"Try as hard as you can to remember what you saw." Rambeau's voice coaxed Ellie on, gentle and pleading.

They had returned to the director's office but it wasn't as it had been before. Rambeau was not sitting behind her desk and all formalities had been dropped. This time, Ellie was slumped in a chair, surrounded by Rambeau and her father, trying to regain her bearings after her encounter with the strange crystal. Her head was in a fog. What she saw fought to slip into the depths of her hazy memories as if it had only been a dream that her mind was eager to forget.

"Please, G'iah," Talos spoke, now having returned to his normal human form. "We need to know what you saw. It's alright."

Ellie didn't doubt the status of her wellbeing, however the kind gestures and worries were heartfelt. She was frustrated at how difficult it was to recall the details she had only just witnessed in her mind's eye.

"I saw…" she began, forcing the images to become clearer before they were gone forever. Her head hurt so much. "I saw the people that were murdered. Their faces weren't clear but I knew what I was seeing. They were dressed similarly to myself… and their uniforms held the S.W.O.R.D. symbol." Her eyes squinted and she worked to recall the rest. "I didn't understand everything else. There were these haunting eyes that peered through the darkness… and I saw children imprisoned."

"Do you know what prompted those images?" Rambeau asked, her voice rising in worry.

"I wanted answers to our mystery. That's what I was asking myself." Ellie sat straighter with renewed energy. Recalling the images lessened the pain in her head. "Whatever that thing was that I touched, it answered the questions in my mind, but I don't understand everything."

Talos touched her shoulder, trying to ease her tension, but she broke away and stood from the chair. Walking a few paces from them, she faced a painting on the wall and sorted through those thoughts, her mind racing faster and faster.

Rambeau stood. Ellie's sudden silence worried her. "Do you think what you saw was even real?"

The question churned Ellie's stomach. She closed her eyes in frustration, now unable to stop playing those images over in her head. "They felt like an answer. One that I need to find the meaning to." She pinched the bridge of her nose before turning to face the others again. Her voice rose. "I want to know why I saw the victims dressed in our uniforms and I want to know why S.W.O.R.D. was involved with the horrors that I saw."

"S.W.O.R.D. is trying to uncover this mystery. Our only involvement is bringing justice to these murders."

Ellie let out an exasperated sigh. "But why would I see our victims portraying themselves as fellow agents? It didn't feel like my imagination, it felt like a sign!"

As her emotions continued to come forth as a result, she didn't notice her unwinding into a manic state until Talos had come to calm her down again. She was wound up; but as her father helped to regain her bearings, she could feel the tension releasing from her body. She came to grips with what was in her mind and her renewed energy from before returned.

Talos found an opportunity to speak up. "I mean, if what she saw has caused this reaction, it must be some sort of clue for us."

Rambeau nodded, the pit in her stomach growing deeper. She too wanted the answers Ellie sought but she was worried about directing her agents into more danger than they bargained for. One wrong direction and more innocent lives could be lost. "Agent Sorensen… does this give you anything to work with?"

Thinking about the vision, Ellie wondered what the images could mean until she recollected the lack of clarity when it came to the faces of the Hopes. She knew it was them in her vision but their faces had been blurred, deformed and incomplete to block out their identities. This stood out to her.

"We don't have enough information on the identities of those who were killed," Ellie spoke, her voice firm. "I was foolish not to look there sooner."

Rambeau frowned. "I thought your report said that there was no identity match for the victims."

"Nothing that could be found in our database and we prevented the police from doing their own investigation. But we need to find out the exact identities of who died and if they're connected. If there's a connection to S.W.O.R.D., like in my vision, it could be an inside job."

There was a heaviness that settled in the room when those words were spoken. The thought of danger coming from within S.W.O.R.D. and under the nose of its own director was unsettling. It reminded them of S.H.I.E.L.D. 's undoing when it was found out that H.Y.D.R.A. had poisoned it. Though unlikely, it was a far from impossible conclusion and Ellie was determined to make sure that wasn't the case.

"What are you planning to do next?" Talos asked his daughter, his question holding an obvious desire to help in any way he could. He understood that they couldn't be idle with their time.

Ellie thought for a short moment, and once she was comfortable with her decision, she responded without hesitation. "I'm returning to the Avengers' Headquarters. I know they said all security camera footage of the murder was lost but there has to be something. My mission started there and I need to know if there's anything we missed. It's the best place to start."

The heavy countenance Rambeau held seemed to lift when she thought about what Ellie said. "Agent Boldt is still stationed there. I'll contact him and have him ready to help you!"

"That would be a huge help, Director." Ellie's lips tugged into a smile, relief washing over her. "I know this doesn't seem like much now but it's the best shot we have after all of our dead ends."

"Then we can find a connection and prove the innocence of our people," Talos added. "There's a bigger mind behind all of this."

A bigger mind…

It was frightening to think about, to imagine an unknown being pulling strings beyond their comprehension, cunning in ways they never could be. This mystery was sudden and strange enough that their worries didn't seem too outlandish. They were up against something big, something more than what they first thought it would be. The Avengers would be brought back into the picture, only for a moment. It was a step backwards to involve them again but Ellie was right. It was the best direction they had for a time like this.

"Agent Sorensen and I will leave now," Talos announced, earning a happy look from his daughter when he used her human alias. "And I'll drive."

...

As the car rolled down the highway, leaving the S.W.O.R.D. HQ behind, Ellie rested her head against the passenger-side window and watched as the palm trees passed by. It was too early for a lot of traffic on the road so the drive was smooth. She was thankful that her father had offered to drive; she was still in too much of a haze to be constantly focusing on a road in front of her. She even allowed her human form to dissipate so she could rest in her real skin, even if it was just for a moment. The green flesh was a sight she hadn't allowed herself to see for long periods of time and it was beginning to feel more foreign than in her disguise.

Talos hadn't said much since they began driving, allowing his daughter a moment of peace. They were almost to the bridge that would take them from Merritt Island to the main state of Florida. It was a long trip back to New York and this was only just the start.

"Still exhausted from earlier?" Talos finally spoke when he noticed Ellie's head slumped against the window.

She hummed in response. "Mm-hm." Rubbing her eyes, she sat up straight again but leaned her head back against the headrest. The sun was warming her and it was a welcomed feeling. "I don't even have the strength to shape shift right now."

"That crystal must have done a number on you." Talos' voice sounded worried but he tried to hide it enough where Ellie wouldn't notice.

She noticed. "I've… never felt anything like it before. I had to fight with all my might to keep it from unwinding my brain. It's understandable how primitive humans could either go crazy or die from touching it."

"Scary… I hope S.W.O.R.D. does a good job of keeping it locked away. You never know what might happen with something like that."

Ellie breathed a heavy sigh. "I know. But I trust Rambeau. S.W.O.R.D. may be too big for her to direct alone but I know her heart is good."

Talos smiled, letting his own human disguise disappear. "You're right about that." He drove on, remembering how Maria Rambeau, Carol Danvers, and even Nick Fury had helped them and offered them a temporary place on Earth. Finding a new planet for them to live on was continuously taking longer than expected, but the humans were formidable allies, even friends. "Do you mind if we stop by to see your mother before the airport?" He continued, keeping his eyes on the road.

Hearing those words lifted Ellie. She smiled and nodded. "I would love that. I haven't seen her in so long."

Chuckling, Talos' smile grew. He expected that answer and it was a delight hearing her agree. "She would love it too."

Ellie didn't know where her parents were currently living, but it was a two hour drive from where they were at. They soon entered a gated community, quaint but protected from the busyness on the outside. She was curious where these houses had come from and what their purpose was. Apparently, one of them was occupied by Talos and Soren.

Leaving the car, both Ellie and Talos approached a house that was on the smaller side than the others. It was a bungalow-style home, fit with a brown tile roof and white siding to blend with the small front porch. Two flower pots of marigolds were on each side of the porch stairs and a little dirt path led up to them.

Ellie had never seen the home before and she looked on it with amazement. It was so quaint, so human. "Dad, I've never seen your new home before! When did you and Mum get it?"

Talos smiled, wrapping his arm around Ellie in a fatherly gesture. "These houses are all part of a private community that Fury and Stark helped put together. They're not all occupied but they're safe houses: homes off of the grid and out of the government's control."

"Were they all made for the Skrulls?"

"It's for the agents and the humanoids living here who want to stay out of attention. That and to keep their families safe. Your mother and I were lucky to secure one."

"You needed it, especially with all the work you've done for Fury and now for S.W.O.R.D."

Pulling out a key, Talos unlocked the front door and it opened, revealing its warm interior and the sweet scent of a vanilla candle burning in the living room. Ellie stepped in and stood at the entrance, looking to and fro to take in her surroundings. The house looked even more human on the inside than it did outside. To imagine her parents intentionally picking out the human furniture, the human wall art, choosing the human shows to watch on the television, it struck her in an odd way, even though she too had been living a human life for so long. The feeling was odd and she couldn't explain it.

"G'iah!" Soren's soft voice came into the room, bringing Ellie out of her stupor. She was enveloped immediately, all leftover tension releasing into peace.

Ellie hid any tears and hugged her mother back, tighter than ever. "It's so good to see you, Mum."

Soren pulled away and pressed her forehead to Ellie's, holding her arms firmly and smiling. "I've prayed every night for your safe return." They separated and shared smiles, walking further into the room and accompanying the living room sofa.

"I wanted to stop in before we headed out again," Talos explained, helping himself to a pitcher of lemonade that Soren had set out on the coffee table. "I'm taking G'iah back to New York."

Soren's face fell. She sat on the edge of the sofa, hands folded tight. "What for?"

Talos gave Ellie a look, urging her to be the one to explain. It wasn't the first thing she wanted her mother to hear. She wanted to talk about what happened during their time of separation, how life has been settling into the new home, how the job as a S.W.O.R.D. agent been going. She gave Soren an apologetic look and spoke.

"I'm working on uncovering a mystery involving the murders of unidentified humans. One of the murder suspects is a Skrull and not only am I trying to prove their innocence but also trying to figure out who is behind this. Dad is taking me to the Avengers' Headquarters for more answers."

Soren breathed deep, trying to keep her emotions at bay. "How dangerous is your mission?"

"Nothing crazy," Ellie slightly fibbed. "It's just a lot of work and I've hit multiple dead ends.

"Might I add," Talos began, trying to add some more truth to the matter, "G'iah's work is vital in making sure there is no unwanted invasion from other beings that would seek to harm this planet. Her findings so far suggest there might be an evil mastermind at work but she's doing great. I've been there to help her and she's correct in saying she has been safe."

"What a welcome this is…" Soren tried not to sound too passive aggressive but the news was frustrating to her. "Why come just to tell me this? G'iah, I worry enough about you already."

Ellie's heart ached to hear those words. "Mum, I promise I'll be alright. Like Dad said, he's also with me and we're only going to be with the Avengers for now. I just need answers to make sure nothing gets out of control, that's all. I'll come home to you, you don't have to worry about imminent danger or anything like that. It's only an investigation. Not a fight."

Soren calmed herself, taking in all of Ellie's words and trying to believe them the best she could. Her daughter was already a foreigner in a human's world, trying her best to pretend to be one and that alone was dangerous, especially on a planet known for its hostility towards those who are different. She was fearful of hearing that her daughter was found dead somewhere, lost on a mission trying to help a race that was not her own. However, the knowledge that Talos would be with her did put her heart at ease.

Talos spoke again to Soren. "Sweetheart, I promise we didn't come to give you a scare. I wanted to see you again before heading out and so did G'iah. You deserved to know where we were going before we went."

Soren was put at further ease, wrapping an arm around her daughter and pulling her close again. "Do you get to stay for a little bit at least?"

"We haven't even ordered the plane tickets yet," Ellie tried to laugh. "I think we have some time."

Those last few words were an illusion, but pretending that time was what they had helped to ease the impending worries in the back of Ellie's mind. She wanted to imagine they were on their own world, with no need to hide their real skin and with no need to fight a fight for both their kind and the humans. She wanted to imagine her family could always be together and at peace. Maybe in another life. Or, maybe the future held this reality in store.

That's what she was fighting for, wasn't it? Peace. Answers. They could never have it if she didn't pave the way for justice to be brought. For these humans, for the Skrull falsely accused, for the riddance of whoever was behind all of this. There was a purpose in her actions and her family lied at the center of it.

...

What had Agent Sorensen seen in the crystal?

Rambeau kept herself up late, running that question over and over again in her mind. She hadn't left her office. The weight of what was happening and the thought of what had been brought in earlier that day was enough to keep her wound up, although she was inclined to leave soon. If only that question wasn't so pestering…

Maria Rambeau wanted the same answers as Ellie, wanted to offer the assistance she could, to give her agents the aid they deserved from their Director. If there was truly an evil mind in the shadows waiting to be revealed, and if they were otherworldly, she hated being in the dark.

These thoughts found her in S.W.O.R.D. 's vault below. The crystal, a Fractal, laid locked inside its metal prison, its true name and origin remaining unbeknownst to Rambeau. She wanted to know what Ellie had seen and if she could see the same thing herself.

Part of her doubted the curiosity. It was foolish and she acknowledged that, but she was breaking no boundaries. She was the director, she had access, and her heart was to know more so that she could be a better aid. Just one touch wouldn't kill her. It didn't kill Ellie and she was much younger. To be fair, she was a Skrull. Her alien body may have been strong enough, and yet for some reason, even that wasn't enough to completely discard the thought.

Her hand trembled as she unlocked the box and she hesitated. Pandora once opened a box out of curiosity that was her demise. Maybe this was the realization of that mythology. The box opened.

Rambeau was met with the warm yellow glow, feeling lost in the sight and no longer fighting with her mind. She wanted to see what visions the Fractal held, what enlightenment she would have and the answers she would receive. She would be able to help Ellie, help Talos, bring justice.

Her hand picked up the Fractal, its power flooding down her arm and into her mind. For a second, she could see all that Ellie spoke of: the Hopes, the uniforms, S.W.O.R.D., the eyes… but it was too much. Too much to see, too much pain, her mind unable to bear the weight of all it was trying to show her beyond the initial vision.

As the Fractal fell to the floor, her hand going limp, Rambeau collapsed with the falling gem. Her unconscious body lay alone in the vault, her mind crumbling away with every second she remained unfound.