"You almost ready?" I call from the hallway as I watch the door. There's no real reason, but there's a gnawing in my gut. It's screaming out that something is close and about to go wrong.

We need to go. Sam and Bucky are waiting, and things are only going to get harder to contain the longer we drag this out. It's already hard to cover the trail of one person—let alone two. My mistake was underestimating how hard it would be, and not considering the possibility I wouldn't have ARTI to back me up.

My anxiety is only worsened with the information from Bucky. He and Sam are chasing a group called the Flag Smashers, who coincidentally are also super soldiers who got their start working for a mutual enemy—the Power Broker.

I knew I was getting myself into trouble when I went to Madripoor, but I needed information, which is hard to come by when you're going solo. So I did what I had to. I did the odd intimidation and not-quite-legal jobs to earn favors to trade. There was no way of knowing she'd be there or the power she'd amassed.

What I did know was that she was angry. She had been abandoned and burned. I know that pain a little too well, and I knew from the look on her face that I should've walked away. At the time, I lied to myself and say I stayed because I wanted to help her.

The truth is I wanted these trials to end. I want to go home as much as she does, and yeah, a part of me thought maybe I could help her do the same. So I became her errand girl for a little while, and I regret every second of it. Her anger—the hatred she has for various world governments— and greed run far too deep for anyone to pull her out.

That's why she sold me out. I wasn't supposed to leave. No one is. Thats why she's chasing after Karli and the Flag Smashers, and why she sent people after me. You don't cross the Power Broker and walk away clean.

"Lia, I'm ready." Peter calls, his expression tight like he's been trying to get my attention for a while. His brows are pulled tight.

I nod and survey the room one last time. "Looks good." I grab onto Peter and hold on tightly before he can say anything.

The feeling of his arms tightly wrapped around me causes a shift deep in my chest. My decision's already made. I know what I need to do, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Nor does it lessen the guilt and longing in my chest.

So, I take the first step into the darkness.

I can see the shifting lights in tones of reds across the back of my closed eyelids. It works alongside the varying pressure that comes with shadow travel.

But as always, it only lasts a moment before we're exactly where we wanted to be. In the middle of an open concept living room and kitchen, where Bucky and Sam are waiting for us. I take a step towards them, arms open for a hug, but my leg buckles beneath me.

The three of them immediately swarm me. "It's fine." I try, but the words come out slurred, and the world starts rocking underneath me.

A furrow appears between Peter's brow, "I thought you said you were okay. Did you sleep at all last night? Or eat anything today?" I know he's asking me about something important, but I can't focus enough to answer. He takes my silence and dazed look as answer enough. "Her blood sugar must've dropped. She's told me it happens sometimes when she shadow steps."

Bucky just nods and pulls something from his pockets. "Here."

"Wait. Since when do you carry around juice boxes? And animal crackers?" Sam questions as someone encourages me to keep eating and drinking.

"It's the downside of a super soldier metabolism. Sometimes my blood sugar bottoms out. Juice works pretty quickly, and animal crackers—they remind me of before."

"Well, it works." I shrug and continue slowly snacking on the crackers. "Catch me up. What do we know about Karli and the Flag Smashers?"

"I suspect less than you do. I've heard you've been quite busy these past few months." My body stiffens automatically in response, and the shadows respond just as quickly. "Ah. There she is, the child of destruction. So quick to anger—just like her father."

The dark translucent fingers tighten around his neck. "I'll be generous and give you another try at that one."

"Nice to see you too, little Stark." His face tightens, as the shadow hand tightens its grip.

"Trouble breathing, Zola? Again, I'd advise thinking twice before you speak."

"Lia," Sam's tone is warning, "He's here to help us."

"Only because it serves his own interests, I'm sure." I scoff and release the shadows holding him. "Not that I'm surprised."

"I don't see what difference it makes. We both want these 'super soldiers' stopped before they cause any more damage. As long as that goal is accomplished, I don't see how my intentions would matter."

"The road to hell is paved with self-serving intentions." I offer. "And I'm really tired of playing those games."

"Rest assured. My intentions remain as they've always been to maintain balance."

"I'm not even going to ask what you think of people like me." I mumble and turn to Bucky and Sam. "Fill me in. What are we walking into?"

We spend the next two hours debriefing and sharing intel. Somewhere during that time, I'm coaxed over to the couch to rest and Zola claims boredom as he slinks back into the dark.

"Do you really trust him?" I whisper once I'm sure he's out of earshot. "After everything he's done?"

"Like you said, you can trust Zola will do whatever it takes to stop anymore super soldiers." Bucky offers.

"Which is to say no, but we are keeping an eye on him. Then, once he's served his purpose, he goes right back to prison."

"Yeah, that doesn't make me feel any better." I sigh and rub my temples.

"Why don't you get some rest? Both of you." Sam insists, "You look like you could use some real sleep."

Peter grabs my hand and tries to pull me to my feet, "He's right, Lia. You especially haven't been sleeping much."

"You go ahead." I offer a placating smile. "I'm gonna try to eat something before turning in."

It seems to ease his nerves enough to convince him to go without me. I head into the kitchen and search for a snack of any kind. Bucky follows me and opens up a cupboard before offering a foil packet. "So what's the real reason you didn't want to turn in yet?" He questions, withholding the food until I answer. "You kind of hinted to having something further to discuss when you called."

"Yeah, I did." I pull out a thumb drive from my pocket and covertly pass it to Bucky. "I finally had a breakthrough. It's taken me months, but now, I have proof of my innocence. I've also identified some of the key players behind the trials. The trouble is—I don't know who I can trust with it besides you and Sam."

"I may know some people, but even then, there's no clue how deep it goes." Sam interrupts.

"Which is where my more drastic ideas come in." I rip open the package and take a bite of the pop tarts to buy myself a second. "I'm going to turn myself in, with all my information, and have a fail safe in place."

"Lia," Sam heaves, "are you sure? If you don't know who you can trust, how can you be sure they won't turn you over and bury you?"

"Do you have any better ideas? I didn't tell Peter, but they're getting close. And I can't keep running. There has to be a way home."

"And if they still manage to capture you?"

"Then I do what I've always aimed to do. Destroy them or die trying."

"Which is why you don't want Peter to know."

I nod. "He can't. He would do everything to stop me, and it's already killing me as it is. But I don't see another way this ends."

It's a long moment of silence hangs like a lead curtain over us.

Bucky is the first to break it. "I hate to say it, but I think she's right."

"Can you at least give me some time to pass the intel to some people I trust?"

I chew on the last bite of my pop tart and mull it over. "I can't see it taking more than a week before the Reapers catch up to me. So I can offer you a five days. Then I need you guys to distract Peter long enough for me to take care of things."

"If you're sure." Bucky states and pulls me into a tight hug when I nod. "Okay. Five days."