" Family is not an important thing. It's everything. "
- Michael J. Fox -
(Montmartre District, Paris, France, 12:05 PM)
The group went outside as Allen listened and watched for anything else. Carol was very cautious to encounter another undesirable coming to hinder them. She turned to Allen and gave him a curious look.
" The area seems clear, " he said. " We can go now. "
" Good..." the Kree-Faunus nodded and sighed in relief.
They left the abandoned entertainment building where once the Kree Eternal with a false persona lived. They started walking on the silent and gloomy streets. The elderly half-Kree woman wandered her mind in checking those structures. She thought if they were any survivors or attackers along the way.
" You know I was wondering if those bad guys caught and killed us, " Jared broke the silence.
" It could be worse,monsieurCoulson, " Karena replied.
" Yeah, but how did they find us? " the merc looked at Carol and asked.
" Methie just unleashed his true form, " she answered. " He actually told us he's having a death threat. "
" I see. So we should get out of here quickly before more will come. Hopefully, the Quinjet didn't get discovered."
" Well, there's no one around here, " the half-Lizard rebel moved his head around. " I set the vehicle into invisibility mode. "
" Good thinking, Jared, " Carol nodded.
" That French speaking Kree, I hope he was an officer. "
" Actually, he's an officer, " Jared replied. " He must be a Colonel. His battlesuit colors explains. "
" Good, that's one more down. Hopefully, the next one is a another higher rank. I wish they could see the true reason and join us, " said Allen.
" I tried to persuade my people to stop this madness, " Methu-Selah seriously spoke. " They never listened to my warnings. "
" That's the sad and painful truth, " Carol commented. " You have given a hard time to convince the Kree. "
" They will all fail. "
The blue cat man's prophetic words puzzled the other teammates. Carol understood what he meant. She knew someday the world would attain its glorious atmosphere after the war against the Kree and the Lizards. Somehow, it was a spark of hope that started glowing in her quarter light soul.
They headed on the street where the invisible air fleet had landed. The brunette woman turned and checked the perimeter as she signalled her companions.
" Well, no one is around. " Karena smiled.
Allen nodded as the group went into the allyway while reaching the Quinjet. Methu-Selah looked at him and understood what the mercenary was thinking.
" So, Methu. Can your host body handle flight? " he asked.
" My true form can handle flight. I'm not even sure if this one can, " the blue cat answered while putting his both hands on his pockets.
" Well if it can't, maybe Jared could hold your hand, " the dark-haired smirked and made a little joke.
" You have a Quinjet pilot and medic to assist you, sir. " the half-Lizard smiled and added.
Methu-Selah was smiling back at the two men. He knew they were lightening up the mood despite of the bleak situation had transpired earlier.
" Thank you, lads, " he grinned and chuckled.
" Hey Carol, I guess your retirement plans are now on hold? " Allen asked.
" Yeah, I have to help you kids before this whole mess is over, " she replied.
" So far, you are doing fine. I guess with age comes experience having mastered your power? "
" It's been in years, Allen. Yet, doing the superhero job is fun, but tiring. "
" Well, I've done well in my field too, but the hero thing ain't my kind of way. So I will leave that to you. "
" Do what's necessary. "
The team had entered the fleet as the door closed. Everyone buckled their seats as Jared returned to the pilot's corner.
Allen looked at the half lizard as he asked him, " Hey Jared, just how many of SHIELD members of the orginal are left? "
" Well, most of them are descendants and some of them are elderly, " he replied and toggled the switches for lifting-off. " Some of them were already deceased. "
" Oh, I see. Wish we had them right now at their prime. "
" Elder Maria Hill was still living and approaching her
90th year. You could see her at the Avengers Compound in Upstate New York. She's active physically and mentally. "
" An old woman like her can do a lot of things, " Karena said. " I want to meet her someday. "
" Well, you will meet her when you guys can go to America. "
The invisible Quinjet had ascended and flew on the skies of Paris. Methu-Selah and Carol both closed their eyes and dozed off to sleep. Their next destination awaited as Jared knew where to go.
(Assemblée Nationale Palais Bourbon, 12:18 PM)
The fleet had landed on the street near Seine River. The centuries old buildings and the bridge were still standing. Allen and Karena saw the old couple. Carol was leaning on the old blue cat's shoulder as Methu-Selah loudly snored. Jared turned to them and smiled. Karena softly giggled and started shaking them. The mercernary and the half-Lizard rebel were laughing at them.
" BONJOUR! "she exclaimed and woke them up.
" Will you just stop shaking us?! " the elderly woman got startled and raised her voice.
" For Hala's sake, you Earthian children don't have such consideration! " the Kree-Faunus man added.
" Monsieur, Madame, it is Allen's idea! " she grinned and pointed at her boyfriend.
" You know you look sweet together while sleeping! " Allen laughed. " That Lizzy Boy will surely like to see you together! "
Methu-Selah and Carol turned to each other and blushed. They were unconscious and sitting beside each other. Carol remained speechless as she couldn't think of anything to say. She was aware the Kree Eternal's persona had a girlfriend and never wanted to intrude his thoughts and feelings. The elderly-Kree Hybrid lady had feelings for him which she wanted to express.
Methu-Selah had mixed emotions which he would find himself conflicting in having a relationship with two women. He felt sweaty and nervous in seeing her. Carol slowly stepped back and never wanted to utter a word.
" Elder Danvers! Elder Danvers! " Jared's voice caught her attention. " Hey! "
" What now?! " she raised her voice.
" We're going. "
" Y-Yeah, right..."
The five stepped out of the Quinjet as they headed to the building's main entrance. The Blue, White and Red striped flags greeted them by waving and furling themselves into the air. The portico was remained untouched along with Napoleon Bonaparte's engraving.
Karena Lesproux slightly smiled at the remaining beauty of Palais Bourbon. She knew there were few French heritage left during this Kree-Lizard umbrage on Earth.
They entered to the main hallway where it was very depressing to see. It was no longer the place of power and history of the French people, but a dark and gloomy warehouse and containment area. Jared Coulson sadly sighed to see the undesirable development of the interior.
" Jared? " Allen noticed the half-Lizard's face. " Are you okay? "
" This is no longer a powerhouse of the French government, " he sternly said and crossed his arms. " It's now a cargo area of the Kree and the Lizards. "
" I see, " Karena sadly added. " Everything has taken away from us because of them. "
" Your freedom was gone, I take it. " Methu-Selah said.
" Oui, monsieur. "she nodded and memorized the French republic motto." Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, République Française. "
"J'ai compris votre amour pour votre pays, mais toute votre planète est en jeu à cause de mes frères. (I understood your love for your country, but your entire planet is at stake because of my brothers.) "
"Vous n'êtes pas l'un d'entre eux, monsieur. Ils vous ont mal compris. (You're not one of them, monsieur. They misunderstood you.) "
"Merci pour votre sollicitude, jeune fille. J'espère que votre monde reviendra dans la paix et l'ordre.(Thank you for your concern, young lady. I hope your world will return into peace and order.) "
"C'est pourquoi je continue à me battre pour la liberté.(That's why I keep on fighting for freedom.) " she smiled at the Kree-Faunus man.
The 18th and 19th century ceiling art remained rusty and blurred which the weathering process had affected them. Carol looked up and sadly sighed while walking towards the Meeting Assembly. She was unable to speak the whole time. She opened the assembly hall's door. Everyone was surprised to see what they had seen and discovered.
The large and spacious room turned out to be a place for wooden and metallic crates. They entered and kept walking around. The elderly woman found a crate of fresh fruits from the southern parts of France.
" Carol, what are those? " Allen asked.
" Apples, Lemons, Peaches, Pomegranates, Grapes, and Oranges, " she spoke.
" Anything else? " Methu-Selah queried.
" There's a crate of vegetables and meat on the other side. "
" This seems to be a food area for the tyrants, " Jared smiled and felt his stomach grumbling. " What are you waiting for? "
" Bon Appetit, "Carol smiled and knew what to prepare.
The team began opening the crates and picking up the food and some kitchen items and utensils. Carol and Karena spent cooking as Methu-Selah's photon blasts were useful enough to roast a lamb. Jared and Allen helped setting up the bigger crates as tables and chairs. The assembly room turned out to be a mini-restaurant where they had spent their lunch together.
Carol was tempted to drink further as she saw a crate of red wine. She felt uneasy as Jared gently poured a glass from the bottle. Allen and Karena were patiently waiting to have their share.
" This is making me to drink more, "she thought and drumming fingers on the crates. Methu-Selah secretly read his mind and intently smiling at her.
" Carol, are you going to control yourself? " he asked.
" You're reading my mind, aren't ya? "
" You somehow want to drink more, " the Kree-Faunus man raised his left hand in interjection, holding a glass of red wine on his right. " Right, you promised yourself no more alcoholic beverage. "
" Methie, stop playing my consciousness! "
" It's upto you, " the blue cat grinned and joked. " But I won't carry you back in Rouen once you get carried away upto five bottles! "
Everyone laughed except for Carol. She gulped as a glass of red wine was served to her. Jared was smiling and returning to his seat. The aromatic and delicious scent of food had caught their attention. The elderly woman wanted to take her first meal, but the four of them looked at her. She knew it was her turn to make a toast. The blonde elder stood up and held her glass. She calmed herself while looking at her companions.
" This is pressuring. I have no choice, but to fulfill this, "she uneasily thought and smiled. Carol cleared her throat and said, " It's a wonderful time that we have here. I know this is an honor to be with you despite of this long-term global crisis. I have realized it was too depressing to experience this situation, but I know that someday we will conquer against our enemies. This is an opportunity to make it happen. As for me, it will be a big step to embrace my new journey of motherhood. Thank you for all your encouragement. This toast is for the Moulin Rouge Mutiny victims and for my son, Cheers! "
The four of them raised their glasses, smiled at her, and gently bumped them. They all began eating and talking. Carol enjoyed her meal while listening to their conversation. She heard of memories and stories being shared to one another which she wanted to hear.
Allen, Jared, and Karena recalled of their childhood experience before and during the Kree-Lizard intrusion on Earth. Somehow, they were the generation of young people who witnessed the turmoil of slavery and death. Methu-Selah felt pity at the three which he heard of their stories. He had understood how painful for the three to experience everything.
" You know we're still hoping for heroes to return, " the half-Lizard said. " This war is too much for us to carry the burden of young people like us. "
" Yeah, Karena and I did all the fighting since we were young, " Allen added and finished his meal. " In those days, I was hoping Iron Man could help us stop all these jerks once again."
" You're a big fan of Tony Stark, Allen? " Jared asked.
" Yep, proven and tested since childhood! " the mercenary proudly grinned and imitated the iconic repulsor hand pose. Everyone laughed at him. " Oh come on! For me, he's the greatest Avenger, ever! He has guts, tech, money, and brains! He's the coolest guy in the whole world! His charisma inspired me to be a mercenary. "
" Allen, don't forget theold lady," Carol glared at him as Allen nervously laughed.
" Oh yeah, we've got a Captain Marvel here with us, but I do wanna meet him someday. "
" Well, Don't worry, Allen, " Jared smiled. " Elder Tony Stark is still living. Once we get back, you're gonna be excited and happy to meet him. "
" Heh! That's more like it! "
" Honestly, we are very happy to meet the both of you, " Karena smiled. " But despite of your old age, you two are able to fight back. "
" Like my retirement plans have postponed thanks to you kids, " Carol grinned. " Plus, I have a boy to deal with. "
" Well, I have question for you, Madame Danvers, " she continued. " Do you know what happened to your family before that great war? "
Carol remained silent as she never wanted to discuss about it. The brunette French woman's question seemed to pierce her heart. She sadly sighed and recalled everything from her childhood upto her US Air Force years. Somehow, she saw some flashbacks of her parents arguing at each other.
" It's complicated to tell everything, " she calmly spoke. " I grew up in a dysfunctional family. I had an alcoholic and abusive human father, an undercover Kree soldier mother, and some half-brothers. My younger years had a lot of ups and downs. It would take a long time to tell everything for you to hear. "
" What if the boy wants to know everything? " Methu-Selah queried. " He deserves to hear from you. "
" Well, if I tell all of these to him, he would understand why. "
" Perhaps, you never want to commit those mistakes from your father. "
" Yeah, that's why I want to change the ways of being a parent. I don't know how, but I will find ways to do it. "
" Surely, that's a big step for you, Elder Danvers, " Jared commented. " I know you can do it. "
" Well, it's time to embrace motherhood. You're never too late to do it, " Allen added and joked." You're just like the old Sarah from the ancient texts! "
" I understood that reference, Allen! " she laughed.
" By the way, did you know what happened to your old pal, Mar-Vell? " Jared asked.
Carol sadly sighed as she remembered her other old flame who disguised as a human from long time ago. He rescued her several times before that accident. Methu-Selah intently looked at her and finished his glass of wine.
" You missed him, didn't you? " he asked.
" Yeah, before Rhodey, there was him whom I felt in love with, " she said. " I still kept his iconic battlesuit until now. Don't tell me, you're him, Methie. "
" No, Mar-Vell is my greatest grandnephew, " he replied. " Before he passed away, we have been corresponding at each other here on Earth. Mar-Vell was also searching for my son aside from Ras-Yov. "
" He did? I never knew..."
" That was a long time ago, Carol, " Methu-Selah answered. " Boy, too bad, he missed this. "
" Well, he will be happy to hear that I found your missing kid. "
" Wow! Now, that's great to hear! " Allen smiled. " It seems I discovered some heroes joining in our side. Old Methu-Selah is related to the original Captain Marvel. Well, we could arrange and set a team of heroes to fight the bad guys! "
" That's great to hear, Allen, " the Kree-Faunus man smiled. " But that won't last too long for my age to fight, I'll try my best to do so, until I meet my son. "
" Well then. It will come true like you have predicted. "
" But of course, you need some time to be together as a family, " Karena suggested.
Carol looked at her male friend as she blushed. She still wanted to express her true feelings for him. Somehow, forming a family would be a big responsibility aside from a heroine.
On the other hand, Methu-Selah's thoughts were also wandering which he couldn't choose the right person for him: Amelie, the one who had got enslaved, suffering from a terminal illness or Carol, his faithful sidekick, best friend, and a future mother of the boy.He couldn't decide further if he could love only one and eventually form a family before he passed on.
" Guys, did the cat get your tongue? " the half-Lizard broke the silence and noticed the two. " You seemed quiet. What's bothering you? "
" Nothing, Jared..." Carol hesitantly answered, still blushing as she made an excuse and laughed. " It's just I overate! "
" I understood you have feelings for me, Car-Ell, but it's very complicated, "the blue cat thought and joked. " You know, young man, I want to drink more wine! "
" More shot? " he asked.
" No, I'm just kidding! "
" You know guys we can't eat that too much, " Allen reminded and looked around the crates. " We can spend here until dinner, steal the food supply, and give it to the refugees living in the mansion. What do you think? "
" That reminds me of the tale of Robin Hood, " Carol nodded. " Good idea. But I was thinking if the Quinjet could handle that large bulk of crates. We need a bigger fleet to take all of these. "
" I'm going to contact Absalom Bav-Tek to aide us, " Jared replied. " But we need to play safe from the enemies, we have tampered their food supply. "
" Thank goodness, we never saw anyone of them, " Karena sighed in relief.
" A great plan, but a very sneaky effort, " Methu-Selah grinned. " Shall we begin? "
Everyone nodded and prepared their themselves to execute their next mission aside from fighting the Kree and the Lizards. This time, they decided to steal their food supply.
(Ten Hours Later: Rouen, France)
The team had returned from Paris which they asked for more aide in transporting the food from Palais Bourbon to this mansion. The residents were happy to see more crates of food which they would no longer leave the mansion and find one. The back-ups from Absalom Bav-Tek's faction had done their part and left the place.
Jared, Karena, and Allen waited at the living area of the ground floor as they sat on the couch. They were pleased for what they had done the entire day.
" Well, it's a long day for us, " the half-Lizard man leaned his back from his seat.
" Yeah, thank goodness that old lady controlled her drinking spree, " Allen laughed. " I wonder why. "
" Isn't it obvious,mon amour?" Karena replied. " She's in-love! "
" Oh yeah, that seems noticeable. Like Lizzy Boy said,Love is in the air!"
" He has a point though, " Jared grinned. " Well, they're taking more time for each other tonight. The old man has a long flight to Addis Ababa. "
" Is he using his true form? " the brunette woman asked.
" I think he is right now. "
Just upstairs, Methu-Selah in his Kree Eternal form and Carol carefully entered the lizard's room. They saw the hooded being peacefully sleeping on his bed.
" There he is, " the elderly half-Kree woman whispered. " Please don't wake him up. "
The Kree Eternal nodded and silently wept for joy. He gently touched the lizard boy's right shoulder. He was happy to see him for the first time which he wanted to extend his time in the mansion. Methu-Selah kept touching the lizard boy's head and kissed his scaly cheeks. He sighed and turned to the old blonde woman.
" I wished to remain here, but I had to go, " Methu-Selah said and touched her face. " If he asks, then tell him I have gone somewhere else. "
" Right, I'll tell him, " she nodded and understood. " You still have an important thing to do there. "
" Carol while I'm away, please promise me to take care of him. "
" I will, Methie. I'm always on his side, no matter what. "
" And take care of yourself, " he kissed her cheeks as she blushed. " I'll see you soon. "
" You too, " she hugged him and kissed back. " Just promise me to come back alive. "
" I will. "