid his shotgun back into its holster and jumped. As cliché as it sounded, time stood still at that moment.
Please, just let me make it, thought Caz. Just let me make it back to Jack.
His legs scissored beneath him and just when he thought he wouldn’t make it, his fingertips gripped the edge.
Jack bent down and slowly pulled him up. “It’s about damn time.”
“I missed you too,” he said, pulling her in for a tight hug.
“Uh, Commander, how about we save the celebration for after we’ve left?” Joker suggested as he placed his assault rifle on the floor and closed the door. “EDI, let’s get out of here, girl.”
Joker hobbled to the cockpit, with Caz and Jack close behind. EDI’s voice came over the internal public address system.
“Detonation in ten, nine, eight—”
“Yeah, I get the gist, EDI! Hold on!” Joker shouted as he sat in the pilot’s chair.
His fingers flew across the keyboard and the Normandy soared out of the Collector Base. Caz and Jack stood behind the pilot’s chair, with Caz wrapping an arm around Jack’s waist.
“Joker, punch it.”
We’ve done what we came here to do, now let’s get the fuck out of here, Caz thought.
“Yes, sir,” said Joker as he adjusted his hat. “You two might want to hang on tight, this is going to be a bumpy ride.”
Caz shared a glance with Jack, gently squeezing her waist. They’d just been through hell and back.
“No bumpier than we’ve already experienced,” Caz remarked.
Dr. Henry ‘Hank’ Pym watched as Thor and Iron Man blasted Galactus back into the Negative Zone.
“Those two really did it,” he murmured.
He grew back to his normal height as the gateway slowly closed, returning the sky to its normal azure hue. As if by command, the clouds disappeared as the sun shone brightly that Manhattan afternoon.
Hank floated down to the ground with the other Avengers. Although a crowd of people surrounded the team, he immediately locked eyes with Jan. He closed the distance between them in a few short strides.
“Hank,” she said, throwing her arms around him.
Hank returned her embrace, pressing her close to him. His heart still hammered in his chest as all the anxiety vanished at that moment.
We’re both back in one piece, he thought. Thank goodness.
“I’m glad you came back,” he murmured.
“Me too,” she said against his chest.
Reluctantly, the couple pulled apart. Hank held Jan’s hands in his own as they maintained each other’s gazes. While he could see others staring at them in his peripheral vision, at this moment, they were the only two people present.
The sky was pitch black as the wind whipped through the air. Commander Jean Shepard’s heart pounded in her chest as she crested the top of the hill. Straight ahead was a vast stretch of empty unprotected road leading to the beam. Towering above the beam was Harbinger, along with several other Reapers.
Let them try, Jean thought. We will win, no matter what.
She glanced briefly at Admiral Anderson, Liara, and Garrus, who all stood on either side of her.
My friends, and the one man I couldn’t live without. And they’re the reason I’ve made it this far, thought Jean.
“The final push,” said Admiral Anderson.
“The final push,” Jean agreed with a nod.
She fleetingly looked over her shoulder to find numerous tanks and soldiers lined up behind them. With adrenaline still pumping through her veins, she shifted her attention forward.
“Let’s go show these Reapers what happens when you mess when organics,” she said.
“We’re right behind you, commander,” said Garrus. Beside him, Liara nodded in agreement.
Even in the face of death, he’s still here, Jean thought.
Her heart swelled with love and perseverance, which she used in that moment.
“Let’s move,” she shouted.
With a mixture of adrenaline, love, and determination fueling her, she propelled herself forward. The rest of her fighting force followed, with her companions doing their best to avoid Harbinger’s beam.
Jean slid to the side as Harbinger’s beam hit one of the tanks, sending it flying forward. Her gaze snapped to Liara and Garrus, who just barely managed to avoid the giant vehicle. The trio kept moving, with Jean’s gaze shifting between Garrus and the beam.
We’re almost there, she thought. Just a little farther.
Her legs pumped as fast as humanly possible, coming to sudden halts or sliding out of the way just in time. She made sure to keep pace with Liara and Garrus, despite Harbinger’s frequent beams. However, the Reaper made certain he shot at their forces at irregular intervals. It was at just such a moment when a tank landed practically on top of Garrus and Liara.
“Garrus! Liara!” Jean shouted at the top of her lungs.
She rushed toward the vehicle as it rolled out of the way, with both companions lying on the ground. She bent down and checked both their heartbeats.
Still alive, she thought.
Slowly, Liara’s eyes opened followed by Garrus.
“Normandy, I need an evac right now,” she yelled.
“We’re taking heavy losses up here, Commander,” Joker said from the other end.
“I don’t care, get your ass down here right now, mister,” Jean retorted.
I hate being that impatient with him, but this is an emergency, she thought.
Liara stood up and extended a hand toward Garrus, who took it.
“We’re fine, commander, really,” he groaned.
“Like hell you are,” Jean said as she scanned their immediate surroundings. “The Normandy should be here soon.”
Just like that, the Normandy soared through the air and toward their location. It landed near them and Jean passed Garrus to Liara.
“Take him,” Jean said.
Liara held onto Garrus, who turned the full force of his glare upon Jean.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said.
“I need one of us to make it out of this alive,” Jean countered.
Garrus shook his head. “There’s no Shepard without Vakarian, Jean.”
Although he was furious, Jean could still hear the tenderness with which he said her name. It tugged at her heartstrings, just as he’d intended. Jean swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked up to Garrus.
“If I’m going to have any chance to keep going, I need to know that you’re safe,” she murmured, placing a gentle hand on his cheek.
Her throat grew tighter as tears threatened to appear in her eyes.
A soldier never cries, she thought pushing the tears away.
“You’d better come back alive,” said Garrus. “And that’s an order.”
“Understood,” Jean whispered as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. When she was done, she turned to Liara, “Take him.”
Liara nodded before she helped escort Garrus onto the Normandy. Jean watched the ship take off, rejoining the forces within Earth’s orbit, before racing ahead to the beam.
I promise, Vakarian, I will do everything I can to return to you, she thought.
Chaos reigned on the African plains around Wanda and Vision as the Avengers and Wakandan forces clashed with Thanos and his children. Wanda looked at Vision, her heart racing in her chest as his gaze softened.
“We’re out of time,” Vision whispered. His expression was tender, but also rueful.
“I can’t,” Wanda said, shaking her head as her throat grew tighter and tears threatened to appear in her eyes.
“You have to,” he murmured. “It’s alright, I know you can’t hurt me.”
You have so much faith in me, Wanda thought. I just wish I had as much faith in this plan as you do.
A limitless mixture of fury and despair filled her as she raised her left hand and aimed it at the stone in Vision’s head. She reached into the well of her powers and used her magic to destroy the stone. Despite everything that was happening, the expression on his face was one of pure love.
I wish we’d had more time, thought Wanda. We should’ve had so much more time.
Even as regret and longing filled her, threatening to overwhelm her, she shoved those emotions aside. Her heart raced even faster as she shifted her gaze to Thanos, who was coming toward them. She automatically raised her right hand, using her magic to push him back.
“Just a little more,” Vision said, his voice becoming weaker.
From her right, Wanda heard Thanos grunting. She turned her attention to the Mad Titan as he pushed against her magic, taking a step. She added more energy to her magic, doing what she could to delay him.
I don’t know if I can keep this up, she thought.
She turned back toward Vision, focusing on his face.
“You’re almost there,” he said as if reading her thoughts. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” Wanda said, swallowing the newly formed lump in her throat.
As the light in Vision’s eyes finally dimmed, she knew the stone was destroyed. However, her relief was short-lived as Thanos appeared beside her.
“This is nothing,” he said.
With a snap, he undid Vision’s death. Wanda tried, and failed, to stop him as he ripped the stone from Vision’s forehead, killing him all over again.
Heartache and fury warred within her. Because really, what is grief if not love preserving?
“You’ll pay for that, you son of a bitch,” she murmured with venom leaking from her voice like water from a faucet.
Multiple fires burned in Haven, with numerous pillars of smoke filling the already dark air. An enormous dark dragon stood behind a towering figure, watching Vera Lavellen hungrily. In comparison, the tiny elf stood holding her staff with her back against the remaining trebuchet.
I just need this shemlen to keep talking, Vera thought as her heart raced in her chest and adrenaline coursed through her veins. Then, when Commander Cullen gives the signal flare, I can get out of here.
Vera was concerned for the others, but especially Cullen. She knew he was a capable warrior and leader, but that didn’t stop her from worrying. However, on the other hand, she wondered if he was just as nervous about her.
Now is not the time for such things, she thought, pushing these feelings aside.
Vera kept her attention on the dragon and red-lyrium-infested figure as they inched toward her menacingly.
“So be it. I will begin again, find another way to give the world the nation – and God – it requires,” said Corypheus.
Vera briefly shifted her gaze to the mountains in the distance as a lone flash lit up the darkened sky.
Thank the Gods, they made it, she thought. Hopefully, I can join them soon.
“And you, I will not suffer even an unknowing rival. You must die,” Corypheus continued.
“You expect me to fight, but that’s now why I kept you talking,” Vera sneered. “Enjoy your victory, here’s your prize.”
She kicked the trebuchet lever, which in turn sent the final rock against the mountain. Corypheus and the dragon turned to look at where the rock had impacted the mountain while Vera ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
I hope you never come back, she thought as the dragon roared at her from behind.
She jumped and half-tumbled through a cavern, grunting when she rolled and landed on the ground. Vera gingerly sat up, assessing herself for any injuries. Her back hurt from how she’d landed and she felt a few bruises, but overall, nothing serious.
“Great, what’s wrong with this thing now?” Vera asked with a groan as her mark began glowing.
She half-wondered if it was something Corypheus had done to it, but she wasn’t entirely certain. She pushed that thought aside for the moment as she stood up and took a cautious step forward. As she started walking, she saw two green wraiths.
“I have no desire to deal with either of you right now,” she growled.
Raising her left hand toward the wraiths, she watched as a small portal opened. Both wraiths screeched as they were sucked through the gateway. Vera watched in awe as the portal closed.
“Did, did I just open a doorway to the Fade?” Vera asked, looking from her hand to where the portal had been.
A mystery for another time, she thought. Right now, I have to find Cullen and the others.
She lowered her left hand and trudged through the cavern, with the sound of dripping water accompanying her. She shivered as she stepped out into a frozen landscape, with wind and snow whipping furiously.
“The Frostbacks,” Vera murmured.
She slogged through the snow, even as it grew progressively deeper. The wind howled and the snow mercilessly pelted her, but she continued.
“I h-have to k-keep going and f-find Cullen and the others,” she chattered.
Unfortunately, there was no way to tell how much time had passed as she walked. At one point, she spotted the dying embers of a fire.
“They h-have to be c-close,” she muttered.
As Vera approached a giant cliff face, she saw numerous tents and campfires ahead. Relief flooded her as her adrenaline dissipated and exhaustion set in.
Finally, she thought.
As she sank to her knees and collapsed in the snow, she heard people shout. However, she couldn’t identify who they were or where the voices were coming from. It was as if she was hearing them underwater.
“There is she,” a woman’s voice exclaimed.
“Thank the Maker,” said a man’s voice.
I’m so tired, thought Vera. I just want to sleep.
Just then, she felt a pair of strong arms pick her up. They cradled her gently, yet firmly, protecting her from the elements.
“I’ve got you, you’re safe now,” the man’s voice reassured her as she fell into a deep sleep.