Avenging Justice:

Two Worlds Collide

Part X

Sector 1148, Elemiar, New Elem City

Carol was sure this was the most unique city she had ever seen. About half of it looked like the best parts of Metropolis. Full of gleaming towers of steel and glass, stretching to the sky, while giving off the vibe of a city of the future. The other half looked like the most dangerous parts of Gotham City, full of places to get murdered horribly in a dark alley. Oddly the architecture where the two met looked like a reimagined 1930's Manhattan.

Nothing about Kree worlds could compare, they were more uniform. However, Carol had to admit she liked it. A little rough around the edges, but as if the people were reinventing themselves. It wasn't perfection, but it was lived in. She could respect people lifting themselves up from what they had been, to be something better.

Beside her, Talos and Soren stood in their Skrull forms. Carol had wanted them to make the right impression when meeting the Green Lantern of this sector. He had to see them as she had come to see them all those years ago, refugees trying to flee conflict. She would do this right, to make up for the unjust conflict, she had unwittingly participated in. It was the right thing to do.

Carol became nervous as two green figures raced through the air towards them. She could handle herself, and could probably take out a Lantern. However, the Skrulls wouldn't win their new home that way. Which left her playing politics, something she detested. Her best attributes were being in flying and fighting, even before she gained her abilities.

The two Green Lanterns landed, with a gentleness born of much practice. One was armored in green and blue. This was different, as Tomar-Re had black offsetting the green in his uniform. Also unique was that instead of a mask just over his eyes, the man had a cowl with two pointed ears sticking up into the air. The other Lantern was colored more like Tomar-Re had, but she too had a cowl covering her face. This was had rounded cat ear shapes on top. Both had glowing eyes from lenses in their cowls.

Soren recognized one of the symbols on the man's shoulder, "That is a Kryptonian symbol."

"Inside that bat image?" Carol asked. "The one that looks like an "S" in a diamond?"

Soren nodded her head excitedly, "Yes, that is from the House of El. One of the messages we picked it up, had that symbol in it."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" Carol was hoping it was the former and not the latter. She really didn't want this whole trip to be for nothing.

Talos interjected, "I've been told that the translations are not complete. However, yes, the House of El sent two of their children away from the dying planet. What is this bat you speak of?"

"It's a flying mammal on Earth," Carol explained. "The symbol above that El seal is in the shape of one. Well, given artistic license."

She noticed that the usually white background of the Green Lantern symbol, was pulsing with a vibrant blue light. There was something different on this one, that she hadn't seen on any of the other Green Lanterns. At least based on the others she had met over the years, looking for a new home for her friends.

She decided to take the bull by the horns, "Hello Green Lanterns of Sector 1148, I am Captain Marvel. These are two of my friends, Soren and Talos of the Skrulls." If anything was to happen, it would be on her terms. "I was told to ask for the Emerald Knight."

The female Green Lantern laughed, "You always get the visitors!"

"That would be me," the man in green and blue armor responded, hesitation in his voice. "Lantern Tomar-Re told me to expect you. This is my partner. Now what is it that we can do for you?"

Carol fought back the urge to hope much, "We have refugees looking for a new home. We were told you might be able to help, or might allow them to settle in this sector."

"You say refugees, but I know of their reputation," he said. "How do I know that you aren't one? This could simply be a ruse to set up a foothold."

Captain Marvel charged up her hand, readying a blast of energy as her proof. She stopped though as a memory of Nick Fury rose up. He hadn't been aware that Skrulls couldn't do this, and there was a good possibility that this Green Lantern didn't either. She'd have to prove it some other way.

"If I may," Talos interjected. "I tire of war. I've done horrible things, and my hands are filthy. I only want my daughter to know peace."

Carol went next, "I know their people's reputation, but I also know them. He risked everything to find his family, and to give them a chance away from the Kree."

"Yet, my ring tells me that you are a Kree/Human hybrid," the Lantern said. "Why would you champion them then?"

Captain Marvel let out a sigh, the same story, and probably about to fall on deaf ears again. "I participated in a war, lied to about why I was in it. When I learned the truth, I attempted to make amends for my unwitting participation in it."

The female Green Lantern nodded as Carol spoke, before pulling her partner off to the side. Carol's heart sank as this happened, she knew for sure what was about to happen. Once more they would be politely told to move on, that the danger shape changers held was greater than could be allowed. It was infuriating, and depressing.

Out of earshot, Green Lantern Leilanni, spoke, "Keith, I don't get the feeling they are lying. I know their reputation, but.."

"You think it might be worth the risk to give them a chance?" Green Lantern Keith McCallister finished her thought. "I agree, one must be judged on their own actions, not just the reputation of their people. Suggestions?"

She thought for a moment, "What about Tirnog IV? It is a rather young world, but is habitable without any known civilizations."

"That could work," Keith mused. "All information I have suggests it could be millions of years before a sentient dominant species could arise."

"Then it is settled," Leilanni smiled. "Now to convince the Skrulls."

They walked back over to Captain Marvel and her Skrull allies. Carol looked ready to hear the denial of her request. Soren seemed hopeful, though in truth she was failing to temper her expectations. Talos held his head high, not wanting anyone to see the sadness of having to continue their forever exodus. Instead, they all were shocked.

Green Lantern McCallister spoke warmly, "I believe we have a world that you can settle on. It is a very young world, full of new life. Some of them can be rather large and scary, but it would be a new start."

"We can't give you much aid," Green Lantern Leilanni added on. "However, you would be left alone, in peace. If that is all you want, there aren't any other space faring life forms that should bother you."

Soren wiped her eyes, hoping to hide it as her smile grew. Talos wrapped his arms around her, and she felt his own tears falling onto her head. Carol though had a mixture of relief and disbelief. Mission completed, and it was all due to the generosity of two people they hardly even knew. Not that she had missed the warning about large and possibly dangerous life forms. That, however, was better than a life aboard a space laboratory.

An hour later she returned to the ship laboratory with Soren and Talos. Waiting on them were the rest of the Skrull refugees. Awaiting the decisions with quite a bit of trepidation, and only a sliver of hope. That changed in mere moments as Captain Marvel announced, "We have found a home!"

Later that night, after a grand celebration, Carol Danvers found herself looking out the bridge of Mar-Vell's lab. They had already begun to travel towards the planet the Green Lanterns had directed them to. Ahead one of the Lanterns was leading the way, green shape leading the way. She was tired, having been through a whole gamut of emotions. Only briefly did she even think of what to do after the Skrulls were at their new home. That would come soon enough, and then she'd have to decide what to do.

"Carol," Soren said softly.

Captain Marvel turned, "What's up?"

"Those messages we were translating from Krypton," Soren explained. "We, we found our mistake. Two messages were embedded in the feed we intercepted."

Carol shrugged, that didn't seem so bad, "It was an old code, nothing to be too upset over."

Soren took a breath, "One broadcast the last two survivors of Krypton being sent out. The second was a warning about three war criminals that had tried to take over their world."

"They'd have to be dead already, right?" Carol sat up a little straighter.

Soren explained further, "Without knowing how advanced they were. I can tell you those survivors might have made it to another world. What worries me are the notes from this Jor-El.

He talked about his son being changed by the light of the yellow sun. That he would gain powers beyond mere mortals, and that he'd be a god amongst the inhabitants of this new world. That he would grow up among them, but would be different."

Carol could feel a slow chill running down her back, to the base of her spine, "Where did they send them?"

Soren continued on, "The second message, the one about the war criminals, they are dangerous. They were sent to a prison ship that would transport them to some place called, 'The Phantom Zone.' I think it got detoured when the planet exploded. There is a possibility those criminals have found the course of the two children. Carol, they went to Earth."

Just like that, Captain Marvel knew she had to return home. Soren wasn't one to exaggerate. Considering that Asgardians were heartier than normal Humans, and more powerful, Kryptonians could be the same way. Someone like Odin could cause havoc on Earth, even a Kree Accuser could cause massive damage there. She had to get back home.

Earth, Delaware, Metropolis

Lex Luthor scoffed at the recent edition of the Daily Planet podcast. There was Superman rescuing survivors of a fight between aliens. The world loved the alien, and Lex hated Superman for that. The world should love him, as he was the most brilliant mind on the planet. He had not only taken his father's company and built it into an empire with no rival, not even Roxxon, but had true power.

Senators came to him for their campaigns, presidential candidates courted his approval and yet an alien in blue tights took their attention. How many suits had he created, death traps made, and Superman had overcome them all. His latest power suit was three stories underground, in a lead lined room, and was powered by his nemesis' one weakness, Kryptonite.

A lot of money had been spent obtaining it, but it was money well spent. If the big blue boy scout was to be taken down, Lex Luthor was going to be the one doing it. Even the government knew he had some Kryptonite, as he had told them they'd need a weapon for if Superman ever turned on them. They had agreed with him and assigned Amanda Waller's assistant to watch his people's progress. Of course, what he showed them was years behind what he really could do.

Lex walked over to his oversized office window. Beneath his gaze was Metropolis, he was her sitting ruler. The fact that the people didn't know it, didn't bother him much. There wasn't a person on the street that he couldn't touch. With just a word, most could be made to disappear, none the wiser.

Most because the intrepid Lois Lane was in good with Superman. Not only did she play cheerleader and publicist for the alien, she had the tendency to stick her nose in Lex's business far too often. In some ways, he respected her. Only she had gotten close to getting him, and she had done it without Superman's powers. The fact that she couldn't see his genius, or appreciate it, kept him from pursuing her.

Before he could further go down the twisted corridors of his mind, an alarm went off at his desk. Briskly walking over, he heard a loud explosion as glass erupted from the levels below his office. On his computer screen, an alert told him that there was an intruder in the building. Curiously the intruder hadn't come up from the ground level, but had ripped open an area around the labs.

This wasn't Superman's style; he was more responsive than preemptive. Since Luthor hadn't gone after the Man of Steel in quite some time, there was no reason for him to be the source of the intrusion. Even if he had a change of heart though, Lex recognized the shape was wrong. This intruder was wearing a helmet, and the cape was purple, not like the alien's red one.

Inside the laboratory, the scientists screamed in terror as their machines and instruments were flung about like toys. The man in the center, doing all of this, wasn't touching them though. Seemingly moving them with his mind, it was only the objects with metal in them, that were affected. Not that made the people inside the lab feel any safer.

One of Lex Luthor's security drew his weapon. The man smirked and flicked his hand. The gun in the guard's hand flew apart before he could even pull the trigger. He charged the floating man, only to be rewarded with a steel bearing to slam into his face. The man crumpled to the ground as the softball sized bearing hovered, covered in blood.

"You poor Homo Sapiens, you thought your guns would save you," Magneto scowled. "You will learn your place, and to fear the might of Homo Superior. If not, you will die. First your champion will be brought to his knees. No more will you or this Superman deny mutants' their place as the next stage of humanity, the rightful heirs to this world."

Lex watched as Magneto left with what he came for. The metal tube held several small pieces of Kryptonite. He had been experimenting with them to create energy weapons that could hurt Superman. Worst case scenario, he could try remaking them into bullets. It wasn't as aesthetically pleasing as an energy weapon, but wars had been won on gunpowder and bullets.

What Magneto needed them for, he wasn't sure. However, nobody stole from Lex Luthor, nobody. However, it might be worth letting this play out. If the mutant terrorist succeeded in whatever he was planning, Lex could get more power from the government. If he failed, then maybe there could be data collected, that could be helpful against Superman. Either way, this Magneto would soon find that Lex's reach was longer than he expected. He would pay, it was just a matter of when, and if he saw it coming.