Secret Invasion Contest II: Resistance

[Rift]

Chapter I- Iron Fist: Hostile Takeovers

A few hours before the Invasion...



Danny Rand sat in his office looking absolutely miserable. This was the aspect of his life he hated most, the part where he had to focus not on helping people, not on training and deepening his knowledge of Kung Fu, but on business related to the company. Granted, he didn't necessarily have to put himself through the monotony of signing papers, taking meetings, and listening to the board run numbers and strategize. That was more or less a choice he'd made at this point. In all honesty, the company had been acquired by Prince Namor, the Submariner during a time in which Danny had been...away. The leader of Atlantis was being quite gracious by allowing him to have as much say in things as he did, especially considering the time that the company and Atlantis had come into conflict.

Typically, Danny left the day-to-day operations to capable staff, including Joy Meachum, while his lawyer and friend Jeryn Hogarth handled any legal or monetary matters. Still, he liked to make sure that every once in a while, the people working at the company that bore his last name saw him. He used his sway to help steer the company away from risky ventures, such as deals with China, considering his distaste for the country's abysmal human rights record and made certain that the corporation was giving back to not only its employees but also the neighborhood. The degree to which he was successful at that and avoided the wrath of Joy, Jeryn, and others was debatable. Still, it helped him to feel closer to his father. The company after all, was his life's work and as much as Rand didn't care for wealth or the grind associated with the corporate world, he wanted to make his dad proud.

It was the whole making him proud thing that had him staring down a man in a suit that cost more than most people's vehicles. The guy had waltzed in, past a secretary, with no meeting set on the books, and sat down across from him with a briefcase in hand. Then he'd started giving his spiel.

"The offer is very simple Mr. Rand. You sign over your interest in the company to me. I will make Ms. Meachum a similar lucrative offer. And you get to go back to...whatever it is you do when you are not sitting in this office looking like you are incarcerated. You'll find the offer is above board and quite honestly far more valuable than the company itself is worth. You just need to sign."

"Right. But you see there's a serious problem here. First, I'm not selling. Second you and whoever you represent clearly didn't do your homework or you would be aware that Rand Corporation is technically held by..." Danny started.

"I am aware of the Submariner's interest and assure you that he won't be making waves. No pun intended of course. Just sign," the man said.

"And three, you didn't make an appointment. It's just considered good manners, even in the business world, to do such things. So you need to leave. Now," Danny continued.

"Suit yourself. But I will be back. I left my card so you can reconsider. Might want to make it quick too. The world is changing and fast. You have a good evening Mr. Rand. I'll be seeing you real soon."

What followed was over two hours of failed phone calls. Lines seemed to be going down all over the state according to the news and try as he might Danny was unable to reach Jeryn via any of the numbers he had. Likewise he tried to reach out to Namor, finally managing to fire off an email to an old address he had no idea was even still in use. Something about the way the guy had mentioned his not being a problem didn't sit right with Danny.

Anyone who takes a swing at Namor is crazy. In fact I almost want to see it happen because of how funny it would be to see them get wrecked. Almost as funny as the idea of Namor checking email... Danny thought. Still, this is weird. I need to look deeper into this guy and who he represents. And if Danny Rand can't figure it out thanks to wonky internet, then maybe the Iron Fist can figure something out in person.
..........................................

Later...

Danny had barely begun his investigation when all hell broke loose. Much of the city was plunged into darkness as communications and powerlines went down. Ships soared through the skyline, search lights beaming down as Skrull forces that had infiltrated the police and National Guard began enacting checkpoints and curfews. Where the real authorities and even citizens tried fighting back the aliens were not afraid of using lethal force.

Iron Fist spent the evening doing what he could to help. Stealthily taking out Skrull patrols where he could, he'd found unlikely allies in some of the local street toughs. Gang members, low level mafia enforcers, and other criminals he knew had ties to the nefarious Kingpin were setting aside their differences and fighting the invaders. Still, Danny's concerns were over the regular people caught unaware and defenseless. To that end he had taken several homeless people, some kids caught outside after dark, and even a few elderly people such as the owner of a bodega he frequented and gotten them to safety.

Much as he was uncomfortable with his vast wealth, he'd used it to buy multiple structures around New York City. When you couldn't fly it behooved a superhero to have a safehouse or ten scattered around. Not to mention the older buildings either had or could have special entrances and exits added, allowing them to be interconnected should a certain martial arts master need to get away quickly or limp off to get patched up by the Night Nurse in secret. Several of these places served to house people, at least for a time. Some of the properties were in disrepair or at least looked abandoned thanks to boarded of windows, serving to further protect those he'd given refuge.

Satisfied that he had done what he could and realizing that the sheer scale and scope of the invasion meant that it was likely barely a drop in the bucket, he decided to follow up on a hunch he had and went to the address found on the business card the man had left him earlier in the evening.

Arriving at the location he stealthily hopped a fence, avoided security, and entered a large, fairly newly constructed warehouse. Inside he found exactly what he expected and then some. People, most of which were likely Skrull in disguise, were assembling tank-like vehicles and outfitting hover craft with weaponry. It was practically a conveyer belt of enemy assets and at the top of a catwalk stood the guy that had tried buying his shares in the company.

Before he could even decide on a course of action, the guy picked up a megaphone and made an announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your hard work. We will continue this here and elsewhere around the city and the world, however we need to take a moment to pause, admire our work, and say welcome to our visitor. Mister Rand? You are here yes? Our sensors picked you up two blocks out. I suppose you are all set? You have those ridiculous pajamas on? And don't act surprised. Your so-called secret identity is perhaps the worst kept secret ever among both your fellow heroes and even your own employees. I offer you this one chance to surrender. I tried to give you an out earlier this evening and I offer you one again. We will have Rand Corporation and the designs your father worked on for that hypersonic train system. It will be most useful in helping to subjugate this world. So please, be reasonable. You face the might of an intergalactic empire with little more than punches and kicks. Your Kung-Fu is most definitely not enough"
----------------------------------------------

A short time later...



The warehouse burned, walls and steel beams falling down. The smoking ruin of a Skrull tank sparked, the one-time pilot of it lay crumpled over the control console. All around the interior Skrulls lay in heaps, limbs contorted, broken, several likely to never walk straight again if they managed to survive.

The leader of this cell, the man who had previously attempted to force Danny to sell his company, went crashing through a wall only to bounce off the windshield of a truck in the parking area. Green spittle rise from his lips, as he, now fully reverted to Skrull form, attempted to raise his head. Through the hole he'd just flown through, silhouetted by the fire raging inside, Iron Fist emerged, his hand still glowing.

Leaning over the injured Skrull, he said "Would you look at that? Seems your Kung Fu wasn't strong enough. Now, how about we talk more about why you want the trains and where else you guys have these weapons factories set up?"

1534 Words

[Rift]

Chapter II- VENOM: Leverage



Symkaria, Day 3 of the Invasion



Agent Venom rocketed through the air in total darkness, the single occupant plane that carried him to Symkaria exploding as Skrull patrol ships set upon it. The symbiote was keeping Flash completely cloaked as he descended, deploying a parachute formed from the alien itself at the last possible moment. Sailing over ancient stone architecture and dropping onto a cobblestone street, Flash ran for cover, ducking behind an overturned, burning car. His Other shivered slightly, uncomfortable with just hot the flames from the vehicle was.

Chill out. I know it kind of hurts, but we have to hold position until that patrol we spotted at the start of the block passes, Flash thought, the symbiote picking up on it.

Leaning around the edge of the vehicle he drew binoculars to his masked face and triggered the night vision feature. What he saw mirrored images he'd seen from around the globe. Skrull forces, many still wearing the uniforms of the law enforcement and militaries they'd replaced, marched through the streets looking for anyone breaking curfew or resisting their rule. The briefing he'd received had images and video that were much the same. Things were bad near about everywhere, including back home. Much as he would have rather been helping heroes organizing resistance in the streets of New York, he had a job to do and an important one at that.

Unsure of who could be trusted at Project Rebirth, Stark had sent him a personal message with orders attached. Iron Man had taken steps to neutralize anyone at Rebirth, be it overzealous military or Skrull imposters from detonating the explosive in his neck. Meant as a last resort should Venom take over, Tony feared it could be used to take him out before he could help, and so Iron Man was taking a big gamble on him being able to keep the symbiote in check. Truth was, he didn't know if he'd be able to under most circumstances, but when it came to the Skrull the alien's personal history with them seemed to make it more willing to comply with Thompson's orders.

Information apparently found by Iron Fist, indicated that the Skrulls had secured a specialized military facility in Symkaria, but the reason for seizing the complex was more dastardly than simply stealing weapons or striking a blow against the military. Various Skrulls posing as staff, nannies, and even spouses to some of the most powerful and influential world leaders had taken hostages. Within the facility the children and young family members of various world leaders, military commanders, and industry leaders were being held in an attempt to force the parents to order their countries and forces to stand down and not fight back against the invaders.

Flash was to get inside, neutralize threats, and evacuate the children. All without getting stuck behind enemy lines or taking any losses. Not to mention he was on a timetable because with things going as poorly as they were he had to make it back stateside through hostile airspace and hope that the symbiote cooperated long enough to get his hands on more of the serum that pacified the alien.

No worries Thompson. It’s just like on the gridiron. They call you in when they absolutely, positively need a Hail Mary pass. No pressure, he thought.

Moving away from the burning car he leapt over a tall fence, but not before a web line pulled a security camera to the side where it wouldn’t pick up on him. Landing silently he unsheathed a knife as the symbiote simultaneously sent out a pseudopod to grasp the ankle of a nearby guard come to investigate the camera. The symbiote expanded sending more of itself around the head of the Skrull, stifling a scream as Flash drew the blade across the throat. A second later, with the body hidden in nearby bushes, Flash emerged looking exactly like the now deceased guard.

“Flash, you have to know that you cannot hesitate. The Skrull are zealots. They are brutal and uncompromising. You saw through the eyes of a past host, the Kree warrior I was once bonded to. They will eliminate the children, burn them down without a second thought. Together we can save them, we can stop this, but only if you cooperate. It cannot be Flash and his tame living costume. Nor can it be an angry symbiote. We must act as one. Like with Eddie. You are not Venom. That was me and Brock. But we can be Agent Venom. Do you agree?”

Flash remembered when he had first signed up for Project Rebirth, how he told his handlers he wanted to be Spider-Man. They’d insisted that Venom was a name that struck fear into those who heard it. Spidey would leave you webbed up and bruised, but Venom would eat your brains and come back for seconds. Still he knew he wasn’t that guy. Not only was he not Eddie Brock, but he only killed when necessary. He felt a soldier was there to protect, to do violence in the service of others. With the serum he was in the driver’s seat and the symbiote was just a tool, a weapon. Venom was a name, a gimmick, but not him. What the symbiote was proposing was that they truly work together, merge, the very thing the serum was meant to prevent.

He’s not wrong though. It knows the Skrull better than I do, it has the experience, and it can’t share that with me if I keep it on a leash. Plus, he did specify that Agent Venom was something different. So like it or not, I have to trust it.

“Fine. I agree. We do what we have to for this mission. To save the kids. But after that we have to reassess. Assuming we survive this invasion that is,” Flash replied, keenly aware of just how often he’d used the word ‘We’.

To that end he let the symbiote steer. It took him directly past security checkpoints, using the proper mannerisms, speaking to the Skrull’s in their own tongue, and genuinely passing as a Skrull. The deception was so convincing and things were going so easily, that Flash was suddenly keenly aware of why the Kree had experimented with symbiote bonded soldiers and why Spidey always seemed to come out swinging harder than usual whenever he clashed with Brock or that madman Kassady. He’d seen the symbiote invasion up close and personal and he knew that the aliens from Klyntar could very well be one of the most dangerous species in the universe.

Once he was deeper into the facility, he noticed an increase in the number of female Skrull, many of which were wearing human garb rather than the uniforms the soldiers had on.

Must be the ones that replaced nannies and maids. Must have had them stick around because women are more calming, even when they are wrinkly chinned green gals, he thought, directing it towards the symbiote.

Not with Skrulls. They can be even more vicious than the males. Leave your human assumption at the door Flash. They are likely still here because they will be the ones to execute their charges should the parents not play ball, Venom replied.

Before Flash could respond, one of the Skrull approached him.

“Ra’tann! Did the commander give you early leave from your post? You didn’t cross him did you? Or is this visit simply your way of saying you wish to celebrate our imminant victory?” she asked.

Oh God. I think she and the guy we took out are...were...a thing. I...how do we cover for this? he asked Venom.

“We don’t. We send her to meet him!” Venom said aloud.

Within seconds the visage of the Skrull guard was gone and Venom, toothy maw stretching around his head, lunged forward. One snap of his jaws and the Skrull woman’s head was gone.

“YES! We’ve missed this! Run Skrull scum, you shall only die tired!” Venom declared to the startled room. “You don’t know us, but we remember you! And this time we have far more toys to play with! Tell your false gods and your commanders alike! Justice has finally come for your kind!”

With that Agent Venom got to work. Guns, blades, and tendrils dispatched Skrulls in short order, the drab gray interior of the base being painted green with ichor. One particularly enterprising Skrull managed to throw a grenade before a tendril was capable of placing the K-Bar knife through it’s face. Diving to the ground, Flash grabbed the explosive and had the symbiote plunge portions of itself into where the pin should have been, preventing it from exploding.

Great. Iron Man managed to make sure we don’t get blown up by the bomb in our head so instead we get a different explosive to store in ourselves! Flash thought.

“Stop being a wuss! We’ve got this!” [/span] Venom snapped.

Glad you are so confident. Now, drop the face. The whole teeth and tongue look is going to scare the crap out of those kids who’ve already been traumatized enough, Flash said as they approached a sealed door.

“Are you saying we are ugly? You should take that back! We are fierce! We are deadly!” the symbiote complained, despite reverting to the usual tactical mask inspired by Spidey look.

Opening the door Flash had Venom draw on his knowledge of various languages to give orders to the kids and to calm them down. With that he led them through the facility, rifle at the ready, bits of symbiote protruding and extending backwards to provide a shield. Several floors and more dead Skrull later, Venom found himself and the kids in a vehicle bay.

Eyeing an old-fashioned Soviet-era transport truck he ushered the kids into the back and started it up. Driving through a garage door and out of the facility he tossed the grenade he’d been preventing from exploding at the guard post near the entrance. Before the startled Skrulls could react, it blew, splintering the post and taking chunks out of the wall behind it.

Roaring out into the streets, reinforcements in hot pursuit, Flash depressed an emergency beacon. Just as it seemed he was going to be boxed in and all was for naught, the truck lifted into the air as a trio of unmanned Iron Man armors swooped in for the rescue while a fourth kept aerial forces off of them.

Mission accomplished...partner, Flash thought towards the symbiote

We cannot celebrate yet. One battle was won, but the war is far from over, but know this, we will repel them. For we are Agent Venom!” the symbiote and Flash said in unison.

word count: 1819

[Rift]

Chapter III- U.S.Agent: Illegal Border Crossing

Day 6 of the Invasion



John Walker was on his fourth day of having next to no sleep. He'd been in his hometown in Georgia when the communication from Stark had come through, one in which he was giving anyone receiving it carte blanche to do what was necessary to fight back against the Skrulls, even going so far as to say that any past grievances were just that, the past. He'd even taken special care to directly mention him. Everything that had happened, all the blacklisting, the blame for what happened during Hellzone and the failed apprehension of Nuke, all of it was just water under the bridge in the face of this largescale invasion. While Walker still felt a particular way about the failures of leadership from intelligence agencies and beyond, both during that gang war that turned Hell's Kitchen into a battlefield and now the complete and utter failure to predict and defend against the aliens, he also knew that Stark's notion was a good one.

Duty before grudges.

Besides, it wasn't like he was going to sit this out, not when the whole world was under assault, and he certainly didn't need Iron Man or anyone else's permission to defend his nation.

So after immediately joining the resistance forces in his hometown which consisted of veterans, bikers, good old boys, and even some rather ticked off hillbillies looking to make E.T. go home, he'd managed to more or less secure the town. Granted, it was not a huge place to begin with and was not a place the Skrulls had dedicated many resources to. They'd underestimated country folk and decided to focus the majority of their forces on large metropolitan areas. Capital cities and those that had military bases and facilities seemed to have gotten the worst of it from what little info he could get. That mostly came from intermittent newscasts whenever the signal was clear enough to see anything.

Not like Cooper and Comission are bothering to get ahold of me, let alone fill me in on what is going on. They either didn't get Tony's memo or are actively ignoring it, he thought bitterly.

Not waiting around to see what happened next he'd left the defense of the town in the hands of the men and women who'd helped liberate it and immediately started making his way north, figuring his best bet was to get to New York and make contact with any of the costumed heroes that called the Big Apple home. Plans quickly changed though when he ran into other civilians using guerilla tactics to fight back as best they could. Several former and active duty soldiers has noticed a pattern in the Skrull movements in a particular area of the country, an area that like his hometown should have been of little interest to the aliens.

Investigating that thread had brought him to rural Kentucky, specifically to an old mining town. Like many places similar to it the town was poor, the citizens still suffering from the unfair and downright criminal behaviors of the mining company that had come in, blasted the mountain tops thus poisoning water and the land, and bought people out at dirt cheap prices all while working their employees into an early grave. The town architecture still had some buildings from the 1800s, a few mom and pop stores dotting the ever dwindling town hall, and was surrounded by dense wilderness. Places like it, economically depressed and with some folks not even having running water or working electricity had a strong sense of community and plenty of legends about what lurked in the hollers and hills.

Currently stories of Bigfoot, Dogman, and ghosts were nothing compared to the large contingent of Skrull invaders dotting the landscape. They'd set up shop in an old, closed off mine and nobody knew why. They guarded it fiercely, killing anyone that came too close. Regular traffic from hovercraft and tank-like vessels had knocked down trees and widened the narrow paths that once served as moonshine roads. From where he was crouched in the tree line, John could see a huge number of enemies. He knew that his newfound allies, townsfolk willing to fight for their home, didn't stand much of a chance in a straight up fight.

That was why since his arrival they'd been causing distractions elsewhere in town, doing everything they could to draw attention away from their true target: the mine.

The way several vehicles worth of Skrull soldiers came racing down the road John had to assume they'd just received word of an explosion. One of the old timers had promised him they would "make such a ruckus they'd wake the dead" and based on the big grin and bundle of dynamite he had, Walker believed him. He just prayed that the boys would be able to scatter into the woods and hills before the green invaders found them. It was an awful risk just to give him a shot, small as it may be, at finding out what was so damned important to the aliens.

When the last patrol was out of eyesight, he made his move. Shield at the ready he got as close as he could without being seen, running full tilt at the entrance. Before a guard could raise the alarm he threw the shield, not even slowing as he heard the crunch of bone. A powerful kick sent another Skrull flying into the side of a truck, denting it before he caught the rebounding shield. Dashing into the entrance he spuun and used the shield to slice through a control panel that caused the newly installed doors, not unlike something someone may see upon one of the Skrull vessels in orbit, to slam shut. Not sure how much time that would buy him he dashed through the old tunnels, careful not to trip on the broken remnants of an old rail track.

Dashing through the darkness he relied on his energy truncheon to stun and incapacitate a number of Skrull along the way, relieving them of weapons as he went. Slipping into a crevice along the wall he watched as reinforcements ran right past him. Beyond where they had come from he saw it, a pulsating blue-white light that was almost blinding in the near pitch black depths of the mine. Inching forward he saw a number of Skrull in uniforms different than those that he was accustomed to on the soldiers.

Weird. Must be scientists of some kind? Maybe engineers? he thought as he strained to listen.

"I don't know what all the commotion is over, but we cannot stop now," one said.

"Agreed," his female associate replied. "The power consumption rates are becoming more unstable as time goes on. If we had been set up in a major city, this wouldn't be an issue, but as is the gateway can only remain open for a ten more minutes before we have to wait to recharge."

Gateway? U.S.Agent thought. What in the sci-fi nerd convention is going on here?

That was when he saw it. The light was emanating from a portal that Skrull were coming out of.

So that's how they got past S.H.I.E.L.D's fancy gizmos and sensors. I bet they have others of these set up around the globe. A freaking portal. That way they can move forces on and off from a mothership or even another planet without being detected. Heck of a lot more convenient than risking being caught every time they'd land a ship or break atmosphere to leave. I bet that leads to where some of the replaced are being stored too, he thought.

With a grin he cracked his knuckles and stepped out where he could be seen.

"Bad news boys and girls, illegal immigration is something that is actually taken seriously in this neck of the woods. Deportation time. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," he said with a smirk.
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A short time later...



U.S.Agent emerged from mine, armor tattered, shield scorched, blood dripping from numerous wounds. As the giant metal doors creaked open, he readied himself for even more fighting, only to be greeted by the resistance forces he'd been working with and a suit of Iron Man armor. All around the area dead Skrull and damaged vehicles sat in smoldering ruins.

"Captain Walker. Apologies, Mr. Stark couldn't make it in person as he's otherwise engaged, so the armor is being remotely controlled. He did however tell me to tell you that his willingness to overlook things for the sake of unity in defeating the Skrulls does not mean he has, and I quote, 'the patience of Job' and that you better have 'a damn good reason for being in the middle of Po Dunk nowhere when there is a war on.' Also, you might need to be checked for head trauma. Nobody looking like you do right now should be smiling this wide," the voice of Tony's assistant program F.R.I.D.A.Y announced.

"Tell your boss we've hit the #^%*-ing mother load. Tell Stark I found their backdoor. We have a direct shot at getting our people back and shutting down some of their major ships, without telegraphing that we are coming. And make sure he knows that when we finally get to hit back? I'm going to be at the front. These E.T.s are about to cry all the way back to whatever hell spawned rock they came from. I just need a change of clothes and then we have us a planet to save," U.S.Agent said before nearly collapsing.

word count: 1620

[John Kilroy]

Chapter 4:

Kentucky Blues Part 1

1700 years...1700 years worth of history had led to this on e moment. The Ilum'inati was being routed everywhere. A three way resistince of super humnans, non powered humans and Terra-Skrulls were fighting against the invasion like cornered dogs. All of the armies had been wiped out save one last but perhaps largest force in New York. Laura Kinney-Howlet AKA Lady Wolverine and Hannah Connver Aka The Brood Queen had saved the Avengers and other heroes trapped in various ilum'inati skrull controlled bases in texas. The F4 had saved the heroes in space. 

Most of the avengers had been kidnapped and replaced by Skrull imposters, Ironically enough most of the imposters had become the mask they wore and were helping the resistance defend the earth. It was a good thing in truth. Tony was still recovering from his last raid, most of the avengers had been drained from being captured for so long. Captain America had been hit the worst. Not only was he physically drained he was emotionally broken. The SRA, The Civil war. everything had played right into the ilum'inati's hand, and he had been a catalyst. He was in no condition to fight now matter how you sliced it. In the meantime Janet Van Dyne was leading the Skrull Avengers (Laura had killed the Wasp Imposter)

In New York The F4 had temporarily became the F6 not only consisting of the original Fantastic 4, but also the addition of She-Hulk and Criti Noll the skrull that had replaced Sue Storm orginally before dying due to an accidental explosion and getting revived. Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye and Ashley Crawford AKA Big Bertha were leading the Great Lakes Avengers while their Skrull counterparts were leading the skrull version of the GLA. 

Carol Danvers, formally "Captain Marvel" and now rechristened "The Marvelous Warbird" had fought through various Ilum'anti soldiers when she saw Captain Walker. 


"John!" she said rushing over to him. he looked like he was ready to collapse "Easy easy." She looked around andsaw that skrulls that had desiguised themselves as humans to help fight for earth were begennig to yelp in confusion as they were forcably reverted back to normal. She looked down at John. She had to speak fast.


"Alright things are about to get crazy so I'm going to give you a run down so we can avoid friendly fire. Half the Skrulls are going to be on ourbside half the skrulls and some of the humans won't be. If you see someone with A pyramid and a eye Tattoo on them thiey're the bad guys so feel free to go crazy. If they don't have a tattoo or if they have scars where it looks a tattoo was cut out...they're on our side. Get it? Got it? Good. Now let's kick some reptilian butts. 

She was tempted to bring up the fact that Captain America was out of commission so...It was going to be up to him, her and Tony to be the Symbols of America that people needed. But thew last thing Walker needed was the pressure and to feel the need to prove something. She would hold off on that detail...for now.

[Rift]

John almost laughed as he leaned on Carol for a moment just to avoid falling.

"Tattoos bad, but scars are good. Swear that sounds like my sister's mantra when it comes to picking a guy," he joked.

Craning his neck with an audible pop, he looked around at the damage done to the countryside. It hadn't been particularly pretty when the mine was in operation, but the smoldering remains of alien vehicles didn't make the scenery any better. Sure nature would eventually finish the job it had started of reclaiming the area, but there was something about it that hit him in the core of his being.

It's the inhuman craft. The sheer wrongness of these things being here on this planet, in the wilds. Makes me angry. Also makes me wonder if since it was this rough just taking this one place, how much worse has the rest of the world fared? he wondered. Not my problem really. Sad as it is, we are going to have to look to our people, our homes first when it comes time to start fixing all of this.

Standing tall once more he looked at her and said, "Alright Danvers, you say things are about to get crazy so I can only assume that means Stark, Pym, or Richards have come up with some kind of solution. But aside from his remote control suit run by his lady AI, I don't see Tony or any Avengers besides yourself. So how exactly are we going to..."


"Speak of the devil and he doth appear," came Tony's voice.



Sitting on the back of a pickup truck, Stark looked about as bad as John felt.

"Tony, you look awful. You decide to fight the invaders by getting back on the bottle?" Walker asked.

"No such luck. I am sadly completely sober for this. Besides, this is a marked improvement from how I was when Carol and others fished me out of the Hudson. Motor control is finally back to...mostly predictable levels. Stuff happens when you expunge the tech virus that you used to reprogram and rebuild how your body functions in a last ditch effort to strip shapeshifters of their greatest advantage," he said. "But fear not dear hearts, I'll be back on my feet momentarily. I have a special delivery on its way."

U.S.Agent removed his cracked helmet and raised a questioning eyebrow, first at Stark and then to Carol. As people approached him, likely Stark employees or perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D agents he couldn't help but flinch as one of them, green skin showing for all to see, handed him what appeared to be replacement armor and gear.

Working with them is going to take some getting used to, he thought as he took the items a bit roughly.

"As for the other Avengers, I sent out a call. You must have missed it doing your whole Rambo schtick. Reception is already screwy out here in Deliverance Land and Skrull interference combined with the depth of the mine didn't help. Anyway, after my bout of dashing heroics I tried to alert all Avengers, friendly Skrulls, and any resistance forces be they costumed or normie. The reprogrammed Extremis package I uploaded through the communication system forced any Skrull in the vicinity of a comm. system to revert back to default, green warts and all. Should give everyone an idea of who they are really dealing with. Whether or not folks will be able to answer the call remains to be seen, but we can't sit on out butts waiting for roll call," Stark explained.

Strapping a new helmet on, Walker narrowed his eyes. "Tony, we've been through a lot. West Coast Avengers, Force Works. Given how most folks feel about me, I appreciate you for taking a chance on me several times. You were always a good boss and I guess being a temporary Avenger at the moment you are my boss again. But you make another wisecrack about the blue-collar boys and girls that had to throw down with aliens while you, President Osborn, and the other so-called intelligence officials have been reeling from the sucker punch you should have seen coming? Well, I'm going to knock your stupid mustache in to orbit with the E.T.s you understand?"

Tony blinked and nodded. "Fair enough. I deserve that. I'd like to blame it on potential and highly likely brain damage, but we both know I kind of default to prick mode under stress. My bad. But that anger? Good. You are going to need it. Because soon as the battery arrives, we are charging up that portal and going to get up close and personal with the man behind the curtain. Big bad greenie they call the Warskrull. His real name is Tek? Tik? Tel? Doesn't matter. Tick-Tok and the Skrull queen have business to settle and we are going to make sure they get all the time and space they need to hash things out."

U.S.Agent sighed. "And we trust the Skrull Queen all of a sudden, why?"

Tony stood and smirked as both the mini-arc reactor he was going to use to charge the portal and his special delivery arrived. Stepping up to a platform several older model suits had placed on the ground nearby, he waited as waldoes and mechanical arms helped him armor up. It took longer than Walker was used to seeing and Tony was doing his best to not look like he was going to die at any moment. Looking at Carol, Stark winked as the armor sealed and a faceplate snapped in place.



Iron Man chuckled. "Oh I don't. Not even a little. In fact, if we end up having to turn around and fight her as soon as this is done I won't be shocked in the slightest. But for now this is damn near a family squabble and nobody fights harder than family. Other than maybe a deposed leader wanting to get back at the usurper. But we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. F.R.I.D.A.Y how's the portal doing?"

"Arc reactor is attached. Power levels climbing and will be at 100% in a few moments," the AI responded.

Turning towards the mine he nodded. "Great. I'm excited. You guys excited? Because it's time. Okay, Avengers. Time to assemble. Let's go keep up interstellar relations. Ladies first. She's your friend after all. Also? My mustache is awesome. It's a well documented fact."

Word Count: 1087

[John Kilroy]

"Tek'ton," The voice of Veranke called out as she floated down to the three heroes below her. While she wasn't wearing the Captain Marvel guise anymore she still had all of Carol's powers. He'a...my cousin." she said that last part rubbing the back of her head.

"Unfortunately this is a family afair that the earth is being dragged into. I never would have thought he'd go as far as to join the illum'inati but..." Vera took a deep breath. "For what it's worth. I'm sorry that this happened. It should never have gotten to this point. I...I should have known that they had infiltrated all of the major facets of your species government. I should have known something was off about the SRA from the start."

Carol crossed her arms. "Vera...Ah need you to be honest here. Did the Dard'van have any hand in the Registration act?"

Veranake gave a sad look and nodded. "The start of it yes. many in the Dard'van have lived on earth sense birth readying themselves to bring your people into the Interstellar age. The Registration act was originally supposed to be a part of that. but it isn't like it was supposed to be. You were never meant to be ruled by your governments. You were to rule over them."

Carol's eyes widened. "Rule over them?" Carol couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Really are you surprised? The strong rule over the weak. Those whom must be protected are owned by those whom protect them. That's the way of nature...at least that's the way our people have always seen it. And let's be honest. your countries as capable as their militaries are, they don't defend themselves. they look to you. You are the one's that lay your life down to defend the Earth, on that ground it is your right to rule. Once your powers were established, we would establish a peaceful first contact with you and would seek to unite our people with yours peacefully as equals...but things fell apart."

Carol shook her head. first of all what Veranke was describing was might makes right. Maybe it made sense to a skrull but for humans...yeah it was a horrible philosophy. Above all that Carol could not help but see Veranke as ridiculously naive.

"Ok, Ah...you do realize that that's not how things work on earth right. First of all...Ah think I can speak for me and tony when I say...we don't want to be seen as rulers or gods like that. Secound of all even if we did, do you really think the average politicion would be AOK with just giving up thier seat of power. Of course they were going to use the SRA to try to keep us under heal..." Carol bit her lip "...and Ah was an idiot for supporting it."

"I know I know. By the time I was Captain Marvel I was just so desperate to salvage everything...." Vera sighed. "But that is no excuse." she looked to Tony and John "I can't expect trust from either of you. I know an apology means nothing from me, and I know I acted like a total &^%$# when wearing Carol's face. But please. Let me help you fix what I helped break. I ask for the chance to restore my honor...if you cannot..."

She actually knelt down on one knee in submission. "Then I beg of you punish me but let the Skrulls here who are not of the Ilum'anati be  they are not a threat to. They just wish to live their lives here on earth as loyal citizens of where they reside. Please...fo not make them suffer for the failures that belong to me and me alone." Her eyes welped with tears one's that could not be faked."I submit myself to your judgment...do with me what you will. destroy me if you feel like you must...turn me into a cow if it pleases you. If it means I must suffer Gen'hadar so be it. Just please let the punishment fall on me alone 

Carol looked to tony and John. she subtilty signaled with her hands that she thought she should be given one chance.  "If we make her go through Gen'hadar we'd be destroying her soul. In this case we'd be replacing it with that of a cow. Look Ah know that given these five years My opinion doesn't mean Jack but. All three of us have hurt the world in ways we can't take back. We were given that one chance to regain our own honor. Ah think she deserves that much."

[Rift]

U.S.Agent looked around, civilians and friendly Skrull alike reacting to Veranke's kneeling with shock and confusion. He too was surprised. His experience with the Skrulls, limited though it may be, had proven to him that they were warriors through and through who lacked any notion of what surrender was. Yet here was their leader, royalty, kneeling and asking for judgment from the very species her people had been infiltrating and now trying to enslave.

Whatever happens, it's not my call. he thought. That said I have to admit the temptation to just draw my sidearm and be done with this is beyond tempting.

Perhaps most shocking of all was her revelation about the Skrull and their role in the formation of the Superhuman Registration Act. He'd been a supporter immediately upon its announcement, feeling that superhumans had a responsibility to help their fellow citizens feel safe. Part of that meant not hiding behind masks and lacking accountability when one of their super powered slug fests ended up resulting in civilian casualties and large-scale property damage. It was a way of evening the scales, of proving to the public that they were not above the law and would submit to judgment the same as ever other man, woman, and child.

To hear that it was intended to place those with powers in charge in some twisted version of Skrull philosophy? It made him nauseous to know that he had supported such a thing, even if he had no way of knowing the intent behind it.

Rogers was right...again. His self-righteous speech giving goes on my last nerve and there are times where I think he lives in dream land more than reality, but damn if he wasn't right about this, he thought.

"Ma'am, I'm not Captain America. I have no idea where Steve is right now. Probably giving a rousing speech to a group not unlike the one gathered here, probably made up of civilians, soldiers, and allied-Skrull alike. Whatever the case is, I'm the one who is here. And while Rogers and I disagree on the methods, we both love this country. Last I checked, we are in the fine state of Kentucky and that means America. I've no problem with the death penalty, in fact I think it needs to be applied more frequently, but seeing as this is America we don't pass judgment without a trial. I'm a soldier, not a judge, not a jury, and definitely not an executioner. I can't speak for the Co-Director of S.H.I.E.L.D here but if punishment is headed your way, and I do believe we all pay for our sins, it will not be from me. Not at this time. If you stand trial and that is the will of the people, then make no mistake about it I not only endorse it but am willing to be the one to throw the switch. But until such time, we are going to need your assistance in dealing with this threat." Walker said. "Maybe your cooperation will get you some leniency when you do answer for your crimes."

Looking to Stark he frowned. The unmoving grimace of Iron Man, the glowing red eyes of this new armor, it all hid whatever was really going on in that big brain of his. All he knew is that he for one would not want to be on the receiving end of that glare. Typically lighthearted, frequently irreverent Tony was also incredibly impulsive. Although he hadn't had any contact with him since he took the job working for S.H.I.E.L.D John had noticed a shift in the man. He was more responsible than usual, more willing to abide by the rules. But he was still impulsive. He had no idea how time working among spies had changed him.

Stepping forward, the sound of gears whirling and heavy thuds preceding his movement, Iron Man looked down at Veranke, faceplate unreadable.

"I'm a big picture guy. Always have been. More than that I'm an engineer. I fix things and right now this mess you helped create? That needs fixing. I could be wrong, doubt it because let's face it I'm me, but I think that in order to fix this we are going to need your help. Doesn't mean I trust you. Considering your whole species thing is shapeshifting, lying, and turning people against one another I would have to of lost so many braincells that I could be a Hammer employee in order to trust you. If this is some kind of double super-secret backstab? First, bad on me for gambling again and second I will atomize you assuming Warbird here doesn't beat me to it. Capiche?"



Reaching down he offered the Skrull a gauntleted hand, faceplate sliding upwards. "Besides, like Carol says, I know better than most what a second chance can mean. I'd be a hypocrite of the highest order if I didn't give someone a shot at redemption. End of the day though, it isn't up to me. Even if I am in the forgiving mood, not saying I am, but even if I were? Well, Stormin' Norman is another matter. He's going to want to spin this to come off in as good of a light as he can. And other world leaders have egg on their face too. We survive fight with Tick Tock and the world will likely want to put you on trial. I'll do what I can if you are on the up and up, but even the Co-Director of S.H.I.E.L.D can only do so much. So what do you say we go kick your cousin's teeth in and see where that takes us?"

Word Count: 959

[John Kilroy]

Carol looked over and saw the wheels turning in John's head. She knew that look, she saw that look from Tony plenty of times and she had the look herself plenty of times. that was the "&$^#% Steve is a rich man with all the nickels I've had to give him" look. She knew the two had....disagreements and it was very much an open secret that Walker thought Steve was Naive, but he was still a good man, a good soldier, and he had the potential to be a good hero, he just had to sluff off a bit of that cynicism. But then again even that was not Walker's vault. Steve was a part of the greatest generation, his entire generation was vindicated by history and seen as gods among men for storming the beaches of Normandy. Walker had no such luxury. His line of duty was in the middle east, while Steve was seen as the ultimate her and the Greatest Gen were welcomed with horns and parades, John and his were welcomed with angry protest and in some cases violent ones. If their respective time periods were switched, they'd have it'd have been Walker who was a Houshold name and Steve the bitter cynic.

Still, in spite of everything it didn't change the fact that Steve WAS right more often than not and even when it seemed like the world would try to say otherwise history would vindicate him. But there was the elephant in the room. The more Steve was brought up the more it became clear that she'd have reveal that Steve was having to sit this one out. Right now the world needed John Walker as much as it needed Steve Rodgers.

When Iron man said his peace Carol could not help but nod. "Ah was at Mckinney when she revealed herself. If she does help us out, Ah don't think she has to worry about being put on trial. Not without taking every superhero and politician that supported the SRA down with her....that being said. Stark is right."

She pulled Veranke up. "If it turns out your a lying backstabbing snake. Make no mistake. Ah WILL kill you. And belive me. Ah won't vaporize you. Ah'll grab the sides of your skull and pop your head like a balloon. Do Ah make myself clear?"

Vernake gulped slightly and nodded. Carol could feel the air tense around her. Carol Danvers almost never threatened to kill anyone and if she did, first of all it was not a threat, it was a promise. second, when she made a promise like that...it meant things were really at stake and about to go down.

As she started to Walk away she pulled John to the side. "Look John, for what it's worth. Ah know you don't think it, but many here DO like you and respect you. Ah'm one of them But Ah know that look. Ah know you think Steve is naive and living in dreamland. Stark does too. But...when a man like him is proven to be right so many times. maybe it's not him that's living in an optimistic dreamland...maybe we're the ones living in a cynical jaded nightmare."

She then looked a tony and then back at John.

"Steve's going to be out of this fight. When Lady Wolverine and I dethawed him at Area 59, he was pretty badly injured. Then when he found out that the powers at be were working for the ilum'anati and that they were trying to invade....something in him broke. He kept apologizing and saying it was all his fault. He's in bad shape...so the worlds going to need you to help carry his torch and be that light. I read your profile. I know that even as a kid you idolized Captain America and your brother. He once said in an interview you two would watch that Captain America cartoons every Saturday when they came on. We need you to try and pull out that optimistic little boy again and Carry Caps torch. I can't make you believe that you can. But I know for myself that you can. Will you do that for me?"

[Rift]

Tony didn't respond, but he couldn't help but think that Carol was right. It didn't make him happy per say, but it was a fact. There was a lot of blame to go around. When the world finally saw this through, assuming they won that is, they'd have plenty of stories flooding television and social media alike. One of the top trending would definitely be the Skrull Queen who had sided with humanity against her own kind. Granted they'd brush over the fact that much of this was kickstarted by her until she had a convenient change of heart, but still, he knew from experience people loved a redemption story. When it came to political leaders, well they were going to do everything they could to save face. Some heads were definitely going to roll with firings and hearings galore. There would be committees called and international debate, but at the end of the day so many heroes and leaders were compromised they would want the story to be buried as quickly as humanly possible.

After all, who wants to stand up to the public scrutiny and actively prove they were not working with the Skrulls all along? Not many, even those who are innocent, he thought.

Truthfully it wasn't exactly fair, but the world rarely was. It was not as if he had the moral high ground by which to preach at anyone. If he had been playing completely by the rules he'd of had Carol hauled in, voted off the Avengers, and tried for treason. Phil Coulson would have been right behind her. It was the proper thing to do given how much had happened and if he was following the letter of the law, but it wouldn't have been right. Not only were they friends, but Carol at least had been through a lot since the Ultron incident and the Avengers had been so wrapped up trying to enforce the Superhuman Registration Act and navigate the choppy waters after the Civil War that checking in on each other's mental health was not even an afterthought.

Still can't say for sure Osborn won't try and push it, but if he's learned anything being in the big chair he'll spin this to make him look kind and forgiving, Stark thought.



Meanwhile John Walker listened to Carol. News of Captain America being not only out of commission but also doubting himself did not make him happy. Steve was a good guy and everything everyone thought of him. It was why at the end of his tenure wearing the uniform and brandishing the shield, he'd gladly handed it back to Rogers. They were both patriots, both had their own ways of doing things. He knew that unlike Steve he was not nonpartisan, he was not always able or even willing to hear out others, and he often felt that second chances were only another opportunity to get stabbed in the back. It was why, despite what others thought, he did not envy Steve his position. Being an icon and a living symbol was a heck of a lot harder than just being a soldier.

And when it came to his standing in the superhero community, he knew that despite the niceties Carol was sharing he wasn't exactly on anyone's list of favorites. The fallout from his mission in Hell's Kitchen saw the intelligence community cut ties. The New Invaders that he'd tried putting together were anything but receptive if his leadership. Not to mention he knew all too well that when Force Works and the West Coast Avengers fell apart, the formation of a new Avengers team meant a vote was taken. Of everyone he only received a singular vote from Cap himself.

"Kind of you to say Danvers. I know we come from a more cynical age and I respect Steve a great deal. Mike and I wanted to be him growing up and now...well I guess I still wish I could live up to the man he is. So if he has to sit this one out and recover, they are big shoes to fill but I'll do the best I can. Folks need heroes to look up to, to see reasons to hope, and with this whole invasion going on...maybe that's more important now than ever."

Tony meanwhile winced. Knowing he was far from tip top shape and that Rogers was not going to be on the battlefield, he worried. Steve had a way of making everything seem like it was going to be okay and he knew that if Iron Man would fall or even just screw up, Captain America would be there to pick up the pieces. That was a crutch he didn't have this time.

With the faceplate snapping back into place, he turned towards the mine. His HUD showed some not insignificant concerns about his health and that the portal was fully charged.

"Alright. Far as pep talks go, I've heard worse. So we have two recovering alcoholics, upset alien royalty in the middle of a family squabble, and a formerly disgraced incredibly intense soldier with anger issues defending the planet. What could go wrong? Go team!"

word count: 865