Second Sphere

Timeline

We both tried to plead with her for the stone but she isn't hearing any of it.

"I'm sorry I can't help either of you. If I give up the time stone to help your reality, I'm dooming my own."

"With all due respect, all right. I'm not sure the science really supports that." Banner says.

She projects a gold timeline. "The infinity stones create what you experience as the flow of time. Remove one of the stones," she plucks out the time stone which creates a dark branch, "and that flow splits. Now, this may benefit your reality, but my new one, not so much. In this new branch reality without our chief weapon against the forces of darkness our world would be overrun. Millions would suffer. So, tell me, doctor. Can your science prevent all that?"

"No. But we can erase it. Because once we're done with the stones we can return each one to it's own timeline at the moment it was taken. So, chronologically in that reality it never left." He puts the stone back and the dark branch disappears.

"Yes, but you're leaving out the most important part. In order to return the stones, you have to survive." She says.

"We will. I promise." Banner says.

"I can't risk this reality on a promise." She responds. "It's the duty of the Sorcere Supreme to protect the Time Stone."

"You need the stone to protect against the forces of darkness, I get that. But the stone gets destroyed, leaving what's left of reality defenseless against those same forces you are trying to fight." I tell her.

"You may have been born with a part of this stone, but you cannot begin to understand it. I failed to fully protect the stone that time, I will not allow it to happen again."

"What do you mean I'm a part of that stone?" I ask.

But Banner talks over me, "Why the hell did Strange give it away if he is supposed to protect it?"

She looks more serious now than before if that's even possible, "What did you say?"

"Strange. He gave it away. He gave it to Thanos." Banner explains.

"Willingly?" She asks.

"Yes." Banner says and I nod in agreement.

She pauses for a time before asking, "Why?"

"I have no idea." Banner says, "Maybe he made a mistake."

She looks into his eyes looking for any deception, "Or I did." She pulls Banner's hulk body towards her, putting his soul back inside the body. She opens the necklace with a gesture and hands me the stone. "Strange is meant to be the best of us." She explains.

"So, he must've done it for a reason." Banner says softly.

She turns to look at him. "I fear you might be right."

"Thank you" banner and I say.

She takes a hand from each of us, "I'm counting on you both. We all are."

We turn to leave but she stops me with a hand on my shoulder. "You have more power than you know. Stephen should be able to help you understand more."

I nod, thanking her again, still confused by the new information.