Without reacting to Fury's surprise, 'Martian Manhunter' calmly recounted how Reid had comforted and persuaded him. In the end, Reid had even granted permission for 'Martian Manhunter' to assume his appearance, enabling him to move freely in human society.
As he continued, 'Martian Manhunter' revealed the underlying reason for Reid's previous argument with Alfred and the decision to leave Gotham wasn't driven by anger but rather by a desire to ensure that 'Martian Manhunter,' an alien unfamiliar with human ways, wouldn't be corrupted by Gotham's darkness.
As she listened, Carol's impression of Reid, a man she hadn't even met yet, skyrocketed. He was the first human she'd come across who didn't reject the existence of aliens.
Fury and Coulson, too, found themselves increasingly impressed by him.
Reid, a man without superpowers, who stayed low-key yet carried an extraordinary presence, was rising quickly in their estimation.
However, Fury had no intention of inviting Reid to join S.H.I.E.L.D. at this point. With 'Martian Manhunter' present, the likelihood of him becoming an agent was practically nonexistent.
"Then why not have Reid modify the machine again and send you back to Mars, centuries ago?" Fury asked, his voice carrying curiosity.
This time, his question wasn't born from suspicion, but from a desire to understand the truth. He needed to determine whether this miraculous event was a one-time occurrence or a power that could be controlled. If humanity could harness time travel technology, the potential impact on the world would be immeasurable.
"At first, I did want to return to Mars, to die alongside my people, my family. Reid even tried to modify the time machine for that purpose. But just as you're probably thinking, my arrival here was nothing more than a miracle, one that can't be replicated. Now, I've come to terms with it. Since this miracle saved my life, I'll cherish this hard-won second chance."
As he spoke, 'Martian Manhunter' wore a calm, resolute expression, and Carol smiled and nodded in understanding.
He had been separated from his homeworld by time itself, while she had lost her past to amnesia. Their situations mirrored each other in a way, and Carol empathized with the despair that once made him long for death.
If the Kree Empire hadn't comforted and guided her after she lost her memory, she might not have handled it as well as 'Martian Manhunter' had.
Turning to Carol, 'Martian Manhunter' spoke again, this time with a softer tone.
"You lost your memories. That's not irreversible. Those fragments aren't gone; they've just been buried deep in your subconscious. If you want, I can help you retrieve them."
Carol's heart skipped a beat. She had once been determined to uncover the truth about her past, but now, hearing his offer, she hesitated.
It was so simple. She only needed to nod, and with 'Martian Manhunter's' telepathic abilities, her memories would flood back.
But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to agree.
'Martian Manhunter' already knew why; he'd sensed it with his telepathy.
Carol was afraid.
Since waking without her memories, she'd embraced her identity as a Kree. Even if her skin looked different, her blood was still blue. That truth was undeniable.
She feared the truth might shatter her sense of belonging to the Kree Empire.
It was why, the moment she arrived on Earth, she had contacted Yon-Rogg, sharing her location. Deep down, she still clung to a sliver of hope for the Kree Empire and instinctively sought to justify their lies.
"...No. I can't decide right now. We're still working together, so if I feel ready, I'll ask you for help."
Carol ultimately refused his offer. She decided to give the Kree Empire one last chance.
"I understand, but we won't be working together," 'Martian Manhunter' said and shook his head, rejecting the idea of traveling with them.
"What? Why not? Do you have something else to take care of?"
Carol asked, confused. She thought the tension between them had eased. There shouldn't be any reason for him to refuse now.
"It's not what you think," he said. "There can't be two Reids in different places at the same time. You're heading to the Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S base next, right? I'll be there, by Reid's side, waiting for you."
Carol considered this, then nodded. She understood. There was no need to argue.
As she watched 'Martian Manhunter' slowly fade from sight, she playfully nudged Nick Fury, breaking the silence.
"Well, with J'onn around, your identity is confirmed. You've managed to bring people straight to someone as classified as me; your clearance must be pretty high, huh?"
Fury, still deep in thought about 'Martian Manhunter's' talk of miracles, was startled by Carol's comment. But after a moment, he realized that there was no escaping this situation now.
'Damn it. Entering Project Pegasus base without prior approval is a major issue,' he thought, cursing the chain of events that had led to this point.
Fortunately, he had Coulson with him.
"Coulson, draft me a report on why investigating Project Pegasus is a top priority. And make one for yourself too."
Ignoring Coulson's silent groaning from the side, Fury went toward his car and drove straight to the base with his team.
Once they arrived, Fury showed his S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials to the guards stationed at the checkpoint. After a brief exchange, they were granted access, though it was clear the security team wasn't thrilled about their presence.
At least not until LexCorp turned their losses into investments. They weren't interested in letting these agents conduct an investigation just yet. For now, the guards ensured Fury's team didn't wander around. After a quick, half-hearted look at the airfield, they were escorted straight to a waiting room.
...
Meanwhile, Reid, now fully briefed on the situation, had already reunited with his other self. With the information relayed by 'Martian Manhunter,' he was ready to act.
Now, it was time for him to step in.
"Possess me."
Before the security guard outside could knock on the door, 'Martian Manhunter' used his possession ability to inhabit Reid's body.
With a swift motion, Reid opened the door himself. As the security guard looked on, startled, he spoke.
"Hello there. I heard some noise outside. Is something going on?"
The security guard, who had been hesitant about whether to inform Reid of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s arrival, immediately relaxed upon seeing him. Not wasting any more time, the guard shared the news.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived, sir. They're investigating Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S."
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