On Neptune, the frozen surface of the distant world shimmered under pale sunlight as a massive vessel descended from orbit. The newly recovered Kryptonian reconnaissance ship slowly lowered onto the steel landing platform constructed among the rising towers of New Krypton. Its enormous hull cast a long shadow across the growing colony as engines cooled with a low mechanical hum.
The ship's arrival immediately triggered a flurry of activity across the settlement. Engineers and scientists hurried toward the landing zone while automated drones surrounded the vessel, scanning its ancient Kryptonian technology.
Lilith, Ethan Drake's adjutant, had already boarded the reconnaissance ship to begin a full inspection.
The results of that inspection proved extremely valuable.
Inside the vessel, the team discovered a complete nutrient incubation system designed for Kryptonian artificial reproduction. The equipment had been carefully dismantled and transported into New Krypton's central laboratory complex.
Once installed, the additional machinery dramatically increased the scale of the colony's artificial gestation program.
New Krypton's population would now grow far faster.
Lilith returned with another discovery as well.
In her hands she carried a sealed case containing a fully completed Kryptonian combat suit.
The suit was unmistakable.
Its deep blue body armor and crimson cape were instantly recognizable, the iconic uniform originally designed by Jor-El as a gift for his son. The suit had been intended for Clark Kent, but fate had placed it in Ethan Drake's possession instead.
Lilith calmly placed the suit onto a laboratory table.
"Disassemble the materials and cut them again," Ethan instructed.
His voice carried no hesitation.
The scientists immediately obeyed and began examining the suit's alien fibers.
Ethan's own Kryptonian battle armor was still being manufactured inside New Krypton's advanced fabrication chambers. Until that process finished, the materials from this suit could be repurposed to accelerate development.
If Jor-El had known that his carefully prepared gift would be taken apart like scrap material, he probably would have been furious enough to resurrect himself just to protest.
But the suit was only a minor matter compared to the news Lilith delivered next.
"Is this confirmed?" Ethan asked quietly.
"Yes," Lilith replied. "The dormant chamber has been emptied. There was no body inside."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Every Kryptonian reconnaissance ship required a pilot. To preserve the crew during long voyages, the ships were equipped with suspended animation pods designed to keep their occupants alive for centuries.
Yet when Lilith examined the dormant chamber, it was completely empty.
The pilot who should have been inside had vanished.
"No body. No remains. No trace of departure," Lilith continued calmly. "The chamber was simply open."
Ethan leaned back slightly, processing the information.
Then suddenly, a memory surfaced.
In the film Man of Steel, there had been a subtle detail hidden in the background lore. A Kryptonian scout ship that visited Earth had once carried a passenger whose fate was never fully explained.
That missing passenger had been hinted to be a legendary figure.
A Kryptonian woman.
The possibility flashed through Ethan's mind.
"The missing Kryptonian," he murmured quietly. "Where did she go?"
The truth was impossible to determine.
Thousands of years had passed since the ship's arrival. The mysterious passenger could have died long ago, or perhaps she had drifted somewhere into deep space.
There was even a chance she had reached another world entirely.
Whatever the outcome, tracking her now would be nearly impossible.
Ethan quickly dismissed the thought.
At that moment, Lucini entered the chamber. Once a prisoner, she now served as one of Ethan's personal attendants.
"I have a communication request," she said respectfully.
"From Carol Danvers."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Carol Danvers and Ethan had been secretly communicating for quite some time. Through careful coordination, the two of them had created more than a few problems for the Kree Empire's military operations across several star systems.
Their cooperation had become something of an unspoken alliance.
But the moment Carol's image appeared on the holographic screen, Ethan could immediately tell something was wrong.
Her expression looked tense.
"No," Carol said quickly. "The Supreme Accuser Council has launched an internal investigation. Everyone is being reviewed, including me."
Ethan's eyes sharpened slightly.
Carol continued speaking, her voice filled with frustration.
"I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but the Kree Empire has started planning a return to Earth. I can't tell whether they're testing my loyalty or if they actually intend to take action."
Her tone grew even more serious.
"There's something else. Ronan has been searching for something recently."
Ethan remained silent, waiting.
"The Orb," Carol said.
The moment those words left her mouth, Ethan's gaze turned cold.
The Orb.
That name was merely a disguise.
In truth, the object hidden inside the Orb had another name entirely.
The Power Stone.
One of the Infinity Stones.
Even Ronan the Accuser himself didn't fully understand what the Orb contained. He believed it was a powerful weapon, but he had no idea that the artifact housed a force capable of destroying entire civilizations.
If that stone were unleashed recklessly, even a massive star fleet could be wiped out instantly.
"Carol," Ethan said calmly. "Give me its exact location."
There was a brief pause.
Then Ethan added another sentence.
"And you should start thinking about leaving the Kree Empire."
—
Xandar.
The capital world of the Nova Empire was famous across the galaxy as a neutral stronghold. Its powerful military forces and disciplined government had made it one of the safest planets in known space.
Even the aggressive Kree Empire had once attempted to conquer Xandar, only to eventually sign a peace treaty after realizing the cost would be too high.
Because of that agreement, the planet had grown into one of the most prosperous hubs in the galaxy.
Trade routes converged here, and countless alien species walked the crowded streets of its cities. The strict enforcement of law ensured that even criminals thought twice before causing trouble on Xandar.
Into this orderly world stepped Ethan Drake.
He wore a simple white robe, blending easily among the many travelers moving through the city. Walking quietly beside him was a tall woman with sharp features and an icy expression.
Faora.
Her cold gaze scanned the surroundings constantly, like a predator watching for threats.
The two of them had come for one purpose.
The Orb.
Carol had already warned Ethan that Ronan was searching for it.
"You're late," a familiar voice said.
Ethan turned his head.
Carol Danvers walked toward them through the crowd. Her blonde hair flowed over her shoulders as she approached, her expression serious but relieved to see him.
"I still don't understand," Carol said after stopping in front of him. "Why are you so interested in that Orb? Ronan wants it, sure, but is it really worth this much attention?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"You don't actually know what the Orb represents," he said calmly.
Carol frowned slightly.
Ethan continued speaking.
"Even Ronan doesn't fully understand it. He's only chasing the Orb because someone else wants it."
"Someone else?" Carol asked.
Ethan's voice lowered.
"Thanos."
Carol froze.
The name alone carried enormous weight across the galaxy.
The Mad Titan had risen to power in recent years, commanding the terrifying Black Order and building a reputation as one of the most dangerous warlords in existence.
Carol had heard countless rumors about him.
But one detail shocked her.
"You're saying Ronan is working for Thanos?"
Ethan nodded slowly.
"As long as Ronan retrieves the Orb, Thanos has promised him something in return," Ethan explained.
Carol waited for him to continue.
"Thanos will destroy Xandar for him."
The statement hung heavily in the air.
This was the hidden plot that had once unfolded in the events of Guardians of the Galaxy. Ronan's hatred for Xandar ran deep, and Thanos had exploited that hatred to manipulate him.
Carol sighed quietly.
"That explains a lot," she admitted.
She had been tracking the rise of Thanos's influence for years. The Black Order had expanded rapidly, turning the Mad Titan into a growing threat throughout the galaxy.
"But that's not the real reason I wanted to meet you," Carol said.
She activated a data tablet and handed it to Ethan.
"This is classified Kree intelligence," she explained. "It's the reason the Kree Empire is planning to return to Earth."
Ethan glanced down at the information.
The moment he read it, everything became clear.
A long time ago, the Kree Empire had secretly visited Earth. During that visit, their scientists discovered something extraordinary about humanity.
Human genetics contained enormous hidden potential.
The Kree had conducted numerous experiments on early humans, attempting to unlock that potential.
But before those experiments could be completed, the Kree were forced to abandon the project due to their ongoing war with the Skrull Empire.
Now they were returning.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So that's it," he said quietly.
Carol watched him carefully.
"What does it mean?"
Ethan closed the tablet and handed it back.
"They're coming for the Inhumans."
Carol blinked in surprise.
The term referred to a group of humans whose genetic structure had been altered through alien experimentation. Under the right conditions, those dormant genes could awaken and grant extraordinary abilities.
"So the Kree want to reclaim them?" Carol asked.
Ethan nodded slowly.
"They want to gather every Inhuman they created."
Before Carol could respond, a sharp voice suddenly echoed across the plaza.
"Well, well…"
Both Ethan and Carol turned toward the sound.
A group of armored soldiers approached from across the street.
Their uniforms were unmistakable.
Kree.
The leader stepped forward with a sneer.
"Captain Marvel," he said coldly. "You've truly gone too far."
His eyes burned with fury.
"You betrayed the Kree Empire."
....
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