Andromeda Banner: A Marvel Universe Story

Explanations and Demonstrations

He freezes in his tracks as he gasps, “Andromeda?!’ He exclaims as he runs down the steps; when he reaches me, he wraps his arms around me, ‘What are you doing here?” He whispers as he pulls back, his hands gripping my elbows.

I smile, “Agent Hill brought me. She said they needed all the help they could get…’ He sends a slight glare her way, ‘Dad, stop. She asked, I agreed…"

“Not without one helluva fight.” Agent Gomez mumbles.

I roll my eyes as I glare at him over my shoulder, “Well, Agent Gomez, if you knew how to do your job, that wouldn’t have been much of a problem, now would it?” I ask with a ‘sweet’ smile.

Agent Romanoff smiles as she focuses on the table and Director Fury chuckles, “She’s not wrong.” He states.

“Back to the matter at hand.’ A man, whom I now recognize as Captain Steve Rogers, begins, ‘May I ask what would make you decide to put yourself in danger, like this?”

I smile; his eyebrows raise, and his eyes widen, as if he’s seeing someone else for a moment, “I’m not in danger at the moment, Captain.’ I disagree, ‘However, one of their Agents and friends is. And Dad…’ I begin as I face him again, ‘Loki…’ I take a deep breath, ‘Loki has Uncle Eric.”

“Eric?’ He gasps, eyes wide; I nod, ‘Okay… We’ll find him…”

I nod as I turn to Captain Rogers, offering one hand while clasping the other behind my back, “It’s an honor to meet you, Captain Rogers, sir. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”

He smiles slightly as he takes my hand and gives it a firm shake, “Thank you…’ He trails off, as if he’s trying to place his recognition, ‘It’s nice to meet you, Andromeda, but please call me Steve.”

I nod, “In that case, you’re welcome to come up with a nickname for me, if you’d like… I know my name can be a mouthful.” I tell him while Dad walks away to talk to Agent Romanoff and Director Fury.

He nods, smiling, “I’ll work on that.’ He promises, ‘So, how long has it been since…” He trails off as he glances between my dad and me.

I smile slightly, “Nearly two years… July 18th will mark two... Twenty-five years to the date of the Titanic Wreckage video being released.” I add, unable to help it.

He nods, seeming deep in thought, “Where have you been staying?”

“With a Veteran that Agent Coulson helped Dad find. He wanted me safe and… he thinks, or used to think, that me being around him, around the Hulk…”

He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze, “I understand.’ He seems to read my face, ‘You don’t agree with him.” He states.

I bite my lip as I remember the first time I ever met the Hulk, “Hulk’s never tried to harm me in any way… I first saw him when I was seven and he picked me up and got me out of my dad’s lab… He cares about me, loves me, just like Dad did… but Dad…” I trail off as another memory comes through.

“Dad, stop freaking out!’ Thirteen-year-old me shouts as I hand my dad a glass of water, ‘I’m not hurt! He didn’t even try!”

“I don’t care, Andromeda!’ He yells, ‘He could have! Easily! If he wanted to, he could have killed you!” He screams as he stands, throwing the glass at a wall, causing it to shatter onto the floor.

I sigh as I use my gift to pick the glass up off the floor and put it in the ‘Hazard’ bin, “That’s the point I’m trying to make, Dad!’ I shout with an eye-roll, ‘He doesn’t want to hurt me! He never has! Let me remind you, that during his first appearance he carried me out of the lab and did what he could to make sure I was safe.”

“You don’t know that’s what he was doing.”

I take a breath, attempting to calm myself, “Yes, I do… He speaks, ya know? He told me he wasn’t going to hurt me, and that I was safe with him…’ I smile, ‘Maybe not in so many words, but…”

He shakes his head, “I doubt that… This… This is too dangerous… I should have known… You can never be safe, as long as I’m around you.”

I freeze, “Dad? What are you saying?”

“That I have to find a place for you to go, and I have to leave, Andromeda.”

“Andromeda?’ I hear another voice ask, ‘Andromeda, are you okay?”

I shake my head to clear my thoughts, which makes me sway; Steve holds his arms out on either side of me, ready to catch me, “I-I… I’m sorry Steve…’ I whisper as I grasp his forearm to steady myself, ‘I uhm… I faded out for a moment… Wh-What were you saying?” I ask as I take a seat, unable to stay steady.

He gives me a look, letting me know he’s gauging my body language, as if he’s seen it somewhere before, “I was uhm… I was asking whether you really think that him being so protective of you is a bad thing.”

I sigh as I run a hand through my hair, “No, I suppose not… And I’m not sorry to have been left with Sam, my guardian… He’s been amazing.”

He nods as he sits next to me, “May I uhm… May I ask what…” He trails off, clearly not wanting to upset me anymore than I already am.

“What the Gamma Rays did to me?’ He nods, offering an apologetic smile and I rest my hand lightly over his, ‘There’s no need to apologize, Steve, I don’t mind. Your curiosity is expected… There’s a big probability that I won’t be in the field with you, but I’m still a member of this…’ I look around the room, ‘whatever this is, whatever we’re supposed to be... and you need to know whether you can trust me.” I say as I brace myself for the memory to come again, shocked when it doesn’t.

“What to expect.’ He corrects with a smile, ‘Somehow I feel I can trust you, already, but I’d like to know what to expect, so I know how to help you if something goes wrong… If it’s possible to help.”

I smile, feeling a blush creeping onto my cheeks, “Thank you, Steve… You truly have no idea what it means to me, to have someone want to help me, -as I am, with these powers- instead of saying they’re going to get rid of them and calling it helping.’ I add as I glance at my dad, ‘Well, aside from Sam and my Great-Grandmother, at least… They know how to calm me, if I need it, but my grandmother… She… She shouldn’t have to, she’s… she’s been through too much….’ I bite my lip as I share a look with Agent Romanoff, ‘Where you off to?” I ask as she walks past us.

She smiles, “Taking your father to the lab. You coming?” She adds as she glances over her shoulder, nearly causing my dad to run into her.

“Maybe after Steve and I are done talking. Thanks, Agent Romanoff.”

She winks at me as she opens a door, “It’s Natasha, Nova.”

I laugh at the use of my middle name as a nickname and turn back to Steve, “Anyway… The Gamma Rays didn’t have the same effect on me, that they did on my dad..’ I begin as the memory makes its way through my mind, repeatedly, ‘Where they gave him Hulk, they gave me the ability to control the elements. Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit.’ I clarify as he offers a confused smile, ‘The Rays also had a physical effect on me…’ Not to mention the mental effects, I add in my head, ‘Depending on what element I tap into, my hair and eyes change color.”

He gives a surprised smile, “Is there anything you could demonstrate for me? Only if you’re comfortable, of course.” He adds as I blush again.

I think for a moment, “Well, given that we’re 20,000 feet in the air, tampering with the air around us wouldn’t be smart, even though I could just use my own.”

He raises his eyebrows, “Really?”

I nod, “Yeah, regardless of the element –with the exception of Spirit- I can use the air in my lungs, the water in my body… I can’t create the elements at will… It all has to come from somewhere.’ I smile as he eyes widen, knowing he’s caught on, ‘I’ve never done it, I swear.” I say as I hold a hand out toward him.

He smiles, “I didn’t think you had… So, in order to...’ He trails off again and I assume he’s trying to find the right words, ‘You’d have to be around a ghost, or something?”

I shrug, “Your guess is as good as mine, Steve. Like I said, I’ve never done it; in fact, I’ve never used that element… Intentionally…’ I mumble; I catch Agent Coulson glancing our way, ‘Phil, is there any way you could get me a bottle of water, please?”

He nods, “I’ll be right back.”

He leaves the room, coming back a few minutes later, “Thank you so much.’ I say as he hands me the bottle, ‘Would you like to watch?”

He smiles, “Sure.”

I unscrew the lid and hold out my hand, fingers twitching slightly (think Scarlet Witch in AoU); the water jolts accordingly, making its way up out of the bottle and pouring over my hand, looking as if it’s pouring onto the table, but it never touches. Steve and Agent Coulson gasp –as does Agent Hill, and I swear I see Director Fury crack a smile- and I know my hair and eyes have turned blue; I roll my eyes up to the ceiling and the water follows suit, almost as if it’s eager to please. I think of the SHIELD logo while twitching my fingers at the water, and it changes shape; after a few seconds, I change it to the Captain America Shield, causing him to smile. I hear the door open, and a gasp follows.

I smile at Natasha, “Hey Natasha.” I say as I make the water go back into the bottle.

She smiles at me, as does Steve, “That was amazing.”

“Thank you… It’s been a while since I’ve been able to demonstrate my abilities… It’s not safe to do it, at home, and I definitely can’t use it in school or Junior ROTC.”

Steve nods, “Agent Coulson mentioned that you were in training… You’re a Cadet Captain, right?”

I smile, “Yes, sir… I hope you don’t mind me saying this… but my troop and I… we… we really look up to you…”

He smiles, “Thank you… I still haven’t gotten used to that.”

I join him in laughter and the conversation lulls into comfortable silence.

“You’ve what?!” My Great-Grandmother gasps in her brittle, British accent.

I jolt, not knowing why this memory came to the surface, and Steve raises an eyebrow.

“Grandma Peg… Shh, shh… Calm down. Everything’s okay. It’s just to help pay for college.’ Fifteen year-old me tries to comfort as I squeeze her aged hands in mine, as gently as possible, ‘It’s not as if I’m not running off to join the front lines.”

“But the Draft!” She gasps.

A coughing fit starts, “Grandma…’ I whisper as I grab the pitcher and fill her water glass, ‘Here, drink…’ I say as I turn back to her, ‘And we’re not at war… at least not to the point where it calls for the Draft… Grandma?...” I ask as she takes a drink.

She looks at me as if she’s seeing me for the first time, “Ann, darling? What are you… When did you get here?”

“Grandma? I…’ I smile, despite the sadness, ‘I wanted to surprise you. Silly, I know..”

“No, it’s not silly, Dear… Now, what were you saying about the Draft, darling?”

I smile and shake my head, “Nothing… Nothing at all, Grandma Peg, don’t worry. Has Captain Rogers visited, lately?” I ask carefully.

“Steve?’ She asks, ‘How could he possibly?”

“Grandma… Captain Rogers is alive…’ I whisper as I reach over to grab the paper, ‘See? This is the story on him. They found him, years ago… You told me that he’s been coming for visits.”

She looks off into the distance, and smiles, “Oh… Oh, yes… Yes, he does. He visits as often as he can… Such a sweet man…. You know, if I hadn’t married your great-grandfather, and Steve hadn’t gone down… I would’ve married him, the second he asked.”

I laugh, “Grandma Peg, please… We all know that you would’ve asked him yourself, the second you saw him again.’ She giggles, ‘Don’t lie…”

She blushes, “Well… Maybe.’ She lifts a shaky hand, patting my cheek, ‘Never fail to remind people that they should respect you.” She says, out of the blue.

I lean forward to kiss her cheek, “I’ll let you rest, before Captain Rogers’ visit.”

I jolt out of my own head as someone shouts that they’ve found Loki and I share a look with Dad, as well as Agent Romanoff, “He’s not exactly hiding.” Steve and I say in unison, bringing a slight smile to my face.

“Captain, you’re up.” Director Fury says.

Steve nods and offers me a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder as he leaves; Natasha follows, and Dad sits next to me, “So, what did you and Steve talk about, while I was in the lab?”

I try my best to ignore the way my mind and body want to react to the end of that question, and take a drink of water, “My powers.. I demonstrated one for him and Agent Coulson; Natasha caught the tail end of it… They all seemed to like it...’ I chuckle, ‘Steve was amazed.”

He sighs as he takes off his glasses and runs a hand over his face, “You know you have to be careful, Andromeda.”

I raise an eyebrow, “Dad, they have the footage. They know what happened at the lab…’ I flinch, hating that it still affects me, ‘And it’s well documented that I was in the building during the exposure.’ I remind him, my hands shaking, ‘If Steve hadn’t asked, -politely, I might add- someone would have demanded. He was curious; that’s only natural.”

“What did he tell you, exactly?” He demands, getting a look in his eyes that is usually an indicator for people to back off.

I meet his quivering gaze with a steady one, “He said that he’d like to know what the exposure did to me, so he’d know what to expect.’ He starts to interrupt, ‘So he’d be able to help me, if he needs to, if he’s able.’ I finish, running a hand through my hair, ‘He’s the first person to say something like that, aside from Sam, Dad… And quite frankly I see absolutely no reason not to trust him. I mean seriously, Dad, he’s Captain freakin’ America… He’s one of the reasons I decided to join Junior ROTC, not that I’d ever tell Grandma Peg that… Not again, at least..” I add in a whisper.

“And I suppose I should thank him for that?’ He asks rhetorically, ‘I should thank him for being one of the reasons my daughter has decided to put herself in serious danger?”

I roll my eyes, “Dad, stop… I’m not in any real danger in Junior ROTC…’ I sigh, ‘Sort your thoughts. I’m going to go get something to eat.’ I tell him as I stand and walk toward Director Fury, ‘Excuse me, Director Fury, sir?”

“Yes, Cadet Captain?”

I smile, “I was wondering where I could get some food.”

“Up the stairs on the left, fifth door on the right.”

I smile as I incline my head, “Thank you, Director Fury, sir.”