" Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life. "
- J.K. Rowling
(FIVE DAYS LATER: PARIS, FRANCE)
Spending more time lying down on the bed in blue pajamas, Amnon-Selah became bored and uneasy as he was never used to having a long rest since he has been sick with influenza and laryngitis. He skipped training and lectures with the MTF and the Rebel Forces which the French physician asked him to rest and recover. His parents were very attentive enough in taking care of him for almost a week.
This time, he peacefully watched the morning blue skies and saw the bluebirds freely flying around. The young pink Kree managed to sit-up and reached for his tissue box when he began to sneeze and covered his mouth and nose. Amnon finished blowing his nose and extended his right hand to throw his soiled tissue paper into the trash can.
" When I was a Kree-SCP 682 hybrid, I experienced homelessness, injuries, near deaths, and a lot of bad things, " he recalled and sadly sighed. "This time in my new body, I'm having colds. Even though I am a depowered Kree, I'm experiencing such human illness. I hope I can get better and return to work and training. "
Amnon grabbed his glass of water and instantly drank, emptying it. He placed it on his bedside and returned in lying down. Suddenly, he heard someone knocking on the door and instantly put on his bedroom slippers when he walked over and gently opened it. It appeared to be his father and mother as they instantly hugged him. Amnon placed his arms around them.
" Mom, Master! " he happily greeted them as his voice returned to normal.
" Kid, don't talk too much, " Carol laughed and gently rubbed her son's head. " You're not yet well-recovered! "
" I can't wait to have my feet back again, " Amnon chuckled when his father took and carefully carried him back to bed. " Master, hey! "
" Your mother and I have been keeping an eye and taking care of you for a week, " Methu-Selah laughed and then spoke with concern. " We can't let your fever return for the second time. Understood? "
" Right, " he exasperatedly sighed and tucked himself in the blanket, sitting on the bed and looking at his books and notebooks on his study table. " I easily get bored with resting in bed for five days. I can't do anything. "
Carol stood beside her son's bedside and monotonously reminded him, " Stop whining, Kid. It's better to remain recovering and relaxing for a while rather than overworking and getting more tired. You're getting used to your body for a couple of weeks now. You haven't discovered your true potential, yet. "
" Right, " Amnon dryly chuckled while looking at his mother with her stern glare. " I guess I should take things easy from now on. You can't afford to lose me again! You may consider me as a priceless gem like a diamond! "
Carol's frown slowly turned into a smile as she heard her son's joke and gently messed up his wavy golden locks. The young pink Kree loudly laughed at his mother. Methu-Selah sighed in relief and felt pleased to see them laughing and joking. Then, he used his cosmic awareness and sensed the kettle blowing some steam along with the bread toaster and finished heating the bread. Amnon and Carol curiously looked at the Kree Eternal.
" You know, Car-Ell, " he instantly broke his silence and reminded her. " We need to bring Amnon's breakfast to his bedroom so he can eat. Then, we'll take our turn downstairs. "
" Oh, right, " she snapped her fingers and her son's stomach, which was loudly grumbling. " I need him to take his medicine after eating. "
" I am so starving that I could eat an entire house! " Amnon exaggerated and laughed. Then, he quickly turned away from his parents, covered his mouth with his blanket and coughed.
" Son, your sudden outbursts of laughter have mocked you up, " the Kree Eternal crossed his arms and chuckled, waiting for his son to stop wheezing in a matter of seconds.
" I know... " he paused, ceased his barking, and took a pitcher of water and a glass. The blonde pink Kree gulped down his drink and felt relieved. " I guess I should stop joking and laughing until I get better. "
" Good, we'll leave for a while and get your meal. Don't forget to take your medicine afterwards. "
" Yes, sir. "
Moments later, the young pink Kree had finished eating his breakfast and consumed his medication. He peacefully snoozed on his bed, leaving no choice, but to follow the doctor's instructions for his recovery. Just downstairs, Methu-Selah busily spent washing the dishes at the kitchen sink as his girlfriend folded some newly washed and dried clothes. Carol was carrying them into the basket and bringing them upstairs.
Suddenly, they heard a doorbell when the Kree Eternal immediately left the kitchen and opened the door. Carol also sensed the person's presence from the doorway. There was a hint of fear and anxiety when Methu-Selah noticed a young Ethiopian man standing on the doorway. Kamal Abdul looked more tense than ever when he eyed on the couple.
" Kamal, is there something wrong? " he asked with concern.
" Old Methu-Selah, Elder Danvers, " Kamal panted and entered the flat. " We have been to Romania as some of the MTF and the Rebel Forces were killed. The others were enslaved! "
" Tell me, young man, " Carol said, tilting her head and eyeing the young Inhuman. " Did some of you escape? "
" Yes. "
The elderly blonde lady nervously gulped and felt uncomfortable as she heard the bad news from the young Ethiopian man. Carol remembered five days ago when her daughter had to leave with the troops to Romania for a slave den raid mission. That morning, she and her daughter had a talk. Ella was confident enough to lead the mission and make it more successful than ever. The half-Kree woman helplessly smiled and had no choice, but to support her. She tried to warn the Kree-Aussie lady, but Ella refused to listen and brushed her off. That time, Carol became more anxious of her daughter's status in that mission. That kept her overthinking aside from Amnon's sudden sickness.
This time, Methu-Selah secretly read his girlfriend's mind and looked at her with concern. He gently placed her left hand on her shoulder when Carol turned to him, giving a hint of anxiety. She held his hand and sighed. This time, the weight of problems had put upon her as she thought of her daughter and son in bad shape.
" I understood what you're getting from, Carol, " the Kree Eternal calmly spoke. " I predicted this when she was training and supervising Amnon a couple of days ago. I never wanted her to treat her younger half brother like that, but I felt sorry for her. Now, she needs your help. "
" I know that, Methie, " she seriously answered and sighed. " It's my fault why I made her that way. I could have never abandoned her in the first place. "
" The past has passed, Carol. The only thing you can make up for the missing years is to save her from where she is. "
Kamal looked at the couple and anxiously asked, " I'm not sure if it's safe to go to a town in Romania. A new Kree accuser has come from there. She and her followers are very dangerous to deal with. "
" Don't tell me, Kasius has ordered a new cannon fodder to take lives this time, " the Kree Eternal sternly spoke.
" No one knows where and who she is, " he replied. " I really don't know why she exists. "
" I won't forgive what she would do to my daughter, " Carol angrily muttered and clenched her fists. " I'd better go myself without any help from anyone else! "
" Carol, you can't do that! There are possibilities that you might die, " Methu-Selah seriously warned and held his girlfriend's left hand. " In a human's perspective, you're too old and fragile to deal with more indestructible beings! Both Amnon and Ella can't afford to lose their mother! "
" If we are all concerned for Amnon, I also feel the same way for Ella! She has to be spared! "
" I am telling you, Carol. You can't do this alone. "
The elderly half-Kree woman heavily sighed and heard her boyfriend's stern warnings. Carol ceased arguing with him and turned her attention to the footsteps from the stairs. Amnon walked over to his parents and the visitor when he kept coughing. He looked concerned when his furry ginger feline came along with him. His wavy golden locks were disheveled as he was still wearing his light blue pajamas and a navy blue robe.
" Amnon, you're supposed to be resting in your room, " his father called.
" Master, I just woke and heard you and mom were arguing, " the young pink Kree sluggishly replied and felt disoriented. " What are you guys talking about? "
His parents felt embarrassed and sighed as Kamal looked at him and said, " Amnon, something's wrong in our field mission to Romania. Some of us couldn't make it. Your older sister was leading us, but she was abducted. Then, few of us had survived and escaped. "
Amnon sadly sighed and bowed his head as he replied, " I could have done something to be there and bring her here safe. The MTF officials and the Rebel Forces leaders have put me into a training program, but I was absent for a week and got sick. Mom, Master, I knew Ella did a lot of horrible things to me, but I have to save her. I'm coming with you, Mom. "
" Amnon, are you sure? " Carol asked with concern. " You're sick and powerless. You haven't fully recovered yet. "
" Mom, I don't care. It's my sister who's talking about right now. Master's right, you can't do it all by yourself. You need someone to go there and rescue her. I am willing to join you, " he answered and turned to his father. " Master, with your permission and blessing, please let me join her. You might predict and say, it's dangerous to go into that slave den. Please, I just need to save her too. "
Methu-Selah secretly read his son's mind, predicted that possibility, and understood him. He gently placed his hands to Amnon's shoulders and sincerely eyed him. Amnon curiously raised his eyebrows and stared at his father.
" You may go with her. But in one condition, bring and keep your mother and sister safe home. Understand? " the Kree Eternal asked.
" Yes, sir. I will, " he sincerely smiled and nodded. Then, he turned to his young Ethiopian friend and asked, " Kamal, are you coming too? "
" I'm sorry, Amnon. I am not coming, because I am injured from that fatal wound, " Kamal sadly spoke and pointed at his bandages on his both legs. " I will just stay here and get well. I wish you good luck in your new mission. "
" Thanks. "
Offering some snacks from the kitchen to the visitor, Amnon offered Kamal a seat on the couch and brought the food on the table. The two spent talking about their MTF/Rebel Forces joint training. The young pink Kree mentioned that he missed five days for catching up his activities and such.
Just then, the holographic display had flashed a horrid imagery of the Romanian slave den. Amnon, his parents, and Kamal took notice of a sudden presentation coming from an unknown transmission source. Methu-Selah and Carol shared glances and remembered what they had discussed earlier. The imagery also showed a dark blonde woman who was bruised and beaten up. The elderly half-Kree recognized her, it was her daughter. She knew Ella had been in peril for days.
" My new accuser in Romania has been in-charge of taking these insolents into their demise, " a calm male voice spoke from the holographic display. " Whoever gets into this country, he or she shall face a brutal end, if you dare to fight against my legion. "
Amnon recognized the voice and angrily clenched his both fists as he muttered, " Dammit, what does Kasius want?! "
" Son, I'm afraid someone took over your place, " the Kree Eternal answered. " He has taken another slave to continue your skirmish. "
" Master, he needs to be stopped. That damn madman has my sister captive. I knew how it felt of being enslaved, beaten, and treated like a death puppet. I'm not gonna allow his new accuser to take any lives, " he seriously said.
" I agree, I am going there to save my daughter from that death trap, " Carol added. " If Kasius has devised it in Romania, Amnon and I will make it an end! "
" However, the MTF and the Rebel Forces will not allow you on this one, " Methu-Selah warned his girlfriend and son. " If I were you, you should do your mission secretly. "
" Did you have a possible vision of it, Master? " Amnon asked.
" Yes, if you ask Kai, Lord Hood, or anyone else, they will reject you. You have understood some of the MTF people found you questionable of your training because of your previous association with Kasius. As you have mentioned to me, they have also ridiculed you. "
" Well, I have overworked and gotten sick because of proving myself worthy to them. If they don't support us, then we have to do it on our own. I'm gonna follow your orders, Master. Please tell us what to do and how to get there, " Amnon determinedly spoke.
" Speaking of that, I have someone I know who can help us, " Carol smiled and suggested.
" Just hear me out in what I have seen, " the Kree Eternal answered and turned to Kamal. " Don't tell anyone what we're going to plan. "
" Yes, sir. " the Ethiopian Inhuman nodded.
(Next Day: Somewhere in Romania, 8:15 PM)
The cold breeze of Central Europe had roamed around the skies when Karena maneuvered a Quinjet which she borrowed from the Rebel Forces in Spain. Her dark-haired boyfriend was in the co-pilot's seat. Just behind the cockpit, the Kree mother and son were both patiently sitting and waiting for the aircraft to land. Allen Stroud moved his head and turned to them. Amnon was silent as he found himself strapped from his seat.
" So, this is your first time riding a former SHIELD quinjet, Bud? " Allen asked.
" Yeah, " the young pink Kree smiled and nodded. " Well, I will get used to it, soon enough. The last time I rode was a large carrier from the MTF en route from Dankil to Paris. That ride took more than three hours. "
" Will you imagine yourself piloting this old tin can soon? "
" I hope so. I will be happy to fly it after this prolonged hellhole ends. "
" Kid, you need to have further training as an aircraft pilot and get a license, " Carol reminded him.
" Mom, one of these days, I will do it. I'm starting to gain my interest in aviation aside from Astronomy and Space Exploration, " Amnon said. " I'll put it down in my list of things to do after the Kree-Lizard invasion. "
" I'm gladmonsieur Mon'amihas set his future plans. I know you can do and fulfill it, " Karena broke her silence.
" Merci beaucoup, madamoiselle. "
" De rien! "
" Okay, we're approaching our destination, 20 miles above sea level in 20 minutes, " Allen reminded and grinned. " Brace yourselves to face more freaks very soon! "
" If Jared were here, he's gonna laugh at your statement! " Carol chuckled.
" Heh, you said it, Old Lady! "
Amnon laughed at Allen's joke, but deep inside he was very terrified of what and who is the new Kree accuser. Then, he looked at the cockpit and anxiously sighed when his mother looked at him with concern. She gently patted and rubbed his shoulder as Amnon helplessly turned to her.
" I know you have both negative emotions, Amnon, " she calmly spoke. " You remembered your life in the New York slave den. "
" Yeah, I guess I can see the consequences of what I have done several months ago when Kasius influenced me. Mom, I've killed a lot of people when I was an accuser. I was so brutally insane when 682 took control of my body. I was there and watching, but trapped in my own subconscious void as my prison, " the pink Kree seriously confessed, giving her a depressing look. " I understood why some people in the MTF hated me with a burning passion, even my older half-sister too. Now, I'm gonna see such pain that I have caused before. "
Carol heard her son's words and gently held his left hand, " Kid, I'm so sorry to hear that. It's so painful to experience that. I could have rescued you there in the first place. "
" Mom, it's not your fault. I'm the one to blame for this. "
" Kid, Remember what your Old Man told you before you reached Paris? "
" The past has passed. It will never defy you. "
" Look, you're gradually getting back on your feet after Kasius did some mind-control stuff to you, " his mother said and smiled at him. " You have gained a family, a new body, and hope which you had really dreamed of ever since. You have done so much to please anyone. There's always a room for redemption and learning from your mistakes. Soon enough, they will understand and accept you. Just always do the right thing like you used to, you'll never go astray. "
" Thanks, Mom, " Amnon sincerely smiled back at her. " I'm always grateful to have you. "
" You are truly welcome, my son. "
" Guys, the Quinjet has landed, " Allen said. " Buckle down your seatbelts and get ready. "
As the quinjet had landed, a team of four had left and started roaming around the streets of a quiet Romanian rural town. The hooting of an owl can be heard in the place where it had flown away. Carol illuminated her both hands in a bright golden yellow light and cleared the path of darkness. She turned head around when she sensed someone coming from a distance. Her son took out his pistol and noticed the figure in suspicion.
The gloominess and darkness had succumbed within the town where there were streaks of blood on the ground. The group kept walking when Amnon accidentally stepped on a deceased male slave's finger and got startled in breaking it. His mother and companions turned their attention to him.
" Kid, are you alright? " she asked with concern.
" I...I...just stepped on a dead man's hand... I didn't mean to..." Amnon frighteningly spoke and refused to look at it.
" Kid, he's beyond decomposition, " Carol reminded and sighed. " Now, we have to move. "
" R-right..."
The four continued walking on the town streets and reached the outskirts where they found a gated manor. It was still standing despite of the prolonged Kree-Lizard invasion and slavery. Amnon had never been into this place before when he was a Kree-682 hybrid. He curiously titled his head and raised his eyebrows. Allen and Karena both shared glances and prepared themselves for the raid. The dark haired member of the Rebel Forces turned to his blonde friend.
" Hey, Bud. Never been to this place before? " Allen asked.
" No, " Amnon simply answered. " I have never been here in Romania before. "
" Yeah, just giving you a heads-up, there's an urban legend where a very beautiful woman and her fellow slaves were taken here by these freaks. They were all being experimented as weapons for the Kree Empire, but no one had survived. They were all being executed and fed by the roaches, " he continued. " That woman attempted to escape in the clutches of those invaders, but she failed. "
" What happened to the lady? "
" No one knows of her fate, Amnon, " Karena answered. " That story was twenty-five years ago. "
The pink Kree man sadly sighed upon hearing that story to his friends. He wondered if that poor woman had died in the hands of the invaders. Carol was somehow becoming more concerned that this mission was too difficult to handle. Then, she turned her attention to the gates and found them chained and locked. Allen took out his pistol and pulled the trigger which the chains were too strong to break down. It was Karena's turn when she used her rifle to shoot at them, but it never made it.
" Guys, I volunteer, " the blonde half-Kree elderly broke her silence.
" Are you sure you can do that, Madame Danvers? " the French brunette lady asked.
" I won't get hurt, Karena, " she confidently smiled. " I'll give it a try. "
" Go for it, Mom, " Amnon added.
" Give it a shot, Old Lady, " Allen grinned.
Carol nodded and illuminated her both fists using her bright yellow photon energy with her light soul. She instantly aimed and blasted the chains on the gate, breaking and falling onto the ground. Allen carefully opened it and signalled his companions to enter. They walked into the premises and saw more decomposing bodies of the slaves, Rebel Forces, and the MTF troopers. The obnoxious smell had roamed around the air, as the four cupped their hands and covered their mouths and noses. Also, they noticed a mound of skulls and bones piled up.
" Goodness, how long have they been here? " Amnon asked with concern.
" Days into years, " Carol sternly answered. " Whoever is responsible for this, he or she could be damned. "
" I agree with that, madame, " Karena nodded. " We have to stop this madness here. "
" Speaking of madness, " Allen continued and pointed at the main door. " We have to get in and find out who's behind this. "
The dark haired mercenary knocked on the door and waited for someone to respond. Amnon curiously tilted his head and wondered why there was no response when his friend continued knocking on the door. Allen became more impatient as there was still no response from anyone inside.
" Dammit..." he angrily muttered and complained. " I've never experienced going to a slave den like this! Like this must be a slaughterhouse where Kasius had plotted before! "
" Allen, calm down, " Karena reminded him. " We can still break into the windows. Then, we raid this place and find any survivors. "
Allen heavily sighed, " I guess so, but I'm thinking this will make them pay attention to them. "
Suddenly, the door slowly opened with an eerie creaking sound. Amnon, his mother, and two friends were surprised to see someone who opened the door. It appeared to be a lanky, brunette, and pale teenage boy. His sad eyes were talking at the four newcomers. The Kree sadly sighed and felt sorry for the young man in seeing him.
" He must be a laborer in this place, " Amnon thought. " Obviously, he hasn't eaten these days. "
" Wait, he's just a boy, " Karena said and confronted him as she smiled and greeted. " Hello, there. "
The boy couldn't understand what the French lady had said. He was silent and very afraid to confront the people in front of him. The boy was fearfully running away from them.
" Please don't go! We're not going to hurt you! " she exclaimed. " We are just trying to..."
" Karena, just give him space, " Carol turned to the French lady.
" But madame Danvers, we are here to help..."
" He's not in the mood to communicate and confront. "
" I can't blame him, " Amnon broke his silence. " I understood why he was so afraid. "
" What do you mean? " Karena asked.
" That kid could be working for someone else, he can't communicate with anybody. There must be an inhibitor and tracking chip which he can only listen to and talk to his handler himself, " he explained.
" Now, that's why he couldn't hear us. I take it, " Allen surmised.
" We'd better get going, kids, " Carol reminded them. " We should see my daughter alive and spare her from this madness. "
" Don't tell me, it's Amnon's evil step-sister! " the dark mercenary chuckled and turned to the pink Kree. " No wonder, why your old man say to me you're Mr. Cinderella! "
" Right..." Amnon dryly chuckled and sighed. " Now, that explains why I suffered that much. "
Walking around the place, some mid-twentieth to early twenty-first century furniture and decorations remained untouched and dusty throughout the years. Amnon fixedly eyed the painting which depicted deaths and skirmishes of humanity from the unknown and dark figures. He sadly sighed and looked away from it. He turned to his mother when Carol secretly read her son's mind.
" You have seen so many horrid things, " she said. " I understood why you wanted to redeem yourself from your lost days. "
" I'm glad you knew that, Mom, " he nodded.
Reaching into the living area, they noticed some three dark hooded women surrounding them. They were all laughing at them. Amnon, Allen, and Karena took out their firearms to prepare for shooting them. Carol radiated her both hands in yellow photon energy. The three women tauntingly laughed at them when the three young people instantly pulled their triggers against them. One of them instantly dodged bullets.
The first girl showed her claws to attack, dashing herself to attack the Frenchwoman. Karena immediately evaded and held her rifle to fire the hooded one, however her rifle was being sliced down. Her opponent was laughing and taunting her. Allen immediately fired down the first hooded woman on the chest down to her midriff as she was loudly screaming in pain, falling down, and spilling her blood on the floor. The brunette Frenchwoman sighed in relief when her boyfriend extended his right hand and helped her to stand up.
" What is that? " she asked.
" Some creeps came to kick the bucket at you, " Allen answered and turned to Amnon struggling in breaking free from the second lady and Carol fighting the third one. " Crap, the Kree Eternal Jr. and his mommy get into trouble. "
" Allen, may I borrow your ammo? "
" Oh, yeah, " he handed his extra pistol to his girlfriend. " Here you go. "
" Merci beaucoup, " she smiled.
" Yeah, you're welcome. "
Allen and Karena both fired their weapons, aiming at the second and third hooded females. The one who attacked Amnon moaned in pain when she got shot on her leg. The pink Kree sighed in relief and smiled at his dark mercenary friend. This time, he grabbed his pistol and checked the load for more bullets. Amnon pointed his weapon at the woman's forehead, remembering his target shooting practices in his previous training. Then, he immediately pulled the trigger when the bullet had ricocheted and reached the right target. The woman's head was heavily bleeding when she ended in her demise.
" She almost took me, " Amnon sighed in relief and turned to his two friends from the Rebel Forces.
" You're just in time to take her down, monsieur Mon'ami, " Karena smiled.
" Yeah, not bad for a returning slave den raider, " Allen grinned.
Amnon nodded and turned to his mother, who was struggling at the last hooded lady, " Oh, no! Mom! "
" You allowed your friends to kill my sisters! " the last hooded lady retorted and prepared to strike the elderly half-Kree hybrid woman's chest. " Prepare to die and your blood will be ours! "
" If you're gonna kill me, I assure you these three will eliminate you, " Carol evilly scoffed in reply.
" What are you talking about? I don't understand! "
" Why don't you look behind you and see them for yourself. "
The woman turned to Amnon, Allen, and Karena as they pointed their weapons at her. She angrily hissed and readied herself to take them, but she ended up being showered by bullets. Her blood was being splattered all over the walls and floors. She instantly fell into her knees and lied down, joining her other sisters to another life.
" Now, what? " Amnon looked at his mother and friends.
" I'll give them an instant cremation, " Carol simply replied and radiated her both hands with a bright yellow photon blast. She instantly flared and aimed at the three bodies, exploding and burning them for good.
" Now, they're roasted and burned into ashes, we need to check around, " Allen suggested.
" Let's move, then, " Karena nodded.
The four walked away from the living room where the three hooded women had met their fate. Suddenly, they saw a nine feet pale looking woman cladded in a long sleeved pearly white gown. She was wearing a pearl choker necklace and a black rose corsage attached on her left shoulder. She was wearing a pair of dark gloves. Her irises in her both eyes were golden yellow. Her wide black hat covered her wavy raven hair. The woman held her cigarette using her right hand. She was eyeing and grinning at the four intruders.
" Well, well, well, what do we have here, " she calmly spoke and puffed at them. " I'm just very glad that you have come into my manor or should I say execution house for slaves and insolents like you. I do believe this will be more than talking. I would like to know first about the real purpose of your visit before ending you up into bloodshed. How's that sound? "
(Allen Stroud belongs to Knightfall077)