" When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, " Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster", I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world. "
- Fred Rogers
(Rouen, France: 9:30 PM)
The Kree-Lizard hybrid boy ended up stargazing in the evening after eating and doing some chores. He stood beside his telescope and pointed at the stars forming the Big and Little Dipper. He was all alone which his mother was busily talking to the elders in the mansion. Pointing his telescope on the bright twinkling dots, he felt trembling which he heard some rustling on the trees and bushes around. Then, he saw some shadows of some beings wandering around. He became afraid, quickly entered in his room, and closed the door and the curtains.
The boy immediately turned on the lights and covered himself in a thick blanket to hide. Despite of his tall monstrous appearance, he was like an innocent child who easily became afraid to see scary things. Suddenly, an elderly blonde half-Kree woman came inside the room and noticed her son which she sat beside him and got concerned.
" Kid, what's wrong? " she curiously asked.
" Shadows...sounds...scary..." he answered.
" What? SCP-682 has been haunting you aside from the MTF, Kree, and Lizards? " Carol raised her voice. " Can you tell me what's going on? "
" H-Hollow, the deadly Inhuman..."
" I don't understand. Who is he? "
" The one who tried to stalk and murder me. "
Carol finally understood of what her son had said. She could have read the Kree-Lizard's written accounts from his journal which he had encountered the Inhuman during those years in Alaska. At this moment, the boy was still frightened to see and hear more shadows and threshold from the outside. The elderly half-Kree woman gently rubbed her son's back, calming him down and holding his hands by her right hand.
" Kid, you can tell me, " she calmly spoke. " Go ahead. "
(TWENTY YEARS AGO: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA)
Just around the downtown streets, the boy spent sweeping the compound grounds while the surviving children were playing tag and chasing at each other. He still busied himself not to think about those constant nightmares which he had been suffering. Focusing on removing the fallen orange leaves, he placed the outdoor broom beside the tree and took a black garbage back in gathering the large pile of leaves.
Finishing his work in the afternoon, he heard rustling of leaves from a distance and turned his head around. The Kree-Lizard boy became vigilant in noticing something aside from the running children.
" What am I hearing right now? " he curiously thought and paused his work. " Is anyone from the MTF or those enemies stalking at me? "
Going closer to the source of that noise, he saw a shadow from the ground and followed it. The hybrid kept walking until the shadow disappeared.
" This is weird, " he sighed. " Am I the only one who could see it? "
He returned to the compound grounds and heard gossiping from the residents which he got curious of the conversation.
" Have you heard of what's happening around? " an elderly Chinese-American lady asked.
" What do you mean? " the old man followed.
" It's from Jake Fury's faction, " the other elderly man replied. " They noticed a lotta deaths few weeks ago. Then, the slaves and the other rebels got killed. "
" That's horrible! Who could have done it? "
" I don't know. The Kree and the Lizards have a new executioner aside from that blue lady in black with two deadly floating balls. "
" How did you know all these things? "
" Coulson told us about those things had transpired before he reunited with his surviving grandnephew. "
The gossiping elders noticed the Kree-Lizard hybrid eavesdropping at the conversation. An Asian-looking old lady approached him after finishing her cup of tea.
" Got curious there, Kid? " she asked.
" Yes, I was wondering about who you are referring to, " the boy replied. " I saw that woman you mentioned last night. Did you mean there's another killer aside from her? "
" So, you're that guy who saved Coulson's grandnephew, " the balding old man said. " Yeah, I believe you saw her too. "
" But what about the man you are referring to? "
The three elders exchanged glances to the boy's question as they were wondering who the person was. The hybrid stood in front of them and waited for their answers. He wanted to know as soon as possible in order to avoid that further threat.
" We don't know, boy, " the third elder replied and shrugged. " We haven't seen that guy lately. Why do you ask the rebels if they see him? They would answer your question. "
" Thank you. "
He nodded and understood as he immediately left them. The boy returned to inside the apartment which they heard more murmurings and wailing on his way. This time, he became uneasier which he saw an old woman crying. A member of the rebel forces told her husband has recently passed away while fighting on duty. Gladius Fernal and Jaune Arc condoled the family at this moment. Looking at the grieving family, he knew the pain and loss of a loved one and sadly sighed.
That evening, he was sitting alone on the rooftop and looking at the gloomy city view. Still curious of the mysterious murderer ravaging everywhere, the boy kept thinking and imagining what the man would look like aside from what he heard earlier from the three elders. Just then, he turned his head around when three men joined him who he both recognized.
" It was you guys, " the hybrid called them. " Is there something wrong? "
" Sorry to disturb your quiet time, " the half-Lizard teenager replied. " Gladius has told us to check the murderous incident. "
" What is it? "
" Some sort of a Jack the Ripper incident, " Peter Parker or Spider-Man shrugged.
" Jack the Ripper? " the hybrid curiously repeated as he got dumbfounded with the name. " I've never heard of that name. "
" He's an unidentified serial killer in London around late 19th Century, " Jared explained. " I didn't expect another Jack the Ripper here in Alaska. "
" Indeed, it was strange to confront one, " Christopher Knightfall added. " Just this afternoon, we lost another member, Billy White. I'm thinking our Alaskan Jack the Ripper has made it. "
" Oh, I see..." the boy nodded. " Have you ever encountered him? "
" Not yet, " the three men replied in unison.
" I guess we have to find out then, " he answered and shrugged.
Suddenly, a white haired woman approached the four men as she saw them. It was Winter Schnee-Knightfall who seemed to have news for them.
" Is there something wrong? " Christopher curiously asked.
" Jaune and Gladius are asking you four to come on a next mission in Wasilla, Alaska tomorrow, " she replied.
" Does it something to do with the Alaskan Jack the Ripper? " Jared queried.
" I think so, but you gentlemen should be careful once you deal with him. He goes in the shadows and kills anyone who encounters. "
" Very creepy..." Peter replied.
The Kree-Lizard hybrid got frightened to hear and nervously gulped. His friends noticed him and exchanged glances. Christopher curiously turned to him.
" Is there something wrong, friend? " the green-haired man asked.
" Well..." the hybrid paused and sighed. " Can we deal with him? "
" As long as we can find and defeat him, we should keep going. "
" Oh okay..."
" Okay, men. Shall we? " Peter shrugged.
" I think we should take some rest, first, " Jared suggested. " We have to take this job seriously on the next day. "
(THE NEXT DAY: WASILLA, ALASKA, 9:30 AM)
The rebel forces headed north in a town near Anchorage. The mountain range was seen on the view along with the forests and the famous lake. The once peaceful and productive town was transformed into another ghost town. The team reached the city hall where it ended up as a slave den for the Kree and the Lizards. They entered the premise and turned around to search for any survivors.
Searching in every room or office, they saw discarded bodies of slaves died. Gladius widened his eyes in fear in seeing skirmish and bloodshed. Then, he closed the door and signalled everyone to keep looking.
Walking along the hallway, they heard screams all over the place. Finally, it was their time to act. Everyone prepared to fight as the others used their powers. Going to the source, they got hindered by the blue-skinned troopers and their reptilian counterparts.
" So, you've turned one of your slave dens into a slaughter house?! " Jaune defiantly asked and illuminated his both hands. " We won't allow you to do those again! "
" Well, you brought your friends to cease our operation, " the Lizard commander scoffed in reply. " Let's see if you can comply with us. "
" NEVER! "
" Then, you will face your deaths along with the others! " he yelled and turned to his subordinates. " ATTACK! "
" It's about time, " Gladius replied and turned to his team. " Let's do this! "
The long haired mutant and the blonde Inhuman both illuminated their hands and blast their enemies, sending them flying. The other Kree and Lizards kept charging as the other rebel forces kept shooting. Jared Coulson used his spiky lizard tail to trip and impale the attackers' feet and legs when the enemy soldiers got wounded and injured.
" Now, that is an easy one..." the young reptilian hybrid slightly smiled.
" You're one of us, you disgusting traitorous hybrid! " the lizard yelled and used his claws to attack Jared. " Now, prepare to die! "
" Not on my watch, " Jared smirked and whistled as Spider-Man used his web fibers to trap the attacker. The lizard couldn't break free as Jared and Peter made a high five gesture. " Now, where's Chris? "
" He's with the hoodie guy, " the masked man pointed at a distance. " I guess they had split up to deal with more goons! "
" Right! "
The Kree-Lizard hybrid and his other friend went on their own as they kept searching for more surviving slaves. They turned their heads to and fro to be vigilant for any incoming attackers. Going to the next office, the two got distracted and saw a deceased old man which they became frightened to look at it.
" W-Who could have done this? " the hybrid terrifyingly asked as his voice was shaking.
" I don't know, " Christopher replied. " We need to find who's responsible for this. "
Hearing more screaming, the two caught their attention and headed to the next room. They found and got surprised to see more dead slaves inside. Suddenly, they heard another threshold and saw some shadows on the ground.
" Did you see that? " the hybrid asked.
" Yeah, " the Kree-Inhuman nodded. " It must be our Jack the Ripper. "
" Why doesn't he show up? "
" I'm afraid he's going to..."
Just behind the Kree-Lizard hybrid, there was a long dark velvet haired man in black who morphed his right arm into a grey metallic blade. Christopher widened his eyes and saw his friend being impaled on his abdomen. A gush of blue blood splattered and soiled his clothes. The boy attempted to fight back as he was too late. The man pushed him down and mercilessly stared at him. Christopher's eyes turned into silvery-white and flashed the dark attacker.
" How dare you do this to him! " the man with silver eyes yelled. " Now, I'll let you to suffer! "
The dark murderer closed his eyes and dodged the light. He thought of impaling the other man, but he failed to do it. Instead, he instantly escaped as Christopher kept using his eyes. Finally, he reverted to his normal light grey irises and turned to the Kree-Lizard hybrid who was dying and losing his breath.
" I...could have...stopped him..." the boy weakingly said. " But I guess... I'm... joining with...Nancy...and Mar-Vell...in the other life..."
" No, please don't you ever say that! " Christopher cried and sat beside him. " Just hang in there, we can get you some help! "
" But..."
" Please you need to fight back! You have to see the Kree Eternal to help you! Please, you should never give up! "
Christopher carefully brought the dying hybrid boy which he was still bleeding. Suddenly, Gladius and Jaune came to them and assisted their fellow rebel to carry the boy.
" Goodness, " the long-haired mutant anxiously muttered. " Don't tell us..."
" He got pinned down, Gladius, " Christopher replied. " He needs immediate help! "
" Let's see what I can do, but this is temporary, " Gladius said and turned to the blonde Inhuman. " Jaune, shall we? "
" All right, " Jaune nodded.
The Inhuman and the mutant touched the hybrid's wounds as he got healed, but he was pallid and weak. Jared, Peter, and the others arrived at the position where Gladius, Jaune, and Christopher were found. The Kree-Lizard hybrid slowly opened his eyes and became catatonic.
" Bud, are you okay? " Jared gently patted his friend's shoulders. " Bud? "
The boy was not responding and staring at the men surrounded him. Gladius intently looked at him as he sighed.
" This young man has seen tremendous pain in his life, " the mutant sadly spoke. " We need to take him back to Anchorage. "
" Right, " Peter nodded as he understood.
" I hope I could hear some from him, " the young lizard hybrid said.
(FEW HOURS LATER: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA)
The rebel forces returned after a failed retrieval mission. The hybrid remained sleeping inside his room and received a blue Kree blood transfusion from an exiled pink skinned rebel. Christopher and Jared watched him from the doorway and took some wooden chairs.
" Thanks to Moragg-Vell, " the green haired man spoke. " He's willing to share his blood to him. "
" Yeah, " the half-lizard nodded and took his cup of water. " That makes me curious, Chris. Why does he have blue blood? "
" Despite of him claiming to be a 682 clone? I'm still thinking the same thing as you are. I heard that the indestructible monster runs on its vile instincts, but this one is more different. He sounds like the Kree Eternal, Methu-Selah, but I'm seeing his extreme sadness running over his head. It has told me since I met him many years ago. About your question of him having a blood of extraordinary color, he is part-Kree, but still remains a mystery. "
" I need to find that out, " Jared replied. " But should we tell him who he really is? "'
" I don't know, " Christopher sighed. " I wished to tell him earlier when I saw that blood coming out of his body, but I got shocked when he mentioned his beloved girlfriend and bestfriend. "
" Oh yeah, " he nodded. " I'm gonna ask him about that too. "
" Well, you have a lot to learn from him. "
Gladius arrived from the hallway and heard the conversation from the two men. He stood at the doorway and sadly sighed.
" How is he? " the long haired mutant rebel leader asked.
" He's still sleeping, " Christopher answered.
" Did you know what he really is? " Jared queried.
" Yeah, " Gladius nodded. " Jaune and I healed him earlier when we saw that blue blood soiled on his clothes. "
" Should we tell him the truth? "
" That I want to do, but I'm afraid he would be more confused aside from his long-term trauma he has. Eventually, he will learn the truth by himself. "n
" Right. "
" Anyway, did you have any information about his murderer? " Christopher asked.
" Well, I received a letter from Jake Fury's messenger. That cold-blooded killer's name is Hollow. He was a former Remnite slave from the Kree and Lizards which he remained loyal to them. After he experienced his terrigenesis, Hollow became an Inhuman and murdered his entire family along with the other people who rebelled. "
" From Remnant, our enemies brought him to different countries as an executioner? " Jared curiously spoke. " That sounds like a modern-day Jack the Ripper. "
" True, " he nodded. " I need to find out why he impaled our friend. "
" Oh, he's waking up, " Christopher called their attention and saw the hybrid stretching his arms.
" I better talk to him first. You two can follow, " Gladius said.
The two men nodded and saw him entering the room. Gladius grabbed a chair and saw the Kree-Lizard boy sitting up. The hybrid got back to his consciousness and saw the tube inserted to his veins. He was surprised to see the blue blood and then the newcomer sitting beside him.
" I'm sorry for bothering you, " Gladius calmly spoke. " I'm just checking you out to see how are you feeling. "
" Skirmish..." the boy broke his silence as he still remembered that moment he almost met Death.
" Oh, I see, " he nodded. " I'm sorry if you experienced that. "
" That man! Tell me, who is he?! "
" You mean the one who impaled you? "
" Yes! "
" It's Hollow the Inhuman. "
The Kree-Lizard hybrid widened his eyes in fear and shook his tail and feet which the man who almost killed him had been lingering in his mind aside from 682. He was the one who stalked him before the incident happened. The boy moved his head to and fro and then looked at the window. Now, he became more paranoid to see shadows and hear any unusual sounds. Gladius curiously raised his eyebrows and got concerned at him.
" Why? What's wrong? "
" I think I have been followed by him, " the hybrid answered. " I don't know if how long...I could stay like this..."'
" What do you mean? "
" Just yesterday, I noticed that same shadow and the sound after I swept the ground. "
" It must have been your imagination or perhaps some bears have been bothering you. "
" No, they're not. It's the same entity who made those things to hunt and kill me! " the boy anxiously exclaimed. " I don't know why he did that, but he's still after me! "
" Look, " Gladius calmly replied and got concerned. " You have a stalker. We're trying to figure why he did that on purpose aside from killing anyone. He might be lurking around and hunting you down. "
" But what does he want from me? "
" I don't know as long as we could figure it out, " he said and recalled his experience. " When I became a huntsman, a lot of bad people were hunting for me. They called me, Gladius the Branded or The Man with a Purging Light. "
" Why? "
" Because I have slain demons, grimm, and evil space aliens aside from criminals and terrorists throughout the years before this invasion happened. I ended up as a threat as those bad people started to stalk me and take my life. You told me before, you have been hunted by the MTF along with our enemies. You know, I'm feeling the same way as you are right now. That's why I can relate to you, but I managed to fight back and protect my loved ones from them. I hope you would do the same thing in the future. "
The Kree-Lizard hybrid never realized that the rebel faction leader had experienced being stalked in his life. He was never alone which Gladius Fernal understood him. The boy began composing questions from his mind.
" So, why did they try to kill you? " he asked.
" I'm an overpowered mutant. In Charles Xavier and Hank McCoy's terms, I'm an Alpha level because of this ability I have, " Gladius replied.
" What does that mean? "
" It means I can kill anyone using the Purging Light and heal the affected ones. I'm also thinking that you may have powers, but you never unleashed them yet. That's why your stalker tries to end your life. "
" But I don't have any, " the boy sadly sighed. " I really don't know..."
" It doesn't matter if you have them or not, " Gladius replied and gently patted the hybrid's shoulder. " The most important thing is you have friends who are helping you in good or bad times and you can give back. Having them is the most powerful super ability that you can value.You are no longer living alone in that containment cell and wandering the streets. You are still one of us. "
" Thank you, " he slightly smiled at the long haired mutant's words.
" Don't worry, me and the other guys are looking after and caring for you. Then, we're gonna hunt your stalker soon. "
The Kree-Lizard hybrid sighed in relief as he also saw Jared and Christopher smiling at him. He understood his friends from the rebel forces would help him no matter what and felt grateful to be with them. They entered the room and approached him.
" We're not just your friends, " Christopher added. " We are all family. "
" I'm glad to have a new brother like you, " Jared gave him a warm smile and made his best friend handshake to the Kree-Lizard hybrid.
" Thank you, " he smiled back and wept for joy.
(Twenty Years Later: Rouen, France: 11:15 PM)
" I'm glad you were still with them despite of that misfortune you experienced, " Elder Carol Danvers said. " You had helpers who got you spared from that stalker. You had almost got killed back then. "
" Yes, it was terrible, mom, " the hybrid son replied. " I almost lost myself there. "
" Until now, he has been following you? "
" I don't know. Maybe, he has. "
The elderly half-Kree woman thought and looked around as she was also vigilant for that stalker which her son had mentioned. The boy got curious as he raised his eyebrows.
" Mom, what's the matter? " he asked.
" You know, Kid. You're not the only one who got stalked by him, " she seriously spoke and recalled her memories from the past. " Back in Atlas City, Remnant, I was leading another rebel faction to fight those freaks. I encountered that guy. "
" When did it happen? "
" Year 2032, I was in the front lines and fighting those enemies in a slave den. Some of my people rescued the slaves from their captors. I was leaving away from my people and suddenly, I got attacked by a young Inhuman man who killed his family. "
" You were there to witness it? "
" I almost got pinned down, but I blasted him away. "
" Mom, did he go after you? "
" No, but I believe he was finding another victim, " Carol continued. " Finally, my crew found me after that. "
The Kree-Lizard hybrid sighed in relief upon hearing his mother's story. Elder Carol Danvers or Captain Marvel also encountered the dreadful Inhuman. She never remained as a victim. Like Gladius, she managed to retaliate and move forward.
" I'm glad you did it. "
" But still, I'm not that complacent, " she replied. " I need to find ways to take him down, especially you who needs to get protected from him. "
" I see, " he nodded and understood.
" For now, we can trust our friends who help us in times of peril. Even myself, I need more support. We can't fight those guys alone. "
" Surely, we all do. "
