XXXI
Ronan was calm.
He always was. To him this was just another day.
The Accuser Corps, as zealous and fanatical as it was, was not a place for fools nor those that were prone to fearful panic nor had delusions of heroism.
The Accusers were the armored and ornamented fist of the Kree Empire. They were powerful, deadly and methodical.
But above all else, the Accusers were pragmatic.
Contrary to popular intergalactic belief, the Accusers were not all genocidal zealots.
Sure. they would reduce a planet every now and again to nothing but molten slag but the last time it had happened had been a decade or two ago.
Regardless, where the standard armies of the Kree, indeed the navies and even the commando squadrons would attempt to and be obligated to salvage a bleak situation, the Accusers had the right, nay the privilege to be able to decide that it was not worth their effort nor time to even make an attempt at it.
Where the conventional forces of the Kree won the battles, it was the Accusers that won the wars.
Such was their authority, their influence, indeed their entire upbringing.
The Accusers were chosen from birth to be the dispensers of justice and death to the enemies of the Collective. They were groomed and prepared their entire lives to fill the roles as protectors and justicars of the Kree monarchy.
Not the Supreme Intelligence. Not the Imperial Minister.
Only their liege lord held dominion over them and as such they were often regarded as the mouthpieces of the monarchy.
It was, by intention, an apolitical position and one lauded as heroic by the much of the citizenry of the Kree Empire. On the word of even a single Accuser, entire armies and fleets were moved and deployed and planets and systems condemned.
It was a position of responsibility and not for the faint of heart.
Thus, Ronan was calm. He always was.
His voice hardly, if ever, rising above the baritones of an evened pitch.
He did not waver nor hesitate when Yon-Rogg, the leader of his attached commando squadron, had requested assistance in purging C-53 of the Skrull infestation. He simply nodded his assent, raised his Cosmi-Rod in salute and ended the transmission and issued orders for his battle group to head to the nearest jump point to Terra.
While visually Ronan was standing in his usually composed stature, hands and arms relaxed at his side with one holding his weapon as one would a staff, inside he was seething.
Yon-Rogg, the believer, devoted and hypocrite that he was, acted on emotion rather than assessing the situation for what it was.
But perhaps he should've expected it.
It was obvious that Mari-Ell's daughter had found out her commander's little ruse. Her simply being on Terra confirmed that. There was no use in attempting to salvage that and as such should have either simply killed her or better yet, called him the moment she set foot on that backwater planet.
Yet he only acted when she had turned off her transponder.
The entire mission was a lost cause already.
Yet at the insistence of the Supreme Intelligence did the Supreme Accuser relent. A weak-willed and spineless individual, unfit for the Accuser title in Ronan's humble opinion and one shared by many of his colleagues. He didn't have the backbone to command the Accuser Corps and had attempted to make his esteemed position one of bureaucracy and politics in his advanced age.
Though while spineless, he was still intelligent and saw a threat to his power in Ronan.
The Supreme Accuser had assigned Ronan as an attaché to Yon-Rogg. The assignment got him away from the fighting where he would be needed most. A backwater job for someone as elevated as Ronan was an insult to the highest degree.
But Ronan kept calm. He would bide his time.
This mission that the Supreme Accuser had sanctioned would be his doom.
Should Yon-Rogg succeed where he was expected to fail and recover the Core, Ronan would be there and would have gained significant prestige. He would challenge the Supreme Accuser for the position and return the Corps to how it should be. Not the mercenaries of the Supreme Intelligence to be called upon whenever it felt prudent.
Should Yon-Rogg fail, the fallout from it would unseat the Supreme Accuser regardless. And Ronan would be there and he would take the helm. It was all but guaranteed that Ronan would be elevated to the position. The current leading Accuser had no friends among the rest of the Corps and becoming subservient to the Supreme Intelligence had ensured him no allies within the Imperial Ministry.
Yon-Rogg's initial failure in recovering the Core, Mar-Vell and even Mari-Ell had cost the Kree commando a great deal of respect and standing amongst the other Starforce teams and even within the Kree Imperial Army.
The Supreme Intelligence had granted Yon-Rogg a single chance at redemption. If he failed, at best he would be thrown out of Starforce and placed within the regular army. At worst, and he would be expelled and disgraced from the Kree military altogether.
But he digressed.
Ronan believed that for all her energy projection and absorbing abilities, and from the few encounters that the two had, was that Vers, or rather Car-Ell was a glory seeker, arrogant, prone to rash and emotional decision with something akin to a hero complex. Something that Ronan was adept at dealing with as he had done so many times before.
The one thing that these people all had in common was that they were eager and restless.
Ronan, in contrast, was patient. He could wait.
Play her correctly and no matter how powerful she was, than Ronan would win.
Car-Ell had at the very least, acted as Yon-Rogg and Ronan expected her to. She didn't think of her actions. Turning off her transponder had alerted Yon-Rogg that he had been found out and it was a simple task of following her to the Core from there.
So initially there was maybe a chance that there wouldn't be a complete failure and he would obtain what the Supreme Intelligence had deemed a critical asset to the Kree Empire.
And so, when the Kree Imperial Cruiser had un-cloaked from view and began transmitting once again, it was easily thought that this mission would be a success.
The Kree-Terran Hybrid was alone. Even with her cosmic powers, she couldn't face them all.
Not unless she wanted to space herself and those scant seconds of sudden depressurization and exposure to the harshness of the void would kill any being. Then again, Ronan had never been witness to her rumored Binary state that was said to be able to protect her from such extreme environments.
But Ronan doubted it would come to that. She had made friends among her squadron who also were none the wiser to the wider deception.
Going into Binary would space Att-Lass, Minn-Erva and Bron-Char. All of whom she had developed close bonds with.
And while Ronan was not above exploiting unsuspecting hostages, he had not expected Yon-Rogg to be the one to suggest such a thing.
A desperate Kree he was. Ronan had mused at the time.
The Starforce team deployed and Ronan had sent a compliment of Kree infantry in support. All to ensure that it went smoothly and in case Car-Ell's former squadron mates got any ideas of attempting to help her.
What he didn't anticipate was that…Asgardian being there.
Ronan was still calm. He had to be. Anything less than that would have left a detrimental image on his position.
He had thought that the Asgardians were above mortal affairs. Looking down on every other race as they did from their golden cities with their divine strength and power.
The only reason that Ronan had even bothered to learn of the Asgardians was due to his status as an Accuser and that they would need to be aware of any and all threats to the Kree Empire.
It was also due to the fact that the Accuser Corps had the unfortunate assignment of cleaning up after the Imperial Ministry of Sciences.
Their little project some thousands of years ago leaving Diviners seeded across the territories of the Empire and the mutations caused by the Terrigen Crystals often called for the Accusers to intervene lest the unwilling being cause damage to the population.
It was technically the cover for Vers' own manifestation of cosmic powers. The project itself was an attempted mimicry of Asgardian power and ability.
Only for it to go horribly with most test subjects dying a gruesome death or being driven mad and feral and forced to be put down like rabid animals.
The Accuser didn't know what they were doing near Terra of all places.
And with Yon-Rogg, his team and a dozens of Kree infantry already having been deployed to the Kree Cruiser, it was already too late to call a retreat.
Ronan knew his limits.
As much as his prowess in battle, his preference for brutal violence and grim resolve had earned him a name across the universe, Ronan could maybe contend with an Einherjar warrior if he was properly prepared.
The inborn overwhelming strength and martial prowess leaving even the naturally strong Kree, Skrull, Sovereign and Xandarian hopelessly outmatched even in the best of circumstances.
The Accuser could only watch in morbid fascination through commandeered security cameras as the Asgardian had effortlessly cut through dozens of elite Kree infantry while suffering only minor injury if that.
If Ronan didn't know any better, he could have sworn the Asgardian was adorned in ancient Accuser armor. But he simply played it off as an illusion or due to the distortion of the video feed.
The cameras while distorted was able to record some footage before being reduced to static and a garbled mess of screams, shouts and laser fire. He was able to tell that the Asgardian held no fear, only confidence as he attacked and killed a Flerken of all things in close quarters combat.
Ronan knew his limits and even he would have trouble dealing with a Flerken in a similar manner.
However, Ronan knew that this mission was a lost one the moment the Asgardian revealed himself.
If the Accuser was correct, and the Asgardian was alone, he was most likely among their elite warriors and with his powers, there would be no hope for those that stood against him.
While he seemingly tended to the injured Terran, the Accuser could see that the Asgardian only concerned himself with the safety and recovery of the Core.
Did the Asgardians already lay claim to the artefact?
Was Terra apart of their territory?
Were the Kree the interlopers and trespassers?
They were militaristic and a warrior people but even the Kree Empire did not want to be embroiled with another war.
The Asgardians, despite their peaceful nature, were still an overwhelming power in intergalactic politics and military might even though they were all but closed off from the wider universe.
The Accuser knew next to nothing of the Asgardians but what he did know was that they were not to be trifled with.
Combined with the fact that the Kree are already fighting a war with the Skrulls, they held no chance against an adversary that would make a mockery of their forces even if they were solely focused on them.
Ronan proceeded to watch the Asgardian stalk the halls of the cruiser, cutting every Kree down in his path.
Ronan didn't bother to observe the fight with Car-Ell and her former teammates. It was a one sided affair once the hybrid manifested her cosmic powers and was no longer in an enraged state. Her former mentor did get a few decent hits in but once she closed the distance and made contact, he was of no issue to her.
He did see that Bron-Char and Minn-Erva step away from the fighting, not wishing to engage their friend.
He made note of it but didn't think he would be punishing them for their reluctance and hesitation. While he would have normally doled it out in equal measure without mercy, the loss of three elite Kree infantry squadrons, close to forty troopers was already enough of a payment in blood for this mission that should've been solely Yon-Rogg's.
Ronan did not need to be spilling any more experienced blood in this useless endeavor.
Still, he observed and noted alongside his protégé on how the Asgardian fought. If for nothing else, than to be able to develop a way of fighting to counter him.
The Accuser was at least safe in the fact that in the prideful nature of the Asgardians, they wouldn't be seeking retribution for what was appearing to be a trespass on their territory. Their haughtiness preventing them from seeing the Kree as little more than poor beggars.
To them, this would be similar to simply pushing the button on a trash compactor, something trivial, tedious and nothing more than nuisance. They wouldn't press the issue simply because they would see it as a waste of their time.
And the Accuser was fine with that, even if he detested the notion that was brought with it.
It was little longer did the Terran jet leave the cruiser of the late Mar-Vell and Ronan was ready to wipe his hands clean of this whole mess before moving onto more pressing and serious concerns. Like finishing the war with the Skrulls and unseating the Supreme Accuser.
Things he should have already been attending to instead of being at this backwater of a planet.
That was also being relatively optimistic. Ronan and indeed the Kree Empire would be lucky if Xandarians didn't hear of this scandal. The pretentious bastards would launch a campaign against the Kree on the basis of violating intergalactic law. Which in all fairness, they did violate but it was Ronan's opinion that the Xandarians were just looking for any excuse to fight a weakened Kree Empire and looking to continue to expand their own influence just under the guise of their righteousness.
At least the Asgardians could back up their sense of superiority and unlike the Skrulls didn't need to wait around for a weakened Kree to fight them.
He did watch as a Kree starfighter chase after the Terran jet before another followed which was in turn followed by a comet of golden energy.
Still in his relaxed stance, Ronan spoke. The first time since they had initially deployed from the dark side of the moon orbiting the planet.
They may have already breached intergalactic law but Ronan did not want to be the one responsible for exposing the Terrans to the wider galactic community. Luckily, it was only an added measure. Most if not all vessels across the known universe came equipped with, as his apprentice so eloquently put it, 'anti-primitive sensor technology.'
Ronan had also never bothered to learn the specifics. So long as they worked, he wasn't of a mind to learn anymore than what was needed for him to conduct his own duties.
But for now he would have to move the fleet into closer contact if he wanted this done as fast as possible.
"Maneuver us around the moon and deploy parties to recover our dead on the cruiser." Ronan said in an even voice, his voice cutting through the otherwise quiet and calm command center. No sound of orders being accepted nor heard was needed as the staff and personnel carried out their duties in relaying his orders, their helmets muffling and drowning out any voices they may have had.
The Dark Aster, his personal flagship and a ship-of-the line battleship within the Accuser fleets, rumbled to life as its pilots maneuvered the vessel and soon its escorts joined her.
"What of the Core and the research?" His apprentice asked from beside him, both of their gazes locked into the holo-feed that displayed the exterior of the void, the blue and green of Terra and, as they approached, the ever growing silver dot of the cruiser.
It was a valid question. This operation had been going on for about sixteen standard galactic cycles. It had cost the Ministry of Imperial Sciences one of their, if not the, top scientist in the Empire, the Accuser Corps one of their veteran spies and dozens of Kree lives had been lost attempting to recover it and the Core.
Had any other Kree general been present, they might've considered it to at the very least salvage what they could so that the mission was not a complete loss and waste of resources.
But of course, Ronan was an Accuser and thus had the authority to completely scrap any mission objective.
"Leave it." Ronan responded. It was two-fold. On one hand, the Asgardian had shown up for the Core. That alone halted any notion of recovering the research and pursuing it. If the Asgardian warrior was here, then it was at the behest of the King of Asgard. A sanctioned mission and one that held the weight of war behind it.
After all, if King Odin had decided that the recovering of the Core was worth provoking the Kree Empire into open conflict then it was in Ronan's best interest to wash the hands of the Empire of this incident as much as possible. If he left their hands clean of anything to do with the artefact, then it would be possible to avoid war.
The Asgardians would get what they wanted and Ronan would be able to prevent the Kree Empire from involving itself with a power that it had no chance against.
On the other hand, it would also allow Ronan to showcase the ineptitude of the Supreme Intelligence and the sitting Supreme Accuser. The utter catastrophe of the operation would be plain for all to see. Of course, Ronan would expect blame to fall upon him as the attached Accuser but Ronan had his own machinations for that. Recovering the honorable dead and dishonored defeated.
It was the Supreme Accuser's and Supreme Intelligence's mistake for laying command of the mission in the hands of Yon-Rogg. Had they given it to Ronan, it would've been difficult to return empty handed and perhaps, would've had to barter with the Asgardian for the life of Talos.
As it was, Yon-Rogg failing to complete his objectives and with the apparent escape of Talos, one of the top Skrull generals even if he was defecting, it would all fall at Yon-Rogg's feet.
Ronan watched as a cadre of starfighters along with a dropship deploy from the Dark Aster and soar in the void towards the Imperial Cruiser. "Make it known that any attempts at recovering the research are to be discarded." Ronan ordered over the quietness. "They are there for the dead and wounded and nothing more."
Upon a prompting from his student, a feed of the chase on the surface was shown on the main holo-feed. Just in time to catch a lance of lightning that cut deep into a pursuing starfighter.
The other starfighter only now letting loose a burst of laser fire, managing to graze the Terran craft before a golden comet struck it, bringing down the Kree starfighter easily.
And then from the corner of his eye, displayed on the side like a smaller map, the formation of the five Kree warships fracture. One of the lead escort vessels, the Fury Assailant, peeling away from the group.
Ronan cocked his head at that. He had explicitly instructed his Accusers to remain well away from any engagement.
Just what was this one doing?
"Accuser Nols-Riy, explain your actions." His apprentice spoke as he waved open a communications channel to the ship in question.
There was no response before the channel was quickly dissolved from the other end.
He should've figured that something was up. Nols-Riy had served with and under Ronan for many years, it was unlike him to do something as odd as disobeying his direct orders, though it did happen on occasion. Perhaps, he had seen something he didn't or was simply taking the imitative and adjusting his position to a more advantageous one within the formation.
Regardless, Ronan kept calm and collected.
Until the Fury Assailant unleashed a barrage of ballistic warheads at Terra.
That did evoke a visible and immediate response from the ranking Accuser as he took a step forward and raised his hand, willing a pillar of living metal to form an emergency communication channel to the Fury Assailant, a red blinking light forming at the top to indicate its severity.
His apprentice bowing slightly as he took his own steps back. Ronan usually allowed him to direct most operations in his stead for experience and didn't often direct personally. "Accuser Nols-Riy, this is Accuser Ronan. Disengage your warheads and explain your actions immediately or be fired upon." His voice was deep and held a weight and surety behind its calm nature.
There was no response and anger broiled within Ronan. "I repeat, Accuser Nols-Riy. Disengage your warheads and explain your actions."
Another silence permeated on the command deck of the Dark Aster.
"Very well." Was Ronan's response, removed his gauntleted hand from the pedestal and cut the communique from his side.
Just as he was about to order the rest of the taskforce to open fire on the Fury Assailant, the holo-feed showed a blinding flash of pure pale blue light. One that nearly blinded the two Accusers gazing at the magnified screen. His student instinctively cutting the holofeed to protect them.
Even here in orbit, they could see the crack of lightning that arced between all the missiles and a subsequent comet of golden flaring energy absorbing all of the heat, radiation and kinetic force of the destroyed ballistic missiles.
Ronan guessed that Car-Ell had been the one responsible for that, having been already briefed on her powers when he had first been attached to the Starforce squadron six years prior.
At least the Terrans didn't have to worry about any of the ensuing fallout that the munitions would have otherwise inflicted.
The comet streaked upwards, a visible break of the sound barrier as she pierced the atmosphere of Terra and shot towards the Fury Assailant. The energy cannons of the warship in question opening fire.
Other warships began to maneuver over towards the engagement. "Order the fleet to stand-down." Ronan cut before the vessels could move any further.
Only a second later, did the other three escort warships cease their movement and leave Nols-Riy to his deserved fate, even though it would also condemn those under his command.
Firing upon Terra, a defenseless world and one that the Kree Empire held no interest in, would have levied upon the Kree Accuser a swift and brutal execution regardless. The utmost authority among the Kree they may be, but they held themselves to a higher standard than everyone else within the Empire and for that punishment among their own was one of harshness.
A friend he may have been but he would receive no mercy from Ronan. Not when the possible outcome of a such an action could levy upon the Kree Empire a war from all the other races of the galaxy.
The energy cannons did little to phase Car-Ell, the blasts of green being absorbed by the hybrid with little fanfare.
Only moments later, the woman made contact with the Fury Assailant. The hull easily breaking as she crashed into and through it with a beam of golden energy. A stark contrast to the previous azure hue that she was previously coated in when initial contact had been made.
Large chunks of metal were torn away from the Assailant as it adjusted itself.
Only for Car-Ell to subsequently hit it again with a beam of golden energy erupting from her fists, tearing a wide metal trench into the length of the Kree warship.
It shuddered once as the hybrid tore into it again. This time rocketing from the bottom of its midsection, upwards and out the top like a blossoming flare.
The warship shuddered again and a moment later its entire hull began to be pocketed by rupturing explosions.
The Fury Assailant, one of the most technologically and powerful warships available to the Kree Empire torn apart in less than a minute.
Ronan was unfazed however. "Open channel communications."
"Ronan." Her voice filtered through the pedestal that had formed beside him. It was filled with anger and fury. "What do you want?"
The holo-feed displayed the golden comet streaking around the taskforce like a bird of prey, skirting the edges as if it just couldn't decide which morsel it wanted first. It settled before the Dark Aster and an explosion and flare of energy cascaded about her. Ronan and his student shared confused look.
Were they supposed to be afraid? Death was something that those among the Accuser Corps had long accepted and come to terms with.
"Allow us to recover our dead and wounded." He said, his voice calm though his tone was one of order and direction. Ronan wasn't asking.
"Why shouldn't I just space you and your fleet? You lied to me!" Her temper flared and so did the energy that coiled and wrapped around her like translucent nebulae.
A valid question. "I never lied." Ronan corrected. He had never spoken a word of deceit to the woman. The few occasions they did interact it was done in clipped conversation and ended quickly because more often than not, Ronan simply ignored her. "Regardless, If you kill me, the whole of the Empire will descend upon Terra. I would advise that you leave the system immediately. There will most likely a bounty placed on your head."
She seemed to consider her words before replying. "Why are you telling me this?"
To allow our ships to return for one. Ronan mused but he figured he owed her nothing and maybe hedging her favor may allow for some future consideration. "The Empire would most likely be made aware of your desertion. You know very well the consequences of such an action." Starforce kill-teams would be sent in. She should know by now as that was what had started this whole mess to begin with.
In fact, if he recalled correctly, she had been a part of a couple of those missions herself as her Vers persona. Though he may be wrong. Ronan wasn't entirely sure.
"So why don't you try to end it here and now?" A lure of curiosity was in her voice but it held an edge and venom to it.
"You're the least of my worries at the moment." He paused as the ships began returning with all haste to the Dark Aster. "I have better things to direct my focus to." She blinked. "Consider this, a gift of your service to the Collective." He announced.
Ronan doubted that the kill-teams would amount to any sort of success without Accuser support. Her powers were simply too powerful for them to deal with adequately. Though it was good to keep her looking over her shoulder.
He may find a use for her if she remembered his mercy and advice. A favor he could call in from a woman that had the capacity for destruction. It was a long-shot but it wouldn't hurt to at least try. She did after all have a preference for helping others and those she considered her friend.
And while Ronan was decidedly not her friend. He would be the one that kept the Accuser Corps away from her when he took command of it. A cold and distant acquaintance would be a more apt turn of phrase.
She nodded once, a stiff gesture before she rocketed towards the planet below, just as the fighters and dropships began to land within their hangers. The holo-feed cut and Ronan stepped backward a single step.
His student stepped forward as he barked an order. "Set course for the jump-point."
The ship shuddered once more as it began moving.
Ronan had a long list of important tasks that needed doing.
But as always, the Accuser was calm and collected.
Resting a couple thousand kilometers away from the site of the impromptu battle, was a shimmer of green and bronze. A small, bulbous and organic looking vessel lingered as it watched the Accuser warships sail away in the ocean of void.
Within the command center of the vessel sat Skrull upon a cushioned and ornate throne of bronze and gold. Only it was absent much ornamentation and crafted simply despite its flowing design.
"General, the Kree are leaving the system." A report was heard and filtered in the being's ears as he digested the information.
Contrary to popular belief, Talos was not the sole Skrull commander holding back the Kree from winning the war. It was, in fact, a burden shared by him and Kl'rt.
However, unlike Talos, Kl'rt did not have the honor of having directed the victory at Denotera, the one that had propelled Talos' name to be known across the galaxy.
Only, since there was both Talos and Kl'rt, they were able to make an outright losing war into a stalemate.
Militaristic as the Skrull are, the zealots and fanatics as the Kree are, they are not. Well, that was not entirely true. There were many Skrulls that were true believers of Emperor Dorrek VII. They made up a large contingent of the Skrull armies and navies. Only they were incredibly unskilled and untested in combat.
The Skrull were a precise race of warriors. Upon the unyielding stone, however, the blade would dull and chip and eventually shatter.
Talos and Kl'rt could only do so much to stem the tide of Kree campaigns. They were only two and not the many.
And with his counterpart's desertion, it was only a matter of time before the Kree began gaining ground and eventually forced Emperor Dorrek VII to the negotiation tables. Such a mark early on in his reign would not look particularly good for him.
Still, Kl'rt had to do something.
And luckily, Talos had led him straight to Terra and subsequently, bore witness to the Starforce Commando's cosmic powers and the Asgardian's own abilities.
He was however, unimpressed with the Asgardian and was more interested with what the Kree woman had to offer.
Because if the Kree were capable of imbuing their soldiers with such capability then why shouldn't the Skrull be able to as well?
He mentally waved away the fact that it had been tried before and ended rather horribly and grotesquely for all those involved.
Perhaps, it simply needed a fresh look on it. One that had experience with it.
Granted, that experience had lasted all but a handful of seconds, was more of an observing experience and from a starship thousands if not tens of thousands of kilometers away from the actual action but…well…those were just details.
Such warriors would be a boon to the Emperor and perhaps even himself. It would propel him to heights that would normally be unavailable to him.
But first how would he deal with Talos. He was assigned to bring him back into the fold, at gunpoint if need be but perhaps it would better if he simply…let him go.
Counterparts and allies they may be, but he had often envied the success of Talos while his own were as equally as deserving of praise.
With Talos out of the way, Kl'rt would have full reign to capitalize on his absence.
Kl'rt could picture it now. Kl'rt being the stalwart warrior against the overwhelming tide of Kree. Talos' name tarnished as he is branded traitor to the Skrull Empire. Kl'rt being the savior with his newly enhanced Skrulls as they took the fight to the Kree and beyond.
Oh yes. The Skrull general reclined in his throne as the command staff awaited further direction from him. A plan was forming in his head. He would first need to deal with the Kree and make them pay dearly for every planet they took. Then he could focus on his ascension among the nobility of the Skrull Empire.
"Take us back to friendly space." He ordered. There was a hesitance in their movements as they realized what he said.
"Uh, sir?" One of the command officers asked in confusion. "What about General Talos?"
"What about him?" Kl'rt asked in a mocking voice. He waved his hand dismissively. "We should not waste anymore precious time. Take us back to our territory and compile a report that Talos escaped."
It would be a temporary setback in his reputation that he would suffer. Though he figured that Talos' reputation would mitigate the worst of it. After all, Talos was considered a mastermind in subterfuge, to easily evade the Skrull Empire would not be beyond the realm of possibility.
There was a still pause before they returned to their duties, though that previous surety in their actions now gone and they carried a hesitance in their steps.
The vessel soon began its eerie sail through space.
All the while as Kl'rt concocted more plans and schemes for his new pet-project.
Binary was always an odd state to be in.
It was a euphoric and enthralling sensation to feel the cascade and ocean of energy coursing through her.
But like most good things, it did have its drawbacks. Namely, that it was quite the spectacle whenever she entered it. That energy had to come from somewhere. Electronic, radiation and heat often being the main victims when it was siphoned from her surroundings.
But that was the least concerning thing that occurred when in Binary.
In that case, the ensuing explosion that went off was what would lead her to hesitate and consider what was arguably the worst thing to occur. It was like a ballistic missile going off right where she was.
The shockwave turned any organic thing into a fine paste within its immediate vicinity, and the flare of radiating energy that would follow was hot enough to cook anything that remained instantly into a charred ash.
So she often did it in the vacuum of space where her suit would keep her alive until she activated Binary, or high enough in the air where the collateral damage could be mitigated.
She couldn't remember a single time when there were others around when she entered the state.
Still, it was an odd feeling, if one that she had gotten used to rather quick.
It was a stark contrast to the other one she had since she arrived on Terra just three almost four days ago.
That serene and melodious whisper that skirted her mind was an unnatural and alien feeling and during this entire time she had attempted to keep it at bay. It grew in strength when she was in space.
And once she stood in the hangers of the cruiser that whisper became even stronger in her mind.
It felt oddly familiar. One that was just like Binary only not.
It came and went. An explosive feeling and then calm and simple prodding.
The whisper and feeling carried her forward. It moved her feet and legs towards her objective.
It wanted her to learn.
But a small thought, one born of the prodding, of selfishness and of revenge for his mistrust during this entire journey had lead her to deceive Percy and send him in the opposite direction of the science labs and more civilian sections of the ship.
What luck it had been.
She maneuvered through the slaughter while chasing Yon-Rogg and Korath who had decided to go after the Tesseract instead of deal with her, leaving Att-Lass as a token distraction.
Broken bodies adorned in rent armor and resting in pools of blue blood alongside the carcass of the Flerken that had followed them since their encounter with it at the Pegasus Base.
It was a grisly scene. One that was often seen in nightmares of her times fighting in war-torn cities of both Skrull and Kree alike. She had to relive that when the Supreme Intelligence paid her a visit.
Only In those, there was hardly any blood and more screaming and explosions.
Here, it was quiet. Eerily so.
And that alone made it all the more terrifying than those that were held in her nightmares.
Carol was only slower than Yon-Rogg who immediately commandeered a starfighter and took off. The hybrid on the other hand continued forward, formed her helmet, her visor and barreled through the shield that separated the breathable air and atmosphere of the cruiser to the void outside.
She felt the effect of zero gravity overtake her body immediately. A lurching of her stomach and then a feeling of weightlessness.
She focused for the barest of moments, thinking and pulling the feeling of cosmic energy to unleash.
The serene and melodious whisper prodding her onward and making it even easier to reach at her innate energy that she had absorbed all this time.
A shockwave emanated from her. A burst of radiant golden light encompassing her form and a wave of that same color cascading outwards. She refocused, saw Yon-Rogg's starfighter and willed herself forwards.
Her powers allowed her to overtake the starfighter which in hindsight was not the best thing to do. Overtaking it made her lose sight of it as they moved past the slight cloud cover and into the open sky of Terra.
Fortunately she hadn't gotten very far and changed course, just in time to see a bolt of lightning fire from the rear of the Quadjet and striking the center of the starfighter Korath had been piloting.
And when Yon-Rogg attempted his strike by dive-bombing the jet, Carol intervened just a millisecond later.
The sensors on her HUD blared with alarms. In large red Kree symbols, she could make out the warning of an incoming ballistic missile strike.
Uh oh. She should've realized that the Accusers would also show up.
She spared a glance towards the Quadjet and determined that the best course of action would be to take the missiles head on.
Carol shot upwards, pushing herself to go faster.
And then she smelled it. A thick and heavy smell of ozone, before being accompanied by a sudden pressure as if she was back in the Terran bar again and before Percy. Only this was much, much stronger. She slowed and almost felt an instinctual need to fly away.
But she pushed it aside, taking only minor note of the sudden storm clouds that were forming around her. A lance of lightning arced towards her, impacting her directly, and causing a surge of power to roil and boost her strength ten-fold.
It felt as if she had been pumped full of adrenaline and combat stimulants.
A blinding pale blue light engulfed her vision as a crack of thunder boomed in the air, popping her eardrums even through the protection of her headgear and the innate resistance she had from the energized state. An explosion of dust and rock plumed into the air for briefest of moments as a shockwave and wave of fire washed over the surrounding landscape that cracked and shattered the very ground at the point of impact of whatever that was.
Thankfully only rocking the Quadjet slightly as it continued to fly to safety.
Her mind strayed as she crashed into and through the ballistic missiles, the fire and radioactive munitions being absorbed by her and whatever shrapnel that attempted to pierce her or her suit, simply flicked and pinged off her invulnerable body.
Her strength multiplied even further with the energy absorbed.
Still she carried on, even as her mind strayed towards whatever could had caused that. Was it Percy?
She shot upwards and broke the atmosphere and into orbit and beyond, gunning straight towards the Accuser warship that had fired the missiles. The others staying suspiciously away from its straying ally.
Not even when she broke the Fury Assailant did they move to save their ally.
Regarding Ronan, the proceeding conversation was not what she expected.
But then again, even his zeal was outmatched by his pragmatism. She liked to think that the Accuser didn't favor his chances against her in Binary.
Maybe he did have better places to be. Carol didn't care as she had only spared a single glance back to ensure that the Ronan really did make good on his word and left the system.
Carol noted the change in weather on Terra. Where it was previously clear of clouds and storm, the desert that she had shot down Yon-Rogg was quickly forming a mass of dark and heavy clouds. In the East, where she could vaguely recall the location of Maria Rambeau's home, a large hurricane was approaching and cutting through the gulf of the continent.
She jettisoned towards the desert though and using her suit's head's up display had locked onto the burning wrecks of the downed Kree starships.
Well one of them. Yon-Rogg's had suffered lightly in terms of the damage sustained. It was still space-worthy but the punch she had delivered was enough to force it downwards to the planet's surface.
Korath's, however, wasn't leaving this planet in the near future and would likely never be leaving this planet.
If bombarding an underdeveloped civilization wasn't enough, the Kree would also be responsible for handing the Terrans an advanced starfighter, even if it was mostly a burning wreckage at this point.
Hopefully, the basic stealth technology in the starships would be enough so that no Terrans knew that they almost gotten wiped off the face of the galaxy in a matter of minutes.
The hybrid disregarded that as she disengaged the protective blue tint on her visor and landed a little ways away from the landed Kree starship.
Taking in the scene about her, even though it was nearing evening, the desert was eerily cold and blue. A stark contrast to the warm yellows that it was previously. Rain fell from the heavy and grey storm clouds, formally occupied by a bright, clear and sunny sky. Not enough for it to be considered a downpour but enough that it had created a noticeable fog as steam rose from the hot sand and dirt it fell upon.
A little away from that, she was able to observe the remnants of whatever that explosion from before was. The immediate area was glassed and had swept away the blanket of sand that had previously occupied the space. A smoldering black ashen shadow that went outwards making a blooming flower as a stain against the hard bedrock that was now revealed to the open air.
Carol trekked through the mud and rain towards a struggling Yon-Rogg hefting a severely wounded Korath. Slight winces came from from the dark Kree as half the skin that adorned the top of his head was seared in severe electrical burns and several large cuts on the side of his head. Luckily, it seemed that a small dosage of medicinal salve was applied.
She doubted that it would do anything more than simply keep it from getting infected. She had seen a wound like that before and the victim had to get cybernetics to live.
Percy's handiwork, she mused as she and Yon-Rogg stood away from each other, Korath apparently unconscious as her former mentor held him. His own helmet was up
"You've come to gloat?" He asked in a scathing question and she raised an eyebrow and kept a wary eye on his sidearm. She may be in Binary at the moment but she wouldn't put it past him to attempt one last time to kill her. "That does seem like you."
However, unlike him, she didn't have the heart to kill him. Try as she might to muster the will to do it, there was no desire nor need to do it. "Where is my mom?"
He scoffed as he pulled Korath along towards the craft. "Like I fucking know. I would've killed the traitor had I the chance."
A wave of fury broiled within her and the golden energy about her flared in a bloom, causing the immediate rain in her vicinity to instantly evaporate, though it continued to pour upon them.
"I see you're still letting your emotions get the better of you." His voice was clipped and held a tinge of smugness as he ascended the craft.
She didn't give him the satisfaction of a response as she watched them board and take off in a gust of sand and water. The wave of earth and water cascading around her as the Kree starfighter sputtered and then fully power up before ascending into the sky.
A small silence descended as she watched the small flare of green light from the engines turn into small emeralds before growing into nothing more than an ember of flickering green light before disappearing entirely.
The rain poured over her visor as she watched.
A serene and melodious whisper prodded her mind. It was weaker and not like all the other times it had ran rampant as if it were nearing its end.
Seemingly nodding to herself, she willed the corona of energy to carry her upwards and into the air. A boom of thunder and shockwave of energy following her as she pierced through the sky and rocketed towards where she was being prodded towards. Her HUD told her it was east at least and she had a feeling it was directing her towards the Rambeau's however subconscious it was.
The minutes of flight dragged on and the grey cloud cover turned even darker as night descended. Luckily, she could see, her visor being able to give her a semblance of night vision. She felt a heavy wind though and the rain continued to fall about her.
It was dark when she finally reigned in her Binary ability, the flurry of golden energy dropping and being dissipated about her as she felt a sudden weight and tiredness descend upon her shoulders. As strong as that particular state was, it was as equally as tiring whenever she exited it.
She stepped onto the wet and matted grass of the Rambeau residence beside the modified Quadjet. Warm and golden light pierced the cracks in the shuttered windows of the ivory home. The branches and leaves of the willowed trees swaying wildly, erratically as the torrential wind and rain ran through the property. Lightning streaked across the darkened and menacing sky and thunder boomed heavily in response to every lance of energy.
She made her way towards the home's entrance, that simple prodding turning to nothing as she rapped a gloved and armored knuckle on the Terran home.
The door opened to reveal a worried looking Maria and an armed Fury, though his eye was now bandaged and he looked more alert and awake then ever. Carol was quickly ushered in and did her best to dry herself off from the weather outside.
It was then she noticed it.
All around the house, lounging and huddled on the floor and hallways with blankets wrapped around them were nearly two dozen Skrulls, all looking at her in slight alarm and trepidation though went back to resting with cups of warm drinks in their hands. Even Monica was talking animatedly yet quietly with another Skrull girl.
Wasn't she supposed to be elsewhere? She didn't think much of it though. It didn't really concern her.
However, that was not what drew her attention. In the Skrull girl's arms was the canister that contained the Tesseract. Its tendrils of energy floating serenely in its reinforced home.
"Where's Percy?" Carol asked in a concerned tone, her brows creased in worry. With how obsessed he was with the artefact, she didn't think that he would willingly part with it.
Fury and Maria shared a look before the Terran woman spoke. "We though he would be with you."
She shook her head. "I thought he was with you."
"He did say he'd meet us here." Maria said, though she had a slight tinge of worry entered her voice. "He was there at that explosion."
Carol's mind strayed towards that shadowed bed of rock and cracked glass and after, the massive explosion that had caused it in the first place.
Monica perked up. "There was an explosion before you all got here! Over by the old fishing shed!" Everyone turned to her. "I wanted to go see but the storm started and grandma and pop-pop said it was too dangerous."
Wasn't that where he often disappeared too?
"Why didn't you say so?" Fury asked, in a slightly exasperated tone.
The little girl shrugged. "I forgot."
She smiled slightly even if worry roiled within her. Leave it to children to simplify and be innocent to those kind of details. "I'll go check it out." Carol conceded as her helmet and visor reformed about her head.
She didn't wait for a response as she went back out of the door and in the direction where the enhanced Terran often disappeared to.
It was dark and even through the pounding rain and the roar of the howling wind, it was eerily quiet.
She heard a hiss, her combat audio dampener filtering out the environmental sounds and amplifying the more unnatural noise.
Her arm lit up, a flare of golden energy engulfing its entirety and illuminating the surrounding area.
Before her, curled and poised in a striking position was a large reptile with a thick and heavy dark mossy hide. Around it, the ground was torn apart, and the majority of it was smeared and caked in mud and sticks. Large branches were torn up as if something had crashed through the forest and uprooted a line of trees.
In the lagoon a couple more were seen, their snouts and eyes protruding and breaking the surface of the water and also watching her.
Then Carol looked past the initial reptile as a glint of something gold caught her eye and a slight rustle bushes was heard as she snapped her gaze to what had caught her attention.
Lying against a shattered tree trunk was Percy. She sucked in a breath at the sight.
Or rather what looked to be his corpse. Metal that used to be gold was now ashen black, marred in a shadowing scorch. It was cracked in several places and along his right shoulder the entire piece was missing and misshapen. The rain that fell and impacted against the armor, hissing in displeasure as it steamed and cooled.
What skin and flesh was visible on his neck and arms looked to be black and cooked, the outside of it being like hardened and cooled lava.
His right arm was against his armored body, cradled and broken. His other limply hanging at the side, resting atop the scaley tail of the reptile that sat as a guard to him.
His helmet, normally obscuring his face from all but a narrow slit that ran vertical from his nose and the two slits he had for eyes, was now broken and showed the right side of his face. The entire cheek plate had been broken off and the ornamental frill atop it was shattered and gone.
It was only luck that she could tell that he was still alive. His eyes were open, only barely though, the shining eyes of sea green, peeking underneath his hooded lids. His labored and strangled breathing had made his chest visibly rise and fall.
She took a step forward instinctually.
And the reptile hissed.
Percy slowly, as if it his whole body was weighed down by an unrelenting force, shifted slightly. The reptile seemed to take that as a direction and maneuvered around, curling behind the tree trunk Percy was resting against like a loyal pet though watching her all the while.
She moved fast and kneeled beside the enhanced Terran disregarding the ever growing amount of questions that ran through her mind.
Carol was never the best medic and while she had some training in field medicine, this was beyond her. His charcoal skin felt like rock and the armor he wore was still hot to the touch.
She checked his pulse. It was faded and weak.
Percy was dying.
Someone, despite his distrustful nature and even his brashness, she had looked up to apparently.
The Supreme Intelligence had shown itself to her on the cruiser and the form it took was not Yon-Rogg, Mar-Vell, or even her mom, Mari-Ell but Percy. His power, control and leadership being something that she didn't know had impacted her as much during her few days on Terra, even if he was an ass about it most of the time.
She felt her heart clench and her throat constrict at the thought. For all her power there was nothing that she could do for him except to ease his pain.
And she moved to do just that as she raised her hand, having unclipped a small thumb canister that would apply some field anesthetics. Only for Percy's hand to lazily stop her, clasping around her wrist before she could bring it to bear.
"….the….th-the Tess…" His lidded eyes looked to her. His voice was rasping, choked and broken as he spoke the words. "…is…is it safe?"
Even dying as he was, he was still worried about the Tesseract. It was admirable if stupid but she owed him an answer. She had gotten him into this mess in the first place. "It is."
A weak and near-imperceptible nod was his response and he seemed to relax a little if the slouching of his shoulders was any indication.
She couldn't bear to see him like this and she moved to relinquish his helmet to at least apply the medicinal spray, only to be stopped again.
"N-No." He choked. "Th-there's some-something tha…so-something that I nee-need to do." It looked like it was taking every ounce of his remaining strength to even speak.
"It can wait."
"N-No. It can…cannot." He rasped. "If…if I'm to die" He trailed off. "…I need to…do this…alone…"
She waited and the reptile began to slink back around.
Carol didn't want to listen. All her instincts and thoughts told her to stop him and to be with him when he passed. She had often heard that someone's worst fear, one that went unacknowledged until experienced, was the fear of dying alone.
"Ple…please..Carol. My fa-favor…I'm cal-calling it in. Leave."
The hybrid felt a welling of anger. This bastard.
But as honorbound as she was, and the state Percy was in, to disregard a person's last wishes and one that held the weight of her own word, she couldn't find it in herself to argue any longer.
Even as her mind told her to be there for him, she left, making the long trek back towards the Rambeau residence, feeling alone now more than ever.
Percy felt his strength waning.
With how attuned with his own body he was, he could feel his organs weakening with every passing moment. He would know the very moment he died and that was torture in and of itself.
He watched the back of Carol walk slowly towards the Rambeau residence and at his command, a couple alligators followed after her to ensure that she really did leave the area.
Because he was about to do something very stupid.
In his mind, he asked for Nibble to call back Illiana from her hidden alcove. His strength waned as he spoke, and he couldn't find it in him to voice his thoughts any longer. Luckily, he could communicate through Nibble who in turn would be able to communicate to the dryad.
Iliana came to his side immediately. "I'm going to need you to be my voice." Percy thought towards the large reptile, who hissed lightly and flicked his tail.
"Of course, my lord." She spoke. The dryad had already attempted to ease his pain but being struck by the Master Bolt was different from being struck by a sword.
A sword was physical and mortal despite the divine capabilities the metal could potentially have.
The Master Bolt was a weapon of pure divine energy and held the intent of the King of Olympus in its every strike.
Even though it was a glancing hit, the demigod was lucky it didn't instantly vaporize him the moment it made contact.
There was almost nothing she could for him. Not even salves of nectar nor crumbs of ambrosia could help.
And too much of either of those could make his condition even worse.
There was something that he had do before he died. If he couldn't help them directly, he would still help them.
Any and all information is worth the sacrifice. Annabeth's words echoed in his mind and an image of the two arguing in the command tent appeared in his mind and he quickly pushed it away.
Percy winced slightly.
He had come to terms as to who could be his godly ally before the rag-tag group had left for the Tesseract.
"Queen Hera of Olympus." Percy intoned in his mind. The intention to speak to the Matriarch of Olympus clear in his mind.
Nibble hissed.
And Iliana's head snapped towards his reclined form.
Percy had determined that the best one among the Council he had a semblance of trust in was Hera.
And with the Tesseract recovered, there was no use in putting it off any longer.
Well, trust was a relative concept when it pertained to what he was attempting to accomplish.
It wasn't trust in the normal sense. He didn't think he could ever trust immortals, at least not the ones of this time. He wasn't banking on her goodwill nor pity.
He was banking on the Queen's inherent nature.
The Goddess of Hope was too timid and slow to sacrifice heroes to the throes of what was to come.
The Brother's Three would sooner kill him then even listen to a word he had to say. After all, he had been playing in the domains of both. One had already sent him to his deathbed and his father had summoned a hurricane in his fury and had stripped control of his powers away from him. The God of the Underworld would kill him on sheer principle. He had no reason to listen to Percy.
Demeter, he didn't know enough to make a solid judgment about and was a wild card he couldn't count on.
The rest of the Council were much in line with the Lords of Sky, Sea and Underworld.
But Hera….Hera had been ready and willing to risk open civil war between Roman and Greek during a time when any sort of conflict would have put them at the mercy of the Earth Mother.
She had been ready and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of hundreds of heroes for victory.
For her family.
If Percy left the Queen of Olympus with the information of the wars to come, the demigod could rest easy knowing that at least he tried and that he left vital information with someone that was ready and willing to do what was necessary for Olympus.
And so he waited.
The trickle and cascade of rain washing over him and providing a welcome relief to his body. It was a small thing but it was better than being just in pain. It wouldn't heal him. No, the Master Bolt's power was too great for simple rain to help him.
Percy was going to die and he had already accepted it.
A pillar of ethereal golden light flashed in the clearing a couple meters away from him. There, standing underneath an invisible barrier that protected her from the rains and winds of the weather stood the Queen of Olympus. Her ebony hair curled and flowing in a regal manner, untouched, unblemished and unaffected by its surroundings, adorned within was a circlet of gold, intricately fanned at the crown as if it were depicting the feather and ferns of her sacred animal and flower.
Wearing a heavenly gown of white that even in the mud and twig of the tarnished and dirty environment, remained pure and clean, seemingly burning away anything that was deemed unclean or undesirable to her.
About her shoulders was a cloak of verdant green and teal feathers of a peacock while a golden lotus clasp held it in place.
While decidedly a peaceful goddess compared to many of her kin, she still retained her weapon and symbol of power In her hand. A tall golden staff, flaring in the manner of her symbol and adorned by a pale white lotus flower.
In all, this was Hera. The Queen and Matriarch of Olympus.
And even if this was not the Hera he knew, nor was he in any state to do so, Percy forced himself from his reclined position.
He hissed in pain and he felt his strength further wane as he forced his body to stand to its full height. Though he staggered as he balanced himself. His wounded and broken arm held tightly against his abdomen while the other had summoned Thyella, its mourning and tempestuous song ringing in his mind as it appeared.
The silver metal cutting into the mud below him as he slowly dragged and limped his broken form to stand before the Queen of Olympus.
She looked at him with a raised and questioning brow as if she were judging him but also bore her staff in a defensive manner as he approached her.
Illiana stood by his side, stepping in tandem with his smaller and weaker footsteps while Nibble stood on her flank and dragged its scaley body along the muddy ground.
When he was before the Queen, he fell to a knee, using the point of the spatha to ease him onto the floor, uncaring of the mud that he sunk into and bowed his head before looking to the Queen. Iliana did the same and Nibble did as much of a bow as an alligator could.
The demigod figured it was the thought that counted.
The demigod also figured that this would be where he would die. It had taken his remaining strength and then some to show due respect.
He would not be standing anymore among the land of the living.
"So you are the godling that my husband struck down." She sniffed. "I must say, I am impressed. I do not know of many that could survive a strike from the Master Bolt." Thunder boomed overhead. "Then again, looking at your state, I would say that surviving is giving you too much credit."
Percy didn't say anything.
"Regardless, godling. There is something….odd about you." Her voice cut through the rumble of thunder. "The scent of the sea is strong within you…yet…there is something…else…the roots of the earth are also strong. Why is this?"
"War is coming." He thought to Nibble who hissed.
Illiana, spoke for him, her voice timid and shy. "The Lord Apollyon says that war is on the horizon."
"Apollyon?" Her questioning voice arched her brow. "I am not familiar with the name."
"The Giants and the Titans are returning."
Nibble hissed.
Iliana's gaze flicked towards him. Percy had left out that bit of information to her.
"He says that the Giants and Titans are returning."
That evoked a more apparent reaction from the Queen of Olympus. Her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward.
There was a long moment before she spoke again.
"Give me a reason as to why I should not call for my husband." Her voice was of promise and not of threat.
"I can repair the divide. Roman and Greek need not be enemies."
"The Roman-Greek divide. He says he can mend the ties."
Hera's form visibly flickered, her wild and fuller form taking on a more lithe and aristocratic one. Her vibrant cloak turning into a black shawl and cowl and her white gown turning into one of deep purple with embroidered gold. Juno.
Her form reverted back to her Greek one.
"That is quite the lofty claim" She said. "How do you plan to do so?"
'The Athenos Parthenos. I know where it is.' Percy thought.
"The Parthenos. He-"
"That has been lost for millennia. Many have tried and failed to recover it, what makes you different?"
"It's location. He knows where it is."
Her eyes flickered to his broken form. "You are not in any state to do so." Percy nodded his head slightly. So long as he informed her of where it was, quests could be issued. He would have done his part. The Queen of Olympus spoke again. "Why are you here?"
'The Tesseract. It was almost taken.'
"An object called the Tesseract, my lady. He recovered it."
Her eyes widened even further as she momentarily reverted to ancient Greek. "How do you know of these things?" Her eyes flashed gold as she looked into his eyes, and he felt a stabbing pain in his mind.
Only for it to relinquish just as fast as it had appeared and her face morph into confusion and suspicion.
Did she just try to read my mind?
He guessed his obscurity did extend here. It was probably what had kept him alive thus far, and why he wasn't just ash at the moment. After all, immortals and beings of divine power they may be but even they cannot strike down what they cannot see.
Nibble had the foresight to not voice that thought.
Percy determined to tell her the truth. Since he was going to die, there was no use hiding it because at this point she either took him at his word and began preparing Olympus or she didn't and they all ran into the same problems as before.
Betrayal and fear on everyone's mind.
Demigods and legacies killed in droves and sacrifice for only a little bit more time.
And for it to end in a victory founded in mere survival.
Hera, instead, turned her head towards where he knew to be the Rambeau residence. She returned to the English language. "I can sense its power now that you mention it, however muted and faint it is. However, you still have not answered my question."
'Lady Hera, how I know these things, It is because I am from the future.' Percy ripped the figurative band-aid off.
Iliana looked towards him as the information relayed eyes widened in surprise.
As did the Queen's. "Are you one of my father's agents?" She bore her staff once again as her eyes flashed golden in a furious gaze.
"No. The Time Lord is not responsible for this." He explained. Even in his mind and talking through Nibble and the alligator through Iliana, his voice was formal and diplomatic as it normally was when dealing with immortals. It was something that while done naturally gave himself something to focus on other than his rapidly deteriorating health. 'A purposeful accident as far as I am aware. One borne of paranoia, distrust, fear and survival. I had an encounter with a sorceress and in desperation, her spell sent me back in time. I have elected to take advantage of the situation presented to me.'
Iliana relayed the information and though her words were not exactly as his, nor as flowery, it got the message across. Percy figured she was unused to speaking with immortals.
"And what happened?" She prodded.
"It does not matter. Not any longer. It will not happen. The armies of Olympus need to be prepared and brought to bear. Demigods and legacies across the world over need to be called upon but it needs to be done quietly. There are traitors among Olympus." Percy thought. His upright leg trembled slightly and he lost the strength to keep it up, as it slipped from underneath him and into the mud. He was no both knees with only Thyella preventing him from falling further into the ground.
Iliana said the same. Hera stared at him for a moment longer, her previous eyes of warm coal blazing gold as she seemingly thought on his words. "And where is the Parthenos?"
'Rome.'
And that was it. All the pertinent information that needed saying was said. Percy felt his body slacken for a moment and he fell backwards, against the curled body of Nibble, Thyella still in his hand though only loosely. Covered in mud, charred flesh, seared and melted metal and ash as he was, he figured he looked more like a corpse than any living thing.
He felt his eyes grow heavier and his body begin to shut down.
He was dying.
And he wouldn't even be doing it under a beautiful starlit sky or gazing out into the endless expanse of ocean as he had always thought of doing.
It was to be under the dark and malignant cloud of thunder, lightning and rain, and adorned in broken armor, mud and blood.
He should've never hoped for such a peaceful ending.
Another pause. "The ancient lands are forbidden. It would make sense that the lost monument would be found there." She paused as she seemed to consider everything and looked as if she were studying him further.
The minutes wore on as the both sides regarded each other.
"Very well. I have come to a decision, if what you say is true and I have everything to lose if I do not believe you, I will give you a single chance." He heard a fading noise of simple steps over the wash of rain and the howling winds as he felt his eyes close, the words turning to a serene and melodious whisper as a cold seemingly began to embrace his body like a sheet of ice.
He felt his strength begin to rapidly fade. Thoughts of Annabeth, Sally, and Estelle running through his mind. He wouldn't see them. Not ever again. Not even in the darkened and maroon caverns of the Underworld. They wouldn't know him, if they would even survive the coming years.
Even in death, he would be alone.
And that thought scared him to his core.
Then he felt something. A warm sensation begin to engulf and run through his body. As if he had been pumped with an extreme dosage of sunlight and adrenaline, he felt his body awaken and it begin to repair itself if only slightly. It wasn't enough to completely heal him nor divulge him of his many injuries.
But it was enough to give him time.
He felt his eyes blink open, droplets of water entering them but having a warming sensation instead of the otherwise cold that had previously overtaken them.
The darkened sky and thundering roar of wind and rain coming full picture as he sat upwards. Externally, he looked the same. His armor in entire disrepair and his body ashen in its entirety. But that sense of energy seemingly rejuvenating him.
Hera looked down at him in slight concern if the creasing of her perfect brows were any indication. "I have given you some time. Should you be an enemy of Olympus you will die in some hours. Should you be an ally however, and recover the Parthenos, I will have the Sun God heal you." A small, uneasy smile played on her lips. Whether in some dark jest or in further concern, Percy didn't know. Regardless, her smile morphed into one seriousness as her face tightened. "The armies of Olympus will be prepared with or without you."
And in that small moment, Percy pulled himself up from the muddy floor and stood again, staggering and shifting from the rush of energy, Thyella, resting in his expert grip and striking her mournful and tempestuous chords.
Hera regarded him one final time and nodded to herself. "The clock ticks, Apollyon."
'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I," said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.'
-JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Concerning Ronan's character, instead of the MCU equivalent, I made him more similar to his comic character and in there I envision him more of a Thrawn-esque personality and character.
Primarily, with regards to the Captain Marvel portion of this arc, it is more of a growth and development one for other things I have in store.
Carol now has actual motivations. It always irked me that she had apparently been living among the Kree for six years, wholly ignorant of her past, just up and simply fight her former squadron members. So when she was 'abducted' it was played as if she had always been a citizen of the Kree Empire. She had developed connections and ties to the Empire and had fought in an actual galactic war against the Skrulls. I wanted to convey a sort of hesitation on her part in removing herself from it and even then she still considers herself Kree. We see that she had only anger towards Yon-Rogg and to Korath (who replaces Minn-Erva because of reasons that will be made clear) but even then she couldn't bring herself to kill them.
With regards to that, I didn't see the intention of having any over-arching 'villain' or straight up BBEG in this arc. I made it so that there isn't. Everyone has their own motivations and objectives here.
Here its just two sides vying for control of the Tesseract with a bunch of muddled goals from the other characters. The Kree to win their war against the Skrulls, Percy who is keeping it out of the hands of the people that would abuse that power. Fury is trying to save his world from getting caught in an intergalactic crossfire, Talos and his crew are just trying to get to their families and leave the Skrull Empire, all the while Carol is trying to figure out what the hell is going on while doing her best to dig up her past.
As an afternote, I know the pacing has significantly slowed down for this story, but its intentional. I would like to add that this story is more plot and character driven rather than fluff or action.
That being said, there's a lot that goes on in this chapter and the entire arc! If you have any questions feel free to ask! You are more likely to get a complete response on the Emerald Library Discord.
The link to that is on my profile!