Lost in Time

Thirty-Seven

Over the next few weeks, Elle split her time between working with Coulsons team, assisting the Defenders in the shadows and being at the tower. Asgard was in no danger, not for a while, but the rest was all building to the battle of Sokovia. She still made sure to have more time at home too, needing to be with Jace, who was her anchor. Lately her resolve was starting to slip, being around Bucky, and she needed the reminder of why she was doing all this, why she was fighting for the future. Sometimes the thought would cross her mind, to take Bucky and Jace, to go live somewhere, anywhere else where they could be a family, but soon, after Sokovia, that's when the future would change. That's when she would tell Bucky about Jace, tell the rest of the team about being from the future.

Not that she'd give them too many details, but it would be easier to tell them, and then work with the team, to get them ready for the battle. She still needed to figure out a way to get to Nova for the power stone. The Aether was locked down, the tesseract was in Odins vault, the time stone was with the ancient one, the soul stone still on Vormir, how she was going to get there, she didn't know, but she already knew what she would sacrifice for it. And then there was the mind stone, in the scepter, that Strucker had right now. Soon, very soon, it would all change.

Blowing out a breath, she waited until she heard the footsteps, hating what she was about to do, but it was needed. Skye was going to hate her, and probably the rest of the team. Stood in her time suit, holding the Obilisk in one hand, over the pedestal, Skye and Tripp, skidded in to the cavernous room, of the Kree city that was hidden below the surface.

'Elle, what the hell are you doing?..'.. Skye had her weapon out, pointing at her, as did Tripp.

'Saving the future. You are needed Skye, you need to believe in yourself..'.. Elle waved her hand, opening a portal below Tripps feet, and sending him back to the Bus. She could see Skye was afraid, but the young woman had no idea how important she would be... 'You are special, unique. I've told you, trained you to the best of my own abilities, but this..'.. Elle lowered the Obilisk to the pedestal, and Skye shot at her feet... 'Don't be afraid..'.. She set it into the slot, and the walls started to close in on them. Elle slipped into the mirror dimension, watching and waiting as the terrigan crystals emerged, then released the mist.

Elle hoped she hadn't fucked this up, but at least Tripp wasn't here to be caught in it. The original outcome, was that he died here, while Skye and Raina transformed, the crystals unlocking their Kree gene mutation. Elle watched as a rock like shell began to form around Skye, hoping and hoping this worked. She didn't dare step out of the dimension, too afraid that if she touched the mist, she wouldn't survive, or if she did, what would become of her. No, she couldn't risk herself.

For almost an hour, Skye was entombed in the rock, and then Elle heard the vibrations. Smiling to herself, she saw it crack and begin to fall away, before the rest was blasted off of Skye. The young woman dropped to her knees, and Elle stepped out of the dimension, walking over to her slowly... 'Skye, you're ok..'

'Wha-what did you do to me?..'.. Skye was panting to catch her breath.

'Helped you to evolve. Skye, I promise you, I would never hurt you, but this had to happen..'.. Elle went to help her up but Skye scooted back from her.

'St-stay away from me. You don't come near me..'.. Skye reached for the gun she had dropped when the mist was released, aiming it at Elle... 'What the hell are you?..'

'I'm a friend, always have been. I have changed your future, so many times..'.. Elle sighed, and stepped back, holding her hands up... 'You won't believe the truth, unless you have evidence, right? Coulson knows everything, he knew this was supposed to happen, pretty sure he was hoping to stop it, but..'.. Elle shook her head... 'This is one event, that couldn't be stopped, but at least Tripp is alive..'.. She stepped back again, to the pedestal and removed the Obilisk. Opening a portal, she reached through for a large metal case, and set it down on the ground, putting the Obilisk inside. She then began to remove the crystals carefully, setting them in the slots, in the case... 'I'll make sure no one else uses these. I'll put them with everything else..'.. She snapped the case shut, turning to look at Skye... 'Once you're out, I'll bury this city. I'm sorry, for making you afraid of me, to make you doubt your trust in me, but I'm not sorry for doing this..'.. Elle stood, holding the case, watching Skyes tears fall, fear evident in her eyes, as her hands shook holding the gun... 'You are meant for so much more, you're going to help save us all..'