" Our behavior is different. How often have you seen a headline like this?-TWO DIE ATTEMPTING RESCUE OF DROWNING CHILD. If a man gets lost in the mountains, hundreds will search and often two or three searchers are killed. But the next time somebody gets lost just as many volunteers turn out. Poor arithmetic, but very human. It runs through all our folklore, all human religions, all our literature-a racial conviction that when one human needs rescue, others should not count the price."
―Robert A. Heinlein
(Abandoned Castle, Somewhere in Romania, 8:30 PM)
The young pink Kree man slowly opened his eyes and became disoriented while his vision was turning from blurry to clear. He moved his head from to and fro and noticed he was being tied by ropes and struggling to break from them. His mouth was covered when Amnon kept moaning in gibberish. There were blue wounds and bruises around his face, arms, and neck. He was unconsciously being knocked down and beaten up in the forest, never realizing he ended up in a dark dungeon full of carcasses and decaying bodies of humans. Amnon widened his eyes in fear, seeing a large mass of pale pinkish flesh attached on the ceiling. The abomination had veins, water, and tendrils coming from its mouth. It was ready to abduct any being to satisfy its hunger and thirst for human blood.
The pink Kree was horrified to witness this undesirable and grimm environment. He was mumbling and moaning in fear, thinking of surviving and escaping from his position. Amnon was helpless and facing his possible death once again. Just behind him, there were two women who came from the doorway and kept conversing. The blonde man slowly looked from behind. He remembered encountering the tall voluptuous vampire-Inhuman accuser. She was wearing a large elongated hat from the early twentieth century. The accuser was wearing a long white gown with sleeves with black rose corsage. The other woman beside her was a pale blue skinned Kree with dark eyeballs and green irises. Her silvery white hair was revealed from her dark veil. The Kree woman was wearing dark clothes with golden trimmings. She indignantly glared at the captive and walked over to him along with the attractive lady accuser.
Amnon attempted to speak up, still he was angrily moaning like he was cursing. Lady Dimitrescu walked over to the blond captive and gave him a menacing grin. Her Kree companion remained emotionless and began composing her words before speaking up.
" So, you know how it feels to be abducted? " she softly chuckled and taunted, releasing her sharp claws and preparing to impale him. " Several days ago, I took that Kree-hybrid woman to be the bait. With that, you and your companions can rescue her. Apparently, I failed in getting you when your damn mother almost took me! "
Still his mouth tied up and covered, Amnon couldn't speak up. The Kree woman beside the accuser took out the covering from his mouth. He angrily glared at them and indignantly replied, " Is it because you have replaced me as the accuser?! Tell me, did Kasius order you to kill a lot of people like I did? "
" You were just manipulated by him, Boy, " Lady Dimitrescu bluntly answered. " He thought that you were the same as that disastrous and indestructible lizard, but only to find out you were something else. You had killed some of the slaves in a span of six months. To me, they were just a mediocre and futile exploit. I have killed and slaughtered a lot of humans for a lifetime after my terrigenesis. "
" So, you're a Kree experiment?! " Amnon asked. " Is this woman responsible for your transformation?! "
" Yes, I am, " the pale skinned Kree woman sternly replied. " Alcina was once a slave from forty years ago under Taryan's rule. I was responsible for her new life. Even her daughters, they were once slaves too. Taryan asked me to look after them. "
" Why did you do this? "
" It's just that we need to change the world according to what we have perceived, " the accuser answered. " We have seen humans are misguided and corrupted. The tyrant has to rule this planet. I am just following his orders to bring death along with the benefactor, but the Kree Eternal and his allies had attempted to thwart our actions. So, you happened to be a previous accuser and followed that damned Kree. You deserve to die in my own hands. You allowed anyone to kill my daughters! "
Amnon enlarged and watered his eyes in fear that he was being threatened. He silently wept as he felt the lady accuser's long and sharp claw like nails. She readied herself to impale and make the young Kree man bleed to death. Amnon couldn't break free from the tight ropes being tied on his body to the chair. Lady Dimitrescu wanted to eliminate the young man for good and bring news to her master back in New York.
" Alcina, " the Kree woman sternly called her name. " For Hala's sake, do not strike the child yet! "
" But Mother Miranda, Kasius asked me to bring this damn bastard down for good! " the tall accuser reasoned and paused her killing spree. " I have to let him know that this pest has died! "
" I said, do not strike him yet! "
" Why?! "
" Before you do that, let me talk to this boy, " she answered and slowly walked at Amnon in circles. " There's something different in him. I had understood completely that he was once a runaway lizard clone with Kree genes. He might be the boy which everyone has been looking for. Even the humans from that puny Foundation hunt him. "
" What are you talking about? He's supposed to be dead, right now, Mother! "
" I need to have a word with him first, " the Kree woman reminded. " Alcina, I will be needing your help once I am done discussing with him. "
" But mother..."
" Just wait for my signal. Understand?! "
Lady Dimitrescu grimaced and pouted like a teenage girl being reprimanded by her mother. She stepped back and stood in the corner watching and listening to the confrontation of her benefactor and the victim. Amnon indignantly glared at the Kree woman and spat saliva on her face.
" My, that was very disgraceful to greet your aunt, Amnon-Selah, " she seriously said and wiped her face. " I know I have deceived you and made you believe I was that old Russian woman needing your help. In fact, I have been doing that disguise for centuries. "
" My aunt?! " Amnon angrily repeated the woman's words. " I don't even know who the hell you are! What do you want from me?! "
" My, how naive you are, " she smirked. " Most of my follower calls me, Mother Miranda here on this damned planet. My real name is Mira-Selah, a corrupted Kree Eternal.It's nice to meet you, my dear oblivious nephew."
Amnon was speechless upon hearing the Kree woman's identity. He couldn't believe that Mother Miranda was Old Methu-Selah's younger sister from a long time ago. He had heard her stories from a couple of days ago. This time, he was seeing her alive, but no longer the innocent one.
" Your physical appearance reminded me of my damned older brother, " Mira said. " I know everything about you, Boy. A Kree-SCP 682 hybrid child who has escaped from that Foundation facility until your enslavement under Kasius. "
" How did you know everything,auntie?!" Amnon furiously asked. " Did you even attempt to kill me before or send someone to track me down?! "
" No, I never asked Alcina to chase you. I was there all along watching your misfortunes, joys, and sadness in your trips by sending my creations to spy on you, but yet you have never noticed. My brother must have been looking for you, too. I have a different purpose for bringing you here. "
" Why are you telling me these things?! "
" Well, I can sense you as a potential heir of my brother's light soul. You haven't known the truth, because those humans hindered you about who you are, " Mira answered. " I have madly envied my brother ever since. He was too powerful for a Kree Eternal and surpassed our grandfather, Ard-Con. I want that light soul to be my own! I deserve that, not him. "
" Is it because you're gonna use that for your own benefit? "
" Yes! "
" Is this also a way to become formidable? "
" Of course, " Mira replied. " But my brother and I became separated after he left me on Earth. I badly argued with him and deserve the light soul from him! "
" Look, I'm sorry if your brother has done something bad to you. Maybe he wants you to live in peace on Earth. He has reasons why he never gave you that power, " Amnon sternly explained. " You have to understand him. "
" Understand?! Really?! " she loudly laughed. " Why did he even care to see me when my daughter or your cousin had gone from a Terran disease?! Tell me! "
" My cousin?! What are you talking about?! "
" That living mold on the ceiling is your cousin, Eva, " she replied and turned to the abomination.
" What have you done to her?! "
" It was a circumstance that my brother never came to spare her. She died of that virus a century ago, " Mira continued and clasped her hands. " I was greatly grieving for Eva and very frustrated for myself and the damned demon! I almost took my own life by experimenting myself with forbidden elements. On that mistake, I discovered how I could surpass my brother's longevity and resuscitate Eva. I made myself and the mold linked as one. From then on, I have taken those humans, slaves or free as a meal. "
Amnon heard his aunt's story and looked at the mold. He became more terrified than before, never realizing she would do the impossible and finding it too horrifyingly ridiculous.
" This is ludicrous! " he growled. " You can't do that to your own daughter in death! How could you?! "
" This was the only way I brought her back! It would have never happened in the first place if your father had never abandoned me and could have spared your cousin! "
Amnon remained speechless and widened his eyes in shock. Mira-Selah or Mother Miranda was implying something that he didn't know. The pink Kree became baffled about his identity and angry at her mad aunt. Lady Dimitrescu was intently smiling and smoking her cigarette upon listening to the conversation. She was interested to hear more revelations from her benefactor before she could report to the Kree overlord.
" Who on Hala is my father?! " he heatedly broke his silence, demanding for an answer. " Why did you tell me that I can have a light soul? What do you really want from me?! "
" I cannot tell who and where your father is, only you can find out, " Mira instantly said. " All I want from you is the pure and incorruptible Kree Eternal's blood, because your blood and his are the same! "
" What are you talking about?! Who the hell is my father?! " Amnon demanded. " I need answers! "
" Why would I answer your damn questions? You should find it out by yourself, my dear nephew. " she sternly replied. " Besides, I am going to waste my time and do something more important than that. "
" What are you going to do now?! Tell me! "
" I will make an offering to Eva. You will be the first Kree to be offered as a sacrifice! "
Succumbing in fear and hearing the sentence, Amnon's hands were shaking and attempting to lose the ropes around him. He never wanted what would happen to him. Lady Dimitrescu sternly glared at him and turned to her benefactor.
" He's going to break free from his seat, " the accuser said.
" Just subdue him, don't mutilate him into pieces, " Mira seriously reminded her in a whisper. " The son of Methu-Selah must remain whole for Eva's satisfaction. "
Lady Dimitrescu evilly grinned and slowly walked over to the pink Kree who was still struggling to break free from his seat. Amnon angrily gritted his teeth and glared at his captors and then to the abomination on the ceiling. It was growling like a devouring beast, but more eerie than a stomach grumbling. The mold was longing for a prey to satisfy its hunger.
Amnon was becoming too terrified when he heard the strange noise coming from it. Then, he looked at the accuser and said," LET GO OFF ME, YOU DAMN FREAK! "
" We will let you go, but your blood serves as Eva's satisfaction, " the tall lady accuser smirked and showed her sharp nails to the pink Kree, prepping to wound him.
(CASTLE'S ENTRANCE)
After a series of strange encounters of shady creatures and fights in the forest, the group entered the abandoned castle and reached the main hall, showing some two winding stairs. There was old furniture covered with a large white blanket and dust. The centuries old paintings kept looking at the unexpected guests as their images were fading away. On the walls, there were gold trimmings and decors remained attached and unrusted. Unexpectedly, Allen began sneezing while he sniffed dust everywhere. Karena facepalmed to her embarrassment and glared at her mercenary boyfriend.
" Excuse me, " he nervously grinned.
" You'd better be cautious in this place, Allen. Someone might hear us, " she lowly spoke.
" Sorry, I am really allergic to dust. I can't help it. "
" Sacre Bleue, " Karena sighed and muttered.
Loki recalled the day when he entered this premise for the first time and saw some slaves being devoured by a strange abomination. He knew that Amnon could have been taken as a sacrifice. The Asgardian bounty hunter knew where exactly he was being taken and turned to his companions.
" I know where that Scavenger Boy is right now, " he broke his silence.
" Where? " Carol asked.
" At the dungeon! I have been there before! " Loki exclaimed and pointed to the room going to that place.
" As I have sensed, my son is being sacrificed there, " Methu-Selah seriously spoke. " We have to get there before that creature will devour him. "
" Don't tell me..." his half-Kree girlfriend anxiously muttered.
" So, we're gonna deal with more pests once again, I'll take it, " Allen took out his pistol.
" I hope we can find someone alive other than him, " Karena added.
" Let's do this, then. "
Upon reaching the lowest and darkest area of the castle, they heard the growling sound coming from a distance. Methu-Selah and Carol both knew that their son was taken as a sacrifice. Loki, Allen, and Karena remained vigilant to the eerie setting. Just then, they heard a loud screaming within the area coming from a woman.
" What the?! " Allen muttered and pointed the gun.
" It's another victim, " Karena answered.
" Those damn creatures again, " Loki grumbled.
A zombie-like being had appeared from the wine cellar where the others grabbed a middle aged woman with grey hair who was trembling and weeping in fear. She was being held as a captive. Loki instantly leapt behind the creature and pinned it down. It lost its grasp to the female captive. Karena instantly took her away. The woman was terrified of that experience when she looked at the people around her.
" Tell us, who did this to you? " the brunette Frenchwoman asked.
" Them...Them..." the grey haired lady shakingly pointed at the direction going to the wall.
" Who? " Allen asked.
" I..." she paused.
" I know who, " Methu-Selah replied. " She's telling us to go that direction, but it's a secret dungeon. "
" So that means, we're gonna find those captors from that fake wall, " the dark haired mercenary replied.
" Yes. "
" Lady, we're going to ask you some questions later, " Carol said to the captive. " You need to leave this castle and wait for us here. Understand? "
The woman nodded and left the dungeon as the group went their way to a secret prison chamber. Upon reaching the place, there were four porcelain white statues of angels standing. Loki knew that one of the angels could open the wall, leading them to their destination. He pushed one statue and noticed the concrete brick wall was opening. The Asgardian bounty hunter signalled them and headed their way to another tunnel. The Kree couple illuminated their both hands using their light souls and broke the darkness. In that tunnel, there were cobwebs and spiders on the walls and ceilings. On the floor, there were skulls and bones from various races scattered. They saw prison cells being inhabited by rats and spiders aside from skeletons of slaves and captives.
Finally, they reached the opening of another larger room. It was not another prison cell, but a shrine. In the center, there was a tabernacle where Amnon was unconsciously lying down as his face got bruises and wounds. The tendrils coming from the mold had descended and began to wrap around the pink Kree's body. Its mouth was widely opening and readying itself to devour and digest the offering. Lady Dimitrescu and Mira-Selah or Mother Miranda were both pleased to see it happening. For Methu-Selah and Carol, they were furious in seeing their son as a meal to that abomination. Their light souls were too radiant as Loki and his companions instantly shielded their eyes.
The Kree couple instantly blasted the tendrils from that devouring creature when it moaned loudly.
Mira-Selah angrily clenched her fists and noticed the intruders who hindered the ritual. Methu-Selah and Carol instantly took their unconscious son away from that abomination. Allen, Karena, and Loki held their weapons and stood in front of the family to defend them. Lady Dimitrescu looked at them and released her sharp nails to take them down once again. Mira gave the accuser a glare to back off and confronted the rallying group.
" It's been a long time since I saw you, Methu, " Mother Miranda or Mira-Selah evilly grinned and walked over to the group. " I have waited for centuries on Earth for your return. "
" Mira, don't you dare to harm my son! " the Kree Eternal growled and illuminated his right fist with a radiant blue light.
" Yes, your dearest son, my brother! " she scoffed and laughed. " You chose him over me! So, that brat happened to be a successor of your light soul which I have envied for eons! I know I am not that important, but I have made myself more powerful than you. I realized that I don't need the light soul. I have revived Eva using those elements I have kept. "
" Is it because you spent more time on this planet doing your experiments before this invasion happens? "
" Precisely, this is the right time to glorify the new Kree Empire without your help, my dear brother. By the way, where were you when I was grieving for my daughter?! With that, I have chosen your son to be a sacrifice, because you were never there to spare Eva! "
" Mira, this is beyond insanity! You have killed lives on this planet! Leave Amnon alone! "
" No, this is a work of art. Yet, you took my sacrifice away from your niece, a life for a life! "
" Damnation, " Loki muttered and turned to his blue skinned friend. " Methu, your sister is beyond saving. She's no longer the one who looks after you. "
" I agree with him, " Allen added. " Look, I know you wanted to spare her from her madness, but your son is important in your life too. You have to choose your sister or him? "
At first, Methu-Selah was contemplating to spare his sister's life. He had good memories with her, but her corrupted nature had consumed her. He had predicted earlier that Mira would die in the hands of him and his companions. Then, he looked at Amnon who was unconscious, beaten, and wounded. The Kree Eternal had decided to take care of his son before he would pass on. He turned to Allen, Karena, and Loki and said, " We have to spare her from her madness. She's no longer the Mira I knew. "
" But how? " Karena asked with concern.
" Take her into the next life along with that mold who considered it her daughter, " he replied. " Amnon has to live. "
" Oui, " she nodded and fired her weapon into the mold.
The bullets from the sniper rifle had entered into the creature's mouth. The creature moaned in pain as Mira angrily yelled in pain. She was about to transform into her monstrous form, but Loki instantly stabbed her and let her bleed in blue blood. Mira angrily clenched her fists and formed bird-like wings on her back. Then, her fingers transformed like tree branches. The monstrous Kree removed the daggers from the Asgardian.
" What's the matter?! Do you even think you can kill me that easily?! " she indignantly asked and hovered above him, grabbing Loki and choking him.
" Oh, crap! Loki! Hang in there! " Allen cried and kept targeting the flying mad Kree woman. Mira was able to dodge the attacks.
" Allen! Try shooting that thing over there! " Carol pointed at the mold and stood beside Amnon.
" Right! " the dark haired mercenary nodded and knew how to escalate things. He joined his girlfriend in targeting the mold which had some special bullets from the MTF that could pierce the flesh. They kept shooting as soon as they could. Suddenly, Mira felt being shot and bled once again. She moaned in pain and dropped Loki into mid-air. He fell on the tabernacle and grimaced when he felt a back pain.
Looking at the other couple, Methu-Selah and Carol joined them and made a photonic blast projectile, targeting the creature on the ceiling. The bright radiance emitted from their hands and struck it down, leaving an explosion and a hole. Finally, it had gone into the smithereens. Mother Miranda or Mira-Selah's heart began to beat faster when a flow of blue Kree blood had gushed out of her eyes and mouth. She witnessed her greatest creation had kicked the bucket.
" YOU FOOLS... YOU WILL... PAY FOR...THIS! " she spoke and took her last breath. The corrupted Kree Eternal quickly fell down on the ground.
" I'm sorry, Mira..." Methu-Selah sadly replied and emitted his bright blue radiance on his hands, blasting and cremating her body.
Watching Mother Miranda's demise, Lady Dimitrescu became furious and walked over to Amnon, preparing to take him down. Methu-Selah and Carol blocked her way. Allen and Karena joined the other couple as Loki slowly managed to stand up and gritted his teeth in pain.
" It doesn't have to be this way! " she growled. " You killed my benefactor! Now, I have to do what Kasius asked me to do! "
" Look, lady, we won't allow you to take another life, " Allen sternly spoke.
" If you come near my son, you have to deal with me first! " the elderly blonde half-Kree added. " You kidnapped my daughter in the first place. "
" Make me..." the accuser instantly replied and frowned as she was about to transform.
Loki watched the Inhuman morphing and sadistically muttered, " Oh, I hate attractive and indestructible freaks. "
The Asgardian bounty hunter threw his two daggers at the tall accuser Inhuman, making her bleed. Alcina was about to remove the two weapons attached to her back, but she was being shot by two mercenary couples. Then, she received a combined fiery photonic blast from the Kree Eternal and the former Avenger. Supposed to transform, Lady Alcina Dimitrescu had met her explosive demise and yelled in pain for she was experiencing tremendous heat and radiance in her body. The group immediately got out of the dungeon, living it exploding. At last, the Romanian village was no longer experiencing such torment from the lady accuser and her benefactor. They rushed out of the abandoned castle and headed to the grounds.
" Finally, it's over, " Carol sighed in relief and helped her boyfriend carrying her son.
" This is the end for that damned accuser, " Methu-Selah replied.
" Yeah, Everything's good for now, " Allen added and held his girlfriend's right hand.
" Right, " Karena nodded and smiled at him.
" Mission accomplished, thanks to all of you, " the dark haired Asgardian commented and felt pleased. " I guess I should keep going. "
" Loki, we have just reunited after all those years? " the Kree Eternal asked.
" I am going to get another client after this. Once the invasion is over, I shall meet you all very soon, " he smiled and shook hands to his old friend. " Tell your son, I have some work to do. I know he will be asking some questions. "
" I will. "
" Thanks a lot, god of mischief, " Carol smiled.
" We'll see you soon, " Karena added.
" Have a safe trip! " Allen waved his hands.
" Goodbye, friends. Until we meet again, " Loki smiled back, waved, and walked away.
As the group got separated and headed to the Quinjet, the grey haired woman joined them and asked, " What about me? I need to go home and see my brother. "
The four of them looked at her, but Amnon remained unconscious at the moment. If he gained his senses, he could have recognized her.
" And who you might be? " Carol curiously asked.
" My name's Lenia Vanasoul, " she answered." A survivor of the mad lady accuser. Please take me home with Uldrin. "
(Allen Stroud and Lenia Vanasoul belong toKnightfall077)