Thousands of palm-sized black boxes were packed into shockproof cases and sent to Vought's branches around the world.
These things don't look high-end; they only have a Vought logo and two buttons on them.
" The Eye of Truth ".
This is what Dr. Horton came up with.
Now, this thing has become a knife hanging over the head of every Skrulls.
The Vought International gained the power to define "reality" and also the power to carry out "erasure."
Grade A isolation facilities.
The door to Talos's room slid open again.
It was still that young man, Amin Arnold.
He didn't bring tea today; he just stood at the door with that same harmless smile on his face.
Good afternoon, Mr. Talos.
I hope you've had a good rest these past few days.
Talos sat up in bed.
He no longer asks silly questions like "When can we leave?"
He simply watched Amin in silence, awaiting the final judgment.
Amin saw through his thoughts, turned to the side, revealing the wall behind him.
The wall is now lit.
This time it wasn't that beautiful green planet, but rather a series of news clips.
"... According to anonymous intelligence, an alien species capable of perfectly mimicking humans has infiltrated our society..."
The scene changes.
A blonde news anchor, her expression stiff.
The Pentagon raised its defense alert level today but declined to comment on rumors of a shapeshifting threat...
Another scene.
In a small Europe country, the streets were in complete chaos.
People pointed at a neighbor and shouted, "He's a monster!" Then the military and police rushed in, and gunfire erupted.
Blood.
confusion.
Suspicion.
panic.
With just a slight fanning of the flames by Vought's propaganda machine, a global campaign to capture "aliens" began.
Vought didn't even have to lift a finger; human fear was more effective than any weapon.
"Did you see that?"
Amin's tone carried a hint of regret.
This is the world you will face.
"A world of suspicion and fear, where anything abnormal is mistaken for alienhood. Every time you transform, it triggers a Carnage."
"Your compatriots, those survivors still adrift in space, if they were to come to Earth..."
Amin paused.
"They can't find shelter."
"It will only lead to a bigger hell."
Talos's body was trembling.
He saw in the news that an ordinary person was mistaken for an alien and beaten to death by an angry mob.
He knew that what Amin said was true; he was only restricted in his freedom to go out, but he could watch TV every day.
" Vought can give you a choice."
Amin took the black box out of his pocket and pressed the switch.
A blue light shone from the front of the box, sweeping across the entire room.
The beam of light emitted a "beep" sound when it hit Talos.
A line of red text popped up on the screen.
[Target confirmed: Skrulls ]
We can find you.
Amin's voice was very soft.
"We can handle you too. The choice is yours, Mr. Talos."
Amin packed up the equipment and went back to his polite demeanor.
"Either let your people be treated like monsters outside, captured, killed, and dissected by terrified humans."
"Or... let them come to Vought's Eden of Eden."
"They can live well here, without war or fear. They only need to cooperate with the research and help Vought with small favors, exchanging their talents for the continuation of the entire race."
Talos closed his eyes.
Isn't that just a laboratory where lab mice are kept?
Isn't it just a living repository of genes?
They will lose their freedom, their dignity, and their sense of self.
but...
The Skrulls survived.
Their children can also survive.
After a long time, Talos opened his eyes.
"In Earth's near-Earth orbit..."
His voice was dry and hoarse.
"There is an invisible spaceship."
"My... my people are all up there."
Only then did Amin truly smile.
"Very good."
"What are the coordinates?"
Talos shook his head, looking tired and bewildered.
"I have no idea."
"That ship was Mar-Vell's last line of defense, kept in a state of maximum stealth. Only she herself, or... someone who can read her memories, can find it."
Amin looked into Talos's eyes; he didn't seem to be lying.
But that's enough.
A clear goal, a clue.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Talos."
Amin bowed.
You made the right choice today.
He turned and left, the door slowly closing behind him.
Talos curled up in bed.
He wasn't sure if he had saved his people or pushed them into a cage that seemed more comfortable, but was also more despairing.
After leaving the quarantine area, Amin contacted Amanda Waller.
"Minister."
He confessed.
Amanda Waller listened to the report without expression.
"A stealth spaceship? No coordinates?"
She tapped on the table.
Not finding a goal is the same as not having a goal at all.
"But..."
Amanda Waller thought of someone.
Carol Vers.
You can't be forceful, or she'll become suspicious.
We need to guide her so she can remember it herself.
Send a psychologist over there.
It's perfectly reasonable to provide psychological support after such a major battle.
Then dig everything out of Carol Vers's head about Mar-Will and Dr. Lawson.
Things went surprisingly smoothly.
A psychologist with special abilities, skilled in emotional support, easily uncovered what Vought wanted.
It happened so fast that even Amanda Waller hadn't expected it.
"Found it."
She said to Amin Arnold, who was beside her.
"The key is Carol Vers. The technical department determined the approximate location of the laboratory using the flight logs left by Dr. Lawson and information revealed by Carol. We'll just need to use this alien technology to scan and identify the invisible energy field to find it."
Amanda Waller stood up.
She had to report this major development to her boss.
There was another rather absurd and speechless discovery.
CEO's Office.
The light is still on.
Lynn Morris is watching the global deployment progress of " Eye of Truth " on the screen.
Amanda Waller walked in.
"Boss."
"Speak."
"We've found a way to access the Skrulls spaceships."
Lynn nodded; this was all within his expectations.
Amanda Waller didn't leave; her expression turned somewhat strange.
"There's one more thing."
Lynn looked away from the screen.
"Based on the observation report..."
Amanda Waller considered her words.
"Wei, she's dating Carol Vers."
The office was silent for a few seconds.
Amanda Waller discreetly observed her boss's handsome face, her expression remaining unchanged.
"Knew."
Lynn's voice was devoid of emotion, and her gaze returned to the screen.
"Notify Gin."
"Let him come see me."
Lynn didn't take Vi and Carol's relationship seriously at all.
fall in love?
This was never part of his plan.
In his view, it was nothing more than hormones at work, just emotional data that could be analyzed and utilized.
Dating is nothing compared to the entire shipload of "genetic source code" that's about to be in your hands.
Gin walked in, still wearing that black trench coat.
"Boss."
"Sit."
Lynn pointed to the chair opposite him.
Gin sat down, his posture ramrod straight.
"There is an invisible Skrulls spaceship in Earth's near-Earth orbit."
Lynn spoke directly.
"Up there are all the Skrulls survivors except for Talos. Women, children, the elderly... not one is missing."
Gin's face remained unchanged; he didn't need to understand why, he only needed to know the target.
"The technical department and oversight center are locking onto the coordinates."
Lynn continued making arrangements.
"Once the coordinates are confirmed, you will personally lead the team to carry out the arrest."
"Yes."
My request is very simple.
Lynn placed her fingers interlaced on the table.
"I want all the Skrulls, alive."
"Bring back every single one of them who is breathing on board. They are the company's most important assets; not a single one can be missing."
"Good."
Operation codename: Eden.
"You can mobilize all heroes of rank B and below within the command center's control. Of the rank A heroes, besides Starlight, you'll need to request Motoko Kusanagi to use the others."
I don't need heroes.
Gin answered very decisively.
Lynn looked at him but didn't refute him.
"All I need is an elite tactical squad and top-level information support from the Clock Tower."
Gin replenishment.
"And, complete autonomy in action."
"Can."
Lynn agreed.
Professionals should do professional things.
Gin stood up; he had obtained all the necessary information, and now it was time to get to work.
Objective: All Skrulls.
Location: Ghost ship in near-Earth orbit.
Requirement: Capture them all alive.