First Light | Steve Rogers (Book Two)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Balancing The Scales

Tasha was sat on my lap, a frown on her face as she held a book in her tiny hands. "The m-more he g-gave aw-away," she read slowly, "The m-more..."

I smiled as I leant forwards slightly to point at the word, "Delighted"

"The more delighted he... bec-became"

She grinned up at me and I pulled her into a hug, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, "Well done, that was amazing!"

"Kate?"

I looked up, my grip on Tasha tightening a little as Daisy approached us. "What is it?" I asked calmly, still trying to listen to my daughter as she continued to read.

The woman sighed heavily, her determined gaze seeming to waver for a moment as she saw the little girl in my arms. She stood up straight and cleared her throat, "We've got another mission. Since we're a little short on people, you're gonna have to come with us"

"Is there anyone else? I haven't been around as much as I should have been and Melody needs a break"

"I'm sorry," she murmured, "If there was anyone else, I'd ask. Please?"

I glanced around anxiously before giving her a reluctant nod, "Fine. How long?"

"Wheels up in twenty"

"Do you have to go?" Melody asked, pulling me into a tight hug as we said our goodbyes before the mission.

"Yeah. They're short on people, they need me. I swear I'll be careful"

She nodded reluctantly as she pulled away, "You'd better be. I want you back safe and sound"

I chuckled and knelt down to the child's level, "Mommy has to go away for a bit. I promise I'll be back by bedtime"

"Love you, mommy" she whispered, her little arms wrapping around my neck as I hugged her.

"Love you too, sweetie. And I love you, Mel"

She gave me a quick kiss, full of care and worry. Her hand gently cupped my cheek as her hazel eyes stared into mine, "I love you too, Kathy. Now go, save the world"

——————

For some reason, Rogers had been brought along, too. He was still in cuffs and he had been given some of Mack's clothes. Nobody had bothered to explain it, so I didn't say anything about it. The picture in my back pocket seemed to feel a lot heavier than usual, I wasn't sure why. 

I followed the others down the ramp, tucking a gun into the waistband of my jeans. I glanced around at the large building in suspicion, still not entirely sure what the mission was supposed to be. "Just up ahead" May called.

"Something doesn't feel right" Daisy murmured as she looked around.

"Nothing about this disgusting world feels right," Jemma scoffed, "It's hell, a digital hell"

She shrugged as we continued to make our way through the derelict building. Mack and I exchanged a confused look, but the two began to speak in hushed whispers as we continued. Rogers tripped a little and I helped to steady him, "You okay?"

He scowled and harshly pulled away from me, "Fine. I'd be better if you took these ridiculous things off of me"

"Sorry, we can't risk you having another episode," I sighed, "We'll get you out as soon as possible"

Phil jogged over to us with wide eyes, "I found the location!"

We were all stood on a platform overlooking a large vat of boiling steel. May frowned, "The coordinates lead right here"

Phil scoffed as he glanced around again, "Into a pool of molten steel? You think Radcliffe gave us bad info?"

"Radcliffe's a prisoner of Hydra, he has no reason to lie" Daisy reasoned with him.

"Maybe someone else found it and took it"

"The back door is part of the Framework's digital infrastructure, it can't be moved"

I was still frozen in shock and confusion as they spoke. Jemma gasped quietly, "But it could be concealed. What if Madame Hydra discovered the back door and built this place as a way to prevent people from passing through?"

Mack let out an impatient huff, "Wait a minute. What is this back door everyone keeps talking about? I thought we were here to take out Madame Hydra"

"Let me guess," May smirked, "No one told you about the other world"

"The other world? What?"

Phil ignored the man's confusion, "So what does this mean for us?"

Jemma sighed in defeat and let her shoulders slump, "That there's no way out. It means Aida's won"

"You seriously believe that there's a magical back door that will transport us to another world?" May scoffed. I had begun to pace, my hands trembling as I tried to figure out what to do.

"It's not magic, May. It's science" Jemma huffed impatiently.

"Then where's the proof?"

Daisy shrugged and glanced around, "We just have to trust Radcliffe. He said when a person passes through the back door, th-"

"That they wake up on the other side," the woman interrupted before turning to Phil in exasperation, "This is what you believe?"

"Admittedly, it doesn't sound great when you say it like that"

I finally let out a sigh and angrily turned to Daisy, "You lied to us"

She was silent for a moment as she searched for a good excuse, "Kate-"

"No, don't try to talk your way out of this," Mack cut in as he stood between us, "You're a damn liar. My daughter looks up to you, and for what? So you can bring us out here on some wild goose chase?"

"Daisy was only trying to help"

"How?" I snapped, turning on Jemma. My hands curled into fists as I glared at her, "By taking us away from our kids? You made me lie, I promised I'd be back by bedtime. What the hell is wrong with you?"

I resumed my pacing and Rogers took a seat on a nearby crate, letting out an irritated groan. Phil cleared his throat "Hey, guys. Maybe we should start thinking about a Plan B"

May nodded in approval and crossed her arms, "Glad you've finally come to your senses. We need to get out of here"

"Actually, I was thinking we might try to find another way through the back door. I still believe Daisy's right"

"Wake up!" Mack snapped angrily, "There is no back door. Just like she's not Moses about to take you to the Promised Land"

There was a pause and Daisy's eyes widened i realisation, "That's it. What if I quake that thing?"

I frowned, not entirely sure what she meant by that. Jemma seemed to understand and she nodded enthusiastically, "Part the Red Sea"

"They did not just go and use the Bible against me" I heard Mack muttered under his breath.

We all leant over the railing, frowning when there was a flash of light below us. May gasped and pulled out her gun, "Hydra! Take cover!"