Disclaimer: Goes without saying but I do not own Bruce Banner nor the Hulk nor any other Marvel character herein included. They're the properties of the original creators as dictated by official documents, whom you can find out more about in Wikipedia or something. Stan Lee, Marvel Comics, etc.

The Anolians and every related character/lore are invented by me, as is the overarching plot, but obviously, I don't own it. Still Marvel.

Rating: T for a bit of violence. I censor profanity like they would in a comic, if I ever use it.

PART 7: Lies and Manipulations

Indecision is worse than any decision.

But is it, really?

They had a job. It was their assigned duty to fix the situation with the Anolians so that the Kree weren't forced to subjugate them by force, or all-out eradicate them. She had assumed there would be a right way to the whole thing. A right side to the whole conflict.

But there wasn't.

They were both lying, both trying to manipulate her and her team, just like they were manipulating everyone who was supporting them. And they were not going to stop.

What should she do? Support one of the sides? Take down both? What happened then?

"We should tell people the truth," Nova put forth, through her ear, "they should know they're being used."

"They'll never believe us over their idols and saviors," Wonder Man said, in a low voice, but he was still noticed.

"What are you talking about?!" One of the presidency asked, standing up. "We demand to know what you are plotting! Especially if it is on top of whatever lies his agent fed you!"

"It is clear. We take down their idols and saviors, and let the people believe whatever they want," Sunfire suggested.

"Are you insane? We can't kill them all," War-machine put forth, adding to Carol's headache. "We'll destabilize their whole system, the Kree will come and do even worse."

"We should just leave. Our real concern is these missing gods, and whatever the Unseen are. We need to hunt them down, or find out more about them," Geena mentioned, triggering the attention of the presidency. "I feel for the Anolians, I do, but I think we're overstepping here."

"That would be acceptable," one of the presidency said, a bit too quickly. "If you are not going to assist. If you do not believe the people's representatives, then you should leave."

"The Kree will come and destroy you all," Wonder Man said, as a warning. "We want to help you. You may feel like there is still a chance to maintain your life, and your power, but unless both of you step down…if you keep fighting, the Kree will come."

"There is only one way to stop that from happening!" The rebel said, turning his kowtowing to Wonder Man. "Take down the presidency! Those pits of corruption and-"

"Shut up!" Carol demanded, flaring with energy. The soldiers rose their weapons and took aim, but she did not even flinch. She had nothing to fear from them. "Everyone shut the hell up right now!"

Why was she in that situation? What kind of situation was that to be on? Why wasn't Thor there? Why was Sunfire so belligerent and Nova so naïve and Wonder Man so passive and War Machine kept chiming in even though nobody asked him to.

What kind of situation was that? What the hell could she do? What was the right thing to do?

Carol's head was hurting. Everyone knew the right thing to do, they were as sure as she had always been, in every other situation.

Because the responsibility was only on me, she realized, frowning. If she made a bad call, it would have consequences for her team, and her planet, and for how everyone regarded her leadership.

She wanted to lead. Carol knew she could do it well, but she had imagined combat situations. Or clear-cut situations. Or situations that made at least a bit of sense or were in some way fair.

What kind of situation was that?!

Lies and manipulations at such a large scale, all mounted on idolatry and idealism that could stand even against facts, let alone testimonies from strangers.

Wait, she stopped herself. What about testimony from someone people knew? And trusted?

"The Chosen," she whispered, opening her eyes. "The Chosen. Do the people know who the Chosen are?" She asked out loud, for someone to answer.

There was silence. Tense, terse, terrible silence. From both parties.

"There's a big world-wide celebration whenever anyone's chosen," said a voice in her ear. "That's what the reading thing says," added Mr. Immortal, helpfully.

Wonder Man shrugged and nodded in agreement. Geena smiled widely. "Nice thinking."

One of the members of the presidency, the one who had stood up, must've realized what Carol had thought of. His plant face contorted with despairing thoughts, and he lifted one of his hands.

"Meddlesome outworlders! Your disrespect for our highest of offices is held in contempt. You speak to us like children and silence us like common criminals. We will not stand for this. Guards!"

Before he could finish speaking, the rebel leader kowtowed once more, violently, and broke off a piece of his head. It rolled across the floor, revealing a gadget.

"Finally!" He yelled.

The nearest guard looked down at it in shock, recognizing it.

"BOMB!" he screamed.

"You think we'd storm the citadel with only twenty people?! IDIOTS!" The Rebel leader whipped his body at it, and Carol flew to get in front of Geena.

"Si!" she yelled, and Wonder Man's body flashed with his purple energy.

And then the whole world went yellow.

Part End: Thank you for reading, please consider leaving a review if you have the time.

If you think that's the great reveal and there are no more twists, you got another thing coming! But then again, so do they, as next part, Captain Marvel's team engages the Anolians in real combat.

This story and Spider-man: Repulse are heavily connected by lore, even though they're not connected by plot. All my marvel stories are in the same universe, and following an overarching plot. Just in case you want to give that a read.