Being a Hero

By Stephen Crosby

The sun rises, and Kree-Lar shines. The gleaming spires of this magnificent capital city greet the sunlight with a loving embrace, soaking up the power at one hundred percent capacity. Pure solar energy flows into Kree-Lar, powering it for another twenty-seven plus hours, and helping the city’s inhabitants awaken.

"Uhhnnn...." Genis-Vell groans as the ultrasonic alarm invades through his ears and skull, causing him to awaken with a ringing head. "I’m awake. I’m awake. Alarm off."

The ringing lapses. Fully awake, Genis-Vell sits up in his bed and throws his legs over the side and onto the floor. "Solar panels open."

They open, allowing the brilliant Halan sunlight to pour into the bed chamber. Genis-Vell blinks his eyes, adjusting them to the light. Standing up and out of bed, Genis-Vell starts towards the large closet. "Initiate bacteria sweep and deoderization."

In the five strides it takes Genis-Vell to walk from his bed to his closet, the bed chamber fills with low-level radiation. Once the radiation has swept over Genis-Vell’s body and eradicated the dangerous and unsanitary bacteria, a fine mist smelling of herbs fill the room. Opening the closet, Genis-Vell breathes in the air deeply. The sweet-smelling herbs are being absorbed into his body, and will thus fight off bacteria and negate his body’s natural odors for approximately thirty hours. Just in case that’s not enough, the same herbs are being absorbed into the fibers of Genis-Vell’s clothes. As always, they are well-pressed and meticulously fashioned.

Genis-Vell dresses quickly but neatly, taking great pride in his appearance. The stitching is lined up completely, with the various components of his outfit fitting together perfectly. Running his hand through his short-cropped hair, Genis-Vell double-checks his appearance in the holographic reflector, making sure of no imperfections. He nods his head in satisfaction.

It is only right that the son of the Grand General of the Kree Imperial Military should look the part.

Clad in his formal apparel, Genis-Vell strides from his room into the grand corridors of the Palace of the Ancients. The corridors are sparsely crowded today, with so many visitors coming for the grand event. Each and every individuals that pass Genis-Vell nods and greets him.

"Good morning Captain Vell. Congratulations."

As there are too many for Genis-Vell to thank individually, he instead nods to each in greeting. He treats each man and woman equally, be they blue Kree, white Kree, Skrull, D’Bari, or even Shi’ar. Thankfully, there are few Shi’ar in the corridors. Being a recent addition, they are granted only minimal representation.

"Remember this day, Genis-Vell."

Genis-Vell turns at the sound of the voice, outraged both at the lack of submissiveness and the clarity of an order. Nobody short of an Accuser would have dared spoken to him in such a way.

The brief glimpse of a black-robed figure turning the corner obviously proves that it is no Accuser.

Genis-Vell stalks around the corner, prepared to deal properly with the insolent individual. His open mouth closes in confusion as Genis-Vell searches the long corridor with his eyes. There is no sign of the robed figure.

Puzzled, Genis-Vell tries to dispel the incident and continue on his way. But there was something about that figure and it’s words, that Genis-Vell can’t let go of. From the moment he awoke, he’s felt a...wrongness in the air. Try as he might, Genis-Vell can’t identify the feeling, nor can he shake it off. That robed figure may have something to do with it.

Mildly troubled, Genis-Vell makes his way towards the Heart Hall of the Palace of the Ancients. Whatever doubts he may have about today, it would be bad form to be late for his own ceremony.

Standing at either side of the massive double doors leading into the Heart Hall, the two Watchers of the Ancients bow at Captain Genis-Vell’s approach. "Good morning Captain Vell. You are awaited inside."

The double doors open, and Genis-Vell strides into the Heart Hall. He is welcomed by adoring cheers and applause. Throughout the gigantic Heart Hall, representatives from all over the Empire, as well as the high military and government officials, rise in ceremonial greeting.

Only a little embarrassed by the spectacle, Genis-Vell strides forward, his head held high. In the center of the Heart Hall, atop the speaking dais, the ceremony shall take place.

Upon reaching the dais, Genis-Vell instinctively kneels before his ultimate superior. The Grand General of the Imperial Kree Military. The hero of the Kree/Skrull War, the Kree/Shi’ar War, and the Destiny War. The savior of the D’Bari, slayer of the Supremor, and wielder of the famed Nega Bands. The great soldier who fought through the whole of the Imperial Guard single-handily to stop the genocidal actions of Empress Lilandra.

The greatest of all the Kree warriors, and Genis-Vell’s father. Grand General Mar-Vell.

Grand General Mar-Vell looks down at Captain Genis-Vell. He speaks so that all in the Heart Hall can hear. "Three days ago, the Brotherhood of the Badoon attempted a massive breakout of the intergalactic prison Sol-3. If they had been successful, the resulting chaos would have threatened the stability of the Empire, leaving us open to an attack by the Badoon. Millions of lives would have been lost in the conflict.

"Because of the actions of one brave individual," Grand General Mar-Vell continues. "The Badoon threat was discovered in time. The attempted destruction of the Watchtower was halted, and the attempted assassination of Warden Ronan was prevented. Captain Genis-Vell, your decisive action and leadership foiled the plans of the Badoon, and averted what would have been a great blow to the Empire. Rise."

Captain Genis-Vell rises. Grand General Mar-Vell steps forward and places a medal around Captain Genis-Vell’s neck. "For your bravery and initiative, I award you with the Medal of Valor. In addition, it is with the supreme pleasure of my authority that I promote you to the title of Major!"

Stepping back, Grand General Mar-Vell salutes. Throughout the Heart Hall, hundreds cheer. Yet for all the applause and congratulations sent his way, Genis-Vell only has ears for Grand Admiral Mar-Vell’s next words.

"I’m proud of you, son."

To Genis-Vell, those five words mean more to him than all the honors and accolades ever could. Blinking back tears, Genis-Vell salutes his father back.

However, Genis-Vell suddenly falters for a moment, startled by the soft words that reach his ears.

"Remember what could have been, what can still be."

In Genis-Vell’s view, he catches a glimpse of a black robe in the crowd over Grand General Mar-Vell’s shoulder.

Quickly recovering, Genis-Vell finishes the salute. However, his father can tell that something is wrong.

"Major, what is the mat-Argh!" Crying out in pain, Grand General Mar-Vell grasps his chest in pain and drops to his knees.

The festivities end quickly, making way for concerned panic.

"Father!" Genis-Vell cries out instinctively, all thought of formality gone from his mind. He rushes towards his father, as do the other men on the dais.

"Ca-cancer!" Grand General Mar-Vell gasps, collapsing into Genis-Vell’s arms. Genis-Vell is understandably confused. How could his father sudden contract a disease that had been cured and wiped out years ago?

High above, the beautiful stain-glass ceiling of the Heart Hall shatters, further adding to the chaos. Holding his father’s pain-wracked form in his arms, Major Genis-Vell looks up. His hot warrior blood runs cold at the sight of the long-thought-dead Gladiator, former Praetor of the now-dismantled Imperial Guard.

A large metallic sphere in his hands, Gladiator looks down at the panicking Kree and other races. He smiles in satisfaction. "For crimes against the holy mission of the Shi’ar, I sentence the Kree to death!"

Major Genis-Vell recognizes the object that Gladiator holds his hands. His father had told him numerous accounts of the time when he’d disarmed a similar device years ago. It is a Nega Bomb.

"Noooooooo!" Genis-Vell can only cry out in desperation and anger before the Nega Bomb explodes in the middle of the Heart Hall. A blinding white light fills Genis-Vell’s vision, as does the sensation of his skin melting.

Then total blackness.

".....nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooo!" Still echoing his tortured cry of pain, Genis-Vell suddenly finds himself in an empty void. He floats in the black nothingness, contemplating what has happened to him.

"Am-am I dead?" Genis-Vell asks aloud. Frowning, he shakes his head. "No, wait. This doesn’t make sense." He clenches his eyes shut, trying to visualize his memories. "My father died before I was born. The Kree aren’t an intergalactic empire. Kree-Lar is in ruins. Earth isn’t a prison planet. Hell, I’m not in the Kree military!"

"Of course you aren’t. I’m surprised you didn’t suspect during the glimpse."

Opening his eyes, Genis-Vell whips around in the direction of the voice. That black robed figure floats before him.

"You!" Genis-Vell cries, his fists glowing with energy from his Nega Bands. "Who are you? What did you do? Why did you do it? You had damn well better answer me, or so help me..."

"I am the Frightener. As I stated before, I gave you a glimpse into another life. In that life, Captain Mar-Vell never died of cancer. Therefore, he was there to help in the conflict between the Kree and the Shi’ar. Using his cosmic awareness, he discovered the Skrull infiltration, stopped Deathbird from killing the Kree government, and stopped the detonation of the Nega Bomb."

"Wait a minute! If what you’re saying is true, and Mar-Vell never had cancer, then he’d suddenly get that attack? And in the glimpse, I had that Genis’ memories. I clearly remembered Gladiator being dead!"

Frightener smiles. "The glimpse was over, but you clearly weren’t willing to leave it of your own free will. Besides, as my name implies, I like to frighten people."

Genis-Vell zooms towards the Frightener, leaving a starry trail in his wake. "Yeah well, I like to kick ass! Taste photons!"

Genis-Vell unleashes a dazzling blast of photonic energy from his fists. The blast strikes the Frightener head on, and disperses.

"We’re in your mind, you idiot. Here, the only power you have is your will, which is no match for my own. Now sit down and shut up."

At the Frightener’s gesture, Genis-Vell goes flying backwards into an easy chair that suddenly appears. "What the f-uffffff!" The obvious curse is abruptly cut off by the complete desolation of Genis-Vell’s mouth.

"Please don’t think such things. I have sensitive ears. Now, being the minor abstract entity that I am, I possess the ability to see into alternate realities and the like. I’m even able to impose others mentally into these alternate realities for a time, as I did with you. Now, because I hate hearing myself drone on and on, I’m going to let you ask some questions."

His mouth returned, Genis-Vell breathes in deeply. "Okay, so what you’re saying is that you shifted my mind into my alternate reality self?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. That was Mar-Vell’s son, but it certainly wasn’t you."

"What do you-"

"As much as I would love to discuss the odds of a specific individual being conceived, let’s just say that Mar-Vell never met your mother in that timeline."

Genis-Vell nods, still struggling in the chair. That makes a sort of sense. "Then I guess it’s time for you to answer the final question. Why?"

"To show you what the Kree could have been if Mar-Vell had done his duty. If he hadn’t defected, he would have eventually cured the Empire of all corruption, and lead the military into true greatness. Because of him, the Skrull would have been defeated, as would the Shi’ar later on. The Kree would have achieved true greatness thanks to the warrior heart of Mar-Vell."

Frightener shrugs. "But unfortunately, he made the wrong choice, contracted cancer for his stupidity, and died. Now the Kree are nearly extinct."

"My father chose to be a hero! He’s saved lives, saved the universe!"

"He would have saved the universe anyway. You saw the Nega Bands, experienced the memories. Mar-Vell still would have gained the cosmic awareness and become the Protector of the Universe. The only difference is that the Kree, rather than Earth, would have reaped the benefits. Quite a waste, in my opinion."

Shaking in his seat, Genis-Vell seethes. "Again, why show me any of that? What’s the point of my knowing a world where my father never defected?"

"Because the Kree are facing another turning point in their history. I know, it seems odd that so many turning points are occurring so closely together, but that’s the way things are. Anyway, with your help, the Kree will find themselves well on the road to recovery. Without your help, they will be extinct within a century."

"And I should care because?"

"Lots of reasons. You are half-Kree, and thus can’t let your race die out. You are a hero, and thus can’t stand by while a race dies out. Finally, because Mar-Vell would help them, regardless of what they did to him in the past. With your help, the Kree will achieve the greatness that you witness, albeit much later down the road."

Genis-Vell smirks. "That’s just the motivation I needed." Light flares around Genis-Vell, erupting him out of the easy chair. He propels forward, landing a haymaker on Frightener’s head. "It took a while to break through what you did, but where there’s a will there’s a way!"

"Yes yes. Very impressive." Frightener states, barely staggered by the blow. He backhands Genis-Vell, sending him flying. "I underestimated your powers as a Titanian Eternal. Rest assured I won’t be caught off guard again."

Genis-Vell recovers and halts his flight. He sees Frightener fading. "Then how come you’re cutting out?"

"I did what I came to do. Whatever happens next is your choice. Sweet dreams, Genis-Vell, and good luck with your future endeavors."

Left alone in the mind-scape, Genis-Vell looks around. "Great, now I need to find my own way out." He closes his eyes. "There can only be one way Frightener did this to me without my knowing. The first time I woke up, I was in an alternate reality. So, the second time I wake up..."