" The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice."
- Benjamin Franklin
(Bad Muskau, Germany)
The Kree Lizard boy spent his two day recovery for his leg injury. The nurses were very kind to him as he treated them with respect and joked. Every time, he got to eat food and spent his days sleeping. After his recovery, he had his physical therapy sessions to exercise his legs to walk without using his vibranium crutches. Gradually, he began to walk around the hospital and looked around the people in every room. He saw sick children to elderly people. He met and talked with them a German interpreter who was also a nurse. In his conversations with the patients, he was careful to talk without mentioning being a clone of 682, for this would cause too much panic and trouble to them. The hybrid boy learned of their stories before and during the invasion, which he got sad to hear them. From then on, he decided to be more productive in his stay in the underground hospital and started to work as a janitor which he was used to do, before.
Several days later, he began to mop the floor on the hallway as Dr. Wynter Baranowski noticed him. It was late evening when he worked. The Remnite-German physician looked concerned at him and put her hands on her waist.
" Svet, " she called his attention. " You have been working so hard at this time. Are you supposed to be resting? "
The boy ceased his work and replied, " Sleep to me is very pointless, sometimes. I'm used to work at night. "
" What do you mean by that? "
" Well, I have nightmares of SCP-682, " he admitted and sighed. " I have been suffering for several years to see such dreadful images. "
" How frequent do you see those? "
" Sometimes at night and there are times they become more frequent. "
" You could have told me several days ago, " Baranowski replied. " We have a psychiatrist on duty who could help you, but you decided to work here. "
" You're right, but I guess work has occupied me these days. "
" Anyway, since you're also part of the Rebel Forces, " she changed her topic. " I just really need your help. "
" What is it? "
" It's my husband, " she anxiously spoke. " Dieter has been missing six days ago. I have no contact with him or his colleagues. "
" So, where did he go? "
" He has gone to Altenberg to fight the enemies in the frontlines. It's been days which he never returned. "
The Kree Lizard boy heard the concern of the female physician's husband. He thought of helping her which he wanted to do so and placed the mop in the storage room.
" Shall we go, Doctor? " he asked and gave her a suggestive look.
" Why? It's too very late, " she raised her voice in worry. " Do you even realize it's dangerous to have night-ops at this moment? "
" You told me your husband is missing, right? We can find him. "
The white haired lady spent thinking as the hybrid was right. She spent minutes walking to and fro as she was too hesitant to join with him. The boy waited for her response and leaned himself on the wall. Finally, she had decided to find her husband and directly looked at him.
" Okay, let's do this just to give me a peace of mind. We can find Dieter alive. "
(Two Hours Later: Altenberg, Germany)
Dr. Baranowski was driving a truck along with her companion. She spent talking about her husband which the hybrid was intently listening at her. She met him as her patient from a decade ago. The boy kept asking questions which he wanted to know everything." Dieter must be a good man, " he commented.
" Yes, if the war never exists, he could have been a pilot aside from being a father, '' she answered.
" I see. "
The two paused their conversation when they saw a checkpoint of the German Rebel Forces. The boy remained silent when a bald Caucasian trooper in his late twenties approached the vehicle and turned to the white-haired physician. Baranowski took her IDs as she waited for him to finish inspecting.
" Gibt es noch etwas? (Is there anything else?) " she politely asked.
" Haben Sie Ausweise für Ihren Begleiter? (Do you have IDs for your companion?) " the checkpoint guard queried.
The Kree Lizard boy remained silent as he was very anxious of the man's question. Everyone knew he was a clone of SCP-682. He was hiding under his cloak and feeling sweat running on his face. Before, he was being attacked and almost lost his life from the German MTFs. Now, he thought of something to divert the man's attention. He loudly coughed as Baranowski noticed him.
" Er ist mein Patient aus Russland. (He's my patient from Russia), '' she answered, making an excuse. " Sein Name ist Yuri Semenov. Er ist 88 Jahre alt, da er hier in einem Krankenhaus eingesperrt sein sollte. Er leidet an leichtem Schlaganfall und Tuberkulose. Seine Tochter hier in Deutschland hat mich gebeten, ihren Vater zu untersuchen. (His name is Yuri Semenov. He's 88 years old as he was supposed to be confined here in a hospital. He has been suffering from mild stroke and tuberculosis. His daughter here in Germany asked me to check her father.) "
The German soldier suspiciously glared at the hooded figure sitting on the driver's seat. He wanted to interrogate the passenger as the hybrid boy was still having a nagging cough. Baranowski knew that it was a diversion tactic he was doing. The soldier sighed and felt pity at him.
" In Ordnung, Sie können bestehen. (All right, you may pass.) "
" Ich danke dir sehr. (Thank you so much.) ''
The two had gone their way to the streets as the boy stopped coughing. The lady physician smiled at him as she got surprised of what he had done. The Kree Lizard hybrid curiously looked at her when she chuckled.
" What's wrong? " he asked.
" You did a good job in pretending to be a sick man. "
" It's nothing, " he laughed and smiled. " That soldier could have checked on me. I was very nervous if he is part of the MTF. "
" No, he's not. He's one of us, you have nothing to worry about, Svet. We're on this mission together. "
" I see. I hope we can find your husband alive. "
The truck had made its way to the town and on the streets. Death had visited this once peaceful town which the century old structures had witnessed how the Kree and the Lizards had ruined and brought so much disasters. The Kree-Lizard boy saw the bloodshed from the window. The gloomy view of Mt. Geisingberg was seen, which the trees around the landform mourned for the loss of human beings. Dr. Baranowski was very anxious while driving her truck. She saw more deaths on her way.
" I don't know if I could find him alive, " she broke her silence. " I'm seeing the horror of this town. "
" Maybe, he's in hiding. "
" That's what I am still thinking of, Svet. I hope I will see him. "
" Do you have any idea where had gone? "
" Yes, the last time I knew when he told me he's going to Mt. Geisingberg where he and his fellows were supposed to have a base of operations there. "
The Kree-Lizard boy pointed the mountain from the window as Baranowski looked at him. She was still holding the steering wheel and turning to him.
" Svet? "
" Do you think he's there? "
" I guess so, " she smiled as her hopes of seeing and reuniting with her husband would come true.
The vehicle had made its way on the base of the mountain which it was a forest. The sky was dark and cloudy which the temperature was cooling the Earth. The two left the truck as they began their search for Dieter Baranowski or any of his troops. They walked while they were hearing hooting of the owls along with the howling wolves. The gloomy environment made the boy yawning and feeling tired. The white haired doctor noticed him as she continued walking. They found a wooden containment house near the mine shaft.
" Do you think we can find something there? " the boy asked.
" If we can find more surviving escapees or the injured, then we can bring them to the truck, " the doctor answered.
" Right. "
The two carefully opened the door as it made a loud and eerie screech. They widened in eyes in shock and saw dead bodies of slaves, MTF troopers, and the Rebel Forces. Wynter Baranowski trembled and wept as she saw a familiar male body with a dark hair lying on the ground. It was her husband who has been missing for almost a week. She noticed the same clothes which he was wearing from the last time she saw him. The Kree-Lizard boy turned to her with a concern.
" Dr. Baranowski? A-Are you all right? " he asked.
" No...it can't be happening! This is getting feral! " she bitterly wept, quickly rushed to the deceased body of her husband, and carried him into her arms. " DIETER! "
The boy sadly sighed in seeing the widow wailing for the death of her spouse. He approached her and knelt down beside her. Baranowski noticed him as he gently touched her back to comfort her.
" Doctor, I'm so sorry..."
" Why did they do this to us, Svet?! What about my children?! How could I ever explain this to them?!"
" I guess you should tell them the truth and accept it, " he calmly spoke. " I know it's hard for you to lose a loved one, since my friend and girlfriend were passed on. I'm so sorry this had happened to him. "
Wynter tightly hugged the hybrid and wept when he hugged her back. It took a long time for her to be pacified as sadness and grief had visited this place. Afterwards, the two carried the body of the late Dieter Baranowski and buried him on the foot of Mt. Geisingberg. Just then, they also burned the house for instant mass cremation of the deceased.
Moments later, the Kree-Lizard boy spent sitting at the back of the truck and thinking of how the people died. Thinking the nightmares of SCP-682, he imagined how the Kree and Lizards had ended the lives of the victims inside the house. Then, he looked upto the stars and sighed as he remembered the words of the late Captain Mar-Vell before he passed away.
" Mar-Vell was right, not all good guys have happy endings..." he thought. " I just felt sad to see all those people who sacrificed to save this world, especially Wynter. She lost her loved one because of them. Now, I can't do anything to bring back his life or anyone who died. I really feel helpless to do anything at all. I'm trying to do my best to keep up with people, but the MTF and the enemies are after me. I want to be someone else, not the monster who they think of. I just wanna save lives of anyone else. If only the Kree Eternal could see and hear me, right now, then he would help me and the other people around. "
He looked around and saw the female physician slept on the driver's seat. The hybrid thought of talking to her, but he had let her sleep and lied down on the bunk's floor.
" I hope she's able to talk to me about how she's feeling, but I guess I should give her time. "
The Kree-Lizard boy yawned like a lion and extended his arms. His eyes were slowly closing and leaned his head on the sack of cotton which it served as a pillow. He was meeting his own slumber and hoping not to meet those constant nightmares from 682.
(The Next Day)
The cold fog and thick clouds had crossed over the view of Altenberg and Mt. Geisingberg. The Kree-Lizard instantly woke up from a loud booming noise from a distance and moved his head in sideways. He looked around for his widowed companion, Dr. Baranowski as she was not inside the driver's seat of the truck.
" Where is she?! " he anxiously thought. " She must have left me and gone somewhere else. I better find her myself, before she gets hurt. "
He stood up and got out of the truck. Walking into the woods, he found her sitting on the rock in her grieving state. Her gloominess and anxiety had come out of her face. The Kree-Lizard boy sat on the ground beside her. Baranowski turned to him and sadly sighed.
" I'm so sorry for your loss, " the hybrid calmly spoke. " I understood how difficult it is to lose someone important in your life. "
" It's not your fault, Svet, " she slightly smiled and replied. " I could have persuaded Dieter not to go to fight again, but he just insisted me that he would be fine and return to me. After the war, we're planning to return to Berlin with the family. That's his wish, before he passed on. "
" Well, you can go back to your family, " the boy suggested. " There's nothing wrong if you want to fulfill his dream. "
" I just don't know, Svet. My work in the hospital is also my priority. There are several people who got ill and injured. I can't abandon them. I got inspired from my stepfather and the Kree Eternal, Methu-Selah who saved the dying people back in Remnant. That scenario inspired me to be a doctor. "
" Honestly, that's very hard for you to deal what you're facing aside from this problematic situation. I have a friend who was a former astronaut who now lives in Russia. After his space mission and this unending onslaught, he has brought his family and continued working on his job. I'm not so sure if that could help you, but I know someday you can overcome this. "
" Thanks, Svet, " the physician smiled. " We just need to return to the..."
The two were supposed to return to the vehicle when a tall old man dressed in a black leather jacket and pants holding a mace approached them. They recognized him as he looked stern and tired.
" Mr. Morgenthau, you're supposed to stay in the hospital? Why did you leave? " Baranowski asked.
" Doctor, those people are dead! " he replied. " When you two left, those evil blue men and lizards started the skirmish and fire! I witnessed how terrible it was, so I brought my mace and changed my clothes to fight. "
" What?! "
" It is true..."
" I knew it, " the boy muttered and turned to the old man. " Karl, can you fight them? "
" Yes, I have been fighting for several hours from night to dawn, mein freund, " Morgenthau seriously answered. " It is indeed tiring. You two should be strong enough to fight for our defense and survival, or else you'll end up dead..."
The Kree-Lizard boy thought of defending the two people around him, while Dr. Baranowski was contemplating to fight. Morgenthau waited for them to respond when he heard a group of men coming from a distance. They had some arsenal to take the three people down in the woods.
" What are you two waiting for? Christmas?! " he angrily yelled. " Don't just stand here and fight! "
" HERE THEY ARE! GET THEM! " the blue skinned commander exclaimed and summoned his subordinates to attack the three.
Dr. Baranowski was terrified to see some troopers of Kree and Lizards converging and surrounding them. The boy had to defend the doctor at all costs. Karl Morgenthau or Flagsmasher was still up to retaliate more bad people. He hit the blue men with his weapon as the hybrid joined him by tackling down the reptilian soldiers. The Kree commander shot the two with his gun as Morgenthau and the boy instantly evaded their attacks. The others kept shooting the two as the tall hybrid boy got hit on the tail and loudly yelled in pain.
" SVET! " Baranowski and Morgenthau cried in seeing him crying.
The tall German-Swiss elder hit the commander on the head and repetitively striking it. The white haired doctor immediately treated the hybrid's tail and brought her first aid kit to cleanse the gunshot wound.
" This is for hitting Svet the Lizard boy! " the old man indignantly spoke and saw the dead Kree man lying on the ground in pool of blood.
" We will never give up! " the Lizard man replied and readied himself to attack the old man. " It's time to say goodbye, Human! "
" Not in my wildest dreams! "
The tall man menancingly grinned and held his mace to strike the enemies, however he got punched by his gut by his nine foot opponent. Then, he received a blow from the Kree man who punched him. Then, the others followed and started beating the old man. It was the first time that Karl Morgenthau experienced such brutality from the enemies. The Kree-Lizard boy and the doctor remained silent and widened their eyes in shock to see the man. Baranowski imagined the same scenario which her late husband had perished. She knew that same enemies were responsible for taking his life down six days. Seeing the old patient being beaten up, the Remnite physician stood up and thought of avenging her late spouse.
" LET HIM GO! " she yelled. " You people killed my husband and the others! How could you! "
" Well, well, well, it's the woman of the Rebel Forces, " the reptilian turned to her and laughed. " Yes, you're right. It was their demise that failed them. Now, you're friends will be next, because you have never submitted to our masters! Oh, yes. We have done that terrible onslaught six days ago and taken many lives of such losers. Then, you're so-called hospital was gone! "
" You did nothing but bigotry and wars! It's about time to end this! "
" Go ahead, make us! "
Wynter Baranowski kicked the ground causing a large ice glyphs and snow to trap the enemies. The Kree-Lizard legion got froze to death as the others immediately ran away. Morgenthau and the boy saw how the woman's powers worked. The cold temperature had stuck them.
" Good work, Doctor, " the hybrid boy smiled.
" Ja, " the old man faintly spoke and coughed out blood. " I guess the old Flagsmasher has to leave this planet for real. "
" Karl! Don't you ever say that! We need you! "
" No, my time has come, Svet...I'm so sorry for accusing you as the evil monster. You're a good friend after all...I just found out several days ago..."
The Kree-Lizard boy turned to the Remnite physician and cried, " Doctor, please do something! "
Baranowski nodded and took a vial of blue Kree blood from vest's pocket and a syringe which she carefully inserted and injected to the man's foreskin on his lower arm. The hybrid got surprised to see what she had done to the old man.
" Where did you get that? "
" Remember, I took your blood samples from your leg injury? " she explained. " I made a thorough study and experiment to some of my patients. They got completely recovered and healed from you. "
" Really? "
" Yes. "
" I guess I can live for a long time! " Morgenthau chuckled and asked. " So, what now? Where are we going? "
" Berlin. " the hybrid boy and the female physician spoke in unison.
