Shadow of the Beautiful World

In the afternoon of the same day, Merlin returned to the North American continent from Antarctica in Fury's private plane.

After an aerial refueling, they barely changed course, flew all the way over Nevada, and landed deep in the scorching desert.

Pegasus base, a place that Merlin is very familiar with.

The one who greeted them at the base airport was the base's current chief officer, a level 9 agent, Agent Dame Duggan, whose professional title was one level higher than Merlin's.

I heard that you are coming, so I prepared everything in advance.

Agent Duggan still maintained his previous appearance, with a serious face, but there were two slightly weird mustaches on his serious face, which was a style of beard that soldiers of his era liked very much. , it seems very outdated in modern times.

But the old agent in front of him is definitely trustworthy in every aspect. After several cooperations with Agent Dugan, Merlin deeply felt this.

As long as Agent Duggan is involved, everything will fall into place.

This guy was an excellent fighter decades ago, and he is still an equally elite secret agent now. It is no wonder that Fury trusted him so much and handed over such important bases as Pegasus Base to Agent Dugan to manage.

Dr. Foster is currently adjusting the instrument.

Agent Dugan took Merlin and Fury to the most secure area of ​​Pagasowski. He said to the two people behind him:

Steve has just thawed out, and his body is not very sensitive to temperature changes. Dr. Foster is trying the latest treatment methods to make Steve heal as quickly as possible. Of course, the doctor can only solve Steve's problems. Steve's external problems, but there is no way to interfere with Steve's will.

Agent Dugan said with some concern:

In case he sleeps too long and can't wake up or, he doesn't want to wake up

Don't worry, Dugan.

Merlin comforted softly:

In the field of occultism, there is a connection between the soul and the body. The disability of the body will change the soul, which is fatal to ordinary people. But Steve is not an ordinary person. His will and body They are all stronger than ordinary people, we have enough reasons to believe that Steve's soul is still intact, and a complete and resolute soul will not indulge in boring fantasies for a long time.

He said:

He will wake up, it's just a matter of time.

Yes, he will be sober.

Fury stood on the stairs on the second floor, looking at the blond soldier sleeping in the laboratory below, he said:

Because we need him, a hero who is needed will not choose to give up.

Merlin!

Just as the three of them walked into the laboratory, a sharp, surprised voice sounded in the laboratory. Merlin raised his head, and saw the grown-up Ava rushing towards her, her body was approaching the glass wall Time became illusory, passing through as if he was not hindered, but he didn't plunge into Merlin's arms like in the past.

After all, she has grown up, she is 16 years old this year, and she is an older child who knows how to be reserved.

In the past few years, this child has been living with Dr. Bill, and often visits Merlin's house. She has a good relationship with Raven and Lorna, and is a good friend with Daisy, and she also likes to play with Matt.

This child's personality is also very good, but her physical condition

Really not optimistic.

Ava was rescued by Merlin and Hill from the wreckage of the laboratory explosion in 1998. At that time, she was 11 years old. Dr. Bill used the blueprint of the quantum stabilizer sent by Dr. Hank, who has never seen the end of the dragon, to make Ava A quantum stabilizer can temporarily free her from the pain of being torn apart all the time and being in a quantum state.

But Dr. Hank also said that as Ava grows older, the connection between the child and the Quantum Sea will become closer and closer. When the connection reaches its peak, it completely fails.

Now five years have passed since the 10-year deadline predicted by Dr. Hank. Ava seems to have forgotten the pain she has been carrying, but Merlin and Dr. Bill have not forgotten that Dr. Bill has been studying quantum theory day and night for the past few years. , in order to find a way for Ava, but in this regard, Merlin is completely unable to help.

He can only do his best to make Ava happy every time he comes to the house as a guest.

Ruiwen also heard about Ava's experience from Merlin. That girl who was always indifferent was unexpectedly very friendly to Ava, even with a kind of affection almost like a sister, but unfortunately, she was proficient in almost all types of magic. Ruiwen, who is also the same, can't help Ava.

Azaras is a magical civilization, and there is no knowledge about quantum mechanics and quantum seas in their great libraries.

Merlin stretched out his hand to caress Ava's head and that beautiful black hair, and there was an indelible worry in his eyes.

If the child is unlucky, after 5 years, she may disappear completely, like a beautiful soap bubble dissipating in the sun.

not death

But it is more terrible than death, more unpredictable disappearance.

Our Ava is beautiful again.

Merlin looked at the slender girl beside him, and he joked:

Did you receive any love letters from your classmates at school?

I'm not going to school, Merlin.

Ava shrugged. This quirky girl nodded to Agent Fury and Dugan beside Merlin. Fury and Dugan also knew about Ava, and they were very tolerant of Dr. Bill's adopted daughter.

People are sympathetic, even a guy like Fury, who is full of conspiracy, will have a kind of pity from the heart for a child like Ava who is ill-fated.

Of course, this is also because Ava's ability can help a lot in Pegasus Base.

Uncle Bill asked me to help in the lab, the things my father taught me in school when I was a kid.

Ava did not avoid talking about her past, she had a sunny smile on her slightly pale face, and she said to Merlin:

I'm studying quantum mechanics with Uncle Bill now, and I'm his assistant now. How is it? Am I good?

Well, it's amazing.

Merlin responded with two sentences, he said to Ava:

Going to see Matt sometime, he asked me where you were last week and you too, moved to Nevada with Dr. Bill, and didn't write Matt until you know him, he's actually quite sensitive He thought he made you angry.

Not really.

Ava became a little silent at this moment, and after a few seconds, she said to Merlin:

I just want him to get used to the feeling of my absence for a while so that he won't feel pain when I actually leave in the future. He is my best friend and I don't want to hurt him.

If you don't tell him before you leave, you're doing him a disservice.

Merlin sighed, and said to Ava who lowered her head:

There are 5 more years you can go through together, if it doesn't go well, Matt should be just an adult by then and he should be able to deal with his own pain and loss. I mean, Ava, don't be hard on yourself. So harsh, if you still have to leave in the end, I hope that you leave with happiness rather than pain.

What Merlin said was a little bit hurtful.

Even Fury couldn't help but glared at him, but Merlin knew that if he didn't say these words, he might really lose his chance.

Ava blinked, looked up at Merlin, and said:

Can't you comfort me? Merlin, can't you tell me everything will be fine?

Ha ha.

Merlin looked at Ava's angry face, he patted the big girl on the shoulder, and said:

It's easier to pat someone on the shoulder and tell them everything is going to be alright than it is to tell them to face reality.

But Ava, I watched you grow up. I know what a strong child you are. I know that even if you go to that damn quantum sea, you still have the ability to protect yourself, and you have the ability to let yourself follow your own path. the will to live.

No matter how difficult the road ahead is, grit your teeth and go on, trying to find direction and hope.

Merlin said softly:

Just for Matt, for us, for Dr. Bill who treats you like his daughter, okay?

All right.

Ava turned her head to look at Fury, and she said to Fury with a smile on her face:

Master Director, I would like to take 2 days off to visit my good friend, is that okay?

Go, go, I'll give you a week off, have fun, and come back to work after you've had enough fun.

Merlin has talked all about this, if Fury doesn't criticize Ava, he will probably feel that he is too cold-blooded.

So with a wave of the director's hand, Ava got a super long 7-day vacation. The laboratory research assistant let out a cheer, put his ID on the table, and disappeared in front of everyone's eyes.

Fury looked at Merlin unhappily, and said:

Look, Merlin, I helped you. Now it's your turn to help me.

Okay, sir.

Merlin imitated Ava's tone and responded, and then, with Agent Dugan holding back his smile, he turned into smoke and quickly disappeared on the stairs on the second floor. When he reappeared, he was already standing on the side of Steve Rogers. Lying on the side of the bed.

Merlin nodded to the busy Dr. Bill on the other side, who gave him an OK sign.

He lowered his head and looked at Steve Rogers, who seemed to be sleeping but had an extremely slow breathing rate. This young version of Captain America seemed to have no trace of time on his body at all.

But the more Merlin looked at that handsome and resolute face, the more intensely that old Steve's open-minded face came to mind.

The appearances of the two Steves slowly merged before Merlin's eyes, and finally solidified into the sleeping young man in front of him.

Hey, even though I know you've been sleeping for 67 years, you're over 90 years old this year.

Merlin reached out and opened Steve's closed eyelids, and he said softly:

But no matter how you look at it, Steve, you're much younger than me

At the moment when he and Steve Rogers' blue eyeballs met, a spiritual vortex appeared in Merlin's eyes, accompanied by a low syllable, the will of the two took a gentle attitude at this moment , collided together.

Merlin thought it would be difficult.

After all, the principle of the Dementia Curse is the suppression of the soul, using a strong method to check other people's memories, but when the two strands of will came into contact, Merlin discovered that Steve's resistance at the level of will was not as intense as he thought.

He easily entered the world of Steve Rogers' will.

Then, he heard a melodious song.

Merlin looked around in a daze. In this conscious world, the place he was in was like an empty dance scene. The unmanned phonograph was playing a soothing melody with the rotation of the record. In the center of the stage, a ray of spotlight hits there. Under the gentle light, a handsome man in a green military uniform is dancing with a lady in a long black dress.

They looked at each other tenderly, and those eyes were full of love that didn't need to be explained.

It was a beautiful scene.

Merlin looked at the dancing figure, and after a while, he turned his head. In the dark corner outside the spotlight, a man wearing a blue uniform with stars and stripes was sitting alone on the wine table, staring at the Dancing silhouette.

The two dancing people are young Steve and Ms. Peggy Carter, and the one sitting in the corner is also Steve Rogers, who seems to be Steve Rogers who just walked off the battlefield .

Merlin walked over, he pulled out the chair and sat beside Steve, he said:

My name is Merlin, Merlin Riley, I am an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., you can understand that I am Ms. Peggy Carter's subordinate, I was ordered to come to wake you up, Steve The outside world needs you.

shh

Steve, who was wearing a combat uniform, stretched out his finger. He didn't even look at Merlin. He made a silent movement, and he said:

Don't disturb me, I'm on an appointment.

Appointment?

Merlin asked:

A date with whom?

Saturday, Stork Club, eight o'clock sharp in the evening, you can't be late.

Steve looked at the two people dancing with the singing in front of him, and he whispered:

I am coming

I'm here and I'm not leaving.

Merlin didn't answer, he didn't ask anymore, but sat quietly beside Steve. After a few minutes, the singing gradually subsided, and the light of the spotlight also slowly dissipated.

In the last light, in front of the eyes of the two, the phantoms of Steve and Peggy held hands, talked and laughed, left the stage, and walked towards the exit of the stage.

Then, everything went dark.

Like, a sweet dream is coming to an end.

Is this what you regret most?

Merlin stretched out his hand, and a glass of fine wine with ice cubes appeared in his hand strangely.

This is Steve's spiritual world, where everything is based on imagination, and for a skilled wizard, such a world can be changed at will.

Merlin put the glass of wine to his lips, and he said to the silent Steve:

I can't turn back time, Steve.

But I can tell you that you didn't actually miss that dance. I've seen Ms. Peggy several times, and I can tell you that you never actually left her.

Merlin says:

Steve Rogers has been by her side until they mysteriously disappeared in 1998, do you understand what I mean? Steve Although I can't explain this phenomenon, I can use my personality to guarantee that by Ms. Carter's side, There has always been a Steve Rogers, I suspect, that is you from the future, or you from another parallel world.

You didn't miss the dance, Steve.

It's just that you don't know it yourself.

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