Project Alpha

Chapter 35- Not So Bad

Since the day with Steve, there has been so much commotion within the compound. Clint is back, as well as Bruce, and everyone seems to be getting along. For the first time since I have returned it seems like everything is somewhat back to normal, again, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.

Even though there has been straight chaos, it has also been nice to see everyone back together again. Nat seems happy to see Clint again and Tony seems happy that he has someone to talk nerd stuff with again with Bruce.

Everything seems almost too happy, though. No one will tell me what it is that brought everyone back together again, but I know it isn't just because they all missed each other. My suspicions are confirmed when everyone gets called to the meeting room.

Like I said, too good to be true.

"What's up, Cap?" I ask, being the first to enter the room.

"You're about to find out but do me a favor and don't push Tony too much right now," he answers, cryptically. I don't have time to ask what he means, though, because everyone has just begun to file into the meeting space. Tony is the last to walk in with a less than happy look on his face. And he takes a seat right next to me.

Once everyone is settled in their seats, Steve begins to explain the mission that everyone is going to be involved in. It is a mission to get Loki's scepter back that he attacked New York with a few years ago. He attacked while I was still under Hydra's control, but when the battle in Washington D.C. happened, the scepter was taken to a base hidden away somewhere.

When I was found, that was the mission that the team had been on, but I happened to be there at the right time, so they rescued me instead. Now, Steve thinks that they finally have a good idea of where they can find the scepter. The team has slowly been shutting down Hydra bases through the information that got leaked to the public a while back. Now that the list is dwindling, it's making it a lot easier to get a good read on where certain things are; the scepter being one of them.

"Everyone will be involved in this mission," Steve says, gaining my attention back.

"Everyone?" I ask.

"Everyone."

I then realize that this must be what Steve was talking about when he said not to push too much today. Looking at Tony now, I realize how helpful that warning was. My father is practically steaming with anger right now. I think I can hear the steam streaming out of his ears.

After Steve explains everyone else's parts of the mission he turns to me, "Aria you will be on coms from the jet. Bruce and Tony figured out how to hack into the system, so you will be navigating us through and alerting us on threats heading our way within the base."

"Okay, but someone needs to teach me how to use the equipment."

"Bruce agreed to help you learn the technology before the mission," Steve nods his head in Bruce's direction, who gives a smile my way.

Tony grabs my attention by saying, "If for any reason you don't want to do this, you just tell us."

"Thank you for the concern, Dad, but I'm just happy I don't have to fight anyone to get in on this," I say, giving him a slight smile so that he knows that I'm serious about being happy to help.

All I get in return is a huff of disappointment. I know he doesn't want me helping on this mission, but I need to help do something. I don't want to be the one who just sits around waiting on the others to get home. That has never been and will never be my style.

"Now that we have that settled," Steve continues, "The rest of us will be in the field. Once there, we will be attacked immediately, so Tony your job is to try to fly into the base and find the scepter. We will fight our way inside as fast as we can. Does everyone understand?"

Everyone nods their heads in agreement with the plan.

"Welcome to the Avengers, Aria."

***

"Are you sure you understand what to do?" Bruce asks. "Once the other guy comes out, I won't be able to help."

"I'm sure Bruce, I promise."

Ever since I've been back from Hydra, I haven't practiced with my powers much, which means that they haven't been an issue, but that doesn't mean that they are under control either. So, I recruited Bruce to help me because not only is he a scientist, but he is also the Hulk. We both agreed that my powers come out mostly when my emotions are high, but I want to be able to bring them out whenever I want them to and keep them away when I don't want them.

"Here goes nothing," Bruce says.

Just like that, he grows into the green, muscular creature that we call the Hulk. I have to say, he is much scarier up close.

"You from Hydra, Hulk smash!" he says.

Ignoring the Hydra comment, I try to wield my powers as quickly as I can. The green giant comes charging at me quite quickly and I only have seconds to come up with the power. The sparks come, but the real power does not. I'm forced to dodge the giant at the last second, just barely making it without getting pummeled.

This does not go well for me in terms of getting him back into Bruce form, but that just gives me more opportunity to try my powers out again.

I can feel the power flowing through my body, but I need to harness it.

Stop letting it control you. You are in control of it.

I can feel the power flowing through me and focus it into my arms and I can see a ball of black power flowing between my hands. I then pull my hands apart and the power goes to either hand, both staying in the shape of a ball. Yes.

At that moment, Hulk was able to turn back around and start charging again, but this time I shoot my power at him, blasting him back with one hand. He gets up and shakes his head, now angrier than he was. I shoot another blast his way, this time with a little more power behind it. I can feel the power growing still inside of me, but I am careful to only let enough out to knock Hulk down a little more each time.

He keeps getting up every time, but I can tell that he's starting to wear down, meaning that if I can hit him with just the right amount of power this time he should knock out and transform back into Bruce Banner.

I try to build what I think is the right amount of power in my hands. I can feel its power growing more and more. It's almost welcoming, like it's been waiting for me all this time. It is a comforting glowing warmth from within me and I watch as the power builds in my hands.

I get too distracted with the power building between my hands that I almost forget that I have a giant green man still very angry with me. As he begins to shake off the powers that had been previously thrown his way, he starts to make his way towards me.

I quickly realize how long I've been entranced with the warmth between my hands. I look up to find the Hulk almost on top of me and out of impulse, I shoot all of the power I had between my hands at Hulk. Hulk goes flying into the air and lands with a hard thud. I didn't realize how much power I had accumulated.

I quickly run over to Banner to make sure he is okay. I can see him lying on the floor with his purple shorts on and holding his head in his hands.

"Dr. Banner," I shout. "I'm so sorry! I didn't realize how much power I had wielded. It just felt so warm."

He puts his hand up to stop me. "Aria, it's okay, that's what training is for," he explains. "I barely even have a scratch, and this headache will be gone as soon as I take some medicine."

"Are you sure?" I ask. I need to be completely sure that I did not just hurt another person. Especially Bruce of all people.

"I'm sure," he laughs. "To me the session went perfectly, but I will review the tapes to see how we can help you really harness your powers. What did you do to get them to work on the spot anyways?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I think I was scared and used that emotion to get my powers to come out."

"Well, it worked perfectly," Bruce complimented.

I helped him get to his feet and he gave me a nod of approval as he walked out, most likely to review the film.

I can't believe I did it. There was probably a little too much power, but I think it went really well. Maybe these powers aren't too bad after all.