Living in the aftermath! In the wake of her encounter with the Kree soldier Mar-Vell, the life of Carol Danvers has been far from normal. His body has imbued her with unique cosmic energy, giving her power beyond belief! Will she cope? Is normal just a fantasy? Will her life ever be the same? Tune in, true believers, as Carol makes-
Chapter 12: An Adjustment or Two
"Breathe deeply and evenly, let your mind flow into your movements, let every aspect of your body move as one." T'Challa instructed. In the lower training room of the Avengers mansion, he guided Connor through a series of slow and gradual motions that the technopath determined to be the Wakandan version of Tai Chi called Yonyana Nenyanga, or 'Of Sun and Moon'. Standing opposite him, he followed his every motion, doing his best to copy each move.
"You... do this often?" He queried, nervously wondering if he would break T'Challa's concentration by talking.
"It is often a relaxing, end of day exercise." T'Challa answered, not making eye contact but still transitioning from one posture to another. "We practice Yonyana Nenyanga for health benefits and stress relief."
"Not the infomercial brand of benefits, I take it." Connor mused, being a mimic to the best of his abilities.
"Correct. These exercises are designed to regulate the body, the smooth out wrinkled rhythms brought on by the day's activities. It returns us to the state we were in before we awoke." T'Challa replied positively.
"Very much like Tai Chi." Connor concluded. "As Bruce Lee once said, be water, be fluid."
"Perhaps somewhat minced, but very much in line with Yonyana Nenyanga." T'Challa determined. "The faster you go, the more it translates from a meditative posture to a martial artist posture." He added. "But you are not ready for that yet."
"I didn't think so," Connor mused with a partial laugh, "I just started today after all!" They kept moving afterwards, carrying through one motion after another, even repeating forms as T'Challa guided him through multiple forms. As they neared the end, the entry doors slid apart as Janet Van Dyne entered, dressed in her Wasp costume and beaming as normal.
"Was wondering what you two were up to," she mused, striding over to the ring, "slow-motion dance-off?"
"This is Yonyana Nenyanga." T'Challa replied. "A Wakandan exercise not unlike Tai Chi, as Connor has so pointedly observed."
"You should join us, Jan. A little group exercise couldn't hurt." Connor casually offered.
"You'd love to see me in yoga pants, wouldn't you?" She commented offhandedly with a laugh, although the image of her legs in skintight, curve-hugging clothes was a mental picture that Connor had to work very hard to stifle. "Actually, I just wanted to make sure you guys were good to be on-call. I'm gonna take off for a bit."
"I suppose that depends on what you are doing." T'Challa replied, pausing near the edge of the ring along with Connor.
"Carol Danvers gets released from the hospital today, I'm gonna go visit her and see how she's doing." Janet explained.
"She's recovered from the sentry attack?" Connor queried, having met the Major whereas T'Challa had not.
"Seems so... apart from the glowing energy bit." Janet responded. "I just hope she's adjusting well, that's why I wanted to stop by and check in on her."
"I don't see why not," Connor said with a shrug, "how about you, T'Challa?"
"A noble goal, it will be our pleasure to cover in your absence." The Wakandan king agreed with a nod.
"When you see her, give her my well-wishes, would you?" Connor offered. "That was a helluva thing she went through." Janet nodded in agreement.
"Of course. I'm sure she could stand to know we've got her back." She answered. "I mean, after an experience like that, I know I'd want someone in my corner."
For the first time in a long time, Carol was not doing something related to the Air Force. The military had been her whole life ever since graduation and she'd barely taken any time to live a life outside of it. Now she had no choice but to forcibly enjoy civilian downtime. No uniform. No regimen. No orders. Nothing.
She had to wonder how on Earth she was ever going to cope with it.
Dressed in a simple overcoat atop a nondescript t-shirt, jeans and casual boots, her red scarf wrapped around her neck as she strode down New York City's clustered sidewalks. She had an apartment here, rarely ever lived in since she spent most of her time on the base, and almost dreaded having to return to it. Already she was miss ing the regimen of military life, the structure the direction, the familiarity of it all… being a civilian again was so… alien to her.
Not like she had a choice in the matter. Upon her restoration to consciousness, the top brass requested a battery of tests to check on her condition as well as her newfound abilities. This lingering 'gift' from Mar-Vell was unknown to all of them and Carol was uncertain if they were a blessing or a curse. She was inclined to think the latter, seeing as she been forced to take a leave of absence to 'recuperate'.
With a sigh she kept walking, with little else to do. Breathing in the warm air of the afternoon, her senses awash with the busy hustle and bustle of the city, she stopped at a crosswalk and pondered her abilities. They were still developing it seemed, or she was still trying to get a handle on them. She could fly, albeit not very well. Ironic for a woman who was a decorated pilot in the Air Force. Her skin was also impenetrable, to a point where a needle could not pierce it, while all previous wounds had been healed within mere moments of her awakening. Her strength had also been enhanced, the grip of her fingers along enough to crush the metal railing of the gurney she had been on.
Overall there was so much to take in and Carol looked down at her bare hand in contemplation. Merely thinking about her abilities, a golden glow formed around her hand, startling the blonde. She fearfully threw her hand down by her side, trying desperately to think about anything else and silently praying that the glow would go away.
The crosswalk light turned and Carol started walking faster than before. She needed to get back to her apartment, out of the public eye so her powers wouldn't cause a commotion. On the other side of the street, a construction site offered enough noise to cover the volume produced by traffic and pedestrians. Carol thought very little of it, something was always being built in New York, especially after supervillains had been dealt with.
One sound suddenly shattered the monotony, the twanging snap of steel cable breaking.
Jerking her head towards the site, Carol looked up as part of a crane cable shuddered high above, one of the many strands wrapped around a load of steel I-beams came undone. Enraptured by the sight, Carol looked down to see several workers pausing to study the failing cable warily. Any second another could give way and anyone caught beneath them would be critically injured… or worse. Disaster struck moments later, when uneven bindings fell apart under the added strain and the entire load started to plummet. Workers cleared out in a hurry, all save one who tripped on uneven ground.
Carol gasped, moving without even thinking as she sprinted in a seemingly vain attempt to help him. With a flash of golden light, her powers manifested and she rocketed through the air. In moments she had crossed the road and entered the site, her energy-clad body slamming into the I-beams and scattering them across the air, sending them clattering across the ground in an uproarious clamour away from the fallen worker.
The helpless man, shielding himself with his arm, hazarded a peek. And what he saw was breathtaking to say the least. One minute there had been his doom, a pile of steel determined to shatter his body into an irrecoverable mess. But now… he saw only golden light, a woman floating in the air above him, angelic in every way. He couldn't help but stare, lost for words as she descended towards him.
"Are you okay?" She asked, the golden glow receding to reveal the soft features of her face and long, flowing blonde hair.
"I'm, uh… I-I'm not dead, am I?" He stammered in wonderment. Carol smiled and shook her head.
"Not today," She answered, offering him a hand and taking a moment to study his looks. He was youthful for certain, but tanned and handsome, with a well-built body and rugged features. His black hair tied up in a ponytail, his jaw lined with stubble, crisp hazel eyes gazing upon her in confused awe. "Major Carol Danvers, US Air Force." She introduced, still smiling. He accepted her hand and stood, revealing he was an inch or two shorter than her.
"Matthias. Matthias Peterson." He replied in greeting. The name sounded incredibly familiar and Carol cocked her head.
"Peterson? As in Connor Peterson?" She inquired.
"He's my brother, yeah." Matthias answered, stooping down to retrieve his green hard hat. "You know him?" He wondered.
"We've met before." Carol explained. With the crisis over, workers and foremen crowded around to make sure Matthias was alright, a burly bearded man pushing his way to the front.
"You alright, Peterson?" He asked, eyes wide.
"I'm okay now, could've been worse if it hadn't been for Major Danvers." Matthias answered.
"Well, good. Guess we owe you one Major… whatever the hell it is you just did." The foreman continued, thanking Carol.
"To be honest, I'm not sure what it is I just did." She replied with a shrug.
"You helped save a man's life. Good enough for me." The foreman answered. "You take off for the day, Matt. OH and S is gonna have a damn field day here. We'll call you if we need you." He directed, clapping Matthias on the shoulder.
"Uh, sure, if you say so boss." He agreed with a shrug, dusting off his hard hat.
"The rest of you! Get to work on something else intensive! Cliff! Get a look at that crane, I wanna know what the hell happened before inspectors show up… and tell Zane he's fired!" The foreman barked, storming back to his office as the rest of the work crew dispersed. Carol walked with Matthias as they made for the site entrance.
"I… well, thank you, Carol. Guess you saved my life…" Matthias slowly thanked, not looking up.
"Thanks… are you okay?" Carol wondered.
"Maybe just a little dazed," Matt answered, "everything happened so quickly… I don't even know what to do right now."
"You should probably take a seat somewhere, catch your breath." Carol suggested.
"Good idea." Matthias agreed. He paused, not moving immediately and Carol stopped to watch him, pondering his actions. "Can I, uh… get you a coffee?" He suddenly asked. "It's the least I can do. If there's one thing I know I should do right now, it's thank the woman who saved my life." He explained, his offer still standing. Somewhat taken aback, Carol was certainly not expecting a proposition of this calibre.
Still, all things considered, coffee sounded pretty good right now…
Later…
Taking up a table at a nearby sidewalk cafe, Carol and Matthias sat across from each other, both enjoying a drink each. After the moment of chaos, this relaxed moment was quite welcome, especially when Carol could enjoy a refreshing beverage on Matthias' dime. So far he was proving to be an amicable man, rather personable despite his rugged construction exterior.
To her own surprise, Carol was enjoying herself.
"So how old are you?" She queried, enjoying a sip of her chilled drink.
"I'll be twenty-two soon enough." Matthias replied. Carol nearly spat out her drink.
"You are not!" She gasped. Matthias shrugged with a smile.
"'Fraid so, got the ID to prove it." He replied. "I know, I know, I look older. But it is what it is."
"Let me guess, started into construction right out of school?" Carol queried.
"Sort of. I always loved building and piecing things together. Picked up a few tickets then decided to get some experience." Matthias replied. "Just doing what I love."
"Always the goal, isn't it?" Carol mused.
"What about you? Doing what you love?" Matthias pressed.
"Oh, absolutely. I love being in the Air Force. I love the mission, the purpose, the dedication, the regimen, all of it." Carol told him. "I just wish I could still be doing it right now." Matthias leaned forward, brow raised.
"What happened?"
"Oh, I… had an accident at work," Carol cryptically explained, knowing she probably shouldn't reveal the classified information about the Kree attack, "they're forcing me to take time off to 'recuperate'." She added with air quotes.
"Ah, yeah, I hear you." Matthias nodded in understanding. "I remember when Connor was down for the count after that lab accident he had. I was convinced he would never be the same after that, and maybe he isn't. But he got back on his feet, slowly but surely. I'm sure you will too, Carol." He mused, offering her a reassuring smile that warmed her. "You know, it was the Avengers that pulled him out of that mess. And now he's one of them," he added, smiling with a shrug, "go figure!"
"Does it… envy you that he's a hero now?" Carol wondered.
"Honestly, it's kinda cool. I mean, my older brother is an Avenger. How many people can say that?" Matthias answered. Carol giggled at his enthusiasm, setting her drink down.
"He and the Avengers came to help me out one time. He seems like a very… oh, I don't know… simple man? Just very straightforward, quiet, thoughtful, helpful even." She described.
"You're not far off the mark. He's quiet and reserved to the point of being timid, but he's determined and never backs down. He takes everything head-on, regardless of what it means for him." Matthias told her.
"He seems… smart. But in his own sort of way, not the conventional kind." Carol elaborated.
"Yeah, well, he's accrued that over the years. One trial after another, teaching him, grooming him, pushing him to go on." Matthias agreed. "Connor's always been the one to go through a rough patch. His life has never been an easy one. It's not that life's been hard or unfair to him, it's just that he's had to work harder than most to get what he wants. Sometimes it seems like life's stringing him along, but it's always been that way for Connor. He never could have things easy. Anything he wanted he had to work for. And he never quit working until he got it." His description gave Carol much pause as she considered what he had to say. She didn't know much about Connor, apart from his powers and presence as Cybernaut, but to know he was a hard-pressed man seemed to reveal so much more about his character and piece some things together for the Major.
"That's… very insightful." She determined.
"Growing up with him kinda let me in on his life." Matthias said, taking a moment to drain his beverage. "I love my brother, and I'm… it may sound weird for me to say this, but I'm proud of him, especially for making it in with the Avengers. It's gotta be the biggest boon he's ever had, probably a long time coming too."
"So often you hear about sibling squabbles and, well, it's nice to hear you're so close with him." Carol replied, still smiling. Matthias returned it.
"Well, I've chewed up enough of your time. I best get back and fill out an incident report and let you get on with your life." He said, making to stand. Almost disappointed that things were coming t an end, an idea came to Carol. It was brash and maybe reckless, but it also seemed right.
"Matthias," she called after him, halting him. Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out a pen and grabbed the nearest napkin, quickly scribbling down some numbers. She rose and handed it to him, "here. This was… fun. And I… I wouldn't say no to doing it again." She explained, blushing slightly as her heart pounded simultaneously. Taking the napkin and seeing her phone number on it, Matthias slipped it into his pocket.
"Thank you, Carol." He replied. "You can call me Matt. Everyone close to me does." He added, rather suavely Carol had to admit.
Her keys still worked and Carol pushed open the door to her simple apartment, filled with simple amenities and a little dusty too. "Home sweet home…" she sighed in relent, tugging off her jacket as she closed the door behind her. She was only a few steps in when a knock sounded behind her. "What the…?" She wonded aloud, confused and not expecting visitors. Turning on heel, she made for the door and cracked it open, met by a smiling blue-eyed face.
"Hope you're up for visitors." Janet Van Dyne greeted with a smile.
"Jan!" Carol happily exclaimed, "Come on in!" Opening the door wide, the casually-dressed Avenger strode inside.
"Wow, nice quaint place. We should hang out here sometime, good for girls night." Janet mused, looking around the place.
"Maybe… what brings you by? Aren't you busy with the team?" Carol wondered, shutting the door and following her.
"Not busy enough to keep me from checking up on you." Janet replied flopping down on the nearest couch. "How's the glowy-thingy?" She wondered.
"Still glowing." Carol sighed, taking a seat on a chesterfield. "Honestly, it's… a lot to get used to-" She confessed, looking over her hands and half expecting them to start glowing again. They didn't, much to her relief.
"Carol Danvers. Avenger. Think about it…" Janet offered in a sing-song tone. Carol chuckled.
"You know… I have thought about it some." She revealed, the walk back having been beneficial for some thinking time. "I saved a construction worker today, used my powers to do it." Janet sat up, wide-eyed and leaning forward.
"Ooooooh! Tell me more!" She urgently and eagerly pressed.
"A load of girders were set to fall on him, I flew in and knocked them away." Carol described. "He took me out for coffee afterwards."
"Well, this just got juicy!" Janet teased, enjoying this moment of gossip.
"Oh whatever you." Carol dismissed. "But that… feeling of doing some good. The more I think about it now, the more I think that maybe I could do some good with these powers." She revealed in a far more serious tone.
"Sure you could! But you'll need an identity, a look, something that's not an Air Force Major." Janet agreed, perking up at the possibility of designing something new for her friend. "I think I can some up with some ideas."
"You know, I had one too." Carol added, standing up.
"Really?" Janet wondered.
"Don't act so surprised." Carol retorted, fetching a pen and some paper. "Kind of a tribute to that night. The night that changed my life." She mused, sitting down and putting her hand to work. The moment was vivid in her mind, etched into it, the moment her life was forever altered the day she laid eyes on it.
In the end she drew a starburst, like the way the Kree Sentry first appeared on the satellite footage…
Some time later…
"Sir! We have a bogey on radar! One-hundred and fifty miles and closing fast!" The radar tech informed the base General. The silver-haired man bent over the terminal.
"Have you tried hailing them?"
"No response sir." The tech answered. "One-hundred miles. Fifty miles! Sir, this thing will be here any minute now!"
"Someone get me a visual!" The General ordered, several loose techs not stationed at terminals fetching binoculars and scouting the open area.
"Sir! Four o'clock high! Something glowing!" One of them cried in report. The General wrenched his binoculars away and took a look for himself, spying the golden aura right away.
"Confirm ICBM?" He demanded.
"No telling, sir. But it doesn't match the speed… plus it's too small." The radar tech replied.
"Put the base on alert!" The General ordered. Alarms began to sound as troops on the ground were scrambled into ready positions, the General quickly making to leave the surveillance tower and join the action on ground level. He and several of his officers quickly gathered to watch as the glow grew brighter revealing its true small size as well as the being within it.
"What in the world?" A lieutenant wondered in disbelief.
"I don't believe it!" An officer cried. Seeing and recognizing the figure approaching them, the General remained in shocked silence as the glowing woman touched down feet first before him, her arrival causing the base to go deathly quiet as soldiers of every rank stopped and stared. The glow dissipated and Carol, dressed in civilian clothes, snapped to attention and saluted.
"Stand down men, that's Major Danvers!" The General ordered, quickly striding over to the Major and crossing the distance between them.
"Reporting for duty, sir!" Carol crisply greeted.
"At ease. Good to see you again, Major. I must say that was quite the entrance." The General remarked.
"I apologize for getting you worried, sir. Didn't have any comms equipment on hand to warn you in advance." Carol replied. With a tilt of his head, the two started to walk and talk as base activity lessened.
"This that 'alien nature' the brass was telling me about?" He asked.
"It is, sir. Figured I'd exercise it to get used to it." Carol replied.
"As much as I'm eager to get you working again, there's someone who wants a word with you, an Abigail Brand with the Sentient World Observation and Response Department. Or SWORD if you will." The General told her. Dwelling on the acronym, Carol had to deduce this was some sort of special operations division.
"I wonder if they're related to SHIELD." She thought aloud.
"All I know is she and some suit, a Henry Gyrich, are desperate to get ahold of you." The General stated. Carol nodded in acceptance, a small part of her missing this while the rest of her wasn't too enthusiastic about getting dragged into some departmental politics. "That's quite the outfit you've got on." He mused, pausing to study her civilian outfit, which was far from subtle. Carol glanced down at herself.
"This old thing? It's nothing special. I haven't worn civvies in ages." She replied, analyzing her dark jeans, sneakers, and red shirt with a bright yellow star dead centre of her chest…
Author's Note: I know this is a short one, but I needed some filler content seeing as the next three chapters are positively packed and will require my undivided attention. Hope you enjoyed and see you all next time!