Having mastered the method of controlling this nanobiological weapon, Harry found the thing unexpectedly useful.
In less than a second of contact, it had bitten off a large chunk of Skrull skin. After absorbing some of its genes, the pool of Black Water gained consciousness and became capable of communication.
But what would it become after absorbing Skrull genes? The Thing?
Although the movies suggested that Nick Fury left Earth after Thanos's invasion, Harry clearly remembered that when Ultron was born and Hulk's rampage through the city forced the Avengers to hide at Hawkeye's house, Fury had been there, cutting himself a piece of toast.
So the Skrull had most likely not returned to Earth after Thanos's invasion. Rather, a group of them had remained on Earth throughout these past decades.
"I want to know exactly how I was exposed." In the interrogation room, Talos had already returned to his original appearance.
Once exposed, he was merely an alien a little stronger than an ordinary Earthling, hardly difficult to subdue.
Before him, a roiling pool of Black Water writhed eagerly.
"The power of science. So, regarding Tyler Hayward's Ultron plan, is there anything you'd like to add?"
"I told you, we're just refugees—at most, we do some work for Nick. We really don't mean any harm."
Harry treated that line as complete bullshit. It wasn't a matter of whether they meant harm or not. Letting a race like the Skrull integrate into society unchecked was simply idiotic.
It had been fine when they first invaded. Although the Skrull could mimic appearances, they still couldn't perfectly reproduce quirks and Earthling habits. They could only replicate short-term memories.
But if they were allowed to live on Earth for several years, once they learned the methods of Social Engineering, controlling them would become