Xavin stared at the console of his ship. He had received several communiques from the Skrullos Command, all of which remained unanswered
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The Vision didn't approach the Skrull ship. In fact, one might think that he didn't even notice it as his feet carried him towards the edge of the Tower.
He previous thinking spot had been destroyed in the fight.
The Vision sat down on one of the larger pieces of rubble and cradled his head in his hands.
At least he wasn't likely to be disturbed up here.
The Vision looked up to see the Super-Skrull-in-training wearing the shape of a female human. He - she? - looked drained and in need of someone to talk to.
"[Hello Xavin.]" he said, pushing aside his desire to simply sink through the roof and find somewhere else to brood. The Vision was a little surprised that the young Skrull had chosen to remain on earth after the "emperor Dorrek" situation had been sorted out. But it wasn't his place to pry. Unless the other teen began showing signs that she - he? - was informing on Teddy's actual location.
But right now, the Skrull didn't look like an informant or an enemy. Just an exhausted teenager with too much weight on their shoulders.
"Hello. Do you come here often?" Not a brilliant way to begin a conversation, but Xavin could not think of another acceptable one. And she believed sitting on roofs was not a common human practice, though she could be mistaken.
"[Sometimes, yes.]" the Vision said, wondering if the Skrull knew that such a line was usually classified as a cheesy pick-up line. He doubted it, though. "[It is a good place to come and think when the Tower seems too loud.]" [Or when I just want to be left alone.]
"[And yourself?]" If Xavin wanted to talk - s/he looked as if s/he needed to - the Vision could put off his brooding until later.
"I came here to send my farewell to the Skrullos Command. I should hope they choose not to question my decision." Otherwise Xavin would have to ensure they knew exactly how she felt about the disaster involving her planet. "It is an isolated enough place to make decisions."
"[So you are remaining here then? On Earth?]" the Vision asked. He recalled that Xavin had mentioned a desire to leave the planet, back in the hospital when Rowena Mox-Xanathos had explained the situation with The Beast. He wondered what had made the Skrull change her/his mind. But he wasn't going to pry. If Xavin wanted to speak on the topic, the Skrull would bring it up him/herself.
Although.
"[Forgive me if I have already asked this question, but would you prefer to be addressed as masculine or feminine?]"
"Yes, I shall remain with Karolina." Xavin replied. "And I would prefer the feminine. I no longer have use for my original form." Thus ends the short reign of Prince Xavin of Tarnax, self exiled to an alien planet.
The Vision raised an eyebrow at the last sentence, but didn't say anything. He supposed that he didn't have any room to talk, what with his own altered appearance.
"[Feminine it is then.]" he said before lapsing into silence. What now?
"[I apologize for my suspicion earlier.]" he said, finally.
"That is all right." Xavin replied. "I would have reacted in much the same way." Then her face and voice hardened. "And you would do well to keep your suspicions of anyone the Skrull Command sends."
She gazed over the edge of the Tower, at the buildings and tiny forms of the people who occupied this planet. The wind whipped strands of her hair in her face, obscuring some of Xavin's darkened expression.
"[Do you think that the Super-Skrull will speak to the Command before the year has passed?]" the Vision asked. "[Or will we have the full year to plan our next move?]"
Clearly something had happened to sway Xavin's allegiance. The Vision only hoped that her allegiance was indeed with the people of Earth and not somewhere else.
"It would depend on the skill of Kree intelligence. The Super Skrull will wish to send information for as long as he can, but once the Kree have discovered they have been infiltrated they will act quickly. They may be blindsided by their anger toward the Skrulls and ignore Earth, or they may target Theodore Altman outright. I would be prepared for an assault at any time."
Xavin thought of the ensuing war between the Skrull and Kree. More death because of the stupidity of the Skrull Command. If only she could have interceded for the well being of all Skrulls. Perhaps there was more to do, but she was abandoning her people.
But there was nothing else to do. With the destruction of Tarnax VII, the only standing Xavin held was as an object of pity.
The Vision made a noise of frustration. "[Then we will prepare for an attack and hope that it does not come to that.]" he said. He wanted to ask - rhetorically - what it would take to get the Skrulls and the Kree to simply leave Teddy alone, but he imagined that it would require that both races were annihilated, which was not something that he'd honestly desire. Just that they'd leave Teddy alone.
[You weren't predicting something like this, were you, Iron Lad?/ he thought ruefully.
"I will do what I can to ensure another planet is not destroyed in this unending cycle of violence." What little she could do. Hopefully there would be a small respite from destruction.
"[I appreciate that.]" the Vision said, and offered Xavin a smile. It was a real one, too. They were going to need the help, when the Kree and the Skrulls came back for Teddy. And it looked like Xavin needed it. "[We all do. I do not know what Earth is like in comparison to your homeworld, but it isn't a bad place and you're welcome to stay.]"
He previous thinking spot had been destroyed in the fight.
The Vision sat down on one of the larger pieces of rubble and cradled his head in his hands.
At least he wasn't likely to be disturbed up here.
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Time to start making alliances.
"Excuse me," She said as she approached, not wanting to startle the Vision.
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"[Hello Xavin.]" he said, pushing aside his desire to simply sink through the roof and find somewhere else to brood. The Vision was a little surprised that the young Skrull had chosen to remain on earth after the "emperor Dorrek" situation had been sorted out. But it wasn't his place to pry. Unless the other teen began showing signs that she - he? - was informing on Teddy's actual location.
But right now, the Skrull didn't look like an informant or an enemy. Just an exhausted teenager with too much weight on their shoulders.
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"[And yourself?]" If Xavin wanted to talk - s/he looked as if s/he needed to - the Vision could put off his brooding until later.
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Although.
"[Forgive me if I have already asked this question, but would you prefer to be addressed as masculine or feminine?]"
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"[Feminine it is then.]" he said before lapsing into silence. What now?
"[I apologize for my suspicion earlier.]" he said, finally.
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She gazed over the edge of the Tower, at the buildings and tiny forms of the people who occupied this planet. The wind whipped strands of her hair in her face, obscuring some of Xavin's darkened expression.
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Clearly something had happened to sway Xavin's allegiance. The Vision only hoped that her allegiance was indeed with the people of Earth and not somewhere else.
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Xavin thought of the ensuing war between the Skrull and Kree. More death because of the stupidity of the Skrull Command. If only she could have interceded for the well being of all Skrulls. Perhaps there was more to do, but she was abandoning her people.
But there was nothing else to do. With the destruction of Tarnax VII, the only standing Xavin held was as an object of pity.
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[You weren't predicting something like this, were you, Iron Lad?/ he thought ruefully.
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This she doubted.
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