Hail to the Queen!

Chapter 5 - Knowing the Truth

Vers slouched in her seat, her body still aching from the spasms caused by 'Mothra's' psychic powers.

The revelations the bug gave her were confusing and mind-blowing. Her mentor, Yon-Rogg, had told her that she was pureblood Kree. After what Mothra showed her, she knew that Yon lied.

Yon-Rogg, her mentor and father figure for years, had lied to her about her origins.

"You can't sit in here and brood all day, you know," Fury said, leaning against the door frame.

"What else is there to do?" Vers sighed. "The reason I'm here in the first place turned out to be a lie. I'm not Kree."

"No, you're not. But you're not a monster, either. I'm well aware that you want to do the right thing, so let's start with Wendy Lawson."

"I know that I knew her, but I don't remember anything."

"Well, why don't you go and ask Mothra? I'm sure she can help."

Vers sighed again and looked out her window. Mothra was interacting with Dr. Pym and Dr. Ling, eliciting laughter from the doctors due to her playful nature.

Vers walked out to the giant caterpillar, passing several technicians who went back inside to get more equipment. Vers paid them no mind, for she had a mission on her mind.

"Vers!" Pym greeted in a happy tone. "Feeling better?"

"Not really," she answered. "I'd like her help." Vers gestured to Mothra.

"What... is your... wish?" Mothra asked via psychic link.

"There's a woman I used to know. Wendy Lawson. I can't remember anything about her. Can you help?"

"Lie... down..."

Vers did so, laying on her back. Pym and Ling stood back, cautiously watching the exchange. Mothra probed into Vers' mind, accessing her repressed memories.

Vers remembered her last interaction with Lawson; she was flying an experimental aircraft that, if it worked, could fly through space at the speed of light. They were attacked by a Kree fighter, prompting Vers to engage evasive maneuvers. However, she was unable to keep the ship from getting shot, and the craft crashed.

Vers, upon freeing Lawson of her cockpit, pulled her out of the craft. Lawson revealed that she was, in fact, Mar-Vell, a rebel Kree scientist who intended to use her research for good. Vers almost didn't believe her, but because of Mar-Vell's green blood, she sees little alternative.

Mar-Vell warned Vers that the Kree will want to use the craft's engine for their war. She attempts to destroy the engine with her Kree weapon, but she's killed by none other than Yon-Rogg. Vers initially intends to kill Yon, but she decides to fulfill Mar's wishes, shooting the engine instead. The resulting explosion knocks her unconscious and imbues her with its power.

Vers woke up with a startled gasp, her body again sore from the spasms. She looked up to see Mothra's blue glow now a reddish-orange, her face displaying anger. She was looking at the door, where two figures stood, watching them.

Vers recognized them from their green skin, pointed ears, and piercing eyes; they were Skrulls.

Vers stood up slowly, her body aching greatly. She readied her powers for a fight.

"We don't intend to fight you, Vers," the lead Skrull said, holding his hands up. "We just want to talk."

"About what?" Vers asked.

"I'm sure you know about Lawson by now. We want to tell you that we bear no ill will toward you or this... bug."

Vers looked at Mothra, who looked at her in kind.

"Are they telling the truth?" Vers asked.

"Yes..." Mothra replied, her glow turning back to blue. She looked back at the two Skrulls.

"I'm Talos, the leader of our little 'party,'" the lead Skrull said. "This is my science officer, Jular."

"I think, at this point," Vers said tiredly, letting her powers fade away, "you should refer to me by my original name, Carol Danvers."

Carol's legs gave out beneath her, and she almost fell. Mothra, sensing her weakness, stooped down to catch Carol before she landed on the floor. Carol was extremely weak.

"Maybe we should talk inside," Talos suggested, walking up to offer his assistance. Jular followed suit.

"So let me get this straight," Fury said in disbelief. "First, we're fighting the Skrulls. Now, we're on good terms?"

"My life with the Kree was a lie," Carol stated. "At this point, I don't know who to trust."

"We're not asking you to trust us," Talos said. "We just want you to hear us out."

Carol nodded and leaned back, giving her sore back a bit of relief.

"We were attacked by the Kree many years ago. They made us refugees, forcing us to go into hiding, while also declaring war. We contact- Ah! What is that thing doing here?!"

Talos almost jumped out of his skin at the sight of Goose, who had jumped onto the table to get attention from Fury. Carol, Fury, and the doctors stared at him in confusion and mild amusement.

"Are you scared of a fluffy little cat?" Fury asked incredulously.

"That's no cat," Talos said, still on edge. "That's a Flerken."

"A Flerken?" Carol and Fury stared at each other for a second. "Never mind. Continue."

"As I was saying, we contacted Mar-Vell for assistance, since we knew she was a rebel. She took a small group of us into hiding, while we left to try and find a home, away from the Kree."

Carol nodded, everything making sense, except for one thing.

"Why did the Kree declare war on you?" she asked.

"Because we refused to become them. We are proud to be Skrulls, and they wanted to take that away from us."

Carol nodded. Yet another thing Yon-Rogg refused to tell her.

"Let's find them," Pym said.

"Really, doctor?" Fury asked. "You're not really in the best shape for an adventure like this."

"I'm no spring chicken, but I'm not an old mare either. We just need to make a pit stop in New York."

"We need something else," Carol added. "Or rather, someone."

"Who do you have in mind?" Fury asked.

"A friend of mine flew with me at Project Pegasus. Maria Rambeau. I'd like her help in flying with us."

"Shall I come, too?" Ling asked.

"You have work to do here, doctor," Pym replied. "What with Mothra and all."

When the group looked out the window, they found that the now-familiar sight of the giant caterpillar was replaced by an obelisk-type structure.

The structure looked very organic, and it had the same glow as the caterpillar it replaced.

"Where did she go?" Fury asked.

"She's maturing," Pym said. "She's going to turn into her imago form."

"Ima-what?"

"Imago. The butterfly or moth form."

"Oh, boy."

"Well, what are we sitting here for?" Carol asked, still sore but her energy overruling the pain. "We have work to do."