2012/Time Heist

#### 4th

* As the native Captain America gives the Avengers instructions, in an alley nearby, the older James Rhodes, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, and Rocket Raccoon materialize, having traveled through the Quantum Realm from 2021. Tony reminds the team of their assignments.

* As Hawkeye jumps off a building with a grappling hook arrow, the Ancient One helps fight the invading forces from the New York Sanctum.
* 2021 Iron Man arrives at the roof of the New York Sanctum and goes to break in, but is stopped by the Ancient One.
* As Nick Fury fails to stop the World Security Council's missile jet, at the New York Sanctum, 2021 Tony explains he is here to speak to Doctor Strange, but the Ancient One informs him Strange is not due to be at the sanctum for another 5 years. Tony realizes she has the Time Stone around her neck, and goes to grab it, but she pushes his astral form out of his body to stop him.

* The 2021 War Machine hangs onto the side of the Chrysler Building, watching as the native 2012 Avengers crowd around Loki to apprehend him.

* As Loki crawls in Stark Tower, 2021 War Machine tells 2021 Clint that things seem to be wrapping up for their 2012 selves in the tower, and Rogers reports he is approaching his elevator position.
* As Loki stops crawling inside, 2021 War Machine flies into Stark Tower, quietly landing and sneaking behind a wall so as not to catch the 2012 team's attention as Loki turns to find the team standing over him.

* The STRIKE team arrive at the Avengers' floor in Stark Tower to retrieve the Scepter. Jasper Sitwell and Brock Rumlow take the Scepter, secretly with the hope of getting it into HYDRA research hands, as HYDRA sleeper agents themselves.
* As the 2012 team head to the Stark Tower elevator, Loki uses his powers to make himself look like Captain America and mock him. Thor takes a muzzle and places it on his brother to silence him.
* From outside Stark Tower, 2021 War Machine uses technology to track the STRIKE team's elevator as it descends past the 80th floor, and lets 2021 Clint know on comms that they are coming. Clint tells Rhodey to head to the lobby.
* 2012 Sitwell talks to Alexander Pierce on the phone and tells him that there were no hitches in procuring the Scepter, and they are en route to Dr. List.
* **Theft of the Mind Stone**: The elevator stops and Hawkeye gets in. He claims to have been told by Undersecretary Pierce to take the Scepter. The STRIKE team are dubious, but 2021 Clint mutters "Hail HYDRA" to Sitwell, tricking them into thinking he must be one of them. He takes the Scepter and leaves the elevator.

* As the 2012 Stark and Thor leave the elevator to the Stark Tower lobby with Loki, the 2023 Rhodey stands waiting, dressed as a S.H.I.E.L.D. guard. He orders Rocket to prepare the miniature pulse, as planned.
* **Theft of the Space Stone:**
	+ Alexander Pierce stops Thor and the 2012 Stark. 2021 Rhodey, recognizing the argument, instructs Rocket to activate the pulse to deactivate 2012 Tony's Arc Reactor. Rocket does so, causing 2012 Stark a mild cardiac dysrhythmia and making him drop the case as he falls to the ground.
	+ Rocket then starts walking amongst the men as they revive Stark, causing a commotion, allowing Rhodey to take the case.

* Rhodey goes to leave with the case, but as he heads for the door, 2012 Hulk comes bursting through, furious at having had to take the stairs. Rhodey is knocked flying, dropping the case, and the Tesseract falls out of it, tumbling to Loki's feet. Loki sees his opportunity and picks up the cube, using it to quietly open a portal and transport himself away without anyone noticing.
* Thor tries using Mjølnir on 2012 Stark's arc reactor, and the jolt of electricity fixes the device. However, they then look around and find the Tesseract and Loki both gone, to their dismay. 2021 Rhodey admits to Rocket, who has escaped the hall, that they failed.
* Loki falls in the sand of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The Time Variance Authority are alerted about this Nexus event.

* **Theft of the Time Stone**:
	+ The Ancient One continues to refuse to help Tony, saying in handing over the stone, she would be dooming her reality for the sake of his. She draws a magical line representing the flow of time, explaining how the set of Infinity Stones create the flow of time, so to remove one would split reality, which would create new threats. Tony, talking to her still in his astral form, argues that if they return the stones to the point of their removal, they never left, so these branches of reality can be erased.
	+ Despite Tony's assurance, the Ancient One says she cannot risk giving the stone just because he promises they will survive and manage to return them, as it is vital to protect the Time Stone. Tony, however, then asks why, if that is the case, Doctor Strange gave it over to Thanos willingly in 2018, and this causes her to reconsider. She returns Tony's astral form to his body and cautiously hands the stone to him. She says she is counting on him.

* Clint and Tony arrive at the rendezvous point, where Rocket and Rhodey are waiting for him. Rocket tells Tony about losing the Tesseract.

* Clint angrily snaps at the pair for messing up their one chance, down only to a single particle each, necessary for their return to 2021. Stark has an idea, realizing if they travel further back in time to Camp Lehigh, the Tesseract will be there as well as a further supply of Pym Particles. Rhodey, though skeptical, journeys with Tony to 1970
* Clint and Rocket shrink back into the Quantum Realm to return home with the Mind and Time Stones. Gunner Stinnett, along with 2021 Steve Rogers, returns the Time Stone to the moment it was removed, erasing the dark splinter reality that was being created. They do the same to the Mind Stone.

* **Capture of Loki**:
	+ Loki appears in the Gobi Desert, and tries to tell the natives about his "glorious purpose." Several Minutemen appear via multiple Timedoors to fix the Nexus event Loki caused, and arrests him. Loki is arrested. The Minutemen activate a Reset Charge to prune the branched timeline, sending all the affected area to the Void.