What Was Left behind

On her back was the small case with Peter’s suit. He did not have it when he was taken from her.

Each moment she had to wait was like an itch in the middle of her back that she couldn’t scratch. Every moment she waited was one more that Peter could be dying. One minute turned into two and two into four. After nearly 5 minutes her Comm alarm went off…

As soon as she arrived the portal behind her closed. She nearly stumbled over a dead Kree woman but she didn’t look like a soldier. Maybe a member of the crew? No one was there to challenge her and she heard fighting and shouts coming from both directions. With a short look outside from a nearby starboard window she could see part of Earth. If the ship was poised to face the planet than that would mean aft would be the way she was facing now.

The Kress ship was very big it seemed. Big and spacious though somewhat dark and gloomy. Nothing at all like a Star Trek ship. But much like what she might recall about a Klingon or Romulan ship. As she moved aft a Kree soldier with some kind of energy rifle in his hand came out of an adjoining hallway. He was surprised as she was though and slow to aim his weapons at her.

Serena found she was surprisingly calm once she was on the Kree ship. The waiting had been the hardest part, and had caused her anxiety to grow, but now she didn’t have time for anxiety. She needed to act.

It was a relief to know she was at least starting to go in the correct direction, but almost immediately she encountered a Kree soldier. He seemed surprised by her and she used that to her advantage. She immediately fired an energy blast at him that threw him through a wall. Serena’s power, when it was not being controlled, was incredible.

She made sure the soldier didn’t get back up before she started moving again. Any other soldiers she encountered she handled them the same way. She reacted quickly and without hesitation.

The Kree were no easy meat. The further she went it seemed the tougher they seemed to get. Even when she blasted holes in them they fought. Fought until she hit them again in someplace vital like the face or their chests where their hearts were. Serena had been hit several times as well. Not every Kree she ran into was caught unawares and if she didn’t get her shield up in time they shot her with their energy rifles. If she wasn’t able to inherently absorb the energy they were firing, which in turn helped power her suit she knew she’d likely be dead by now. Obviously they selected her for this reason.

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Peter woke up. He didn’t know what had disturbed him but he heard odd sounds and felt small vibrations as if small, distant explosions rocked the ship. They had him hooked up to the control machine again and left him there for some reason. The guards were gone he saw and he strained against the metal shackles that held his arms down. After about the fifth try his right one snapped and then he unclasped his left one and jumped up off of the bed. He only had one thought, getting to Kat. He didn’t know why the Kree kept her here but as long as he drew breath and wasn't under their control he would try and help get her out of here.

He had been taken back to their cells many times so he knew exactly where it was. He knew there could be Kree just about anywhere and so he moved as quietly and quickly as he could. It was those that he ran into that he had had to deal with. The Kree were strong and in armor but Peter was quick and stronger then they. That and he owed them for what they did to him and to Kat! He smashed them with a large metal pipe he found or broke their necks. He punched them with his fists or kicked them until they stopped moving. Eventually he found his way back to the cells but Bron Char was there and in full armor. From where Peter his he saw that he was talking to Kat and it looked like to him that Kat was terrified of him. She was crying but he was demanding that she did...something, he couldnt hear it very clearly. He didn’t know what and he didn’t want to wait and find out. However before he moved something streaked across his vision.

Serena continued to push her way further into the ship towards the area where they held prisoners. Katrina was her main objective, but it was likely that Peter would be held there as well. She was going to get him out alive even if she died doing it.

Serena knew she was getting closer. The number of Kree soldiers she encountered grew and she found that even if she didn’t get her shield up in time her suit was able to absorb the energy blast without any harm to her. As she reached the prisoner holding cells she spotted Peter, the girl she assumed was Katrina, and Bron Char. Bron Char was blocking Katrina so Serena blasted him instead with a massive energy blast. While he was temporarily down she tossed Peter his suit.

For a long moment peter just looked at Serena. She was in her suit but he knew who it was inside of it. He was completely surprised and relieved. Before he could put it on though the ship suddenly lurched and shook. A calm, woman’s voice came over the audio system throughout the ship.

“Hull breach, the ship has been compromised. Hull Breach, all hands get to the escape pods,” It said over and over. Peter couldn’t see him because he was facing Serena but Serena did. Bron Char moved like a viper as he obtained some kind of blade that vibrated cruelly and glowed a deep blue. Peter only had time for his senses to react but they were quickly embroiled into a melee. He saw Serena trying to get a shot but each time he tried to disengage from him he kept hold of his arm or wrist or body. That knife he knew if it touched him would do alot more than just a simple cut.

“Ha ha ha, you think you can just come onto my ship and undo everything!? You puny humans always think that you have a place in the universe. Well I’m pleased to disabuse you!” he said as his blade came ever closer to Peter’s neck. This Bron Char was extremely strong and large and he towered over Peter. Katrina huddled away from the fighting under a small table in her cell. She held a stuffed Penguin and she closed her eyes and hoped the fighting would stop.

“How could anyone hurt a child!?” Peter growled as he fought to keep the blade from his throat. “Ha ha ha ha ha, this coming from a race with a long history of killing each other? That’s rich boy!” he said almost happily. Obviously this man reveled in combat. “I have much more for her to do and if that means causing her more pain then so be it!” he said with a dark grin. Peter gritted his teeth as he half turned to face Serena who had her arms ready to fire. Peter nodded to her as if telling her something. With a second push Peter managed to begin to push his blade hand away. After another Inch Serena saw she had a clear shot at his hand.

Serena now could see Katrina. The girl was huddled down under a table clutching a stuffed penguin. She looked so...innocent and for a moment she doubted if she was actually going to be able to do what needed to be done. She she saw Peter struggling to keep Bron Char’s blade away from his neck. She needed a clear shot. She didn’t want to risk harm to Peter. Peter was able to push back the hand blade away. This gave Serena a better shot. She would only have moments to act. She waited to bated breath for the perfect moment. Then, it came. She fired a huge energy blast at Bron Char’s hand. In the very next moment she re-aimed and fired at Katrina...

Bron’s hand came completely off and blue blood flowed from his wrist. He let go of Peter immediately and fell onto his knees. As he clutched it he growled at her. Peter stepped back from him toward Serena. When he saw her aim at Katrina he just reacted. With every ounce of his quickness he pushed her arm just enough to the right where it missed Katrina’s head and damaged the wall behind her.

“Serena, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?” He shouted angrily and put himself in between them. He put his hands on her forearms and had a shocked look of disbelief. “She’s just a child!” He said. Bron saw that and began to chuckle as he tried to step the flow of blood that drained out of his stump. He was also injured from Serena’s previous attack and in no shape to really fight them.

Serena didn’t want to kill her, but if Dr. Strange told her that this girl was a threat to humanity then she was going to do what she needed to do...and she very nearly had until Peter suddenly reacted and pushed her arm slightly to the right to where she missed Katrina entirely. She looked over at Peter who was now standing between Katrina and herself.

“Peter, I have to do this. The fate of the planet is at stake here and this girl is a very serious threat.”

Peter looked at her in disbelief. He had never really went completely against what Serena thought was right but this...he couldn’t even begin to understand this.

He let go of her carefully and held his hands up. “Serena, think about what you’re doing. If you do this there is no going back. I know you think that what Strange said is the right thing but where does it end? After you kill her then who’s next? Willam? Me? What if he told you you had to kill me, would you if it meant saving the world?” he said as he pleaded with her. “It isn’t our place to wipe someone out for what they might do. That isn’t what we’re all about. It’s not what you’re about,” he said. He still put himself in her way as he backed up a step. He could tell even with her mask down that she was still ready to do it.

“If you do this I will try to stop you,” he said finally as he lowered his hands. She would know he was ready to pounce on her.

Serena was astounded at what was happening right now. They didn't have time for this. The ship was going to be destroyed any moment now and they needed to get off. She knew that Peter was normally against the killing of people and he would speak out against it, but never had he actively tried to stop her the way he was now. Serena didn't enjoy killing. In fact she hated it and tried to avoid it as much as possible. But this girl was a threat to everyone she loved and she had to do something about it and now Peter, the man she was engaged to, was standing between her and the girl. She wasn't used to this kind of situation and to be perfectly honest she wasn't sure what to do.

"Peter, you don't understand this situation and we don't have time to argue about this. You haven't lived through what I have. I have nightmares about it still. We're talking complete and total devastation."

“You dont know that Serena, you’re only going on what you or someone else believes. We don't kill people, especially children based on what we believe. One possible outcome. Im not going to allow you to kill her based on that,” he said sounding desperate.

“She’s done nothing to deserve that fate Serena. If you harm her you’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” he said as the ship shook again and the female voice warned them of an impending doom. “Im not leaving with out her Serena,” he said. Though if she knocked him out he’d have no say in the matter.

Serena knew their time was running out. They needed to get off this ship...now. She was angry and frustrated and confused. Her head and her heart battled against one another. Peter would know she truly didn’t want to do this, but felt she had no other choice.

“We have to go,” she said in an agitated tone. When Peter didn’t move she became even more agitated. “Well, bring her! Let’s go!”

Peter turned away from Serena and his trust in her bloomed as he gestured toward Kat. “We need to go Kat,” he said and after a worried look at Serena she moved out from under the table and stepped up to Peter. Peter took her hand and then the three of them headed forward toward where they hoped there would be escape pods.

As they found several of them they noticed right away that they were all gone. When they moved a little further they noticed that those were gone to. “Damnit!” Peter said as he tried to think of a way for them to get out of here before the ship blew up.

“Ok, fuck it,” he cursed and opened up the case that held his suit. “Put this on Kat,” he said. As she did he looked at Serena.

“I know what your going to say but im not letting her die here. Im...sorry Serena,” he said. “If you extend your shields around her you'll get her back safe i know you will,” he said. He didn't want to die. He wanted to be with Serena but there was little he could do about that right then. He looked at her.

"C'mon Serena...you're a scientist, what can we do? I don't want to die here," Peter said as he took hold of her shoulders.

When Serena realized that all of the escape pods were gone her mind began to panic. They needed to get out of here and fast. She and Peter each had a suit that would enable them to breathe in space, but Kat didn't. When Peter put his suit on Kat, Serena's panic increased. She wasn't going to leave Peter here. Not after all they had been through. They were finally engaged and were supposed to be getting married in a few short months. She refused to let him die here. She wasn't going to lose the man she loved...not again.

She began to quickly look around as the seconds ticked by until the ship was going to explode. They were near escape pods and so she began to wonder if there weren't suits as well. She began opening up doors until she found them. They had helmets and appeared to be made of extremely protective material. She had no time to test it. They would just have to hope for the best.

"Here, put this on Peter."

If it came down to it, she planned to put Kat in her suit and program it to take Kat back to earth and she would stay with Peter on the ship, but she wasn't going to tell him that...at least not at the moment.

Peter began to dress into the space suit. He had seen ones like this before, it should do the trick and the Kree’s level of tech was far advanced to earths. He put the helmet on but as he turned on the internal systems of the suit he began to choke. Quickly he turned them off and then opened up the helmet.

“Whatever this is it isn't our air. Can we modify your suit to leak oxygen into the shield?” he asked. He was a scientist as well. Her wide-eyed smile was all the confirmation he needed. As they ran toward an emergency release hatch he saw Serena make the adjustments to her suit. Peter had helped her and Tony build her suit over the years and he knew something of what it was capable of. “We have a long way to go to get back,” he said and picked up an energy rifle from a dead Kree soldier. “For more energy? How long have you tested your boots jets for sustained flight?” he asked as they looked at the escape hatch.

“Peter...I’m scared,” Kat said. Peter’s suit on her looked odd. It had the ability to conform to the wearer but she was so small in it. Peter went down to a knee to talk to her. “I know Kat, I’m scared to. Serena will get us out of this. Just hang on, don’t let go no matter what happens,” he said then hugged her. They could tell she was crying but there was nothing for it but to just do what they had to do. He stood up and took her up into his arms. “Serena’s shield will hold us up to her,” he said and he pressed his helmet up to hers. “I love you Serena, I’ve always loved you,” he said as the ship began to shake once more.

Serena remained outwardly calm as she made the adjustments to her suit to leak oxygen into the shield she would put up, but inside she was a nervous wreck. Two lives were on her shoulders now and she just had to hope this would work. They had no other choice at this point. As Peter pressed his helmet against hers, she closed her eyes as a few tears slipped down her cheeks. "I love you too Peter...more than you will ever know."

They were out of time now. They had to leave immediately. She knew her boots could withstand sustained flight, but out in this environment she wasn't sure how long they would last. She just had to hope it would be long enough. She quickly had Jarvis set coordinates for the Tower as Peter held Kat and then held onto Serena. Serena extended her shield around them as they stood in the airlock. She then counted to three and pressed the airlock open button. As she did they were sucked out and she immediately fired her boot jets and they began to head towards Earth.

Moments after they disembarked the ship exploded. Serena’s suit was designed so that she could add over-thrust to her boots and go faster than any other suit Tony had ever made. Every so often Peter fired the weapon at her and her suit absorbed the energy, stored it and then used it. The issue was the weapon wasn’t unlimited. Kat held her eyes shut and Peter could tell she was breathing hard. She was scared half to death and he had to admit he was to. Open space was behind him and he felt Serena’s shield pressing him into her. There was limited movement pressed in like he was and he was extremely uncomfortable with the pressure of their velocity pushing him down. His muscles strained to hold onto Kat and Serena and he felt Serena’s arms around him as well.

How long they had been going he didn’t know and he guessed about 50 or 60 minutes. The weapon was completely empty and they were about to enter the earth's atmosphere. He was concerned because her shields were going to take alot of damage with their reentry AND they needed to hold something back for the landing otherwise even with the shield the impact would turn them all into jelly.

As the shields began to glow from the reentry the heat inside the shield began to rise. “Its...hot!” Peter cried out as he clenched his teeth together. Obviously the suit he wore had limits and the heat from the brutal reentry was beginning to burn him. He didn’t let go though and he screamed from the pain of it as his suit began to smolder.

And then they were through and into the atmosphere. The sun shined brightly down on them as she flew and the clouds looked fluffy and soft as she continued to fly down toward the tower.

“Energy reserves at 15%,” Jarvis said. “I suggest a reduction in velocity Serena,” Jarvis said.

Like Peter and Kate, Serena was terrified but she had to just keep going. She didn't know what else to do. She needed to get them back into the Earth's atmosphere as quickly as possible. She knew re-entry was going to be the trickiest part...and the most dangerous. As Peter began to yell in pain she could do nothing more than just press on. Knowing he was in pain tore at her heart and she was relieved when they were finally inside the earth's atmosphere. She slowed down when Jarvis told her the energy reserves were at 15%. They were almost there. She could see the outline of the city now and then the Avengers' Tower came into view. She slowed down even more. Her shields had taken a huge hit from re-entering the atmosphere, but they managed to hold together. Her energy reserves were at 1% when they finally touched down on the Tower's landing pad.

When Serena’s shield winked out Peter accidentally dropped Kat and Serena suddenly felt his weight resting in her arms. There was movement in the tower at their arrival Serena saw her parents and others rushing toward the doorwall to the landing pad. As she knelt with Peter she saw the back of his suit. It was charred from the heat that buffeted against his back. That was probably because his back rested against her shield but she had no choice but to make it as small as possible. Peter was still conscious but it was obvious he was in alot of pain.

“Serena! Oh my god! Serena!” Isabella cried as she rushed toward them. Isabella was there to help her lower Peter to the ground. His suit smoldered in places and it looked as if part of it melted from the heat. Kat said nothing while everyone came out including Doctor Strange. Peter whimpered as he was laid down into his side. Tony eased his helmet off. “It’s ok Peter, you’re safe, you’re all safe,” he said then looked up at Isabella. “We need to get him to the infirmary,” Tony said.

“Whose this?” Steve asked and Kat removed her mask. There were a few gasps from some of them as they saw who it was. “Thats Katrina Kyle,” Strange said dubiously. “Don’t...let them...hurt her,” Peter said in a whisper to Serena. “Don’t...let…” he began to say and then he passed out.

Serena was extremely worried about Peter. She knew that they had technology in the infirmary that would help him, but it still didn't prevent the tears from coming from her eyes because she knew he was in pain. When everyone stood around and didn't move to help Peter because they were all looking at Katrina, Serena nearly lost her patience.

"Will someone take Peter to the infirmary?!"

Kate and Steve jumped into action and took Peter down to the infirmary. They had treatments there for burns, although he would likely be in the infirmary for a day or two. After Peter was gone, Serena removed her suit. She was sweating from the heat of the re-entry and was exhausted and felt like she might pass out herself. Isabella looked over at Happy who was there.

"Happy, will you please take Katrina to a spare room?"

Happy nodded and did as Isabella asked. Only after Katrina was gone did Serena speak. "I was going to do it. I fired at her, but Peter moved my arm before the blast could hit her. He stood between the girl and me and begged me not to do it. And I couldn't...and I'm not going to. Now that she is away from the Kree I believe she will no longer be a threat."