Chapter 50: After the Fall and a Refuge in the Shadows
The desperate leap from the top of Fisk Tower into the concrete jungle of New York had drained Kael of his last vestiges of energy. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, he vaguely remembered Aslan holding him tightly, and as if in a last-ditch effort, the Chitauri core had created a weak energy field that slowed their fall, guiding them toward the roof of a building below. The impact had momentarily knocked his breath away, but they were alive. But at what cost?
When Kael came to hours later, he found himself in the dim light of a damp, abandoned subway tunnel. His head was throbbing, his body aching from each blow. The Chitauri core felt like a dull lump of coal in his palm; his energy had almost completely drained. At his side, watching him anxiously, was Aslan.
"How long… how long did I sleep?" Kael asked, his voice low and tired.
"A few hours," Aslan said. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is everywhere. The city is under siege. They're looking for us. This was the safest place I could find." Aslan had discovered this forgotten corner of the old subway line with his street experience.
Kael tried to sit up. "Fisk?"
"Last time I saw him, he was having a rather... 'intimate' conversation with those 'suits,'" Aslan said with a wry smile. "But this is Fisk, Kael. I'm sure he'll find a way to get out of this. He might even be trying to pin the blame on you."
Kael was aware of the possibility. Right now, he was in the crosshairs of both the Lords of the Void and one of Earth's most powerful organizations. And his greatest weapon, the Chitauri core, was nearly inoperable. The Life Seed was gone. He was alone, tired, and hunted.
"The core..." Kael muttered, looking at the dull stone in his palm. "How will he recharge?" In previous echo points, he had been able to recharge himself by absorbing the energy from the surroundings. But this place was filled with the dirty, chaotic energy of New York; the poisonous whispers of the Void were still felt. How would the Core feed in this environment?
The days passed slowly and tensely in this dark, damp shelter. Aslan would sneak out to find food, water, and simple medical supplies for Kael's wounds. With each return, he would report that S.H.I.E.L.D. patrols had increased, and posters had been hung in every corner of the city describing Kael as a "dangerous, super-powered terrorist." The news headlined the "unexplained energy explosion" at Fisk Tower and the subsequent "attempted terrorist attack." Kael had suddenly become the city's most wanted man.
This seclusion gave Kael time to reflect on the dizzying events of the past few weeks. The cosmic responsibility he had accepted as the Echo Carrier was now colliding with this harsh reality on Earth. His attempt to save Wesley… had it been successful, or had it merely ended his suffering? That momentary, forced alliance with Fisk… what would it mean in the future? And most importantly, what were the Lords of the Void's plans for Earth? Was that portal in Fisk Tower only the beginning?
The Chitauri core had begun to pulsate, slowly, feeding off Kael's own life energy and the faint "city echoes" around him. It was slowing Kael's recovery, but the core's restoration was their only hope of survival.
One night, when Aslan returned from his search for food, he had a worried expression on his face. "Kael," he said. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is tightening the circle. They've begun exploring these tunnels. They'll find this place soon."
Kael nodded. Their escape couldn't last forever. They had to plan their next move. But how? Powerless, without support, and with an enemy around every corner...
At that moment, the Chitauri core in Kael's palm suddenly vibrated more powerfully. A clear image flashed across his mind: a forgotten, ancient energy line beneath New York City. And above that energy line, a faint but distinct "echo point." Could this be a secret shelter left on Earth by the Creators, or a source of power? Or was it a new target for the Lords of the Void?
"Aslan," Kael said, a new glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I think I've found our next stop."
This was a risky move. It seemed nearly impossible to slip past S.H.I.E.L.D.'s blockade and reach that mysterious echo point. But Kael knew he had nothing left to lose now. Either they would hide in the shadows and slowly perish, or they would take one last step toward their destiny.