S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Rhapsodos: Taking the Backseat

Beta-read by: Dragonmage54 [2nd Last Draft] [January 14th, 2016]

Disclaimer: Refer to the Prologue Chapter. I do not own any movie dialogue in this chapter.

AU Notes : Happy New Year! This was supposed to up in December 2015... but the Holidays kinda took over... and I cleaned up/fixed old chapters. Meh.

Wow. RL is in it for me that I actually finished this chapter when I'm on vacation. Phew. It's not like I didn't write in over six months since March 2015, but I did publish something but probably a few of you know of it. Just to let everyone know, SHIELD Agent Rhapsosdos Introductions: Agent Phillip J Coulson (Phil's story when he first meets Genesis) has been up since June 12th, 2015. All of the other stories in my FFVII x Avengers universe are in my profile page. If you want to keep an eye out for the other intro stories I may write in the future, don't forget to use the 'Follow Author' feature. ;)

You guys and gals are amazing! We're over the 500 favs and alerts plus 80,000 hits with this fic! I can't thank you all enough for the all reviews last chapter too! It's been really worth writing for. xD Also thank you for those who have Private Messaged me (you know who you are) to make sure I was doing okay. You deserve ship freight's worth of internet cookies! Thank you also for those who have made this story a favorite, follow and even put me on their fav authors list! All thanks to those who have reviewed is now on my profile page. Alerts and favorites I intend to put in the epilogue of this fic.

About this chapter: I know some people have suggested to me to cut down the length for the chapters for easy reading, but I can't. I'm not the frequent updater, so I usually prefer lengthy updates with stories. Plus, I do think over a title of a chapter than rather do it for kicks. Also, we're heading into canon divergence sooner. Know that with the Lifestream more in the mix of the MCU, some events of future movies won't/will change/diverge completely.

Tiny warning that this chapter isn't fully been proofread and may be updated in the future (something like on the lines of a 2nd last draft). My beta reader had an accident and she's injured. She can only type with one hand for the time being. So, all mistakes are on me, please let me know if there are any.

This chapter's shorter than the last, but we're at the whopping 19,000 words mark. Length warning has been around since chapter 7. X)

I hope this chapter makes the highlight of your day/weekend! Onward~!

Enjoy!

~ Chapter 11: SHIELD Eagle Down, Ripples of Lifestream ~

"I gave my life to become the person I am now. Was it worth it?" ~ Richard Bach

He woke up to a blinding amount of white light.

With his enhanced eyesight, it should have blinded him to the point that he would have to close his eyes. Only in Genesis' point of view, he frowned at the pure white sky above him there were cracks. In addition to that, why did he feel so fatigued that he was struggling to stay awake?

That didn't feel right.

At this point, he chose to sit up from where he lay in a field of flowers. He immediately regretted it. The world around him spun in vertigo that he had to grip the ground with his hands for support. The only thing that came to his dizzy mind was a memory that he gave Clint a brief pep talk he wasn't at fault being under Loki's control. Afterward, Genesis only remembered surrendering to unconsciousness.

Before he could go forward with his previous line of thought, he blinked at the flowers that were in the field around him. Some seemed to be fine, but the others… looked like they had seen better days. With their unnatural coloring, it occurred to Genesis they were poisoned.

"YOUNG MAN, you have some explaining to do!"

Genesis jolted out of his position to 'flight mode' to save himself, as someone using the 'parenting' tone on him had undeniably caught him totally off guard. Unfortunately, his body wasn't reacting as he would like it to, so he ended up only tripping himself and landed flat on his face. He blamed the damn flowers in his way. To save his dignity from the intruder, he shuffled his body around to face with-

"Ifalna?" Genesis said still catching his breath. All thoughts of glaring at said intruder was gone.

Genesis now saw a reason why his body was reacting on instinct. The Ancient presently biophysicist professor, stood with her hand on her hips in a manner of a disappointed but very concerned mother. Genesis was now certain he wasn't quite dead as he thought previously. He was positive that the Gast family was far from the fallout area where Loki blasted him with a magic Scepter. He blinked as he connected the circumstances of the cracked white sky and poisoned flowers.

"We're in my Lifestream mindscape, are we?" Genesis asked the Cetra as he breathed out an exhausted breath.

Ifalna was disgruntled and settled on crossing her arms instead. "We are, and it seems like you got into the worst possible trouble. I think it shows clearly with the state your mindscape is in. You gave both Aerith and I a fright! We thought you had died!"

Genesis visibly winced and cringed. Guilty as charged. He wasn't surprised that Aerith's mother was here now. He was well aware his near death experience may have alerted them and sent them into a panic. Mostly likely worse, if he recalled their reaction to when Loki's appearance took place back at the destroyed facility was any indication. Being that they were Cetra (half-Cetra for Aerith), he shouldn't have been surprised they felt his life force was draining away.

The former commander couldn't help but nod guiltily, "I deeply apologize for making you and Aerith worry. Although in my defense, Loki's staff isn't Asgardian as I thought it was."

There was also that tiny detail Genesis found out that Loki wasn't quite in control of himself either… Which somewhat explained why Loki wasn't using his current weapon as if were second nature to him. It made him question just where the Chitauri that Thor mentioned came from. Not to forget, who was the real puppeteer in all of this?

"It's far older than it looks." the Cetra said with certainty in her voice. "Although, there's something else present in it. It's as if someone planted something corrosive in it and it's affecting everything around it in the worst way. Its origins were actually quite pure, at least before someone came along and corrupted it."

The red-haired agent felt uneasy that sounded like Jenova in so many ways. "How do you know?"

"The Lifestream," Ifalna answered as she shrugged but gave the former SOLDIER the impression she was certain her words as truth. "For you, what you usually hear is whispers and emotions, a nudge in a certain direction. For me, it's far clearer; I hear complete sentences, the root cause, real memories, and sometimes what may come in the near future… but it always keeps changing."

"It's not Jenova is it?"

Sue him for asking, but Genesis didn't want anything to do with that certain alien in this lifetime around.

"No. But it's not like we're against better odds."

Ifalna was vague as always, but no Jenova was good news despite going against horrible chances. That other opponent could be discussed later, now he needed to set his priorities straight.

"I better head back." Genesis said; he needed to wake up in the real world. The less he made his friends worried, the better.

The Cetra leaned her head in question with worry. "Can you, Genesis?"

When he made an attempt to focus and get back by closing his eyes, Genesis recoiled in pain and gasped as his energy drained from him, and his body tumbled to the ground.

"Genesis!" Ifalna immediately went on her knees and helped the former commander sit upright.

"Why do I… feel so weak–"

"Your mindscape is a mirror of your soul, the source of your Lifestream. It's heavily injured. I suspected you protected yourself with Resist. Unluckily, that mind barrier wasn't enough that you didn't escape without any damage; even in here." Ifalna said as she gestured around her.

Genesis easily added up the clues where this was going. "As long as I'm far too injured here, I'm in a coma then?"

"Yes." At Genesis' depressed reaction, Ifalna then added, "But you won't be in a coma if I help you get out of here."

"That's good… But now I have a feeling that there will be repercussions." Genesis guessed with a slight tone of dread.

Ifalna nodded as she positioned herself behind him and laid her hands on his back. "I'm too far from you to heal all this damage even partially in the real world. All I can do is to get you to wake up and give you just enough strength to move about."

His body tensed with worry. "And my magic?"

"You won't be able to use it effectively for at least a full day of rest. My advice is that you please avoid using it." The professor sighed. "I know you'll want to go back straight in helping your friends. But all I can ask you is that you need to keep yourself alive." Her hands hummed with White healing magic on his back.

Genesis gravely nodded as the healing magic started mending the worst of his exhaustion. So if anything, he was reduced to being side benched from a direct fight? Fine–The red-haired agent knew better than to push his limits after he nearly died moments ago. Genesis had other ways to make himself useful, as long as he can walk or run at least.

"Aerith... Is she fine?"

"Try not to get yourself at near death so soon again, alright?"

"No promises, but you didn't answer my question." Genesis protested.

"Oh, and keep an eye out for an old friend of yours."

"Huh?"

.

.

While Genesis didn't get a straight answer from the Cetra on how Aerith was doing, this time, he rudely woke up to the white metal painted ceiling of the Helicarrier med bay. His reflex was instantaneous. His body went into a knee-jerk instinct reaction in panic when someone familiar held him down.

"At ease, son." It was Nick Fury… and the heart monitor that refused to stop beeping no thanks to his hammering panicked heart.

It took another few more seconds to get his mind working he was safe, more to get his body relax with control on his panting breaths, and lastly lean back on the bed. He gritted his teeth as his stomach injury throbbed excruciatingly from jostling too much. When was the last time he ended up in a hospital bed? At least, the painkillers were somewhat buffering his injuries to his nerves a little.

He didn't like being in hospital beds in this lifetime. There was at one point it was due to nightmares of being experimented on, and there was also a time he had been attacked when he was at his weakest that happened to be in a hospital bed. The latter ironically happened to be the first time he had met Phil. (1) At the end of the day, when he was unconscious or worse that landed him into a position he was in right now, there would always be at least his mentor or teammates that snapped him out of his situational anxiety attack when he awoke.

"How long… have I been out…Sir?" Genesis croaked; his eyes darted to a glass of water in Fury's hand.

"About three hours give or take." Fury replied giving him a stern but yet worried look while helping the younger agent get his needed drink. "We weren't certain you would wake up so soon, especially with what Loki hit you with. You're without question lucky to be alive and awake, Rhapsodos."

"Clint and Natasha?" he asked after he drank what he could from the glass.

"They're in a med bay room across this one. The others are fine." Fury said as he put the empty glass on the side table.

Genesis raised a brow at the Director's tone. "Where's Phil?"

There was a long unnerving silence. While Fury was giving Genesis the famous blank stare he typically gave to anyone when he sought to keep his secrets, the younger agent decided to find out for himself what had happened to his mentor. Focusing on what little Lifestream in him he had left, he asked it to flow and find where Phil was. It was more time consuming than usual just as Ifalna warned him and then…

There.

A tiny flicker like candlelight flame, burning quietly was his mentor's life force.

In turn, Genesis looked at his superior officer with an annoyed and exhausted glance. "He's alive. Why are you acting like–"

"He died." Fury cut Genesis from continuing his sentence. "He died in front of me, Genesis. That, I won't forget. But somehow he came back, against all odds and he returned... far less injured than he was supposed to be."

Genesis caught on quickly what Fury's silent question was.

'Did you have something to do to what happened to Phil?'

"Is this med bay secure?" Genesis asked quietly wary of recording devices. His tiredness and pain were pushed at the back of his mind. For now, paranoia mode came to the forefront. Despite his body protested he needed rest and the wound was thrumming in a painful pulse, matters when it came to the Director knowing about what magic spells he hadn't stated before was sensitive information.

A confident nod was the brief reply.

"How is he?"

"No better than your condition a few couple of minutes ago; in a deep coma." Fury gestured to the injured agent in front of him. "With the exception to a very limited few on this Helicarrier he's still among the living. To everyone else, Agent Phil Coulson is dead, and that includes all the Avengers."

Genesis was about to protest but Nick Fury beat him to a firm glare.

"The medical personnel called it," Fury spoke sternly; "and it would have stayed the same until we got to death ward an hour later. While there are some miraculous cases in the world about people coming back alive, I'm certain their injuries don't get healed at the same time. It's also a damn miracle that all security cameras were wiped out thanks to Barton's virus when he fired the arrow that put nearly all our systems down."

The Director's last statement sealed the deal. He wasn't getting away with this incident so easily. The former SOLDIER had avoided casting such a spell in many points of his career in SHIELD, but he wasn't one to give up on someone he really cared for, especially Phil. Seeing that Nick Fury shared the same sort of mentor-apprentice relationship that Genesis had for Phil, the man deserved to know. It was the least the younger agent could do for him.

Genesis' throat felt dry. He closed his eyes and sighed, "It was a fail-safe. I had to save him. It's called Reraise." (2)

Fury's one eye widened in shock, "You can raise the dead?"

Genesis shook his head still lying down on his bed. "No. You can't revive the dead who are gone for good. While there is a spell called Raise, it doesn't exactly work that way."

"I'm suspecting you know and will explain how they work." Fury said playing along. As much as he should have expected things like this when Genesis was knowledgeable in magic, he shouldn't have been surprised, but he was. It wasn't every day someone literally came back alive from the dead even in the Director's line of work.

The younger agent explained, "Raise is time sensitive. When a person dies, there's a small margin of time to keep them alive, more specifically keep the soul from leaving the body. However, that doesn't heal their fatal injuries by a good margin to keep them alive even for a short period of time. I need to be present to heal them after the Raise spell."

Fury accepted that explanation with a nod. "And Reraise?"

"It prevents a person from dying as long as it's been cast before someone is hit with a fatal wound, and if that person dies they can be revived, and healed enough past the fatal injuries just to survive and get help… at a higher cost of my magic reserves."

"I see… Your magic reserves were lower when you fought Loki. You weren't fighting at full strength." Fury observed rubbing his chin. In an uncharacteristic moment, the Director of SHIELD squeezed the young agent's hand. "You have my deepest thanks for keeping Phil alive."

"Sir?"

"I still want you to keep Phil's condition unknown to the others. It's an order..." Fury emphasized as he turned his back cueing his exit, "and that's what was supposed to be Phil's last request."

Genesis only gave an affirmative incline of his head he wouldn't interrupt.

"'They needed the push' were Phil's words. He was willing to make his death as the reason to make the Avengers come together and work as a real team they were meant to." the Director told him.

So Fury was asking him to go with Phil's intended plan, something Genesis had told Phil before the Loki's escape plan came to fruition.

"I don't care about Fury's secrets!" the younger agent snapped. "The fact we didn't monitor any potential cracks that could have chip away the team like this is unacceptable! Stark and Rogers' teamwork is as strained as it is! At this point, the team won't work out if– "

~( They don't have something or a similar reason to fight for. )~ Phil said finishing the sentence gravely. ~( I know, Genesis. I've always known. )~

Goddamn it, why did his mentor have to be a martyr?

Then again, he really didn't deserve to complain. Genesis would bet Cloud and crew would say the same thing about him on what happened at the end of the War of Resolve back on Gaia. Heh, Minerva had already turned him into a WEAPON anyway when he flew out of Deepground along with an unconscious Weiss. He wasn't really as 'cured' as many people thought. Yet, despite the short amount of time he spent with the new dubbed AVALANCHE team, he didn't regret paying his life for the others to survive when the time came to it in the end.

Back from his thoughts, he turned to his concerned looking Director.

"I won't say a word, for now;" he responded, "but after everything, I'll decide how things will happen with Phil."

Fury seemed to look considerate of the younger agent's answer. "Fine; we'll see how things progress. You do realize that if you tell the Avengers later that Phil is alive, that you'll trust them about what you can do?"

"I have some plans." Genesis replied oddly feeling calm he was actually going to tell the Avengers about his powers later on. He shuffled on his bed a little to get into a more comfortable position. "It's funny… When we were observing everyone in the lab, even if they were at each other's necks, Phil seemed to have known that I already trust the Team."

"Well, Phil always has a good judgment on recruiting people with amazing potential." Fury agreed as he eyed the younger agent from his position near the door. "It's just the matter that most people question why those people usually end up being strays or people that most would have a hard time working with."

Genesis grinned. "He's your other 'One Good Eye' isn't he?"

"And your mentor." was a dry response from the Director. However, there was a fondness in his voice. "On another note, I'm giving Barton another half an hour of rest before he charges his way in here to speak to you. You should get some rest and collect your thoughts."

You're going to have to play along that Phil is dead for now. I'll give you time to prepare.

The young agent could only exhale in acceptance and nod.

"And one last thing, there's someone who wants to meet you that I've assigned to watch over you. Don't do anything too reckless." Fury made his point that he knew the young agent was up to something.

In turn, the former SOLDIER frowned that Fury suspected he had other ideas. "What gave that away?"

"Four magic words: 'I have some plans'." The Director's eye had a crinkle, a hint of amusement. "Phil was once my apprentice. Orders or no orders, if you have something that could contribute in making a difference and you're in a position to do some good, go for it. What he's taught you, is what I have; and you have that look Phil does when he's a man on a mission. I'd rather have someone watching your back if you plan to strike on your own. You're not in the best condition to do anything alone. You can be a reckless person, Rhapsodos, but you're not suicidal."

The SOLDIER's respect for the man couldn't have risen higher. "I'll try to keep you in the loop, keep myself alive, and explain the details after."

A nod. "Good, because the next thing I don't want, are the Avengers after me." Nick snorted, "I'm not sure what you did. Phil may have planned and brought the team together, but somehow along the way you've cemented them to what they are now. I never saw it coming; Stark's willing to lay down his lawyers when Barton was going to be locked up in a cell, and the Captain standing his ground for someone's who's been recently compromised. Let's not start about having the best assassins in SHIELD going after their own Director in the near future if the worst happens to you."

"I think that has to do with the part I nearly died," Genesis rubbed his temple, but then gave the Director a blank glance. "Medical has their eyes on me."

"Give me the mission signal that Coulson usually does for emergencies when you need to get out. I'll cover what I can."

"Thank you, Sir." Genesis then added quickly, "Uh, if you're going to make Phil's death statement with his trading cards, I'd rather you use the ones that I have in my locker, Sir. They're the same originals even if not entirely in mint condition."

"Were those he gave you for last Christmas if I recall?" Fury inquired about his former apprentice. Inwardly, the director was proud Coulson's successor saw what he intended to do from a mile away.

Genesis nodded. "I accepted them just to humor him and the others. I don't I have a thing for trading cards."

"Noted Rhapsodos," Fury opened the door.

By the door, a soldier was waiting. Fury lets him in and said, "I trust you soldier, and you requested me for this. Don't think about betraying my trust. If anything happens, the consequences are as I've said before."

The soldier or who Genesis recognized as the person he pushed away from Loki's scepter blast, saluted to the Director in determination. "You have my word, Sir."

To the two of them, Fury told them, "You both have 30 minutes." He then shut the door behind him.

Even though they have a limited of time to converse, Genesis relaxed back on his bed. He needed a moment. Just a small moment of rest, then he'd focus on his plans. His body felt like lead. As he did so, he studied the man in front of him. Fair complexion, age wise Genesis estimated in the late 20s to Early 30s. Chestnut colored Caesar short haircut, bright blue eyes, his body had a mild build and wasn't so bulky. While the man towered over Genesis in height, Walsh seemed to be uneasy but looked like he wanted to convey something at the same time. He was nervous but determined. Genesis blinked again. He seemed familiar in a distant memory, but he couldn't conjure an image in his mind where he had seen Walsh.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked the nervous person in front of him.

Walsh took a chair and sat down. He sighed like the life was sucked out of him but straightened up on his seat. "I'd like to make a confession."

Genesis' weary face clearly showed that he had no idea where this was going, but gestured the man to go on.

"I know this is weird, but hear me out." The man gulped, "If it means nothing to you, ignore me and we'll get to your plans as the Director ordered."

"Walsh, what are you–"

"Do you remember being someone else? Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, SOLDIER 1st Class and also the leader of the Materia Unit of ShinRa Corporation. You led the preliminary advanced Units 1-5 of SOLDIER at the beginning of the Wutai War."

Genesis literally froze still when he heard his old title and the past details of when the first battle in Wutai started. He would have schooled his facial expression better if he wasn't this incapacitated and worn-out. Yet getting that information bomb out of nowhere dropped onto his lap at this moment was too much even for him.

"How–how do you know?"

The man in front of him laughed a weary chuckle but seemed happy like a found the truth. "Good, it's not a dream. I've only just– remembered– I thought I was going insane!" He then faced Genesis, "I go by Ryker Walsh now, but you may remember me as Ryker Wechsler, SOLDIER 1St Class… I assisted you as your 2nd in Command of the Materia Unit."

A blur of memories sped in Genesis' mind. Wechsler was a man who held the fascination and passion of using Materia as he did. While Genesis at the time wasn't the closest of friends with him outside of work, the red-haired now agent respected the man in the past for having a clear and strategic mind in the battlefield worthy to take his direct commands and act independently. Genesis wasn't someone who played favorites, but he did regard the man for being one of his trusted subordinates at the time.

He winced and his hands flew to his head as more memories invaded his vision.

Genesis was with Ryker and his team found an abandoned lab at the Wutai borders during an advanced survey before the War started, and papers pertaining to Project G. He and his SOLDIERs finding out the harsh truth of the makonoids that were left behind were once SOLDIERs before them who have been KIA or MIA. Then he saw the men rallying together and looking up to him to lead them in deserting ShinRa. After the confrontation with Hollander, he and Ryker making plans on how to disappear in their official assignment in Wutai. Last but not least… was when Ryker was killed by two Turks weeks before Zack was assigned with Angeal to Wutai. Genesis later killed the Turks himself in a fit of rage and revenge when he found them sneaking around in Banora. His mind would have continued further on how the rest of his men turned into his clones, but a hand on his shoulder snapped him back to the SHIELD med bay.

"Commander Rhapsodos?" Ryker asked uncertain, as he offered a tissue.

Genesis panted trying to gain his breath and touched his left cheek with his left hand. He wasn't even aware a tear had trailed down his cheek. He took the tissue and quickly wiped his tears away. His eyes were still red and recovering from the nasty case of tunnel vision. "It's Agent Rhapsodos now," he said after he cleaned himself up. Damn, he hated that he was very vulnerable right now.

"How long have you remembered?" Walsh asked still looking skittish. His heart sort of plummeted to the pit of his stomach when he remembered dying in the arms of his Commander thanks to some Turks. To see his now former commander in tears like this, he guessed things got really bad after he died in his other life.

Genesis breathed out. "I've remembered before I even joined SHIELD. When did you?"

Ryker looked guilt-ridden. "Just after you saved me, all I remember was this huge bubble of white light pulsing through the hanger. Everything else I remembered just came flooding in when I was waiting next to the operation room for you. I'm still sorting through my past memories. I'm not sure if I'm dreaming this up, but… I think the white light felt something like White Magic? Wait–Magic exists here?"

The former commander didn't reply to that. His attention was to the detail that Ryker remembered his past thanks to Aerith's flower bookmark and more on the fact Ryker himself felt it was White Magic to be exact. Could Ryker possibly have a connection to the Lifestream now?

"And it's funny as hell in a creepy way too; now I hear whispers." was a sarcastic comment on top of it.

Well, that pretty much concluded his observations. Genesis' eyes rose up in realization when a part of Ifalna's meeting repeated in his mind.

"Oh, and keep an eye out for an old friend of yours."

Another debt he needed to pay for that Cetra for the heads up. Still, there were more pressing matters. "Ryker."

Ryker's eyes were focused on the younger agent after they wondered. "Yes?"

"Once all of this crap is out of the way, we will talk and I'll try to explain everything. Let's both try to live through our current situation first." Genesis promised. Inwardly, he was actually elated he saved a person he once knew back in his previous life, in a time where things weren't entirely messed up. "For now, can you trust me? We're on a tight schedule here."

Ryker nodded seriously. "You needn't ask. You saved my life back there from Loki. I'm not sure how magic works now, but you'll probably tell me on the fly. Besides, if anything happened to you, Director Fury made a promise he'll kill me, have my remains shredded with a Helicarrier engine, and feed it to sharks. So, what's the plan?"

With the little time they had, Genesis and Ryker set up their escape plan from the Helicarrier. While the destination was still unclear, Ryker was to get a crew that would clearly be in a position they were going to break a lot of regulations in a short time and my ruin their careers in the future in the long run. At the same time, he was also going to obtain a Quintjet from one of the emergency hangers which were on the side of the deck while keeping Director Fury in the loop. As for the rest of the way, Ryker was going to trust Genesis' pre-made plans.

During the time they planned, Genesis noticed how easily they fell back to old habits in the past: the former commander making the plans and rechecking it with his second in command. Honestly, Genesis had missed this no matter how much time had passed since they last had met. Only this time around, Genesis was actually younger than Ryker by at least a half a decade when in the past he was 2 years older than the man in front of him. Reincarnation had its oddities, but Genesis shrugged inwardly and guessed the Goddess had her ways. As much as he wanted to ask what his old friend had been up to, Genesis made an effort to focus and soon wrapped up their plans.

Ryker stood up from his seat as he pocketed their plan. "Save your strength for now. I'll get everything done in no time; on a SOLDIER's Honor."

"I haven't heard that in ages," Genesis said frankly with a sad smile. "Angeal would have been proud."

"He would." the now SHIELD STRIKE soldier nodded but quickly leaned his head to the side. "Are your friends coming here? I think I feel them moving."

"The Lifestream is like a sixth sense for us. We don't have time for details, but you can trust it." The red-haired agent explained briefly. "I think it's your cue to leave."

"One question before I go." Ryker said and paused, before he asked, "Do you still know LOVELESS?"

At that question, Genesis chuckled, "I've never forgotten it."

That earned a laugh from Ryker. "It's good some things never change. Glad to meet you again in this life, Sir."

With that, Ryker left the room. Genesis mentally prepared himself how he'd face Clint and Natasha.

.

.

A familiar scene greeted Bruce as he woke up to a roof that clearly needed some desperate repair with a Hulk-sized hole on it.

He was used to this. Years of suppressing the Other Guy down, also meant there were times that he'd find himself in unexpected places and unclothed (something he wished he could avoid but couldn't no thanks to his transformation). Taking in his surroundings, he seemed to have landed in some sort of large warehouse. His attention then quickly turned in the opposite direction when a uniformed security guard walked over to him. Banner had expected to get shouted or questioned rather rudely, but this guard was old and strangely patient with his circumstances.

Bruce spoke first. "Did I hurt anybody?" It was probably the best idea he settled this quietly. He did literally fall on someone's private property and destroyed some part of it after all.

"There's no one here to get hurt," the guard replied in unruffled demeanor. "You did scare the hell out of some pigeons, though."

"Lucky."

"Or just good aim. You were awake when you fell," the elder man noted.

Bruce blinked and realized he saw the Other Guy. "You saw?"

"The whole thing, coming through the ceiling, big, green, and butt ass nude," the guard described blatantly as he tossed pants to Bruce who was still hiding his modesty behind debris. Bruce caught it easily and put them on. "I didn't think those would fit ya until you shrunk back to regular size."

The guard was actually taking it all calmly. That was good. He really didn't need the Other Guy to make another appearance real soon. "Thanks."

"Are you an alien?"

"What?" the mind-boggling question nearly stopped Bruce's logic mind from working.

"From outer space, an alien?" the guard tried to confirm his previous question.

"No."

The guard scratched his head. "I asked because of that little green guy over there, fell in with you."

Just a few feet away from them, Bruce's eyes widened when he saw a cactus-like creature with two legs and arms waving what was left of his previous clothing. At another glance, it even had two black eyes and even a mouth. Bruce turned to the guard, "I…honestly have nothing to say about it."

Both humans kept their eyes on the cactus as it walked over to them and handed the ripped fabric back to Bruce with a chirp.

"Sorry, but I really can't wear that anymore," Bruce said truthfully. In his mind, he was questioning why he was talking to the living breathing cactus in the first place.

The cactus creature shrugged and dropped the fabric on the ground. It then waved, gave a knowing gesture. Bruce at that point was shocked when a wave of calmness washed over him. It was as it were saying "It's fine. I'm not offended, are you feeling better?" And if that wasn't shocking enough, the same presence reminded him of when Genesis first shook his hand back on the Helicarrier.

"So, which one is it?" the guard asked again.

Bruce blinked his attention from the cactus creature to the guard. "Sorry?"

"Are you the guy that gets all little? Or are you sometimes a guy that grows up large?" the older man waved his hands in motion as he asked.

Bruce could only give a hesitant reply. "You know… I'm not even sure."

"Well son, you've got a condition." In turn, the guard shrugged.

There was a chirp of agreement that came from the cactus creature too which shocked both humans present that the cactus understood their conversation.

"Is that guy an alien?" the guard now asked Bruce about the cactus.

How the hell was he supposed to know? Bruce chose not to answer and wiped his face burning in embarrassment. Why did the weirdest things happen to him? On second thought, he needed some answers that the little guy might provide. Not that he was sure he was going to get a translation for it. He might as well try for the heck of it. The first most obvious question came to his mind.

"Do you have any relation to Genesis?"

It replied with a couple of eager nods. Good, it was full confirmation it understood English at least and answered some of the questions relating to the red-haired agent.

"How come you're here with me? How did you even survive the fall?"

That's when things got interesting. Bruce was suddenly shown visions in his mind of the creature following him around when he was in the Helicarrier being the Hulk trying to stop him from doing too much damage. He even saw Thor referring to it as a 'spirit creature' and trying to convince it to back away from the Hulk and yet refused. Lastly, he saw the Hulk falling in midair as the creature latched onto his pants. Before they impacted the ground, the Hulk had grabbed the cactus and cocooned it in its protective arms.

Out of the visions, Bruce noted there was a questioning look from the guard as he didn't see what Bruce saw. This time, the guard handed him a shirt while still keeping an eye on him. Bruce didn't mind, his thoughts and eyes were on the small green cactus. The fact that the Hulk didn't hurt and even protected it made the Doctor curious on how this all backtracked to an agent of SHIELD. Just who was Genesis really?

"You got somewhere to go?" the guard asked again as Bruce finished buttoning up his shirt.

The Doctor's mind went back to what was a picture on the computer screen he saw before the lab blew up. "Stark Tower." He hesitated. "I– No." A disappointed disapproval cry from the cactus creature jolted Bruce to change his answer. "I mean– Yes." Bruce gave the cactus an accusing look it was the cactus' fault, while the said creature folded its arms behind his head facing the opposite direction, and acted if nothing was wrong.

"I expect some confusion of the mind since your body is all over the place." The guard, this time, chose to ignore the green small guy and gestured towards the exit. "But, it has to be one or the other."

Bruce was reminded of his own conversation with Genesis back in the lab.

"As long as you're in the right mind, everything else should follow. You might be surprised what you might find if you're willing to take chances."

Bruce sighed as he let what was on mind out to the guard. "I know where I do the most good, but it's also where I do the most harm." He was a pacifist, but the Other Guy? He was the opposite.

"Well, that's no different than anybody else. Me? I'm here in Jersey where I can't do much of either. And since I'm not likely to move on from this placement, you may as well– 'pilfer' my ride." The security guard dangled some keys in the front of his face and gestured to the old motorcycle.

The Doctor sighed still not sure he should head back to the Avengers. "I don't know which way to go."

"Your mind's already made up, son. The rest of you will follow." The old security guard smiled as if he knew something that Bruce didn't and left him with the old motorcycle and the green creature. Now Bruce's memory took him to the time when Genesis said he trusted him and the Hulk.

"You know I could hurt you by mistake, right?"

"Don't we all?" the younger agent countered easily. "It doesn't make you different from the rest of us, Bruce. We're all monsters in our own way, but you decide what monster you want to be."

Only then he understood what Genesis was trying to tell him. Rather than be afraid, it was a matter what he decided to do with what he had and everything else would follow suit. Now that last part made Bruce curious. Did Genesis actually refer himself as a monster?

A chirp was heard from the cactus creature and it made a motion to Bruce to hurry up. It was now acting twitchy and worried.

"What's wrong?"

Images assaulted his mind again, only, this time, they weren't something that he had seen. In the hanger, bodies of agents and soldiers were sprawled across the floor. Two disorientated people were on their knees, one of them he recognized was Genesis. Loki was on the other side with his scepter. Bruce felt his heart go cold as Loki shot a blast to the other soldier, but Genesis took the shot for him. Bruce gritted his teeth in alarm as the Other Guy came bubbling up at the back of his mind like a volcano about to burst but then more images played on. It then showed the Avengers surrounding Genesis in trying to keep him alive and finally the medical team evacuating the injured agent away.

The bubbling anger in the back of his mind subsided, as if the Other Guy was content, for now.

When his vision returned back to the conscious world, he found the cactus creature sulking with its arms and head down in front of the motorcycle.

"Is that what happened after we got here?" Bruce asked actually a little spooked out of what he just saw. He was actually glad the young agent had somehow miraculously survived getting hit by the scepter blast. The fact that the Hulk cared was scary.

A sobbing wail was heard from the green creature. Can Cacti even cry? It did. Oh dear, now droplets of raining tears started falling. It would have been comical to see a cactus cried its eyes out like a sprinkler if the situation wasn't serious. Now it was bawling loudly. More tears even fell.

"H-Hey– Don't cry! It's going to be okay. We're going to Stark Tower. Once we settle all of this, I'll get you back to Genesis, alright?" the Doctor offered sympathy in a way he usually comforted his younger patients back in India.

The tears stopped. It looked at Bruce as if were saying, 'You really will?'

"We might as well make use of this motorcycle anyway," Bruce said reassuringly putting the keys in and hopping on. "How are you going to ride this without attracting attention?"

The cactus settled itself on the foot rest of the motorcycle, one hand grabbed on Bruce's leg that was already on it, and then its skin color changed to look like part of the motorcycle as it were a chameleon.

"Oh. That's convenient."

While the scientist in Bruce was baffled and inquisitive on how the process worked, he focused his mind on getting to his intended destination: Stark Tower. Honestly, he had told the guard he didn't really know exactly the way he needed to get to his destination, but that didn't stop him before from traveling around countries and finding his way as a fugitive.

Now, didn't the security guard say he was in Jersey?

.

.

Thor dusted off himself as he stood up from his landing spot in an open field. The fall wasn't enough to kill him outright, but he praised the heavens he had gotten out of the glass cage. He had to admit the humans of Midgard made a well-made jail to contain Banner if the worst happened. Unfortunately, Loki was imprisoned there instead, and things had escalated to a situation Thor regretted come to pass.

The Asgardian God of Thunder slowly walked up to where his fallen hammer fell. He was about to call it to his hand but he paused.

When he heard from his mother Frigga that Loki was alive somehow through her visions in her dreams, Thor was ecstatic and happy that his brother had survived from falling from the Rainbow Bridge. He had thought Loki was gone forever, and mourned the loss of his brother and questioned himself what if their family situation was handled better. Nevertheless, when he heard from Heimdall of Loki's sudden appearance and with it a slaughter of humans, he didn't believe it at first. He had refused to believe it. That wasn't until the All-Father gave him on orders to bring Loki back and Odin had to use forbidden Dark Magic to send his son to Earth to retrieve the Tesseract as well. (3)

Things now escalated to the point that Thor had to accept that his brother was probably beyond turning back. Without any remorse, Loki had taken Son of Coul's life in front of him when the mortal had tried to help. The Asgardian heaved as he suppressed a tender wave of pain in his heart with a loss of a friend. Despite their short friendship, Thor had admired Coulson for wanting to work together back at New Mexico and even as to go so far to protect Jane the moment Loki had made his appearance. On another note, Thor was uncertain if he would get answers out of Genesis about his magic origins with his mentor/father figure killed by his brother. The Asgardian wasn't going to expect forgiveness, but Thor swore to himself he could, at least, ask for it.

Was he even worthy to even help these Midgardians when he was the source of Loki's anger that had caused everything?

Thor's hand fell to his side. His hands clenched.

.

.

Medical Bay Room CC-008...

Natasha was at a loss when her pseudo-siblings hadn't been talking for a long 10 minutes of deafening silence in the hospital room.

Even though Genesis was wide awake from his previous deep coma, the situation was bleak for the three SHIELD agents. It was a no-brainer for the Black Widow or even Hawkeye to notice that their youngest had known that his handler, also father figure was gone. Red and puffed eyes, his body language clearly spelled he was upset, his eyes were avoiding eye contact, and Genesis was doing a bad job of trying to suppress his emotions so they wouldn't worry about him. Natasha couldn't really blame Genesis if he was doing the worst sort of cover-up when it came to his emotions right now. The female assassin inwardly admitted she wouldn't have done a good job of it either if she had been hit by a supposedly deadly magic blast, a hole in the stomach, and found out her closest person she considered family murdered by an enemy.

Contrary to what some people believed about Genesis' calm persona around SHIELD, he was perhaps one of the most expressive people Natasha had known in her life. It was always just a matter of who he showed it to, and he had made it only to show his real self to those he truly trusted or wanted to trust. In fact, Genesis' trait of skillfully wearing masks in public was what had drawn the Black Widow to take an interest in befriending their youngest agent when she first met him. Unlike Coulson and Clint who disguised as other people for more pragmatic reasons in infiltration missions, Genesis understood what it meant for her.

"It's the best thing, isn't it? For a moment, you're not really yourself, but you can believe and live as a different person entirely. All those mistakes in the past don't matter when you're that different person. It's a nice escape while it lasts. Although, I will confess that I'd rather be myself when I do what I do best."

The Black Widow couldn't have agreed more, acting was a second nature to her and she did it with all her heart every time. Nonetheless, when it meant she had to go in for the kill, she liked being herself. (4) Sadly enough, she couldn't really say the same for her longtime partner who was beside her. Clint looked like a person who was crushed beneath a ton of weight. Natasha inwardly sighed as she knew he was blaming himself right now. She wasn't surprised at all if he was blaming himself for his indirect hand of how Coulson had been killed by Loki and how Genesis nearly came dying himself too.

"Clint, you're an idiot."

At this, Natasha raised a brow on how Genesis bluntly said those words outright to the archer but she did not say a thing. What Genesis said perfectly conveyed the right words she wanted to tell Clint.

That seemed to snap Clint out of his self-loathing. "Genesis– If I hadn't told Loki about you or Coulson–"

"Nothing would have made a difference." the youngest in their midst said severely. "You were under a high leveled Manipulation spell, Clint. It's amazing enough you've managed to stop yourself from killing the Director. Don't judge yourself as weak for that."

"Funny, that's what I've been telling him before we came in here." The assassin of their group muttered. "We aren't trained to handle magic."

"I'm the specialist you don't see me fairing as well either," Genesis faced his two closest friends solemnly.

Genesis inwardly knew he was treading on a dangerous matter. He felt more that lucky that his recent tunnel vision of memories back from Gaia had saved him for covering his current predicament that Clint and Natasha thought he was mourning for Phil. It was still painful and emotionally draining to remember those memories he'd rather forget. The consequences for when they would find out later he lied to them would be frightening, but then again he could still point his finger to Fury to take the blame at least. A secret for a secret was his best shot, the best diversion he could come up with now.

Meanwhile, Clint and Natasha both couldn't help but stare at Genesis. Both agents had only heard a handful of small snippets of facts from Phil Coulson. Most of what they heard was a control of elements, but they had their suspicions there was more to it since Phil never elaborated further. Their handler had warned them before it was in the sensitive personal territory, but to actually hear it from Genesis himself was a surprise. In front of both of them, they never saw what Genesis was capable of concerning his 'special' abilities. Both Assassins understood that Genesis didn't wish to be treated differently by his fellow agents. Sure, there were people who were dubbed 'mutants' around, but Genesis wasn't like them (if years of his blood tests by SHIELD was anything to go by). If anything, Clint and Natasha had seen Genesis tirelessly learning and training pushing his own limits of what he could do without his powers.

"Would have it made a difference if we knew your abilities?" Natasha asked first.

"No." Genesis easily replied confident in his answer, making the two assassins uncomfortable. "Loki doesn't fight fair and will do what it takes to win. We were stacked against so many disadvantages and surprises it was nearly the perfect storm."

"Nearly?" Clint asked next.

"I'm alive," the former SOLDIER pointed out. "The reason Loki sought me out because I was a potential target."

Natasha wore a calculated look. "For what exactly?"

"To put a Manipulation spell on me like he did with Clint. He also stated that he wasn't satisfied with his defeat when you, Natasha, beat him in a mind game during the interrogation." Genesis wasn't feeling sorry for Loki when Natasha had that look she decided who was going to be her next murder victim. "Nonetheless, I figured he'd try to target me anyway. During the time he was escorted to his cell he did pass the Wishbone Lab, he most likely sensed I was different from the others."

"But, why did he try to kill you instead?" Clint frowned seeing things didn't add up.

At this, Genesis felt his throat constrict. "That's because I was very close to becoming a puppet for Loki to go against the Avengers." Clint looked disturbed at that and wanted to speak, but the younger agent beat him to it. "I'm still recovering from it, Clint. Like I said, don't sell yourself short. Going against a manipulation spell is difficult if you don't know how it works. Loki failed because I slammed my head on him to break his focus, but it wasn't without consequences."

The Black Widows eyes slightly widened with recognition when she connected the clues together. "Agent Walsh said you pushed him away when you had been disorientated yourself. Since Loki failed to control you, he planned to take his anger on Walsh but you got in the way."

"I won't deny I was in the worst condition to get hit by that scepter blast. Even if I somehow survived the blast, Loki was intent in finishing me off. I got lucky when he thought the Helicarrier was making its fall and he prioritized his own plans to fly off."

The archer in their midst swallowed hard. "What matters most is that you're here and alive; we'll get through this somehow." God, he wished Coulson was there too.

Genesis sighed but smiled weakly, still minding his position from moving too much. "You bird brain, I think that goes double for you. You have no idea how frustrating it is to not able to sense you but know you're alive somehow." When both agents perked up at his strange comment, the younger redhead clarified, "I can sense and know where specific people are, given I know them well enough."

Clint took it in stride although in his mind he was questioning whether things couldn't turn any weirder. "So, you're some kind of human GPS now?"

He rolled his eyes. Let Clint shrug off the weird parts of the conversation easily. It was a sign the archer didn't think any different of him. Inwardly he was gladdened for Barton on being so accepting. "Something along those lines if you want a simple version of it. It's a double-edged sword. All the same, if I can't sense them at all, then the person is dead or too far out of reach."

At this, Natasha became interested and asked, "Genesis, do you know about the status of Thor or Dr. Banner?"

Clint looked at his partner in question. "Natasha?"

"Loki still needs to be stopped." She pointed out. "It's like what you said back in your room, Clint; he's going to make his play today." She then turned back to her younger sibling, "Genesis?"

Genesis was shocked that Natasha took his explanation at face value and trusted him completely, but could only nod. "Give me a moment." He closed his eyes and focused. The Lifestream hummed contented when his connection to his Cactuar summon was still intact. Faintly he could feel that Bruce was with the little green cactus spirit, his anger and rage gone.

When Genesis came to try looking for Thor, though, he winced and recoiled he was without an anchor to find the Thunder God. The result only ended up being a violent backlash in his mind. He didn't hear the shouts of his friends in the room. Black spots, his vision went out of focus; he didn't even know his body had tumbled to the side until he felt Clint holding him from falling out of sheer panic. His wound on the abdomen throbbed at full force causing him to moan in pain and sweat poured down his temples. Natasha cupped her hands on his face and was wiping the blood away with her thumb that had trickled down his nose. He hadn't realized he was in such a bad shape that using the Lifestream he normally did was having adverse effects.

"Genesis!" Clint clicked his fingers, trying to get the red-haired agent's attention away from doing too much. "Damn it. You're hurting yourself in this condition–"

"Bruce… is alive. Out of… his state of rage." Genesis gasped trying to fight the dizziness away. "Thor– I… didn't get to… know him enough. I don't know–"

"Genesis. Stop it. Now." Natasha voiced sternly, but there was a clear tone of worry. "You've done what you can. I'm sorry to let you go through that. I didn't know."

The entirely drained mage didn't say anything but inclined with acceptance, breathing heavily to gain his strength back. He let his eyes droop and close shut to rest.

Clint was silent for a moment. Still letting the younger agent lean on him for support, in a low voice he asked, "What's your plan, Natasha?"

"We'll stop Loki," The Black Widow said certain of her words, "and that's with whoever is left of the Avengers Initiative. Thanks to Genesis, we, at least, know Banner's alive."

Hawkeye breathed a sigh as the thought about her proposal. "Well, if I put an arrow through Loki's eye socket I'd sleep better I suppose."

"Now you sound like you," Natasha said glad to have her partner's spunk back.

"But you don't." Barton countered. "Wading into a war is the soldier's way. You're a spy. I'm suspecting reasons."

"I think you know the answer as much as I do." She knowingly said. Her eyes drifted to the person leaning on Clint, but then her eyes drifted to one side of the bed where the elder agent would usually hover over his youngest charge, yet the spot was absent without his presence. That emptiness only made her more motivated to bring Loki down.

"You've been compromised, and got red in your ledger you'd like to wipe out," Clint said in understanding. In silent agreement, Hawkeye likewise had already decided that two arrows in his arsenal for Loki would have Phil and Genesis' names on it.

.

.

Morning, 43rd Avenue, New York City…

A tall muscular teen walked down the street with paper bags of food from a convenience store towards a car. Beside the car, a teenage girl looked relieved when the boy had returned.

"You got what I asked?" the girl said hopefully.

"Yup," the teen nodded, "and please don't phase yourself through the bags in public."

Kitty sighed, "Yes, dad. I'm not that foolish to do that out in the open, you know." The long brown haired mutant girl took her share of the paper bags and checked them.

Peter ignored her first comment. "How's Zack?"

The girl's lips thinned. "A little better, but come on in and see for yourself."

Both teens had quickly shuffled back inside the car in the front seats and closing the door while the car remained parked. It was a good thing that the windows were decently tinted dark because they both didn't want people to suspect the wrong thing. Zack Fair, the usually spiky-haired and vibrant teen looked awfully sick and pale despite he was sitting upright leaning to one side of the doors, his legs spreading out on the seats horizontally. His hand though clutched to one side of his stomach as it were in pain, even though there wasn't any injury there.

"How is it?" Peter asked briefly.

"It wasn't as bad like an hour ago," Zack replied trying to smile, although his mouth was more of a grimace as if biting back a wince.

Peter sighed. "I hope so; I'm starting to think this is a really bad idea going without telling our teachers, as much as you want to get answers."

If those nightmares weren't bad enough on Zack last night, way too early in the morning the teen asks his help to get to Manhattan pronto. Apparently, the Lifestream which was a part of Zack's power was going haywire. Yesterday it was all 'stay away from danger' and then it's all 'You must go and get answers'. Was the Lifestream schizophrenic? Maybe. Peter wasn't just going to let Zack go off on his own when things like this happened to his closest friend.

"And let's hope the teachers don't punish us that badly when we get back." Kitty quipped. "Out of all of us, your powers are the weirdest, and not to mention sentient."

Katherine Pryde had grown to like the chipper teen's presence, even though he was dense at odd times (despite he was in the same academic classes as Peter). Zack, while he wasn't a mutant at all, had helped them in finding a home. So when Peter said that Zack was on a mission that his powers told him he needed to go somewhere, she tagged along to keep the boys out of trouble. There was that problem about the 'borrowed' car she'd have to get punished for when she got back. With her powers, wiring the steering wheel with her phasing powers was easy.

"Hey, it's not like I expected someone to transfer me their injuries through my brain or something." Fair protested with a pout. "But still… getting glimpses of some glowing stick shooting blue lasers being shot at you is kinda scary." No less by the creepy dude who wore armor with those black strings controlling him which the teen saw beforehand. Zack was feeling very sorry for whoever was at the receiving end of that. Even without the physical injuries, Zack felt the pain was damn excruciating enough.

"Any idea how these visions are connected to you?" Peter said handing over Zack his breakfast of sandwiches.

Zack took them with a thankful look. "Not entirely. I think it has something do with the people my mentor in my dreams knew of. Whoever is injured, I think I got connected to them somehow. The Lifestream is certain they're a friend, but it's not telling me anything other than to keep heading to where it's pointing me to."

Kitty shrugged. "Well, are we getting any warmer or closer?"

Zack was silent for a while and then he nodded as if he received a reply. "It's near. And then it's asking me to wait."

"And wait for what exactly?" Peter asked guardedly.

"I have no idea," the teen replied as honest as he could. "Something big is going to happen, though." Zack then opened his breakfast packet and took a bite.

The three sat silently as they all ate their breakfast. In Zack's mind, though, the Lifestream was buzzing with too much information that the teen had a hard time grasping on any coherent words. Too many of them were whispers, which made him realize he wished Professor Xavier was there.

On the thought of Professor Xavier, his mind went straight to his current mentor, Logan. Crap. I forgot to leave him a note! He was probably going to get into the worst sort of trouble with him. Zack winced on the idea of the best torture training regimen by the burly man when he got back. Logan was probably the only one who considered the Lifestream being too 'pushy' in forcing Zack to do things. In truth, Logan was right; but Zack wasn't really a person who could sit still at a chance of finding the answers he needed.

After the dream the previous night of monsters and many people he knew he was supposed to know in person, his mind nagged relentlessly that what was going to happen now had to do something with his other life or past self. Would he find these people here? If he did, what would he actually do then? More importantly, were these clues the Lifestream leading them on worth the risks?

The young teen sighed as he shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself. There wasn't really a reason to be ashamed of being afraid of the truth. He had started out his journey with Peter to help him find a place he could live safely, but one thing lead to another, and now he was probably involved with something crazier than mutants. Heck, he wasn't even a mutant but had crazy powers, and that power had a mind of its own. His life was officially insane. What next? Were aliens going to come out of the sky and invade Earth?

"So, which way are we heading again?" Kitty asked, this time, snapping Zack out of his thoughts, scrunching up plastic wrappings of her meal.

Zack pointed straight to one particular building. "Over there, around Stark Tower."

.

.

42nd Avenue, New York City

"CHEERS~!"

A roar of a celebration of eleven people shuffled around the tiny pizza parlor that morning that was located in the middle of other taller buildings of a crowded street. One other person, though, was sitting on a different table looking over papers on the desk.

"Yo! Orca! You going to join us or what?" the shorter man waved over. "You can save the reports when we get back! I thought we reserved this place to chillax?"

"Luxiere, you do realize that we're not on duty? Why are you using my codename?" the man replied.

"Back at you, Leader," Luxiere Collins motioned his fingers like pistols, walking over to the taller and muscular man, "We're off work. You're doing full reports. You're kind of beating the purpose we're here in the first place."

"Am I the only one who's suspicious we strike gold on a mission near here, where you of all people planned a get together with Team 3?" Orca inquired gingerly.

Luxiere shrugged. "Dunno; working for CIA Special Activities Division does make our luck gives us the worst clean-up jobs. I don't think we should be complaining given the chance. But I'm not complaining our previous mission doesn't require us for military 'green' full gear. Wearing civilian clothes has its benefits; at least, we're not attracting attention here."

"Yes, two parked vans with special defensive plating won't attract attention being parked in an alley a block from here."

"Yeah? Well, those two vans have their protection and alarm devices active. You sure are super paranoid at the moment, boss." Luxiere sighed ignoring his boss' sarcastic remark. He strolled over to the other table and grabbed their slices of pizza and drinks to the table Orca sat at. "You still need to eat, though. Look, I got this placed reserved because I love me some of Bessie's pizza, and she's going to be sad if we don't eat it."

The taller man looked to where Luxiere was looking, and the female chef of the parlor was giving them a sweet and scary smile. "Where do you meet up with strange women?"

"She's Sally's friend."

"Your wife? How is she by the way?"

"Yeah, her friend since high school, or so I heard; Sally's doing great," Luxiere shrugged, but then pointed out, "At least everyone else is enjoying the food."

"Sorry, it's been… strange; at least since this morning."

"The Lifestream thing?"

Orca looked a little confused at him. "You didn't feel it at all?"

"Kind of; I'm not as tuned to it as you are, and you know that." Luxiere softened his voice a little. "I get it. There's a feeling like we're on our next mission, but we're in Manhattan and HQ hasn't beeped us any emergencies. Intelligence agencies have been better at sharing information since 9/11 happened, right?" Maybe it was a false alarm?

"Hmm."

And there goes his leader in 'pondering mode' looking out the window blankly and back to his reports. Inwardly, Luxiere rolled his eyes. For being his comrade in arms since they first joined the Army Rangers, his friend carried a lot of invisible weight with him. The shorter man didn't blame the guy, especially when he had memories of another life in full. Luxiere had a few memories here and there and he also knew his current friend in the previous life too, but it wasn't to the point it bothered him greatly. In fact, the shorter man was happier in not wanting to know more. What made him the person right now wasn't his past.

He then turned to the rest of his six cell team, Team 2. His boss doesn't seem to remember them from a previous life, but Luxiere faintly does in bits and pieces. Was it fate that brought them together? Who knows? At first, he wasn't at all comfortable with them all as if they had some nefarious thing to him in the past. (5) Still, when he brought up the topic if they had met before, all he received were confused faces.

Azel Ramos, a beefed and towering white-haired giant that was all muscles, had a tendency to boast about his cute daughter pictures and selfies to everyone he deemed friends every single chance available. Nobody would probably believe the guy was bloodthirsty on the battlefield unless they saw him with their own eyes. Luxiere wasn't a father himself yet, but when he tried getting reactions from Azel on those supposed memories he had, all he got were tips on 'how to be the greatest dad ever'. The shorter man stopped asking questions when Azel suggested on baby names next. That was something he was going to discuss with his own wife, thank you very much.

Rose Cruz, the red-haired lady of their group was pretty much aggressive, insensitive, and sadist. There were only so many times he could get her attention without getting blackmailed or gutted. She was a very private person. Work was work, and her private life had no say in a team discussion. All the men in their team didn't complain considering she was best of what she did and worked well in a team. Oddly enough, she worked the best with Azel and they were field partners. No luck there if he wanted to get answers for memories in the past life.

Then there were the Gagliardi brothers, Wesly, and Neer. The brothers were tight as siblings. Wesly being the older was the calmer one. Neer has anger issues now and then, only because he's protective of his older brother. Wasn't it supposed to the other way around? Whatever. The two of them were probably the most approachable compared to the last two. But… they didn't seem to react on anything on what he told them. So, they refused the idea they knew each other in another life, and they weren't believers in reincarnation. No dice. (6)

As for Team 3… well, Luxiere had no idea about their specialties or quirks. It was the reason why there was this get together after the mission, and to get to know more about the other team. So far even if they were hanging out, sometimes they slipped back to codenames. While the four of his own teammates of Team 2 were doing okay, it was getting awkward without his leader in the mix.

"Hawley."

No reaction from his boss.

"Angelus."

The man frowned back and stopped from what he was doing. "How many times have I reminded you it's fine to call me by my nickname? It's Angeal." (7)

Luxiere chuckled, "Hey, it works in getting your attention. Funny how your real name is your nickname this second time around, huh?"

Angeal actually smiled back. "I don't mind at all. I do have Italian roots as a part of my family, but it's nice to have a reminder of who I was." He didn't mind at all for the family name change either, it was close enough to his previous one.

"You're going to have to come around the main table sooner or later. Preferably sooner."

"One more short report, I promise."

The shorter man sighed and knew he couldn't push the guy any further. "Fine, I'm just looking after my younger colleague even though he's my boss." He took his glass and pizza on a plate from their table to the main table to join the cheer and conversation.

Privately Angeal saw the irony in the situation that the man Luxiere had been in the midst of the 3rd Class SOLDIERs who idolized Zack of all people. The former 1st Class was proud he had actually found and taught an apprentice in what he knew was another life he lived, but at times, he regretted his past actions. What he did to Zack he considered unforgivable. Angeal as the person he is now, tended to be more practical. He still had some of his honor intact, but being in CIA's SAD Special Operations Group, there were just some targets that he preferred dead than alive. If he ever did have a chance to live his previous life again, he would have done things differently.

In secret, Angeal shuffled the papers again to find a sheet for a list of names that could have matched his old red-haired friend empty. It made him think over whether Genesis had a different name altogether and he was looking for the wrong person in name or if he did exist at all in this second life. Knowing Genesis in the past, would he have accepted another chance at life when he would have been reunited with his Goddess? Angeal had to admit he only had recently started to search for his red-haired friend again due to his mother remembering more of her past. Also, he learned that from his past memories, his blood-related father now was the same adoptive father he had in the past who bought him the Buster Sword. Hollander (his supposedly real past father) was nowhere to be found. He didn't understand why his mother had forgotten about him too, but to Angeal, he figured it was for the best.

Then there was the Lifestream being uncharacteristically chatty since last month. He wasn't the most adept when it came to magic in the past or now (that was Genesis' expertise), but he didn't ignore something that had been like a personal danger alarm since he was twelve. It saved him numerous times during his service to the army, and many more times under CIA's paramilitary division.

As for this morning, Angeal could deny it all he'd like, but he didn't like the signs the Lifestream were giving. For him, it was like feeling an inevitable countdown. He had his skepticisms as Luxiere mentioned. The intelligence communities in America as of whole had improved a long way since New York's Twin Towers fell. If there had been any indication of a large scale terrorist attack, his team would have been notified way before anything could have happened or the other teams in his organization were sent to handle the threat. There was a reason why in the half past decade there had been more numerous joint operations with other enforcement organizations. So where did this other threat might come from?

He shuffled the paper that listed his search results back hidden into his stack, and decided to forget in actually continuing his short report. Angeal knew when he was defeated and too distracted to make a report. Slipping the stack into a large envelope, he then securely placed it into his bag.

At the sudden activity from muscular man, Luxiere grinned looking at Angeal. "Finally; decided to join in the fun?"

"If you mean to socialize and breakfast, then yes," Angeal replied calmly not wanting to alert the others of his restlessness. This time, he actually took his food and drink with him to the main table.

Getting prepared for an encounter he was dreading to come soon as his true motive, was left unsaid.

.

.

Helicarrier Corridor…

Steve Rogers tread quickly in a search of Howard's son. With the attack on the Helicarrier, most of the corridors were empty. It seemed the majority of agents were feeling very tense and alert after the attack that most of them to stuck in groups or at least with one another person. His eyes scanned the area. The genius was nowhere to be found. The super soldier guessed he probably hadn't gone far, especially with how he abruptly left the command center after Fury's consolation. For Steve himself, one of his pockets on his belt felt heavier than he thought it would, even though there were only trading cards inside them.

"These were in Phil Coulson's jacket. Guess he never did get you to sign them." Fury had scattered them on the table, they were coated in blood.

And not over a day ago, Steve had heard Genesis teasingly whisper to his mentor suggesting him to get the very same cards signed in the same command bridge. The younger agent had been ecstatic that his mentor could finally meet with his hero, even if things were kind of awkward when they first met. To actually see the man gone had left tugging pang of pain in Steve. While he didn't know the elder agent himself, Fury had personally stated he had lost one of his best agents.

Another turn in a corridor and Steve found the genius looking through a window pane that overlooked the now empty Detention Cell. The super soldier had noticed at the familiarities with how Howard had been grieving for a few of their fallen men during the SSR's active years in the WWII. Tony's eyes were fixated on the wall discolored with blood.

"Was he married?" the blond asked. When the other man raised a brow, Steve added, "Genesis never got to tell me about it."

"No. There was uh- a cellist, I think."

"My condolences, he seemed like a good man," Steve said standing beside the industrialist.

Stark shook his head. "I think it's to Genesis you're supposed to say those words to."

"I have a feeling you knew him; well, more than I have," the soldier pointed out.

Tony couldn't say anything. The super soldier was right. Yet he hadn't known the man that was now dead. If anything, Fury's words only made the self-proclaimed philanthropist guilty. The billionaire hated lies; but for once, he wished he believed in the Agent more.

"Yes, we were going to build an arsenal with the Tesseract. I never put all my chips on that number, though, because I was playing something even riskier. There was an idea; Stark knows this, called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could. Phil Coulson died still believing in that idea, in heroes."

The fact Genesis confided in him that Agent did believe in Tony in his office before Fury told them made the guilt feel worse. Now the man was gone and Tony never had gotten to thank him. Pepper was going to be devastated when she'll hear the news.

"Have you heard any progress about Genesis' condition?"

Tony's eyes lingered for a while on the bloodstained wall before he stepped back and faced the captain. "I heard he was awake from JARVIS, but I think Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton deserve to see him first."

Steve sighed in relief. "That's good. I don't think I'll settle with losing him if it came to it. He's a great friend."

"Hmm, I believe that; but I'm torn whether both he and his mentor were too bold or just suicidal for taking Loki on alone."

"They both did what they had to because it was their job, even if it means going against impossible chances. Sometimes there aren't any other options you could take, Tony."

Stark was little startled when Steve had called him by his first name, but he couldn't accept the elder man's way of thinking. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree. Loki was very specific with his targets. He made it personal."

Steve wasn't sure where the genius was going the idea. "That's not the point."

"That's the point, Rogers." Stark insisted. "He hit us where we live. Also, if there's someone who figures out things a second closer to how fast I think on this Helicarrier, it's Genesis. I'm wagering he might know something, considering Loki made him his specific target." The industrialist made his way towards the med bay.

Steve followed Howard's son easily in stride. "All right. The faster we figure it out, the better chance we have against fighting Loki and get things done."

The moment the two men reached the medical bay, they were both greeted by the Black Widow.

"Took you two long enough," She said as she crossed her arms. But after, she waved them over toward one room in the corner of the med bay. "Come on in."

Inside, Steve laid his eyes on Genesis who was tiredly leaning on his propped up bed. His skin color was nearly white as a sheet but he was wide awake and in a silent conversation with Agent Barton. His eyes said everything. He was grieving for his lost mentor.

"Genesis?"

The red-haired agent's attention was on the Captain. "Yes, Steve?"

"I'm sorry about what happened to Phil. He was a good man."

Genesis closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them he exhaled. "Thank you, Steve, but I'd like to grieve properly later. I'm… in a place to take over the Team, now that the position that is vacant." He was referring to Coulson's place to lead the support of the Avengers Initiative.

"Are you sure? You're injured like this." Steve frowned at the younger agent.

"You going have to deal with the fact I can be very stubborn when I wish to be," Genesis said lightly. "The fact you and Tony are here looking determined tells me you want to ask questions. I'm not in the best condition, but I will do what I can to help."

The old timer reluctantly obeyed Genesis' wishes. His will to fight no matter how bad things got reminded him about his own men The Howling Commandos back in the day. Steve slowly approached the injured agent from the opposite side of the bed where both Romanoff and Barton stood. From one of his pockets, he handed something back.

"Here, I think you dropped this." Steve handed over the flower laminated bookmark back to its owner.

Genesis blinked in surprise. "Thank you… I thought I had lost this." It was the one thing that did stop from Loki killing him immediately when he nearly died. Even if the magic in it was gone, he owed Aerith his life.

The captain chuckled wanting to light the somber mood a little, "Well, at least, you don't need to apologize of losing a gift from a young lady when you promised to meet her again."

This comically had gotten the attention of two spies and billionaire in a flash; they were looking at Genesis if he would spill the beans.

In return, Genesis gave them all an annoyed look. "I assure you, it's a platonic sibling relationship," he deadpanned, "No matter where the winds may blow." He still carefully put the bookmark on the side table in easy reach.

"Huh. Well, that's proof you're up V," Tony took over the conversation. He wasn't one for depressing conversations. "Glad to see you alive and 'quote complaining'; but after nearly dying and all, you could do yourself a favor and get yourself a girlfriend later."

Seeing that the younger agent looked like he was soon going to suffer from a headache, Steve steered their conversation back to business. "I think we should discuss the next course of action. We need more information on Loki."

Clint may have been silent all this time, but he offered what he knew. "He never told me anything specific while I was under his… control; but the invasion is today."

"Bruce is probably heading there already." Natasha voiced her thoughts. When all the males in the room looked at her, she easily said, "He was the last person who saw what was on the spectrometers' program. Unfortunately all the detection instruments were destroyed in the blast. I don't know about you boys, but I'm not keen in waiting for a Hulk appearance to find the cube's location."

Genesis on the inside was thankful that the Widow hadn't said once how she certainly knew Bruce Banner was alive, but now Tony had his eyes on him. "Yes, Tony?"

"I've been thinking a lot on your situation."

"And?"

"I think Loki targeted you because you know a lot of things. You even guessed where his plans are going before," Stark motioned referring him to his job as a tactical forecaster, "More importantly, you know how Loki thinks."

Genesis understood where the billionaire was taking this. "If Thor's information is accurate, he's not going to be exactly discreet, as in past he was overshadowed by someone else. When the Captain caught him in Germany was proof how he handled things."

Tony listed two details off his fingers. "So he wants to be seen and an audience."

"The area's going to be packed with civilians then," Steve noted trying to formulate plans. "That's not good. There's still power source that he needs too. "

"Yeah, but what happened before? That's just previews. This– This is opening night. And Loki, he's a full-tilt diva. He wants flowers, he wants parades, and he wants a monument built to the skies with his name plastered–" He paused but came to a realization. "Son-of-a-bitch!"

"Just where exactly is Loki?" Steve asked the others, resisting the urge to say something on bad language on Stark's part.

It was Genesis who replied for Stark, as he was the other person who could rival the genius' deduction in the room. "It's evidently Stark Tower. The source of energy meets the specifications as Bruce told us, and unfortunately, the tower is in New York City, which is a strategic place to make his declaration to rule the world and start an invasion simultaneously."

"Any news on Thor?" Steve asked back.

Clint and Natasha were both apprehensive on Genesis' behalf despite their physical near perfect poker faces. They didn't want to see their youngest in their midst getting further injured, especially when it was because he tried to locate Thor not too long ago. When Genesis made no effort in using his powers they let it slide and relaxed.

"None, but I'm suspecting free falling won't kill him easily with him being an Asgardian," Genesis replied to the Captain. "He found Loki before easily when he arrived on Earth. If Loki is making a grand show, you can bet Thor can sense him somehow. Expect him to be late to the battle, but he'll be there."

Tony waved to the group. "That's good. I'll be going; I need to make some quick repairs to my armor if that thing's going to fly me back."

Before he disappeared out of the room, Genesis called. "Tony."

"Yes?"

"It's best you notify JARVIS. You could, at least, activate an emergency evacuation within the building area for Stark Tower." The former commander suggested; Stark Industries had employees in there. It was no wonder the billionaire was in a hurry.

"Will do; thanks for the suggestion V. I'll take it." With that, he left the room and swiftly headed towards the armory.

Steve straightened and nodded to the rest of the room's occupants. "Time to go; can any of you fly one of those jets?"

"I can." Clint volunteered.

"Got a suit?"

"Yeah."

"Then suit up."

Clint turned his attention to Genesis. "Take it easy while we're away, okay?"

Genesis was actually already on the medical bay tablet for patients sliding commands. And then he ushered the archer, assassin, and super soldier to take a look. "The Quintjet in Bay Six is currently occupied by a single pilot and technician. It should be easy for you borrow the plane with the Bridge being none the wiser."

"Even when you're injured like this, you're still planning 10 steps ahead," Steve shook his head in amusement. "I'm actually glad we're on the same side."

"You'd be surprised on how many things Genesis gets away with," Natasha claimed a small smile on her lips. She then gave the young agent a peck on the forehead. "We'll bring back a souvenir back–I think we can get Loki's helmet."

Both Clint and Genesis looked at each other. In silent conversation, they understood even though her face looked innocent, this was one of the signs of a stoic murderous Natasha. If Thor didn't stop from Natasha killing Loki, nothing will. Well, perhaps unless the Hulk got to the God of Lies first.

"Get well soon, Genesis. We'll take care of Loki." Steve said patting the younger agent on the shoulder, and he made his departure from the room.

"Clint? Natasha?" When both agents had their attention on him from the door, Genesis said, "When you come back from beating the crap out of Loki, whatever you ask… I'll answer. I think it's time I need to explain a lot of things I need to get off my mind... Stay safe."

Although both agents were shocked at Genesis' sudden admission, they gave silent nods to their youngest agent in understanding. Genesis was expecting them to come back from the battle alive. They too soon followed the Captain out of the door.

Not even a minute after the remaining Avengers members had left the room, a familiar face popped in from the door.

"Seems like they're fired up; I got your gear and everything else you listed." The STRIKE soldier said entering the room and laying a duffle bag over the bed. He handed over Genesis tablet that had the contingency plans which were previously in his locker.

"Thank you, Ryker." To Genesis, from the way Ryker held himself was as if they never left Gaia at all.

"I've got a small escort team rearing to go waiting in the Quintjet," Ryker also mentioned. "So, where's Loki?"

"The Avengers are heading to New York City, Ryker," Genesis said brief and forcing himself to stand up from his hospital bed; "we're not directly joining them." He took the IV and blood supply needles out of his arm. After, Genesis went straight to getting himself dressed in his diagnostic SHIELD suit. He could use some extra protection.

Agent Walsh inclined anyway, he figured Genesis had other plans he wasn't privy to yet. "You need help with that?"

"I'm fine."

The former commander then had converted what was left of his magic powers of Lifestream to his physical stamina. Almost immediately he felt his sixth senses dulled by a large margin and barely felt the Lifestream Agent Walsh emitted. Not a few seconds later, he only felt own Lifestream flow inside his body. The numbness of the lack of extrasensory sensors was making him uncomfortable. Yet, he was willing to risk it if it meant he avoided from fainting when he'd make use of his stamina for walking and running later. No magic use. He was just an ordinary agent now, brittle than ever. With his main injury still rather tender, he decided only to fight head on if it was utterly necessary. Fury wasn't letting Genesis go to get himself killed anyway, and he wasn't going to the Avengers' efforts to save his life be in vain. He quickly and efficiently donned on his suit.

Once he was finished, he gave himself a swift look-over in the mirror rechecking nothing was out of place. He wore SHIELD field tight black trousers with protective knee paddings, streamlined armless Kevlar vest that was similar to Hawkeye's but rather than the cross on it, Genesis' pattern was a simple straight red rectangle lining down. Over his vest, he sported a black sleeved quasi-leather jacket with the lines accented in a dark red. To finish things off, he put on his dark red fingerless gloves and wore his belt that securely holstered his firearms on each side.

"You know, I'm missing your red leather duster look," Ryker commented with a smirk. "And now you're actually using guns."

Genesis smiled back, with a raised brow, "I'm actually surprised you didn't refer to the fact I'm more of Turk than a SOLDIER now considering I wear black suits on a daily basis. Shall we get going?" For the flashiest part, he left that to Steve Rogers in all his red, blue, and white suit glory. Here he was a spy and agent first. For luck, he took Aerith's bookmark and slipped it into his inner jacket pocket.

A nod. "I'm positive the Turks would have a heart attack if they saw you wear a suit in front of them. Sure, we're heading to Bay Seven immediately as planned."

The two exited the medical bay and headed towards the hanger area via another route that was deserted. It was best they avoided from meeting people. Their plan was to get out without alerting people who were at the main bridge. Ryker had given Fury the signal that they were leaving, and true to the Director's words, there was minimal to no intrusions as they moved.

"How many people do we have?" Genesis asked as they walked at a brisk pace. Their goal was to establish at least a command center quickly in nearest possible location to Stark Tower, most favorably before the Avengers would arrive there.

"With you and me, eight," Agent Walsh listed off, "We got a pilot and he said he's retiring in two months. Two of them are my friends in STRIKE and they're going as thanks to you for getting me back. The last three were insistent they wanted to help you once they heard Agent Coulson's wish for you to activate the contingency plans. We'll debrief with all of them once we're airborne."

"Excellent. That's plenty. Thanks for getting me a team on short notice." Genesis nodded in gratitude.

"You're welcome."

The moment they got into the hanger, Genesis was in for a treat that everything was smooth sailing. Apparently, the pilot that Walsh recruited had special authorization on the Bay Area of that hanger that they easily departed with no fuss. Very soon they were actually soaring through the air in stealth mode flying towards the direction of the city.

Genesis made the initiative to contact the Communications deputy director through the plane's comms. Genesis opened up the video feed. "Agent Dylans."

~( Rhapsodos? How's the Hellicarrier? Why hasn't anyone contacted us?! )~

"We've suffered an attack from the inside. The hostile Asgardian got away, but that's the least of our problems." Genesis replied as calmly as he could. "The Hellicarrier communications should be up shortly, especially when we're expecting an invasion soon."

Dylans gulped, a bead of sweat coming down his temple. ~( An invasion?! Where? )~

"New York City, more specifically Stark Tower," He stated clearly. "I suggest you raise the alarms for that area; but more importantly, where's the closest command center we have on the field?"

~( New York?! God help us all. I'll notify the Emergency Response Center right away! )~ the Communications deputy director said seriously. ~(I'll send you the coordinates for the command center and alert the team there you're coming. It's roughly three blocks away from your target area. )~

"Thanks. I'm also sending my completed plans to you." The former SOLDIER said as he swiped his connected tablet to transfer data, and gave the coordinates to his pilot as their destination. "Are there any chances we may get back-up from the Triskellion from Washington D.C.?"

~( Negative, not on a short a notice like this. )~

Well damn; but Genesis had expected it. In that case…, "Agent Dylans, please notify the other intelligence agencies in the immediate area of the threat. We need them to know there's an attack coming."

~( Genesis, what are you thinking? )~ Dylans asked.

"How to minimize casualties as much as possible," Genesis said in a hurried tone. "Look, with the contingency plans I'm transferring you right now, it should cut most of the red tape by half, if not more. The Avengers will handle the real problem, but we're there to support them to get civilians out of the danger zone ASAP. If there's enough manpower, please make the request to assign any willing personnel to this operation."

~( Easier said than done, without any proof there is an attack at all, I don't think they will do anything. )~

"Then make sure to ring the main frequency alarm for a national security emergency like a terrorist attack," Genesis suggested. "That way, we can lessen the chance of the government pointing too many fingers at us later for the blame. See section FFVII on my plan."

Suddenly Dylans blinked in confusion. ~( Your plan… how did you the hell get the command chain to the Secretary of Defense? )~

"Agent Coulson started me early, and I have been planning for years." Genesis shrugged. Well, as early as just after he graduated from the SHIELD academy; but Dylans didn't need to know the details.

The communications deputy director ignored that comment seeing a pattern of whoever Agent Coulson took under his wing turned to be frightening agents in their field. ~( The team at the command center at your requested destination are prepared for your arrival. I'll be focusing on establishing a link and using the command chain there so we can run the operation effectively. I'll see you there Rhapsodos. Over. )~

"Thank you for your assistance, Agent Dylans. Over."

From behind Genesis, Walsh stood leaning on one leg observing his past commander in slight awe. "You've changed, but I think it's a good thing."

"Hmm?"

Ryker shook his head. "Or maybe this is just the first time I'm seeing you have no intentions to be fully involved in the center of what's going on." In the past, Genesis was the type who wanted to get that sort of attention.

"The wind sails over the water's surface. Quietly, but surely… I may not be directly involved, but with Coulson as my mentor and, in turn, the Director of SHIELD was his, I was bound to be dragged to the center no matter how hard I try to avoid it." The red-haired agent admitted.

"You? Avoiding spotlight?" the former 2nd in command gaped. No way. "The world is ending, isn't it?"

Genesis chuckled at Ryker's reaction. He had to admit, this was actually amusing. "I certainly hope not. I like this second chance the Goddess has given me. The last thing I want is the God of Lies making his throne here on Earth."

The older man blinked. "The Goddess… you mean she's real? You met her?"

"As much fun I'll have making you confused with everything, I think we should focus here and now." The red mage advised. Genesis directed Ryker back to his teammates by putting a hand over his shoulder. "We're in desperate need of a short debriefing. I'll have to explain the technicalities with everyone on what they need to do before we land."

.

.

Director Nick Fury was looking over the deck silently, his hands across his back. From behind him, his deputy director approached him.

"Sir."

"Agent Hill."

"Those cards you let Rogers take, they were in Coulson's locker, not in his jacket," She stated. When Fury only turned to her and looked back over the deck, she realized her mistake. "So, they weren't Coulson's cards at all."

"They needed the push." The Director gave her his answer. "It just so happens Agent Rhapsodos was forthcoming in substituting the real thing."

"Is that why Bay Seven's Quintjet is also missing and no one has reported it?" Agent Maria Hill softly said not wanting to alert the other agents. The only person she guessed was capable enough to leave discreetly in this situation would be Coulson's apprentice. With the way her superior was acting right now, she predicted Fury had a hand in Genesis' departure.

"Before we lost Phil, he told me that Genesis held a large-scale contingency plan. It's only a matter of time things will come into motion."

"I see, Sir." So there was a plan after all.

The intercoms blared. "We've got an unauthorized departure from Bay Six."

Both spy agents straightened at the news and from the glass panes saw Iron Man and a Quintjet fly away.

Fury gave the order. "They found it. Get our communications back up, whatever you have to do. I want eyes on everything."

"Yes, Sir."

.

.

Morning, in a deserted small park…

"Before I got here, I was in a field of flowers and the sky was white. Everything was so peaceful. It's as if I could rest there forever there… and suddenly–here I am," the see-through figure stated hesitantly as if questioning his existence.

The girl with a biology book in her lap tapped her chin. "Well Mr. Suit-and-Tie, I can't help you much if I don't know how you got here. You know, before you turned… transparent."

To normal people who walked by in some sort of park that day, the brunette girl with her hair plait, sitting on a bench, looked like she was talking to herself rather than with another person in front of her.

Phil sighed wiping his face anxiously. Was he stuck in Limbo? Where did people go when they really died? As much as he wanted help and an explanation on how he got into this predicament, he couldn't afford to spill organization secrets to someone who was alive… to a civilian no less. It was creepy enough of feeling people go through him and couldn't see he still existed. Yes, he was relieved that this girl could communicate with him (despite him being dead and a ghost he deduced), but explaining to a teenage girl he died because of a certain Asgardian God of Lies was something he didn't want to do. There was only so much craziness people can take.

"Sorry, but some things are better left unsaid." He apologetically replied.

The girl only giggled at him as she straightened a pink bow accessory she tied in her hair, "Fine, you can have your secrets. You can call me… Umm, oh! Holly!"

Obviously, it wasn't her real name. However, Coulson took her chipper behavior in stride and smiled back. He might as well play the same game. "Very well, Holly. So you're able to see ghosts?" Sure, he had some weird case of powers in SHIELD's Index list, but this was his first. Being dead didn't really help matters, but he was curious for the most part.

"Nope; I've never seen ghosts and I'm sure I won't be seeing any in the future." Holly clarified. As she observed him, she noted, "You're not dead, you know. What I can do more has to do with Life than the afterlife."

Hold it. Was he alive? Phil was now questioning what was really going on. He was very sure he said his last words in the Detention Cell to Fury, he died then and there. "Is there a way you can find more answers without me telling you directly?" he asked specifically this time.

"Hmm… well for one, just say that I know that your soul is anchored and someone brought you back alive." The girl clicked her fingers as she decided on an idea. She laid her hands out to him. "If it's alright with you, can you give me your hands?"

A dubious look spread on the agent's face. "I'm a ghost. How could you–"

"There!" the green eyed girl grinned swiping the agent's hands easily into her own.

"Holly? What?! How?!"

"Stay still, silly!" the girl told him. "I'm not going to bite. Just give me a moment to focus so I can figure out what's the matter with you, okay?"

Phil weakly inclined his head as the teen ignored his expression of utter disbelief and closed her eyes. He was a ghost, right? Maybe 'not-really-a-ghost', since Holly felt solid to him. Solid. Oh God, this was surreal. As an agent, the afterlife wasn't his forte, and he wasn't exactly all that religious either. His body shivered when he felt as if someone showered him with water even though he was dry, which refreshed his soul. It didn't even help that the connection with Holly's hand and his glowed white with mysterious power.

Holly opened her eyes and the glow disappeared from her fingertips. "Hmm, Okay. You did die, but have been brought back, and you should have gone back to your body. It's just… something foreign was introduced, and your soul ended up wondering here for some odd reason. I think it was trying to get to safety." (8)

"Foreign?" the agent parroted. He didn't understand why his soul went to her of all people if that were the case.

"I think the better description would be… alien?"

Even though Phil was actually an apparition, he went pale with cold dread. Was the girl psychic?

"Hey, it's going to be alright!" She tried to mend Coulson's panicked face. "I can help you get back where you're supposed to go."

"Am I going to get answers on how you suddenly concluded I was involved with aliens?" Coulson countered the girl. Being right about it was left unsaid.

It was Holly's turn to give him an apologetic innocent smile in return. "Sorry, it's a trade secret. But look behind you."

When Coulson did turn around, he saw a white green pathway made out of particles and energy tendrils of light. "It's… not what I expected. Is that supposed to get me back?"

"Yeah, kind of like the Yellow Brick Road." Holly referred to the Wizard of Oz. The tendrils moved towards the man as if it were offering a hand to help. "You needn't worry, it'll guide you back."

Coulson was nervous at first because he was way out of his comfort zone. Should he trust the girl? So far the girl hadn't lied to him once. Not to mention he had never seen someone this sincere that would dare to backstab him. In the end, Phil decided to roll with it. While he had accepted he had died, if God or some deity gave him the opportunity to go back, he'd do it for his SHIELD family and Audrey.

He took a breath and was surprised to feel the offered tendril was solid. "All right… Umm… thank you, Holly."

"Glad to be of help, Mr. Suit-and-Tie," Holly waved him goodbye, "I think we'll see each other again Mr. Phillip Coulson."

Phil gaped. "Wait! Who are you?!" How did she know his real name?!

Not second after, other tendrils of light covered him. He was being vacuumed backward. The park started to fade, distant, and he saw no more.

Aerith Gast recently dubbed herself 'Holly' exhaled, hands on her hips, and nodded to herself as she considered her job well done.

She wondered how Genesis was doing right now. The flower girl had assumed the worst when she nearly couldn't feel the former Commander's Lifestream's presence early that morning. Ifalna, of course, had made it her mission to probably contact Genesis via the Lifestream. The flower girl could have gone along with her mother to help, but her own Lifestream flow leads her here and told her that some else needed her help. She hadn't anticipated seeing the soul of Genesis' mentor wondering around.

Things must have been terrible if Genesis was hurt and he even had resorted to casting ReRaise on his mentor (knowing how paranoid he was with using his magic powers). She made a note to herself the minute Genesis contacted her again she would tell him something weird was going on with his mentor's condition. The soul shouldn't have wondered for a Reraise spell. Her mother would probably have an idea what was wrong, but she would console with her later. For now, she had done what she could.

Aerith stood up with a book in hand and headed back to the dorms of the SHIELD facility he family was staying at. Her other hand gripped to her chest, she breathed out another exhale as she tried to muffle the Lifestream whispers. To her, it was like receiving multiple sound ripples from a couple of sources at the same time. For someone of a Cetra lineage, it was normal by Gaia's standards. On Earth, it was new to her. The fact that it involved a large battle ahead made her nervous.

She looked up to the sky. "Stay safe, Genesis; you said you'll try to find Zack and the others, right?"

.

.

49th Street, New York City

New York City wasn't exactly his playground when it came to snooping around in search of information or tailing important people around. In fact, he had to confess, the only reason why he was in the Big Apple was because his friend had dragged him to go 'take a break' from what he usually did. Free tickets, accommodations and everything else were covered by his friend who claimed he had gotten a sponsor for it. He was supposed to be on a vacation. Even so, information was always a priceless bargaining chip. He wasn't one to miss out on the opportunity when lady luck gave him a good hand.

He wore semi-casual clothes, a paper packed coffee cup in hand, a cap on his head, and a newspaper tucked under his other arm. To anyone else around him, he was a normal person in New York minding their business for the day like so many who were walking down the streets. To the trained eye, though, he was expertly following a blond man who wore a finely tailored business suit from a few feet away. He positioned himself easily and moved with purpose. This current 'mark' so to speak, wasn't the type he usually followed to get a quick buck and would usually land said target in jail.

This was personal. The person he was following was no doubt one of the people he knew in a distant life.

He was following the previously known Lazard Deusericus the SOLDIER union executive of Shinra Electric Power Company, but now known as Lazard Derricks who he 'heard' was supposed to be a missing Roxxon Oil Corporation executive board member. (9)

Oh, how he waited the day when everything would really make sense. How he had some form of knowledge of the Lifestream meant something in this lifetime around. No matter how much he reasoned himself that this life and his previous life were two different things, his past self's experiences have what shaped him as the man he was today. He was one of West Coast's best underground informant and whistleblower; and if this moment was what gave him a chance to get answers he'd go to hell and back to get it.

He was eleven when somehow the 'him' in this lifetime and the person he was before in another lifetime had melded into one person. His past self had a bad case of self-loathing; while he had known bad things were going on, he didn't act or do anything enough to make a difference. This time around he wasn't going to make the same mistake. If what he did put untouchable people in large conspiracy rings in trouble with the government or better yet in jail, it was well worth it. While it's not as heroic as his past best friend would have imagined, but, at least, he could sleep easier a company as large as ShinRa in this world could be taken down with the right sort of information.

It was probably the best Kunsel could do for Zack Fair's memory. (10)

With Lazard now around, it made Kunsel wonder whether his naïve, headstrong, and courageous friend was also out there in the world living a second life like he was. There was a treasure trove of questions that now he wanted answers to.

As Lazard made a turn to Lexington Avenue, Kunsel started to feel wary as a buzz from the Lifestream become louder from the back of his mind. 'A warning at a time like this?' Sure there were times when his work as an informant the Lifestream was nifty alarm system of getting out of danger… but in open public like this? It had never occurred in his entire life before. The buzz was never this loud. The situation grew worse as he kept on following his former superior officer who was actually heading towards the source of the impending danger from the Lifestream's warning.

He kept following the blond towards the danger, be damned if his body wanted to run in the opposite direction. Getting more information about Lazard was now or never.

Kunsel wasn't one who believed in horoscopes like his mixed Asian-American family melting pot have a faith for. Hell, he didn't believe in Feng Shui even if his father owned a shop of an assortment of good luck items. However, when it came to the Lifestream… things never happened by coincidence in his experience. Today seemed to be that sort of day. First, that morning he woke up to a jolting pain as if someone he'd known had nearly died but he wasn't certain who. Second, the Lifestream's whispers that morning had been somewhat busy than he had ever heard before, yet pushing him to move or go somewhere. Lastly, because he followed his instincts he found Lazard walking around.

At the cross-section of Lexington Avenue and East 46th Street, Kunsel winced when the Lifestream cried in a long chilling echo and his heart beat thumped faster.

A tremor in the Lifestream rippled across the air.

Then a blue beam of light burst from the top of Stark Tower.

Kunsel could only stare stupefied at the wormhole forming on top of the tower in the sky.

Not too far from him, Lazard froze on the spot just as so many other citizens of New York around them not knowing of the events to come.

.

.

In an unknown location…

A robotic eye orb hovered as its master was sitting and watching the numerous screens of the live video feed in front them in curiosity. ~( Sir, may I ask, why we're actually not helping to stop this pivotal event? )~

The man didn't let his eyes off the screen but answered his smaller companion with a shrug. "It all starts here, HELEN; the Avengers, their enemies, and everything else will start growing. We're just going to observe if all the variables will come into one place."

~( You mean the variables you've placed? )~ the female voice emphasized.

A weary chuckle from an old man with white hair and short cut beard was heard. "There's no going back. I'm just going make the most with what I have. It's now or never. We might as well go crazy on this."

HELEN's shutter lens focused in a way it looked at her master skeptically. ~( That's not like you to throw logic or caution to the wind, Sir. )~

This time, the man's expression changed into a sad smile. "I guess I have him to blame for that. Having faith in the Lifestream? I would never have done that back then. But, now… I think I understand what he was trying to tell me all along. It's a shame I didn't even get a hint what he was trying to tell me before it was too late."

~( We all make mistakes, Sir. )~ HELEN pointed out. She then logically pointed out ~( But we're now early. What now, Sir? )~

"We keep watching, and act on our own consensus." The man said leaning back into his chair, more alert and attentive as most of the screens' targets moved. "I've dropped a wrench in the Lifestream already. It's just matter of time what results we'll get when the ripples come back to us. I've pushed things towards our favor enough."

~(Shall I optimize keeping track on the individuals you've so 'generously' nudged to the location in the right direction? )~

"Do it, HELEN."

~( Done, Sir. )~

The man smiled. "'Ripples form on the water's surface'… Isn't that right, Genesis?"

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk.

In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."

~ Mark Zuckerberg

Next Time… Chapter 12: "Those Who Fight, Those Who Avenge."

Notes/Trivia:

(1) Genesis' first meeting with Phil Coulson was actually at the time where he was severely injured and vulnerable in a hospital bed during the events in S.H.I.E.L.D. Rhapsodos Intorductions: Agent Phillip J. Coulson. Due to this reason, Genesis suffers anxiety attacks in waking up in hospital beds and prefers avoiding getting into those particular situations when possible.

(2) Reraise also known as Auto-Life, is a recurring beneficial status effect in the FF series, usually associated with the spell of the same name. Once a character reaches 0 HP with Reraise on them, they will automatically revive (without using any items or MP) with HP Critical health. – FF Wikia

(3) The events of Frigga finding out Loki was alive and had plans with the Tesseract was explained in the Thor: The Dark World Prelude Comics. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

(4) Black Widow's love of acting as other people stems from how it lets her free to be other people, away from her true self who is an assassin as stated in the Avengers: Black Widow Strikes Movie tie-in Prelude Comics – Official Avengers Prelude Comics

(5) Luxiere was a SOLDIER 2nd Class, and a friend of Zack Fair. He plays a small role in Crisis Core, acting as Zack's email buddy, and considered Zack as his idol. – FF Wikia He's hinted as being involved with the Colored Deepground Tsviets as the 'Player Tsviet' after never being mentioned again in the aftermath of the Nibelheim incident.

(6) The Tsviets were an elite group of soldiers that lead the Deepground army in Dirge of Cerberus (FFVII). In the Crisis Core Complete Guide, it was revealed that colored Tsviets had their genes spliced with the genes of Genesis Rhapsodos, in addition to each of them being involved in a unique experiment that granted them their special abilities and powers. – FF Wikia. Reborn in the new world, the known colored Tsviets that have died (Azul the Cerulean/Azel, Rosso the Crimson/Rose, Weiss the Immaculate/Wesly, and Nero the Sable/Neer) don't have any recollection of past memories, despite Luxiere giving them hints numerous times.

(7) Angeal Hewley/Angelus Hawley was a 1st Class SOLDIER in Crisis Core FFVII. He was Zack Fair's mentor and friends with fellow SOLDIER First Classes Sephiroth and Genesis Rhapsodos. He is stoic and serious, but with a playful side, and was the one who gave Zack the nickname "Zack the Puppy" in past. – FF Wikia. In the current time, he leads a SAD Special Operations team for the CIA.

(8) GH.325 is one of a number of drugs derived from the bodily fluid of a Kree corpse code named "G.H." (Guest House) of Project T.A.H.I.T.I. (Terrestrialized Alien Host Integrative Tissue I). When administered, the drug causes rapid healing by promoting advanced cellular regeneration, healing severe and fatal wounds, and in some cases can even revive the recently deceased. – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia.

(9) Lazard Deusericus is the SOLDIER union executive of Shinra Electric Power Company. In the past, the SOLDIER department was independent, and the union executive oversaw SOLDIER's management and planned rough strategy guidelines. Despite his calm and cool exterior, Lazard actually bears a burning ambition and a strong sense of justice for the people of the slums. – FF Wikia

(10) Kunsel was a SOLDIER 2nd Class and one of Zack Fair's best friends during his time working for ShinRa. Kunsel knew the inner workings of the Shinra Electric Power Company, privy to information most of its employees would normally hear little about. While it is unknown what became of Kunsel after the events of Crisis Core, his last few emails to Zack imply he would be willing to betray Shinra to keep his friend safe. – FF Wikia

Notes on this Chapter: As the chapter implies… Ripples in the Lifestream; things have escalated that now we have sightings of more FFVII characters! In another life, their age variations have changed and in some cases so have their names. It's also the reason why that they're having trouble finding each other. Earth is a far larger world in human population than Gaia was. x) Oh, and different stages of memory loss and remembrance is deliberate on my part.

As for Phil… really? A lot of you guys thought he was dead in the last chapter? I did mention Genesis used 'Reraise' which is a FF series spell staple that revives your character when he or she has 0HP automatically. Don't worry, that spell will bite Genesis (and even Phil) in the behind later… at least when Agents of SHIELD events start to roll around *evil laugh*. A long slow appreciative clap for those of you who refuse to think that Coulson is dead or knew he's not quite dead yet. =)

On NYC: I've never in my life have gone to New York City before, hence why I actually had opened Google map to see where everything was. In real life, Stark Tower would be where the Meta Life Building sits rights now. Huh, you learn something every day. xD As for OCs in this chapter, I only own Ryker Walsh, Sally, and Agent Dylans by the way. I'm not the kind of writer to dig myself a hole of too many OCs in one fic. The other named characters are either owned by Square Enix or Marvel. #HintSecretEndCanonCharacters Next up, Battle of New York! It's gonna be the place where things heat up! #literally

Question for my readers: With the confirmed characters coming into the MCU in phase 3, who are you interested to see the (current) FFVII cast interact with in the near future? Characters range from Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Agents of SHIELD characters, Dare Devil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc. It can be the most unlikely of people... like Zack bumping into Peter Parker or Ant-Man getting info from Kunsel or even Scarlet Witch meeting Aerith.

Comments, opinions, your thoughts, are always welcomed.