#26 - Kiroy Was Here

By Josh Reynolds

PREVIOUSLY IN WARBIRD: Caro Danvers, Harker and five recent members of Project: Giveback-The Super Skrull, The Rhino, Titanium Man, Nitro and Geatar-are on their way to a remote outpost on the edge of Kree space to investigate the reasons behind the presence of alien weapons on Earth’s moon. Meanwhile, back on Argus Station the Ghost has awakened Quasimodo who has, of course, proceeded to go on a rampage. Things just get better and better hunh?

[Note to observant readers: This takes place before current issues of Fantastic Four]

SOMEWHERE NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FORMER KREE EMPIRE…

“Commander Tyrus? I’m getting some odd readings off that last sensor sweep.” The Kree technician twisted in his seat, swallowing nervously as he glanced at the tall, green armored figure standing behind him.

Tyrus the Accuser placed his hand on the back of the technician’s chair and leaned over him, looking unhurriedly at the console. The technician stared rigidly ahead, trying to avoid eye contact with the menacing figure. The Accusers, the highest arbiters and enforcers of Kree law were figures of dread, even for the subjects of the empire they served for one never knew when their attentions might turn towards one.

“Your attention to detail is commendable Technician Da-En. It will be noted in my command log at the end of the shift. For now though, bring the defenses up and prepare for a possible attack.” Tyrus turned and clasped his hands behind his back. Da-En cleared his throat nervously.

“A-are you sure sir? It might just be a-a flux in the spatial bleed.”

Tyrus sighed. “Or it might be a sneak attack by one of the myriad enemies of the empire technician. This outpost is vital to policing the comm-channels of said enemies so that if an invasion of our territories is imminent, we will be able to warn the empire. So yes, it might be a flux, but…are you willing to accept responsibility if it is not?” Tyrus turned and patted the technician heavily on the shoulder. Da-En shook his head and turned back to his consol.

“No sir.”

“Good man. Good soldier.”

“Sir!” Da-En suddenly shouted excitedly. Tyrus whirled with a snarl.

“What now?”

“Look!” the technician gestured towards the view screen above them and Tyrus gaped in shock.

The spacecraft looked like a silver wasp as it bled into sight, its cloaking systems falling away at the flick of a switch. It swooped low towards the desolate sphere below, and the belt of asteroids that hung in orbit above it like the halo of some fallen angel. On one particular asteroid the tiny, domed outpost of Tyrus the Accuser of the far-flung Kree Empire sat and it was this outpost that the craft angled itself toward with smooth precision. Carol Danvers sat comfortably in the pilot’s seat, her fingers flying rapidly across the controls, the nega-bands of Captain Marvel glittering eerily on her wrists. Her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the outpost and she spoke quietly into the headset she wore. “We’re here.Time to go to work.”

“Groovy.” A hard voice answered her, the Rhino, the barest hint of anticipation in his voice. Carol smiled grimly as she thought about the events that had brought her here. A week ago she had accepted Harker Cole’s offer to become mission-head of Argus Station, Project: Pegasus’ outpost situated on Earth’s moon. The station was just one of the recent additions to Earth’s defenses in wake of the devastating Stark invasion. But unlike the Avengers satellite or the newly retrofitted Baxter Station on the Blue Area of the moon, Argus’ mission was proactive in nature. To stop extraterrestrial and interdimensional threats before they caused any harm, by any means necessary. Something that was right up Carol’s alley. Not long after she had engaged in battle with the newest incarnation of the Man-Wolf and in the process made a discovery that indicated the alien threat to Earth did not end with the Stark- alien terror weapons, shaped to look like the Heralds of Galactus held in stasis in a Kree outpost. Weapons which bore the signatures of not just the Kree but also most of the sentient races in this neck of the galaxy including the Shi’ar and the Skrulls. Which was why she and Harker were now skirting the edge of Kree controlled space in a prototype warship designed by the ward of Doctor Doom and about to unleash a handful of super-criminals onto a Kree outpost in what could only be called an intergalactic incident in order to gain information regarding said weapons.

At least it wasn’t going to be dull.

“Everybody ready?” she asked, speaking into her headset again.

“Would it matter if we weren’t?”

“Nope. Let’s start the dance. Titanium Man, go.”

She tapped a button and a hatch on the side of the craft slid open allowing two figures to plunge into the bright emptiness of space. One, the green armored form of the Titanium Man carried the other, the space suit clad figure of the former Lunaticl Legion member Robert Hunter aka Nitro. The soles of the Titanium Man’s boots flared silently in the void and twin bursts of energy lanced out, hurling he and his ‘passenger’ far ahead of the craft and towards the Kree outpost with lightning speed. Nitro gritted his teeth beneath his helmet as the pressure of their flight threatened to flatten him and once more thanked whoever listened to convicted murderers for his superhuman physiology.

“Think this will work?” Harker leaned over Carol’s seat and watched the outpost grow closer.

“Nope. That’s why I volunteered Nitro.”

“Ace, anybody ever tell you you hold one hell of a grudge?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She reached up over her head and flicked another switch. “Super-Skrull. Your turn.” Another hatch opened on the opposite side of the craft from the one the two super-criminals had come from and brilliant comet of crackling energy burst through out into space, a vaguely humanoid form shimmering within. The Skrull burned a path through the asteroid field, his reptilian features split in a fierce grin. He hadn’t felt this good since his humiliation at the hands of the Thing on Earth’s moon a few weeks ago. This was what he lived for. What he was made for. Even if the humans were pulling his strings courtesy of a neural inhibitor riding his spinal column just below his skull, he could still enjoy this. Glory in his cosmic birthright. He began to laugh as he plunged towards the outpost, watching as hidden weapons emplacements rose up out the nodules and craters of the asteroid that the base sat on. Time to do what Skrulls did best.

Kill Kree.

As the Skrull drew the fire of the base’s automated defense grid, the Titanium Man weaved through the storm of fire and dove towards the nearest point where the edge of the base met the hard surface of the asteroid, pulling up sharply just before he hit it and letting go of Nitro at the same instant. Carried forward by borrowed momentum the hunchback spread his arms and laughed loudly as he slammed into the base and exploded in a silent flash. Carol flew the spacecraft through the debris of Nitro’s explosion and angled the head of the craft to enter through the resultant hole, sealing the aperture and providing the rest of the team a safe means of ingress. As the ship settled into position, blocking the vacuum, a forward hatch opened and the bulky form of the Rhino thundered into the Kree base. Vacuum suited guards screamed orders in their native tongue as they tried to form a firing line, but the Rhino’s charge scattered those he didn’t trample. To add to the ensuing chaos, Nitro reformed amongst the largest contingent of guards and exploded again. Between the two of them, the criminals soon had the area cleared of defenders. The Rhino tapped his headset. “We’re clear.”

“See. I knew bringing him along was a good idea.” Harker said as he, Geatar and Carol exited the ship. Harker gestured at the fallen Kree. “Look at that. I love it when a plan comes together. Mainly cause it happens so very rarely.”

“Speak for yourself.” Geatar rumbled. “My plans never failed.”

“That’s a matter of debate.”

“For another time.” Carol interjected, raising a hand between them. “We’ve got to download Kristy’s bug, get the info and then get out of here. Rhino, Nitro, keep our exit clear.” She tapped her headset. “Titanium Man, Super Skrull keep the defenses busy.”

“And I?” Geatar gestured towards himself. Carol pointed at Harker.

“You? You and I get to baby-sit him while he does his thing. We’ll play around a bit, make this look like a smash and grab.”

“Instead of what it is-an infiltration. Joy.”

“Isn’t it just?” Carol smacked a fist into her open palm. “Let’s get to work.”

ARGUS STATION, EARTH’S MOON…

“So who is he again?” Burton asked as he rammed his shoulder against the door, trying to force it to close faster as enraged bellows echoed in the hall beyond. Plisskin rubbed his eyepatch and fingered the butt of the pistol holstered under his arm as he watched the door cycle shut. Thundering blows shook the metal and several bulges began to appear. The two had been on their way to Kristoff’s lab when the alarms in the subsection of the base began to sound. In the process of investigating, they’d stumbled across the source of the disturbance. One they’d been woefully unequipped to handle.

“Quasimodo.”

“Which means?”

“Quasi-Motivational-Destruct-Organ.”

“That helps. Why’s he here?”

“Probably to destruct something.”

“Silly me. Shoulda known.” Burton backed away from the door. “We got anything to stop him? Howitzer? Nuke?”

“I got a gun.” Plisskin’s eye never wavered from the door. This was too convenient. “Too convenient.”

“My hero.” Burton blinked and looked at Plisskin. “What? How is this convenient?”

“Minute we start investigating the sabotage that’s been going on, Quasimodo wakes up and goes on a rampage. How is that not convenient?”

“I thought you meant for us. Cause it’s really not. Convenient I mean. Not for me anyway. I don’t know about you, but I-”

“Burton?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

“ ’kay.”

Quasimodo rammed his shoulder into the door once more and stopped, shaking his grotesque head. Futile. His strength was wasted here. He had allowed himself to become distraced. He-wait. Quasimodo twisted around, his senses screaming. Something was here-something familiar. The power cosmic. He could practically taste it. He turned away from the door, the men he had been pursuing forgotten. He had to investigate.

Kristoff watched him come through the security cameras and smiled beneath his mask. Perfect. As he had surmised, the ‘scent’ of the cosmic energy was attracting the brute, drawing him away from the primary power center and Plisskin and Burton to boot. Of course, he could’ve done without that last part but needs must when the devil drives. Kristoff leaned forward in his seat and tapped a button. The hideous jack-o-lantern countenance of Ultron-A sprang to life on the screens that surrounded him. “Destroy.”

“I really must do something about your vocabulary.” Kristoff sighed. “Activate drones seven through ten. And prepare to activate the lab’s automatic defenses. We’re about to have a guest.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ve already arrived.” The Ghost said, his intangible hand pushing effortlessly through the back of Kristoff’s chair and on through his chest. Kristoff screamed and writhed. “Do you like my little trick? A variant of the one used by the Vision I know, but much more painful. It’ll be our little secret yes?”

“Uhk. Uhk.” Kristoff slumped across his computers, his body shuddering, his armor sparking.

“Good lad. I knew I could count on you.” The Ghost turned Kristoff’s chair, dumping the young man to the floor and taking his seat. “Now. Let’s get to work.” He cracked his knuckles and leaned over the console. With a few quick gestures he brought the comm-system online and sent out a signal to Earth. To Cairo. “Code 7-4-6-B. Respond please.”

“Do you have them?” it was a woman’s voice. Harsh. Sharp. The Ghost frowned beneath his mask.

“What is the point of my creating codes for our contact if you do not use them?” he asked impatiently. “This is highly unprofessional.”

“I care not for your pretensions mercenary. Only that you have succeeded in your objective. Do you have them?”

“Not yet. But I’m confident I’ll have them soon.”

“Then this is a waste of my time. Do not contact me again until you have the nega-bands in your possession mercenary. Or else.” The Ghost leaned back as contact was severed from the other end. He shook his head. Annoying woman. If she wasn’t paying him so much, he’d have to kill her on general principals. He leaned forward, restablishing the comm-link to Earth, but to a different location this time. “Code 4-6-8-F. Respond please.”

“Code 3-5-9-G. Responding. What is your status?”

“Peachy keen. Better than your agent at least. He’s undergone a slight change in tempermant since he last contacted you.” The Ghost said.

“His staus is irrelevant. Is the base disabled?”

“It will be soon enough. Your little toy worked.”

“We had no doubts on that score. Remember, the base is to be disabled, not destroyed. Not entirely.”

“What? But I thought-?”

“We do not pay you to think Ghost. Merely to do. Allow Quasimodo to rampage all he wishes but do not allow him to destroy the station. We need it, and the secrets it possesses intact. Especially those items most recently discovered-we trust you know of which we speak?”

The Ghost shook his head and glanced up at the stasis tubes containing the inert forms of the beings discovered in the Kree outpost. “Yes. I’m staring at them right now.”

“Good. See to their safety.”

“Your wish is my command.” The Ghost cut the connection, sighing deeply. “Now what?”

“Now? Now you die mocker!” Quasimodo roared as he tore open the door to Kristoff’s lab and confronted the surprised mercenary. “Die at the hands of QUASIMODO!”

NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FORMER KREE EMPIRE…

Carol looked the young Kree in the eye, her face like a clenched fist, his sweating freely. “Don’t.” she said softly. The technician’s gloved hand hovered over a button that would send a sub-space alert to the next relay station outpost in spatial alignment. A call for help. Something she couldn’t allow. Not until they were finished. “Just don’t.”

Da-En trembled as he looked at the three beings who confronted him, who had killed his companions. He knew one of them, a wanted criminal named Geatar. Rumored to be mad Nebula’s right hand. What was he doing here? What was going on? He had to warn the empire. It was his duty. He looked at the woman and swallowed thickly. “It’s my duty.”

“Don’t. And I’ll let you walk out of here.”

“I-I…” Da-En’s hand wavered. Before he could say any more, a throwing knife suddenly sprouted from his wrist. Seconds later a hole opened in his skull, courtesy of the pistol in Harker’s hand. The technician toppled soundlessly. Carol whirled.

“What the hell?”

“He made a threatening motion.” Geatar shrugged. Harker holstered his pistol and met Carol’s eyes.

“He’s the enemy Ace. You gave him a chance. He didn’t move quick enough. End of story.” Carol clenched and unclenched her fists for a second. Then she shook herself slightly and nodded. The enemy. When had she forgotten how to handle this? When she put on tights and played super hero? Time to remember. Harker looked at her, waiting for her reply.

“Get started. We don’t have much time.” was all she said. Harker nodded and pulled the pack off his back, pulling out a data disk recovered from the Sentry Carol had destroyed back on Earth’s moon. It was a standard pan-galactic receiver used to send orders to the Sentry, but Kristoff had jury-rigged it to tap into all intercepted communications. It was the whole point of this little exercise. Wire it into the Kree communication systems and get this outpost, which had been spying on their neck of the galaxy to spy for them for as long as the rigged disk held out. An electronic double agent that would alert Argus Station if any alien fleets began to mass near the Sol-Kree border. If it worked like Kristoff claimed it did. Carol still didn’t trust the little rust bucket any further than she could throw him, but it was as good a shot as any to get the upper hand in a game Earth had been losing at for far too long. The galactic empires had long regarded Earth as a dangerous. Time to prove them right.

Elsewhere in the base, the Rhino’s meaty hand closed around the Kree trooper’s helmet and with a twist of his wrist he snapped the warrior’s neck. Dropping the body, he turned to catch a glimpse of his partner. Nitro’s fists exploded as they struck Kree battle armor, hurling broken bodies like rag dolls and the hunchback laughed as the last of his opponents stumbled back and slid down the wall, leaving a red trail to mark his passage. “Having fun?” Rhino rumbled, crossing his arms. Nitro shrugged.

“It’s a living.”

“Not for much longer pink skin.” A deep voice interrupted. Nitro turned and the blazing head of a esoteric hammer smacked into his gut and sent him flying backwards. Rhino tapped his headset. “Danvers? Pimp in need of assistance.” Then, as Nitro fell flat on his face, Rhino bellowed and charged towards the green armored figure with earth-shaking strides. The hammer swung up and then down, crashing into the criminal’s skull with thunderous force and driving him to the floor. Tyrus the Accuser put one boot on the Rhino’s body and let the hammer fall lightly over his shoulders. This outpost was his responsibility, entrusted to him by the Supreme Accuser Ronan himself. He’d be damned if he was going to let a few enhanced pink-skins dishonor his first command. Behind him, several squads of Kree soldiers began to spread out. “Find the others. Show them the folly of attacking even the furthest reaches of the Kree Empire.”

“Don’t you mean ‘former empire’?” Carol said as her slight form blurred from nowhere, her fist cracking across Tyrus’ jaw and knocking him sprawling. “Cause, ya know, you guys have had a rough couple of years and all.” As the soldiers turned to open fire on her, a swathe of energy cut several down. The Titanium Man crossed Carol’s path as she spun through the air, the nega-bands sparkling, and he barreled into the largest knot of troopers, his armored hands crushing bone and sending men flying. Carol circled above him. “I thought I told you to keep the defenses busy outside!”

“We were, but then I started getting shot at so I left.” The armored giant said tonelessly. “The alien can handle it. He said I was just getting in the way. And I believed him.” He fired a beam from his hand and smashed a kree off his feet. “Besides, you looked like you could use the help.”

“Well it’s the thought that counts.” Carol said as dropped lightly to the ground, a fist lashing out and hammering a Kree in the face as she tapped her headset. “Geatar, Harker, how we doing?”

“Peachy keen. Loads of laughs here.” Harker snapped as he leaned over the console trying to puzzle out the Kree wiring system. He looked at Geatar and pointed at the computer system. “What the hell is that?”

“Move.” Geatar sighed, pulling Harker out of the way. “If we wait for you to do this, we’ll be here far too long.”

“I would object but I have the feeling you’re probably right. Hurry it up.”

“Yes sir. Hurrying sir.”

ARGUS STATION, EARTH’S MOON…

Quasimodo hurled the remains of the door at the Ghost. The Ghost responded by hurling himself out of the way with graceless abandon. His thoughts raced. What was the creature doing here? He was supposed to be half a station away. No time to worry about that now. The Ghost threw himself behind the computer console, light bending around his form with a flash, rendering him invisible. Quasimodo swept the room with his gaze, the empty white expanse of his eye exuding streaming trail of energy. “Where are you sneak? Show yourse-…” Quasimodo’s rant trailed off as he caught sight of the stasis tubes. There. He could taste it. The birth power. The power that had given him mobility. Life. He stumbled towards the tubes, his blunt fingers trailing across the glass. Not much, it was true. But maybe enough to repair his ugliness. To make him more than simply a tool. To make him a man. Quasimodo moaned softly, his eyes closing. A man. Like the creator. Like his tormentors. His eyes snapped open and he reared back howling, his great fists thudding into the glass of the tube containing the replica of the Silver Surfer. Cracks spread, crawling up the glass. Quasimodo pulled back for another blow. A sharp burst of energy stung him and he whirled. “You…” he hissed.

“Us.” Plisskin said. He, Burton and MacReady stood in the opening Quasimodo had created, clad in the orange and green battle armor Kristoff had designed and refined since their last outing against the Man-Wolf. The armor was reminscent of Iron Man’s early designs, but incorporated weapons systems designed by Doctor Doom himself, courtesy of Kristoff’s altered memory. The armor hadn’t been given much of a shakedown yet, but no time like the present. “Now that we’re all introduced, lets commence to fighting.”

“Indeed. Let’s.” Quasimodo grinned and his milky eyes suddenly flashed like a mirror struck by sunlight and a beam of deadly energy lashed out from the dead orb, cutting the air with a hideous sizzle. The Losers scattered. Burton’s jet boots emitted a hum as he took flight and drove himself into the monster like a human missile. His strength increased by the exoskeleton of the suit, Burton hammered brutally at Quasimodo’s face and torso, trying to short circuit something or at the very least disable the brute momentarily. Steel gray fingers clamped around his helmet with surprising swiftness and Quasimodo shook him like a terrier shakes a rat before throwing him aside. MacReady and Plisskin unleashed a salvo of pulse bolts as they tried to catch the android in a crossfire and Quasimodo shrieked as the energy created minute cracks in his hide. But it wasn’t enough. He had been given life, given strength by a being of pure cosmic energy. And that life, that strength could not be countered by anything less. His eye flared and Plisskin smashed against the far wall of the lab, the energy field that protected his suit springing to life moments before the beam could do any harm. Plisskin gritted his teeth as the interior of the suit began to heat up. Systems were already shutting down. “Knew it was a mistake to play dress up. Shoulda stuck to basics.” He muttered, manually switching all power to the defense field. “Should, coulda woulda.” He stepped forward, straining against the weight of the force Quasimodo was directing at him. Had to hold the thing’s attention for just a few minutes more. Let the others get into position. MacReady circled Quasimodo and his fingertips sparked as he fired a burst into the side of the brute’s head, staggering him. Burton plowed into him from behind, trying to pin the monster’s head. Plisskin fell to his knees as the beam faded, his armor scorched and smoking, his head spinning. The other two Losers were brawling with the monster, still too unsure of their suits to do more than use them as glorified body armor. The Ghost watched, invisible, from a corner, holding the device he’d used to awaken Quasimodo in one hand.

What to do,what to do? He mused. Stop the monster now while he had a clear shot? Or let it kill the interlopers first? Decisions, decisions. The Ghost leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. He glanced down at Kristoff’s inert form. Of course, he had achieved his primary goal. Distracting Kristoff long enough to incapacitate him. Little spy was too smart. Made repairs almost before the Ghost could do damage. Without him, the station was one step closer to being shut down. And it didn’t do to give out freebies. If AIM wanted these fools dead, then they could damn well pay him. With a shrug, he fired the device. Well, it had been entertaining while it lasted.

Time to get back to work.

Burton and MacReady looked on in shock as Quasimodo’s raging form suddenly became inert. It toppled slowly and landed with a loud clang. The two men looked at each other.

“Okay. So what the hell was that about?”

Tyrus snarled and swung his hammer at Carol. She jumped back, avoiding the strike and grabbed hold of the hammer, pulling Tyrus into her fist and sending him stumbling back, weaponless. While he was off balance, she dropped to one knee and kicked out with her other leg, catching Tyrus in his ankle and dropping him. Nitro took the opportunity to leap atop the stunned Accuser and smash explosive fists into his armored chest again and again. Tyrus screamed and lashed out desperately, throwing Nitro from him and stumbled to his feet, his armor cracked, blood dripping from his mouth. He gestured and his hammer rose from where Carol had thrown it and flew into his grasp. He caught it with a grunt and channeled an explosive burst through it, knocking the Titanium Man from the air. The armored criminal fell heavily and skidded across the floor, sparks raining from his suit and pieces coming off in a trail to mark his passage. Carol lunged, energy crackling from her extended fingers and she fired a burst which sent Tyrus staggering back. He was tough. Not as much as Ronan, but enough to hold them up if it kept going like this. She had to put him down and quickly. She glanced at where Nitro was getting to his feet. Have to do. “Nitro! Nuke him!”

“Hell with that! I’d take out this whole base! Then where would we be hunh? Maybe you can suck vacuum but I sure can’t!” he growled. Carol flew towards him and scooped him up before he could move out of the way. “Let go of me!”

“Do it! I’ve got it covered!” she threw Nitro with all of her strength, hurling him with deadly accuracy at Tyrus. Nitro screamed and Tyrus pulled back his hammer like a batter winding up for the pitch. Carol gritted her teeth and felt the energies stored in her altered frame rush through the nega-bands and explode outward, a golden bubble of pure force that blanketed the section where Tyrus stood. It was a variation of something she’d tried on the Man-Wolf and hopefully it would be enough to contain whatever forces Nitro unleashed. There’d never been a true test of his limits in that regard, though he’d threatened more than once to take out a city or two. It could just be bluffing. Somehow she doubted it. Nitro wasn’t smart enough to bluff.

Nitro exploded in a ball of growing, howling fire that consumed Tyrus and strained at the barrier Carol had created. She could feel the deck plating beneath her feet beginning to buckle and warp from the incredible pressure Nitro had unleashed-the raw force of a nuclear explosion contained to the width of a few feet. After several moments that felt more like hours, Carol fell to her knees, sweat coating her face as the energies dissipated leaving only Tyrus’s burnt and broken form laying amidst a small pool of molten metal and flame to mark what had happened. Nitro reformed slowly, as if it hurt, smoke rising from him as if he were having trouble reforming fully.

“Bitch. Kill you for that.” He grunted staggering towards her. “Tried to kill me. Kill you first.” Carol tried to stand, shaking her head. Nitro lunged at her, his hands scrabbling for her neck. The ends of his fingers exploded as they touched her, hurling her backwards and sending her skidding across the floor to slam up against the wall. She coughed and pulled herself up just in time to grab Nitro’s fists inches above her head. He snarled at her, smoke rising from his pores. “Kill you.”

“Keep saying it, it might just come true.” She hissed through clenched teeth. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was the fight she’d been waiting for for a while. The man who killed Captain Marvel, however inadvertently. A murderer many times over. She felt power surging through her. She could kill him. She could see his weak points, see how much pain he was in. Tyrus had struck him, unleashed his own energy into the explosion that was Nitro. God knows what it had done to him. Maybe she had as good as killed him. She pushed him back, step by step, holding his arms up and away. “You killed one of the best men I ever knew. One of the best men this universe has ever known. I told you I’d kill you for that. And I always keep my promises Nitro. Always.”

“No.” Nitro looked into her eyes and felt something in his soul begin to shrivel. “NO!” his forehead cracked against hers and she stepped back, releasing him. “No, if I gotta go, I’m taking you with me!” he made to grab her, but felt something tangle in his hair, yanking his head back, pulling him around. A green, unsmiling face. Then a white hot pain in his belly and finally nothing. Silence.

Geatar let Nitro topple to the floor, casually wiping the blade of the knife off on his pants leg. Carol shook her head to clear it and looked in surprise at the scene before her. “You killed him.”

“As you said, time is of the essence. And besides, his usefullness had come to an end. Don’t you agree my captain?”

“I-captain?”

“For now at any rate. We should go. While you were tussling with the Kree the Skrull radioed in. Reinforcements are on their way. They’re still far enough out for us to get out of the system before they arrive but only if we leave now.” Geatar sheathed his blade and trotted towards the ship. The Rhino had hefted the Titanium Man’s bulk onto his shoulders and was following him into the ship. He looked back at Carol.

“Let’s go for pete’s sake! You heard the man!”

“Harker, we gotta go.” Carol looked around. Where was he? She took to the air, heading back towards the control room. “Harker!”

“In here Ace. Kristoff’s worm’s downloaded and we got copies of ever file in there. Just one last thing to take care of.” Harker stood inside the room, staring up at the far wall across from the doorway. He was shaking a can of spray paint in his hand and staring up at his handiwork in evident satisfaction. “Whaddya think kid?”

Carol laughed and shook her head swooping over Harker and yanking him into the air. “C’mon, we gotta go, time for an art critique later mon capitan. Let’s go!” The two shot back towards the waiting ship. As the doors cycled shut behind them the craft rumbled to life and backed out of the hole, leaving the base open to the vacuum.

The Super Skrull circled them, contemplating what a simple touch of cosmic fire would do to the engines. Let the humans face the full wrath of the Kree, see how they enjoyed that. The implant in his spine suddenly sparked and he writhed in mid-flight, tumbling into the hatch that opened in the side of the ship. Carol looked at Harker as she settled into the pilot’s seat. “Was that really necessary?”

“Probably not, but he had that look in his eye again.” Harker smiled. “Besides Ace, it’ll give him something to remember me by.”

“Oh yeah, you’re real hard to forget.”

“I think the Kree will agree.”

Later when the Kree arrived at the outpost, Ronan the Accuser was the first into the post, his eyes glowing dangerously as he took in the destruction. He stepped over the crumpled remains of Tyrus with the barest of glances, his attentions caught by the body of Nitro. A medic crouched above the body and he looked up as Ronan loomed over him. “H-he lives Supreme Accuser. Though barely.”

“Good. Take him back to my ship. I will put the Question to him myself.” Ronan turned as a trooper skidded to a halt before him.

“Sir! There’s something you need to see.” The trooper saluted hastily. Ronan shook his head and sighed in resignation. How he was going to explain this he didn’t know.

“Of course there is. Lead the way.”

Ronan followed the trooper into the control room, his eyes taking in the damage and the crumpled bodies of the technicians. A surprise raid? But who was responsible? Who knew about this outpost? The Shi’ar? The Badoon? They had as much to lose as the Kree. No. It was someone else. He looked over the room, his eyes drawn to the far wall where a crude glyph had been scrawled on the surface with writing beneath. A vaguely humanoid figure, peering over a wall, only the top of its head and a gigantic probiscis visible. And below it, the message at once singularly chilling and esoteric. It was a simple statement:

‘KILROY WAS HERE.’

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