Say What Now?
I had spent the best part of two hours explaining to Maria what I and Yon-Rogg had talked about and why I didn’t feel like the guy was a threat. I managed to get through to her that if Yon-Rogg had meant us any harm he would not have made his presence known in the first place, he would have just killed us. We wouldn’t have seen him coming, even I could tell the guy was just that good.
Maria knew that. She hadn’t been born yesterday, but that didn’t stop her worrying about Carol and the babies. It was hard to think when your body is in over protection mode I suppose.
It was an extraordinarily hot evening and there was no way I was getting to sleep any time soon. Even though I believed what Yon-Rogg had told me, Yon-Rogg was going to have to earn my trust. Trust was not freely given.
I was still deep in thought when I made my way to the kitchen, I poured myself a glass of water and stared out of the window as I ran over the conversation in my head. No, I was definitely right. Yon-Rogg is no threat to us. As I sipped at my drink I saw Yon-Rogg lying down in the middle of the lawn looking rather relaxed with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed at the ankles while staring up at the stars. I couldn’t help but smile and thought to myself that they really weren’t that different after all. The Kree that is.
I poured another glass of water and topped up my own before walking outside to join Yon-Rogg. “Penny for your thoughts?” I asked tiredly as I handed Yon the glass of water and sat down beside him.
”You don’t need to pay for my thoughts Fury” he told me.
I laughed and then calmed myself down before I woke the neighbourhood, “It’s an expression. It’s not literal friend. Now I know what Carol meant by innocent. It’s just my backwards way of asking what’s on your mind Yon-Rogg. ”
”I see.” Yon-Rogg seemed to be rather amused. “Why can’t you people just say what’s on your minds? It would be far less confusing. Innocent? She said that? I would hardly call myself innocent Fury. I know what I have done is in defence of my home world and those we guard, but still. It gives me night terrors.” Yon explained to me in earnest while still staring up at the night sky.
”Not quite the innocent that she had in mind, but seeing as though you brought it up. War is a dirty business Yon-Rogg. Trust me, I know, there are no winners in war. All we can do is learn from it and move on. So what is it that troubles you friend?” I know, I know, a dangerous question to ask when you don’t really want to hear the whole sob story, but we’re trying to make friends, right?
Yon-Rogg listened to me intently and nodded. This man was wiser than he looked. After carefully assessing the situation he decided he could confide in me, so I suppose I should be honoured being a lesser specie an all that. What? You don’t have sarcasm where you come from? The Kree underestimate us Terran’s don’t they? let’s keep it that way for a while longer ok? Anyway, apparently I am easy to talk to. “Where to start.” Yon-Rogg asked me, so I told him.
”Beginnings usually a good place,” an I was sure to give him my bestest smile. Hey, this guy is growing on me ok?
”True” Yon-Rogg gave a little Pff of laughter and thought carefully about what he wanted to tell me, I shouldn’t be too irked at that, I would have gone about it the same way. The last thing I would want to do was cause offence, so I guess he’s choosing his words carefully, “I just find myself thinking about how Vers and I met and now that I have my own child on the way. Well.”
”If someone had done what you did to Carol you would have killed them.” I offered with the emphasis on Carol, the guy was going to have to get used to hr her real name.
Yon-Rogg actually looked embarrassed, “yes, Car-Ol. It will take time for me to get used to that name, and yes, you are correct. I would have torn them limb from limb. I do feel guilty for robbing her of those 6 years. I can still see the look of pain that was in her eyes from my lies and betrayal. But in reality, if I had left her here on C-53….”
”Earth” sorry, can’t help it.
”Ah, yes, Earth. If I had left her here on Earth she would be dead. This planet does not have the medical know how to save someone in that predicament even now, let alone the best part of a decade ago. So If I had left her here I would not have Car-Ol or a child on the way. I wanted to tell her the truth, I nearly did you know. But when the Intelligence pointed out that she would want to come home I selfishly decided against it. I just didn’t want to lose her. I love that woman so much that I would have done anything to keep her with me, I have so much to make up for. I just don’t know where to begin.” I listened as the Kree Commander poured his heart out to me, which I realise is no easy feat for a Kree. Carol had told me time and time again that many of the Kree lessons were, “Control your emotions. Feelings are a weakness. Anger only serves the enemy?” I had to agree with the last comment. You wind up your enemy up enough and they start making stupid mistakes and that serves me very well.
”Yon-Rogg. The only way you can make it up to her is to be there when she needs you and show her that you love her. I heard about this Kree don’t show their feeling shit, but it won’t fly with an earth woman. They like their cuddles and kisses and need to hear that you love them. You do that, and you’ll be just fine.” I could see him mulling over what I had just told him and even he had to admit what I was telling him made sense.
I woke up to the sound of laughter. It sounded like Fury. Then I heard talking. I was pretty sure it was Fury and Yon-Rogg. I pulled on Yon’s shirt again and went to investigate further. I moved as slowly as I could towards the entrance as Yon-Rogg’s hearing is spectacular and I didn’t want the conversation to be brought to an abrupt halt. I wanted to hear what they were talking about. I leaned up against the hatch entrance and started to eves drop.
They say eve droppers rarely hear good of themselves. But this eves dropping session had been a real eye opener so too speak. I was still deep in thought about what I had just heard when Yon walked through the hatch and took me into his arms. “I thought I felt you stirring, but I was engrossed in conversation with Fury. He is very easy to talk to.”
I smiled as I returned his embrace, “ You know, if you had told me what you had told Fury, things would have played out very differently. We need to be honest and more open with each other from this day forward Yon. Agreed?” it was the only way that our union would work.
”Agreed” he told me softly while staring lovingly into my eyes. The Commander always knew how to turn me into a quivering wreck. He pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear and I think he must have decided to put Fury’s advise into action, because he said” You are beautiful Car-Ol Dan-Vers, I am blessed to have you for my mate. I love you.” Couldn’t help but smile at that confession.
”I love you too Yon, with all of my heart. You know, I’ve been thinking. Life on Hala wasn’t all that bad. In fact life on Hala was very good, and Vers is technically part of my name. Maybe you could still use it? You know, as a sort of pet name?” Yon-Rogg beamed at that comment. It was that signature smile that made me, his Vers weak in the knees and he kissed me with such passion I actually forgot to breathe.
”You need to breathe Vers” he laughed, then scooped me up into his arms. “Time for bed my wife.” The Commander’s Wife, I could get used to that title.
”That man has got it bad” Maria grinned at me as I climbed back into bed. ”Gotta admit, he’s starting to win me over too.” She had obviously been eves dropping on our conversation, the woman has been around me too long, she’s starting to get paranoid too.
”Me too. After listening to his account of what happened I can’t say I wouldn’t have done things differently. It’s not like he had her name and address to send her home, and he’s right. We couldn’t have saved her life. By the time pararescue would have reached her she would have died from her injuries and in all likelihood he’d have been dissected by us by now.” I let out a tired sigh. I’m getting tired of all the politics.
”Maria baby?”
”Yes Fury Darlin”
”I love you”
”Aw. I love you too baby” she told me as she cuddled into me. It didn’t take long for us both to drift off to sleep.
The next few days were uneventful. Everyone mingled together swapping stories and bonding as a family unit. But it didn’t take long for an unusual request from Vers to have me panicking and running straight to Fury. I barged into the house in a panic, “Fury. What is a gro-cer-ies store? And how do I obtain cookies and cream Haagen-Das’t? Do you even know what that word means? It’s disgusting that children are being taught such foul language at such a young age”
Maria laughed at me, “Haagen-Dazs, not Das’t. What does that mean anyway?” she asked me. There was no way in the holy collective that I was telling her, Vers would kill me for a start.
”It is an expletive which I will never explain to a lady” I told her straight.
”Lady? D’ya hear that Fury? I’m a lady” she laughed as she wiggled her shoulders from side to side and stuck her nose up in the air as she walked by him causing both him and myself to guffaw with laughter, I can see why Vers chose her for a friend.
”Seriously though Fury. Vers is threatening to blast me back to Hala if I don’t get her Haagen-Das’t” Fury looked on at me, a Kree commander as I came undone at the seams. I was not used to this whatsoever.
”Dazs”
”Is that not what I just said?”
” D.A.Z.S. not! D.A.S.T. Come on, I’ll have to get some for Maria too. As soon as she sees that little tub of dream cream she’ll be craving it too. Think I’ll do a pre-emptive strike. Seriously though, what does Das’t mean?” I sighed and whispered into Fury’s ear causing Fury’s eye’s to widen in shock.” Yup. You aint never ever telling her what that means.” He grinned and motioned to me to get into what he called a car.
”Is this thing safe?”
”Is the Hellion safe?”
”Of course my Hellion is safe” I answered indignantly.
”And so is my Mr Snoofus”
”Point taken. Mr Snoofus?” I asked with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on my face in jest.
”Don’t start with me Yon-Rogg” Fury laughed as both of us put our seat belts on.
”If Mr Snoofus is so safe why do we need to be tethered exactly?”
”Added safety. You know? In case we crash” Fury grinned and laughed at the look of horror on my face. He just can’t help it. This man just loves to torment me
We arrived back home a couple of hours later to, ”Just how long does it take to buy a little ole tub of Ice-Cream?” Maria asked us with hands perched on her hips. She did not look happy.
”I believe that was my fault Maria. They do not have such places back on Hala and I have never seen such food stuffs” I think the correct term is I was having a field day.
”Yeah, plus the guy has a fan club. “ Fury was more than amused, “ Oh what beautiful eyes” Fury cooed while imitating the female cashier mockingly causing me to shift nervously.
”Well I can’t say I blame her. Those eyes are beautiful and It’s a good job I’m not the jealous type” my Vers grinned, “Now. Where are my cookies and cream Yon?” I offered the tub of overly cold cream to my mate while wondering why in the world Terran’s would eat such things. It was all very strange but at least I would not be murdered in my sleep tonight
A blood curdling screen made me jump out of my skin, I was preparing for battle when I heard “my contractions started, oh hell.” Vers yelled at me causing me a very worried mate to come barging through the mess hall door. “I think….Maria’s screaming. I can’t…check on …her. I’m in labour.” She managed to gasp out.
”We need to get to a hospital a.s.a.p.” Fury notified us as he helped Maria into the mess hall. “Maria’s just gone into labour”
”Vers too”, I told him. Fury would have found the scene of Commander Yon-Rogg grasping his hair between his fingers, panicking and totally stressed out amusing if he wasn’t in fact having kittens himself.
”Jeez you two, do you have to do everything together?” he asked half jokingly, half “seriously. I’m going to call ahead to the hospital. Yon can you land this thing on the hospital helipad?”
”I can land this thing anywhere you wish Fury. What’s a helipad?”
”Seriou….oh never mind. Just look for the people looking up at the sky in disbelief because they’re actually seeing a spaceship and that spaceship is about to land in front of their eyes” Fury had never felt stress like this before, even I could tell that. Even trying to manage the Avengers wasn’t this hard he had said in passing.
Sure enough when we arrived and started to hover over the hospital they had a team of medical staff staring up at the ship in shock. “You’d think they’d be used to weird shit by now ”Maria managed to gasp a little laugh as another contraction hit. “I mean, what with all the mutants an all that, “she continued.
”Say what now?” I asked in disbelief causing the three Terran’s to look at me and burst out laughing.
”What can I say. I’ve trained him well” Carol laughed and earned herself one of my famous eye rolls. As soon as the ship was landed we picked up our mates and placed them carefully on the gurneys that the medical personnel had brought with them. I made sure the ship was secure and followed everyone into the lift that would take us all to the birthing unit.
”Do they know they’re dealing with an alien species?” I whispered in Fury’s ear. One of the med techs turned around slowly and stared at me. It was obvious she had heard the comment. Fury just closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief.
”They do now" he said and he looked at me as if I had given away, I think the term is state secrets. “Now listen up people, this here is national security 101 and I need you all to sign NDA's. “ he had said. One of the orderly’s had mentioned he didn’t want to as it was a governmental conspiracy, to which Fury had told him it was his right but had be locked up until he did. “and I don’t care if you are my brother Jake" he had said. Oh great, two of them.
18 hours later and I was holding my son and daughter. I thought it would have been easier to name them than it was though, “ what was your fathers name?".
“ Oh hell no. Two Joseph Danvers is enough thank you. How about your dad?"
“ Zey-Rogg is hardly a Terran sounding name, are you sure?" truth was I liked the idea of honouring my father with the naming of our son and I think that was possibly the reason why Vers suggested it. “ what about our daughter? Maybe your mother will fair a little better? “
“ She left when I was very young, I don't understand why she didn't take me with her. My father was an alcoholic and very abusive so I understand why she left. But why did she leave me with him? Life with Joseph Danvers Sr. was no walk in the park. I left home as soon as I could and I've never looked back” My heart broke as Vers told me her story, as she continued I couldn't believe my ears. “ Her name was Marie Elle Danvers, Yon? What’s wrong".
” There was a Kree who was champion of the Kree empire, she was first of the Supreme Protectorate, the youngest Captain in the Elite Guard. Her name was Mari-Ell." Vers looked at me in disbelief, but I must admit I did not believe in coincidences. “ Vers, I believe your mother is Kree.
Kree? No. There was no way my mother was a Kree warrior. She couldn't be and I told Yon that too. “ Besides, my mother had a sense of humour and I've yet to find a Kree with a sense of humour “ I joked and received a playful jab for my little Joke. “ But on a more serious note though, Mari–EII is a beautiful name." So it was settled, our children would be named Mari-Ell-Rogg and Zey-Rogg. I noticed someone hovering by the door, “ Hello?" I called out. Slowly my visitor made her way into my room, “ Mom ?”
” Hello honey. Couldn’t help but overhear part of your conversation. “ she looked at Yon-Rogg warily. “ You’re Zey-Rogg’s boy aren’t you? “ I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“ So you are Kree?" I asked her, I was starting to feel strange.
“ Yes darling. I am Kree." She told me, Yon looked so proud. Of course he was, he basically married into Kree royalty.
I was in shock. I was half Kree even before my accident. My mother informed me that Yon’s transfusion would have wiped out every bit of humanity that was in me as it changed me on the genetic level, I was genetically full blown Kree. Yon was beaming and I would have thumped him if he wasn't holding the twin's. It was at that moment I doubled over and looked at Yon in shock. He asked me what was wrong. You should have seen his face when I told him number three was on the way. It’s a good job mom had lightening fast reflexes, she just about managed to grab hold of what we thought were twins before my mighty fearless Commander Yon-Rogg hit the deck, completely out cold.