Scarlet Witch : Time Runs Out (Secret Wars Saga)

Chapter 13: NEXULPROMOCIDE

Abandoned underground S.H.I.E.L.D. base

Vision, Pietro and Erik finally arrived at the underground S.H.I.E.L.D Base along with the former agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Leopold Fitz and Gemma Simmons. This base was used by a group of remaining S.H.I.E.L.D Agents for a few years, lead by Phil Coulson, after S.H.I.E.L.D had been publicly declared destroyed.

Upon arriving, Fitz and Simmons looked around with nostalgia in their hearts.

Simmons: Fitz? You okay?

Fitz: Its nothing it's just... This brings back many memories.

Simmons: Hard to believe how long it's been.

Erik noticed the dust on the equipment.

Magneto: When was the last time you were here?

Fitz: Around 2018 I believe.

Simmons: Yeah... Then the blip happened and we all sorta... Gradually went our separate ways during those 5 years. (The blip = Thanos snap)

Magneto: Are you sure this will work?

Fitz: I'm hopeful.

They turned the main power on and the entire base jumped back alive as the lights turned on and the computers booted up. Fitz inserted a usb into the main computer.

Vision: What's that for?

Fitz: I made a copy of the footage before we went away. The computer can scan the message that was given, to see if it has any meaning or point of origin. It could also try to bypass whatever blocked the footage past 8:30 that day. And potentially unlock the lost 29 minutes just before the... murdering occured.

Vision: What about the equation?

Simmons: If we know what patterns to look for, we can figure it out ourselves.

Pietro: So we will be able to see if Wanda was really about to leave before the shift happened?

Vision: Or see if she perhaps returned at 12 and reacted to the bodies on the floor.

Fitz: If it happened the way she described, yes.

After a few minutes, the computer revealed something about the patterns.

Fitz: It says here, that this equation is an original riddle, but the patterns link it to what has been dubbed "secret language". It means that each symbol that may seem like gibberish, actually has a numerical and/or alphabetical value. Almost like Gematria. If we can find the values of each of these letters, numbers and symbols, we can find out what it says.

Simmons: Gematria!? I know Gematria!

Fitz: Yes but this is slightly different. And it doesn't contain Gematria at all. Just similar patterns.

Magneto: Can you do it?

Simmons: How hard can it be?

Pietro was moving up and down frantically, while Simmons and Vision tried to decipher the secret language. Erik stood over the computer while Fitz tried to unlock the hidden footage.

Pietro: How much longer?

Magneto: They barely started. Have patience, son.

Fitz: I found something!