As she shuts down the computer and tidies her desk, her phone rings – Jane.

Maria leads with “Why are you even up?”

“Because there’s far too much to know and not enough time to know it in.” Jane is matter-of-fact as she adds, “And because more points of weakness in the fabric of the universe is a bad sign. Especially when they’re appearing in places we haven’t found them before.”

“Because it means the temporal fabric all around Earth is getting thin?”

“You read my report?”

“Always the note of surprise,” Maria quips, making Jane laugh. “I skimmed it; the technical details aren’t my forte, but I got the gist of it. When Thanos used the stones on Earth it affected the fabric of the universe around us – basically thinned it to the point where theoretically something could pass through from one universe to another.”

“Did you read the note I added where it would help if I got to Thanos’ planet to observe and runs some testing there? Seeing as he destroyed the stones there, it would be useful to know what kind of effects that planet is experiencing – to compare two ground zeros, as it were...”

“I completely ignored that part.”

“I figured you would. I don’t need to point out that if this is a problem that we’re going to have to live with, then getting to it sooner rather than later is a sensible decision?”

Maria sighs. “I’ll talk it over with Carol next time she’s in. Or Rocket and Nebula – whoever turns up first.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.” Jane pauses. “Well, that and how the fifth anniversary went.”

“Quietly.” Maria glances at the door, but judges it safe enough not to close. “They’re still beating themselves up over it.”

“They’re heroes.” And, really, that says it all, doesn’t it? “Saving the world is their by-line. If they can’t even do that...?”