[2]

Elysia watched from the window of the Quinjet as the clouds parted to reveal the countryside of upstate New York below them, the massive expanse of the Avengers Compound sprawling out in the distance. In what seemed to be the middle of nowhere lie a massive white complex, a gray letter A emblazoned at the very top. Despite the remote location, the place seemed to be a hub full of activity, with numerous military-style vehicles moving in and out of the premises.

"Here we are," Tony announced as the Quinjet neared the ground in front of the complex, the giant building now looming above them as Elysia continued to stare at it in awe. "Welcome to the Avengers Compound."

The door of the Quinjet opened to reveal a row of similar aircraft lying dormant on the compound's runway, the breeze of the upstate countryside instantly hitting them, causing a few stray strands of pink hair that had fallen from Elysia's ponytail to flutter in the air. As she stepped off of the Quinjet and onto the pavement, an electric buzz began to flutter in her chest, as if her abilities were beginning to recognize that she was back in the place she'd once called home, even if they were hours from Manhattan. She hadn't so much as set foot on New York soil since she'd left, but as she'd watched the skyline as they flew overhead, it seemed as if nothing had changed, though she knew that couldn't have been further from the truth, not only for her but for the entire world.

She could still recall the way the broadcast had proclaimed the major breaking news as she unpacked her new apartment, detailing an alien invasion in the heart of Manhattan as a team coined The Avengers fought to protect the city she'd been raised in. The video clips of Tony flying into a giant wormhole separating Earth from the endless expanse of space, closing it and saving the entire world from the clutches of an unknown alien race. Although she'd rejoiced when the battle was pronounced over and they were once again safe, she couldn't help the relief that she hadn't been part of the battle, nor had Tony called her to do such. While she knew she had a spot on Tony's reserve in case of emergencies, she hadn't anticipated ever needing to return to New York.

"This seems like an upgrade from Stark Tower," Elysia mused, readjusting the strap of the bag around her shoulder as she followed him down the walkway, towards a glass set of double doors that led into the heart of the compound.

"Everyone's inside waiting to meet you." Tony explained as they walked through the doors into the building, a hustle and bustle of scientists and engineers on Tony's payroll moving from one room to the next. "We'll have a lot to discuss in terms of the mission, but for now, we'll get you acquainted with everyone and show you to your quarters."

Elysia followed Tony through the maze of the compound, trying to keep track of the directions with each turn. As they walked, Tony continued to point out each room to Elysia, as laboratory after laboratory began to blend together one by one.

"Up here are the living quarters, where the team is housed." Tony explained. "Wanda should have your apartment finished by now. Downstairs are the training rooms, where we'll start first thing tomorrow morning. We only have a few days to get you trained and combat ready before we ship off."

"Combat?" Elysia asked, furrowing her eyebrows together in confusion as they passed through a sliding glass door into the living quarters. "Tony, I thought I was just here for-"

"Honey, we're home!" Tony called out, cutting her off as he clapped his hands together, alerting everyone of their presence.

Elysia watched, stunned as a group of people emerged into the entryway of the living quarters from the hallways that branched off from the room, each of them someone she recognized from seeing on the news over the past couple of years following the Battle of Manhattan, all of them looking around in anticipation until their eyes landed on the young woman standing behind Tony. Suddenly, Elysia began to feel small, surrounded by the larger than life figures as the electric buzz continued to build up in her veins.

"Alright, Sparky, meet the gang, gang, meet Sparky." Tony introduced briefly.

"Ignore him," Elysia said nonchalantly, shrugging off the old nickname Tony had given her years ago and praying it hadn't somehow managed to stick amongst the team before her arrival. "I'm Elysia."

"You're Tony's friend who can cut the power?" a blonde man she instantly recognized as Steve Rogers asked, his calculating gaze studying her, and she nodded.

"That would be me." she confirmed.

"Let's let Sparky get settled, and we'll regroup in the den in ten minutes." Tony suggested, waving everyone off. "Maximoff, would you mind showing Sparky up to her room?"

"Yeah, I got it." a brunette girl said, one of the two people in the group Elysia didn't recognize, stepping forward as she gave Elysia a welcoming smile. "It's just up this way."

Elysia followed the girl out of the entryway and to the hallway off to the right, up a flight of stairs to a hallway filled with doors on either side, numbers emblazoned on top not unlike her apartment complex back in Tempe. Although, unlike the place she currently called home, a biometric scanner hung on the wall near every door, ensuring no unauthorized personnel would be able to make their way inside.

"I'm Wanda," the girl introduced herself. "Welcome to the compound. I know it's a bit overwhelming, but you'll get used to it after a while."

"Thanks," Elysia said, studying the girl for any hint of her abilities, though as she didn't seem to possess the same brute physical strength as the super soldiers such as Steve Rogers or the pictures Tony had shown her of the Winter Soldier, she came up short. "So what are your... abilities? I haven't met any other enhanceds before, it's been a long time since I've seen Tony, even."

Wanda smiled sneakily, waving a finger, and instantly Elysia's bag floated off of her shoulder, surrounded by a red glow, and carried itself down the hallway before pausing in front of an apartment on the left side. "Does this answer your question?" Wanda asked with a grin as Elysia's eyes darted back and forth in amazement between the young woman and the bag down the hallway.

"Whoa," Elysia breathed, an awestruck smile crossing her face. "That's so sick."

"I can manipulate minds, too." Wanda explained. "Change what you think you're seeing, things like that." she smiled for a moment. "That's your room up there, number eleven. I wasn't sure what all you liked, Stark didn't say much, but you can always decorate it more later if you wish. I'll let you set your things down, and when you're ready, I'll meet you with the rest of the team. Just go back downstairs and straight ahead, you can't miss it."

Elysia thanked the girl, watching her vanish back down the stairs the way they had come, and once Wanda was out of sight, she turned back to the room in front of her, pushing the button next to the door and watching it slide open to reveal the apartment waiting beyond.

Inside the dark interior of the room was simple, not unlike her own apartment back in Arizona, minus the few personal touches she'd kept at home. There wasn't much to it, just a small sitting area before branching off to a bedroom and bathroom, and she wandered toward the bedroom before setting her bag down on top of the bed placed against one wall. On the opposite wall hung a television with a desk beneath it, near a closet built into the other wall, and she looked around pensively, finally letting the weight of her new reality sink in.

As if in response to being back in her home state, the electric buzz continued to build in her veins, in a way she hadn't felt since first fleeing New York in the years prior. Unless she felt endangered, the electricity had almost felt dormant, asleep after all the time she'd spent willing the abilities to go away and refusing to use them to accomplish even the smallest of tasks, but now the buzz thrummed in her veins, as if welcoming her home. She lifted a hand, watching as the small tendrils of light began to crackle across her palm, as if waiting for a target, and she quickly balled her hands up into fists, lowering them to her sides and waiting for the crackling to cease, forcing herself to take a deep breath.

Shaking her head and walking back out of the apartment, she followed the stairs back down the way she'd come, reminding herself of Wanda's directions as she made her way past the entryway and to the den, where the rest of the team already waited, eager to get to know their newest team member. Tony had drilled it into Elysia's brain both on the Quinjet and back at her apartment just how crucial this mission was, both on a professional and personal level, so she knew they wanted to see what kind of asset she would be to the team, and just how much of a help she would be in ensuring their success.

"Hey Sparky," Tony greeted, standing up at her arrival as, one by one, the others joined him. "Come join the big kids."

"Hi," Elysia said, her eyes darting around the room. "Good to meet you guys. I've heard a lot about you."

"It's nice to meet you," Steve said, stepping forward and shaking her hand. "Thank you for helping us, truly. This mission means a lot to me, and we're going to need all the help we can get."

"Happy to help," Elysia said, forcing a smile onto her face. "I know it must be pretty important for Tony to come track me down for it."

"Well, well, well," a voice announced from behind Elysia, and she turned around to see James Rhodes standing in the entrance to the room, a grin on the man's face. "I came for a meeting and was told the Avengers were briefing the newest member of the team."

"Rhodey!" Elysia exclaimed as he stepped forward, giving the young woman a hug.

"Never thought I'd see your face again, Sparks." Rhodey mused. "What are you doing back in New York? Finally coming to join the team?"

"Oh, no," Elysia said adamantly, shaking her head. "I'm just here to kill the power."

"She's helping us infiltrate HYDRA to get Bucky back." Steve explained, his eyes darting back and forth between Rhodey and the newest member of their team. "If she kills the power, then we get in undetected and they'll never see us coming."

"Never thought I'd see the day Voltage came out of retirement." Rhodey said, impressed. "In that case, HYDRA better watch their backs."

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