“This session will now come to order.” Senator Dickerson banged his gavel. “The Metahuman Investigation Committee recognizes Jennifer Walters, Avengers liaison to the Federal Government of the United States. Ms. Walters, are you prepared to answer this committee’s questions?”

Looking almost as intimidating in her business suit as she does while She-Hulk, Jennifer leaned forward to speak into the microphone. “Yes I am Senator.”

The first question came from Senator Carrick. “Ms. Walters, my first question is in regards to your objectivity. Traditionally, the role of liaison has been to keep the Avengers in line, to prevent them from acting outside American interests. Being a former Avenger yourself, have you been able to objectively monitor and evaluate the Avengers’ actions?”

“With all due respect Senator, your definition of the role is incomplete. I interpret my duties to include protecting the Avengers from government interference, to insure that they are not used as a tool for political means.”

“And yet there are some who saw exactly that when the Avengers were present at Cape Citadel.”

“As we all know Senator, that day marked the anniversary of,” Jennifer chose her words carefully, “a significant attack by a former terrorist.”

“Ah yes, you are referring to the mutant Magneto, current ruler of the island nation of Genosha.”

“I am referring to a super-human threat, the exact thing that the Avengers were formed to defend against. It was suspected that super-powered terrorists would strike on that anniversary, and it was for that reason the Avengers were present. A suspicion I might add that proved correct.”

“But isn’t it true Ms. Walters that not all of the Avengers were present? Wasn’t the mutant known as Quicksilver, son of Magneto, absent on that day?”

“He had unfortunately suffered a training injury that day.”

“Isn’t that convenient, that the son of the mutant who had tried to steal nuclear missiles from Cape Citadel was suddenly unable to attend the anniversary of that attack?”

“My understanding is that Quicksilver considered it very inconvenient.”

“It is also my understanding that another Avenger has ties to a foreign nation. I am of course referring to the Inhuman Karnak, who is a member of that race’s so-called Royal Family. With two of their members having ties with peoples that have often been at odds with the United States, Ms. Walters, how can you assure us the Avengers do not threaten national security?”

“With all due respect Senator, the Inhuman race has only been at odds with the United States when the Royal Family was not in power. Karnak joined with the Avengers as an ambassador, providing intelligence and assistance against rogue Inhuman elements, much as Andromeda has previously done in regards to Atlantis and countless foreign governments are doing now with American intelligence agencies. Just recently, Karnak had identified an attempted coup of the Inhuman government by those who would see America harmed and gone to investigate.”

---

Attilan was quiet as death. Karnak crept from empty building to empty building, ever-cautious of attack. There wasn’t a trace of battle anywhere, no blood or signs of damage. Karnak felt as though he were alone in a room with his cousin and king Black Bolt; surrounded by silence and the dreaded expectation of utter destruction.

As with the few times Black Bolt spoke, Karnak sensed the end of silence just before it happened. He ducked suddenly, barely avoiding the massive fist of an Alpha Primitive. At the same time Karnak struck with astounding speed, and his slight hand did as much damage to the Alpha Primitive as its fist did to that wall. The sub-human gave an unintelligible cry of pain, and when Karnak followed-up with an uppercut it collapsed in a semi-conscious state. Karnak stamped down hard, making it lose conscious fully. There was no point interrogating a beast of no intelligence.

Cautious of further attacks should he remain in one place to long, Karnak sped on. This time he knew where he was going, and made an irregular path for the entrance to the preserve underneath Attilan, where Alpha Primitives have lived since being granted their freedom. As he hurried, Karnak wondered at what could have made the once docile sub-humans violent, and whether it was connected to the disappearance of the Inhumans.

As Karnak neared a side entrance to the Royal Palace, he spotted another three Alpha Primitives clearly placed as guards. Swiftly, Karnak considered forcing his way through and decided against it. Creeping along the side of the building, Karnak found a weakness in the wall and smashed his elbow through it. If he moved quickly enough, Karnak would reach the preserve’s entrance before the Alpha Primitives caught sight of him. They lacked the mental faculties to investigate even the most obvious too closely.

Four additional Alpha Primitives were waiting for Karnak on the other side of the makeshift entrance. Left with no other recourse, the Inhuman rushed forward to engage. Though outnumbered, Karnak was a skilled fighter, and despite the Alpha Primitives’ large size their strength was no much greater than a base Inhuman’s. Karnak expected the fight to end swiftly, downing one foe right away with a blow to the knee. Then Karnak saw that the leg ended in a hoof, and another Alpha Primitive had unusually long hair.

“This cannot be!” Karnak smashed a fist against an Alpha Primitive with a greenish complexion. “Maximus will pay for this, brother! And you will be restored! This I swear!”

But emotion made Karnak reckless, and the three Alpha Primitives he’d earlier sought to avoid had reached the battle. Eventually one blow got through his defenses, followed by more. Karnak was soon beaten nearly unconscious by his attackers, four of whom were members of his own family.

---

“My primary concern is cost,” Senator Whitmore said. “Not merely the cost in damage from these super-human conflict, but also the cost in information. Had these Inhumans not told us about the large water supply on the Moon, we likely could have done a fool thing like shoot expensive rockets into it! But too often information is withheld, knowledge that could be vital to improving the quality of life for all Americans.”

“This is something that has been addressed elsewhere and in much greater detail, Senator,” Jennifer Walters said. “Science does not exist in a vacuum, and often when the Avengers discover great breakthroughs its often because they’re already being abused by some criminal with delusions of grandeur. Allowing such potentially harmful discoveries access from the scientific community or public at large would greatly increase the chance of catastrophe.”

“With all due respect young lady, such decisions should be made by our government.”

One comeback in the front of She-Hulk’s mind was to name Senators Warkovsky, Ward, Weason, Munson, Stivak and Bohannon, all either villains or had been under the control of villains. Instead Jennifer Walters smiled and said, “That is exactly what other committees are doing, both here in the Senate and the House of Representatives. As briefs are filed, they review the technical data and encourage further studies as they see fit. One such study has been the recent mission to Jupiter by the noted scientist Walter Newell. As you gentlemen are no doubt aware, Mr. Newell’s Stingray armor, already a breakthrough for underwater exploration, also has a use for interplanetary exploration.”

---

“Entering the atmosphere now.” At that point, Stingray had no way of knowing if his communications were getting through. He’d failed to receive any transmissions from Earth since entering Jupiter’s magnetosphere, but had been more concerned with navigating the turbulent electro-magnetic storms. But the Avenger had made it through to the massive planet’s atmosphere, and quickly shifted controls to auto-pilot.

Tony Stark himself had modified the Quinjet for inter-planetary exploration. He had said there was no way it could sustain the deeper pressures of Jupiter, but that it could survive indefinitely high in the upper atmosphere. That made it safe to leave, a viable means of transport back to Earth once Stingray was done with his exploration. At least, he hoped so. If stranded he would never be found.

Sealing his Stingray armor completely, Walter Newell disembarked from the Quinjet and into the gaseous planet of Jupiter. He felt the pressure and cold immediately against his armor. The pressures varied from one-fifth to twice that of Earth’s, minimal next to the powerful gravity that threatened to send Stingray careening into the planet’s core.

 

Temperature was colder than any place on Earth, colder even that deepest of the oceans, but Stingray’s armor was keeping him insulated. It was also keeping him buoyed, high on the surface of Jupiter, amidst the rich amounts of hydrogen and helium.

Nothing solid existed around Stingray. There wasn’t anything for his sonar to bounce again except for the Quinjet high above, a beacon that Stingray held onto. He was swimming in gas, exploring up close what had only ever been observed from afar. If not for the armor, the man would be dead, frozen and crushed.

Stingray was alive however, swimming through clouds of ammonia against high winds. By the warnings of Earth’s greatest scientists he had about eight hours before the armor would stress. Plenty of time, he figured, to observe most of what he wanted. Going near the Great Red Spot itself would have to wait until more advancements. Perhaps that would require Thor itself, Stingray speculated.

“Diane, I’m speaking to you from inside an ocean of gas,” Stingray said, using his wife’s name as an outlet for sanity. “The currents are high velocity winds, temperatures far below anything on Earth and pressures widely varied. But I barely feel that next to the gravity, currently almost three times that of Earth. Right now I only dare skim the atmospheric surface.”

Suddenly Stingray angled his head, very excited. “Diane, my sensors have just registered movement, something too big and isolated to be a standard atmospheric shift. I’m now picking up multiple readings moving towards me. Could it be that I’ve discovered life on Jupiter? If so, Diane, this breakthrough will be beyond…wait, no. No. Oh my god, Diane. It’s them!”

---

Senator Engel leaned forward to begin his questions. “Ms. Walters, do you mind if I call you She-Hulk? Because as we’ve previously established, you are She-Hulk, established superhuman adventurer, correct?”

“That is correct, Senator. But out of green I prefer Ms. Walters.”

“Fair enough. Just a moment ago you named the adventurer Stingray by his true name, that of Doctor Walter Newell?”

“Yes, sir. His identity is publicly known.”

“As is Quicksilver, and apparently Karnak operates under his real name. As it stands all the current Avengers have public identities or have provided their real names to the Senate. Is this true?”

“I think I understand what you are getting at, Senator.”

“I’m pleased.” Senator Engel straightened his glasses. “And yet, in spite of being so forthcoming with their own identities, the Avengers had continued to tolerate masked vigilantes. I am of course referring to the likes of Daredevil and Spider-Man.”

“Not only the Avengers, sir, but also the Fantastic Four, SHIELD, and something called…” Jennifer sifted through her notes. “Allad-”

“That’s all well and good,” said the Senator, cutting Jennifer off. “But the public has a right to know who is defending them.”

“As a member of the Intelligence Committee, Senator, you know that just isn’t true. What some operatives deal with requires a certain amount of secrecy, requiring that their true names and faces are not made public, or even accessible to any official save their immediate supervisor. Are you saying that Captain America is not trustworthy, sir?”

“Of course not. Simply that at times his judgment is misplaced. As in the case of relatives to terrorists or members of rogue nations.”

---

“You are of Earth, We were once of Earth, and will be again.”

Stingray opened his eyes. Once again, he had been knocked unconscious by unknown enemies. He should be more careful, lest his armor is ever compromised in the process. This creature addressing Stingray was no At’Lan’Tique clone. It was large and bulbous, with flaps of flesh that were likely meant to fill with hydrogen so that it could travel through the Jupiter atmosphere. This planet had natives! But no, it had said they were of Earth.

“Our race was devastated by a Celestial being. Many of us who survived sought to give chase. We were struck down and sent screaming to this planet, where we have adapted and waited.”

My god, thought Stingray. These were Deviants!

“You know of us. It is good that we still exist on Earth. If we do not again dominate, the arrival of our numbers shall make it so. You will aid us in this. We will not allow you to think otherwise.”

Stingray then saw more of them, above and below and everywhere between. Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Deviants. All were imposing their will on him. Against such an onslaught, of course a normal man would yield.

“I will aid you,” Stingray said.

---

They dragged Karnak to where he’d intended to go, the caverns beneath Attilan. He immediately noted the Alpha Primitives’ numbers. There were far many than ever before, clearly due to the altered Inhumans added. All of the Inhumans except for at least two, Karnak noted as he glared at the preening Maximus.

“Cousin, I’m so glad you were able to make it!” Maximus the Mad spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. “I presume you have figured out my actions. Of course you have, you were always closest to me in intellect.”

Touching some of the red hair to his finger, Maximus twirled it around as he spoke. “It was so obvious, I’m mad to have never thought of it before. Alpha Primitives are the only ones who have ever shown me loyalty, so why not make all Inhumans into Alpha Primitives. Except myself, of course.”

“In the kingdom of fools the madman is king.”

It wasn’t the joke that Maximus laughed at. “The Terrigen Mists were the key. Did you know the Kree meant it to do more than empower us? I detected a locked gene intended to compel obedience. Alas, the gene triggers a mental and physical change, creating the far less useful Alpha Primitives. Hence it was locked.” The laughter grew louder. “Until I set it free!”

“Congratulations,” said Karnak. “You rule over a race of sterile slaves. The Inhumans are extinct!”

“Not at all. Those untouched by the mist remain. The children for instance.” Maximus indicated Luna and Ahura, caged off to the side with other young Inhumans. “And yourself, of course. But that will be fixed soon enough. Then my army of Alpha Primitives will be complete, and entire generation to keep the youngsters in line for my glorious rule.”

Maximus made a gesture, and Karnak started to be dragged away by his cousins. He had one last weapon to play however, and Karnak shouted it.

“You are right, Maximus. My father never exposed me to the mist. Instead I was trained to hone my body and mind, to recognize and exploit any weakness in all obstacles. Including my own.”

“Oh?” Another gesture by Maximus stopped the Alpha Primitives. “Tell me this, cousin, what are your weaknesses?”

Karnak looked his cousin square in those mad eyes. “My arrogance. The belief that I can overcome all obstacles on my own.” Then, he gave a terrifying smile. “But in recognizing a flaw, I am able to repair it.”

“No!” In the time it took Maximus to get what Karnak was saying, the Avengers had arrived. The section of wall behind the Inhuman children shattered, and they were all gone in the blink of an eye. Captain America was second through the opening, throwing his shield with all his strength.

The Alpha Primitives holding Karnak were struck by Captain America’s shield, allow Karnak to pull free. Warbird, Binary and Expirita flew through the air, using their powers to corral the Alpha Primitives. Photon then had them fixated with a succession of strobe lights.

As for Quicksilver, he ran straight to Maximus and locked his arms around the madman’s neck. “Give me a reason. I will scatter you to the four corners of the Earth!”

The danger was lost on the mad mind of Maximus. “Incompetent mommy gets you sole custody,” he said in a rhyming tone. “You’re welcome.”

The shield returned to Captain America’s arm, and his other arm was pointed at Quicksilver. “Stand down Avenger!”

From Quicksilver’s murderous expression and the purple shade of Maximus the Mad’s face, that order was perilously close to being ignored. Reason then seemed to prevail, and Quicksilver released. “You will undo this.”

“That requires knowledge and desire, of which I have neither!”

“Fine,” Warbird said. She’d managed to get between Quicksilver and Maximus just in time. “We’ll call one of the dozen smarter guys we know.”

“No,” Karnak said. “I won’t permit outsiders to know the secrets of Terrigenesis.”

Quicksilver turned about to face Karnak. “You would refuse help? Leave them like this? This is your family! This is my-”

“Your nothing!”

“Enough.” Captain America was studying his identicard. “Stingray has checked in. There may be a solution if we get everybody topside.”

---

The Quinjet was passing the orbit of Jupiter’s farthest moon when Stingray’s communicard automatically transmitted. Tethered to the Quinjet and trailing behind it in a wide swath were the whole of the marooned Deviants. A highly adaptive species, their bodies resisted the vacuum of space and carried sufficient hydrogen to breath for the journey. As evolved were their minds, each one hooked into Stingray’s brain to ensure full cooperation.

His armor tied into the Quinjet’s systems, Stingray observed many of the Deviants releasing themselves from the collective. The propulsion had only been required for escape velocity, and now that they were free of Jupiter’s pull the Deviants would allow their own momentum to carry them to Earth. That would take time, so a smaller force remained tethered to the Quinjet to prepare the way for the larger invasion force. Only a few hundred thousand from the hundreds of billions.  

Working with the diligence of a man not in control of himself, Stingray guided the Quinjet toward Earth. He had departed Jupiter well ahead of schedule, so the planets were still lined up in their respective orbits. With proper thrust on the engines it was less than an hour before Stingray had visual on his home planet. He approached the sleeping half of the world, toward a high mountain region set between two dense population centers.

Yes. We shall rain over them from the mountains. The lead Deviant was pleased at this act of initiative. Billions will feed us, and when your people counter-attack we shall be too ingrained to remove. Then the true assault will commence!

Before entering the atmosphere, Stingray needed to activate the heat shields to risk being vaporized on reentry. He did this, but did not set the shields on the broad setting he was instructed to do.

What are you doing? Expand your shields or we shall all – Aaarrghh!

Before the atmosphere, the Quinjet and Deviants needed to navigate the ring of debris that orbited the Earth. Pieces of satellites, meteorites, spacecraft and orbital weapons, the ring was the result of recent space exploration and grew larger each year.  But in the time before the Deviants had first left Earth it had not existed, and Stingray had neglected to tell them of it.

“I’m no puppet,” Stingray told his so-called masters as many of them were ripped apart. “The psi-shielding in my armor won’t allow it. Thank you Xavier Protocols.”

The Quinjet ripped into Earth’s atmosphere with screaming Deviants dragged behind it. Extreme heat ignited the hydrogen bags within their bodies. The sky over the Himalayas became awash with flames.

---

Captain America looked up at the star-filled sky. “Are all the Inhumans out in the open?”

“Yes,” said Karnak. He was looking around, hesitating before he said, “I cannot tell who were originally Alpha Primitives.”

“It shouldn’t matter,” Captain America said. “But the rest of us had better take cover.”

The reasoning behind Captain America’s words soon became clear. Fire spread across the sky and ash began to fall. The Avengers had gathered in a crystal-domed coliseum to watch the spectacle, with a restrained Maximus and all the Inhuman children.

Thousands of Alpha Primitives…of Inhumans were outside, standing in place because Karnak the last Inhuman had told them too. He was watching them all, fully aware of the flaws in any solution.

“There is a reason not all Inhumans are exposed to the Terrigen Mists,” Karnak said. “The effect is random, and in some cases are…unfortunate.” His brother, Triton, was one of those, unable to breathe outside of water. “It was the reason my parents never exposed me. Even if this…you claim they’ll no longer be Alpha Primitives. But they’ll all still have undergone Terrigenesis.”

“We’ll deal with one crisis at a time,” said Captain America, then he corrected himself. “Two at once is where I draw the line. Stingray encountered Deviants on Jupiter.”

Through Photon’s eyes, the falling ash was seen in a multitude of spectrums. “That’s what this is. He’s somehow burned them up in our atmosphere.” Having realized the solution, she suppressed a shiver. “It was Stingray who sent you that transmission. Do you think this will work?”

“We’re going to find out.”

The ashes of Deviants settled over the primitive Inhumans. At contact they each screamed and began to physically change. Karnak started forward but Warbird grabbed his arm. As she wasn’t even touching the floor, Karnak had no leverage. He could only watch helplessly, trusting in the judgment of his fellow Avengers.

“Espirita, you go first,” Captain America said at last. “Burn as much of it out of the air as you can.”

When Espirita did so, the other Avengers emerged to survey the results. All except for Quicksilver who would not leave his daughter’s side. Karnak immediately went to the man he’d earlier identified as his brother. If Karnak retained his abilities he would need to be submerged in water immediately.

However when Karnak reached his brother, Triton’s skin was smooth and pale. The Terrigenesis had been reversed, not only on Triton but on all the Inhumans.

“My hair.” Medusa’s hands felt over her bald head, her eyes holding back tears. A tall and broad Black Bolt comforted her in silence, not out of necessity but of habit.

 

Everyone had been transformed, even those who had always been Alpha Primitives, clones of Inhumans who had suffered the unfortunate fate millennia ago. If possible, they would have to be acclimated back into proper lives.

“Something of a success,” Captain America said. “Though you’ll need to confirm if the Terrigen Mists will work again.”

“If so, then everybody who desires it can undergo the process again,” said Karnak. Watching as his brother breathed air, he hoped that Triton would not be one of those.

---

“We sent a full briefing to SHIELD and NASA about those Deviants in space,” Jennifer Walters told the committee. “They’ll be keeping watch.” She didn’t tell them how pointless watching would be. A couple hours after Sersi had been told she’d informed the Avengers that her people the Eternals had dealt with the matter.

“Yes, a deep study of one should be interesting,” said Senator Engel. “However Ms. Walters I can’t help but suspect you’re being less than truthful with us. Do you expect this committee to believe that two Avengers managed to deal with separate crises on their own?”

Jennifer smiled. “Captain America, Thor and Iron Man do it all the time. The public calls them Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for a reason, Senator. Each member is a capable force in their own right, always active against threats that aren’t too great for one hero. These situations happen every day, dangers almost too great to imagine. That is when the Avengers are at the door, keeping this planet save.”

“Even if it’s at the cost of this nation?” Senator Dickerson asked.

“Last I knew, this planet included these United States.” Jennifer Walters rose from her seat. “Gentlemen, I have answered all of your questions on this too long day. Unless you’re prepared to revoke their security clearance, the Avengers need their liaison in Manhattan.”

They weren’t. In minutes Jennifer Walters was outside the Capitol Building on a clear day with few clouds. Swarming around her were throngs of reporters, all eager to know what had gone on in the closed sessions. Through a sniper’s scope, Jennifer appeared to simply smile as she gave the answer she’d prepared on the ride down that morning.

“The committee will be issuing a statement shortly. But whatever their decision, the American public can sleep soundly knowing that the Avengers will always be there to-”

*BANG*

---

NEXT ISSUE: The fate of She-Hulk! A conspiracy reaches someone who is madder than he’s ever been before! The Avengers call for help in a desperate last stand! But first, enjoy the beginning of a regular backup feature starring the most cosmic hero of all!

---

Captain Marvel
"Back to Where He’s Never Been"

Part One

 

Written by Steve Crosby

 

---

Captain Mar-Vell’s welcome to Titan was not unexpected. Understandable even, considering his son Genis had trapped the Titanians in the Negative Zone. They had been freed by Iron Man, and Genis have been imprisoned for his safety as well as the safety of others. To them, Genis would have suddenly disappeared, and if a man in the uniform of Captain Marvel had suddenly appeared near Titan, of course they would attack.

Heh. They think I’m crazy. I could have killed them all but I didn’t. Maybe that was crazy.

There was little that Captain Mar-Vell understood about his son’s actions. He’d hoped the Titans could elaborate, maybe even help free Genis from temporal stasis, heal his fatal injuries and stabilize his mind. First he would need to deal with the quartet attacking him. Not fight if he could avoid it, they didn’t seem able to fly on their own and jet packs were relatively simple to maneuver around.

“Please, there is no need to shoot,” Captain Mar-Vell said as he avoided blasts from ray guns. “I am willing to surrender for an audience with your leader. I’m told that Mentor knows me. Please, just tell him it’s Mar-Vell traveling from the past.”

None of the four Titans answered. They simply kept shooting at Captain Mar-Vell. He continued to dodge, and maneuvered  so that when one Titans fired he inadvertently shot the jet pack of another. He plummeted toward the surface of Titan, with none of the other three moving to aid him. And when Captain Mar-Vell did fly down so that a death would not be on his conscience, they fired on him!

So that’s why they’re so angry with me. They want to die!

No, Captain Mar-Vell realized they were fighting with a complete lack of emotions. It was as though he battled robots. Grabbing the falling Titanian, Captain Mar-Vell neared the surface and slowed before release. He then flew up suddenly with a powerful burst of speed. It was regrettable, but there was no reasoning to be done. Captain Mar-Vell struck swiftly at the final three Titans, using his strength and Kree training to quickly knock them out. He then gentle deposited them on the surface of Titan.

It doesn’t matter if robots break.

“Hopefully I’ll have dealt with the cause of their condition before they wake up,” Captain Mar-Vell said aloud. “Genis, you can help me learn more about the Titans before I encounter more of them.”

Titans are the fathers. These are children.. There is only one Titan on Titan.

That would be Mentor, Captain Mar-Vell knew. He’d read some if Titan’s history in the Avengers database before leaving Earth. Mentor as an Eternal, a being of incredible power who had journeyed to Titan and discovered a society almost wiped out by war. A woman, Su-San had been the only survivor, and with her Mentor had sired two sons and created a population of randomized clones.

Two sons. Too powerful sons. Like me. I was too powerful so I got trapped here. Will you make sure the others aren’t too powerful, father?

“Trapped, of course.” It didn’t matter that the moon Titan didn’t have an atmosphere, as it seemed the Titans didn’t have to breathe. But they would prefer to stay hidden. Captain Mar-Vell felt the ground of Titan, and with an awareness struck hard. Stone broke with a hollow clang that exposed metal. ”I won’t risk decompressing a moon, Genis, so I’ll depend on your memories.”

Ha! Even I can’t do that!

Nevertheless, Captain Mar-Vell did, and teleported into an open courtyard deep beneath the surface of Titan. He instantly took note of the beautiful gardens, sophisticated equipment, and more Titans shooting at him. Captain Mar-Vell rushed at them with almost inhuman speed, deflecting each blast with a pinpoint burst of photonic energy. A stronger burst of pure light served to blind them.

Surprisingly, this did not appear to impede the Titans as Captain Mar-Vell had hoped. Their eyes were unseeing but they attacked as though able to see their foe perfectly. Captain Mar-Vell wondered at this as he overwhelmed his opponents hand-to-hand, and the glint of a lens told him everything he needed.

“Just like the Kree, Titan relies on a computer!”

Me they lock up, but ISAAC they forgive every time it turns on them!

Recalling what he’d read in the Avengers database, Captain Mar-Vell knew he couldn’t destroy a computer as large a moon. Well, you could. At least not without destroying the moon itself and killing all inhabitants, something Captain Mar-Vell had no desire for.

 

As he flew along the corridors, he considered how ISAAC would be able to sap all Titans of emotions, and stretched his awareness to find a prisoner.

You can’t do it like that. You’re supposed to keep it on all the time! It has to drive you mad!

“I regret using you as a buffer, Genis.” Captain Mar-Vell blasted through a set of thick metal doors. “Even the small glimpses I allow myself almost seem too much. It may be that Cosmic Awareness granted by the Supreme Intelligence is tainted, or it requires clarity of mind and soul to use safely. What is your opinion, ISAAC?”

Inside the chamber were three pods and massive android based off the Kree Sentry. As it lumbered toward Captain Mar-Vell it answered, “An opinion is of no value. Fact: Eon granted Mar-Vell Cosmic Awareness after testing your mind to near the breaking point. Fact: Genis-Vell was granted Cosmic Awareness by the Supreme Intelligence without having his mind tested. Conclusion: not enough data. Fact: Captain Mar-Vell is dead.”

The punch thrown by ISAAC’s automaton was incredibly fast, but Captain Mar-Vell jumped over this with little effort. He threw photonic bursts that found the cables connected to the pods. That was from one hand; the other hand Captain Mar-Vell charged with energy and punched ISAAC’s automaton in the torso with a tremendous explosion. Pieces collapsed to the floor and Captain Mar-Vell faced the three freed Titans.

Mentor raised one hand over his head and energy from his fingers suffused into ISAAC’s core. “It took me by surprise, but now the virus has been expunged.” His other hand was raised at Captain Mar-Vell.

Next to Mentor, his good son Eros shook his head. “This isn’t an imposter, Mentor. I can feel in his soul, this is Mar-Vell.”

“And you’re Starfox,” Captain Mar-Vell said. “ISAAC was using your power of empathy to strip the Titans of all emotion. To what purpose?”

“ISAAC had decided that emotion was bad.” It was the woman on Mentor’s other side, Elysius, who spoke. She couldn’t take her eyes off Captain Mar-Vell, and her voice trembled as she continued. “Or at least, the one who inserted the virus did. ISAAC had been programmed to build an army of living machines, perfect soldiers some would think.”

Among those the Kree, Captain Mar-Vell knew. He didn’t want to know who had inserted the virus into ISAAC. But in his head, Genis gleefully answered the question.

It was me!