41 Chapter 41

Yelena Belova, one of the most formidable members of the Genoshian Empire, embarked on a mission to the Moon, a task assigned by the First Empress herself. As her vessel cut through the infinite darkness of space, she focused her thoughts on the task at hand.

The sensors aboard the Genoshian spacecraft picked up unusual signals, Kree signatures, originating from a concealed base on the Moon's surface. Her suspicion spiked, Yelena decided to approach the situation with a show of force. Broadcasting a stern message to the hidden base, her tone was unmistakably aggressive, a warning to the unknown entity that their concealment had been breached.

Back on the Moon, in the heart of the Inhuman city of Attilan, Maximus received Yelena's message with a raised eyebrow. He had two problems to handle now - the escaped members of the Royal Court, transported to Earth by Lockjaw, and the unidentified ship that had discovered their hidden location.

In contrast to Yelena's aggressiveness, Maximus chose a diplomatic route. He responded to Yelena's message calmly, inviting her to visit Attilan, despite the recent upheaval in the city. This approach was a gamble, hoping to buy time and learn more about these unexpected visitors.

Yelena, ever the observant operative, accepted the invitation but remained wary. Stepping into Attilan, she instantly sensed the remnants of a recent conflict. Her eyes scrutinized Maximus, noting the strained atmosphere in the city and the recent signs of battle.

Upon landing on Attilan, Yelena Belova exited her spacecraft, stepping onto the lunar surface with an air of stern determination. As she entered the grand city, her eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Maximus, who stepped forward to greet her.

"Welcome to Attilan," Maximus extended his hand in greeting, his face wearing a diplomatic smile. "I am Maximus, the acting leader of our city."

Yelena, accepting his hand with a firm shake, looked him in the eye, her gaze scrutinizing, "Yelena Belova. Acting leader, you say?"

Maximus nodded, an edge creeping into his smile. "Yes, there's been some... recent upheaval here."

"I can see that." Yelena glanced around, noting the signs of recent conflict in the city, "And what of the Kree signatures our sensors detected?"

Maximus faltered momentarily but regained his composure swiftly. "Our city has a history with the Kree. Perhaps the technology here retains their signature."

Yelena nodded thoughtfully, her gaze unwavering. "Is that so? And what has happened to the rest of your leadership?"

Maximus hesitated before answering, aware of the skeptical gaze Yelena held him in. "They are... elsewhere."

"Elsewhere," Yelena echoed, raising an eyebrow at the evasive reply. "Well, Maximus, it seems we have much to discuss."

As the conversation continued, both Yelena and Maximus were acutely aware of the game of diplomacy they were playing. Each word carefully chosen, every action meticulously calculated, both knew they were walking a thin line, for the stakes were high, and the uncertainties even higher.

Something wasn't right. She relayed her observations to her crew aboard the Genoshian vessel and issued new orders. "Monitor Earth," she instructed them, her tone firm. "Look for any anomalies, any unusual activities. We need to understand what is happening here, and why."

Even as she embarked on this diplomatic endeavor, Yelena Belova knew that she was stepping into a volatile situation. Yet, she remained steadfast, her mind already working on deciphering the mysteries of Attilan and its displaced royal court.

As Maximus spoke, Yelena's earpiece crackled to life, a low voice cutting through the diplomatic conversation. "Belova, we've got something."

Yelena's eyes hardened as she excused herself from Maximus, stepping aside as she engaged with her team. "Report."

"The scans just came back, multiple jumps between here and Earth. We suspect it's teleportation," the voice relayed. "The locations on Earth aren't clear, but we've managed to narrow it down."

Yelena's brow furrowed, her gaze narrowing at Maximus, who watched her with increasing tension. "Acknowledged. I'll return to the ship. Keep monitoring and start correlating data with known Inhuman abilities."

"Understood, Commander Belova."

Yelena turned back to Maximus, her diplomatic smile back in place, though her eyes held an edge. "My apologies, Maximus, but duty calls. It appears we have detected anomalies that require my attention."

Maximus frowned, his suspicion rising, "Is something wrong?"

"Perhaps," Yelena replied cryptically. "I will return as soon as my duties allow. In the meantime, I expect cooperation from you and your people."

Maximus nodded, his mind already turning with thoughts of the royal court members' potential locations. As Yelena strode off, he knew he had to act quickly, both for the sake of his reign and for the safety of his people.

As Yelena Belova hovered above Earth in her shuttle, her crew aboard the main ship relayed a new update. "Commander, our scans indicate all anomalies converging on the island of Oahu. It's a likely hotspot."

"Understood," Yelena replied curtly, her fingers dancing over the shuttle's controls. "Begin orbiting Earth. Use all available stealth systems. I'll handle things on the ground."

With a final confirmation from her crew, Yelena redirected her shuttle towards Oahu. Using the ship's stealth technology, she managed to land undetected.

Once on the ground, she activated an Inhuman scanner she had brought along, quickly locating a significant anomaly. To her surprise, she found herself standing before none other than Medusa.

Medusa eyed Yelena warily, her stance defensive. "Are you with Maximus?" she demanded.

Yelena shook her head, "No, I'm not with Maximus. I'm Yelena Belova, from the Genoshian Empire. We detected some anomalies here and..."

Her explanation was abruptly cut off as a group of attackers, identified by Medusa as Auran's henchmen, stormed their position. Yelena quickly stepped forward, her suit humming with latent energy. With swift, precise moves, she managed to dispatch the attackers with frightening ease.

Medusa watched, awe-struck as Yelena effortlessly handled the situation. Her suit, a unique blend of Uru, Vibranium, and Adamantium, glinted menacingly in the sunlight. Coupled with her own enhanced abilities granted by Lydia's super soldier serum, Yelena was an unmatched force. As the last of the henchmen fell, Yelena turned back to Medusa, her expression unreadable.

"We have much to discuss, Medusa," she said calmly. The queen of the Inhumans could only nod in agreement, her eyes wide with newfound respect for the stranger who had just saved her life.

"Based on the data we gathered, there are other Inhumans in the vicinity," Yelena informed Medusa, her gaze flicking to the handheld scanner in her grip. The royal's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

Leading the way, Yelena took Medusa to the detected location, where they found Black Bolt. Upon seeing his wife, the silent king let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Medusa rushed to him, quickly signing the situation to him. Black Bolt watched Yelena intently, nodding as he got the gist of the situation.

Next, they ventured to the locations of the remaining Inhumans, gathering them together. Once everyone was present, Black Bolt began signing the situation, detailing the coup by Maximus and their exile to Earth.

Medusa was prepared to translate, but stopped mid-sign when she realized Yelena was nodding along, understanding Black Bolt's sign language perfectly. Yelena interrupted, signing, "I know sign language. Continue."

With a nod, Black Bolt continued. Once he finished, all eyes turned to Yelena. She studied them for a moment before signing back, "I'll help you. We'll return to the Moon and deal with Maximus together."

The relief on the Inhumans' faces was evident. With Yelena's help, they now had a chance to reclaim their home.

"Shuttle two, are you ready for transport?" Yelena asked her crew through the comms in her helmet.

"Ready and waiting, Captain," came the crisp reply.

With a nod, Yelena turned to the Inhuman Royal Family, her gaze flicking from one face to another. "Your transport will be here shortly. I'll accompany you to the ship."

Black Bolt and Medusa stepped aboard Yelena's ship, their eyes wide with awe as they took in the advanced technology around them. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, despite their extensive experience with Kree tech.

"I didn't expect anything like this," Medusa whispered to her husband, signing the words so he could understand.

Back on the ship, Yelena addressed the crew, "Set course for the Moon. Let's bring our guests home."

The landing on Attilan was fraught with tension. Yelena could sense the fear and desperation in the air. Maximus was cornered, and in his madness, he decided on a drastic course of action.

Suddenly, a low rumble filled the air. Maximus, eyes gleaming with a manic light, had set off the explosives he had installed around Attilan. "This is for your betrayal!" he bellowed into the air.

The ground shook violently, and dust filled the air. Cries of pain echoed around them as innocent bystanders were caught in the blast.

As the dust started to settle, Maximus strained his eyes, eagerly awaiting confirmation of his victory. His voice echoed eerily through the settling dust, "Now, let us see who remains!"

Just as the dust started to fly and the ground began to quake, Yelena reacted swiftly. She activated a feature on her suit, a one-time-use shield capable of protecting a significant area. It expanded outwards like a bubble, ethereal and shimmering, painted with iridescent hues as the light refracted off it. The shield was formed from an intricate network of energy filaments, crackling and sparking in a stunning, almost artful, matrix. Its structure held firm, an unyielding barrier against the devastating force of the blast.

Outside the shield, the scene was devastating. Flames licked at the remains of the buildings, reduced to mere rubble. Smoke billowed out, obscuring what was left of Attilan's once grand architecture. Lifeless bodies were strewn about, and the cries of those caught in the edge of the explosion filled the air, a heart-wrenching symphony of pain and despair.

Black Bolt, Medusa, and Crystal stood at the edge of the shield, their faces etched with horror as they took in the sight of their home, their people. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft crackling of the shield and the distant cries of pain.

Finally, Medusa turned to Black Bolt, her voice shaking, "We cannot let Maximus get away with this."

Black Bolt, eyes filled with a quiet fury, nodded in agreement. He signed back, "We won't. We take back Attilan. For our people."

Crystal, the youngest but just as resolute, chimed in, "We stand together, no matter what." Her hand brushed against Lockjaw's fur for reassurance, the enormity of their task weighing heavily on them all. But they were united, ready to fight for their home, their people, and their future.

As they journeyed through the debris-strewn halls of Attilan towards the throne room, Yelena, Black Bolt, and Medusa moved as a united front. Each of them had their own unique strengths, and it showed in their fighting style.

Yelena, despite her suit being in low power mode, was a force to be reckoned with. Her movements were agile and precise, taking down adversaries with calculated strikes. Her suit may have provided her with enhancements, but her real strength lay in her training and instincts. She moved through the battleground like a dancer, each movement fluid and purposeful. Her eyes were keen and focused, always on the lookout for any potential threats.

Meanwhile, Black Bolt fought with an air of restraint. His movements were firm but careful, almost as if he were holding back a tempest within him. His silent demeanor seemed to hint at a deadly ability, one that needed to be meticulously controlled. Yelena caught this as she fought alongside him, understanding that his power could potentially cause collateral damage if not kept in check.

On the other hand, Medusa, with her prehensile hair, was a spectacle. Her strands moved with a life of their own, weaving and striking at their opponents. They served both as a weapon and a shield, forming a protective barrier around her and lashing out at anyone who dared to get too close. The way she commanded her hair showcased not just her power but her regal bearing as well.

The three of them, each with their own distinctive style, forged ahead, cutting a path through their enemies towards the throne room. Their determination was palpable, a testament to their resolve to reclaim Attilan and bring Maximus to justice.

Maximus, once a powerful figure in Attilan's court, now stood a twisted reflection of his former self. His eyes were wild, his posture unsteady, and his mind clearly unraveling under the pressure of his failed coup. The facade of composure had fallen away, replaced by the raw desperation of a cornered animal. He resembled a madman more than a king.

"Black Bolt, it's always been you," Maximus ranted, pointing an accusatory finger at his silent brother. "The golden child, the favored one. Always you!" His words echoed through the grand throne room, bouncing off the cold, unfeeling walls.

Then, he turned his manic gaze towards Yelena, sneering at her. "And you," he snarled. "An outsider, a thief. You dare to judge us, to interfere in our world? You've caused the death of our people. You are the true monster here!"

With that, Maximus revealed his final act of desperation. From his pocket, he pulled out a detonator, a small device that held immense destructive potential. As he raised his arm, a malevolent grin spread across his face. "Let's see who survives this," he hissed.

The world seemed to slow down as Maximus's finger inched towards the button. Yelena's heart pounded in her chest, the gravity of the situation washing over her. She had missed this, failed to anticipate Maximus's final gamble. Self-reproach bubbled within her as she braced herself for the inevitable.

But just as Maximus was about to press the button, Black Bolt made his move. With a primal scream, he unleashed the full power of his voice, a sonic attack that carried the single word: "NO!"

The force of the attack obliterated everything in its path. The powerful wave reduced the throne room, Maximus, and the unexploded bomb to dust. The destructive power of Black Bolt's voice was laid bare in that single moment, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.

The aftermath of Black Bolt's scream was a sight to behold. The once majestic throne room was reduced to dust and rubble, a testament to the sheer destructive force that was Black Bolt's voice. The dust hung heavily in the air, diffusing the light in an eerie, ghostly glow. Yelena stood rooted in her spot, shock etched onto her face.

The realization of Black Bolt's power had her reeling. In that moment, it had seemed almost on par with her Empress' might. She shook her head at such a thought. No, nothing could possibly compare to Lydia's power.

On the other side of the ruined room, Black Bolt collapsed to his knees, his shoulders trembling. His stoic demeanor shattered, revealing a man mourning the loss of his brother, despite everything. Medusa rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him in a desperate attempt to provide some comfort.

Yelena stood silently, giving the royal couple their moment of grief. After a few moments, she turned towards them, her voice soft, respectful. "I'll be waiting on my ship," she said, her words echoing softly through the shattered room. "We have supplies that we can provide to assist in the recovery. We'll do everything we can to help."

With a last glance at the grieving royals, she turned to leave, the image of Black Bolt's raw power and subsequent mourning imprinted on her mind. A reminder of the cost of power, and the pain that came with loss.