" We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone." 

- Orson Welles

(VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 6:15 AM) 

The two wanderers spent sleepless hours on the run from any invaders or any human detractors. It was Nancy's idea to leave and cross the border in finding a safer place to live temporarily. In their escape, the Pacific Highway ended up as a ghost town. It was all utterly silence and damaged vehicles where seen all over. 

The Kree-Lizard boy and his new companion ended up in the one of the most prominent Canadian cities. Vancouver seemed to be like San Francisco, but it was few degrees colder than the Californian city. The two began searching for food, clothing, or perhaps any temporary shelter. The boy thought and looked at Nancy as she was becoming weaker and paler after she spent vomiting blood on the garbage dump.

" I wonder if she could stay like this, but how long? " he wondered.

" HEY! What are you looking at? " she contemptuously glared and asked. 

" No... nothing! " he nervously laughed. " It's just I have been so curious about you have decided to join with me on this trip. "

" So far, I have no choice. You wanted to have a companion and I got myself stuck with you for the last couple of hours from Seattle. It's all my idea to cross the border to find something new. "

" Thanks..."

" What made you say that? "

" Well, for some reason I want to go a new place, " he answered. " Far away from the MTF or anyone else. "

" Okay, I see, " Nancy nodded and crossed her arms. " So.... you're some kind of an experiment or something. "

" I guess so, " the Kree-Lizard hybrid boy replied.

" Go ahead, do tell. "

The boy sadly sighed as he never wanted to tell of his nightmares or anything. Nancy was still waiting for him to speak as she raised his eyebrows and sat on the ground. The hybrid was composing his thoughts before he would speak. It took him sometime to express himself.

" Someone told me that I was a clone of that horrible monster named SCP-682, " he broke his silence. " I have his horrible memories. "

" And what kind of memories? "

" Skirmish. Death of the people, he had killed. "

Upon hearing it, Nancy remained silent and sighed. She couldn't believe her rescuer was a copy of that sinister and murderous creature. She couldn't react nor think of anything as she directly looked at his two humanoid eyes with green irises and a blue scar on his face. Nancy never imagined her companion could have the same traits as the one being mentioned.

" Nancy, I'm so sorry...." he sadly said and bowed. " I'm so ashamed of myself..."

" No, you shouldn't feel sorry for yourself, Dude, " she replied and gently patted his back. " Look, you just saved me from the hospital. Perhaps, you're only just thinking of my safety and survival. I'm so sorry if I took it negatively. Secondly, I don't even think you can do those horrendous crimes like that devil did. You're way too different from him. "

" How did you know? What made you say that? "

" Your actions speak louder than your words. Like, you have carried me all the time just to keep me safe. We spent hiding and running in hours from those bad guys. So, do you think your dark side will haunt you? "

" Nightmares...which those memories have been tormenting me..."

" Okay, that's a very awful shell shock of yours, " she commented and shrugged. " And I take it, Dude. It's a long term psychological trauma you have there. Seriously, you can't face your demons alone. You need help. "

" What should I do? "

" Well, we need you to get to a doctor that can help you. "

" Is he or she going to exterminate me? "

Nancy loudly laughed at her tall hooded companion when she heard his question which she found it too ridiculous. The boy sighed and facepalmed in shame. He couldn't speak of anything.

" No! Of course, not! " she ceased laughing and changed her tone of voice. " Okay, I'm sorry for laughing at you. I didn't mean to offend you. "

" I really sound stupid to you, I know. "

" No, you're not stupid! You really make me laugh at your question. "

" What?! " he exclaimed and blushed harder.

" Okay, you don't know that you're funny. That's what you need to develop, " she smiled. " Infact, you reminded me of my ex-boyfriend. "

" Really? How come? "

" He's funny as you are and a very thoughtful one. David Keller was his name. "

The Kree-Lizard hybrid boy got curious as he wanted to listen more stories from her. Nancy slightly smiled and thought of telling them to him.

" Okay, David and I spent our relationship since childhood upto college. We grew up as best friends upto lovers, " she continued. " We started as comic book and video game nerds into sweethearts and office mates. He used to tell jokes and ask some weird questions to me. David was surely the most lovable and funniest clown I had in my precious life. "

" I see. You two did get along well, " the boy smiled.

" We did have some ups and downs. Sometimes, we argued a lot. But the most fateful day, we broke up when he discovered I was terminally-ill. "

" What do you mean? I don't understand. Why did he leave you? "

" He never wanted to marry someone who's gonna die too soon, " she sadly sighed. " He couldn't accept it. "

" That's terrible. Is there a way for you and him to..."

" Reconcile? I don't think so. " 

Nancy removed her purple wig as the Kree-Lizard hybrid boy got surprised of what happened to her hair. He couldn't comprehend of why she had this kind of condition.

" Okay, Dude. You told me of your skeletons in your closet as a 682 clone, " she calmly said. " Well, I do have mine. "

" You mean why you lost your hair? " he asked.

" You're right. Originally, I had long curly brown locks which I used to maintain before, but I got diagnosed with cancer, specially Leukemia stage III. "

" Cancer? Leukemia? What is that? "

" It's a terrible illness from the blood which a cancer patient like me becomes greatly weakened. It's too much to explain everything from that, but you have seen me vomiting too much blood earlier. "

The Kree-Lizard hybrid boy looked concerned at Nancy as he sadly sighed. He never realized a woman whom he newly met has been suffering more than his. A Severe illness and a broken relationship had caused her to be tougher than before. Her fleeting days would be a reminder that she needed someone before she passed on.

" I'm sorry that you got saddened of why I did that, " she continued. " Anyway, I have few more days left. I don't think I can survive that much..."

" Is there a way to get yourself to live longer or even get cured? "

" Dude, I tried chemotherapy before, " Nancy replied. " For your curiosity's sake, chemotherapy is a drug that can stop cancer from spreading or growing, but not exactly cure someone from it. By the way, that made my hair vanished...."

The boy gently held Nancy's right hand and looked at her. She leaned on his strong and scaly arm covered with the gray sleeve of his hooded tunic. She felt so secured and safe though him. The Kree-Lizard hybrid boy was blushing harder which he began to infatuate or feel love at the same time. Did he really find love for the first time or was it something else?

" I'm sorry to hear that..." he calmly spoke. " I never realized how painful you have to endure and then you and your loved one had..."

" Hey, I got used to this. It's just I called it 'quits' for him. At the same time, I had a chemo hellhole to face, It's just nothing, " Nancy slightly smiled and held the boy's left hand. " If I were a little girl who likes superheroes to forget all the pain, I really want to meet Captain Marvel to make me happy. She will surely be pleased to meet me. "

" Same here. "

" But I can't hold onto that fantasy anymore, since I have to count my remaining days here on Earth. I just want to spend more time with you..."

" My, this feeling is so fast! If only Mar-Vell were still living, he would be proud of me that I found one to be loved, " he surprisingly thought. " But I'm not so sure, if she's the one who could help me break free from that bondage I have. "

Suddenly, he heard Nancy's stomach was loudly grumbling. She looked at him and blushed to her embarrassment.

" I'm so sorry..." she nervously laughed. " I'm just very hungry! "

" Well, I can't get you something to eat, " he answered and extended his hand to her. " I can help you. "

" Thanks, Dude! "

The Kree-Lizard hybrid boy helped her standing up as they headed to somewhere else to find food. They looked all over the dumpsters to scavenge anything. He found some rotten left-over and offered them to her. Nancy covered her mouth and nose which she never wanted to eat anything disgusting.

" Why? What's wrong? " he asked and paused chewing. " Beggars like me don't choose. "

" Sorry, I don't eat that, " she replied. " You know, I'm terminally-ill. I'll be feeling horribly awful if I eat that. "

" All right, then. But I can help you find to something to eat. "

" At least, that's fresh! " she chuckled.

" Right..."

After eating breakfast at the dumpsters, the Kree-Lizard hybrid boy and Nancy headed to the park where it had fruit bearing trees. He took some apples and gave it to her. Nancy smiled and ate them as she was pleased to have a fresh fruit for her breakfast. The boy also took his share as he ate two pieces of apples.

Looking around, Nancy never realized that Urban and seafront view of the city ended up just like in Seattle where the Kree and the Lizards made another invasion on Planet Earth. Vancouver was now a second ghost town where the two had settled. 

" Is there something wrong? " the Kree-Lizard hybrid asked.

" Well, I can't even say if we can stay here any longer, " she anxiously replied. " We never see people around the streets. I don't even know what's gonna happen in the couple of days from now. "

" You just need to stick with me, " he assured and held her right hand. " I'll do anything to keep you safe. "

" Thanks, I hope you can do it..." 

" You're no longer alone, Nancy. You're with me. I'm not going to abandon you, ever. "