" Motherhood: All love begins and ends there. "

- Robert Browning -

Jared helped the three to load their belongings into the jet. Karena brought a first aid kit which she carefully placed into the compartment.

" Yes, it's Methuselah Belladonna, the half-Kree, half-Faunus, seer, " the half-Lizard rebel continued.

" Methie? " Carol muttered and thought. " He's in disguise again..."

" Wait...a seer? So, he is able to see into the future? " Allen curiously asked and got interested. " How come he has powers like that? "

" Yeah, some of his predictions came true, but some people doubt of his visions. They call him lunatic, because of his ability, but he is hiding his true self to avoid death threats. "

" I knew it, he's here! " the elderly woman thought.

" Did you have any trouble getting here, Jared? "

" The Kree-Lizard tensions are still on the rise in America and Europe, but I think we can go undercover if they find us."

" Monsieur Coulson, but where exactly in Paris are we going? " Karena asked and took her seat.

" The abandoned Moulin Rouge, " the half-Lizard replied. " Don't worry, you're not seeing girls dancing the can-can. You'll see rebel groups hiding. We have an elderly Captain Marvel with us to censor such undesirable scenario. "

" Very, funny Jared. " Carol sarcastically grinned and crossed her both arms while sitting.

" Well I guess I will have to lose my gear then and change into different clothes, " Allen shrugged. " Do I have to leave my weapon behind too? "

" That will do. " Jared nodded as the team sat on the passenger seats. " Now, please buckle-up your seats. We're going. "

The dark haired mercenary nodded as he boarded the ship while taking his gas mask off as well his vest. He put the rest of his gear into a compartment while wearing a black jacket. Karena sat beside him and buckled up. Jared went to the cockpit and began to set-up for flying. Elder Carol Danvers was sitting in front of the couple.

The Quinjet ascended into the skies over Rouen where it reached the blue blanket with a bunch of white fluffy cumulus clouds. The sun's rays touched the air fleet's exterior as it gleamed. The distant view of the City of Lights was seen from the window.

" Well, that should do it, " Allen sighed in relief. " We're all safe on board. "

Karena got interested in seeing her boyfriend's looks as she blushed. Allen noticed her and smiled back as his face turned red.

" You look very handsome, Allen. " Karena praised.

" Not bad in your outfit, " Carol added.

" Thank you, Karena and Carol, " he chuckled. " It's my first time going undercover more. Honestly, I'm used to wearing gear, but this is a good change"

" Well, we're glad to see you that, " the elderly half-Kree woman took a brown tunic and a long sash. She instantly donned herself while sitting.

" Madame Danvers, you dress like a Muslim woman, " the French lady mercenary noticed.

" I'm used to it, " she replied.

" So, your friend might recognize you. "

" I guess he reads minds. "

Allen smirked while looking at the elderly woman and asked, " Just how long have you been in hiding, Carol? "

" Fifty years, " she replied. " Ever since, these bad guys appeared. "

" And the rest of the heroes went into hiding, too? "

" Some of them died. Some of them went into hiding. "

" Well if I see one of those bad guys, I will be sure to put a bullet in one of them for those fallen heroes. "

" I will do the same thing if only I were the same age as you, " Carol answered. " But I have a Kree-Lizard child to deal with it. "

Jared Coulson and Karena Lesproux remained silent as they heard something from the old wise Kree-Hybrid woman. Carol got blurted out which Allen had understood her since last night.

" You mean?! " Karena widened her eyes in shock.

" Elder Danvers, what did you just say? " Jared added while driving the fleet.

" Crud, I slipped! This is so awkward! " Carol bit her lips into shame and thought. " Car-Ell, you're not supposed to say this! It's damn classified! Stupid me! Why did I slip my tongue?! "

" Not good at keeping secrets, Old Lady?! " Allen smirked. " I guess you should tell them as they already wondering. "

Everyone laughed and exchanged glances as the old lady heavily sighed and facepalmed. Jared intently smiled and seemed to be very curious as he wanted to find out more.

" Fine..." she answered. " I fought a 682 last night. I got mistaken as him, but he's something else. "

" I knew it! " Jared beamed. " He's my best friend! I was slave 789 when he rescued me from a tragic explosion. Well, if he's in that mansion, I might visit him one of these days. "

" Monsieur, when did it happen? " Karena asked.

" That was 4 years ago. We wandered together, but we parted ways which I joined Jake Fury's faction. "

" You and that kid became close. Am I right? " Carol asked.

" Yeah, but he's a very sad guy. "

" Which is why we must help him with to get a different life, " Allen added. " He surely has a hard time dealing with himself. Am I right? "

" Well, I wish he could find a way to get himself free, " Jared replied. " I got disturbed in hearing his nightmares about that monster or anything from his past. He cried a lot when he woke up. "

" I see..." Carol said. " He's having a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "

" Yeah, I think so. He just wanted to forget everything as he told me. "

" So, I guess if the monster can't be killed. Can it be trapped? "

" Actually, the MTF people are hunting for him, " Jared explained. " But if we find the real one, I guess we'll hand him to them. "

" What if they get my kid? " Carol anxiously asked. " He couldn't do anything on his own. What if he gets into more trouble? I don't know if how he could make it. "

" You need some further explanation, Madame Danvers. But I know my friend is not that monster you guys have thought of. He's an informant for the rebel forces like us, so they'll deal with us, first. Only you can help him, if he gets into trouble. You're now his mother-figure. You need to be more responsible for dealing with him. "

Carol listened to the half-Lizard rebel as she remained silent and thinking. Allen noticed her as he seemed she was the right person whom the lizard could trust. Karena understood what their new friend meant.

" Well, you have my support and my friend as well, " he held Karena's hand smiling at her.

" Oui, Madame, " Karena nodded. " You can do it. "

" Thanks, guys. "

" Hey, as a hero, you've proven yourself higher, further, and faster all over the years, " Jared added and smiled. " Now, it's time for you to face motherhood, but more loving, more compassionate, and more patient. I know you can do this. "

" And perhaps give up on the hard booze too, Carol. "

" That depends..." Carol slightly laughed.

" Madame, Messieurs, we're here! " Karena beamed as she saw the Eiffel Tower from the window. " It's so good to be home! "

" Yep, we're preparing our landing in 10 minutes. " Jared reminded.

" Pretty cool sight that tower never gets old seeing it. " he looked at the scenery and the famous Seine River in the other side.

" Well, it's still there, except that bad guys took over just like Nazis in World War II period. "

" You still remember that Jared? " Carol asked and smiled.

" Yeah, World History is my favorite subject. Apparently, it's repeating the same problem, except for extraterrestrial enemies. They're worse than Hitler and the Axis powers. "

" I wish that this madness is over. "

" Well perhaps when Paris is free, I wonder me and Karena could perhaps date here, " Allen held his girlfriend's hands and noticed her sadness. The brunette woman kept looking at the window.

" Oui, " Karena said. " I miss my home. It's been years that I left here. "

" Once we have the right forces, we should fight back for our world. We just need the heroes gathered. "

" Well, that's what we're hoping for. "

Jared was listening as he sadly sighed. The century old buildings were still standing on the ground. The half-Lizard man pondered at the cockpit's window if there were other surviving Parisians or another group of escapees. Allen turned to their pilot guide and then to Carol as his mind creating some questions. The elderly blonde woman waited for him to speak.

" So once this project happens, can it turn the tide? "

" We need to find out the plans to overthrow Kasius and his allies, " Carol answered. " We could get the right information to stop him and his acts. "

" That is? "

" Mr. Blue Cat only knows. "

" Do they allow humans to walk freely here? " Allen turned to the half-Lizard.

" Well, we're going to find some traps which our enemies had put. " Jared replied. " Most importantly, the assassins could be lurking around. "

" Good, I brought my pistol in case. I always bring an extra. "

" Go on. It could always keep on handy. "

" These rounds are a special poison for those Kree or Lizards, if we run into any hostile ones. "

" Well, watch-out for them, if there is any.. " Carol warned. " They could be lurking around. "

" Jared, any of the Starks alive? " he looked at the half lizard while back to Carol.

" Elder Tony Stark still exists, but his grandchildren or children got killed or enslaved. " Jared replied.

" Well perhaps, if we one day can save him. I could use one of his armors. Sadly, this is too bad for his grandchildren. "

" Hmmm, I hope so. " the half-Lizard rebel nodded and set the Quinjet's landing. The fleet landed on a street near Moulin Rouge. " Bienvenue a Paris, monsieur et medames. "

The team had left the Quinjet as they stepped on the lonely Rue Lepic. The century-old trees greeted them by their waving branches blown by the wind. The Basilica of Sacré Cœur was seen on the hill. There were no signs of any people walking around the district. Karena teared her eyes in seeing this place. For her, it was once a beautiful and glorious home she had.

Carol turned around as she saw some dismantled buildings and scattered debris of rocks, metal, wood, and cement on the other side of the street. Jared and Allen lead the way as their two female companions followed.

" It's hard to imagine this place is now abandoned. It must have been always active, " Allen as the place looked trashed.

" Oui, " Karena sadly sighed and recalled. " I grew up here with my grandparents. They told me that this place was filled with art, music, and food. Now, it became just a distant memory. "

" Well, it's too bad to see what was lost here, " Jared added.

Carol got curious of what had transpired in this place when she kept looking around the abandoned buildings and homes. Jared turned to her and stopped walking.

" Elder Danvers? " he called her.

" Jared, can you tell us what happened here? " she asked. Allen and Karena stood on the corner as they were eager to listen.

" I just heard this story from Elder Maria Hill. The French rebel forces had their onslaughts against the Kree and the Lizards, " he explained. " The victims were escaping along with our allied forces. The enemy side made a tragic act which it caused too much bloodshed on the streets. None of the troops survived. The enemies brought their bodies and fed them to the Vrellnaxians. It all happened a decade ago. We called it the Moulin Rouge Mutiny. Some named it the Dead Red Street Day or Jour de rue morte rouge. "

Carol read the half-Lizard's mind which she saw an imagery of the people lost their lives. Her eyes watered as she knelt down. The three noticed the elderly woman mourned for those who were lost as she took a flower from the bush and placed it on the sidewalk. She ignited her hands and formed a ball of white light. She had let it go onto the sky.

The white ball of light and the flower were dedicated to the fallen people of this street. They had their long moment of silence which they bowed and closed their eyes. The light had set its course above the sky reaching the clouds and faded away when Jared looked up.

" Thank you, Carol. These monsters have no sense of compassion, " Allen said and looked at the street seeing bits of dry blood on the pavement.

" I'm too old to be angry and seeing all the pain, " she replied. " You guys need to keep on fighting for your freedom. "

" You can still fight Carol. You are not out of the ring yet, but I know how you feel you have been hiding for too long but Im fighting for a new purpose now for Karena's home land to be free".

" I hope so. I'll see what I can do. "

" Madame, you are our inspiration and a fighting mother to everyone, " Karena added. " You're a champion to all of us. You may be too old, but you can help us. "

" Well, she's right, " Jared spoke. " If you could only help us defend and bring us together. "

" I believe she will, so she has my support. "

The team entered into the abandoned red mill house as they saw some scattered furniture and broken pieces of glass. A bearded blue man with cat-ears and dark hair was sleeping on a carton. There was an empty bottle of wine placed beside him. Karena wanted to wake up the man as she turned to her companions.

" Should I wake him up? " she asked by whispering.

" I will be right behind you. So go ahead, " he looked at her giving her a nod. Carol and Jared both waited for her to do it. Karena followed as she shook the Kree-Faunus's shoulders. He was moaning loudly.

" Not now, Amnon! I'm too sleepy! Go there and prepare something to eat! You're such an early bird, my boy! " he said.

" Monsieur? "

" I said, not now! "

Karena slapped the man's face as he quickly opened his eyes. The grumpy Kree-Faunus man sat up and saw his four visitors. She got startled and stepped back.

" Can't you see?! I'm having a dream! You nosy people are disturbing me! I don't want to hurt all of you, but you're forcing me to do it! Now, I shall count from one to ten in French to get off my lair! Une...Deux...Trois....Quat... Cinq...."

" Hey! Hey! " Carol raised her voice. " Calm down! We're here to help. "

" Help? " he turned to Allen and the others and raised his eyebrows. " Are you sure you want my help? Because all of them never believed me at all! They call me a lunatic! A madman! A crazy blue cat! You should find someone instead, not me! You disgusting and meddling humans are here to make trouble! Now, why are you here? What do you want from me? "