Pan stepped into the room but still, Peggy didn’t look up.

The world fell silent as I stared at her huddled form. Her lank pale hair fell over her face, blocking her from view but I knew it was her. My eyes devoured her, drinking in every detail as I tried to assess her for injuries. She wouldn’t look up so I couldn’t check to see how her bruised face was healing. I silently begged her to look up. I needed to know how they’d been treating her since the press conference even though my gut told me it probably wasn’t good.

Pan approached slowly, her steps quietly echoing around the room but Peggy didn’t move. I wanted to think something to her, something only we would say so that she knew it was safe and that she could trust the fighters but my brain could barely form words. It was consumed by staring at the barely healed scars that lined her scalp surrounded by short tufty hair.

That’s why she hadn’t said anything to us yet.

They took them out. Didn’t they? I asked, needing someone else to confirm my concerns but at the same time, I didn’t want anyone to see this too.

Cory, why does she have scars on her head? Gem asked, her voice dripping with distress, What did they do to her?

I waited silently for him to reply, my stomach bubbling with nausea. She seemed so small and scared. Burning hatred roared in my heart. I wanted to kill Harvey. I wanted to murder him. I wanted him to suffer. My hands reached out towards the controls before freezing and dropping back to the screen. I just wanted to be able to protect her.

They must have taken her mods out. All of them, Cory’s horrified voice thought.

Pan stopped a few steps away from Peggy and crouched down.

“Peggy? I’m Pan. I’m with the fighters,” she said gently.

Peggy didn’t look up. The only thing betraying the fact that she could hear was the slight twitch of her thin, pale fingers tightening against her ears.

My heart clenched as I stared at her. Now that Pan was closer to her I could see just how thin she was. She looked so fragile and breakable. Her emaciated arms were trembling slightly as she gripped her ears. Dark bruises mottled her skin and new red jagged scars bisected the older pale scars on her arms.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to be scared. I’m not a Guardian, I’m here to take you to the rest of your crew,” Pan said softly like she was talking to a spooked bird who might flee at any second.

Peggy slowly unclenched her fingers and raised her head to glare at Pan.

Oh, gods, Gem gasped.

My breath left me and the world span slightly. She looked terrible. Her skin, where it wasn’t covered with bruises, was pale and sallow. Her eyes were bloodshot and ringed with dark bags or maybe even more bruises, it was hard to tell.

Her dry, cracked lips raised into a sneer.

“That’s bullshit. Tell Harvey and the others to fuck off.”

Her voice was raspy with disuse and slurred but it was her words that shocked me. She rarely used to swear but now, she spat the words out with hatred.

I blinked back tears I didn’t even know were forming.

Cory, is she okay? Gem asked.

I don’t know! She looks exhausted! Probably dehydrated too, judging by her lips, he replied, fear edging into his voice, I don’t know what they’ve been doing to her.

“I promise I’m not with them. I don’t know how to convince you otherwise but we have jets coming down to pick us up now. You need to come with us. Can you stand?” Pan held out a hand for Peggy to take.

“Stop talking shit!” she screamed, her hands clenching into fists.

Her rage made Pan stumble back a step but she continued to stare at Peggy’s face.

“Please, Peggy, you need to come with us.”

“You’re going to take me to the elevator to beat me again, aren’t you? Just fucking do it here!”

A tear splashed onto the screen and I hurried to wipe it away. Sudden gunshots sounded from behind the camera but I couldn’t look away from Peggy. My mind was empty as I tried to work out what we could do to convince Peg it was safe. I heard someone speak but the words wouldn’t register.

Pan’s hand came up to the helmet and it swung up so that Peggy could see her face.

“Aries, Crew Seven Six One? Peggy should be able to hear you if you say something. Can you let her know it’s okay and that she can come with us?” Pan asked gently.

I swallowed quickly before wetting my lips with my tongue and hit the comms button.

“Peg?” I managed thickly, “It’s us. You need to go with her. We’re coming to get you.”

Peggy’s eyes widened as she stared at the camera but she didn’t move.

“Peggy, it’s okay. They’re with us. We’re waiting for you in a ship just outside orbit. You have to come quickly, the Guardians are really close,” Cas said, his voice rushed.

Peggy shook her head stiffly.

“I almost believed you,” she said with a scoff before leaning back shakily against the wall.

“Please Peg, it is us! We’re alive and safe!” Gem pleaded, tears evident in her voice.

“It’s true, Peggy. We have a safe place for you and your crew to live,” Andy’s voice said over the speaker.

She froze and a trembling breath slipped out of her mouth.

“No. You’re dead. You wouldn’t… You wouldn’t leave us.”

There was a small pause before he spoke again.

“I’m so sorry, I wish I could have stayed. I know I let you down but I promise I’ll explain everything if you leave right now.”

Peggy stared at the camera with glistening eyes.

“Okay.”

She leant forwards and slowly pulled her legs under herself. Pan glanced back at Crux who was ducking behind the doorframe, their gun in hand, before looking back to Peggy and holding a hand out to help her.

Peggy looked at the offered hand before audibly swallowing and grabbing it. She rose slowly, even with Pan’s help, and squeezed her eyes shut once she was upright.

“Are you okay?” Pan asked, quickly taking hold of Peggy’s other elbow as she swayed dangerously.

“Deep, steady breaths, Peg. You’re alright, just a bit lightheaded,” Cory interjected calmly.

The corner of Peg’s mouth twitched but she did as he said. Finally, she blinked her eyes open again.

“Sorry, it’s been a while since I had anything to eat or drink I think,” she said with an apologetic smile.

“That’s fine. Once we get you up to the ship, you can eat and drink as much as you like,” Pan promised.

Peg smiled slightly and staggered forwards, leaning heavily on Pan’s arms.

“Aquila, where are the jets?” Pan asked as she led Peggy slowly towards the door where gunshots could still be heard.

“They’re just above the building, ready to come down when you get there. Where’s the nearest useable window?” she asked someone in the room.

I couldn’t bring myself to look away from Peggy’s lightly sweating face as she slowly edged across the room. My teeth dug into my lip again as I resisted the urge to beg her to hurry up. I knew she was going as fast as she could and even her slow pace seemed to be a struggle. Her sunken cheeks were flushed and her eyes were fixed on her feet.

“Pan, your options are further along the corridor, behind the Guardians, there’s a small office or if you can get to the elevator, there’s a large window just one floor up, first right.”

Pan glanced back at Crux who was still shooting from the door.

“What do you think?” she asked.

Crux looked back at them before speaking.

“I think go for the lift. There are too many Guardians still coming, we won’t be able to get past them all but we could probably hold them off for a bit.”

Pan nodded before looking back at Peggy.

“Okay, do we have control of the lifts again? If we can’t close the door, we’re stuck.”

“I believe we have control,” Aquila said.

My leg started to bounce again as I watched Peggy’s feeble steps. I couldn’t see how she could safely get to the lifts with the Guardians still firing at them. Peggy seemed to have the same thought as me. Her eyes found the camera again and I knew she was talking to me.

“How are we going to do this?” she asked quietly.

“Throw out grenades and smoke bombs in both directions to throw them off then move quickly. Pan, can you fully extend your shield and strap it to your back? Hold Peggy up by the elbows and walk behind her so you’re both protected. Can you manage that, Peg?” I answered quickly, glancing at Fornax for confirmation that what I was saying was okay.

She nodded, before looking down at her screen once more.

Peggy’s face was determined, spurred on by my words.

“I can do it.”

“Okay, Crux, once we get nearer you, throw them out. Keep firing and follow me out. Peggy, I’ll go out first and then stand in front of the door so you can move in front of me. I’ll hold you up the whole time. How does that sound?” Pan said decisively.

Peggy nodded and visibly tightened her grip on Pan’s arms.

“Let’s get out of here,” she ground out.