I've been so busy lately...
I'll be taking a break from my main job tomorrow, so I'll add two extra chapters to make up for it.
The number of readers has dropped below 400, and the number of people following the latest chapters is less than 150.
It's highly likely to be a complete flop.
Gravik's words echoed in the office during the day.
Carol remained silent.
The silence lasted for about ten seconds.
Carol's fist slowly clenched.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something.
"Alright, can you figure anything out?"
Lynn's voice came from the side.
He took a step forward, placing himself between Carol and Gravik.
Gravik's gaze shifted from Carol to Lynn.
" Lynn from SSC? What are you trying to say? Are you planning to help her?"
"I just want to say a few things. First, you should understand that not all of your people think like you."
Gravik did not respond.
"Some want to fight, some just want to live. You tie everyone to your chariot, but not everyone on board wants to go to the same place."
How did you know?
"Because I spent some time there."
Gravik fell silent.
"Second,"
Lynn continued, "You're not crazy. You're not the kind of villain who'd just decide to destroy the world on a whim. You've waited over twenty years to get to this point. You're not driven by hatred; you're just disappointed."
He looked at Gravik.
"You've lost all your patience, and you're only taking this step so that your people can survive."
Gravik's silence is itself a response.
"So what? What exactly are you trying to say?"
Gravik finally spoke, "You want to say you understand me? And then what? Can understanding give my people a home?"
"No. But SSC is possible."
Gravik raised his head.
"I can make you a promise on behalf of the SSC. You set a timeframe, during which the SSC will urge Carol to help your people find a habitable planet. If she succeeds, you move, and the matter of Earth ends here. If she fails..."
He paused for a moment.
SSC will find you a suitable place to live and provide shelter.
Gravik stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"Just a piece of land? You're planning to fob us off with just a piece of land?"
He slammed his hand on the table, sending the documents flying.
"Do you know how many years we waited? She made us wait for over twenty years! Do you know what twenty years means? How many of my people died in those twenty years? Some didn't even leave their names behind!"
His emotions grew increasingly agitated.
"Now she's here, and she's telling me, 'Give her another chance? Give her some more time?'"
He pointed in the direction where Carol was standing, his finger trembling.
"What she owes us isn't just a promise. It's decades of her life! It's the sacrifices of her people who died with hope in their hearts! Can a single promise ever repay such a debt?"
Carol stood still, motionless.
Lynn didn't move aside and continued speaking.
"I can't pay it back."
"So what I meant was a guarantee in the name of SSC."
Gravik, panting heavily, stared at him.
"Since we've waited over twenty years, waiting a few more years won't hurt. You should know about SSC's reputation."
"We're not an organization that makes promises lightly. We've settled the people of Asgard before. If Carol can't do that, the SSC can promise you: the shelter and land you need, we'll provide."
Gravik's gaze lingered on Lynn's face for a long time.
"How long?" he finally asked.
"You decide."
Gravik lowered his head, looking at the scattered documents on the table. His fingers tapped slowly on the surface.
"5 years, at most 5 years."
He looked up into Lynn's eyes. "If you can't find her within five years, you'll keep your promise. If you break it again, don't blame me for fighting to the death!"
"Yes," Lynn said.
"There's one more thing." Gravik's voice deepened, "My people, who have infiltrated Earth, are not leaving."
"It must be withdrawn."
"On what grounds?"
"We've agreed on a five-year timeframe. During these years, you are a guest, not an intruder."
Gravik's eyes narrowed.
Lynn continued.
"If your people were still alive... and if anyone's identity were accidentally exposed, how do you think this would end? Humans don't distinguish between doves and hawks among your people; they'll only see that the Skrulls have infiltrated their government, army, and cities. Then all Skrulls, including those who just want to live peacefully... will be treated as enemies, and in the end, no one will get a satisfactory result."
He looked at Gravik.
"You know better than anyone what this means."
Gravik remained silent.
He knew Lynn was right. Once the Secret Invasion plan was exposed, it wouldn't be a local problem anymore.
There's no need to think about what those hardliners will do.
Human society as a whole will be hostile towards the Skrulls, regardless of whether there will be internal chaos within humanity.
By then, it will be questionable whether Lynn will keep his promise to them. With humanity prepared, the final outcome is truly unpredictable.
"Okay."
Gravik said, "I told them to withdraw."
"All those who have infiltrated the upper echelons of humanity must be withdrawn. Leave no one alive."
Gravik nodded.
Lynn turned and walked out.
Carol followed behind.
When Lynn reached the door, he paused but didn't turn around.
The door closed behind them.
The air outside the slaughterhouse was cold.
The night wind in Chicago blew in from the direction of Lake Michigan, carrying the smell of moisture and rust.
Carol stood in the alley, leaning against the wall, with her eyes closed.
Lynn opened the portal. Orange light shone on the faces of the two people.
"Let's go. Five years, Carol. Don't make things difficult for me. If you continue to break your promise, I'll hold you accountable."
Carol didn't move, but asked directly.
"Did you just use SSC's reputation as collateral?"
"Hmm."
"What gives you the right to make this decision for SSC?"
"You should discuss it with them first."
"Discuss? I cleaned up your mess, and you accuse me of not consulting with them? I could have simply stayed out of it; you could have fought them directly, and I wouldn't have lost anything. What about your previous promises? Can you guarantee they didn't leave any people behind? You're just going to walk away, and you're planning to make the children of Earth wary of them for generations to come?"
Lynn glanced at Carol and continued, "You were the one who offered to save them, and you're the one who broke your promise. I cleaned up your mess, and you have the nerve to criticize me?"
Carol did not answer.
Because she knows the answer. If she tries to solve it her way... it will most likely end in a fight, and then nothing will be resolved.
"Go on, this is the last time. I hope you'll use your muscle-bound brain to think before you speak next time, "Lynn said again.
This time, Carol stepped inside.
It was already past midnight when we got back to the base.
Lynn escorted Carol to the entrance of the B-sector dormitory, then turned and opened a portal back to his own little nest.
The living room lights were still on. Natasha was curled up on the sofa, covered with a blanket. The TV was on, but the volume was low. She heard a noise and looked at Lynn.
"You're back?"
"Hmm."
Have you eaten?
No.
Natasha threw off the blanket, got up, and went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she brought out a bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Lynn.
"I just learned how to make egg noodles, try it!"
Lynn sat down and picked up his chopsticks. The eggs were a little overcooked, and the soup was rather bland.
But he ate it all cleanly.
Natasha sat next to him, just sitting there, holding a glass of milk that had gone cold, watching him eat the noodles in his bowl one by one.
"Take a shower before going to sleep."
"Hmm."
Lynn took a shower and lay down on the bed. Natasha was already asleep, breathing evenly.
He stared at the ceiling with his eyes open, thinking for a long time.
The next morning.
Lynn found Tony in the lab.
Tony was adjusting a new suit of armor arm components, sparks from the welding torch splashing all over his sleeve. He heard footsteps but didn't even look up.
"Speak. You wouldn't bother me if there was nothing wrong. What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
Lynn briefly explained Carol and the Skrulls to Tony, and then told Tony about his promise to the Skrulls.
Tony turned off the welding torch, put it aside, and turned to look at Lynn.
Tony's voice rose, "You're representing the SSC to find territory for a bunch of aliens?"
"So you just came to let me know?"
"I think... shouldn't you discuss this with us first? We're a team!"
Tony's voice was laced with anger, "It was like this with Asgard first, and now it's the Skrulls. You're always like this."
Lynn leaned against the lab table, watching him.
" Tony, the Skrulls possess shapeshifting abilities. They can transform into anyone, replicating their voice, memories, and behavioral patterns. Plus, there are doves within their ranks; not everyone wants war. As far as I know, they've already infiltrated some high-ranking officials."
Tony frowned.
"I could have ignored this. But how would I resolve the follow-up issues? After all, Fury and Carol were in the wrong first. Given the circumstances, this was the only option I could take."
Tony didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand, but I didn't expect their infiltration to have reached that level."
"I assure you, next time there's a similar problem, I'll discuss it with you beforehand. But regarding the Skrulls, my solution was the best option in that situation; that brute Carol almost got furious."
He looked at Tony.
"Their racial talents are something you definitely don't want to encounter. If negotiations really break down, there will be endless trouble. Just imagine, if Gravik's subordinates became you, Rhodey, or the Secretary of State, saying or making any decision in any situation... how would you tell the difference?"
Tony fell silent.
He knew, of course, that Lynn was right.
The Skrulls ' shapeshifting ability is one of the most difficult infiltration methods to deal with, because you never know if the person next to you is the real one.
If relations with Gravik truly break down, the Skrulls who have already infiltrated the upper echelons could create chaos at any time, and humanity would have no way to defend against it.
He was just angry that Lynn always did this; they were clearly a team.
Five years?
"Yes, five years."
"If Carol can't be found, will Carol find territory for them instead?"
"Hmm."
Tony sighed, walked up to Lynn, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Remember to tell me in advance next time. You can explain it to the captain yourself."
"Okay, I promise it won't happen again."
Lynn turned and walked out.
As they reached the door, Tony called out from behind.
Is egg noodles delicious?
Lynn paused for a moment.
"It's alright."
Did Natasha make this?
"Hmm."
"The aroma from last night wafted into the lab; I'll have her make an extra batch for me to try next time."
Tony didn't even look up, and sparks from the welding torch flew up again.
Lynn smiled and left.
The next morning.
Lynn was awakened by a knock on the door.
He got up and opened the door; Carol was standing in the doorway.
She changed her clothes, tied her hair up, and looked much better than yesterday.
"Is something wrong?"
"Help me break the seal on my abilities."
Lynn leaned against the doorframe, watching her.
"Have you figured it out?"
Carol didn't answer. She went into the room, stood by the window, her back to Lynn.
"I thought about what you said all night. You're right. I was indeed too presumptuous."
She paused for a moment.
"I'm sorry." Carol turned to look at him. "I apologize for my previous attitude."
Lynn walked up to her, reached out his hand, and tapped her wrist with his fingertip. A pale blue light flashed and then disappeared.
"It's solved," he said.
Carol flexed her wrists, feeling the renewed surge of power within her.
"Five years, don't make me and them wait too long."
Carol looked at him.
"No, it won't."
Lynn stood at the door, watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor.
He then went back to the bedroom and lay down again next to Natasha.
Natasha rolled over and put her arm around him.
"He's gone."
"Hmm."
Lynn closed her eyes.
The sunlight streamed in through the window, falling warmly on the floor.
The abandoned slaughterhouse has been cleaned up.
Gravik stood in the center of the hall.
There were more than a dozen people standing in the hall.
A senior advisor to the United States. government; a lieutenant general in the Department of Defense of Defense; an undersecretary of Department of Energy; a director of analysis at the National Intelligence Agency...
They stood there, their expressions blank, as if they had just woken up from a very long dream.
Gravik looked at them.
"Let's begin." He nodded to the Skrulls beside him.
Several Skrulls stepped forward, each facing a replaced human. Their palms were placed on each other's temples, their fingertips glowing a pale green.
Gravik walked up to the lieutenant general from the Department of Defense.
This Skrulls has perfectly played the role of lieutenant general for the past three years.
Now, the Skrulls placed their palms on the lieutenant general's forehead and began implanting memories.
The implantation process lasted approximately twenty minutes.
A dozen or so people gradually regained consciousness. They blinked, looked around, and looked confused.
"How... how did I get here?" The lieutenant general rubbed his temples.
"You fainted on the street earlier."
His voice was calm and gentle, "It's alright now."
The lieutenant general looked at him, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Who are you?"
A doctor.
Gravik said, "You can go back now. Your family is waiting for you."
The lieutenant general hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He turned and walked out, his steps unsteady.
The others left one after another. No one remembered what had happened. In their memories, everything that had happened over the past three years was real.
Gravik stood in the hall, watching the last person disappear at the end of the corridor.
He stood there in silence for a long time, then raised his hand and touched his face.
It slowly returned to its original state.
That guy with green skin and pointy ears.