Lost Our Minds |5| The Ascension

Chapter Forty Four: Endgame-New York, 2012

In 2012, Dr Bruce Banner turned to his colleagues with a wry smile. "That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry." As the Leviathan ship thundered ever closer, he transformed into the Hulk and drove his fist into the Leviathan's maw, forcing it to a halt. The back end of the ship reared up, threatening to crush them all. McKenzie darted to the ground, throwing up a shimmering silver forcefield over the Avengers, and Tony Stark rose ever higher, firing a couple of explosives into the Leviathan's flank. It exploded, scattering the road with debris. As McKenzie relented her forcefield, the Avengers got to their feet, forming an eight-point star.

Just around the corner, four figures materialised in a side street. Zosia Rogers checked around the edge of a building, seeing the Avengers of 2012 go their separate ways to continue the fight. Seeing the coast was clear, she nodded to the others. "Alright, we all have our assignments. Two stones uptown, one stone down. Stay low, and keep an eye on the clock." She jumped back as the Hulk stomped past, leaving behind him a wake of destruction.

"Oh, man," Bruce groaned, embarrassed.

Zosia grinned. "Feel free to smash a few things along the way."

He rolled his eyes. "I think it's gratuitous, but whatever." He ambled out into the street, half-heartedly imitating his younger self.

***

Fortunately, he managed to make it to the roof of the Sanctum Sanctorum before anyone questioned his presence.

"I'd be careful going that way," the Ancient One warned him. "We just had the floors waxed."

Bruce jumped, startled, then turned to her. "Ma'am, I'm looking for Dr Strange."

She tilted her head, surprised. "You're about five years too early. Stephen Strange is currently performing surgery about twenty blocks that way." She pointed across the city, where Bruce saw a red-gold blur shoot across the skyline. "What do you want from him?"

"That, actually," Bruce admitted, indicating the Eye of Agamotto, which hang about her neck.

"Ah!" She chuckled. "I'm afraid not."

"Sorry, but I wasn't asking."

"You don't want to do this," the Ancient One warned.

He winced. "Ah, you're right, I don't." He made a grab for it anyway. "But I need that stone, and I don't have time to beat—!" He gasped as the Ancient One pushed his astral form out of his body.

She smiled pleasantly. "Let's start over, shall we?"

***

Tony flew around the Stark Tower, landing in a secluded area a few feet away from where the original Avengers were confronting Loki. "Got to hustle, kid," he muttered through the comms. "Things look like they're just about wrapped up here."

"Got it," Zosia replied, walking towards a lift several floors below. "I'm approaching the elevator now." She tapped a control at her temple, and the nanomask she was wearing changing to mimic the face of one McKenzie Di Angelo—or at least the one who was still running about upstairs.

Tony peeked round the corner. "Alright, you got a visual? Don't forget the perception filter."

Zosia checked the screen at her wrist, then adjusted her Pym suit to match the clothes her mother had been wearing. "Copy that, I'm all set."

"God, I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your husband's ass," Tony continued, raising his eyebrows.

"No one asked you to look, Tony," Zosia said, rolling her eyes.