Chapter 30: Chapter 30
"Again, the suit data confirmed its accuracy. I opened my helmet, driven not only by the presented evidence but also by my own physiology, which didn't require oxygen. My team barely had time to react before I stood on the lunar surface with my helmet off.
"It's true," I declared firmly. "There's air here."
My companions looked at me as if I were crazy. Their reaction was understandable; who could have guessed that there was a breathable atmosphere on the Moon?
After my words and the subsequent confirmation by the scanners, my teammates also opened their helmets.
"But how is this possible?" Susan whispered, unable to believe her eyes as she surveyed the lunar landscape.
"That's what I'm eager to find out," I replied, and it was the absolute truth.
I was genuinely curious to unravel the mystery of the Blue Area of the Moon. This place, shrouded in numerous secrets in comics and stories, served as the setting for many pivotal events in Marvel lore.
I knew that the Blue Area was not a natural creation. It was made by the Kree, an ancient alien race whose technology and knowledge far surpassed human capabilities. Their goal was to observe humanity and experiment with creating Inhumans, beings that straddled the line between human and something extraterrestrial.
"Let's explore, but don't wander off," I warned my team as I activated the drones. These small mechanical explorers took to the air, beginning their scan of the vast, mysterious landscape of the Blue Area.
Sue immediately began collecting lunar rock samples for further analysis, understanding the uniqueness of this opportunity. Meanwhile, Ben and Johnny diligently worked on capturing photos of this enigmatic place, images that could only be dreamed of.
I vigilantly monitored the execution of our plan, my primary goal being to uncover the location of the Inhumans. Moreover, if the opportunity presented itself, I intended to obtain DNA samples from one of their most powerful members.
The drones, like little messengers from another world, sent updates on their discoveries every few seconds, allowing me to observe their findings with exceptional precision. Within minutes, one report caught my attention — it contained an image of a forest.
"Well, that's unexpected," I couldn't help but comment.
Johnny, Ben, and Sue turned to me instantly, sensing the change in my tone. I quickly shared with them what the drones had seen, and together we witnessed the surprising discovery.
"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Ben asked incredulously.
"If you're talking about the forest, then no, your eyes are fine, big guy," Johnny responded humorously, lightening the mood.
"The surprise seems less shocking when you consider we're in a place where air isn't a rarity," Sue pondered, lost in thoughts about the marvels of this place.
"Do I detect a thirst for adventure in your voices?" I asked, grinning from ear to ear, anticipating the upcoming discoveries.
—= Some Time Later =—
As the drones ventured deeper into the unknown, we were granted the opportunity to explore this area, which, according to their data, was safe for us to traverse.
After several dozen minutes, we reached the edge of the forest, standing in stark contrast to the lunar landscape surrounding us until now. This forest was awe-inspiring in its lushness and exotic nature, so different from anything we'd ever seen on Earth.
"It feels like we've stepped into another world," Johnny remarked in amazement.
Sue devoted herself to studying the vegetation of this unusual forest. When her research began to yield results, she shared her findings:
"These plants aren't entirely alien, in the literal sense. My thorough analysis reveals they share elements with Earth's flora."
"So, you're saying these plants are cosmic pioneers?" Ben interrupted with a smile.
This joke elicited genuine laughter from Sue and me, envisioning the amusing image of astronaut plants.
"In a way," Sue smiled back. "It seems someone transplanted them here millions of years ago, explaining their uniqueness compared to Earth's flora."
At that moment, the drones discovered exactly what we had embarked on this journey for. They found Attilan, the mysterious city of the Inhumans.
"I think I know who might be behind all this," I mused aloud, reviewing the data sent by the drones.
The information confirmed my suspicions. Maximus, the mad brother of Black Bolt, hadn't noticed my drones operating in enhanced stealth mode. I suspected he used a special algorithm to create a defensive barrier, and my assumptions were correct.
"This is simply incredible..." Johnny whispered, barely containing his awe.
"I couldn't agree more," Ben added, echoing the team's amazement.
—= Attilan =—
In the throne room of Attilan, where every stone breathed history and the might of the Inhumans, Black Bolt, Blackagar Boltagon, stood in all his silent majesty. The ruler of silence, his power vibrated in the air like a quiet thunder, filling the space with a heavy anticipation. Kneeling before him was an Inhuman, whose fate was now inextricably tied to the king's will.
Medusa, the embodiment of dignity and unwavering calm, stood beside the throne like a guardian of ancient traditions. Her voice, filled with unshakable confidence and gentleness, addressed the messenger:
"You are here by the king's command to complete the mission your predecessor failed. Retrieve Crystal, who was lost on Earth."
The Inhuman, whose massive figure epitomized steadfastness and strength, spoke firmly without lifting his eyes:
"The order will be fulfilled."
Black Bolt's face showed no hint of emotion, though an untrained eye might think otherwise. But Medusa, knowing him better than anyone, caught the subtle tremor at the corners of his mouth — a sign unnoticed by most but meaningful to those who understood the king as she did.
"We believe in you, Gorgon," she said, her voice carrying not just support but an unshakeable belief in the mission's success.
—= Reed Richards =—
Understanding the logic of the programming language created by the Inhumans was not particularly difficult, and soon enough, I had a vast database on every Inhuman in Attilan at my fingertips.
"Johnny," I called out.
The moment was perfect to set the stage.
"Yes?"
"Crystal is from Europe, right?" I asked.
"Yes... Why? Did something happen?" Johnny responded, puzzled.
"In a way," I said, showing everyone Crystal's dossier.
—\\—
The data I extracted from the Inhuman database revealed a stunning truth: they maintained detailed information about each of their kin within the Solar System. This database, to which I gained access, contained comprehensive data on every inhabitant of Attilan — from basic biographical facts such as height, weight, name, age, and lineage, to an overview of the unique abilities possessed by the Inhumans.
Among the pages of this massive repository of information stood Crystal Amaquelin — the youngest child of the renowned Inhumans Quelin and Ambur, who held her place in the royal lineage of Attilan.
Like her elder sister Medusa, Crystal underwent the transformation through the Terrigen Mist at a young age, which granted her mental abilities far beyond ordinary imagination.
Johnny, visibly astonished, raised his eyebrows so high they almost touched his forehead.
"Well, a city on the Moon is probably a bit farther than Europe," he quipped, his voice tinged with playful humor.
His words elicited a mix of surprise and confusion in our glances directed at him.
"What?" Johnny responded, bewildered by our reaction. "I believe Crystal. She must have had serious reasons to hide the truth from me."
"Your words carry surprising wisdom for you..." Sue remarked gently, her voice a blend of astonishment and amusement.
"Looks like space travel had a strange effect on me," Ben pondered, his brows furrowed in thought. "Can't imagine Johnny speaking so wisely..."
Provoked by such comments, I couldn't stay out of it and began examining Johnny for any anomalies. My actions drew everyone's attention. Johnny stared at me with slight bewilderment, his gaze full of questions.
"I'm just checking, just in case," I explained as I conducted a medical diagnosis. "Strange... everything seems normal."
"You know what, go to hell," Johnny said, his voice filled with clear irritation but also hidden amusement.
After such words, holding back laughter became impossible. All four of us burst into loud laughter, enveloped in the atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual understanding that always accompanied us in the most unpredictable situations.
I then proceeded to a more detailed study of the data on Crystal. In the comics, I was more interested in mutants than Inhumans, so I had only a vague idea of why Crystal was on Earth.
"I think I understand why Crystal didn't tell us the truth," I said as I found an interesting detail in Crystal's dossier. "It's likely due to this point."
The Inhumans had a practice of genetic selection to maintain the desired level of genetic diversity and abilities. One of the programs of such selection revolved around Crystal and Maximus.
"How could she be forced to marry him?!" Johnny exclaimed, his anger so powerful it seemed to materialize in the air, filling the space with a heavy pressure of disappointment and rejection.
Silently, I delved into the search for information about Maximus, the younger brother of Black Bolt. Known for his borderline madness and genius, Maximus was the architect of many of Attilan's defense systems and technological marvels. But in the dossier I discovered, there was something that made me look at Maximus from a completely different angle. The depth of his madness and cruelty was astounding.
When Johnny saw the information about Maximus, his emotions erupted so fiercely that his figure was literally enveloped in flames — a vivid expression of his inner turmoil. Thanks to the isolating barrier surrounding us, we remained unnoticed.
Despite the initial outburst of anger, Sue's younger brother quickly regained his composure, standing before us as the embodiment of determination and willpower.
"I won't let that bastard get near Crystal," Johnny declared with unyielding confidence, a vow forged from the very essence of his soul.
"We won't let that happen," I said firmly.
I was about to add more, but at that critical moment, my artificial intelligence broke through the Inhumans' surveillance camera defenses.
Programmed to respond to certain keywords, the AI relentlessly drew my attention to an urgent notification.
My eyes quickly scanned the information presented, formatted in such a way that I could absorb it as efficiently as possible.
"It seems we'll have to expedite our return," I said slowly, finishing my analysis of the data.
Sue, Johnny, and Ben exchanged looks full of confusion and concern.
"What happened, Reed?" Sue asked worriedly.
"The king of Attilan has sent his hound to retrieve Crystal," I replied, starting to set up the teleportation device to return home.
As soon as the words about the impending threat were spoken, each of us instinctively prepared for the inevitable confrontation.
"I would have preferred to return home on our ship..." my words carried a note of regret and pragmatism, knowing that time was against us. Completing the final adjustments, I realized that every second was precious.
The next moment transported us, my team, directly to the Fantastic Four's building. All the collected samples, our ship — everything was now on Earth, leaving only a few drones on the Moon as our eyes.
Meanwhile, Johnny clung to the last hope of contacting Crystal, but when he couldn't reach her, his frustration found an outlet in throwing his phone.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed, releasing the device into the void.
Using magnetism, I halted the smartphone mid-flight and calmed him down:
"Don't take it out on the phone. It did everything it could."
Johnny's bewildered gaze shifted to me, but in response, I merely displayed a map of New York before him, with a bright red dot glowing on it.
"I found her," I said, providing hope with my discovery.
—= Crystal Amaquelin =—
To Medusa's younger sister, Crystal, the past few days might have seemed so incredible they bordered on fantasy. In the shadows of Attilan's walls, she had always been under the oppressive presence of Mad Maximus, his dark intrigues and unbridled lust for power blanketing her daily life with a heavy veil of anxiety. But here on Earth, she had found something akin to the freedom to breathe, as if for the first time in a long while she could take a deep breath, filling her lungs with the fresh air of hope and change.
And that was not even considering the sudden appearance of Johnny Storm in her life, who had burst into her existence like a comet, illuminating it with the bright colors of unexpected emotions and adventures. His boundless energy, fearless courage, and eternal optimism ignited a spark of joy in her heart, a joy long forgotten in the dark corridors of the royal palace.
Even though Crystal knew it wouldn't last long... she wanted to enjoy this beautiful dream a little longer.
"Princess Crystal," came the voice of someone Crystal had noticed a few dozen minutes ago. After all, iron hooves did not help with stealth.
"You must return with me to Attilan."
The young woman looked at the city that had given her such a beautiful fairy tale... Then she met Gorgon's gaze.
"Alright."
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