In the infirmary of the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base, a few Skrulls were standing in the room discussing something. Barack, who was originally disguised as Captain America, spoke seriously:
"The odds are against Gana. After being on Earth for so long, you should know the temperament of the Supreme Magician and Odin. We are just guests here, but Gana wants to take over the house, and they will not allow him to do so..."
Talos, who stood opposite to him, said: "That's why I initially didn't want to join Gana and infiltrate human society. I knew his plan wouldn't succeed."
"If humans could be easily knocked down, they wouldn't have been able to hold this place. Even though Odin rules over the Nine Major Kingdoms, he cannot be in all places at once. There are too many forces keeping a watch on this place."
"Their silence is not only due to their wariness of Odin and the Supreme Magician but also because many extraterrestrial beings like me who have lived peacefully in human society for many years have come to accept this way of life."
"All of us were born on a spaceship. There are no vast blue skies there, no fertile lands filled with the fragrant scent of the earth, nor a stable sun illuminating everything. All we could see from the spaceship windows was the endless dark cosmos and fleeting meteor trails."
"Since the Skrulls have never had a stable homeland, why can't I live on Earth? There are countless aliens who yearn for this beautiful planet but are unable to integrate into this society."
Talos maintained Natasha's appearance and didn't seem to have any intention of transforming back. He said: "Being a human isn't bad. Since we have this shape-shifting disguise ability, I think we deserve this life. Barack, stop reminiscing about the glorious past. The New Skrull Empire is not our home."
Barack closed his eyes painfully and said: "But it's still great, it's still powerful, maybe we could..."
Talos sighed, "Barack, these pointless fantasies have blinded you. You should know better than me, on the Polestar spaceship controlled by Gana, there are devices able to communicate with the Skrull Empire. Even if Gana hid the spaceship in the Shattered Dimension, the empire could find us if they wanted."
"The Skrull Empire has re-emerged as one of the three Great Empires. They could use diplomatic language to ask Asgard to hand over Gana, the culprit who stole the spaceship. Odin wouldn't care about us stowaways."
"But they haven't done so because they no longer need us. Perhaps in the era when we left, the Polestar was a rare main battleship. But now, it has turned into disposable trash, and so are we."
Arengel, a scientist disguised as Stark, had already resumed his original form. He then said: "Talos, I know you separated from Gana because you were extremely disappointed in the military."
"In fact, we didn't want to follow Gana. Initially, my research students were deceived by Gana's instigating words and tricked me onto the Polestar spaceship. So, I had to wander with his fleet. And you were probably held hostage."
"What disappointed you is that the commander at that time knew there were innocent Skrulls like us on the Polestar spaceship, but he still issued the order to destroy the spaceship."
"Indeed, if the spaceship could not be retrieved, they would try to limit the chances of it falling into enemy hands. That's what Gana was banking on when he took a bunch of innocent people hostage."
"But as innocent hostages, we could never accept this outcome. Neither Gana not the commander cared about us."
"I did not choose to leave with you initially, not because I liked Gana, this despicable thief and kidnapper, but because I couldn't stand a normal human life. I'd rather dedicate my life to exploration and science than being a human, living in anonymity getting married and having children."
Talos nodded and said: "Indeed, I understand, Arengel. You are our most ambitious and explorative scientist. It's a pity Gana's selfishness and stupidity ruined your scientific career..."
To his surprise, Arengel laughed and shook his head: "No, my scientific career has not been ruined. I've found new joys now."
"Just yesterday, I pretended to be Stark and rummaged through his database. I found many interesting things. Talos, would you believe it? The way he uses energy is unlike anything I have ever seen."
"At first, I thought he was a headstrong type who only had enthusiasm and liked to charge ahead, just like my research students. But later, I discovered that he indeed deserves the title of 'Humanity's Most Gifted Scientist.' This race has given me so many surprises."
Talos glanced at the glasses on Arengel's face and laughed: "You've become more like a human, just like me."
Arengel did not refute this statement. Instead, he said: "Humans are not weak. Living in their society and choosing to integrate with them is not shameful. Conducting research with them... I've never tried it, but it should be interesting."