The Black Lion - Friend or Foe? (Patreon)

Natasha Romanoff, Near Sokovia – Earth.

"Bravo Team, are you in position?" the redhead asked from aboard the Raven, which was escorting a pair of Kodiaks toward the last Hydra base Harrison had managed to recover from the Triskelion.

Natasha was still getting used to her new body and was eager to test it against Hydra.

The Ascension process had been a complete success, and every single one of Harrison's Lionesses had become Homo Ascendens without the slightest complication.

Her beloved Lion had told her she could wait if she wished, and yet Natasha still could hardly believe how...

Incredibly powerful she felt.

Natasha now possessed a body that stood just under one meter and ninety centimeters tall. Her figure, her new body, while elegant and feminine, was far stronger and more resilient than before, capable of lifting at least three tons. Her senses were vastly sharper, and according to the words of her beloved Lion, she would live for at least a thousand years.

Maybe more...considering that Harrison's mind was really limitless.

Something that did not trouble her in the slightest, Harrison and the rest of the Lionesses would as well after all, Natasha thought with amusement.

A few seconds later, Scott answered from the convoy of Makkos advancing toward the castle.

"Everything's in order, Lady Romanoff. My men and I are ready. I'll open a path for the Makkos with my optic blasts, but I'm worried about the city. I don't doubt for a second that those animals are capable of harming the civilians in retaliation for our assault," said the leader of the X-Men, clad in his new armor.

Scott, as one of Harrison's closest military leaders, had also undergone an Ascension. Not to the same level as Harrison and his women, but far beyond the fragile body he had once possessed.

The young mutant was now taller, stronger, faster, and deadlier. Standing an impressive seven feet tall and weighing at least one hundred and fifty kilograms of pure muscle, Scott had trained relentlessly, both body and mind, to become one of the most brilliant tactical minds of the newborn Empire.

Today's mission?

An assault on Hydra's last remaining base, together with the capture or elimination of Wolfgang von Strucker, the last surviving leader of Hydra.

At least...

According to Alexander Pierce's memories.

Emma had been...

Exceptionally thorough, after all.

"Optical energy spike detected. Captain Summers has begun the assault. The castle's kinetic barriers are already down to half capacity and still dropping. It appears the new optical visor is functioning at full efficiency," Peter said, excitement evident in his voice.

The Makkos had already begun their advance. Hydra was throwing everything it had in an attempt to stop them, but it was like comparing a slingshot to a battleship. The assault vehicles' kinetic barriers were simply too powerful, and Hydra possessed nothing in its arsenal capable of harming them.

The powerful mass accelerators mounted on the Makkos were tearing Hydra's agents apart, clearing the way for Rogue to work her magic.

Nat activated her omni-tool and spoke.

"Rogue, Cyclops has done his job. The enemy is disorganized. Do your thing so the Kodiaks can land," Natasha ordered as she watched the battlefield feeds.

The X-Men, accompanied by an entire regiment of soldiers, were tearing through Hydra's forces. Conventional firearms, no matter how advanced they were, simply lacked the power necessary to penetrate even the weakest kinetic barrier, so, truthfully...

This was turning into little more than a walk in the park.

"My Lady, the castle has launched a full bombardment against the town of Sokovia, just as we expected," one of the communications officers aboard the Raven reported, prompting Natasha to nod to herself.

"Let our ally handle that. Let's focus on breaking through the shield as quickly as possible," the redhead ordered, just as a brilliant violet glow appeared across the battlefield, making Natasha smile.

"Perfect... it's time to test Rogue's combat capabilities," she murmured to herself as she switched the tactical display to the drones observing the battlefield.

The X-Men coordinated like the elite force they truly were, each of them fulfilling their respective roles with an efficiency that bordered on perfection.

Up until now...

They had not suffered a single casualty.

And Nat genuinely intended to keep it that way.

Suddenly, one of the drones focused on Rogue. Now inhabiting her new, enhanced body, the two-meter-tall powerhouse of pure muscle burst into a full sprint toward the shield.

As beautiful as she was lethal.

Rogue smashed through soldiers, tanks, and defensive positions with alarming ease while a violet radiance began manifesting around her body, charging the biotic energy, as the ancient Protheans had once called it.

Miss Marie's new power had been...a pleasant surprise for everyone.

Rogue, like the vast majority of the X-Men, with the sole exceptions of Logan and Charles, had gladly accepted the Ascension. However, unlike the others, Rogue's body, due to the unique nature of her mutation, had absorbed peculiar characteristics from the Element Zero used during the augmentation process, developing strange new organs that granted her the ability to manipulate mass effect fields.

Without the slightest doubt, it had transformed her into one of the Empire's most powerful mutants, one of the true heavyweights on the planet, capable of splitting mountains apart with ease.

Rogue's body, charged with dark energy, slammed into the shield with a devastating biotic charge, so powerful that the castle's entire defensive barrier, its electrical grid, and half of Hydra's army were rendered completely inoperative.

And with the shield gone...

"Delta Team, Miss Marie has done her job. Move in with the Kodiaks and take that castle!" Natasha ordered, prompting the transports to accelerate as they began bombarding Hydra's final stronghold while the X-Men launched their assault from the ground.

Apparently...

Everything was unfolding exactly according to plan.

"My Lady, reports from the city of Sokovia. Every missile has been intercepted by Latverian mechanical units. They've deployed a temporary kinetic shield until hostilities come to an end," the young officer reported, making Natasha nod gently.

"Perfect. Then we can focus entirely on our mission. Once Von Strucker falls, there will be nothing left standing in our way before Unification Day," the redhead replied as she returned to the command chair, while the young officer answered, excitement impossible to conceal in his voice.

"It's truly incredible, My Lady. I never thought I'd live long enough to witness a Unified Humanity... much less one preparing to walk among the stars."

Natasha smiled at those words, fully aware that the young man's statement was true.

The planet...

United beneath a single government.

Beneath a single banner.

But the redhead also knew this was merely the beginning.

Natasha had been to the Citadel.

She possessed privileged knowledge of what awaited them throughout the galaxy.

Species that had sailed the stars for thousands of years.

Not to mention immense empires such as the Chitauri...Or the Kree.

The threat was enormous.

As was the challenge awaiting them, but those were battles for the future.

For now...

They could enjoy this victory.

Even so...

The real work had only just begun.

Natasha's attention shifted back to her omni-tool as she received a direct call from Scott, who sounded...

Clearly disturbed.

"Lady Romanoff, we've encountered... difficulties down here. You need to see this," the leader of the X-Men said, causing Black Widow to frown before slowly nodding.

"I'm on my way, Scott," the redhead replied, having not the slightest idea what she was about to find below.

Apparently...

Hydra's problems...were not over just yet.

General Talos, Somewhere Beneath Earth – Sol System.

"Are you certain about this?" Soren asked cautiously as they walked through the corridors of what remained of the ancient vessel they had once used to reach Earth.

It was also the place they had chosen to hide the greatest act of selfishness their entire race had ever committed, Talos thought with conflicting emotions before looking at his wife and answering.

"Yes. The new Supreme Leader of Humanity... is not like the others. You saw the battle. The Human Fleet tore a Kree fleet apart with ease. They are numerous, and they are good at war. I believe we should establish contact... before it's too late," Talos confessed with determination.

He had witnessed the interactions between the Terrans and the Asgardians.

Humans were no longer a primitive species.

Their science was advancing by leaps and bounds.

And thanks to Unification...so was their civilization.

"I heard the reports. The Black Lion has completely terraformed Mars, and it has been renamed Veridian. The recruitment of colonists has been overwhelming," his beloved wife said, hope evident in her voice.

A hope that, if he was being honest...

Talos shared as well.

"We'll discuss that later. This is the first time you've convened the Council in quite a while... and we both know we're going to have problems with Gravik," Soren said firmly, prompting Talos to sigh before nodding in agreement.

He knew his beloved wife was right.

But before he could answer...

The doors of the vessel slid open, revealing that the Council was already assembled and, as usual, trying to force the alien A.I. to respond.

Without success.

Much to Talos' complete lack of surprise.

"Unauthorized access. Unknown genetic authorization. Session terminated," the mechanical voice announced before falling completely silent once again.

"DAMN IT!" Gravik roared in unrestrained fury before drawing his weapon and opening fire on the alien device, exactly as he had done countless times before, failing to leave so much as a scratch upon it.

Talos stepped forward and shouted in a firm, commanding voice.

"THAT'S ENOUGH, GRAVIK!"

The outburst made the troublesome Skrull, along with the rest of the Council, turn toward him.

The meeting had officially begun.

"Well, well... so you've finally decided to show up. Where the hell have you been?" Gravik spat with obvious fury as he holstered his weapon and strode toward the center of the chamber, followed closely by the rest of the Council.

However, Talos frowned as he noticed something...

Strange.

Raava was still nowhere to be seen.

Yet just as he was about to ask about his compatriot's whereabouts, Gravik spoke again.

"You called this meeting. So, what's your plan now?" he asked, the reproach and anger in his voice impossible to miss.

Talos frowned before snapping back.

"Watch your damned tone when you speak to me, Gravik. Don't forget your bloody place in this room...or mine."

The firm rebuke and reminder of their respective positions caused the Skrull warrior to bare his teeth in open fury and hatred.

However, before yet another argument could erupt, one of the Council members stepped forward.

"Talos, you summoned all of us, and that isn't something you do often. I assume you have something important in mind," said one of the larger Council members, prompting the leader of the Council to inhale deeply, preparing himself for the discussion.

"I have gathered you here tonight to... seriously discuss revealing ourselves to the Black Lion and the newly formed Human Empire. I believe the Terrans could become outstanding allies, and now that they possess faster-than-light travel, we may be able to reach some sort of agreement," Talos declared, while Soren took his hand at his side, both of them bracing themselves for the inevitable debate.

However...

Fate apparently had other plans.

To Talos' complete surprise...Gravik was the first to speak.

His hand slowly brushed across his jaw as he regarded Talos with genuine interest.

"It's... the first sensible and interesting proposal I've heard come out of your mouth in a very long time," his greatest political rival admitted with unmistakable approval, causing the rest of the Council to nod as conversations immediately broke out among them, excitement evident throughout the chamber.

"I saw the Human Fleet. You have no idea how much I enjoyed watching those filthy Kree ships fall wrapped in flames... or seeing Terran soldiers lifting Kree warriors like sacks of potatoes and tearing them in half. Hah! They're magnificent warriors," Gravik said openly, genuine admiration replacing the hostility that had filled his voice only moments before.

Seeing that he now had everyone's attention...

Talos continued.

"In Raava's latest report, we were informed that the Black Lion possesses extraordinarily advanced terraforming technology. Display the images," the Skrull Leader said, projecting the image of a beautiful garden world, filled with oceans and landscapes that were practically paradise.

"This... is Mars, recently renamed Veridian, the first planet terraformed by the Terrans, a feat they accomplished in only seven days," Talos declared, causing the entire Council, Gravik included, to fall completely silent.

Talos took a step forward and continued.

"I firmly believe we can reach an agreement with Harrison Evans. It is obvious that the Kree will seek retaliation. We possess valuable intelligence and technology that could greatly assist them, and in return, they could use their technology to terraform a world for us...A world only for the Skrull."

"So that our children and all those who come after them will never have to hide again," Talos declared with determination, thinking of his beloved Gi'ah.

Perhaps...

Just perhaps...

He could finally fulfill the promise he had made to her.

And build her a beautiful home without forcing her to live like vermin, forever hiding in the shadows.

The members of the Council exchanged glances among themselves before Gravik stepped forward and spoke.

"Very well... you have our attention and our support. This plan... is the most solid proposal we've heard for finally giving our people a place to call home. How do you intend to contact the Black Lion?" the young warrior asked, making Talos release a sigh of relief while Soren clasped his hand with a radiant smile.

However...

Just as the Leader of the Council was about to answer...

Another voice interrupted him.

It was masculine.

Deep.

And unmistakably human.

A voice famous across the entire planet.

"We can begin with the preliminary talks."

Those words startled the entire Council, who turned in shock and horror as a group of human warriors...the infamous Spartans...Materialized in one corner of the chamber.

They had...

Quite obviously...

Been there since before the meeting had even begun.

Which meant...

They had heard every single word Talos had spoken.

At the center of the group of humans stood the infamous Black Lion. His imposing physique, which made even Gravik appear small, completely dominated the chamber. His hand shone with an emerald light, while behind him...

Raava floated helplessly through the air, still wearing Maria Hill's body.

"Raava!" every Skrull shouted, staring at the humans in terror, expecting the very worst.

However...

They had far less to fear than they imagined.

The Black Lion slowly lowered Raava to the ground, allowing the emerald aura surrounding her to fade away. The Skrull immediately resumed her true form before rushing toward the rest of her people.

Talos did not hesitate.

He stepped forward, fully prepared to stand before his people.

"Lord Harrison," Talos said firmly, years of experience revealing themselves with ease.

"Talos of Skrullos... it would seem we have much to discuss," the Black Lion replied as he took a step forward, his attention settling upon the imposing alien monolith.

And in that precise moment...

Talos saw something in Harrison Evans' eyes...

Something neither he nor his people possessed.

Recognition.

Talos simply nodded.

The negotiations between the Human Empire...

And the Skrull refugees...

Were about to begin.