The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 49

Novi Grad, Sokovia

Spring 2015

The City was rising. Literally. It was rising into the air. Nadine had seen a lot of things—so had the rest of the world, really; aliens; Enhanced people; killer robots—but this was in a whole other league of unbelievable. Unbelievable and terrifying.

Next to her, Nina was edging closer to Nadine, her eyes wide as they roved the cavern, taking in the streams of dislodged dirt falling all around them and the machinery trembling out in the chasm ahead of them. All around them the base—the very earth itself, it felt like—seemed to be groaning under the strain, a bone-rattling rumble vibrating up through the ground and into their bodies, the sound of it nearly thunderous.

"Mom?" Nadine nearly couldn't hear Nina, the angry rumbling pressing in on them drowning out her daughter's voice. "What's happening?"

Nadine's practical, rational side automatically took charge as it always did in instances of extreme stress, danger or focus. She had been trained that way. It helped her keep a clear head, keeping her emotions under tight control where they couldn't interfere and jeopardize her mission or her life. As soon as the base began to quake around them, those deeply ingrained instincts had taken over. They'd really kicked into high gear as Stark and his new U.I., FRIDAY, had once again rejoined on their comm channel, the lilting female voice sounding grim as it confirmed what was happening. She was only barely able to keep her own anxiety in check as Ultron declared his manifesto—the speech loud enough that most of it carried through the Team's earpieces down in the city to reach those still in former HYDRA base.

But hearing the threads of panic in Nina's barely-audible voice? Seeing it in her already pale face? It nearly undid Nadine's carefully maintained control.

They had to get out of there.

The base was shuddering around them, earth and dust filling the air. Many, many stories below their feet, Nadine swore she could hear the dull rumble of tunnels and passageways caving, unable to survive the stress and strain as the roots of the city were torn away from the mountains it was nestled against. Pushing aside her own panic, she let her training take over, eyes darting around, looking for the quickest, safest route out, analysing their surroundings, taking in the changing situation around them and far above them.

As the lurching ground began to calm, the nearly deafening roar around them turning to a dull hum, Banner was the first to speak, his hand still grasping Natasha's arm from when they'd grabbed each other for balance.

"We gotta move." Wholeheartedly, Nadine agreed, silently urging Nina forward again. But they'd barely taken a full step before Natasha pulled the doctor to a stop, turning him back to face her serious, questioning expression. It had the two blondes turning back toward the pair in bewilderment at the holdup.

"You're not going to turn green?" A hint of a smile appeared on Banner's face.

"I've got a compelling reason not to lose my cool," he answered earnestly. Nadine wasn't sure she'd ever seen Natasha smile like she did then; it was so happy. But it wasn't quite enough to drown out the resolve—or the remorse—growing in her little sister's eyes.

"I adore you." And then Natasha was pulling the mild-mannered doctor in for an emotional kiss. Nadine sighed, nearly grinning in fond exasperation. Not that it entirely distracted from the wariness growing in her gut; it was certainly not unfounded.

In the blink of an eye Natasha's hands had slipped down from their hold on Banner's head to his chest. And she shoved. He didn't even have time to shoot her more than a bewildered look as he toppled backward into the chasm behind him. "But I need the other guy."