Correcting the Path

Disclaimer: I own Avery and perhaps some of her backstory.

Spoilers: AU now, read A Second Chance at Redemption first or you'll be lost...

19 Years After A Second Chance at Redemption

The sound of footsteps didn't make the agent punching the bag turn, her punches and kicks hard and on purpose. Black locks were tied back in a ponytail and she wore a tank and sweats, ignoring the other agents working out around her. The sound of the footsteps stopping and a clearing of her throat made her turn to see Maria Hill, the middle-aged Director of SHIELD.

"What can I do for you Director Hill?"

"You've been recruited into Project Pathfinder, report tomorrow at 0500 to receive your orders." Hill held out a file and the agent took it. "This is a second chance for us all Avery and you're who I've chosen to give it back."

Avery looked down at the file in her hands, "why me? As far as anyone is concerned, I'm a disaster waiting to happen. After what happened ten years ago when I killed my mother and Agent Coulson, how can you trust me with something as powerful as Pathfinder?"

Hill turned back around and looked at her, "because you're the light in the darkness that we need. You can turn the tide of the war, you did but it was too late. This time, you can save both your parents and SHIELD from destruction instead of harming them. Accept your mission Agent Ward and you can change everything."

In her quarters, Avery Ward looked at herself in the mirror to see the reality of who she was. Her black hair and nose as well as her cheekbones indicative of a father she never knew, one she'd believed a hero till she read a letter at the age of 9 to know he'd betrayed them all. His promises of loving her etched into her memory, she felt as if she actually believed it because everyone said it was true, but was it? Her eyes and body all her mother, a mother who she had killed in a fit of rage at the tender age of 9. She never quite could forget the blue wave of energy that had dispelled from her hands and all but sucked the life from her mother's body. She'd been declared Asgardian by Thor himself and had told her, though only an eighth-Asgardian she was more powerful than most.

She was neither strong nor powerful like Asgardians but she was molded from the blood of greatness. Upon a visit from Lady Sif herself, Avery had been told she was created from a mix of love and rage, specifically Berserker rage. She was human to the core of her being but she was truly an 0-8-4 like her mother had been labelled.

Allowing herself to collapse into bed, Avery looked to her side table to see the picture of her parents playing battleship. They looked as if they were enjoying themselves and it was her aunt who gave her the picture after her mother's death, stating that the picture defined exactly who her parents were. Everyone swore her parents loved each other despite the betrayal that occurred between them and she still remembered the smiles on her mother's face when telling stories of her father.

Closing her eyes, she quickly opened them at the image of her mother's life being sucked from her. She was quickly up and hitting her personal punching bag again, trying to drown out the cries from her memories. Her own personal cries along with the comforting arms of her family haunted her as she should have been killed the moment she murdered her own mother. Instead they comforted her and brought her up as if it didn't affect them.

Arriving at Project Pathfinder, she found her former surrogate aunt working with her partner. Fitzsimmons were still a team and really never went anywhere without the other in tow, considering the two had married when she'd been 3 she wasn't surprised. They actually changed their surnames to Fitzsimmons so their names were officially combined. It was cute when you thought of it but at the same time kind of their own strange brand of weird.

"Ah there you are." Jemma looked at her and smiled, instantly hugging her and she reciprocated just to not put them off. She rarely talked to her family anymore, not since she'd become an agent. "My how you have grown, looking just like your mum and dad that's for sure."

"Aunt Jemma, please." Avery sat down on a lab stool and smiled at them. "I really don't like talking about them."

Her good poor Uncle Leo rounded the table and smiled, "well soon you'll be talking to them. I assume Agent Hill informed you of your mission?"

"Yeah, get assigned to Agent Coulson's team after my mother gets shot. Assist in the take down of Lorelei, take out Garrett and get word to Director Hill of the list of HYDRA agents while keeping my father out of it all. Basically redirect his attention to my mother and lay his loyalties to her." Avery sighed and folded her arms, "Hill's plan is more like a matchmaking trip than anything."

Jemma chuckled, "perhaps in a way but the important thing is to direct your father's attention onto your mother so he forms an attachment and breaks the one with former Agent Garrett."

"First thing is first," Leo smiled at her and put a metal bracelet around her wrist. "Lady Sif sent it herself, said it would maintain your health during the transport back. It's Asgardian and tailored specifically to the wearer so if you lose it, don't worry about it."

"Fifteen milligrams of Phentobylorin, to keep the mind from deteriorating during travel. Due to your unique genetic heritage, both Lady Sif and Thor are sure you won't have any nasty effects but they did warn that aiding your mind was a good idea anyways." She injected Avery in the neck and smiled. "Most of all, remember who you are Avery and that this mission could change the tides of war."

Avery stood and looked at the two, "it could also prevent me from being born."

"Possibly but we'll never know." Leo walked over to the hooded device that sat on the counter and removed the glowing circlet from inside. "It's a one way trip, remember that."

"I'm aware." She took the circlet and placed it on her head, closing her eyes as she thought of the exact year that Hill had directed her think of. She whispered the words that had been inscribed on the alien tech when they'd found it years before. "Time of past, time of old take me to the unknown. Time of past, time of old take me to the unknown. Time of past, time of new take me to the unknown."

The circlet began to glow before a light shown and seconds later Avery was gone, the circlet on the ground. Leo picked it up and placed it back in its case. "Hope she made it."

Two Weeks Before SHIELD Civil War, 2014

Looking around, Avery found herself in the middle of a desert and she partially found herself amused that she was in the middle of nowhere. Standing up, she noticed rock formations and realized that she was standing in the past, the New Mexico HUB had yet to be built till after SHIELD won the war against HYDRA.

"I guess it could be worse." She brushed herself off and looked around only to notice several SUVs with SHIELD logos driving up. The roll of the Earth made her look up and she saw the light of Asgard falling to meet the red sand. Within seconds Lady Sif of Asgard stood where it had landed and Avery knew she had to make herself known.

Walking over she was quickly put at gunpoint and raised her hands. "I apologize for the interruption but I have to help in the hunt for Lorelei."

"Who are you?" Avery smiled as she looked at her favorite aunt, Melinda May raised her weapon at her.

"Avery Zale, I'm Skye's daughter and I'm here to help with capture of Lorelei." She knew playing her parentage was dangerous but she also knew there was no quicker way for her to gain their trust. "I used the Circlet of Gymora to come back from the year 2034, the coming days will be dark and you will be unprepared for what is ahead so Director Maria Hill send me back herself."

Sif seemed to advance on her, "the Circlet of Gymora is dangerous to any human. Only those of the other realms can safely use it."

"I guess it's a good that I'm an eighth Asgardian." Avery moved around her and walked over to May. "There is a lot to do but first finding this enchantress is our first priority and you best keep your Berserker warrior away from her, trust me when I say she'll use him to screw up the situation." She turned back to Ward, "emphasis on the screw part so stay away from her."

The comment was flippant and quite disgusting when directing it towards her father but considering she didn't know the man it didn't bother her as much as it should. She walked past Ward over to Fitz and smiled at him, he was so young like the rest of them and it made her wonder about the early years of the team. She was about to find out who they were before everything fell apart.

"Berserker warrior, you aren't Asgardian…" Sif looked at Ward and the agent sighed.

"It's a long story, we'll tell you on the way and get some information to track this Lorelei woman."

Sif let her gaze fall on Avery as she spoke, "she is right, a Berserker warrior is exactly what Lorelei would use to her advantage. No matter your skills as a warrior, you need to stay away from the battle we will rage with her." The warrior walked toward the vehicles, "Avery, I wish to speak to you on your parentage."

"Don't know much, don't know who the Asgardian was if you're asking." She moved over to let Sif sit beside her, Fitz on the other side.

A/N: I promised a sequel and it will be interesting to say the least, Avery is as closed off as Ward but as smart as Skye. More to come in the next chapter...

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