Welcome to the epilogue, ladies, gents, and enby friends! We'll touch on five separate little scenes - some familiar characters, some new faces, some existing plot threads, and some hints at what's to come. I hope you enjoy it! Stick around at the end for some extra bits of information if you'd like - but even if you don't, thank you so very much for reading Changing of the Guard. I hope you stay tuned for the Alien Force's next adventures!

Somewhere on the streets of Arcadia Oaks...

"You are an Anodite, are you not?" -the God of Thunder asks her, a couple minutes into their trek towards Trollmarket.

Gwen purses her lips. "Kind of? It's complicated."

"You certainly feel like one." -Thor notes, to Kevin's narrowed eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" -Kevin asks, annoyed.

"She exudes magic." -Thor says, oblivious to the double entendre. "You cannot feel it, as you are not attuned to the arcane, but she is like a star against the endless black."

Thor's one to speak; she doesn't really have a handle on her Anodite abilities quite yet, but she doesn't need it in order to sense the massive amounts of magical power concentrated in the six-and-a-half foot blond walking beside them, and the hammer hanging off his waist. If she's equivalent to a star, he's more like the galaxy's core itself.

Kevin grumbles something about Thor being poetic on top of his incredibly chiseled physique, so Gwen swiftly takes over the conversation. "I thought you said you weren't super aware of what goes on outside the Nine Realms." -she points out.

"Aye, that holds true." -he admits. "But the children of Anodyne are naturally drawn to the realms of Yggdrasil, rich with magic as they are. They are not allowed on Asgard - very few outsiders ever are - but they are a common sight in the Elven world of Alfheim, and I met one myself on a trading port on Vanaheim. You…do not seem very much like her."

"How so?"

He shrugs, the canal visible in the distance. "The Anodite I met was quite vapid, easily distracted - beyond unconcerned with the world around her and its people, almost...unaware. I have heard that it is most difficult for them to interact with the mortal people of the galaxy."

Gwen purses her lips. "So I've heard." -she says. "But I don't feel that way. At least, not yet."

"Maybe it's because you're descended from an Anodite?" -Kevin suggests. "Not a naturally occurring one, I mean."

"No, I don't think so. It's not like I'm the only descendant of an Anodite in the galaxy."

Thor hums. "Certainly not. I do believe they are a prolific species."

"I think it has more to do with the fact that I could wield human magic." -Gwen posits. "I can't seem to do it anymore, but maybe it triggered the transformation early."

"You didn't die?" -Thor asks, intrigued.

Gwen shakes her head. "No, I didn't. It's like the Anodite form was always there, just waiting for its chance to push through to the surface." -she says. "Which would be fine, if it didn't make me look like a walking UV light stick. I have no idea how I'm getting this hot mess past my parents next time I see them."

"Well, if it can be brought to the surface, surely it can be pushed back down." -Thor reasons.

Gwen tilts her head. "You really think so?"

The God of Thunder nods. "'For every spell, a counterspell', my mother would say. Nearly all magic besides the corrupted dark works that way." -he says. "I'd offer to help, but I am only really savvy on matters of thunder and lightning, I'm afraid."

She smirks. "That's alright, I'm sure we can figure something out. Plenty of magical people in town, apparently."

They reach the bridge, finally, at which point the teens realize they don't have the Horngazel - Ben gave it to Claire after the SixSix debacle, and they never thought about it on the way to Trollmarket. Thor doesn't seem too bothered, though - in fact, he walks straight to the place where they'd draw the portal, takes his magic hammer, and holds it up to the concrete.

Before the teens can ask what he's doing - or start to figure out what they'd do if Thor starts bashing the wall - a symbol appears both on the side of the hammer and the wall; three interlaced arcs forming a sort of triangular figure, like a Triforce from Zelda, but...strangled? The portal forms, then, no Horngazel required, and with a touch of Thor's palm, it swirls open.

"Whoa." -Kevin mutters. "How the hell'd you manage that?"

Thor grins, like an excited kid. "This is Troll magic!" -he says. "I've not seen it since I was a fledgling youth!"

"You already know about Trolls?" -Gwen wonders, as they head into the cavern, down the massive crystal steps.

"Aye, any learned Asgardian ought to." -he says. "The Stonefolk of Svartalfheim…they've not been seen since the age of my grandfather's rule, in the closing days of the war against the Svartalfar, the Dark Elves."

"Jesus. That must've been thousands of years ago." -Kevin says.

Thor hums, touching the glowing crystals on the wall. "Indeed. Loki and I explored the ruins of their twilit homeworld many times in our youth, accompanying the patrols meant to ensure their defeat was truly permanent. I recognize the essence of their seidr in these precious stones - they used many different kinds of crystals, jewels, and minerals in shamanistic rituals to fuel their spells and curses. A ruby to summon the flames of Muspelheim, a sapphire to call the frosts of Jotunheim, gold and silver to wield the light of Asgard…I loathe to admit it, but I'd nearly forgotten. Too focused on my duties as a guardian of the Nine." -he confesses. "They allied with Asgard in the war, tired of being little more than pets and slaves to the Dark Elves they shared a realm with. Their aid was invaluable, but they were wiped out for their treachery shortly before the war's end by the Svartalfar king, Malekith. Or so we thought."

Soon enough, they reach the bottom of the stairs, where a contingent of armed and armored Trolls await them, led by a very grumpy looking Draal. "The new fleshbags? What is the meaning of this? Hasn't the battle ended?" -he grumbles. "How have you entered Trollmarket without a Horngazel?"

"Noble Troll, fret not! I have merely presented my badge of office and asked for permission to enter your realm, as I would any sacred place within the Nine." -he explains. "I am the mighty Thor - God of Thunder, Prince of Asgard, and Protector of the Nine Realms. I wish to meet with your leader."

Draal's massive, stony eyebrows shoot up in disbelief. Vendel approaches behind him, his clouded eyes narrowing to get a better look at the Asgardian. "Thor…Odinson? Son of the Allfather, grandson to King Bor?" -the ancient Troll asks.

The god smirks. "Aye, all that - and a friend, I hope, to your people."

"You, I have no doubt, but Asgard? That remains to be seen, Thunderer." -he notes. "I am Vendel, Elder of Hearthstone Trollmarket, one of the last safe refuges on Earth for Trollkind. Welcome to our humble sanctuary."

Thor raises an eyebrow. "Have I offended you in some way, Elder? I thought relations between our people were once warm."

"So the stories of our ancestors once told, yes." -Vendel acknowledges. "And yet we've not felt the bonds of friendship with the Aesir in millennia - not since our forefathers escaped slavery under Malekith the Accursed."

Thor frowns. "I see. I do apologize, Elder. I was not aware that your kind had survived the Convergence until this very day, and only by coincidence at that."

Vendel hums. "I do not accuse you of anything, Odinson. We have heard tales of your valor, even here, in Midgard's depths. We know you are a friend and protector to all decent folk in the Nine Realms." -he waves his hand, dismissively. "But I find it doubtful that our plight escaped Heimdall's gaze for so long, that the Allfather's ravens failed to witness our conflicts along the ages - our centuries of strife with the humans, or the cruelty wrought on us by Gunmar the Black and his Gumm-Gumm forces."

"Haven't you been in hiding forever, though?" -Kevin points out. "You use magic to stay incognito, don't you?"

"Even so, the Elder is right." -Thor admits. "There is little that could obscure Heimdall's vision for so long - and no spell or ward in Troll magic that could hide them from him to begin with, at least that I'm aware of. He must've found out about your survival. So must have Odin, for that matter."

Gwen winces. Awkward…, she thinks to herself. "I'm sure your father had his reasons…"

Thor manages a strained smile. "Yes, he...typically does."

The (former) redhead senses a bit of a kindred spirit in Thor's lukewarm tone regarding his godly father. Vendel sighs. "We are a stubborn people, Thor, stuck in our ways. None remain of the original refugees from the twilight realm, but the eldest among us have not forgotten that Asgard turned a blind eye to our plight. I doubt they'd be eager to meet the Aesir now." -he warns. "But…perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us to start over."

"I will endeavor to make it so." -Thor says. He fishes a small stone from one of the pockets on his belt, marked with a rune that looks like an angular 'P' whose top corner got extended upward. He strikes it against Mjolnir, like flint and steel, and the rune glows an electric blue. "A promise for the future is not enough, however. This runestone will allow you to call on me at a time of need. I will not fail your people like Asgard did, venerable Vendel."

Vendel takes the smooth rock. "I will take you at your word, Thunderer." -he solemnly declares.

The meeting gets a little less tense, then, just in time for Toby and Claire to arrive - the latter leaning on the former, as she's still recuperating from her earlier ordeal. "Eyyy, you guys didn't die!" -Toby smirks, then his eyes widen as he sees the god in their midst. "Whaaa…"

"Who, uh...who've you got there?" -Claire asks, equally impressed.

"Hail, fellow warriors!" -Thor greets them. "I hear you are responsible for evacuating Arcadia's innocents. Well done!"

Toby blushes intensely, nearly hyperventilating something about getting praised by a god. Claire, on the other hand, just awkwardly raises her thumbs. "Gee, um...thanks!" -she squeaks out. She shakes her head, then approaches Gwen. "Hey, you got a minute?"

Gwen nods, leaving the Trolls, Thor, and Toby behind - the latter pulls out his warhammer and compares it to Mjolnir.

"So, new look, huh?" -Claire says, raising an eyebrow.

Gwen sighs. "Yeah, the battle was a little rough. I have no idea how to get back to normal."

"I bet. I wanted to help you with that." -Claire says. "I don't know how to remake your human form - don't know how Anodite magic works at all, in fact - but I have a neat alternative, while we figure it out."

Claire presents her with a polished yellow gemstone, hanging from a simple braided necklace. "This is a glamour charm, enchanted by Vendel himself. Something of a reward for your efforts up top." -she says. "It won't actually change your body, but it'll make everyone else see you whichever way you want them to. Just make sure you always wear it around other people."

Gwen takes it, her eyes wide in surprise. "Oh, wow...I've read about these, but I've never seen one in real life." -she says, placing it around her neck. The crystal shines once, but nothing changes - that is, for her, as Kevin blushes and him and Claire both avert their eyes, the enchantment clearly taking effect in some way. "What happened? What's wrong?"

The Mexican witch struggles not to laugh. "Well, I was about to tell you: it, uh...it doesn't magically give you clothes, Gwen." -she says, diplomatically. Claire waves her hands and forms a robe out of a few nearby shadows, the way she made her own Shadowdancer costume before the fight with SixSix. Gwen takes it, trying to force her embarrassment down.

"Dang it. Sorry about that." -she says. "I'm guessing it works, then."

"You look like you, yeah." -Kevin informs her. "I, uh...I missed your hair."

She rolls her eyes, fondly. "My hair, huh, Levin? Anyway…thank you, Claire." -she tells the sorceress. "You've saved me from having a very awkward conversation with my parents. And probably the police."

Claire winks. "It's all good. Like I said, no clue how to help you switch back to human, but I'm sure we can figure something out. I know a couple of wizards in town who might have a few ideas…"

Somewhere in the United Kingdom...

Enoch stares at the massive, armored form of the Forever King, sitting on his throne, taking in his report on the situation at Arcadia Oaks. "You are absolutely certain of this information, Enoch?"

The masked man nods. "Yes, my liege. I've corroborated our friends' information from within S.H.I.E.L.D. with the copy of the report our agent at S.W.O.R.D. was able to provide. The Omnitrix is active once more, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s readings are consistent with Troll magic. All in one place - all likely related to this…invasion event."

The King hums. "Tennyson must be off-world, then. Not dead, like you initially reported."

"Apologies. His pantomime was most convincing. Even his family was not aware, initially."

"You must be elated to hear he yet lives." -the King teases. "You've still a chance to fell him."

Enoch tilts his head, his expression twisted into a sneer behind his ever-scowling mask. "As you say."

"Indeed. Imagine that, then...all these years searching, and those filthy creatures were hiding under Tennyson's home." -he muses. "This...this changes things."

Enoch tries not to show how eager he feels. "Shall I put together a strike force, milord?"

"No, Enoch. You will continue to observe. The iron is hot, but not yet fit for striking." -the King advises. He leans forward. "I know this is disappointing. I know you've a score to settle with the elder Tennyson, and that his grandson presents a most delicious avenue for revenge. But the boy is powerful already, and his victory over Vilgax will only further shield him from us."

Enoch grits his teeth, but he recognizes the wisdom in his master's words. "I...I see. What then, my King?"

"Learn all that there is to learn about Ben Tennyson. We already know his strengths, so define his weaknesses - his loves, his hates, his family, and friends. He follows in Maxwell's footsteps, so he will make enemies - and in turn, gift us with new allies." -he says. "Fret not, Enoch; you will have your revenge. And the Forever Knights will finally have the means to rid planet Earth of all inhuman scum."

Somewhere in high orbit above planet Earth...

The brig of Excalibur is completely empty, save for a single cell. According to Abigail, the cyberized Piscciss Premann is actually their first prisoner - invasions aside, Earth isn't a very coveted destination for people on the lam, on the edge of Kree territory and stuck at tech level 3 out of a possible 20. A fugitive from the Nova Empire, for example, would stick out like a sore thumb on sensor sweeps, unless they abandoned or destroyed all their equipment.

In any case, Ben can see for himself that Krabb has been fully repaired - Hala was against it, but his damaged state was agony for what little remains of the crustacean's organic body, so Abigail did the humane thing and ordered him fixed using spare parts from his impounded starship. He turns his head as Ben approaches, holding a slice of cake from their little victory party as a peace offering.

"Terran." -Krabb acknowledges.

Ben rolls his eyes. "It's always 'Terran' or 'Tennyson' with you guys, I swear. You can call me Ben."

Krabb grumbles. "Like I care." -he says. There's little venom in it, though - mostly, the cyborg sounds tired, even through the warbled filter of his vocal processors. "I heard you survived. Consider me impressed."

Ben hums. "It wasn't easy. But I managed alright." -he says, reaching for the holographic control panel superimposed on the energy barrier that keeps Krabb imprisoned. He taps a few commands, and a small box forms in its place, opening towards him. "Director Brand says you can still eat, even though you don't have a stomach, so I thought I'd bring you some cake."

He places the pre-approved cardboard dish and a plastic spoon inside, and the opening closes on his side, opening on Krabb's side next. The cyborg stares at the offered slice of cake. "If you seriously think you can poison a being without a digestive tract, I suggest you retake whatever passes for biology education on this backwards mudball."

Ben chuckles. "Dude, it's just chocolate cake." -he says. "I even checked S.W.O.R.D.'s database to make sure that it's not toxic to your species and everything."

Krabb's photo-receptors light up, scanning the plate. "...the amount of sucrose and lipids in this strange Terran confection would point otherwise."

"Oh, man...please don't tell me there's no cake in space." -Ben complains.

Krabb snorts. "Of course there's cake in space, Ben Tennyson." -he jeers, finally taking the plate and placing it on top of his massive claw for his more regular hand to pick at. He grabs a spoonful and brings it up to his faceplate, the bottom section of it sliding open for a sort of barbed tube to suck it into his gullet. After a few moments, Krabb shrugs. "This 'chocolate' is new to me, though. I like it, so...I suppose you've earned a few minutes of my time."

"So defeating you didn't do the trick, but you can be bribed with chocolate cake. Got it." -Ben grins.

The bounty hunter grunts. "Ask your questions and go, human."

"I'm not sure I really want to ask any." -Ben admits. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Figure out loose ends."

Krabb leans forward. "Really? You don't want to know if I'll continue to hunt you down the moment this cell is unlocked?"

"Would it matter if you did?" -Ben says, more than a bit cocky. "I know you stick to the bounty hunter code, so my people would be safe, and I know I can take you now. We both know it."

"Good to see your ego remains unchecked." -Krabb jeers. "I may not be the one to claim that bounty on you, Tennyson, but that attitude will make sure someone eventually does."

Ben shrugs. "Maybe. But I think I'll have bigger fish to fry than a few bounty hunters."

"Underestimate us at your own peril." -Krabb retorts. He eats a bit more cake, seemingly thoughtful - hard to tell with a face that doesn't emote at all. "'Bigger fish', you say. Was Vilgax not enough of a challenge for the mighty Omnitrix Bearer?"

"It's not about wanting a hard fight. More about expecting it." -Ben corrects him. "Irresponsible bragging aside, I've beaten two top bounty hunters, helped fend off a major alien invasion, and defeated a legendary immortal warlord. As much as these feats might scare off some potential bad guys, they're probably gonna attract a bunch more."

"Your point being?"

"I can't leave Earth. Not for too long, at any rate. Everyone I love is here, and I feel a need to protect it - my town, my country, my world." -he admits. "I think you understand that, in a way, even if you haven't felt those feelings in a long time."

Krabb huffs. "We are not friends, Tennyson. The only reason I discussed my past with you before is because I expected to kill you. I will not be discussing it any further."

"I respect that." -Ben says, holding his hands up. "But that's not what I'm getting at. What I'm trying to say is that I need to be ready for whatever's coming. I want to have someone out there, someone who can let me know when an enemy starts setting its sights on Earth."

The cyborg's claw twitches, slightly. "...and you want me to be that 'someone'?" -he asks, incredulous. "You realize I would've snuffed you out without a second thought had I been victorious, yes?"

"You say that, but you fought honorably, even though I accidentally turned into Ripjaws." -Ben points out. "You had no reason to give me the benefit of the doubt, but you heard me out in the middle of a fight. Even if you disagreed with me, you listened - and I think that makes you someone worth giving a second chance."

Krabb snorts. "You're not as good a judge of character as you think you are, Ben Tennyson." -he says.

"And you're not as much of a heartless mercenary as you think you are, Krabb." -Ben counters. "You have passion and a moral compass - even if it is a little crooked."

Krabb grunts, setting his empty plate aside. "What of the Kree Accuser? Or the Terran in charge of this space station? Do you trust them so little that I'm the better alternative?"

"I trust them fine." -Ben shrugs. "But their duty is to Earth, too. They have some reach beyond the solar system, but it's gonna be a long time before they can put in place a system that could do what I'm asking you to. You practically travelled across the galaxy to hunt me down, so you clearly have a lot more leeway when it comes to mobility."

"And your predecessor? He's returned to the Nova Corps, hasn't he?"

Ben sighs. "Grandpa Max has his own battles to fight. I can't expect him to drop what he's doing to help us - it was important enough for him to leave his life on Earth behind to begin with." -he explains, crossing his arms. "Look, Krabb; you're free to say no, but you're the best choice I've got. We get some semblance of an early warning system, and you get to go free as soon as I give the word. It's a win-win."

Krabb scoffs. "You're a terrible negotiator. You offer no material reward, and the Guild would have freed me soon enough without your intervention." -he claims.

"I, uh...don't suppose you take American dollars." -Ben says, sarcastic.

"I certainly don't." -Krabb says. He shakes his head. "Open the cell, Tennyson."

"You're gonna help me?"

Krabb shrugs. "You might be a moron for sparing my life, but I still owe you for it." -he says. His frame slumps a little. "And...I suppose I did end up giving that bastard Sotoraggian the opening that led to your mate being maimed. I'm not surprised you didn't extend him the same mercy you granted me."

Ben wisely chooses not to point out that it was Gwen who sentenced SixSix to a fate worse than death, not him. He nods, smiling, opening the cell with the code Abigail gave him. Krabb steps outside, stretching to his full height. "I'll work with you until I'm satisfied that my debts are repaid, Ben Tennyson." -he says. "But I'd advise you to seek a better ally for after - I doubt you could afford my services then, even if you had standard credits on Terra."

The teen offers his hand for Krabb to shake. "Partners?"

Krabb waves him off. "Keep your human gesture. I've given you my word." -he says, morose. "Now, point me to my starship - and hand over some more of that 'chocolate' cake, for the trip."

...exactly the same place as before...

Abigail leans on her cane, the chronic pain of her injured leg making her wince as she stares out the transparisteel window of her personal quarters. She knows and understands that, for some, the endless void of space is anxiety-inducing - the worst instance of agoraphobia possible - but she's always found it rather soothing. Seeing the shining orb of the Moon in the distance, she can easily disregard the fact that there's only a few feet of titanium, kevlar, and high-grade steel separating her from a quick and painful death.

Which, as it happens, is a hell of a metaphor for Earth's fragility.

The door to her quarters hisses open. Abigail doesn't tear her gaze from the window - she knows who it is. "The novelty has yet to wear off, I take it?" -Hala asks, limping inside.

"I doubt it ever will." -Abigail says. She turns to the Accuser, who looks much better than she did after ramming the Chimeran Hammer. "How'd the new cybernetics take?"

Hala sighs. "Well enough. You know Kree warriors are hardly strangers to them." -she says. "The grafting process has never been more painless, and the prosthetics will last at least a decade - provided I don't, oh, stick them in a merc's fusion thrusters, for example." -she says, sarcastically.

"You have to admit, though. It was pretty inspired on Julie's part. Very resourceful."

Hala scoffs. "'Reckless' or 'careless' would be better descriptors."

"Says the woman who barely scratched the paint on a dreadnought with her priceless, top of the line warship." -Abigail retorts.

The Accuser shakes her head. "I'm going to miss that damned ship." -she laments. "The Hammer is a powerful replacement, but stars, is it hideous."

"I'd offer to paint it blue, but I'm pretty sure that would exceed our budget for the year."

"I don't care about the color, I just...what in blazes are those bulbous orange crystal structures even for?" -Hala begins to rant. "They don't project a protective barrier, they don't provide propulsion...I'd thought it a bizarre way to store the ferrofluids used to manufacture the drones, but those containers are inside the ship!"

Abigail laughs. "Barking up the wrong tree, dear. I have no more clue about what the hell those things are than you do."

"Even the engineers are stumped." -Hala shakes her head. "And the only one who could tell us is frozen in time."

"Speaking of, what'd your superiors say about Vilgax?" -Abigail prods.

Hala sits down on her bed. Abigail sits beside her. "You could say I no longer have any superiors." -she says. "The announcement will be made next week, but it's official. Earth is no longer a Kree protectorate, and the Sol system is no longer an Exclusion Zone or part of the Empire."

Abigail's eyes widen, even though she expected news of this sort. "Wow. I...honestly can't believe it."

"Their gamble backfired." -Hala says, a cynical smirk to her lips. "Neither Thanos nor Vilgax managed to wipe out the planet. The Nova Empire was days away from launching a formal accusation of neglect, so the Kree decided to wash their hands off the whole thing before their treaty could be put into question - and before it grabbed Carol's attention."

"Oh, she knows." -Abigail says. "I made sure she was well informed of the situation. But I'm glad her name still commands fear from the Kree."

"From most of the leadership, at least." -Hala mutters. "Ronan and his peers have become increasingly unconvinced that Captain Marvel is the devastating trump card we think she is."

Abigail tilts her head. "That's rich, coming from him. He got front row seats to her light show back in the day. Ran to the Intelligence with his tail between his legs."

Hala blinks. "...we do not have tails, Abigail. You know this, you've seen me naked several times."

"Figure of speech, Halls. One more for your Earth slang arsenal." -Abigail drawls. She rises, then, leaning on her cane. "This is it, then."

Hala nods. "The onboarding process will likely take years, but...yes, Earth will become part of the Nova Empire. Bureaucracy allowing, they will provide fleets, technology, soldiers…"

"...and we will finally become part of galactic society." -Abigail says.

"...and we will finally have a fighting chance against the Black Order." -Hala counters.

"That, too." -Abigail says. "But remember, Hala. We're not just doing this for protection - staying a Kree protectorate would've offered the same level of safety, if only because Thanos seems unwilling to risk full-scale war with either Empire at the moment. We want to become part of the Nova because we want to be part of the galactic community - to share everything Earth has to offer, and take in turn all that the many races of the galaxy can share with us."

"And you remember, Abigail, that we are - for whatever reason - in Thanos's sights. I love your world, and I love your people, but we both know this communion you're so eager for is secondary to making sure the Earth is safe."

Abigail sighs, turning once again to the stars. "Yeah...I know. You're right, Halls. I just...wish you weren't."

Somewhere on the edge of Nova space...

Max Tennyson kneels on the scorched ground, gravely picking up the Nova helmet and brushing out the ashes and carbon scoring of its former wearer.

"I take it the prototypes are not yet safe for field use, then?" -Rook asks, behind him.

Max shakes his head. "'fraid not, Rook. This guy completely burned himself out." -he says. "There's gotta be a safer way to channel this fancy, ancient 'Nova Force' the Corps keep touting as their secret weapon against Thanos."

"I doubt personal safety was a concern for this particular Nova Trooper." Rook muses, surveying the field of incinerated Outrider corpses around them. "It would seem he sacrificed himself to protect the nearby village, buy time for its inhabitants to summon the nearest Nova fleet."

"Agreed, though the idea is that they should be able to safely harness this much power without killing themselves in the process." -Max says. "That's what the Empire's legends suggest, isn't it?"

Rook shrugs. "I would be the wrong person to ask; Revonnah is a very recent addition to the Nova Empire. We did not grow up with their stories."

Max hums. "I know, Rook. Just thinkin' out loud." -he says. "I get that we're gonna need this kind of power on our side when we take on the Black Order in full, but I'm not sure I appreciate the need to sacrifice the rank and file to get it working right."

"We have all signed up knowing the risks, Magister Tennyson." -the Revonnahgander points out. "Every soldier in the Nova Corps would gladly give their lives to protect the common folk of the galaxy, from the lowest Corpsman to the highest Centurion."

The older man chuckles. "You're something of an optimist, huh?" -he says. "That's good, son. We're gonna be in short supply of those soon."

Max's comm crackles, so he takes a hand to his ear. "What's the news, Patelliday?"

"You've got a visitor, Max. Entering the upper atmosphere now."

Max raises his eyebrow, looking up at the night sky of the frigid world, which has suddenly lit up, a brilliant comet hurtling towards them. He hands the golden Nova helm to Rook, who attaches it to the belt of his Proto-tech armor.

The luminous singularity lands nearby, almost too bright for his helmet's polarity to compensate. There's no mistaking who it could be, though. "Hey, Carol." -he greets, smirking, over the suit's speakers.

Captain Marvel herself grins, hands at her hips, the light finally dying down to a film that protects her from the lethal amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the sub-zero temperatures, and crushing gravity of this planet. "Hey yourself." -she says. "You've been all over the place, I thought I wouldn't catch you for a few more days still."

"You know us Plumbers, we tend to keep busy." -Max says. "Think you know a thing or two about that."

She snorts. "No kidding." -she says.

Max raises an eyebrow. "This a social call, or do you have a mess you'd like our help with?"

"A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B." -she drawls. "How're you adjusting to life back in space?"

"Same as you, I expect." -Max says. "Excited and homesick in equal measure. What we're doing out here is important, but...I do miss the kids. I've already missed so much."

Carol's gaze softens. "Yeah...every time I see Monica I feel like she's gone through a whole dang time-skip. I'm pretty sure she looks older than me by now."

"Well, feel free to share your inability to age." -Max jokes. "I hate to say it, but I might be starting to feel all seventy-two of my years."

"Would that I could. No idea how most of my powers work, unfortunately, and that's not changing as long as Fury hoards the damn cube. Long as I get to kick major ass, though, I suppose I shouldn't complain." -she shrugs. Carol tilts her head, looking at the young man behind Max. "Who's the kitten?"

Rook immediately salutes. "Plumber Cadet Rook Blonko." -he barks out. "It is an honor to meet you, Captain Marvel."

Carol smirks. "It's fine, kid, I'm not actually a Captain. And I haven't been anyone's superior for a while." -she says, giving him an appraising look. "You're a Revonnahgander, right? I thought your people didn't leave the homeworld."

"Oh, I am the first to do so." -Rook says, clearly impressed that an interstellar superhero would know anything about his obscure, backwater planet, and rather unknown species. "Since the people of Revonnah are so wary of the motives of the Nova Empire, I took it upon myself to be their eyes and ears...even if most do not yet appreciate my break from tradition." -he admits.

The Captain nods, understanding. "Eh, good on you, Rook Blonko. It takes real bravery to put yourself out there like that - especially when it goes against tradition." -she says, turning back to Max. "On to business, though."

"Lay it on me, Carol."

"You know Akiridion V?"

Max raises an eyebrow. "Hard not to. Creators of modern hard-light tech, second largest producers of household robotics in Nova space, pioneers of life-prolonging techniques with those lifecores of theirs...I could go on."

"Yeah, all that. There's been a coup, Max." -Carol cuts him off. "The Royals are dead, their heirs are on the run, and there's been a full military takeover of the planet and its colonies. Marshall law, troops on the streets, all the bells and whistles."

The human's eyes widen. "Jesus. The Akiridions are one of the Empire's oldest and most loyal species, how'd they let this happen?"

Carol sneers. "You know their M.O.; as long as a world remains affiliated to the Empire and they don't engage in bullshit like slavery, their local politics aren't the Nova Corps' business. In fact, Nova Prime has very kindly asked me not to intervene, and I assume she'll ask the same of you soon; the usurper and his lackeys have threatened to turn the Akiridion fleets against Xandar if any of the Nova take action against him, or bring aid to the runaway kids." -she explains. Carol shakes her head. "I could take him down, easy, but I'd have to go through his warships and troops. We're gonna need those on our side sooner rather than later."

Max sighs. "Damn him. We can't afford these kinds of divisions at a time like this." -he grouses. "Do we have any idea on where the kids are headed?"

"Good to see you don't give a shit what ol' Irani wants." -Carol smirks. "Yeah, we know where they're likely to end up. Give you three fraggin' guesses."

The older man shakes his head, pinching his nose. "...of course it would be Earth."

Carol snaps her fingers. "Got it in one, old timer." -she says. "The good news is this is top secret Nova intelligence, so the usurpers probably won't be able to find them for a while. The bad news is they will find out eventually, and they've already placed a damn good bounty on their heads, which means more hunters targeting Earth."

"Then it's a very good thing Ben picked up the Omnitrix when he did." -Max says. "I'll send word with my contact back home, let her know to keep an eye out."

The blonde hums. "I know he can handle himself, but protecting a couple of refugees is a different beast. You think he'll be up to the challenge?"

In the distance, the unmistakable, agonized howls of a few surviving Outriders resound. Rook readies his Proto-tool, Carol rolls her eyes, bored, letting her boundless energy flare out, and Max smirks, willing his arm to turn to charcoal-like stone, engulfed in the powerful flames of a Pyronite. "Of course he will be. He's a Tennyson, after all."

FIN

Right! Some things to note I picked out along the way:

-You guys are in for a treat with the Forever Knights background and story I've cooked up! It's gonna be a ton of fun to dive into! Also, pretty different from canon, so expect some surprises! Eager to see what your theories might be!

-Though there are obviously some exceptions, such as Wakandan tech and Stark's inventions, Earth's tech level is still overall rated a rather low 3 because the overwhelming majority of it doesn't qualify yet for level 4. These tech levels are an ancient vestige of the Galvan civilization, which still influences quite a few paradigms in tech and otherwise throughout the galaxy.

-Halls is not a typo, it's a pet name from when Hala and Abigail used to be together. They haven't been in a relationship for a long time, and they're not looking to get back together, but they obviously remain close friends.

-Monica Rambeau is 28 years old at the time of this chapter - about one to two weeks after the previous chapter. Incidentally, this is also the age Carol is stuck at - she technically ages, but at such a slow rate that every year for her is akin to a single minute. She's going to be around for a very long time.

-Irani Rael is the name of the current Nova Prime - she's a good person with good intentions, but she plays things a bit too safe for the times a-comin'.

-The contact Max mentions isn't actually Abigail! it's the mysterious third 'bounty hunter' I teased back in the day! I bet most of you guys forgot about that - or thought I forgot about it myself. Y'all have no clue who it is, I'm so excited for that reveal!

And that's about it! I honestly can't believe the time has come, but Changing of the Guard is officially over. There's a lot I could say, but I'll keep it brief. I hope you enjoyed this story, and I hope you'll tune in for its sequel (and other related tales). If you have any questions, comments, etc., be sure to reach out to me via review/comment/PM or send me an ask on my Tumblr (darthkvznblogs), I keep it open to all and I try to answer every ask!

Until next time!