"The blade," Vision said. "It stopped me from phasing."
"Is that even possible?" Wanda asked.
"It isn't supposed to be." His voice distorted electronically. "My systems are failing." Scarlet Witch gestured over his gaping wound, using her magic to knit him back together. Vision continued in a gaping, wry tone. "I'm beginning to think... we should have stayed in bed."
Glaive arrived, knocking Scarlet Witch aside and grabbed Vision in the air.
"Vis!" Wanda cried.
Glaive flew away with Vision, slamming him against several walls. Meanwhile, Proxima engaged Scarlet Witch with her staff weapon, and they too began to fight.
Glaive said to Vision, "Give up the Stone, and she lives."
Vision flew with Glaive to the roof of what seemed to be a church, ricocheting off the stone church tower and onto the metal-clad roof.
Simultaneously, Proxima and Scarlet Witch fought below, staff weapon versus magic energy hands until Proxima used the blaster effect of her weapon to knock Scarlet Witch meters away, stunning her as Proxima leapt down, brandishing her weapon within bare inches of Scarlet Witch's face, only to be held back by Scarlet Witch's powers.
Furiously, Vision pummeled Glaive, then threw him across the roof, firing a beam from the Mind Stone. Glaive used his glaive to deflect the beam, splitting it into several beams, cutting up Edinburgh's ancient stone like butter, until one branch finally reflected back at Vision, slamming him into the wall behind him.
Below, Scarlet Witch had blocked Proxima's staff once again when she heard an agonized cry from Vision. Desperation strengthened her to throw Proxima through the burning torry sliced in half by the split Stone beam, stunning the alien. Scarlet Witch flew up to the roof where Glaive had pinned Vision and was again attempting to remove the Mind Stone.
"Hands off," Wanda ordered.
Scarlet Witch casted a bolt of magic which threw Glaive back through the wall and down a shaft, then flew the two of them away again. Proxima, who had recovered, shot a bolt from her weapon, causing them to fall from the air and down through the roof of Edinburgh Waverley Train Station. Wanda crawled towards Vision, who could not muster the strength to stand.
Wanda spoke in a hushed, pleading voice. "Come on. Come on. Come on, you gotta get up. You gotta get up. Come on. Hey. Hey. We have to go."
"Please. Please leave," Vision told her.
"You asked me to stay... I'm staying."
"Please."
"Get up."
Behind them, Proxima and Glaive crashed through the roof and advanced on them, brandishing their weapons. Scarlet Witch moved protectively in front of Vision, building power in her hands.
An express train passed behind Wanda, and Proxima cocked her head as though she were aware of another presence. Confused, Scarlet Witch also turned and looked over her left shoulder. As the last train car passed, a silhouette stood on the far side of the platform. Proxima threw her weapon at the shadowy figure, but it was deftly caught just before the figure stepped from the shadows.
Steve stepped into the light. Vision and Scarlet Witch looked hopeful and relieved. While all parties were distracted, Sam swooped in and kicked Proxima across the platform and through the closed cafe's security gate and furniture. Swooping around, he fired on Glaive.
At the same time, Captain America threw Proxima's weapon to Natasha who engaged Glaive, ducking under his swing, stabbing him in the gut and he executed a flying kick to knock him backwards.
Proxima, who had rushed back to the fight, summoned her weapon back to her hand and attacked Black Widow. Captain America leapt forward, rolled, scooped up Glaive's dropped glaive and held her off. Black Widow joined in with her escrima sticks. While the three were fighting, Falcon returned and again kicked Proxima backwards; she scuttled over to the prone Glaive. Falcon drew both of his Steyr SPP submachine pistols on the couple.
"Get up," Proxima told Glaive.
"I can't," Glaive replied.
Natasha said coolly, "We don't wanna kill you. But we will."
"You'll never get the chance again," Proxima retorted.
Proxima and Glaive departed as they were beamed up. The glaive was snatched from Captain America's hand as well.
Wanda asked Vision, "Can you stand?"
Electricity shimmered over Vision's surface and his voice distorted as he said, "Thank you, Captain."
Steve nodded. "Let's get you on the jet."
Natasha closed the doors to the Quinjet before she said to Wanda, "I thought we had a deal. Stay close, check in. Don't take any chances."
"I'm sorry," Wanda apologized. "We just wanted time."
"Where to, Cap?" Sam asked.
Steve replied, "Home."
YOU ARE READING
Melancholy Kaleidoscope
ActionThe threat of a Mad Titan wiping out half the universe looms over the heroes. And then he does what they thought impossible and wins. Now it's a fight to bring all those who were dusted back. But it'll come at a cost that none can foresee. (Book...