The Kree were closing in. Within twelve hours, Yon-Rogg's team would reach Earth.
Even though Carol had cut off the coordinates from her suit's communication system, it didn't matter. The Kree had visited Earth six years ago—they would surely have other ways to find her.
"So, if we can easily track the lab's location, how do we even get to space?" Fury asked.
'Martian Manhunter,' who had been silent the whole time, finally raised his hand.
"Actually, I can survive in space. I can go ahead and scout it out."
Carol shook her head immediately, rejecting his offer, "No! J'onn, we need you here to protect Earth."
If he could move freely in space, then he was even less suited to leave with them.
Carol's mind raced. Now that she saw the Kree for what they truly were, she could already predict what would happen next. Once Yon-Rogg and his team arrived, the Accuser's fleet would surely follow. And knowing Ronan's methods, he wouldn't hesitate to blast Earth out of the solar system if it got in his way.
"The Accusers could arrive any moment. We need you to stay here and defend Earth."
"Alright." 'Martian Manhunter' didn't argue.
It wasn't that he'd given up on the Tesseract; it was because one of the people joining this mission was Reid, who still held the Flerken tightly in his arms.
Carol continued assigning roles with a newfound determination. "Maria, you stay on Earth and take care of Monica. As for me, Reid, Fury, and Talos, we're heading to Lawson's lab."
The rest of the night belonged to the unfortunate Skrull technician, who had the nearly impossible task of modifying an Earth plane into a spacecraft—all in a single night.
Transforming a plane that wasn't designed to breach the atmosphere into one capable of space travel was no small feat. Sparks flew and metal groaned as he worked tirelessly, his hands a blur of motion.
During this time, with Monica's help, Carol gave her Kree suit a fresh new look. She replaced the dull green with the vibrant red and blue colors that would later become her iconic Captain Marvel suit.
...
The next day.
As the sun rose again, Yon-Rogg stepped into an abandoned house deep within a forest.
Inside was a lone female Skrull. She had shapeshifted into Carol's form, successfully drawing Yon-Rogg's attention away from the real team. Carol had told her plenty about herself to help make the act convincing.
At first, she answered all of Yon-Rogg's identity-checking questions flawlessly. But when he asked who the Kree was that had given Carol a blood transfusion, she froze.
That detail wasn't part of what Carol had shared with her.
That brief moment of hesitation sealed her fate. Yon-Rogg's expression darkened. He fired without mercy, an energy blast piercing straight through her heart.
As the Skrull collapsed, her form flickering back to her true shape, he was certain of one thing: Carol was no longer under control.
Without a moment's delay, he opened a comm channel to Ronan the Accuser.
If Carol had really broken free, this was their chance to recapture or eliminate her. To ensure she never remembered anything about Earth again, the safest solution was to have Ronan destroy the planet entirely.
The Kree Empire had more than enough firepower to obliterate a planet.
"Ronan, The Skrulls have infiltrated C-53. The whole planet is under their control now. Get here fast!"
Ronan's response was swift and direct. Already on standby, he gave the order without hesitation.
"For the Kree Empire—the Skrulls will be exterminated, Commander."
His warship initiated a space jump. In the blink of an eye, it crossed hundreds of light-years, arriving at Earth.
Meanwhile, Maria took Monica to her parent's house for safety. The only one left behind was 'Martian Manhunter'.
"Let's see what the Kree do next," he murmured, his eyes glowing faintly. "Luthor, it's time to move."
...
In New York City, Lex Luthor was handling corporate affairs when he got a call from Tony Stark.
"Tony? What's going on? You sound winded."
Tony, out of breath, rushed into his office at Stark Industries. He didn't even stop to catch his breath.
"Luthor, J.A.R.V.I.S. picked up an unknown fleet. Possibly aliens, and they're heading for Earth!"
Luthor's eyes narrowed. In the next moment, the 'Martian Manhunter's' telepathy reached him, filling his mind with everything that was happening.
"I understand." Luthor responded calmly. "I'll inform the U.S. government. The world needs to prepare."
...
At the same time, Carol led the group onto Lawson's lab—a Kree Empire cruiser hidden in stealth mode.
Talos looked more anxious than ever. Carol understood why. He'd left his people behind on Earth to buy them time. Naturally, he was desperate to find the light-speed engine.
But soon, Carol realized she was wrong.
Talos wasn't just after the engine.
When they reached the cruiser's main hall, they found more than the Tesseract; they found a group of Skrull refugees, wearing human clothing.
"Lawson protected them," Talos said, his voice heavy with emotion. "They've been living here for six years."
Talos wasn't just here for the engine or the Tesseract. He was searching for his people. Lawson had hidden them away, but after her death, they lost all contact.
Talos and his crew had risked everything, fighting the entire Kree Empire with nothing but a single Skrull warship, all to find these survivors.
At that moment, Carol felt something stir inside her. Her resolve to help the Skrulls burned stronger than ever.
She decided then and there, she would help them reunite with their scattered kin across the galaxy.
But before she could speak, the hall doors hissed open again.
Yon-Rogg walked in, with his Kree squad behind him.
"Befriending the enemy? Is this your choice, Vers?"
"Call me Carol!" She snapped.
Fury instinctively drew his gun, but when he saw their advanced energy weapons, centuries beyond his own, he slowly raised his hands instead.
Carol tried to fight back. Unfortunately, nothing happened.
The implant the Kree had placed in her head, the one that suppressed her powers, was now fully activated. Yon-Rogg had flipped the switch.
With Carol powerless, the Skrulls in the lab were forced to surrender.
But something wasn't right.
Fury glanced around the room, noticing something off.
Reid was missing.
No one had noticed him vanish, not even Fury. His presence was so quiet, so subtle, that his absence went unnoticed.
And the metal case holding the Tesseract was gone too.
Despite the situation, Fury smirked. 'I knew it. He'd make one hell of an agent.'
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