INT. BASE 2 – PRESENT
Mira falls silent. The sunlight through the window is stronger now, touching the floor between them.
Sam steps forward, eyes narrowing.
SAM
So... Nick knew. All of this.
TALOS (nodding slowly)
And he was preparing for it.
SHARON (arms crossed)
Then why didn't he come back with you?
BUCKY (leaning against the wall)
Yeah. If he knew Gravik's play, why stay up there?
HILL (looking between them, firm)
Maybe because he couldn't. Or maybe because he's got a bigger move in play
Hill, standing slightly apart, speaks with a grim steadiness.
HILL
We don't even know if he's aliveright now. But he had a plan. He knewwhat was happening down here. He told us to unite and that's exactly what we're going to do.
TALOS (thoughtful)
He also said to wait for orders.Which means... even if he's gone, somehow we'll still get the orders.
Yelena's eyes shift toward the pods.
YELENA
Speaking of orders... what do we do about these?
Mira turns her gaze to the pods, then back to Yelena with a faint smirk of relief.
MIRA
Oh, I'm glad you didn't open them. These systems aren't just locks they're life support. We'd need serious power and time to revive themsafely.
SAM (decisive)
Then first we get the rest of ourpeople together.
BUCKY
How? (glancing at Mira) All the comms are down, the networks are fried, and the Quinjet's grounded without them.
MIRA (tilting her head)
Alright, be specific what networkswas the Quinjet actually running on?
HILL
Stark Network... and S.H.I.E.L.D. relays.
MIRA "Okay... then here's the good news. Gravik wanted me to design a failsafe to wipe every public and private network off the grid. I... didn't follow his specs to the letter. I left Stark's architecture untouched it's too advance for me to breach it. Which means... anything still tied into Stark's backbone is just dormant, not destroyed. If we can tap into it, we can bring it back online.
SAM
First step is getting to the Quinjet. Mira, you help us bring comms back online once we're there.
YELENA
Then we'd better move fast. We've already lost too much time here.
EXT. BASE 2 – MORNING
The heavy doors of BASE 2 slide open. The group spills out into the open. Air hits their faces.
The rays of morning crawl over the concrete yard, the horizon still burning orange, smoke and dust hanging low from the night before.
TALOS turns to his three SKRULL COMMANDERS.
TALOS
Help us with the pods. (over his shoulder)
The carry machines, over there.
The commanders nod in perfect unison and move off.
At the far end of the yard, two HEAVY DUTY TRANSPORT RIGS sit dormant, squat platforms with folded mechanical arms and thick stabilizer pylons.
One commander kneels, punches in a coded sequence. A low electronic HUM rises. Blue stabilizer lights ignite beneath the platforms. The rigs come alive. The mechanical arms extend with hydraulic precision, sliding under the cryo pods.
Monitors flicker, heart rates, oxygen levels. The pods lift slowly, carefully. The commanders guide the rigs in sync, eyes fixed on the vitals.
Nearby, MIRA steps forward. She raises her right hand, fingers relaxed. She moves her wrist in a slow circular motion.
The air in front warps. A SPARKPORTAL OPENS, glowing, humming, revealing MIRA'S LAB on the other side. Light spills out.
One by one, they move. Pods roll through first. Then Talos. Then the others. They emerge outside the lab. Mira turns back to the group.
MIRA
Sharon, come with me.
I need you at the Quinjet.
MIRA (CONT'D)
The rest of you…
You'll find upgrades inside.
Use whatever helps.
SHARON gives a short nod and heads for the Quinjet with HILL, already pulling gloves on. The others drift toward the lab.
BUCKY lags behind, jaw tight.
BUCKY
Nah. I don't need upgrades.
A beat. SAM catches up, walking backward in front of him.
SAM (mocking)
Ohhh, look at that.
The old man's got pride now?
SAM (CONT'D)
Come on.
Bucky exhales. They disappear into the lab as the portal SEALS SHUT behind them.
CUT.
EXT. MIRA'S LAB – DAY
Bright daylight floods the exterior of MIRA'S LAB, clean metal walls catching the sun.
SHARON stands near the Quinjet ramp, one hand pressed to her earpiece.
SHARON
Sam, you hearing me?
A half, second of static.
SAM (V.O.)
Yeah.
Loud and clear.
Sharon exhales.
SHARON (turns to Mira)
Comms are back.
MIRA
So is the Quinjet.
The hangar doors behind them SLIDE OPEN. The team steps out. Slow.
SAM leads. He wears a black tacticalvest, a compact reactor core glowing faintly at his chest. His wings unfold as he walks longer, thinner, sharper than before. White panels catch the sun, streaked with blue. A shield, reworked in red and black, rests magnetically at his side.
Beside him, BUCKY checks the weight of a new rifle. Subtle sensors blink along his forearms, trackers syncing silently. His metal hand flexes once, testing.
HILL follows, composed, wearing a light vibranium coat that moves like fabric.
Behind them, TALOS and G'IAH walk with the three SKRULL COMMANDERS, each armed differently, rifles, blades, hybrid tech.
YELENA trails slightly to the side, rolling her shoulders. Wrist shockers hum softly as she tests them. Twin pistols snap into place with practiced ease.
Sharon watches them approach.
SHARON
Woooh.
Talos steps forward, eyes sharp.
TALOS
Who's next on the rescue list?
Mira shakes her head.
MIRA
No.
They all turn to her.
MIRA (CONT'D)
Right now, Gravik expects us least iswhere he actually is.
Bucky looks up.
BUCKY
The White House.
SHARON
Why there?
BUCKY
Because that's where men like him celebrate.
That's where he shows the world he'swon.
Hill folds her arms.
HILL
Now we have two jets working. Nick told us to search for the others.
SAM - Except for Scott and Hope wedon't know where the rest are.
HILL - We need people whose ways are more brutal. You guys go the White House. Sharon come with me. Talos I need your jet.
SHARON - Where to?
HILL - The Hell's Kitchen
Sam steps forward.
SAM
We're not striking.
We watch.
We let him play out his plan,
and we learn how to break it.
Mira nods, stepping closer to the group.
MIRA
And if things go bad...
we're not under equipped anymore.
She glances at Sam's wings. Bucky's rifle. The Skrulls' weapons.
MIRA (CONT'D)
Best case we're ahead in tech.
Worst case we're evenly matched withGravik.
G'iah steps forward.
G'IAH
Alright.
Let's do this.
The Quinjet's engines begin to WHINE, powering up. The team moves toward it.
CUT.
INT. QUINJET – DAY – OVER THE MOJAVE DESERT
The Quinjet cuts through open sky. Below, the Mojave Desert stretches endlessly. Inside, the cabin, at the controls, SAM pilots eyes forward, hands steady. Behind him, BUCKY. Sam's gaze drifts to the shield resting beside him, red and black. Opposite BUCKY is TALOS, G'IAH, and YELENA.
The THREE SKRULL OFFICERS occupy the rear bench, silent, weapons secured but within reach. Soldiers awaiting orders.
In the center of the jet, two CRYO PODS rest locked into place. Their monitors blink steadily.
MIRA kneels between them, hands moving across a floating holo interface, adjusting vitals with focus.
She looks up without turning.
MIRA
Alright. They'll both wake up before we reach the White House.
She taps a final command.
MIRA (CONT'D)
But physically especially walking, they'll be weak for a couple of days.
Talos nods once. A quiet moment. Then Talos turns slightly toward Yelena, lowering his voice.
TALOS (soft, curious)
So… you follow your sister's path?
Yelena's lips twitch, almost a smirk, but her eyes stay locked forward.
YELENA
No. There's nothing left on that path.
Whatever I do now…
I do it for myself.
Talos tilts his head, unconvinced.
TALOS
Then why are you here?
With us, instead of alone?
Yelena doesn't answer immediately.
YELENA
Because I want revenge.
She swallows.
YELENA (CONT'D)
My sister spent her whole life giving.
Fighting.
Sacrificing for everyone else.
And what did she get?
Nothing.
Her jaw tightens.
YELENA (CONT'D)
Just exhaustion.
She was tired. Broken.
And in the end… it swallowed her.
She blinks once. Hard.
YELENA (CONT'D)
I don't want that kind of ending.
Talos watches her, not as a general, but as a father.
TALOS (gentle, firm)
Revenge feels right in the moment.
But it burns through you. Leavesnothing behind. Tell me, Yelena…
when you take it, will it make youwhole?
Yelena doesn't hesitate.
YELENA
Yeah. It will.
Bucky glances at her. G'iah looks down. Sharon studies Yelena quietly.
TALOS (exhales)
Then… no problem.
He nods once.
TALOS (CONT'D)
If you truly believe what you're doing is right, walk that path. Just remember… sometimes the hardest thingisn't knowing what to fight for.
It's knowing when to stop.
Silence.
TALOS (CONT'D)
Mistakes learned the hard way…
are never forgotten.
He stares at the floor.
TALOS (CONT'D)
I thought I was protecting mydaughters by leaving them behind.
Truth is… it was my pride.
He looks toward the cockpit.
TALOS (CONT'D)
I was too busy proving myself to Nick.
Chasing missions. Trying to matter.
His voice cracks, just slightly.
TALOS (CONT'D)
Instead of fighting for scraps of recognition… I could've fought for a home. Found us a way to stay here.
To live freely.
He shakes his head.
TALOS (CONT'D)
But I didn't.
And now Gravik has done it his way,
and everyone's suffering for it.
Mira pauses her work.
G'IAH
Enough.
She looks at Talos.
G'IAH (CONT'D)
Don't carry all of that alone.
She leans closer.
G'IAH (CONT'D)
This isn't just your fault.
And even if you'd found us a way…
Gravik wouldn't have stopped.
Then, softer
G'IAH (CONT'D)
But look at us now. We're togetheragain. That's what matters.
That's family.
SAM (from the front)
She's right.
And it's not just the Skrulls.
We've been fractured for too long,
fighting in our own corners.
Now we're here. Side by side.
BUCKY It's not perfect…
but for the first time in a long while, we're actually united.
Silence settles.
BUCKY
Still…
what's Gravik's endgame?
He looks toward Talos.
SAM
Why tear everything down?
Just to crown himself king?
Talos stares out the cockpit window.
TALOS
No.
Gravik is not
Suddenly
TALOS (CONT'D)
LOOK OUT!
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. QUINJET – MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
The QUINJET LIES CRASHED, half buried in sand.
MIRA, flat on her back, blinks through dust.
Her eyes lock onto TWO PODS, partially embedded near the wreckage.She exhales, steadying herself.
TALOS (grunting, pushing up)
Everyone up. Now.
We're under attack.
BUCKY
How many?
Talos squints into the heat haze.
TALOS
I don't know.
G'IAH
Then we have to check.
BUCKY
No.
We don't know what's waiting outthere.
YELENA
If they wanted us dead, we'd already be dead.
(tilts head)
This feels like a conversation.
Sam steps forward.
SAM
They know where we were.
They might not know who are still here.
Let's not show all our cards.
BUCKY
I'll go.
Sam nods.
SAM
Mira, with us.
He unhooks the shield, hands it to Bucky.
SAM (CONT'D) - Different shield. But you will use it better than I do.
Bucky takes it. Mira turns, climbing into the WAR MACHINE ARMOR, systems booting up with a low hum.
EXT. MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
Endless sand. No wind. No sound. Across the dunes, ANOTHER QUINJET. In front of it stands a LINE OF FIGURES.
Still. Waiting.
THARAN, AS JOHN WALKER IN CAPTAIN AMERICA GEAR
Shield resting at his side.
Beside him ,SAM WILSON (FALCON), YELENA, G'IAH (HUMAN FORM), TALOS (HUMAN FORM). And two other copied faces.
Bucky, Sam, and War Machine Mira walk forward. Boots crunch against sand. Bucky doesn't look away from Tharan.
BUCKY
So… all of you can do this?
Mira's voice echoes from inside the suit.
MIRA
Yes.
They stop a few feet apart. Tharan tilts his head, studying Mira.
THARAN
Mira. (smiles faintly)
Didn't expect to see you with them.
He steps closer.
THARAN (CONT'D)
You remember what our ancestors did to traitors?
Bucky shifts slightly, shield angled.
BUCKY
You here to stop us?
Tharan's eyes flick to the shield. Then back.
THARAN
Why would we? (gestures casually)
We're just here to take Talos. (beat)
Peacefully.
Mira steps forward.
MIRA
Don't.
SAM
Talos isn't with us.
Tharan smiles.
THARAN
Don't lie.
Sam's jaw tightens.
SAM
You're crossing the line.
THARAN (laughs)
You still think you have lines?
THARAN (looking at Bucky)
You've already knelt.
Gravik didn't even have to be in the room.
(looks at Sam)
Imagine what he'd do face to face.
Tharan steps back, gestures to the desert.
THARAN (CONT'D)
Five minutes.
Give us Talos.
Or we take him.
Sam, Bucky, and Mira hold eye contact. Then slowly they back away.
INT. QUINJET – MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
SAM
Seven.
That's how many we counted.
TALOS (smiles faintly)
we're ten.
A few nods.
SAM
They gave us five minutes.
(looks at Talos)
They want you.
Talos exhales.
TALOS
Then that's also a win.
I go with them.
G'IAH (Immediate)
No.
Talos meets her eyes.
TALOS
Gravik won't kill me.
Mira steps forward.
MIRA
I won't let that happen.
Her lifts her right wrist.
MIRA (CONT'D)
I can open a portal. Anywhere. But the Quinjet has to put distance between us and theirs.
SAM - We won't run away.
BUCKY
They can copy faces. (shrugs)
But I'm still a super soldier.
Sam looks at him. Mira's face hardens.
MIRA
Bucky…
They're all super soldiers. I made theserum.
SAM
Okay. I have a plan.
EXT. MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
THARAN and his SKRULL COMMANDERS stand still, eyes locked on the distant Quinjet.
From it emerge SAM, BUCKY, and TALOS, Talos walking between them. They stop a few feet apart.
THARAN
No games.
Sam nods once.
Suddenly, a SPARK PORTAL snaps open in the air above the Skrulls. YELENA DROPS THROUGH, landing hard among them. Before anyone reacts
BANG.
She fires point blank on her shapeshifter's HEAD.
She collapses, dead before she hits the sand.
TALOS Weapons out!
Bucky lunges
SLAMS A PUNCH INTO THARAN.
Tharan catches it mid swing with his CAPTAIN AMERICA SHIELD. Metal screams. They collide, shield to shield, brute force vs precision.
Sam ignites his thrusters and TAKES FLIGHT.
Talos turns, firing defensively as he moves back toward the Quinjet. Behind it, the TWO SKRULL COMMANDERS cover firing. THE OTHER SKRULL COMMANDER preparing the quinjet for flight.
The FAKE FALCON rises to strike the jet. Sam strafes mid air, firing , the bullets spark uselessly off the enemy.
Fake G'iahCHARGES, no technique.
Yelena sidesteps at the last second. CRACK.
Her knee slams into G'iah's ribs. Bone SNAPS, green blood sprays from G'iah's mouth.
She doesn't slow.
G'iah's shapeshifter GRABS YELENA BY THE THROAT, lifts her off the ground, and SLAMS HER INTO THE SAND.
Once.
Twice.
Yelena coughs, blood on her lips.
She rolls just as G'iah's fist CRATERS THE GROUND where her head was.
Yelena comes up firing.
BANG.
The bullet RIPS THROUGH shapeshifter G'IAH'S SHOULDER, tearing flesh open.
Green muscle exposed. Tendons twitch. G'iah's shapeshifter SCREAMS, more animal than pain.
She backhands Yelena, TEETH CRACK, Yelena spits blood into the sand. They circle now. Breathing hard.
Blood dripping, red and green mixing on the desert floor. G'iah's shapeshifter lunges again.
Yelena meets her head on, pulls a blade and DRIVES IT INTO shapeshifter G'IAH'S THIGH. G'iah howls, grabs the blade, RIPS IT OUT, taking meat with it. She headbutts Yelena.
CRACK. Yelena stumbles. G'iah's shapeshifter raises both fists, about to crush her skull. Yelena triggers her WRIST SHOCKER.
A violent SURGE tears through G'iah's body. Her scream cuts off mid note. She collapses. Yelena stands over her.
Shaking. Bleeding. She steps away, doesn't look back.
Bucky and Tharan COLLIDE. SHIELD ON SHIELD.
The impact sends a METALLIC SCREAM across the desert. Sparks spray.
Tharan HITS FIRST, a shield bash straight into Bucky's chest.
Bucky is launched backward, skids through sand, ribs cracking. He doesn't pause.
He comes back LOW, spinning, slamming his shield into Tharan's jaw.
CRACK.
Teeth snap. Blood sprays from Tharan's mouth. Tharan barely stumbles. He grins, green on his lips.
They go at each other again. Fist. Shield. Elbow. Headbutt. Bucky's metal arm SMASHES into Tharan's ribs, bones cave in.
Tharan answers with a FULL FORCE SHIELD STRIKE to Bucky's skull. Bucky hits the ground, vision blurring, blood leaking from his ear.
Tharan steps in to finish it
Bucky kicks him and suddenly HURLS HIS RED-BLACK SHIELD STRAIGHT UP.
SAM SNATCHES IT.
Thrusters scream.
Sam RAMS THE FAKE FALCON OUT OF THE SKY, driving him into the desert at terminal force. They hit hard. Sand explodes.
Sam lands on top .He HAMMERS THE SHIELD DOWN.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
CRACK. Sam hits him again. The wings SCREAM, servos tearing apart. Sparks burst.
Sam rips one wing free, METAL TEARING, wires snapping.
The Falcon screams.
Sam rises, breathing hard.
Behind him, Bucky drags himself up, shaking, eyes locked on Tharan.
Thran's Skrull soldier kneels atop his Quinjet, calm as a machine.
He draws his arrows. Releases.
An arrow PIERCES the SKRULL COMMANDER'S THIGH, punching straight through. The Skrull drops, screaming, green blood pumping into the sand.
Another arrow flies, it BURIES ITSELF IN A CHEST, lifting the commander off his feet.
He slams down, twitching, choking on foam.
The Skrull doesn't slow. Doesn't breathe harder.
SAM (COMMS)
Someone take out that skrull!
A sharp WHOOMP. An SPARK PORTAL RIPS OPEN behind that skrull.
He starts to turn, too late.
G'IAH (REAL) steps through, gun already raised.
BANG.
The round TEARS THROUGH THE BACK OF THE SKRULL'S SKULL. Blood sprays across the Quinjet hull.
His body stiffens, then folds forward, dead before it hits the metal. G'iah doesn't watch him fall.
She holsters mid motion and SLIDES DOWN THE QUINJET, boots scraping.
G'IAH
Officer, prep for takeoff!
Behind her, the FAKE Talos lunges. Yelena turns, eyes cold. She slams her WRIST SHOCKER into Fake Talos' throat. A violent ELECTRIC BLAST surges through his body. Fake Talos SCREAMS, skin flickering between human and Skrull. He collapses into the sand. Yelena doesn't slow.
She and G'iah SPRINT back. Sam HURLS THE SHIELD. It spins like a buzzsaw. Tharan barely raises his own shield in time
BOOM. The impact DRIVES HIM BACK, boots carving trenches in the sand. Bucky doesn't hesitate. He KICKS THARAN FULL FORCE IN THE STOMACH.
Tharan folds for half a second, blood spurts from his mouth. Then he straightens. Smiling.
Above their Quinjet, the sky TEARS OPEN, aMASSIVE SPARK PORTAL, distant but expanding.
SAM
Go! I've got him!
Bucky doesn't argue. He runs. Tharan turns back to Sam. Slow Predatory. They move at the same time. Tharan CHARGES, shield swinging like a blunt axe.
Sam ignites his thrusters, dodging low, Tharan's shield MISSES SAM'S HEAD BY INCHES, smashing into rock. Stone explodes. Sam dives, DRIVES A BOOT INTO THARAN'S CHEST. Tharan slides back, ribs grinding, but stays upright. Sam circles in the air, striking from angles,
A kick to the jaw.
An elbow to the collarbone.
A drive by shield bash.
Tharan absorbs it all. He times Sam's next dive,
CATCHES HIM MID AIR BY THE LEG. Sam's body WHIPS AROUND. Tharan SLAMS HIM INTO THE GROUND. Once. Sand erupts. Again.
Sam's helmet cracks, blood streaks across his cheek. Tharan THROWSHIM, Sam tumbling end over end. Sam crashes hard, breath ripped from his lungs. He rolls, coughing, blood dripping into the sand. Tharan advances, boots heavy, shield raised.
Sam forces himself up. Wings sparking. He wipes blood from his mouth. Locks eyes with Tharan. Still standing. Then the QUINJET LIFTS, engines screaming. Rear ramp still open. Dust spirals beneath it.
THARAN TURNS. Then SPRINTS towards it. Not human fast, predatory. Each step CRACKS THE GROUND, sand exploding behind him. Sam flies too then grabs Bucky mid run. Thrusters flare.
They surge toward the Quinjet, Tharan raises a compact launcher. Fires.
THUNK THUNK.
Two HARPOON CABLES rip through Sam's wings. Metal TEARS. The cables go taut. Sam is RIPPED BACKWARD MID AIR, screaming. Bucky slams into the ground beside him.
They crash hard, bodies folding wrong, skidding through sand until they stop near TALOS (FAKE). Twisted. Still breathing.
Sam claws at the cables, they DIG DEEPER, shredding wing joints. He screams through clenched teeth. From above, MIRA, full WAR MACHINE, ROCKETS OUT OF THE QUINJET.
She doesn't slow. She opens fire. AUTO CANNON ROARS. Rounds HAMMER THARAN, lifting him off his feet. He crashes into the sand, rolling, blood splashing green and red.
Sam collapses, choking. Mira lands hard. She grips the harpoon lines and RIPS THEM FREE. Metal screams. Sam collapses, bleeding out.
Then SHHHKKK.
A LONG BLADE PUNCHES THROUGH MIRA'S CHEST. Straight out her back. Blood pours down the War Machine plating. Mira freezes. Gasping. Looks down. Sees the blade buried inside her.
Then, She turns. Behind her stands FAKE TALOS. He yanks the blade out. Mira collapses to her knees. Tharan groans in the distance. He rises. Bleeding. Still moving.
He presses a control. He starts running again same as the speed of the Quinjet. TALOS stands at the Quinjet ramp.
Tharan throws the shield. Full force. It SLAMS INTO TALOS' SKULL. Bone CRACKS. Talos is launched backward, tumbling out of the Quinjet, slamming into the sand below.
The Quinjet slows down. At the last second, G'IAH JUMPS out. G'iah lands beside Tharan. He PUNCHES HER. Her face caves in, blood sprays, she collapses.
Talos groans, tries to crawl. Tharan kneels. Injects him. Talos goes limp instantly. Eyes open.
Tharan gestures, his jet comes to him, he drags Talos' body toward the jet.
EXT. MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
The Quinjet standing in the distance, from it Yelena and other three skrull commanders come out.
Mira's eyes flicker open. Blurred sky… burning light… then G'iah. She's cradling Mira's head in her lap, hands trembling, trying to hold her together. Mira's vision shifts slightly. To the side, A body.
His form flickers between Skrull and human… throat slit. Lifeless.
G'iah leans closer, voice breaking.
G'IAH (whispering)
Please… stay with me. Please…
Mira looks at her. A faint, tired smile.
EXT. Planet VAEL'TARNIS – ELARIS REACH – NIGHT
Flames crawl across the fields. Smoke chokes the sky, turning the stars into faint, dying pinpricks. Two massive evacuation ships hum violently against the ground, their engines trembling.
Skrulls rush in waves. Panic.
G'IAH and MIRA stand near the Base 2 ship. Mira watching the firelight reflecting in G'iah's eyes.
MIRA (quiet)
Are we really… never going to meet again?
G'iah doesn't answer immediately. She reaches out. Her fingers gently brush ash off Mira's cheek.
G'IAH (soft)
You'll be in Base 2. I'll be in Base 1.
Mira lets out a faint breath.
MIRA
So that's it?
G'iah looks at her now.
MIRA (CONT'D)
Maybe it's necessary… for our people.
We can't keep living like this.
A distant explosion. The ground trembles slightly. G'iah grabs Mira's wrist.
G'IAH (voice low)
The new planet… it'll be different.
She tightens her grip slightly.
G'IAH (CONT'D)
And you'll be there.
Mira slowly turns her hand… intertwining her fingers with G'iah's.
MIRA
Miles away.
G'iah steps closer. Their foreheads almost touch.
G'IAH (CONT'D)
I'll still find you. But I'll be watching. From distance
Mira finally smiles.
EXT. MOJAVE DESERT – DAY - PRESENT
MIRA (soft)
I… never realized… (beat) I always had you.
G'iah shakes her head, tears spilling now.
G'IAH
No… no, not like this. You're not,
Her voice collapses. Mira lifts her hand slowly, weak, barely steady. She presses her fingers gently against G'iah's forehead.
MIRA
It's okay.
A breath. Then, the faint glow in Mira's suit flickers… and dies.
Silence. G'iah doesn't move. Her face is frozen. Then slowly… her grip tightens around Mira. Her breathing changes. The tears stop. She lowers Mira's head carefully onto the sand. Gentle.
No one speaks. G'iah stands. She turns toward the Quinjet. She walks past everyone without looking at them.
Inside the Quinjet, the cryo pods hum faintly. She reaches them. A beat.
BUCKY (quiet, firm)
G'iah.
She doesn't turn. Her hand rests on the controls.
BUCKY (CONT'D)
What are you doing?
She opens the first pod. HISS. John Walker's body jerks as air hits him. Weak.
She opens the second. Rhodey gasps sharply, trying to breathe, eyes darting.
G'iah doesn't look at them. She grabs one of the empty pods and pulls it out. The metal scrapes across the floor. The Skrull officers step in without being told. They help her carry it.
EXT. DESERT – CONTINUOUS
They bring the pod to Mira. G'iah kneels beside her again.
She brushes sand off Mira's face. Careful. Respectful. Then, they lift her. Placing her inside the pod. G'iah closes it. The seal locks with a hollow sound.
INT. QUINJET – MOMENTS LATER
Walker and Rhodey sit slumped, trying to process reality. Rhodey looks around.
RHODEY (weak)
What… what is happening…?
Walker tries to stand, fails. No one answers. G'iah walks past them. Straight to the cockpit. She sits. Hands on the controls. Still. Sam steps in behind her. Looks at her, then at the others.
SAM (calm, steady)
Everyone inside. Now.
They move. Bucky helps Rhodey into a seat. Yelena watches G'iah, silent. The Quinjet powers up. Low hum building. Sam sits beside G'iah.
SAM (softly)
Where to?
Silence. G'iah stares ahead. Her hands tighten on the controls. The engines roar louder. She doesn't answer.
CUT.