Chapter Text
Fitz gasped, opening his eyes. He felt constricted, and it took him a moment to recognize where he was—the hazy, small window pane uncomfortably close to his face. His mind flooded with memories—Hunter’s semi-joking ‘I love you’ echoing in his ears, at the same time a darker voice tried to instill doubt about everything he thought he knew about himself. Every light needs a shadow, Hunter had told him. Still, he didn’t want that kind of shadow. He pushed it back to the far corners of his mind, when Enoch’s face suddenly appeared in front of the window.
“Good morning, Fitz. Rise and shine,” Fitz heard the Chronicon’s muffled voice, before the small chamber hissed loudly and he felt a gust of air as the lid lifted. A shiver ran through him, whether from the aftereffects of cryostasis or fear of the unknown, he couldn’t tell. Fitz tried to sit up, every muscle and bone in his body aching.
He readily accepted Enoch’s helping hand. “How do you feel?”
Fitz sat still on the edge of the cryo chamber for a moment, noticing pain being replaced by tingles. He rubbed his forehead, waiting for the spinning to stop. “Better than I thought after 74 years on ice,” he replied groggily.
“Well, it has not exactly been 74 years. You have been in cryostasis much shorter than anticipated.”
Fitz looked up in surprise. “What? You woke me up early? Why would you do that?”
The Chronicon stood in his usual stoic way, his hands clasped behind his back. “There is substantial evidence the extinction-level event that Robin predicted has been prevented.”
Fitz squinted. “What?”
“The data I have gathered through various channels suggests that the team successfully returned from the future and prevented Earth’s destruction.” Enoch’s head moved in miniature staccato increments. “I also detected what appears to be the Zephyr headed in our general direction.”
“The Zephyr?” Fitz shook his head in confusion. “But it’s not built to go to space. I had plans drawn up, but they were all theoretical,” he muttered to himself more than to Enoch.
“It appears those plans have been realized.”
Fitz scoffed, one corner of his mouth ticking up into a proud half-smile. “Should have known Jemma would figure out how to get back and save Earth.” He looked questioningly at Enoch. “How do they know where to find us though? Hunter?”
“According to my sources, it appears that you yourself conveyed that information to Jemma Simmons.”
“What?”
“It appears that during a previous attempt to save Earth, you were successful in reaching the future and helping your team return to the current timeline. You were also a decisive factor in preventing the extinction-level event.”
“Previous attempt?” Fitz furrowed his brow. “I don’t under—”
“In fact, you paid the ultimate price for your participation,” Enoch continued matter-of-factly.
“What?”
“My sources indicate that you were killed in the line of duty.”
“Killed in the—What?” Fitz jumped to his feet, his hand reflexively grabbing the rim of the cryo chamber for support when his knees threatened to give in. He shook his head vehemently, raising his voice more than he wanted to. “That’s impossible. Nothing you say makes sense. Time’s fixed. It’s—”
“That—I assure you—it is not,” Enoch replied, unfazed by Fitz’s outburst.
Fitz let the words sink in, trying to comprehend their implications. “They changed time?” he whispered, somewhere between a statement and a question.
“And broke an ever-recurring loop.”
“And I—” Fitz’s gaze wandered to the floor, his vision becoming blurry from the tears gathering in his eyes.
“—died. Yes, I’m afraid.” Enoch’s voice broke through his clouded mind like a faint echo.
“But I also live because—”
“—you had already left in the cryo pod onboard this vessel before your alter ego returned from the future.”
“I existed twice,” Fitz muttered to himself. “That—It shouldn’t be possible. No energy is created—” He looked up, his heart suddenly beating twice as fast as his breathing sped up in anxious realization. “God, Jemma. She—I—” He bit his lower lip, squeezing his eyes shut, ignoring the tear that rolled down his cheek as he shook his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose, sniffling as he looked back at Enoch. “I broke our promise. I promised her that we wouldn’t let the universe rip us apart and I’ve broken that promise again and again. And now—” He fanned one arm out to the side. “First AIDA and that bloody Framework, and then time, and now—God, she doesn’t deserve that.” He dropped his head back in agony before focussing back on the Chronicon, noticing his voice steadying. “But she’s on her way? You said the Zephyr is on the way?”
Enoch bobbed his head. “Affirmative. However, due to the technical inferiority of their ship, they’re unlikely to receive the transmission I sent for a few more days at least. Plus, they travel at much slower speed than this vessel is capable of.”
Fitz shrugged. “Then we meet them halfway.”
“I’m afraid that is unwise. Our current location is secluded and protects us from—”
Fitz raised his index finger at Enoch in frustration. “I’m not going to sit around here and wait for them to get your message.” He switched directions with his arm, pointing at the hallway instead. “This ship can fly?”
“Affirmative.”
“Then let’s go!”
Enoch pursed his lips, ticking his head to one side microscopically. “As you wish.”
“So, how much longer until they get your message?” Fitz asked, staring through the ship’s window at the vastness of space as if he could detect the Zephyr with his bare eyes.
“Unknown.”
“But they’re still headed our way?” Fitz followed up, never taking his eyes off the billions of sparkling stars.
“That is correct.” Enoch replied. “Although I must reiterate that it was unwise of us to leave our original location.”
Fitz rolled his eyes. “And why’s that?”
He looked up in surprise, pressing his palm against a metal beam for balance when the ship shook, the lights flickering as the vessel got hit by some energy force.
“It made us detectable to less desirable company,” Fitz heard Enoch say behind his back, before a surge rushed through the ship, knocking Fitz unconscious.
Fitz’s head throbbed when he woke up, his muscles sore from whatever energy surge had hit them. He sat up, looking in a daze at his surroundings.
“Welcome back, Fitz.”
Fitz’s head spun in the direction of Enoch’s voice. The Chronicon was standing in a separate cell, his hands as usual clasped behind his back. “I am pleased to see that the attack appears to have left you unharmed.”
“Where are we?” Fitz pushed himself up to standing.
“The Chronicon hunters appear to have transferred us to their vessel.”
Fitz did a double-take in Enoch’s direction. “Chronicon hunters?”
“We are a rather desirable species.”
“Desirable?” Fitz wrinkled his forehead, his hand absentmindedly gliding along the wall of his cell, trying to gather useful data on his whereabouts.
“Due to our longevity and ability to take on the appearance of other species, traders are willing to pay large sums for our capture,” Enoch explained matter-of-factly.
“Traders?” Fitz looked at Enoch wide-eyed. “Slave traders?”
“That is correct,” Enoch confirmed with a bob of his head.
Fitz dropped his head back, muttering a quiet “Fuck.”
“On the bright side, this is further proof that the extinction level event has been prevented, as Robin’s drawings before our departure indicated we would make it to the future undisturbed.”
“Swell,” Fitz replied sarcastically. He scanned the cell, sighing deeply. “So, we’re on their ship. Where are we headed?”
“The exact destination is unknown. Although it is likely that we’re on a rendezvous course with a trading vessel.”
Fitz looked over his shoulder at the Chronicon as he walked the perimeter of the confined space he was stuck in. “They didn’t take your ship?”
Enoch pursed his lips. “They presumably took anything of use and value to them but left the vessel itself behind to mislead fellow Chronicon hunters.”
Fitz’s fingers traced the edges of a wall panel that was entirely sealed shut. “So by the time the Zephyr gets your message and reaches the ship, we’ll be long gone.” He stopped his inspection of the cell, rubbing his face and groaning in despair.
“Not necessarily.”
Fitz looked up in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“This vessel does not appear to be in particularly good shape and is travelling at slow speed.”
Fitz’s eyes wandered across the ceiling trying to discern how Enoch was able to tell the speed of the ship. “What about whomever they’re meeting?”
“That I do not know. Nonetheless, I have devised a plan.”
Fitz took a step closer to the shimmering energy wall that separated their cells. “What’s the—?”
He stopped his head reflexively spinning towards the sliding door that opened with a slight hiss.
“Well, look at that. They’re both awake.” A tall man in a ragged uniform of sorts, a weapon hanging from a holster on his hip, entered the room. He looked at Enoch, continuing in his booming tone that aggravated Fitz’s throbbing headache. “Glad the energy surge didn’t damage you. Would have brought down your price significantly.”
“I can assure you your buyers won’t be disappointed,” Enoch addressed him.
The bloke dropped his head back, laughing out loud and gesturing at Enoch. “Oh, Chronicons and their honesty. Gotta love ‘em.”
“What about me?” Fitz asked, stepping closer to the front wall of his cell.
The Chronicon hunter looked at him, furrowing his brow. “You? Ha! Came as a bit of a surprise to find a Chronicon with a human.” He pursed his lips. “Was a bit disappointing, to be honest. Thought I’d gotten myself two Chronicons at first.” He shrugged. “Then I figured, maybe he’s one of those Inhumans the Kree are so crazy about. But no. Plain old human.” The bloke lifted his chin in Enoch’s direction. “I’ll be lucky if his buyer will take you as a freebie. Though I doubt they’d wanna have to feed you. Sorry to say, you may just end up in our airlock—with the outer side unlocked.”
Fitz closed his eyes in resignation, when Enoch’s voice caused him to look back up. “That would be unwise.”
“And how come, Chronicon?” their captor asked.
“Your ship appears to be in a rather dire state, and this man is an expert engineer and mechanic. He may prove quite valuable to your business.”
The Chronicon hunter eyed Fitz up and down. “Is that so?”
“It is indeed,” Enoch replied, while all Fitz could do was stare at the Chronicon in confusion.
“Well, let’s put you to the test, shall we?” their captor announced, causing Fitz to look back at him. He drew his weapon, deactivated the force field and fired a shot past Fitz.
Fitz flinched as the energy beam rushed past him, hitting a wall panel and sending sparks shooting.
The Chronicon hunter smirked, re-engaging the force field and pointing at the busted panel behind Fitz. “My guess is you have about 5 minutes of oxygen now. You fix that little problem, you may just be as valuable to me as the Chronicon says.” He stepped backwards out of the room and closed the door, waving at Fitz through the window, grinning coldly.
Fitz stood frozen in shock for a moment, before a jolt rushed through him. He spun around, running to the destroyed wall panel, trying to reach inside without getting shocked.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled at Enoch, as he attempted to make sense of the cables and connections inside the wall.
“It was my assessment that the ship could use a good mechanic,” Enoch explained. “Considering the slow speed of this vessel compared to a presumably much more advanced and speedier ship awaiting us, it seemed desirable to ensure you would not be transferred. Additionally, having access to the ship’s systems may allow you—”
Fitz stared at the Chronicon as realization finally hit him as to what Enoch’s plan entailed. “—to contact—” He stopped himself, glancing at the security camera in the corner.
“I believe the cameras are dysfunctional,” Enoch remarked matter-of-factly. “Further proof that the ship is indeed in dire need of your qualifications. I did, however, not anticipate the drastic measures our captor would use to let you prove your skills. For that I apologize.”
Fitz continued trying to fix his oxygen supply, noticing his head starting to spin slightly. “What about you?” he asked, briefly focusing on Enoch.
“There is no need to worry about me, Fitz. I have been through worse and am quite capable of fending for myself.” Enoch paused for a moment before taking a step closer. “I have grown rather fond of you and your species, and everything my research on your team has procured ensures me that you reuniting with your friends and Jemma Simmons is a vital and rewarding endeavor.”
Fitz connected a few more cables, noticing the system start to run smoothly again. He leaned his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath, before lifting his head in Enoch’s direction. “Thank you.”
Enoch bobbed his head, the corners of his mouth ticking up barely noticably. “You are quite welcome.”
The sliding door opened again, causing Fitz to shift focus.
“Well, well, well,” the Chronicon hunter declared loudly as he stepped inside, “looks like you just got yourself a job. I hope you have it in you.”
Fitz straightened up, staring directly at his captor. “Oh, I have it in me.”