Invisible energy of varying wavelengths bombarded the alien body of Captain Mar-Vell. He suffered this discomfort willingly, standing inside the sealed lab beneath Avengers Mansion. Observing from the other side of a glass shield was Stingray with his wife Diane Arliss and visiting specialist the Beast. As he studied the readings, Beast pressed a button so that his words could be heard by Captain Mar-Vell.

 

“If your extraordinary patience has limits, Captain, I fear they may be stretched today. It may help pass the time if you regale us with tales of your escapades, many of which I’m sure these extraordinary energies originate from.”

 

Captain Mar-Vell flexed his hands, imagining that he could feel the energies Beast was referring to. “If you think it may help. But I should warn you, they aren’t so much adventures as schemes. The schemes of other men, to which I and others were nothing more than pawns.”

 

As Mar-Vell spoke, he visualized the events in his head as they occurred. Or how he imagined they must have occurred.

 

“It was supposed to be a simple mission of espionage and sabotage that brought me to Earth. As you know, the Kree had visited Earth numerous times in the past, building a city on the Moon and creating the Inhumans. To watch over our interests, in a sense ‘marking our territory’, we had left a Kree Sentry robot behind in a dormant state. It was awakened and then deactivated, by the Fantastic Four, and the Accuser Ronan we sent to investigate was also defeated.

 

“In response, the Kree turned their eyes back upon Earth and sent my crew to determine if the human race was a threat. Because my commander and I loved the same woman, and she returned only my feelings, I was sent on the mission alone in the hopes that I might die.”

 

In his mind’s eye, Mar-Vell imagined himself in the uniform of Captain in the Kree Space Navy. “At the time I had no powers, only my advanced weapons as a soldier, made even greater with my modifications. And of course my Kree physiology made me stronger and faster in Earth’s atmosphere. My weapons and training allowed me to survive all of Colonel Yon-Rogg’s attempts to kill me, but sadly Medic Una was not so fortunate!”

 

Captain Mar-Vell remembered that day well, for to him it had only been a few months ago. Colonel Yon-Rogg had succeeded in painting Captain Mar-Vell as a traitor, but before an execution squad could perform their duty the ancient Kree enemies the Aakon attacked. “I may have been able to save Una, had I only trusted Earth science to help her. Instead I stole a rocket, foolishly thinking I could…I don’t know what I was thinking!

 

Captain Mar-Vell’s fists were clenched, and tears were beginning to form in his eyes. “Una died, and Yon-Rogg sent my rocket spinning through space. Eventually I was found by Ronan the Accuser and Zarek, an Imperial Minister of the Kree. They drugged me into believing a god-like entity had given me powers, but in fact they placed devices into my brain that enabled me to teleport and cast illusions, and it was a new uniform that appeared to make me stronger than ever!”

 

It was all so clear in Captain Mar-Vell’s mind; the hallucinations of the entity Zo, actually Zarek using him as a pawn against the Supreme Intelligence. “I was meant to wreak disaster on the Kree, for which the Supreme Intelligence would have been blamed. When I instead averted disaster, the Supreme Intelligence transported myself and the conspirators into a private audience, where all was explained to me. Then Zarek attempted to detonate a Negatron Sphere. I threw myself upon it not to save the Supreme Intelligence, but so those two who tormented me could not win. I survived, but the radiation threw me into the Negative Zone. It was all so fantastic and needlessly complex, I should have realized the Supreme Intelligence itself was behind it all!

 

“It wasn’t until Immortus brought me to Limbo that I realized it, you see. The Supreme Intelligence used the schemes against it, the jealousy of Yon-Rogg and my part as a pawn all to get at Rick Jones! Those machines in my brain, never designed to be permanent, dissolved after the Supreme Intelligence had me cast illusions meant to lure Rick Jones to a long-hidden Kree bunker. You know what happened next, Beast.”

 

Yes, no explanation was necessary. It was already documented in the Avengers computers that Rick Jones had discovered a pair of Nega Bands in that Kree outpost. After donning the Nega Bands, Rick discovered by that slamming them together he could switch places with Captain Mar-Vell, freeing the alien from the Negative Zone while at the same time trapping himself there.

 

“I was so eager at the time to be free that I never wondered why Rick Jones. Why not some other individual, any random person? It was because the Supreme Intelligence wanted Rick Jones, a youth already exposed to a variety of exotic energies, because he was the most likely candidate from which the Destiny Force could be awakened! More precisely, that it could be awakened in a human tied with the Kree!”

 

This Beast and Stingray also knew, but the final events of the Kree/Skrull War had not yet transpired for Captain Mar-Vell. He had been taken by Immortus before the Supreme Intelligence could awaken Rick Jones’ dormant power, and before Mar-Vell could be bonded on a molecular level with the young man to save his life. Yet he knew of these events and more, through his recent time in Limbo, where all of time could be viewed at once.

 

“It is highly likely that the Supreme Intelligence hoped that some of the Destiny Force would – pardon the expression – rub off on you,” said Stingray. “One of its many schemes to jumpstart the evolution of your Kree species. After you died, apparently with no children, the Supreme Intelligence engineered a war with the Shi’ar and detonated the Nega Bomb.”

 

“Something we’ve yet to see the results of, while the augmentations done to Rick Jones continue to be seen today,” said the Beast. “Our scans have finished at long last, Captain Mar-Vell. You may now depart that vestibule and, if you so desire, enjoy the company of friends and colleagues upstairs as we ponder the results. Or you could remain and watch us ponder, though I fear that may stretch even your patience.”

 

Pleased to be done with his trip down memory lane, Captain Mar-Vell stepped off a small platform and moved for the door out of the containment room. “You underestimate my interest in the sciences, Dr. McCoy. But you are right, in that a man would go mad unraveling the mysteries of himself. I’ll leave that to you, and wait out the answers in the comfort of friends.”

 

Out in the main laboratory, Captain Mar-Vell warmly shook the hand of Stingray and the foot of Beast, whose hands were gripped to the ceiling. Diane also accepted a handshake, and said, “I hope the tests weren’t too much of a discomfort.”

 

But Captain Mar-Vell smiled. “Not when compared with my tests for acceptance into the Kree military.”

 

Outside the laboratory, Warbird was speaking with Binary when Captain Mar-Vell emerged. “No, I’m only saying there are a time and a place for the unfocused Nova Burst. Even if it’s the only way to win, we should never risk it around – hey!” She said at sight of Captain Mar-Vell. Warbird stepped forward and gave him a hug. “How did it go?”

 

“Fine,” Mar-Vell said. “While I’m waiting for the results, we should talk, catch up. You certainly didn’t have powers when I last saw you, Carol.”

 

“Heh, well, about that,” Warbird started as the three were walking toward the elevator. “The how of my powers happened not too long ago for you. The Psyche Magnetron.”

 

“Ahh.” Mar-Vell nodded with some regret. “I had feared being bathed in its energies would have had adverse effects, but at the time you were fine.”

 

“It was one of those delayed reactions,” Warbird said. “One that needed a catalyst, and in my case it was a, well, the only term that fits is ‘split personality.’ I end up reconciling my two halves though.”

 

“And that is just the start of it,” Binary said as they all stepped into the elevator.

 

 

“Like, the first five pages of a sixty-page file. It could take all day to get your results and Warbird still couldn’t tell you the half of it.”

 

Warbird fixed her cold eyes on Binary. “You’ve read my file?”

 

Binary looked around the elevator, suddenly uncomfortable. “Oh, wow. I thought this elevator was supposed to be fast. Oh there we go I’ll see you around,” she said quickly as she was out once the doors had opened.

 

Captain Mar-Vell smiled. “I remember reading the files of everybody I served with. Including, when I first arrived at Cape Canaveral, yours.”

 

“Not nearly as interesting as what came after, you can be sure,” Warbird said. “But like Binary said, it’s a long story and now isn’t the best time for it. There are a lot of people eager to meet you.”

 

“In my time, the Avengers barely trusted me,” Captain Mar-Vell said. He and Warbird turned the corner and entered the public conference room. Luckily, there were no members of the press. Jarvis was offering appetizers, but the only guests were costumed heroes. “I suppose the Kree-Skrull War went a long way toward building my reputation.”

 

“That and later events.” Warbird led Captain Mar-Vell toward Captain America. Standing at the Avengers Chairperson’s side was an African-American woman Mar-Vell didn’t recognized. Her uniform was a silver body-suit with a black starburst on her chest and a small cape connected at the arms. Warbird smiled at the woman warmly.

“Photon, I’m glad to see you’ve recovered.”

 

“Nuclear fallout isn’t that dangerous when you can turn into it,” Photon said. She then addressed Captain Mar-Vell and nervously offered her hand. “Captain, it’s an honor to meet you. I go by Photon now, but I previously called myself Captain Marvell too.”

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Captain Mar-Vell shook her hand. “Although you should know I never called myself anything. It was simply my rank and mispronounced name. Somehow I think Photon is more fitting in your case, if I inferred correctly that you transform into energy.”

 

Photon nodded. “I took up the name after meeting your…son.” Her face paled slightly. “I’m sorry. After what happened, this must be the last thing you want to discuss.”

 

“Not at all. I’m glad to know Genis was once thought worthy of a legacy, something he proved again with his sacrifice.”

 

“Hopefully we can find a way for you both to exist safely,” Captain America said. “Then we can get to work on sending you back to your own time.”

 

“I’m sure that Beast and Stingray will find a way,” Photon said. “And if not, there are others who can help.”

 

“Speaking of Beast,” Captain America said, “You’re supposed to check with him now that Mar-Vell’s done. Photon, we can’t risk any permanent traces of radiation.

 

As Photon disappeared into the floor, Espirita and Karnak approached. “The last of the fires are out,” said Espirita to Captain America.

 

Karnak contributed by saying, “I am finished pointing out most weaknesses that weren’t obvious, and glad for it. That Damage Control is filled with fools.”

 

Captain America frowned. “Keep an open mind, Karnak. They can surprise you. There were also casualties out west,” he added for Captain Mar-Vell’s benefit, “but the Avengers based there are already on their way back. I tried to keep Wasp here, but she was insistent.”

 

The subject was then shifted again when Espirta said, “A great many reporters were following us here, asking us if the return was true.” There was a touch of edge in her voice. Knowing Christian folklore, Captain Mar-Vell understood her attitude towards him.

 

“You’ve generated a great deal of interested,” Captain America said. “And not just from the press. The government has demanded a full briefing.”

 

“And I’ve kept them at bay thus far.” She-Hulk had suddenly appeared at Captain Mar-Vell’s side. The Kree warrior was initially startled at the presence of a green giantess, but quickly returned to his relaxed posture. “Sorry. Uncle Sam wants answers,” she then said to Captain America.

 

“We’ll send a briefing when we know more,” Captain America said. “Depending on what the tests say, we may have a lot of things to figure out.”

 

“The first being my place in this time,” said Captain Mar-Vell. “There’s a question of how much I should know.”

 

“That may be a moot point,” Warbird said. “Since merging with Genis, you’ve been able to fly and project energy blasts. It’s likely you’ve also gained his Cosmic Awareness, a stronger version of what you haven’t experienced yet.”

 

“It eventually drove Genis insane,” Karnak said. “But he was a boy, and untrained in the ways of a soldier as you are.”

 

“Nevertheless, we’ll need to have you monitored.”

 

Captain Mar-Vell agreed with Captain America’s suggestion. “I gained a sense of it in Limbo when our minds were linked. This Awareness seems to come in flashes, so before one comes I should be hooked up to sen-nnnaaahhhh!”

 

It came suddenly, and Captain Mar-Vell nearly dropped to his knees as a result. Warbird grabbed an arm to steady him, and was thrown into Binary as a result. Quicksilver was immediately at Mar-Vell’s side, having moved almost as fast as Photon, while Karnak and Espirita instinctively readied themselves on either side of Captain America. She-Hulk wrapped her powerful arms around Mar-Vell’s chest and lifted him off his feet, holding her ground as the powerful Kree thrashed wildly.

 

“Nnnhh, don’t bother with me!” Captain Mar-Vell finally managed to speak. “They’re coming! The universe is threatened! We have to stop them! Save everything!”

 

“Who is coming?” Captain America stepped forward so that he was only inches from Captain Mar-Vell’s screaming face. “What is it that you sense?”

 

“I fear that he’s Aware of me.”

 

The mist accompanied the voice, seeming almost to fill the room. From the mist came a shape, unfamiliar to all save for Captain America. And when the Living Legend of World War II placed the figure, he didn’t know whether to rejoice or shiver with terror.

 

“Vision! What are you doing here?”

 

“Vision!?” Quicksilver acted without thinking. He tried to barrel head-long into the greenish man of mist, but passed through as though it wasn’t there. His arms moved quickly, creating mini-tornados. But the mist was not moved. “What is this? Proof the android had a soul after all? Or is this the final result of your vibranium upgrade?”

 

“Neither,” said Captain America. “This is Aarkus, an inter-dimensional cop I encountered during World War II. At the time, the media had dubbed you Vision. Why are you here?”

 

“You have my congratulations for destroying Ultron,” said Aarkus. He then raised a hand, and suddenly the Avengers and Captain Mar-Vell were all encased in ice. “But it was all for naught! That power touched my dimension, a threat the elders had deemed must be removed! Thus, Earth must die!”

 

---

 

In the lab below the mansion, those Avengers were ignorant of the goings-on above. As Stingray and his wife were looking over Captain Mar-Vell’s tests, Beast was speaking with Photon.

 

“Once again my dear, I am captivated by your marvelous powers.” Hanging from the ceiling by his feet, Beast wagged his eyebrows in a Groucho Marx impression. “Pun intended. You flew into a nuclear explosion, duplicated and absorbed all the harmful energies, and harmlessly dispersed them while emerging none the worse for wear. Even with my considerable mental capacity, I can think of none other who could have performed such a momentous feat.”

 

“I’m just glad that I’m okay.” Photon recalled a previous incident when, in the form of electricity, she’d been dispersed across miles of ocean. “What happened to me before was only due to lack of experience. So long as I maintain concentration over every iota of my being, that can’t happen again.”

 

To this Beast said, “That which does not kill only serves to make us stronger.” Just then, shouts could be heard plainly from above, and the temperature noticeably dropped. “Oh my stars and garters. With this mansion as compartmentalized as it is, we shouldn’t be able to hear an explosion.” He then frowned. “Before he left, Iron Man and I were discussing the chance that reality could have been weakened. This may be a sign of it.”

 

“I had better go check it out.” Photon flashed into light and flew up through the ceiling. She emerged into a scene that could have been out of Dante’s Inferno. The Avengers were all encased in blocks of ice, surrounding a green-headed, misty figure that may have been the Devil himself.

 

Moving faster than thought, Photon flew through Vision. In her energy form it was a blast of power that could have destroyed a building, but Aarkus was merely staggered. Somehow his eyes were able to follow Photon, and with a gesture blasted her with unknown energy.

 

“Away woman! Progressed though your society has, even the greatest of you are less than nothing to one such as I!”

 

“Aahh!” Photon screamed as her energy form was ripped apart. This was only a pretense however, meant to hide that she remained in control. Photon’s scattered self of heat washed over the ice, melting it and freeing her teammates.

 

While most Avengers began to surge toward Vision, Captain Mar-Vell grabbed Warbird by the wrist. “I see we can’t win here! We have to flee!”

 

“No!” Warbird tried to break free, but before she could there was a flash. When it passed, she and Captain Mar-Vell were no longer in Avengers Mansion. It was instead a modest home, and out the window, Warbird saw that the sun was just rising. Warbird pulled out of the Kree’s grip. “Where have you taken us? And how did you do that?”

 

“A short time ago to me, I had been given the ability to teleport,” said Captain Mar-Vell. “I had assumed it gone along with my power to cast illusions, but it would seem my desperate act had reawakened it. As to where we are, given whom I wanted to see I assume we’re in the home of-”

 

In the span between one word and the next, Mar-Vell threw out an arm and grabbed the baseball bat swinging for his head. Holding the bat, dressed only in a t-shirt and boxers, was-

 

“-Rick Jones, my young friend. You’ve aged well.”

 

Letting go of his bat out of shock, Rick took a step back. Then a big grin splashed across his face and he rushed forward to hug Captain Mar-Vell.

 

“Marv! When Iron Man radioed me with the news I almost didn’t believe it! Almost, because, well, I’ve seen super-heroes come back a million times!”

 

“Yes, good to see you too,” Captain Mar-Vell said. He awkwardly returned Rick’s hug, while still being a bit pulled back. “Rick, hips out please. We’re both wearing rather thin clothing. And you’re…”

 

“Oh, sorry!” Moving quickly, Rick stepped out of the hug. His face went several shades darker. “It’s the morning, you know. The wife and I were in fact gonna…when we heard the noise and-”

 

“Hii-yaa!” Dressed only in a thin negligee, Marlo Jones came out swinging. The head of her golf club collided with Warbird’s head, and promptly snapped off.

 

Warbird fixed her gaze on the wide-eyed Marlo and said only, “Ow.”

 

“Honey, we’ve got guests. Throw something on,” Rick said, then grinned as he finished with, “the stove.”

 

The look Marlo gave her husband could have fried an egg. Fortunately, Captain Mar-Vell spoke before she could make further use of the broken club.

 

“We aren’t here to socialize, Rick. All of Earth, perhaps the universe itself, is at risk. In fleeing the threat I came here, blindly. I know there must be a reason for it.”

 

Rick’s face suddenly became very grave. “I never knew you to run from a fight in your life, Ma-aahh!”

 

Along with Rick’s scream, Marlo raised her broken club as the light form of Photon passed through the wall and solidified next to Captain Mar-Vell. “There you are. Captain America ordered me to find you while he and the others rushed that thing. Luckily, I managed to track the signal from Warbird’s card.”

 

“What the hell is going on?” Marlo shouted.

 

Warbird summed it up. “Ultron tried to use the Destiny Force to destroy reality. We stopped it, and in the process pulled Captain Mar-Vell from the past. Apparently other realities were affected by the battle and consider us a threat. An agent with incredible power has come to destroy humanity. We must be here because Rick’s ties to the Destiny Force could be our only hope.” She looked Rick up and down. “God help us all.”

 

“Whatever it is you hope to do we’d better do it now!” Photon told Captain Mar-Vell. “I just barely outran it.”

 

“Outran what?” Marlo looked over at Warbird. “That explained nothing!”

 

“No no no.” Captain Mar-Vell’s face had become a field of stars. He strode toward the front door, already Aware of what he could find on the other side. Sure enough, when Mar-Vell opened the door, he nearly stepped out into nothingness. “We’ve failed! Aarkus has already destroyed the Earth!”

 

“INDEED I HAVE!”

 

The voice came from high above, for Aarkus was far larger than the house of Rick Jones. Large enough that the house fit in the palm of his hand. Inside of sphere of green smoke that was his head, eyes burned white with judgment. With each word, his voice encompassed the Kree and last of humanity.

 

“YOU ARE ALL THAT REMAINS, SHIELDED ONLY BY HE WHO WIELDS DESTINY! WITH HIS HEAD, YOUR REALITY AND ALL OTHERS SHALL AGAIN BE SAFE!”
 

There had been a flash when Captain America ran at Aarkus. When that passed, he was no longer surrounded by his fellow Avengers. Instead, Captain America found himself in what appeared to be a bunker, in the presence of Namor and Jim Hammond. The Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch, Captain America’s old partners in the World War II Invaders.

 

“What insult is this?” Namor asked in a heated tone. “Who dares to abduct me from the Baxter Building?”

 

“I recognize this place,” Human Torch said quietly.

 

“As well you should.” Smoke billowed and formed before the Invaders, solidifying into Aarkus. “This is where you murdered Hitler, Human Torch. I recreated it as the setting for our discussion.”

 

“What is the meaning of bringing us here?” Namor approached Aarkus as he gave this demand, and impulsively tried to punch him. The Sub-Mariner’s hand passed harmlessly through the smoke.

 

“Ah Namor, you are as rash as ever. But strength of force is meaningless in this, where your goal is to convince me not to go through with my task.”

 

“So you already doubt your orders?” Captain America asked. “Then there’s nothing more to be said, Aarkus. Don’t destroy humanity.”

 

Human Torch’s android brain quickly deduced what the two were discussing. “This is because of Ultron.”

 

Namor turned around to face Captain America. “So this is all your doing! If you had only called on the Fantastic Four, we could have settled things quickly and not drawn the attention of his kind!” With these final words, Namor pointed a finger at Aarkus, then addressed the other-dimensional cop. “Once I would have said kill the humans and be done with it, leave Earth to Atlantis and those who respect nature. But I made a promise to act as protector and with my last breath I shall fulfill it!”

 

Again, Namor tried to attack Aarkus by force. This time Aarkus waved a hand, and Namor went flying against the wall.

 

“Spare your last breath for speaking, Namor, and leave the physical conflict to those more suited. Even now I battle with your Sorcerer Supreme and god-like pantheons dependent on humanity.”

 

“It sounds that you shouldn’t have the power to waste in luxuries such as this,” Human Torch said, indicating the bunker. “A real recreation, or simply an illusion? Many times in the past you seemed to either hold back or make an unnecessary show of power.”

 

“Rest assured, I have sufficient power to do what I have been tasked. My only quarter in this is granting you three the opportunity to convince me otherwise.”

 

Captain America shook his head. “This isn’t a game I’m going to play, Aarkus. If you needed convincing we would already be dead. You’ve stayed your hand, but you’re only one of many. You want your superiors to stay theirs.”

 

In the moment before speaking, no smile was visible within the misty head of Aarkus. “This is correct. Since you first gained our notice, the denizens of Smokeworld have observed your cluster of tiny realities. You have been deemed a threat, and if I do not deal with you others shall.”

 

“Let them come,” Namor said. “The Avenging Son shall face all and crush them.”

 

“This isn’t something that can be punched, Namor,” Human Torch said. “Nor do I think it can be burned, outthought, even reasoned with. You mean to satisfy with something other than Earth’s destruction.”

 

“Say your piece Aarkus,” said Captain America. “To save the Earth, I will do whatever it takes.”

 

“Do not be so certain.”

 

 

---

Captain Mar-Vell did not join when Warbird and Photon flew up to face Aarkus. The women flitted around that head of mist, firing blasts that did not so much as flinch the other-worldly being. It was this futility that Mar-Vell saw, and he turned to convey this to Rick Jones.

 

“My apologies, Rick. I was wrong to think that your access to the Destiny Force could save us from this thing.”

 

By the look on his face, it appeared as though Rick really needed to go to the bathroom. “Don’t be so quick to doubt me Marv. I’m trying, and whatever it takes I’ll access the power.”

 

“Don’t,” Captain Mar-Vell said to his young friend. “This Cosmic Awareness is new to me, but I sense that your attempts would only result in an aneurysm. Go back inside with your wife and close the door behind you.” The two men were standing on the front porch, overlooking nothing. “This fight won’t be won with force.”

 

“That your new Cosmic Awareness talking to you?” Rick Jones asked. “Because I know from experience, that’s not the best thing to rely on.”

 

“No,” said Captain Mar-Vell as he flew into the air. “This feeling comes from inside.”
Twin beams of force shot from Aarkus’ eyes. Warbird and Photon were struck at once. Photon found herself back as solid matter and fell from the air, with Warbird following suit. Captain Mar-Vell trusted in the woman he knew as Carol Danvers, and so caught Photon.

 

“If you can recover, return to the house with Warbird,” Captain Mar-Vell said. “I am going higher regardless.”

 

Photon found that she could recover, but once in her light form protested. Captain Mar-Vell simply looked at her with pleading eyes. Without another word Photon dropped. Bathed in an aura of photonic energy from his Nega Bands, Captain Mar-Vell continued to climb until he was eye-to-eye with Aarkus.

 

“You would have me believe that Rick Jones is blocking your power,” Captain Mar-Vell said. “I am Aware that that is not the case. Inexperience allowed you to fool me, but this illusion is ended!”

 

Photonic bursts of light erupted from the Nega Bands, washing over even the white void that had been reality. When the light faded, the illusion was revealed. Above was the sky, below the earth, all around the California countryside. No longer was Aarkus a giant, now hovering a few feet from a Captain Mar-Vell he was the same size as.

 

“An impressive feat,” said Aarkus. “However it would not be wise to deem my ruse a bluff. If pressed, I will destroy this planet, this entire reality, to eliminate the Destiny Force!”

 

“Killing Rick Jones would take much less effort. It is hypocrisy to ask of me a moral choice you are unwilling to make!”

 

Hovering, Captain Mar-Vell attempted to circle Aarkus, and Aarkus circled in turn.
“Good point.” Aarkus spread his palm. A burst of wispy energy shot toward Rick Jones.

 

“No!” Faster than light, Captain Mar-Vell appeared in the energy’s path. It took him in the chest, replacing the yellow starburst with his own blackened flesh. Flying against the pain, Captain Mar-Vell reached Aarkus’ level and returned fire with photonic blasts.
Aarkus raised a hand and the light dispersed. “You should realize now that you are no match for me.”

 

“He’s right,” Warbird said on the ground to Photon, standing next to her. “We have to get up there and help him.”

 

Photon gave her a sideways glance. “Not help him fight. That isn’t what Mar-Vell’s doing.”

 

“And yet Rick Jones is still alive,” Captain Mar-Vell said to Aarkus. “If you are unwilling to carry out your threat then what is the point of your being here?”

 

“Because Rick Jones is not the threat!” Aarkus had suddenly bridged the distance, gripped Captain Mar-Vell by the throat. “He is only one among humanity, billions with the potential for infinite power! Power that was awoken by a creation of the Kree! If you, one member of the Kree, are unwilling to erase your greatest mistake, then what chance has the universe should humanity choose to expand?”

 

“This trial was already held.”

 

“By the denizens of this reality,” said Aarkus. “Now others have felt the threat, and they demand their pound of flesh! Humanity is a danger to all because it was altered, not only by the Kree but others across thousands of worlds. They all planted their seeds and must reap what they have sown! This is my task beyond the death of one man, and it will come to be if no one will take a step toward saving the everything!”

 

“It will not be me!”

 

“Then live with the consequences!” Aarkus’ eyes glowed, and the mist of his head appeared to solidify. “Feel the pain of this universe as it slowly unravels from the inside out! Die a trillion deaths over all infinity at once! Experience the whole of my existence as it destroys your mind!”

 

Captain Mar-Vell felt it all, and if he possessed the mental capacity to he would have screamed. But he had none left. All was reserved for one act. While Aarkus was solid, Captain Mar-Vell punched him in the jaw, physically harming the other-dimensional alien.

 

“That I think we can help with,” Warbird said. But Photon had already shifted into light, and Warbird raced to catch up with her. The two women blasted at Aarkus while he was locked in battle with Mar-Vell, and at the house Rick Jones cheered them on.

 

“Yeah! Get him!”

 

Sadly, Rick Jones would not be able to see the battle’s end. It happened as Aarkus was grappling with Mar-Vell and deflecting the women’s attacks. Light exploded from inside him, encompassing all four warriors. It then winked out suddenly, taking them with it.

 

---

It had been no reaction of energies that transported the three heroes and Aarkus away. A power greater than all of them had been responsible, and suddenly the heroes were in its midst. Warbird and Photon looked to either side and saw Captain America, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Jim Hammond the original Human Torch and even Doctor Strange floating with them in the wispy void. Captain Mar-Vell looked up and saw above them the towering forms of Eternity and the Living Tribunal. What he also noticed was the absence of Aarkus.

 

“Is this your doing?” Captain Mar-Vell asked the towering figures. “Are you also god-like beings, even more powerful than Aarkus and dismissed him as such?”

 

Neither Eternity nor the Living Tribunal answered. Instead, the voice that addressed Captain Mar-Vell belonged to Doctor Strange. “Look beyond them, Mar-Vell. No one has been dismissed. We have all been transported here, all of us.”

 

Captain Mar-Vell did look out beyond, seeing all with his Cosmic Awareness. Their wispy surroundings were not an infinite void; going out far enough they had an edge, the outline of a face. It was Aarkus, encompassing even the ultimate beings of the universe and communing with them at a range beyond even Mar-Vell’s senses.

 

“So, the fate of the universe is being discussed…and those who live in it have no say?”

 

“I don’t think so.” Captain America turned to address the Human Torch. “Jim Hammond hasn’t been seen since that bomb went off inside him. So take off his face and speak to us as yourself, Aarkus.”

 

Jim Hammond smiled, and his fiery features shifted into smoke alone, taking on the visage of Aarkus. “Yes, at present Jim Hammond is beyond even my power. But I felt his voice needed to be heard in this, even if only by proxy.”

 

Both Namor and Captain Mar-Vell had surged forward, reaching to take Aarkus by the throat. Captain America got between them however, blocking them with this shield.

 

 

“No. We’re done fighting. Explain for them, Doctor Strange.”

 

“As I was fending Aarkus off at the Nexus of All Realities, I was making contact with his superiors in the realm we call Smoke World. Now Aarkus is our intermediary, helping us to make a deal that will preserve reality.”

 

Captain Mar-Vell fixed his eyes on Aarkus, on the being that had just tried to make him kill his friend. “What are to be the terms of this arrangement?”

 

---

Time has passed. Once again Captain Mar-Vell was in California, standing on the back porch of Rick Jones’ home. With him are Rick Jones and Captain America, all drinking beers and watching the sunset.

 

“Thanks guys,” Rick Jones said. “For coming and telling me things were settled, I mean. And, sure, saving my life and the world, but especially for telling me. Most of the time, us regular guys don’t know the world was saved until…we find we’re still alive the next day.”

 

“Sometimes you just don’t know the world was in danger to beginning with,” said Captain America. “All the things I’ve seen, I try not to think about before we were active, or the dozens of threats throughout the universe that we know nothing about.”

 

“Yeah.” Rick Jones sipped his beer. “Ignorance was bliss.”

 

“One of the best things about childhood,” Captain Mar-Vell said. “So I’ve been told. Youth of the Kree aren’t shielded from these things. We’re all told, from the moment of understanding, what threatens us so that we’re encouraged to join the defense. There are no years of innocence.”

 

Rick Jones looked at Mar-Vell for a long minute before saying, “Man, that’s messed up.”

 

“It kind of is,” Captain America said. “Even during the Depression, I had some great moments. But what you describe…I know that it sounds worse than you meant it to be.”

 

“Yes, there were always those times when you could forget the outside world and just enjoy the moment.” Mar-Vell took a gulp from his bottle. “Moments like this.”

 

The moment passed, and Rick Jones spoke. “So, how was it you guys saved the universe? You know, so I know for next time.”

 

“No idea,” Captain America said.

 

“Some higher powers got involved,” said Captain Mar-Vell. “The enormity of the conflict sort of wiped the details from our minds.”

 

“Doctor Strange was there.”

 

“Ahh.” Rick Jones nodded. “Yeah, pretty sure that’s happened before. You get used to it Marv.”

 

“I hope I don’t. It isn’t good to be complacent.”

 

---

When Captain Mar-Vell teleported back to Avengers Mansion with Captain America, their moods were somber.

 

“Rick Jones seems to have a good life,” Captain Mar-Vell said.

 

“There have been some bumps,” said Captain America. “But overall I envy him.”

 

“It’s a shame, what we had to do.”

 

“Lying to him seems to be the worst thing about it.” Captain America put his hand on the handle of the door leading into the mansion from the roof. “Come on. Beast should have the results to your tests. I could use some good news.”

 

---

“This is an unfortunate task for me to convey.” Dr. Henry McCoy settled the spectacles on his face after cleaning them. “The prognosis is far less than good. Due to the frequent periods Mar-Vell and Genis spent in the Negative Zone, I had expected to find such levels of radiation in your body to warrant an elevated risk of catastrophe. Yet I discovered none.”

 

“There shouldn’t be any negative energy in Mar-Vell,” said Quicksilver, who was there listening to the results with Captain Mar-Vell, Captain America, Warbird and She-Hulk. “I was there when it was all leeched away after Rick Jones helped him escape from the Negative Zone.”

 

“Well, there also weren’t any tachyons, the faster-than-light particles present in time-travel,” said Stingray in a far-shorter explanation than Beast could have given. “It was present in all of us just from visiting Limbo, except for Mar-Vell.”

 

“What does this mean?” Captain Mar-Vell asked.

 

“The process by which Immortus bonded you to your son was far beyond anything I’ve encountered,” said Beast. “It is not dissimilar to the situation you had with Rick Jones, in which the Nega Bands allowed for spatial dimensional travel. There one of you needed to remain in the Negative Zone at all times, or as Quicksilver just said the negative energy would have had to be removed once you were both out. In this case you were brimming with energies that would have killed you, and Genis took them all into himself. This is only speculation, but I feel it likely that Immortus shunted Genis outside of time, where he is essentially frozen and safe.”

 

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Captain America said. “If Immortus was capable of this, he could just as easily have shunted Mar-Vell outside of time. He could have done a million things to remove the energies and heal Mar-Vell, whatever he claimed.”

 

“It’s Immortus.” Warbird said the name with a venom that explained everything.
Captain Mar-Vell nodded. “Once again I am the pawn of a higher force. Is there any way to do what Immortus wouldn’t?”

 

There was some hesitation before Stingray said, “Yes, but I wouldn’t risk it.”

 

“Well why not?” asked Quicksilver with no tact.

 

“The ideal scenario would be to collect Genis from outside time and then repair the damage to his body before it takes his life,” Beast said. “Without access to his body and a proper assessment of his injuries, however, the chance of saving him in time would be less than marginal. First we would have to find him, something I fear Immortus will not have made easy.”

 

“Actually there is a chance of that,” said Stingray. “Once again, the Nega Bands are the key. It is remarkable how many Kree devices are thought-based.”

 

“Not so remarkable. Much of Kree science is based in genetic and mental enhancement, in the hopes of furthering our stalled evolution.”

 

“Be that as it may, the Kree managed to make some progress.” Stingray pointed at the Nega Bands on Captain Mar-Vell’s wrists. “As near as we can figure, the primary function of the Nega Bands is to create a link between two individuals. One in our reality, and another in the Negative Zone, which it would seem the Kree had discovered centuries before Mr. Fantastic.”

 

Captain Mar-Vell looked down at his Nega Bands. They had mysteriously dissolved after Rick had saved him from the Negative Zone, only to suddenly return when Immortus had transported him to Limbo. He realized now that must have been Immortus, taking the Nega-Bands beforehand to make his own modifications on them.

 

“This is correct. While the power of the Nega Bands is to transform mental energy into physical power, the Kree possess no psychic potential with which to use them. So a means was devised to take subjects of other alien races and utilize their potential thru a mental link.”

 

“So, the Kree trapped people in the Negative Zone to…to power weapons?” There was disgust in Warbird’s voice.

 

“Worse,” said Captain Mar-Vell. “Fearing the power the Nega Bands conveyed, the Kree trapped their own soldiers, allowing them to escape for only a maximum of three hours. Because the Nega Bands did not work for aliens, the Kree could safely imprison them until the soldiers were needed.”

 

“That’s barbaric,” said She-Hulk. “But ultimately unsurprising. Somehow I don’t think our government would balk at the same kind of research.”

 

“Unfortunately no alien race possessed enough potential to the make the power worth the effort. Even humans, in the low stage of evolution when first the experiments began, were not deemed viable. So the project stalled and was ultimately forgotten.”

 

“And now that we’ve stumbled a few rungs up the ladder, the results more than speak for themselves,” said Beast. “With Rick Jones you exhibited flight, highly augmented strength and durability, and powerful photonic energy bursts.”

 

“And Genis isn’t only a Kree,” Stingray said. “His mother is an Eternal, an offshoot of humanity who had their psychic potential realized.”

 

“This must account for the teleportation, and perhaps even the Cosmic Awareness,” Captain Mar-Vell said. Then he nodded. “Of course. While not able to fly before, I did exhibit weaker variations of the enhanced strength and photonic bursts while I was in Limbo. It must be because, as a pink Kree from inter-breeding, I possess some psychic potential when compared with ‘pure-blooded’ blue Kree.”

 

“As fascinating as these explanations are,” said Quicksilver impatiently, “You did say the Nega Bands were the key to finding Genis.”

 

Stingray nodded. “Mar-Vell and Genis are linked via the Nega Bands. In time, we could tap into that link and trace it back to Genis.”

 

“Or perhaps…” Without warning, Captain Mar-Vell slammed his Nega Bands together. Nothing happened. “As I feared, Immortus modified these for more than a link across temporal boundaries.” He looked to Beast. “Through this link, would you be able to discern my son’s condition.”

 

Beast gave a moment’s thought before nodding. “Yes, I’m sure we could eventually. But to study such technology could take months, even years.”

 

“And is too dangerous on Earth,” Captain Mar-Vell finished.

 

“What?” Warbird stepped forward. “Mar-Vell, I know you’ve just met a lot of the Avengers for the first time, but you can trust us.”

 

“But we’re not all you’d have to worry about,” said She-Hulk. “Studying those Nega Bands could provide Earth with the technology, and could lead to similar experiments like the Kree did.”

 

“And to avoid that, I cannot remain on Earth.”

 

“So you’re just going to leave?” Warbird asked Captain Mar-Vell. “This could be the only chance to find your son?”

 

“The data we’ve collected already could be enough to start a search for Genis,” Stingray said.

 

“Could,” Warbird repeated. “And it would certainly take longer than if you remained to help.”

 

“While another race could help me in a shorter amount of time.”

 

“Who? The Kree!”

 

“Carol.” Captain America put a hand on her shoulder, and Warbird started to calm down. “Mar-Vell, there have been a lot of advancements made by the Avengers and the Fantastic Four that have been kept from the government for exactly this fear.”

 

“As I keep getting harassed about,” She-Hulk said while shaking her head in frustration.

 

“It isn’t only that,” Captain Mar-Vell said. “Here, the world nearly ended. Nearly all of reality ended. Twice. In less than a day. Even now, I’m getting a sense of countless threats across the universe. People and planets and stars, dying. If I’m to be trapped in this time, it can’t just be spent on this world, dealing with threats you are more than equipped to handle. Not when I can be out there,” he looked upwards. “Fighting the threats no one even knows about. And yes, striving to more quickly save my son.”

 

“Yes, it would be rather selfish of you to remain here,” said Quicksilver.

 

“Then I suppose that’s it,” Captain America said. He extended a hand, and Captain Mar-Vell accepted it. “While you have yet to experience all of them, Captain Mar-Vell, the battles we have fought together were a great honor.”

 

“This I don’t doubt, Captain America. I look forward to them all, both future and past.”
Quicksilver was next to shake Captain Mar-Vell’s hand. “Though I was at first distrustful of you, you later saved my life. More than that, you saved my sister’s life.”
Stingray shook Captain Mar-Vell’s hand while Beast patted him on the back. Both expressed their commitment to helping Genis, whatever it would take.

 

Not having anything to say, She-Hulk stepped back as Warbird stepped forward. She and Captain Mar-Vell were of nearly equal height, and looked into each other’s eyes.
“Carol. I am sorry I ever entered your life.”

 

“I’m not,” Warbird said. Then she took Captain Mar-Vell’s head in her hands and kissed him.

 

Then they separated, Captain Mar-Vell stepped back and addressed the Avengers as a whole. “When I first arrived on Earth, it was to punish a planet that had dared to defy the Kree. But quickly did I see your worth, and knew that it was not defiance to advance where another race had stalled. Now Avengers, I part ways from you as a friend. One day, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Go forth humans, in all your beliefs, and prove that I am not mistaken in mine.”

 

With a flash of photonic light, Captain Mar-Vell was gone.

 

---

EPILOGUE

I travel now through space, alone in body if not in mind. With the Nega Bands I find myself able to survive the vacuum, sustained not by oxygen but free-floating energy. No longer on Earth, but not yet outside the system, I settled on a small asteroid in the large belt between Mars and Jupiter.

 

There was one last person I had to say goodbye to.

 

You loved this woman?

 

I nodded as I stood over the rock memorial I had made for the lovely and gentle Una.

Yes, I love her still. No woman has yet compared to her, though some I’ve come to

love in different ways. Carol, who was a woman of authority when first I met her, as close to a warrior Kree as any human I had met. Anelle, Princess of the Skrulls, should have been a sworn enemy yet won me over with her desire for peace.

 

And my mother? What of Elysius?

 

At this I shake my head. I have not yet met Elysius, know nothing of her save that she will bear my child, years after I die.

 

You could meet her now. Could meet Starfox and Mentor and all the other Eternals of Titan. It is not so far from you.

 

But will they want to meet me?

 

Of course. It is me they hate. Me that trapped them, Titan and all, into the Negative Zone. They raised me, and I made like I had killed them, so that the Kree would accept me.

 

The first step to making recovery is to make amends. Titan first, then the Kree.

 

You’re going to make amends with the Kree? So you want to rejoin them, be a soldier. Or is it more? With your power, you can rule them all.

 

I fly through space, unwilling to teleport yet. There must be time to think, to contemplate what is to be done. I do not want to fight, do not want to rule. I only want to help. Help the universe, and my son. Before you can be freed, Genis-Vell, you must be helped.

 

Don’t waste your time, Dad.

 

---

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

---

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This was a big thing Chris Munn and I discussed.

I’m uncertain when it was brought up. I think, way back when Mike Exner was involved, he had Chris had decided to use Captain Mar-Vell. It was all going to start in the Avengers Immortal story, and Captain Mar-Vell would participate in the Kang/Ultron War. I don’t think the specifics were settled on, nor the role of Genis-Vell. At the time, Josh Reynolds hadn’t even wrapped up that particular plot in Avengers West Coast.
Eventually, after a lot of e-mails between myself, Munn and Reynolds, the ending of the K/U War was hammered out, with the only sticking point being the fates of Captain Mar-Vell and Genis-Vell. Munn wanted Mar-Vell back, and so did I. So tentative plans for an ongoing series written by the two of us were made.

Then Mark Millar went and wrote Civil War, and Paul Jenkins wrote The Fucking Return. Munn and I discussed it again, decided we didn’t care if people thought we were following Jenkins, and would go through with it anyway. Of course, then Secret Invasion and the revelation of that Captain Mar-Vell came out, so all was well and good.

Lesson learned though. The story had to be written. Beset with a number of problems (the latest being he’s sick; get better soon man!) Munn had to drop to the sidelines. So I’ve handled much of this myself (please, no applause), and realized there was little chance an ongoing Captain Mar-Vell series could happen. I’m already writing Avengers and Captain America as well as scripting Thunderbolts for Munn, and all have stalled while K/U War was done. A fourth series? Hell, I doubt it would be allowed by The Powers That Be.

So why make the switch? Why not maintain the status quo, keep crazy Genis around and send Mar-Vell back to his own time? Because I’m a selfish bastard who wants to write his stories, dammit.

So here’s what I’m going to do: the next installment of Avengers (hopefully out by next month) will feature a Captain Mar-Vell back up. Just a small tale, maybe a thousand words. We’ll see how it goes, if I can keep it up for most if not every issue while maintaining a regular schedule.

Wish me luck.

- Stephen Crosby