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Chapter 1083: Catching Rats and the Name Called Out
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 20:00:04 +0000 UTCWith a soft “whoosh,” Robert appeared before Galata and the Silver Surfer just as Galata was happily indulging in her meal. Her eyes lit up upon seeing him. Being the daughter of Galactus and having the long lifespan of a cosmic deity, Galata still maintained the youthful appearance she had when Robert first met her.
“Are you here to join us for a meal?” Galata asked, smiling warmly.
“Uh…” Robert raised an eyebrow at the invitation, then smiled. “Sure, why not? It’s been a while since I’ve had Earth-style food.”
With the increasing frequency of supernatural events, Robert had fewer opportunities to dine out. Given his substantial appetite, eating in public was a hassle. At the Avengers’ base, Jarvis could prepare unlimited food at any time, which was far more convenient than dining out.
“Were you looking for me?” the Silver Surfer asked, seemingly sensing something as he observed Robert join them at the table.
“Huh?” Robert looked at him with mild surprise. “Was it that obvious?”
“Not really. It’s just that your reaction didn’t seem like you were here just for Galata,” the Surfer explained, shaking his head.
It’s worth noting that the Surfer no longer appeared as his usual silver, metallic self but as an ordinary man. Whether this was his original appearance or a form he chose using his abilities wasn’t clear. In the cosmos, species came in all forms—some resembled Earth humans, like Kryptonians, while others looked entirely alien.
“I am here to see you. You’ve been traveling the universe for a long time. Do you know anything about the Skrulls?” Robert asked between bites.
“The species that can mimic others?” The Silver Surfer paused, then nodded in recognition. “Yes, I’ve encountered them before. Why do you ask?”
“That’s them. I’ve heard there are stronger Skrulls, but I haven’t encountered them. They once invaded Earth, trying to overthrow its leadership, and they killed someone who helped their civilization recover—a person who was Kara’s sister,” Robert explained.
“Ah, the Skrulls. They are indeed… morally ambiguous. A species where everyone can read others’ memories and take on their lives wouldn’t develop the same moral framework as a typical civilization,” the Surfer remarked thoughtfully.
“Carol didn’t realize that,” Robert said with a sigh. He understood why Carol had helped the Skrulls rebuild. When she first encountered them, they were being hunted by the Kree, a pitiful shadow of their former selves. But once the Skrulls regained their strength, they no longer needed Carol’s protection and couldn’t tolerate a guardian overshadowing their species.
Acts of great kindness often turn into perceived threats. Carol’s fate—saving a species only to be betrayed—was sadly common both on Earth and across the cosmos.
“I don’t know their current homeworld’s location, but I’ve seen some stronger Skrulls in the Void of Space,” the Surfer said, revealing the information Robert sought.
“The Void of Space? What a coincidence,” Robert muttered, intrigued. He knew the Skrull homeworld likely wasn’t in the Void. At best, they had expanded into it. If the Skrulls’ primary base was in the Void, Carol would have mentioned such a remarkable location during her stories about her cosmic travels.
Carol had recounted many experiences, though none offered precise star maps or the Skrulls’ coordinates.
“Indeed. The Void is home to many extraordinary species. Perhaps the Skrulls were seeking power from them,” the Surfer speculated. “I detected them there because they foolishly targeted me.”
“These Skrulls really are greedy,” Robert said with a laugh. “Alright, let’s finish eating first. Then you can take me there.”
“Sure,” the Surfer replied. He had no pressing matters to attend to, and with Robert’s invitation, Galata would likely tag along to enjoy the adventure. Revisiting the Void promised some entertainment.
After their meal, the trio vanished from the restaurant and reappeared near an orange-hued planet in the Void of Space. As they gazed at the planet, the Surfer explained its significance.
The Void’s unique environment, and perhaps the influence of a rumored Creator God, had fostered an unusually high occurrence of extraordinary species. Planets like this one often housed civilizations where nearly everyone possessed superhuman abilities, akin to the advanced Asgardians or enhanced Earth soldiers.
However, unlike Asgard, which had grown complacent without external threats, the Void’s species had honed their abilities under constant danger, such as the looming presence of Darkseid.
The Skrulls faced significant challenges infiltrating such extraordinary civilizations. While ordinary Skrulls could mimic regular individuals, replicating enhanced beings like super soldiers or Asgardians required advanced “Super-Skrulls.”
Short-term covert operations were challenging for the Skrulls in these environments, even without considering the limitations of their abilities. Robert doubted the Super-Skrulls could mimic godlike entities like Celestials or Galactus. If they could, the Skrulls would have long since dominated the cosmos.
“Any idea how to find them?” Robert asked, studying the planet below.
“Leave it to me,” the Surfer said, smiling confidently. “While I may not match your power, I have certain capabilities.”
With a hum, his iconic silver surfboard appeared, transforming into a massive screen displaying the planet’s recent events. The Surfer’s incredible processing speed allowed him to swiftly identify targets among the recordings.
“Here they are. Touch the board and feel for their presence,” the Surfer said, showing footage of several individuals.
When Robert placed his hand on the board, he was instantly transported into a vision, standing before the identified individuals. He could feel their energy and sense their movements.
“Amazing ability! Is this space-time manipulation?” Robert asked, impressed.
“Just basic temporal techniques. I can’t alter time—only observe past events. But combined with your skills, it’s enough to find people,” the Surfer explained modestly.
“That’s already impressive. Few things could remain hidden from you,” Robert replied with admiration. Without further delay, he raised a hand, conjuring large stone blocks to construct an airtight chamber.
“I’ll catch them. Watch over the chamber for me,” Robert said. Moments later, he vanished, reappearing with a confused red-skinned man in tow. This process repeated until dozens of individuals filled the chamber—Super-Skrulls disguised within the planet’s civilization.
At first, the captured Skrulls maintained wary composure. But as more of their kind appeared, unease spread among them. They could recognize each other, realizing this wasn’t a random incident but a targeted operation.
When panic took hold, they unleashed their abilities in a desperate attempt to escape. However, a swift, overwhelming force crushed their resistance. Injured and immobilized, they lay helpless.
“Tell me where your homeworld is,” Robert demanded coldly, his voice heavy with menace.
“Who are you?” one Super-Skrull asked, feigning calm. “Do you mean to make an enemy of the Skrulls?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Robert sneered, spreading his arms mockingly.
“You’re Robert?! Impossible! How can your power be this immense?!” a shocked voice exclaimed. Robert’s expression darkened. He realized the Skrull knew him because they had mimicked Carol and accessed her memories.
