A blue-violet energy field suddenly opened in a room, and Gordon brought Aaron and Jane to the Inhumans' settlement—Afterlife.
It was an ancient, quaint town built amid the mountains. Young men and women could occasionally be seen strolling leisurely along its modern streets. Looking out through the windows, one could see the connected mountain ranges and the dense forests below, blanketed in snow.
"Nice greenery, nice environment. It's a great place for a vacation or retirement," Aaron remarked wistfully. The place reminded him of the Elf Tribe's royal city, though it fell short by several dozen times.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Gaius." The scarred middle-aged woman seated behind the desk smiled. Leena, wearing a hood, stood beside her.
"I am Jiaying, leader of the Inhumans.
"And Daisy's... or perhaps you would rather call her Skye's, mother."
"I've heard much about you." Aaron sat opposite Jiaying, studying the Eastern woman before him with interest. "It's hard to imagine Skye having a mother like you.
"If your ability is to absorb other people's lifespans to gain longevity, then after living this long, you must have killed quite a few people."
"Quite a few," Jiaying admitted. "The elders willingly offered their lives so that I could live longer and properly guide the Inhumans."
"What a... necessary sacrifice. It must make you feel less guilty."
"Actually, it doesn't. Every time, I suffer greatly.
"They either watched me grow up, or I watched them grow up." Jiaying's tone was calm. "That is why I must be a qualified leader. Protecting Afterlife and protecting the Inhumans are responsibilities I cannot shirk."
"Even at the cost of abandoning your husband and daughter?" Aaron teased. "Skye is doing fairly well. She's a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, officially employed.
"Her captain is Phil Coulson. He can be rather irritating