" We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

- Ronald Reagan

(Next Day: Rouen, France, 4:00 PM)

After taking lunch, Carol and her tall hooded companion spent washing the dishes which they finished some pile of plates and other utensils. The two wiped and placed them into the cabinet. Then, they worked at the garden and started trimming the plants and sweeping the ground.

The Kree-Lizard boy watched the children playing and running at the porch to the patio. He held his garden broom, sadly sighed, and thought of a normal childhood which he never had an experience. The elderly blonde woman curiously looked at him while she was cutting and snipping some bushes to be trimmed.

" Kid, is there something wrong? " she paused her work and curiously asked.

" I wished to have a normal childhood life, " the boy answered. " My life is too different from them. "

Carol understood of what he had said. She remembered those stories which the boy told her. His experiences were too difficult to describe which he had endured all of them. From those days in the MTF Containment Cell to his journey all the way to Alaska, no man could experience those kind of hardships.

" I see what you're getting from, " she smiled and kept cutting the growing twigs and leaves on the bushes. " Just imagine life is like a plant. "

" What do you mean? " he curiously asked and turned to her.

" You tend to grow and develop extra branches, barks, twigs, and leaves. It's like you're gaining good memories and learning from them in order for you to flourish. But sometimes, you got yourself attracted by fungi, bacteria, and viruses, " Carol explained and showed to him an affected leaf and branch with white spots. " Bad decisions, memories, nightmares, and mistakes. It's pretty hard to let go of them, right? "

" Yes, " the hybrid nodded.

" That's why a gardener helps the plant to get rid of them and nourish it to stay and grow healthy. "

" So, you're saying humanity is like a plant? "

" True, " she nodded and finished trimming the bush. " People tend to grow further and sometimes experience bad things in life. But in your case, you just really have to develop everything. I understood you wanted to have a normal life despite of those bad memories. You really need to find ways. "

" Okay, " he slightly smiled and found a ball on his footstep. The children murmured and got panicked in French which the ball went out of bounds. The Kree-Lizard boy hardly understood them and turned to Carol as he needed help. " I can't speak French that fluently. "

" Kid, you just need to return the ball to them. That's all, " she answered and gave him a suggestive look. " Come on, you can do it. "

" Okay, " he nodded and took the ball as a dark haired mutant girl leapt in front of him when he got startled to see her. The hybrid gave it to her as she grinned from ear to ear.

" Merci beaucoup, monsieur! (Thank you, mister!) " the girl beamed.

" See? an act of kindness doesn't come in what language you speak, " the elderly half-Kree woman smiled at him. " It's part of growing up as a man which it is something to be shared and passed on. "

" All right, then, " the boy understood and started sweeping the ground.

" Well, anyway we have a lot of work to do before sunset comes, " she looked at Gladius and Aqune washing and mending the clothes and reminded her companion.

" Right. "

Moments later, the rest of the residents noticed a Quinjet landing near the mansion. Carol knew who drove the vehicle after doing some gardening. The boy got nervous and thought of hiding which he remembered some of detractors had been hunting him. The elderly half-Kree woman held his right hand, assuring nobody would harm him.

Leaving the vehicle, three figures headed their way to the mansion's porch. Carol recognized the newcomers as Gladius and Aqune exchanged glances. A dark-haired man with his brunette girlfriend walked along with the half-Lizard man. The boy recognized his closest friend and widened his eyes in shock.

" Jared..." he called him.

" How are you doing, bud? " his bestfriend gently patted the boy's shoulders. " It's been a long time! "

" Yeah! "

" Well, Old Lady. We have returned! " Allen Stroud greeted.

" Bonjour! " Karena Lesproux added and smiled.

" Good to see you, again, " Carol smiled back. " It's been several months since you guys left. "

" Well, Madame Danvers. You have missed the action, " Jared replied. " It's nice that my friend remained with you for some time. "

" Oh, yeah. He has been learning a lot from me. "

" That's good, " the half-Lizard smiled and turned to the other couple. " You have Elder Gladius and his wife, too? "

" Yes, they're all helping in the mansion. "

The elderly couple approached the newcomers as Jared Coulson recognized them.

" It's an honor to meet you again, sir, " he spoke and shook hands with the mutant.

" I take it, you must Phil's grandnephew, " Gladius responded with the gesture.

" Yes, sir. I'm following his footsteps. "

" Good to hear that, Kid! "

" Oh, by the way, " Aqune turned to the visitors and said, " You must be tired and hungry. We're all going to prepare dinner. "

" Thanks, ma'am, " Allen smiled.

" You're welcome. Come in! "

The three visitors entered the mansion as Carol and the others guided them. The residents busied themselves with other things as Allen noticed them.

" Everything has changed several months after we left, " the dark haired mercenary said.

" Yeah, we're seeing new faces here, " Jared replied.

" It must have been monsieur Mon Amie and Madame Danvers helped them live here, " Karena added and looked at the people.

" It's true more people added every week aside from escapees and newborns, " Carol replied. " I'm pleased Gladius and his wife were helping us here. "

" Yeah, this reminds me of the Alcan and Anchorage community before, " Gladius spoke.

" Anyway, are you willing to help us cook dinner? " the elderly half-Kree woman asked.

" Yeah, sure, " Allen nodded. " That sounds fun! "

(Five Hours Later)

After finishing eating dinner and washing the dishes, the residents headed into their rooms to sleep. The Kree-Lizard boy walked around the hallway and found his mother-figure getting a glass of water.

" You ain't sleepy yet, Kid? " she asked.

" Jared and the others reminded you in the other room, " he said and pointed at the place. " Well, I'm not sure if I'm included. "

" You're still part of the rebel forces, right? I think you should come along with me and join our discussion. "

" Well, if that will help, I come with you. "

" Let's go. "

The two entered the room where Karena, Allen, Jared, Gladius, and Aqune spent talking of what had transpired in the past several months, including their future plans in fighting the Kree-Lizard legion. They noticed the two and offered them a seat on the couch.

" Carol, you're just in time for this serious talk, " Gladius said.

" Is this something to do with our present situation? " the half-Kree woman asked.

" Yes, " Jared nodded in agreement. " It's getting worse than ever. "

" Oh, goodness..." she anxiously muttered. " Please spare the details. "

" Karena, will you explain? " Allen turned to his girlfriend.

" Oui, " she answered and explained. " Our enemies have infiltrated every safehouses and underground communities in Europe. Some of them got abducted and the others got killed in the encounter. The survivors barely escaped which the captors had their weapons and equipment to threaten them, even children. "

The Kree-Lizard hybrid sadly sighed to the French woman's testimony and turned to Carol. Gladius and Aqune both exchanged glances as they had understood of what happened.

" My, that's terrible, " the purple haired woman commented. " How come they do that? "

" Well, Allen, Karena, and I have witnessed those series of events. We almost defeated the blue and pink-skinned ones along with the lizards, " Jared replied. " But the skirmish was still there. We failed in retrieving the victims after that. "

" I see, " Gladius seriously spoke, held his cane and recalled. " Fifty years ago, we successfully raided Yon-Rogg's faction in Anchorage and rescued those victims, but now this is more dangerous than I have witnessed or heard. "

" True, " the brunette Frenchwoman said. " Even Monsieur Bav-Tek's faction had a hard time fighting back. "

" Can you tell us who is leading the enemy lines, now? " Carol asked.

" Faulnak, Kasius's older brother, " Allen sternly spoke. " He has more weapons for the bad guys. "

" Is there a way to stop them? " Gladius queried.

" That ain't easy, Gladius. They're more brutal than the other bad guys. "

" If only we could extend our help, " Aqune said with a concern. " But our priority is to help Carol and the boy in this mansion and then the residents. "

" We do appreciate your work here, " Jared answered. " But as long as the enemies found you here, please protect this place from them. "

The Kree-Lizard boy listened very well to the talks and understood what was happening. He thought of helping his friends, but he remembered before that he should stay away from any trouble. Now, he's a member of the rebel forces, he could have done something to support them.

" Should I join with you? " the hybrid broke his silence as everyone turned their attention to him.

" Are you sure for this one? " Allen doubtfully said and raised his eyebrows. " Look, pal. Everyone is getting hunted as slaves and the others get killed. We don't want you to become another victim. "

" He's right, " Jared added. " Times are becoming more dangerous than ever. We get to meet death and despair every time we face them. "

" But...."

" My friend, we understood you wanted to go in the open again, " the long haired mutant said. " But it's no longer easy to manage. "

The boy sighed and turned to his mother figure as Carol heard what they had said. She gently held his left hand and looked at him with a concern.

" Kid, we're all saying this, because we already knew you have a big trauma from 682 and the MTF aside from the Kree and the Lizards, " she said. " You can't fight your enemies unless you have fully gained your sanity and ready to face more challenges. "

" Carol, I just wanted to help...." the hybrid replied.

" Kid, you did what you have to do in the mansion. You're not that fully ready. "

The boy sighed and turned to his friends and then to his mother figure. From his wanderings, he really thought of doing something to benefit everyone, but from their warnings he couldn't do anything.

" Bud, we're sorry for being too strict, " Jared calmly said. " It's just we can't let you join with us. Yes, you can help, but we don't want you to get hurt. "

" Why Jared? "

" You knew you faced a lot of hardships before I meet you. We just want you to stay with Carol and help everyone in the mansion. I hope you can understand. "

" Is there a way to..."

" Your help is more needed, here, " Allen smiled. " Carol is working along with you. Don't worry, you will get there when the right time comes. "