[A/N]: Second Bonus Chapter for 200 Powerstones Goal; The Next Goal is 400 Powerstones for TWO more bonus chapters.
SHIELD Headquarters - Fury's Office
Nick Fury stood in his office surrounded by his most trusted operatives. Steve Rogers leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his enhanced hearing picking up every word from the phone. Maria Hill stood at parade rest beside Fury's desk, tablet in hand. Natasha Romanoff perched on the windowsill, watching the street below with casual alertness. Clint Barton sat backwards in a chair, and Phil Coulson stood near the door, ever the professional observer.
They all watched Fury's expression darken.
"That fucker just put me on hold," Fury said, his voice tight with suppressed anger.
Clint burst out laughing. Even Steve cracked a small smile. Natasha's lips twitched with amusement. The tension that had been building before the raid lifted slightly, replaced by the absurd humor of watching Nick Fury, spymaster supreme, get put on hold like a telemarketer.
Fury glared at Clint, but there was no real heat in it. Just resigned frustration with the reality of dealing with Jay.
Kamar-Taj
Jay switched to Domino's number. She answered on the second ring.
"Hey, babe, what's up?"
"Quick question. Fury wants backup for the Hydra raid they're launching today. I'm kind of busy with the whole 'meeting an Elder Goddess' thing. You available?"
"Oh, that's today?" Domino's voice perked up. "Yeah, I can do that. Been itching for some action anyway. Sitting around waiting for you to finish cosmic business gets anxious."
"Perfect. You can take Heather and Davis if you want. The Cameron siblings could use some field experience, and Davis's warp wave teleportation would be useful for rapid deployment."
"Ooh, good call. I'll reach out to them. You focus on not pissing off the literal spirit of Earth, yeah?"
"No promises, but I'll try." Jay smiled despite the situation. "Love you."
"Love you too, babe."
Jay switched back to Fury's line. The director's irritation was palpable even through the phone.
"Yeah, Fury, you there?"
"Yes, I'm here. We're all here, waiting for you. Go ahead."
"Well, turns out I'm a bit busy today."
"What? But you gave us your word you'd..."
"Yeah, I know that," Jay interrupted. "But don't worry. Domino and a couple of our friends will be there. You'll have backup."
Fury's voice rose slightly; that vein on his forehead probably throbbing. "But it's not the same as having the motherfucking Power Broker as backup!"
Jay sighed, keeping his tone calm and reasonable. "I wouldn't discount Domino so easily, especially with the new upgrades she's had. And considering the long battle ahead, you'll need Lady Luck on your side. Literally."
That shut Fury up. The man was a tactical genius and knew the value of Domino's probability manipulation, and the mention of 'upgrades' made him reassess. If Jay had enhanced her powers, which seemed likely given everything that had happened recently, then having her on the field might actually be better than having Jay himself. She could spread luck across the entire team, not just operate as a single overwhelming force.
"Well," Fury said after a pause. "I guess that's that then. But I still expect you if things go too far off the rails."
"No worries. If things get too crazy, I'll try to be there."
Jay cut the phone and turned back to the Ancient One, who was watching with barely concealed amusement.
"Busy day?" she asked innocently.
Jay smiled. "What can I say? Everyone needs a piece of me."
A newspaper roll materialized in the Ancient One's hand. She held it up meaningfully.
"Right, right. Sorry, Master."
After the moment of levity faded, they both grew serious. The Ancient One stepped closer, her expression grave.
"Remember, Jay. She's an Elder Goddess who represents Earth itself. Your usual antics won't work here. Be on your best behavior. Be earnest, honest, and respectful. This isn't Odin you're dealing with. This is something far older and far more fundamental."
Jay nodded solemnly. Then, in a gesture that surprised even himself, he knelt and touched her feet. The traditional Indian way of asking for blessings from elders. Something his grandmother had taught him in his original life, a gesture of respect and humility that transcended cultural boundaries.
The Ancient One's expression softened completely. She placed her hand on his head, rubbing it gently with maternal affection.
"Vijayi bhava," she said in perfect Sanskrit. (May you be victorious.)
Jay stood, holding Tether in his palm. The ring pulsed with contained power, rainbow light flickering across its surface.
He walked to the center of the ritual circle and placed the ring down carefully.
The moment Tether touched the mandala, every Sanskritic rune and pattern blazed to life. The entire chamber lit up with golden light that spread outward like ripples in water. The walls shook, not violently but rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
Then all of Kamar-Taj began to respond.
The elements themselves went wild. Wind howled through corridors, celebrating. Water from fountains rose in spiraling columns. Fires in braziers flared bright enough to illuminate rooms that had been dark. The earth beneath their feet trembled with anticipation.
Plants throughout the monastery bloomed simultaneously. Flowers that shouldn't exist at this altitude burst into color. Vines grew at visible speeds, wrapping around pillars with gentle insistence. The air filled with the sweetest, freshest scents. Rain on soil, flowers in spring, and life itself given form in fragrance.
The Ancient One continued chanting. Her voice rose and fell in patterns, calling to something vast and patient and utterly beyond mortal comprehension.
A hole in reality formed above the ritual circle.
But it wasn't dark or corrupt like the dimensional tears Jay had seen before. This was pure greenery and vitality. Trees older than civilization reached through the gap. Flowers bloomed in impossible colors. The smell intensified. Fresh rain, rich soil and growing things. Life in its most essential, undiluted form.
It was beautiful in a way that made Jay's chest tight.
The Ancient One finished her chant and stepped back. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the effort, but her smile was genuine.
"Go, my student. And remember, you're asking her to change the fundamental nature of her existence. Speak from the heart. Show her why this matters."
Jay nodded, picked up Tether, put it in his pocket and stepped toward the portal.
The greenery parted like a welcoming embrace. The smell intensified and somewhere beyond, in that garden that existed everywhere and nowhere, an ancient consciousness stirred.
Noting his arrival.
Jay took a deep breath and stepped through.
The portal closed behind him with a sound like a sigh. Like relief. Like coming home after a journey too long.
The Ancient One stood alone in the ritual chamber. She looked down at her hands, feeling the life force Selene's stolen power had given her thrumming through her veins. Strong, vibrant, and ready for whatever came next.
"Be safe, my student," she whispered to the empty room. "And try not to antagonize the Mother of All Life as much as you did the Allfather."
She smiled, despite her worry, and returned to her meditation.
There was nothing more she could do.
Jay's fate was in his own hands now.
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