"What are you shouting for? It's not like the entire universe speaks English!"
Carol shot Daniel a look of disdain.
"What about Talos and Ronan...?"
"They're wearing universal translators. What you hear and what they hear aren't even the same language. Just forget it, and don't say anything later, I'll do the talking."
Carol gave her instructions, thinking this was the perfect opportunity.
Once the fighting started, Daniel could charge into battle while she stood behind him delivering all the cool speeches, letting him do all the dirty work while she stole the spotlight.
It was a perfect plan.
After all, Daniel wouldn't understand a word they were saying anyway. When the time came for the usual dramatic threats and speeches, she would simply cross her arms, look down at her opponent, and say.
"You're not even worthy of facing me. Defeat my subordinate first, and then we'll talk."
Just imagining the scene made Carol smile.
"No thanks," Daniel rejected her immediately.
"I can handle it myself."
From the sound of it, Carol was planning to use him as her personal bodyguard.
As if.
Daniel knew her too well. If he let her handle the conversation, there was a good chance she would say something ridiculous and introduce him as nothing more than her guard.
There was no way he was allowing that to happen. After all, how could he possibly miss a chance to show off?
It's finally time to put this genius brain of mine to work, he thought proudly. Did she really think my super brain was just for decoration?
"Ahem."
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Ms. Carol Danvers, do you know what academic qualifications the incredibly talented man flying beside you possesses?"
Carol remained silent.
"Allow me to enlighten you."
"The amazing gentleman beside you earned dual doctorates in Physics and Engineering from MIT in less than three years."
"And you? You're just a high school graduate."
"What qualifications do you have to speak on my behalf? Because I'm a universally acknowledged genius!"
"Now... I'll show you what a real genius looks like."
As he spoke, Daniel activated his super vision and super hearing, instantly listening to the conversations of tens of thousands of Kree.
By observing their expressions, body language, speech patterns, and reactions to spoken words, he learned most of the Kree language in just two minutes.
"People of Kree… greetings."
This time, Daniel spoke in fluent Kree, and Carol just stared at him in surprise.
"What are you looking at? From now on, call me Dr. Daniel, and show some respect for true intellectuals."
"My doctoral dissertation actually contributed to Earth's scientific advancement."
"Want me to show you my doctorate certificate?"
Daniel took full advantage of the moment, his voice overflowing with smug pride as he showed off without a hint of restraint.
"Heh."
Carol didn't believe him for a second, that brat definitely cheated.
"Let's go. There's no point wasting any more time here."
"We'll destroy the Supreme Intelligence and then head to another planet. This place is boring."
Daniel sighed.
The Kree Empire was an entirely militarized civilization where everything revolved around preparing for war, leaving practically no entertainment.
Aside from technology that surpassed Earth's, their food, leisure, and recreation lagged far behind, and there wasn't the slightest bit of fun here.
Daniel had reluctantly left Susan behind on Earth because he wanted to enjoy this trip through the universe.
But who would want to spend their vacation wandering around a cold forest of steel? It was boring
He wanted to experience alien entertainment and wondered how different it was from Earth's. Although he'd never visited any entertainment districts back on Earth, he had secretly watched them with his super vision.
And even he had to admit, the girls there were incredibly enthusiastic.
Now that he was out in space, Susan was tens of thousands of light-years away and couldn't possibly keep an eye on him. Surely taking a look at a few alien girls wouldn't hurt, right?
Once you left Earth, shouldn't you do your part to bring glory to humanity?
Daniel's thoughts drifted farther and farther away.
...
"Are we really going to do this?"
Now that they had actually arrived on Hala, Carol hesitated.
"The Supreme Intelligence is the Kree's faith. It's their spiritual pillar; it's practically their god."
"If we destroy it... we'll become mortal enemies of the entire Kree race."
Carol said quietly.
"So?" Daniel looked at her. "Are you really hesitating now? I don't care what it is or who's behind it. It hurt you, and that alone is enough."
"You're my sister, and I've already made myself clear, anyone who dares harm my family will pay the price. I don't care if they're human, a god, or something beyond that."
"And I always keep my promises."
Daniel's expression became completely serious.
Everyone had a line they would never allow others to cross, and Daniel was no different. For him, that was his family and the people he cared about.
Others could insult him as much as they wanted and if he was in a good mood, he might not even bother reacting even if someone took a swing at him.
But the moment someone laid a hand on the people he loved, that was a different matter entirely. No one was allowed to hurt them, not even a single hair on their heads.
"...Alright."
Carol finally accepted his decision.
Daniel nodded in satisfaction. Thankfully, Carol wasn't so soft-hearted that she'd start sympathizing with the Kree, otherwise, she'd give him an enormous headache.
The Kree had been planning to destroy Earth, and if Carol still pitied them after that, Daniel honestly wouldn't know what to say. Maybe he'd conclude she'd suffered brain damage.
It might be a little over the top, but if Carol really started sympathizing with the Kree, Daniel wouldn't care how upset she became.
He'd knock her unconscious with one punch, drag her back to Earth, and personally make sure she got her priorities straight again.
Because that wasn't kindness anymore, it was simply misguided thinking. There was nothing wrong with wanting to do the right thing, but blindly showing mercy to everyone was another matter.
You're a human, not a Kree. Why should you care if the Kree suffer?
Why should she carry the burden of their suffering?
Helping those in need when you have the power to do so was admirable. But extending that same compassion to those who had done terrible things was a completely different issue.
Back in his previous life, Daniel had hated the saying.
"Do a few good deeds and suddenly everyone forgets what you did."
To him, it was completely twisted.
If a thief committed petty crimes without taking lives, then sure, forgiveness was possible, but if your hands were stained with countless lives, did putting down your weapon suddenly make you a good person?
What a joke.
Who was going to forgive all the people you'd murdered?
As for Carol helping the Skrulls, Daniel didn't really mind. He didn't know whether the Skrulls were truly good or evil, but they hadn't harmed Earth, also Talos also happened to be very good at acting pitiful.
If Carol wanted to do a good deed, that was fine, she wasn't exactly busy anyway.
...
"Come on, I'll take you to the Supreme Intelligence."
Carol gestured for Daniel to follow before taking off into the sky.
...
"It seems your plan has failed."
Watching Hala's planetary shield shatter, Ronan spoke expressionlessly to the Supreme Intelligence.
"Indeed."
"But doesn't that only prove how valuable those two are?"
"If we capture them, the Kree race will undoubtedly evolve."
The Supreme Intelligence replied, "Until we have them, any sacrifice is worthwhile."
"You're not Kree. You're a machine, nothing but code."
Unable to suppress his anger any longer, Ronan openly turned against the Supreme Intelligence.
"But I am the collective consciousness of the Kree Empire greatest minds."
"Trust me, I am right. In tens of thousands of years, I have never made a mistake."
"Hmph."
Ronan said nothing more and picked up his weapon before walking towards the exit.
"Where are you going?" the Supreme Intelligence asked.
"To carry out my mission."
"Your mission is to deal with those two."
"No, I still have another mission to complete," Ronan answered.
"That makes you a deserter."
"A traitor."
"Ronan... you have betrayed the Empire."
Ronan stopped walking. With his back to everyone, he said, "No, you don't understand."
"I'm doing this for the Empire, and history will prove that I was right."
Without another glance behind him, Ronan walked away.