Lieutenant - Daughter of the Captain

Chapter 24.0 - Scepter

Then that six months was over.

The Scepter had been stolen.

Thor returned to earth, somehow aware of the situation. Natasha had returned and called Clint back from...wherever he'd been.

The Avengers had all found their way back together.

Seeing Carter in person after almost three years was odd for the few who had been gone. Even Natasha was shocked to see her so well-adjusted.

Thor had left right after the Battle, so the explanation of her lack of hearing was lengthy and technologically confusing for him.

They all caught up with each other as often as they could, in between missions to find the Scepter.

But one night, about a month into their search, the Tower was quiet. Everyone was asleep, exhausted after another dead-end mission.

Everyone besides Carter.

She sat on the balcony of the party deck, enjoying the cool night air and listening to the buzzing in her head.

The light pollution made it nearly impossible to see the stars, and the city below was still teeming with life.

The city that never sleeps.

But Carter had found that to be false. The city did go to sleep, at least, the majority of it did.

Sure, some would still be out partying in the bars, working graveyard shifts. There were the few hundred insomniacs, workaholics, and those who fit into both categories.

Slowly, taking deep breaths to brace herself, her small hands reached up to her E.A.R.S..

With a light tap, the city filled her head.

She gasped, but took steadying breaths. Tears still streamed down her face, but she kept her focus.

Carter opened her eyes, watching the waves flood into her.

When her E.A.R.S. were on, they instantly prevented the waves from leaving her in the first place. They blocked her abilities from seeking out a subject.

But when they were off, she could see them returning, carrying the invisible energy that was an individual's emotion.

She admired the waves, trying and failing for the third night this week to identify them before they hit her.

There were too many.

They came to quickly.

She couldnt do it.

She clenched her fists in frustration, trying over and over again.

But she felt her energy draining, becoming more and more emotionally and physically exhausted the longer she went.

Then she saw something.

She had a split second to notice it before it hit her.

A wave of amber light, streaked with red, shooting toward her.

And when it made contact...

She screamed.

************************
Steve shot up, awakened by the bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the Tower.

In an instant he was sprinting down the hall, ignoring the sounds he heard from the other Avengers also waking in their quarters.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., where is she?" He asked the A.I., not pausing.

"Balcony, Level thirty-one,"

Steve didn't hesitate, going for the stairs and working his way up towards the party deck.