Vow

by: Sam Lincoln

Summary: It was supposed to be an easy mission, find the Skrulls a new home and then return home to Earth, and then and then and then...

Disclaimer: All the characters contained in this story are the property of Marvel. No infringement is intended.

Spoilers: This story takes place some amount of time after the events of Captain Marvel, but some time before Guardians of the Galaxy.

Chapter Six

-XANDAR

Corpsman Rhomman Dey sat in his office in the Nova Corps headquarters reviewing paperwork when his communicator started to chirp. Dey reached up and answered the call without looking to see who was on the other end of the line. "This is Dey."

Lyris's face flared to life over Dey's desk. "Corpsman Dey, this is Lyris Lyne, Captain Marvel is in trouble and needs your help."

Dey set his paper work down and focused on the hologram of Lyris. "Tell me everything."

After hearing Lyris's explanation of events Dey ran out of his office in search of the leader of the Nova Corps, Nova Prime. He found her walking down a hallway flanked by an entourage of aides and representatives of Xandar's civilian government. "Nova Prime, Nova Prime!" Dey called out as he ran to catch up with the group.

Nova Prime stopped and turned around to face Dey. "What is it Corpsmen?"

Dey pulled up to a stop and started to gasp for air as he caught his breath. He held up an index finger to ask for time. "Okay, it's official, I need to get car to the gym." He held a hand to side his to massage a knot out of it. "I'm sorry to disturb you Nova Prime. I know you're real busy with the negations with the Kree, but I just received an important tip and we need to act on it."

Nova Prime motioned with her hand for Dey to get to his point. "Yes?"

Dey sucked in another deep breath. "It's Captain Marvel Nova Prime. J'son of Spartax has kidnapped her and probably intends to execute her. We can't let that happen, we have to mobilize the fleet."

"Captain Marvel is a myth Corpsman, made up by the Skrulls to scare the Kree. There is not a rogue Kree agent roaming the galaxy righting wrongs wherever she goes."

"Respectfully ma'am, you're wrong and we both know it. Captain Marvel is real, and she needs our help. Also, she isn't Kree, she's Terran, I just wanted to make that distinction."

Nova Prime looked around at her entourage who were all staring at Dey with obvious amusement on their faces. "So am I to take it that this means you're close personal friends with Captain Marvel?" A soft chuckle rippled through the crowd.

"Yes ma'am." Dey shuffled his feet. "Well no, not a close friend ma'am, but I'd like to think we're friends. She did introduce me to my wife ma'am."

"How lovely for you," Nova Prime said. "Corpsman Dey, could I speak to you in private?"

Dey bobbed his head up and down. "Of course ma'am."

Nova Prime looked over at her assistant. "Tell the Kree delegation I have been delayed, but I will join them as soon as I'm done here." The aide nodded her head and lead the entourage off.

"I know this sounds far fetched, but I promise," Dey said before Noava Prime motioned for him to be quiet.

"Where did you get this information?" Nova Prime asked.

"From Lyris Lyne, the reporter, she's doing a story on Captain Marvel."

Nova Prime started to pace. "You've put me in a hell of a spot here Dey."

"But why, we have to help Captain Marvel, we can't let J'son win."

"Believe me, the thought of letting J'son of Spartax win at anything makes my skin crawl, but there are other considerations at work here."

"What other considerations could there be?"

"We're this close to finally having a lasting peace with the Kree, and the last thing we need to do is publicly come to the aid of the Kree Empire's biggest foe."

"Does it have to be public?" Dey asked.

Nova Prime folded her arms across her chest. "What do you mean by that?"

Dey tapped his fingers together. "Lyris Lyne might have found an alternative."

"You have a way to help Captain Marvel without being public about it? Tell me everything you have."

Dey's eyes widened. "You mean that ma'am?"

"Of course, it's Captain Marvel, we have an obligation to help her," Nova Prime said. "If for no other reason than the solid kicking she's repeatedly given the Kree. Come with me, the negotiations can wait." Nova Prime lead Dey down the hallway towards her office.

-SPARTAX

Carol came back to consciousness and found herself bound in a device similar to the one Talos and the Skrulls used to poke through her memories years ago. She jerked her arm to try to pull it free from its shackle, but found it bound tightly.

"Don't try to struggle Captain. That rig was designed to hold you," J'son said as he stepped into Carol's line of sight.

"I make my living breaking this specifically designed to hold me back," Carol said. "You're nowhere near special enough to be any different."

J'son chucked. "I suppose we're going to see if that's true."

Carol started to pump energy into the bindings. "Yeah we will see won't we asshole."

"Keep struggling Captain, it amuses me to no end," J'son said to Carol.

Carol pulled at the bindings and found no give to them. "I'll wipe that smirk off of your face, you can count on it."

J'son held out his arms. "Here I am, take your best shot."

Carol strained against the bindings and then sagged when they didn't budge. "While I'm working my way out of these do you think you could maybe tell me how you place to make money from kidnapping me?"

J'son shrugged. "There's no harm in that. Ronan is on his way here to collect you. He was very interested in acquiring you and price was no object for him."

"And here I thought you were above slaving," Carol said.

"For what Ronan is offering to pay to get his hands on you my morals are entirely flexible," J'son said.

"It's nice to know Ronan still thinks so highly of me after all these years, but honestly he needs a new obsession. It's starting to get sad."

"You have no idea how glad I am that I will be able to see you quieted for good," J'son said. "It has been a long time coming."

Carol focused the energy in her right hand into a narrow beam that she turned on the cuff holding her. "Just so you know J'son, I'm about five minutes from kicking your ass all across Spartax, then doing the same to Ronan when he shows up."

Before J'son could reply to Carol's latest barb his communicator chipped. "I thought I said I wasn't to be disturbed."

"I'm sorry your Grace, but you have an incoming priority message," J'son's aide said over the communicator.

"Take all the time you need," Carol said as she continued to try to burn through her shackle.

"That metal can withstand the heat of a star," J'son said. "But you're welcome to wear yourself out trying to free yourself." J'son stepped out of the cell and activated his communicator. "Ronan, is that you? I have good news."

Instead of the Kree Accuser's face appearing, J'son was startled to see Nova Prime. "Hello J'son, I see you're still up to your usual schemes."

"Nova Prime, to what do I owe the honor?" J'son asked as he bowed in front fo the hologram.

"I know you're holding Captain Marvel captive J'son. Release her," Nova Prime said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," J'son said.

"Cut the crap emperor, we both know you have her. Let her go or face the consequences."

J'son smiled at Nova Prime. "Forgive me for being so blunt, but you and what army? We both know you won't go to war with me over this. Not when you're trying to negotiate a peace treat with the Kree."

Nova Prime returned J'son's smile with a smirk of her own. "Oh no, I won't need an army to convince you."

"Is that so, how exactly are you going to convince me to free her, the power of persuasion?"

"If you don't release Captain Marvel then a holo of your last visit to Hala will find its way to the galaxy at large. Are you really sure you want everyone to see what you did in that hotel room?"

"How did you get that?" J'son asked. His face turned red with anger.

"The how isn't nearly as important as that I do, and far be it for me to pass judgement on anyone, but Askavarians?" Nova Prime chuckled. "I didn't know you were so daring J'son."

J'son ground his teeth together. "What do you want?"

"I already told you, release Captain Marvel and promise me that you won't try this again."

"That's preposterous!"

"The choice is yours J'son, release Captain Marvel and give up your vendetta or see your dirty laundry hung out for all to see, and wouldn't the people of Spartax be interested to see it, especially given your rhetoric recently about the virtues of decent behavior?"

J'son hung his head. "Fine, you win, I'll let Captain Marvel go." He tapped on his wrist and deactivated the containment device holding Carol.

"I'm glad you decided to see things my way, until next time Emperor J'son." The hologram of Nova Prime winked out.

There was a wrenching crash in Carol's cell and J'son ran back into it see what the cause was. Inside he found a half-melted containment device and a hole in the wall that Carol had made to exit the palace. J'son sighed as his communicator started to chirp again. He glanced down at it and saw that Ronan was trying to reach him. J'son growled then switched off the communicator.

-XANDAR

Nova Prime stood by herself in a private garden located in the Nova Corps headquarters that looked out over Xandar City. Her ruminations were interrupted when Captain Marvel landed in the garden behind her. Nova Prime turned around and discretely disabled the proximity alarm that Carol's arrival had triggered.

"I was wondering if I would see you," Nova Prime said.

"I've been told I have you to thank for freeing me from J'son," Carol said. "So thanks, though I was close to getting myself out of that cell."

Nova Prime nodded her head. "Of course."

"Still though, you didn't have to stick your neck out the way you did. So I am truly thankful for you help."

"You had a very forceful advocate in Corpsman Dey. He was very insistent that I help you."

Carol smiled. "Dey's a good guy. You should appreciate what you have in him."

"What exactly is your connection to him?" Nova Prime asked.

"We have a mutual admiration society thing going on," Carol said. "He gives me information and I introduced him to his wife."

Nova Prime chuckled. "That seems like a fair trade. Still, I can't say I'm happy about one of my Corpsmen working as an informant for anyone."

"He's not the only one and we both know it. At least Dey is feeding me intel because he's trying to make the galaxy a better place."

"Don't worry, I won't punish Corpsman Dey."

"Okay good, just checking, I owe him one after all. You too for that matter."

"That wasn't why I acted," Nova Prime said.

"I know, but still, if you want me to help speed along your peace negotiations with the Kree, the Supreme Intelligence is kind of afraid of me."

"That is a tempting offer, but Xandar can solve its own diplomatic problems."

Carol shrugged. "Suit yourself, but I still might do it anyway. Ending wars is a hobby of mine."

"I couldn't stop you even if I wanted to," Nova Prime said. "I'm not entirely comfortable with a force like you in the galaxy, getting involved wherever you see fit, answering to no one, but so far I must admit you've only helped, and I respect that."

"You do understand I don't play favorites and the only reason we've never fought is because the Nova Corps is one of the least bad organizations in the galaxy."

Nova Prime bowed her head. "I will try to keep it that way. What's next for you?"

"I came out to the galaxy with a simple mission, save the Skrulls. I keep meaning to go back home to Earth, but things keep getting in the way, people need saving." Carol looked up at that Xandarian night sky then down at her wrist computer.

"I wouldn't want you to think I'm giving you orders, but I've heard reports of a colony of Halorites being threatened by slavers on the outskirts of known space."

Carol sighed then nodded her head. "Those reports wouldn't happen to have a more precise location of that colony?"

Nova Prime tapped on her wrist. "There you are. You can investigate if you so choose, or not. No one will think less of you either way."

Carol's battle helmet clamped down around her head. "That's the problem, I would. See you around Nova Prime." Carol blasted off from the garden and shot into the night sky.

Lyris Lyne walked through the halls of the Xandarian Nova and pushed open the door to her seldom used office. She had already dropped her duffle bag to the ground before she realized she wasn't alone in the office. Carol sat behind the desk reading Lyris's story on the computer terminal.

"This is good stuff," Carol said. "You're a pretty okay writer, did you know that?"

The shock of seeing Carol in her office quickly wore off and Lyris found her voice. "Yes I did know that, the shelf full of awards behind you is a good reminder. What are you doing here anyway?"

"You have my ship, or did you think I'd forgotten that?" Carol said. She leaned against the desk and arched an eyebrow at Lryis. "I went back to the space station after J'son let me go, your doing I assume, and found that you had already left."

Lyris took a step towards the dek. "In my defense I had a story I had to file. I just wasn't sure at the time if it was going to be a profile or obituary. But the ship is yours of course. I wasn't trying to steal it from you."

"Of course not, you're too smart for that," Carol said. "Still, thank you for making sure my ship got back to me in one piece, and for getting me out of that scrape with J'son. I know you were the one who called Dey."

"Even though you could have freed yourself?" Lyris asked with a smile.

"Yes exactly, I really was too, but it's for the best that I didn't because it would have just made him even madder at me. By the way, how did Nova Prime convince him to let me go?"

"A holo of J'son's activities the last time he visited Hala made its way to Nova Prime, and let's just say the contents were embarrassing."

Carol held up her hands. "I don't even want to know. I take it this was courtesy of our hacker friend Quevner?"

"Are you referring to my research assistant?" Lyris asked. "As it turns out we have similar views about accountability of the elite of the galaxy and she agreed to help me out from time to time."

"So you made a new friend on this trip too, that's great news," Carol said.

"I'd like to think I made more than one," Lyris said.

Carol stood up from the desk. "Are you referring to me?"

Lyris nodded her head. "I know I'm supposed to maintain a distance from any subject I'm covering, but that story is done and now I'm here offering a friend a hand."

"And what makes you think I need help?" Carol asked.

"You're one woman with a ship, of course you need help. I'm not talking about help busting heads, but help getting information. You have the galaxy's best reporter and data pirate offering you their services. You always take that offer." She held her hand out to Carol.

"And Quevner is on board with this idea?" Carol asked.

"Sure," Lyris said. "And even if she isn't now I can talk her into it no problem. So how about it Captain?"

"I don't know, I've been on my own out here a long time and I've made it this far. That being said, having an intelligent network of my very own is to enticing." Carol reached out for Lyris's hand then stopped. "What do you get out of this?"

"You mean beyond the warm feeling of doing a good deed?" Carol nodded her head. "Well I would hope my cooperation would net me a few exclusive interviews and a heads up on any juicy story you're investigating."

"I don't know much about journalism but that hardly sound ethical," Carol said.

Lyris shrugged. "I'm not saying ethics are overrated, but if you can do some good, and I get a great story, what's the harm in that?"

Carol considered Lyris's offer for a long moment before shaking the reporter's outstretched hand. "I can't argue with that now can I?"

"Great, I'll tell Quevner, I'm sure she'll be thrilled, in her own way." Lyris folded her arms across her chest. "So what's next for the great Captain Marvel? Are you going to take a little R&R and bask in your new found fame?"

"Tempting, but Nova Prime told me about a Halorite colony being threatened. I thought I might pay them a visit and see if they need any help."

"Helping the downtrodden, that's primo stuff my editor will eat it up," Lyris said. "I can go with you to cover this right?"

"I don't know how I feel about bringing you into what could potentially be a combat zone. It's awfully risky."

"If you don't take me I'll find my own way there," Lyris said.

Carol started to walk towards the door. "In that case I'll see you there. I need some alone time with my ship." She left the office before Lyris could reply. A moment later Carol stuck her head back in the doorway. "By the way, the name's Carol."

Carol walked on board the Eagle, which was docked in the landing bay Lyris had said it was. "Talk to me Goose," Carol said to the ship's AI.

"Welcome back Carol, I'm glad to see you are still in one piece," the ship replied.

"So am I." Carol walked through the ship on her way to the cockpit. "What's your status?"

"Fully fueled and ready to depart."

"That's good to hear because we have some Halorites in need of saving." She tapped on her wrist and transmitted the coordinates to the new system to the nav computer.

"Very well, plotting a course, do you want me to pilot the ship to the jump gate or do you want manual control?"

Carol checked her communicator for any sign of a message from Fury. She sighed when she didn't see one then sat down in the pilot's chair. "You should k now me well enough by now, manual all the way." She powered up the ship's engines. "Let's go punch holes in the sky."

-The End-

Author's Notes: And that's a wrap on Vow. It's always a little tricky writing a hidden history type story like this one. You want to use the established universe, but at the same time, not in a way that makes the universe feel small (Anakin being C-3PO's creator is my go to example of this sort of thing). Hopefully I managed to thread the need in a way that feels like the MCU, but not in a "hey kids, remember how cool John C. Reilly was?" way. I know I say this a lot, but Vow was a ton of fun to write and I hope people had some fun reading it. Lastly, be on the lookout for my story. It's called Kitty's Back and stars Captain Marvel, and a secret friend. If all goes well the first chapter should publish next week, if it doesn't, sometime after that, but soon. Thanks for reading everyone.

-sam, 2019-09-25