" For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.

"Woe to my worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm
and his right eye!
Let his arm be wholly withered,
his right eye utterly blinded!" "

- Zechariah 11:16-17 (ESV)

(PRESENT TIME: ROUEN, FRANCE: 4:58 PM)

While conversing about the incidents happened before the invasion, Skoúro and Carol had finished eating their plate of cookies and a cold glass of orange drink. They had placed the emptied plates and glasses on the tray. The dark angel from the Foundation gently wiped a snow colored tissue which the elderly half-Kree had given her earlier.

" It's already turning late, " the old woman with curly golden locks calmly reminded. " Are you sure you want to spend more time with me? "

" Yes, " Skoúro nodded and smiled. " Regardless of time, Carol. I'm willing to stay longer as I gain information from you before this invasion happened. "

" But what about your superiors? Did they know you're here in Rouen? "

" Kai told me to meet him in Paris very soon, " she replied. " Carol, if you need help in the mansion, I'm willing to work with the chores which you and Amnon had used to. "

Carol sadly bowed her head and heavily sighed which she missed her son very badly. She failed in saving and bringing him home and looked at the window's view of the bright yellow afternoon sun as it was about to descend and kiss the ground. Skoúro looked at the senior citizen with concern and sensed her loneliness.

" You missed him, didn't you? "

" Yes, " the retired Avenger nodded back, placed her hands on her thighs, and changed the topic. " You still need to hear more of my story? "

" Yes, please. I really need to find out how did you and the Avengers find about Amnon aside from Loki. "

" All right then, I'll continue..."

Skouro paid attention and interested to hear more from Carol. The old Kree hybrid recalled those memories and continued the conversation.

(February 8, 2018: Avengers Compound Upstate New York: 12:45 PM)

Flying and descending into the roof top, War Machine or Colonel James Rhodes and Carol Danvers had landed and reached the elevator when they had to meet someone from the X-Men who helped Tony Stark all night aside from Dr. Pyromaniac from the MIB. In their minds, the encounter with SCP-682 and conversation from the god of mischief had left them intriguing early this morning. Carol and Rhodey couldn't comprehend of those events which they remained mind boggling.

Reaching the cool air conditioning breeze and coming from the warm sun, the two skidded on the hallway. On the scenery, the bold Avengers insignia was noticeable on the entire wall. Rhodey glanced at his blonde girlfriend who remained silent along the flight going to the compound. He gently held her left hand and gave her an assuring smiled.

" Carol, I know you have been so sleepless and overthinking, " the US Air Force official calmly broke his silence. " I feel the same way too. "

" Thanks, Rhodey, " she slightly smiled at him and also held his right hand. " I'm too baffled of what I have seen and heard. I really need answers as soon as possible. "

" Same here. I'm glad someone called us after lunch for this one. Perhaps, we can hear more. "

In front of them, they approached a tall muscular and furry bespectacled man in his late thirties to forties. He had a dark navy blue complexion. The barefooted mutant man was wearing a long sleeved khaki shirt and a pair of charcoal slacks. He was smiling at the two newcomers and holding a document.

" Good afternoon, Colonel Rhodes, Ms. Danvers, " the furry man politely greeted and offered them a handshake. " I am so glad and expecting you to come as Mr. Stark has asked me to meet you. "

" Same here, Dr. McCoy, " Rhodey smiled back at him. " Tell us, where's Tony? "

" He had gone to the Stark Industries Compound as usual. I was left here when some of the Avengers had gone, " Hank McCoy or Beast answered and sighed. " He and the Inhuman MIB scientist left me some information they had gathered throughout the day. "

" He had been doing that I suppose. "

Carol looked at the mutant scientist and said, " Doc, have you gotten some information about this monster called 682? "

" Ah, yes, indeed, " McCoy snapped his fingers and replied. " Monster, I do smell all horse piss, at which my nose is in great indignation. "

" Is this a quote from Shakespeare? "

" The Tempest. It's one of my most favorite works from the literary legend himself! " the X-Man proudly chuckled in reply and reminded. " Speaking of the monster, I would let you see something very important and related to that threat. "

" Sure. "

Dr. McCoy walked first as the couple followed him. They entered into a room where Tony Stark or Iron Man had his holographic devices and a table screen computer on the center. Rhodey and Carol curiously shared glances and thought of what the mutant scientist would show to them. The furry dark skinned man placed the folders down and swiped the table screen, tirelessly looking for that file.

" Dr. McCoy, should we help you? " Rhodey asked, offering his assistance.

" No, thank you, Colonel Rhodes, " he calmly said and found a virtual file folder, opening it. " I got it. "

" Hank, what's it all about? " Carol queried.

Dr. McCoy's face turned serious and let a deep sigh. He was unhappy which he had seen that. The mutant scientist scratched his chin using his right hand and remained silent for a while. The half-Kree woman and her boyfriend waited for his answer.

" A video from my two friends who worked in that Foundation Facility, " McCoy broke his silence. " I'm so sorry for the both of you. This thirty minute video from them is really sensitive and disturbing. I really need to show this to you. "

" Hank, can you tell us who are your other friends? " Carol asked again.

" Dr. Valery Fedorov and Dr. Jean Meir Montmartre, " the mutant replied. " They were top European scientists recruited by that mysterious organization. I don't have any news from them in decades after they served there. "

" More mysterious than the MIB? " Rhodey gulped.

" Exactly. "

Carol heard the surname Montmartre and recalled of what Loki had mention early in the morning. She remained silent and crossed her arms when she was deeply pondering and watching the scientist from the X-Men swiping and playing the video. Rhodey noticed his girlfriend's sudden silence and curiously raised his eyebrows.

" Carol, you okay? " he called her attention. " Carol? "

The Kree-hybrid Avenger snapped out of her senses and heard her boyfriend calling her name. She widened her eyes in shock and nervously chuckled, " Nothing, Rhodey! Just tell, Doc McCoy to play that video. "

" Sure, " Rhodey nodded and turned to the mutant. " Is set Dr. McCoy? "

" Yes, " the Beast affirmed and pressed the play button.

In the beginning of that video playing on the table screen, Carol and the other two men attentively watched the scene of the young humanoid-reptilian hybrid boy. He was dressed on a white hospital tunic with baby blue trimmings on his short sleeves. The boy's right side was stained with his blue blood as he was sitting at the farthest corner of the containment cell. There were background voices echoing and asking him to meet someone. The hybrid boy's face grew weary when he began to sweat and shake in fear.

In that video, the men dressed in dark kevlar suits and armor and released a larger reptilian that walked on four legged. The male sinister creature had a long dark moldy hair. He had the sharpest spikes from his back upto his tail and rotting flesh and blood on his legs. The lizard was evilly grinning and darkly laughing at him. The hybrid boy refused to see him, slowly moved away, and wept in fear. He knew something the worst would happen to him once again.

The indestructible lizard SCP-682 taunted him as he slowly went around in circles. The young hybrid was uncessantly shaking and weeping which he couldn't tolerate his constant physical abuser. 682 began to strike him using his spikes and made the boy wailing in pain and bleeding. Then, the lizard had hit him with his sharp tail, making him yelling in loud excruciating pain.

While watching this repetitive suffering, Carol was in tears and widening her eyes. She couldn't stand seeing the hybrid boy in fatal blow as the Foundation scientists observed. Rhodey noticed his girlfriend weeping when he instantly hugging her. McCoy thought of stopping the video, but he was surprised to see a tall man with a short blonde hair leaned his back on the wall and heard the loud and depressing echoes from the hybrid boy. He was wearing a dark royal blue tactical suit with red and white trimmings as he had star spangled shield on his back.

" Hank! P-Please stop the video! " Carol loudly sobbed. " I'm begging you stop it! It's too much for me to handle! "

The furry mutant man obediently did as he was instructed. The recording was stopped in twenty-four minutes and forty-six seconds. Rhodey was still comforting his girlfriend in great distress and letting out a deep sigh.

" I am terribly sorry for this, " McCoy calmly spoke and slapped his forehead. " That video was indeed a tremendous trigger warning with such violently vivid scene. "

" Dr. McCoy, where did that video come from? " Rhodey asked. " When it was recorded and sent to you? "

" It was from my friend, Dr. Fedorov, " he answered. " He sent it yesterday as the Foundation staff just recorded it on the eighth of September last year. "

" September last year? " the centenarian Avenger curiously repeated and raised his left hand in interjection.

" Mr. Rogers, I didn't expect you to watch..."

" Dr. McCoy, why did you let them show that brutal scenario? " Steve Rogers seriously asked. " That video should have been..."

" Deleted? With all due respect, sir. Mr. Stark asked me to let them show about this monster who you are fighting against these days, " McCoy reasoned. " At least you know about a deadly lizard has abused a boy from the Foundation facility. "

" Steve, Dr. McCoy's right, " Rhodey added. " Carol and I saw that monster for ourselves this morning. He made a genocide in Boston. You could have seen it for yourself. "

" But why and what it has something to do with a lizard boy?! " Steve followed up another question.

Carol was still weeping and covering her eyes which she couldn't tolerate to watch from the video. She was controlling her light soul and Binary powers to unleash as she was in the arms of her boyfriend. She didn't want to speak up and waited for the mutant scientist to answer it. McCoy pulled an email notification which it attached the same video. It was a personal email not labelled from the Foundation facility. Steve, Carol, and Rhodey anticipated for the furry blue man's response. McCoy cleared his throat and took a deep breath as he began to read.

Dear Hank,

I have secretly obtained this thirty minute video from the Foundation CCTV cameras in Site 19 facility. Meir warned me not to disclose of his son's abuse by SCP-682 for we are very afraid of the 05 Council would terminate us very soon. The reason why I have sent this, it's because I have to warn how horrible 682 was. As much as I want to leave the Foundation and work with you and Professor Xavier again, I have to help out our closest friend's dilemma in relation to his son.

The subject was a SCP 682 hybrid clone with the Kree Eternal's dominant genes through experimentation. He was the indestructible lizard's most favorite and constant victim which 682 and the Foundation troopers had set up for this 'play date.' Meir and I were helplessly watching the child's every day sufferings as an important obligation.

Meir predicted that the boy will make his way to escape as soon as possible, but I don't know when it will happen. Secondly, we have decided to give his child a new body in the distant future, however we need a female recipient to fulfill the Project Marvel. Hank, please help me find the right woman to be the boy's biological mother in the future. Meir has to make it happen. Or else, his son will die in the hands of the ruthless Foundation forces or anyone who is also considered as a threat.

I hope you can find a way to help as I am planning to leave this hellhole for good and supporting my Kree Eternal friend to recreate his son, before the 05 Council will execute us. Please let anyone know the truth behind their motto of Secure, Contain, and Protect objective. I am no longer interested in their works.

Spasibo moy pushistyy tovarishch.

Valya

" That kid...." Steve paused and muttered in shock. " He's the next..."

" Kree Eternal..." Rhodey continued.

" Indeed, he is..." McCoy nodded back. " I really need to help out Valya and Meir for a female candidate in this future project. But how? "

" We need to help the boy escape...We need to bring him away from them! " Carol exclaimed. " Steve, Rhodey, Hank! We need to do..."

Out of distress and intense sleeplessness, the half Kree woman instantly passed out and fell on the floor. Rhodey and the other two men immediately carried and brought her away from this room.

(MOMENTS LATER)

Slowly opening her eyes, Carol found herself lying on the bed by herself and instantly sat up. She looked at the digital clock showing it was seven o'clock sharp. The Kree hybrid Avenger felt flabbergasted, immediately got out of bed, and anxiously thought of where to find her boyfriend and his companions. She combed her disheveled golden locks and looked at the mirror, deeply thinking of the boy in the video, Dr. McCoy's email correspondence, and Loki's story of the Foundation facility. Those were the puzzle pieces that gathered in her mind which she needed to connect them together and find a clear picture.

She placed the comb on the side table and walked out of her room. Carol looked at the window which the skies are now dark and starry. Walking around the hallway, she felt her stomach loudly grumbling and saw Steve Rogers or Captain America holding a hardbound leather sepia book. He was focusedly reading in the Book of Zechariah for his quiet time before eating dinner.

" Steve, " she called her fellow Avenger's name and approached him. " Can we talk for a while before dinner? "

" Yeah, sure, " Steve smiled and paused reading, turning attention to his younger female friend. " How can I help? "

" I've been looking for those answers this week, " Carol answered. " Like Mar-Vell and Loki mentioned about the Foundation, then Rhodey, the mercenaries and I found the monster called 682. Now, the video and letter from Hank, I know it's so hard to understand those things. It's just they drive me something to a different..."

" What do you mean? "

" They're like clues or puzzle pieces to a mystery, perhaps an answer. I don't even know what drives me to be so emotional earlier this afternoon. "

Steve remained listening and thought of an answer to her. He closed the Bible and scratched his chin, giving her a quizzical look. It took time for him to compose his words before responding. Carol waited for him to respond and curiously tilted her head.

" Are those things giving you a clear picture or a message? " he asked.

" Yeah. "

" Okay, that seems hard to believe. But for you, this is something to do about the boy in the video. "

" That's right, " she nodded in agreement and sighed. " But I don't know how could I save him since Mar-Vell and Loki had spoken about him these days. Steve, we need to find a way how to escape him from his abusers. "

The blond centenarian's face became serious and crossed his eyebrows. He found this potential rescue could be too impossible for the Avengers to act when he heavily sighed and held the Holy Scriptures.

" Steve? "

" I don't think we can do that, " he instantly replied.

" Why?! You saw that video this afternoon! That kid was physically abused by that damn freak! I told you we need to help him to escape! "

" Carol, it's too impossible to act. "

" What do you mean? Why are you saying that? "

" Carol, I understand that you want to save a child from his abuser in that facility, but we don't really know who we are dealing with. I'm not discouraging you. It's just those people behind that video are hostile and shady. As much as I want to help you out, we need to focus against our present threat, an indestructible lizard from hell. "

Carol sadly sighed and bowed her head as Steve gently placed his right hand to her shoulder. He was giving him an assuring smile.

" One day, we will get to find that kid and help him leave that facility. Who knows? We may find him more different than the monster. He will be joining with us very soon. "

" I hope so, " she nodded no furiously.

" Let's get some dinner first and plan for our next mission. "

(Skoúro Valour belongs to FlashlightMan)