Volume 6: Secret Invasion Chapter 8 Your pretenders are dying every moment, but my woodcutting is endless
"You look pale. Little guy who is said to be from another world, how about a glass of 'Galaxy Brew'? This is my own family craft, it tastes very good, and the people of Wakanda like it."
In the lounge of Black Panther's palace, Mason looked speechlessly at the big purple potato spirit in front of him who had a friendly face and was urging him to drink.
He feels a lot of pressure.
Hello!
Is this a friendly expression that should appear on Thanos' face?
Rather than bartending at your son-in-law's Royal Bar, shouldn't you have slaughtered half the population to demonstrate your supreme authority as a mad Titan and "Director of the Universal Family Planning Commission"?
And were you serious about only squeezing half a lemon into my drink?
Get a whole one!
You cheapskate bartender, I really need something sour to relieve the stress right now!
Mason had so many complaints in his heart that he couldn't express them, which made him very uncomfortable. So he took the cosmic brew handed to him by Thanos with a strange look in his eyes, tilted his head back and drank one third of it.
Harry and Zhang Parker, who were beside him, didn't have so many troubles.
Both guys believe in living life to the fullest, and they've already been having a few drinks with the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Including the "Queen-to-be" Ms. Nebula, who is wearing a Wakanda dress and wavy hair, including the former Kree Empire Hunter Commander, Hunter Korath, who defected because he admired Star-Lord's reputation, and also a duck who walks upright, wears a suit and a hat, and looks melancholy and is chatting with Harley's two dogs...
That's right, the famous Howard the Duck is also a member of this parallel world version of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
But it is hard to say whether Mr. Duck is "playing" the role of Grodd or Rocket Raccoon here, it always feels like they are somewhat related.
Agent Natasha and her group were at the edge of the very lively Royal Bar. Although they did not participate in the lively cocktail party, they were very tired and really needed to relieve some stress.
Captain Carter and Agent Hill were currently discussing important matters with the King, nicknamed "Galactic Black Panther" and formerly known as "Star-Lord". Since the Sky Sword couldn't wait long, Mason felt that the talks would soon produce results.
"Mr. K, can we adopt that duck?"
Harley, who was having a great time, came over and said to Mason with drunken eyes:
"Mr. Howard is so funny. He would tell me jokes about the duck world . They also have a clown duck over there, and it sounds similar to me..."
Her hand moved down along Mason's waist, but was stopped by Mason before reaching the end.
Mr. K looked again at the Titan bartender Thanos who was wiping the wine glass in front of him but winking at him. He felt the temperature of his brain rise again.
"What a damn world! It's like all the impossible things are put together. I don't know what I will encounter in the future."
Mason drank the Thanos Hand-Picked Universe Special Brew in his hand in one gulp. This stuff was quite strong. Mason burped, stretched his neck, stood up, and pulled Harley out of the bar.
Ms. Robin said in surprise:
"Don't you need to think about improving the Superman drug?"
"I just solved that problem fifteen minutes ago, darling. It seems that the speed of your brain's thinking when you have the Speed Force is good for solving complex problems."
Mason looked back at her and said:
"So before we move on to the next difficult task, shouldn't we reward ourselves? We need a room to be alone..."
"unnecessary!"
Harley cheered.
Reeking of alcohol, she hugged Mason and rushed into the bathroom next door, then locked the door with a click. A burst of whistles was heard in the bar. It was obvious that these unserious guys already knew what was going to happen next.
Half an hour later, Captain Carter returned to the bar with King Star-Lord.
Although he has returned to his hometown for several years, T'Challa, who made a name for himself in the southern galaxy with his kingly demeanor and intelligence when he was young, still maintains the style of a "cosmic prodigal son". He prefers this relaxed environment when getting along with his own people.
When they saw the King coming, the group of people who were having fun quieted down, for they knew that Black Panther must be about to announce something.
"Shua"
The black panther helmet on T'Challa's face was retracted into the panther tooth necklace around his neck, revealing a face that was both majestic and free and easy. He took the wine glass handed to him by his mechanical lover Nebula and said to everyone who was looking at him:
"We'll be leaving in ten minutes to go to Mars orbit to assist the Sky Sword space station. That old bastard Nick Fury is waiting for us to rescue him.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are back to their roots."
"cool!"
The drunken Kree hunter yelled:
"I'm going to start up the Galaxy Miranda right now, it'll only take us thirty minutes to get there!"
"Take my armory."
Star-Lord Black Panther reminded:
"We're going to kill everyone this time! Just like before, we're going to kill those annoying guys!"
This sentence made the atmosphere in the Royal Bar hot again.
But of course it is impossible for the king to go to war with only his own "personal guard". Wakanda's ancestral Dora Miji Guard is also ready to go.
This group of bald sisters who have been trained since childhood and call themselves "Black Panther Claws" and "Wakanda Valkyries" are not afraid of the shape-shifting alien bastards. After drinking the battle wine, they entered the armory to choose vibranium armor and panther claw spears for themselves to use in battle.
Of course, not everyone agrees with the rescue effort.
Ms. Okoye, the loyal guard general to His Majesty the Black Panther, raised objections. After the king finished drinking, this powerful female warrior whispered to him:
“Your Majesty, I admit that the current situation is dangerous, especially since our court is suspected to have been infiltrated by the Skrulls. It is necessary to assist S.W.O.R.D.
But you must stay in the country and take charge of the overall situation. Once our rear is unstable, there will be no need to fight this war."
"Isn't the Queen Mother here?"
Black Panther waved his hand, and then put his arm around the waist of his girlfriend Xingyun, who looked very heroic in her combat uniform, and said to his general:
"Besides, Eric will stay here to guard the palace for me. I am His Majesty the Black Panther, and he is the Prince of Leopard. If the two brothers work together, Wakanda will be as strong as a rock."
"It's him I'm worried about..."
The female general sighed and said:
"Prince Eric obeys you because he is moved by your charisma, but his family background is always a hidden danger. Your Majesty, Princess Shu Rui is a more suitable choice than him.
But I know I can't persuade you, so this time Ayu will lead the Doramiji Guards and you to go to war, and I will lead the rest of the troops to stay in my hometown."
"You always allow me to be free from all worries, my general."
Black Panther laughed and poured a glass of wine for his general himself, and said jokingly:
"If you had not been married and had children when I returned to my hometown, I would have tried my best to pursue you."
"You say that to every woman you meet, my Lord."
The loyal general rolled his eyes and spit:
“If it weren’t for Ms. Nebula’s close watch, you would have probably had a lover the last time the mutant representative, Ms. Storm, came to visit.
The way you look at Lady Ororo is like you want to eat her..."
"Shh!"
T'Challa winked at his general who was talking nonsense, but Nebula had already heard his words.
The outspoken and fiery alien girl stepped on her philandering boyfriend's foot, and then left the bar with her burly adoptive father.
“It’s all your fault, Okoye.”
This scene made Star-Lord Black Panther sigh and say:
"As a general, shouldn't you keep these secrets from your king? Besides, I just invited Lady Ororo to have afternoon tea."
"By the way, she kissed me and took off my shirt. If Ayu hadn't discovered it early, your harem would have been on fire."
The general stabbed her again, and she sighed and said:
"Your Majesty, Wakanda is a monogamous country. As the king, you must abide by the law."
"I love my hometown. I am willing to give everything for it, really."
Star-Lord Black Panther lowered his head and watched his general leave. He said in a low voice with some displeasure:
"But perhaps, this place is really not suitable for a prodigal like me."
"I just heard someone say that he wanted to send his younger brother to stay behind as regent?"
Mason's voice sounded at this moment.
He supported Harley, whose face was flushed with rosy pink, and pulled out a chair to sit at the bar. Since the bartender Thanos had already left, he could only pour a glass of drink for himself and the little cutie.
He raised his glass to Star-Lord T'Challa who was leaning next to him and said:
"Listen to your general, Your Majesty. That's not a good idea. The threat of the Skrulls comes from their innate ability to camouflage, but the threat of humans comes from their unpredictable hearts.
In my opinion, the latter is obviously more terrifying.”
“Eric is an excellent man.”
Black Panther raised his glass and clinked it with the stranger. He explained:
"During the years when I was abducted by the damned Yondu to the Southern Galaxy, Eric had been trained as the crown prince of the kingdom. You know, if I hadn't suddenly returned from the stars, the throne would have belonged to him.
Are you Mason?
Carter said that you came from outside the world, and it was you who uncovered the Skrulls' disguise of peace for us, and it was you who helped us make a plan for counterattack.
But I am curious, are all outsiders as friendly and selfless as you are?"
"I'm eager to get something in return, but now is not the time to reap it."
Mason shrugged and said:
"As for friendliness? No, my colleagues have many, many advantages, such as being greedy and cold-blooded enough, but you can't describe them as friendly.
Kindness has never been a virtue of the Star Society, and as for me... I just grew up crooked."
"Oh, I see."
Star-Lord Black Panther is obviously a very smart man. He understood Mason's hidden meaning, but time was tight and did not leave the two with much opportunity to chat.
As the Doramiji Guard prepared, an elegant spaceship, clearly armed with vibranium technology, soared into the sky from the Wakanda palace.
This is a real spacecraft used for space travel.
According to Guardians of the Galaxy's mechanic Korath, it could reach Skyward in thirty minutes.
And Mason didn't want to waste these thirty minutes.
He activated a special signal in a special communication cabin. This was a secret communication that had never been actively contacted before. After waiting patiently for more than ten seconds, the communication was connected.
On the optical projection in front of Mason appeared a guy with a face as pale as a vampire, a diamond-shaped bloodstone on his forehead, and a gloomy temperament, who did not look like a good person at first glance.
"Mr. Sinister, has Utopia achieved any results in its genetic research on the Skrulls?"
Mason sat on the chair and asked directly:
" My biological bait bombs are no longer effective against them. They have upgraded their transformation abilities to plug the loopholes. I don't have many options at the moment, so I can only turn to you, the best biologist among mutants, for help."
"The best? No, you can't call a researcher that. There are many biologists in Utopia. I am just one of my compatriots who is more skilled in this field."
The sinister Mr. Sinister corrected:
"This is a violation of the advertising laws of many parallel worlds, and it may get you into trouble... But, there are some results."
As a super villain, he did not hesitate to transmit his results to Mason via communication. He said:
"The Skrulls' camouflage ability reminded me of an outstanding compatriot. After obtaining Mystique's consent, I merged her X gene fragment with the Skrulls' genes.
The results are encouraging.
After tens of thousands of years of evolution, the genes of those aliens have become extremely flexible, and when combined with flesh and blood cells that can be changed at will, they can create endless possibilities.
But all this still requires manipulation of will to complete the process.
After adding Mystique's gene fragments, their already outstanding transformation ability was "upgraded" again. The genetic change made it possible for them to transform themselves without even having to be manipulated by will.
instinct!
Mason, my outstanding compatriot, you must learn to make use of the instinct of all living things to desire evolution, regardless of whether that evolution brings benefits or harms..."
Mister Sinister let out a low laugh.
He stroked an ordinary mug at hand, and put a pen on the mug under Mason's gaze. The next moment, the "mug" screamed and twisted its body to become an identical signing pen.
This process made Mason's eyes light up.
He has understood Mr. Sinister's thoughts and operations. He said:
"The genetic impact used for interference would be seen as a threat by the Skrulls' instincts and rejected. I guess this is how they achieve self-upgrade.
But if it is a beneficial enhancement, the Skrulls' immune system will not be activated...
If their deformation and camouflage abilities are upgraded from 'active skills' to 'passive skills', then their overly sensitive camouflage abilities will still make them invisible.
Functional loss of control due to inability to master mutation power...
You are a true genius."
"No, I'm just a little more perceptive than my compatriots."
Mr. Sinister declined the compliment.
Seeing that Mason had understood his idea, he talked about another matter. He took out a small bottle that was undergoing a reaction, shook the gurgling liquid in it, and said to Mason:
"The Skrulls' genes are being analyzed, and it will take a few days to produce a complete map. The process is not difficult, but it is only the first stage compared to the terrible results you want to achieve.
Mason, I understand your idea of developing a 'civilization-destroying' weapon against the Skrulls. I think this idea is very bold and courageous.
I just doubt your ability."
He narrowed his bloodshot eyes and said to Mason:
"Can you really do this on your own? Your communication coordinates are from an unknown world. I guess you've encountered the 'Skrull problem'. Do you really not need help from your hometown and compatriots?
We are a family..."
"You always send chills down my spine when you pretend to be a kind elder. We all know that's not your personality."
Mason answered calmly:
"I will need help from Utopia, but not now. I can still handle this matter for now. As for developing the 'Skrull Plague', I don't think it will be difficult for me.
After all, in certain world backgrounds, the profession of alchemist is always associated with plague and horror.
I have no intention of reversing this stereotype.
Please tell the Supreme Professor and the Council of X who are feeling the pressure because of the Skrulls' malicious provocation and declaration of war that as an honorary X-Knight of Utopia, I will help my compatriots solve this problem.
Since the X royal family believes in blood for blood, I will carry out the punishment of tooth for tooth!"
Mr. Sinister nodded.
He replied with a serious and meaningful expression:
"You took the initiative to apply to become an 'executioner' and take responsibility for your hometown. This is admirable. Therefore, one day in the future, when someone provokes you, we will also regard it as a declaration of war against all mutants.
The assistance you receive depends on the value you demonstrate...
Mason Cooper.
We have had our eyes open and sat in the front row, now let your family see the 'miracle' you have created."
