S.T.A.R.S #5
THEN AND NOW
By:Chris"TheMtVernonKid"Bennett
PREVIOUSLY
After successfully assisting fellow agent Laura Green. Director Coulson informs the team that Agent Green is also the newest member,the team welcome the shape shifting agent. However, they discover that Agent Green is more than just a shape shifter she not even human she's a skrull and not just any skrull. Agent Green is Lyja ex wife to the deceased Johnny Storm aka Human Torch.
S.H.I.E.L.D HELICARRIER:
Quake: You've got to be kidding,sir.
Thor Girl: This has gotta be a nightmare.
Stingray: I don't know what to say.
Lyja: I'm sorry to have kept my identity from you all. But..
Director Coulson: But I told her to.
Quake: Sir,with all due respect don't you know who she is?
Director Coulson: I do.
Quake: And you're all right with this?
Director Coulson: I am.
Suddenly,Thor Girl fiercely grabs Lyja.
Thor Girl: A damn skrull give me one good reason why I shouldn't cave you skull in Skrull!
Director Coulson: Thor Girl stand down now!
Lyja: (gasping for air) Please...I mean….. you no ….harm.
Thor Girl: Your kind secretly invaded tried to take over our
world and you mean us no harm!
Lyja: Yes...please.
Director Coulson: Thor Girl I said release her now that's an order!
Lyra approaches Thor Girl places her hand on Thor Girl's shoulder.
Lyra: Tarene,let her go.
Thor Girl looks at her teammates and Director Coulson then Lyja and let's her go.
Lyja: (coughing) Thank you.
Lyra: I didn't do it for you.
Quake: Sir,are you out of you mind? A skrull?
Director Coulson: I perfectly sane,Agent Johnson. Now if anyone else attacks Agent Lyja again you will be removed from this team.
Whizzer: All this time Agent Green was a skrull. I thought we were friends?
Lyja: We are friends Robert.
Stingray: Sir,why?Don't you know what she's done? During the invasion she sent the Baxter Building in the Negative Zone along with Ben Grimm,Johnny Storm and the children of Reed and Sue Richards.
Bengal: She placed children endanger?
Lyja: I assure you it was that or the other blow it up as the skrulls wanted it. I save them but I did wrong but that was then this is my life now.
Thor Girl: And you think that is suppose to make up for everything? There are still sleepers of your race out plotting revenge. We should turn you over to S.W.O.R.D.
Quake: Easy Thor Girl I don't like it either I'm sure Director Coulson will explain.
Director Coulson: Actually I'm not team Lyja is.
Lyja waits for someone to ask a question. Whizzer is the first to ask.
Whizzer: How long have you been with S.H.I.E.L.D?
Lyja: After the fall of Thor. I worked closely with Director Coulson.
Stingjay: How did you get out of the Negative Zone and do you know about Johnny Storm?
Lyja: (starts to cry) I do. I stayed in the negative zone to atone for my sins. However,I never...I could not stay there forever I needed to face my actions. Before the complete shutdown of 42 I traveled there and agents of S.W.O.R.D AND S.H.I.E.L.D found me. I was taken back to Earth and imprisoned in the Peak. Until one day I received visitors.
Several Months Ago,The Peak:
S.W.O.R.D Agent: You have visitors,skrull.
Lyja: Visitors no one knows I'm here.
?: Hello Lyja.
Lyja: Reed why are you here ? And who's your associate?
Reed Richards: This Director Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. And the reason why I'm here is to understand your reason for what you did during the invasion you put my family in danger. Why?
Lyja: Reed, the empire wanted to do far worse I made a choice to save them.
Reed Richards: And what did the empire want?
Lyja: They wanted the family killed.
Director Coulson: You said they as if you don't associate yourself with the Skrulls.
Lyja: Honestly, I don't I am far from the skrulls and I'm not the only one. To the them I would be a traitor. How is the family,Reed how's Johnny?
Reed becomes speechless and lowers his head.
Reed Richards: He's dead Lyja.
Lyja is stunned she drops to her knee and cries.
Lyja: How did it happens? Tell me...please.
Reed Richards: He died protecting the world that's all you need to know.
Lyja: I'm sorry Reed truly I am.
Reed Richards: When I was informed of your whereabouts I asked a favor.
Lyja: And what is that?
Director Coulson: That you be released into S.H.I.E.L.D custody. You see Lyja I'm all about second chances and I feel you deserve a second chance, atonement doesn't always have to be completed alone.
Lyja: Why? I deserve this I helped another race nearly crumble another.
Reed Richards: Because I know you Lyja there had to be a reason and because Johnny would never accept this. And also known in the end you saved my children as well.
Lyja: How are they?
Reed Richards: As well as they can be.
Director Coulson: Will you accept the offer?
Lyja: For Johnny I will. I am yours I'm at you service.
S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier ,Now:
Stingray: So Reed Richards helped?
Lyja: Yes.
Quake: And you're doing this as atonement.
Lyja: Yes,Quake. But more for Johnny.
Lyra: What was he to you,anyway?
Lyja: We were married.
Thor Girl: Wait! you and the Human Torch were married?
Lyja: Yes.
Whizzer: So Reed Richards vouched for you but what of Sue Richards?
Lyja:That Robert took place three weeks ago I was already an agent by that time. Under my Agent Laura Green disguise I need to pay me respect to the family.
Three Weeks Ago, Baxter Building:
Agent Green: Hello,Mr and Mrs. Richards. My name is Agent Laura Green.
Sue Richards: Are you one of my brother old flings? Listen I'm sorry if he promised you anything.
Agent Green: No. I just wanted to come by and pay my respects. I saw the monumental downstairs it's beautiful.
Sue Richards: Thank you so how is Director Coulson doing as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D?
Agent Green: He's.. quite good at his job you can tell he's a student of the game.
Just then the Thing with Franklin on his shoulders walks in.
Thing: So what do we have here an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and pretty one too.
Agent Green: Just paying my respects .
Franklin approaches Agent Green.
Franklin: Wow you're very pretty Uncle Ben is right. Did you know Uncle Johnny he was the coolest.
Agent Green: (crying) I….I..I'm sorry.
Franklin: Why are you crying,lady?
Agent Green: Because I can't lie to you all. I did know Johnny and he knew me. I loved him we were married once.
Ben Grimm: What ole torchie had a secret marriage.
Agent Green: It's better if I show you.
Agent Green shape shifts into her original self. And everyone is surprised.
Ben Grimm: Lyja it can't be. You're with S.H.I.E.L.D now?
Lyja: Yes Ben it is me. I needed to come and pay my respects to you all.
Franklin: It's you again I remember you.
Lyja: (reaching for Franklin) Hello.
Suddenly, a force field is around Franklin.
Sue Richards: Franklin go to your room, now.
Franklin: But why
Sue Richards: Now!
Franklin runs to his room suddenly Lyja is forced into the wall by Sue's force field.
Sue Richards: How dare you come into my home!
Lyja: Aaargh...Sue please I mean you no harm.
Sue Richards: You put my children endanger!
Reed Richards: Susan,dear please show some compassion.
Sue Richards: No, she doesn't deserve it she and her kind deserve only one thing.
Lyja: Sue..this...is not...you. You know Johnny...wouldn't..
Sue Richards: You don't ever say my brother's name!
Thing reaches and grabs Susan.
Thing: Susie that's enough we're not murderers and she right Johnny wouldn't agree with this.
Sue release her hold on Lyja. She regains her composure and explains herself.
Lyja: As I said I mean you all no harm I know what I did was wrong and I'm paying for it everyday. But I had to see all of you I also came by to thank Reed.
Sue Richards: Thank Reed why?
Lyja: It was he who helped vouch for me.
Sue Richards: What why,Reed?
Reed Richards: For Johnny and because deep down I still care for her Sue. Yes,she endangered the kids by placing the Baxter Building in the Negative Zone. However it could've been far worse the Skrull Queen ordered the building destroyed.
Sue Richards: And think what she did makes it right?
Ben Grimm: Trust me Susie I was there it was rough but Lyja was there helping us even saved Franklin.
Lyja: Sue I know you're upset about Johnny's death and my appearance about trust me when I tell you I have no ties to what's left of the skrull empire. This is my home now and I will protect it.
Sue Richards:It's not that easy I'm sorry but I can't.
Sue walks away and leaves the other with Lyra.
Reed Richards: Give her time Lyja.
Ben Grimm: Yeah,you just keep doing what you do.
Lyja: Thank you Reed. Thanks Ben.
Lyja begins to depart
Reed Richards: Lyja you know Johnny would be proud you.
Lyja: I hope so.
S.H.I.E.L.D HELICARRIER,NOW
Whizzer: So Sue never forgave you,huh?
Lyja: No. She hasn't.
Director Coulson: Lyja is apart of this team if you don't want any part of this there's the door.
Quake: Alright ,sir I trust you but it's gonna be hard to trust her.
Lyja: I will earn your trust.
Director Coulson: And the games begin team.
The End