" Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. "

- Chris Hadfield


(TWENTY FOUR YEARS AGO: YURI GAGARIN COSMONAUT TRAINING CENTER, STAR CITY, MOSCOW, RUSSIA)



Several days later, the Kree-Lizard boy spent assisting with the Bradford brothers' works along with Commander Ryliea and Alexi Shostakov in navigating his way to France. They carefully analyzed how he could make his journey on foot and the possibility of meeting the Kree Eternal along the way. The boy kept asking questions which Smolder, Terry, and Larry had encountered the mysterious long-lived hero. Finally, he had an idea of such expectations in how to encounter him.


On the other hand, many people from the rebel forces came into the compound which the tensions had become worse than ever. They understood this place was also a safe haven despite of the skirmish, but the news of tragedy and despair were running around the globe. There were a lot of rogue slaves being killed everyday. Upon hearing the news, the boy became more anxious in leaving Russia for such terrible situation which the people were experiencing.

Just this morning, he was about to take his swimming sessions when he got diverted by his other friend, Pavel. The Kree-Lizard boy turned around and saw the brunette bearded man who grinned at him.


" Pavel, chto ty delayesh'? (Pavel, what are you upto?) " he curiously asked.

" Kto-to ishchet tebya, Svet. Eto ochen' vazhno. (Someone is looking for you, Svet. It is very important.) " Pavel reminded.

" Vy imeyete v vidu moyu poyezdku vo Frantsiyu, ne tak li? (You mean my trip to France, doesn't it?) "

" Da, eto tak. (Yeah, that's right.) " 

The hybrid nodded and understood what his friend had meant. Perhaps, the Bradford Brothers and the others found a way to pursue his travel throughout Europe. Finally, it was his time to leave the Motherland and begin on his search for his hero who he has been finding for in years.


" U nikh navernyaka yest' ideya, poetomu im nuzhno pogovorit' so mnoy. (They surely have an idea, so they need to talk to me.) " he replied and stretched his both arms.


" Davay, Svet. Vy mozhete uslyshat' ikh. (Go ahead, Svet. You can hear them out.) "



The boy smiled and waved his hand as Pavel waved back. He was heading into the meeting room when Smolder, Alexi, and the Bradford Brothers were talking about his departure from Russia to France. The four of them were using a holographic table map where they analyzed how to navigate the Kree-Lizard.

" Itak, ty dolzhen uvidet' menya? (So, you need to see me? ) " he called their attention.

" Da, Svet. Prishlo vremya pokinut' Rodinu. (Yes, Svet. It's about time to leave the Motherland.) " Alexi slightly smiled.


" In fact, we will be anxious on your way going there, " Smolder sadly sighed and added.



" Yeah, I'm thinking of that too, " the hybrid answered in English. " The enemies might hinder me along the way. "



" Hinder?! " Larry loudly laughed. " You gotta be kidding us, Svet! Terry and I had figured out how along with Boss Alexi and Commander Ryliea. Cheese, Svet! You've been worrying a lot! "



" We're going to use the empty Soyuz capsule and put Svet inside," Terry seriously added. " Boss Alexi will drive the truck going to Rostov Oblast to Izvaryne-Donetsk. If the Kree and the Lizards found these two, they shall remain in-hiding before the enemies left them. Then, the two will escape as Bombos and Nukeo will give an explosion to the capsule. "



" Good idea, " Alexi nodded in agreement and grinned. " They will surely get tricked! "



" Here's the interesting part, " Larry smiled and pointed at the holographic map. " Svet will travel on foot as he has to follow the Ukrainian trails to France. "



" What countries? " Smolder asked.



" Ukrainian-Polish Border, Polish-German Border, and finally, German-French border. "



" Svet needs a map, Larry, " his brother reminded.



" Yeah, I think it has to be written in Russian since he couldn't read in English. "

The Kree-Lizard boy had mixed emotions which he was feeling. He was excited to be on a journey again. At the same time, he was lonely to leave his friends, including the one he loves for more than six months in his stay. Smolder noticed his long sad silence and poked at his shoulders. The hybrid widened his eyes and gasped.


" Svet? Are you all right? " the former astronaut asked.


" Nothing...Old Smolder! Nothing! " the boy made a fake laugh and wryly smiled. " I'm just waiting for the map to be printed! "


" You seem to be conflicting, Am I right? "


" No...no, Old Smolder! You got me wrong! Why? "


" Maybe, we should talk, later. " Smolder sincerely smiled. 

  " Right, a talk...that will do..."


" For now, we have more arrangements before your departure, " he continued and turned to the others. " We have to be discrete from our enemies. "


After doing such tasks for the whole day, the hybrid boy went to his room and looked at Shadra talking to her parents. He felt sad for her which she spent crying. He knew it was very hard for her to let him go. He wanted to talk to her, but he let her parents comfort her. The hybrid had gone inside his room and lied down on his bed. Thinking his last days in Russia before leaving for France, his mind was in conflict which he never wanted to go.


He forced himself to go to sleep and waited for some time, until someone knocked on the door. The hybrid boy opened it when Smolder entered.


" Mind if I join you, Svet? " the old man politely asked.


" Sure, why? "


" Now, I understood why you got baffled. My daughter is feeling the same way as you are. "



" I admit, we have fallen in-love with each other, " he sadly sighed. " Anytime soon, I will leave this country and continue my search for the Kree Eternal. I felt sorry for leaving her. " 

  " I have noticed that, Svet. I know that hurts the both of you, but Shadra has her dreams too, just like you have. "


" Of going to Mars, when the war is over. "



" How did you know? "



" She told me several days ago, " the boy explained. " Shadra wanted to go there. I knew how important it is for her. So, I told her to follow her dreams. "



" Same thing goes to you, Svet. You want to cope-up further and search for your hero. Yes, love is important, but sometimes you need to establish yourself before the right time comes. So, like you have mentioned to my daughter to follow her dreams. It really makes sense before you get into a deep and serious relationship. " 

  " I guess true love waits until the perfect time, " the boy slightly smiled and looked at his mentor.



" Yeah, If I mentioned to you about I spent several months in space. "



" Yes, you told me. Why? "



" Before I married Trifa, I let her wait until the right time comes. So, we spent corresponding through calls before. She was very pleased to see and hear me in orbit. Then, I also got happy to hear her news. Despite of time and distance, we have been together. "



" Interesting. " 

  " Anyways, you have to think further, " he answered. " I hope you have followed my advice, Svet. " 

" I have another confession to make, Old Smolder, " the boy added.



Smolder got curious of what the Kree-Lizard hybrid would tell. The former astronaut remained sitting beside him. The boy was composing his thoughts before he could speak and made his mentor wait.



" Is there anything to say, Svet? " he asked.


" You have a good and loving family, Old Smolder. I envy you. "



" Why? What made you say that? "



" I don't have a family to be with. I do have friends. But looking upon you, your wife, and children, I'm so sad. I need someone who will care and love me, no matter what, " he replied and welled up into tears.



The Remnite astronaut heavily sighed and looked at him with a concern. He understood that this boy had no family to belong with. Smolder hugged him and gently rubbed his back.



" I'm so sorry to hear that, Svet, " he calmly spoke. " If you find the Kree Eternal, tell him to join with you, just like you said back in the centrifuge. " 

 " You did remember? "


" Yes. You are longing to have a family, then. I know it's hard for you to be a fatherless, but someday you will find your true father. He might be looking for you as you are doing the same thing. "



The boy wept and knew that he was longing for a family. The retired astronaut kept pacifying him which sadness was still lingering through the boy's mind. 

  Few hours later, the boy remained sleepless as he kept wondering about what Smolder had said. Then, he came to think of Shadra as well. The boy left his room and headed outside. He saw the young Spider Faunus woman sitting beside the tree and looking at the stars. She saw his boyfriend coming to her and slightly smiled.


" I knew you could find me here, " Shadra spoke and welled her eyes into tears. " I guess you're gonna leave tomorrow, right? "


" Yeah, I still want to stay here, Shadra, but I have a mission to fulfill. "



" I know...I know. But I don't want to see you leave, " she wept as the boy tightly hugged her. " It's hurting me..."



" I feel the same way as you are, " he calmly replied. " But we have to fulfill what we dreamt for. You do want to go to Mars, right? "



Shadra remained silent and remembered what she had told her boyfriend of going to the red planet, several nights ago. He touched her face and gently wiped her tears.



" I want you to go there and follow your dream. You can do it. "



" Svet..."



" If that really makes you happy, then go for it. "



" I love you, Svet! " Shadra hugged him back. " Please take care of yourself! "



" I love you, too, Shadra, " the Kree-Lizard smiled and kissed her cheeks. " Thank you for everything. "



" You're welcome..." 

(THE NEXT DAY)

" Svet, you're leaving? " Enenra sadly asked as his parents and older sister were beside him.



" Yeah, it's gonna be a long journey to France, " the boy answered and joked. " But I guess it would be better if I fly the Soyuz capsule up there and in orbit before reaching Earth. "



" Change of plans, " Trifa answered. " He has to go on the ground while the truck is carrying it. "



" Well, have a safe trip, Space Cossack! "



" Thanks. "



" We hope you can get there in time, " Pavel replied.



" Sure, " the boy nodded and smiled. " This is goodbye for Motherland after five years and ten months. "



" Goodluck in your trip, Svet! " Larry waved his hands.



" Stay away from your enemies, " Terry reminded.



" Don't forget what I have trained you, " Smolder added.

     " I will! " the Kree-Lizard boy waved back as Shadra finally made her way after she ran and kissed him on the cheeks. " Shadra?! "



" This is my last kiss for you, Svet! Take care of yourself! "



" You, too..." he passionately kissed her back. For the first time, the dark haired Spider Faunus woman had felt his lips on her face.


" You naughty guy! "



" This is my last kiss for you, too! " he chuckled and rode the capsule on the truck's platform. The people from the compound also waved their hands at him. " Proshchay, Rodina! (Goodbye, Motherland!) "


Bombos, Nukeo, and Alexi were on the driver's seat where they set their way outside the compound. The boy closed his hatch as the vehicle had left. Finally, for almost six years, he was on his way leaving Russia. It was like a cosmonaut leaving the planet.

(Seventeen Hours Later: Rostov-on-Don, Russia to Izvaryne-Donetsk, Ukraine)

The three men took their turns in driving the truck as they made their way to the southern city of Russia going to the Ukrainian border. This place was once a dispute for peace treaty and territory, since Ukraine was once part of Russia in the 20th Century. Now, it was a land with no living people, but blue skinned soldiers and reptilian people guarding the border and checkpoint.


Bombos was on the driver's seat taking the wheel as he heavily sighed in seeing the enemies. He turned to his companions and looked anxious.


" Now, we have a problem, " the Egyptian mutant said. " We can't go to Ukraine. "



" You can boom them, right? " Nukeo asked and gave him a suggestive look.



" Yeah...but...they are using powerful weapons. "



" I'm afraid we need to change our plans, boys..." Alexi sternly spoke and looked at the forest near the Russian-Ukraine border. " We'll just drive going there and leave the Soyuz in the middle of the forest. "



" How about, Svet? " the Japanese mutant asked.



" He had his survival training during his cosmonaut activities. He has a map going to France. "



" Okay, good idea, " Nukeo smiled and turned to Bombos. " To the forest! "



" Got it! " his friend grinned and drove the truck going to their next destination. The Kree and the Lizards noticed them and began shooting the truck. Nukeo placed his right hand and snapped his fingers as the enemies got exploded.

The other remaining soldiers kept shooting at them as the truck became faster. It headed into the middle of the forest reaching Ukraine.


" Drop the capsule, now and leave this place! " the old man commanded.


Bombos nodded and pulled a lever below the driver's seat. The truck's platform had leveled into an inclined plane. The Soyuz capsule slid from it onto the ground as it rolled over. Just inside, the Kree-Lizard boy felt shaking and nauseous of what he had experienced. Finally, it stopped when the truck had left. The forest was about to meet the rising sun as the skies kissed the sun into a bright yellow one.


The boy opened the hatch as he slowly went out. After a long journey, he finally crossed the border and made it to the Ukrainian grounds. He looked behind and smiled as he made a farewell salute to the Motherland.


" Spasibo, matushka Rossiya. Poka my ne vstretimsya snova vmeste s moimi druz'yami! (Thank you, Mother Russia. Until, we meet again along with my friends!) " he muttered.


The Kree-Lizard headed his way going to the nearby city and continued walking as he held his map to set-off with his next destination. 

(Rouen, France, 2:40 AM)

" Well, he made his way to Ukraine, " Michelle continued as Carol intently listened to her. " We're glad we secretly joined his trip all the way. "


" By shrinking yourselves, " the half-Kree woman replied.



" Smolder asked us to keep an eye on him wherever he went, " Tahu yawned and stretched his arms.



" Are you sleepy? " his wife asked.



" Yeah, I guess being a night owl seems to be very hard! "



The three elderly heroes smiled and cackled as Carol turned to her son which he would get disturbed from their laughter. They all slowly ceased when Michelle also yawned and covered her mouth.


" Sleepy? " her wasp husband asked.



" Yeah, Tahu, " she nodded, changed her topic, and turned to the half-Kree. " By the way, are you gonna tell him the truth? "



Carol remained silent and sighed as she wanted to disclose this information to her son. But then again, she never wanted to confuse him. Tahu and his wife exchanged glances and waited for her to answer.


" Carol? "


" I really wished to do that, " she answered and sighed. " But I can't. "


" Why? " Tahu asked. " But he deserves it, time will come and he will learn from it. "


" Carol, he is your adopted son, but when will you ever tell him? " Michelle added. " He has been looking for family in years. I know you're doing your best as his mother. "


" It's not the right time. His father has to meet him first, before he will undergo the body transfer to the Project Marvel subject. When that time comes, I will tell him the truth. That boy will become my real son."