Avengers: Endgame [4]

9

The Sanctuary II, 2023

2014-Astra watched the destruction of the Avengers' headquarters from the ship's window. Then Thanos came up to her.

"Come with me, daughter," he said.

Astra obliged, and the two of them exited the ship through the blue beam. As they landed on the ruins, they saw Nebula walking out.

"Daughter," said Thanos.

"Yes, Father," said Nebula.

"So this is the future." Thanos looked around. "Well done."

"Thank you, Father." Nebula ripped 2023-Nebula's cybernetic plate off her head. She looked at Astra. "Your other self found. She's been enhanced by an Infinity Stone, but I dealt with her. No one else suspected anything."

"The arrogant never do." Thanos plunged his sword into the ground and took off his helmet. Then he hung it on his sword and sat down. "Go, daughters. Find the Stones. Bring them to me."

"What will you do?" Astra asked.

"Wait."

Astra and Nebula went inside the ruins. They walked through several dark hallways until they stopped in front of a man with a bow, arrows, a mohawk, and what looked like a glove holding all the Infinity Stones.

Nebula knelt down to take the glove from the dazed man.

"Oh, hey," he said weakly, handing her the glove. "I know you both." He glanced at Astra. "You look kinda different."

Nebula gently picked it up, stood up, and pressed her earpiece.

"Father," she said, "I have the Stones."

"What...?" the man began.

Astra put her foot on his chest and pointed a gun at him.

"Stop," said a new voice.

Astra and Nebula turned around to face... Gamora, who had a gun pointed at them.

"You're betraying us?" 2014-Nebula whispered.

Out of the shadows came 2023-Nebula, with her arms raised. The man with the arrows quickly rolled out of the way of the sisters' conflict.

"You don't have to do this," said 2023-Nebula. "Either of you."

"I am this," Astra insisted. "We were destined for this."

"No, you're not," said Gamora.

"You've seen what we've become," 2023-Nebula added.

"Nebula. Astra. Listen to her." Gamora sounded pleading.

"You can change," said 2023-Nebula.

"He won't let us." 2014-Nebula shook her head. She pointed her gun at Gamora.

"No!" Gamora yelled.

2023-Nebula fired a blast from her arm at her past self. The bullet hit her in the chest and she collapsed, unmoving.

She had just killed her past self.

Astra looked at 2023-Nebula, then Gamora, then the dead 2014-Nebula. "How could you do this?"

"I didn't have a choice," said 2023-Nebula. "I'm sorry, sister."

She fired another blast from her arm, but Astra moved to the side and dodged it easily.

She shook her head, disappointed with the actions of her two sisters. "This isn't over."

Then she ran off.