She doesn't shy away from technology

Five hours later, before Navi could wake me up, I stirred on my own. I guess it's hard to completely relax when you're constantly on the run. After a short rest, my mind felt sharper, and I could think more clearly.

With danger at least temporarily behind me, I started to reevaluate my situation. I'd been considering going to Earth, but now, that didn't seem like such a good idea. First off, the universe I'm in clearly isn't Earth-199999—the Marvel Cinematic Universe version—so my knowledge of events wouldn't be as reliable. Second, there's no guarantee that this Earth's yellow sun would have the same empowering effect on me as it did in my home universe. And the biggest issue? I'm underage. No legal identity. I definitely wasn't excited about ending up in the child welfare system, living with a foster family, or needing a legal guardian. Worst of all? I might be forced to go to school. Ugh.

I started weighing my options while checking my stats again. Using the transformation technique to make myself look older? That would get tiresome really fast. And sending myself—or even a clone—back in time to alter the past and give myself a legitimate identity was out of the question. Even with the ridiculous amount of magical energy I had, thanks to inheriting Illya's magic circuits, I didn't have authority over time. Without an angel to manipulate time for more than a few hours, it wasn't feasible.

As for my clones, they had their own limitations. The Kurumi clones, or even the White Queen defected clones that I had fixed, all had time limits and would disappear after a while. It didn't matter if I used magical energy or Reiryoku; they still fizzled out. I figured it was probably an energy issue. I didn't have a Sephira Crystal anymore, and the magic circuits my clones received weren't generating enough energy to sustain them. Either way, I made a mental note to revisit the clone issue. I hadn't tried making a clone since my rebirth, so it was worth testing again.

As for a legal identity, I had two options. The first? I could use Titania to infiltrate and hack an identity for myself, either by creating a fake one or using a missing child's social security number. But the thought of abandoning my last name—El—wasn't something I could stomach. In a universe like this, I knew that wouldn't hold up under SHIELD's scrutiny for long anyway.

My second option? Just tell the truth: I'm a refugee, an alien who escaped my planet's destruction. I was certain Nick Fury would jump at the chance to have a powerful alien under his wing. But either way, I'd still be stuck with the same problem—being underage.

"Damn it," I muttered to myself. "Maybe I should just stay out here in space until I turn 18 or something."

Shaking my head, I got up and slowly made my way to the cockpit. My gaze was locked on the brilliant, silent starry sky outside, my nails digging into my palms as I clenched my fists in frustration.

"Miss, we'll reach the jump point in ten minutes. Please fasten your seatbelt," Navi's voice cut through my thoughts. I quickly sat down in the pilot's seat, strapping in.

But before I could settle, an alarm blared throughout the ship. "Beep! Beep!"

"What now?" I jumped, startled by the sudden noise.

"A Kree Empire high-speed cruiser is emerging from jump point Kree-Xandar. If we don't change course, we'll cross paths in three minutes," Navi informed me.

"What? I need to take manual control!" I exclaimed, my hands flying over the controls as I swiftly changed the ship's direction. There was no time to wonder how the Kree Empire had detected my route so quickly.

"The commander of the Kree cruiser is requesting to speak with you," Navi reminded me.

I hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, patch them through."

Instantly, a hologram of a grim-faced Kree wielding a massive warhammer materialized before me. His eyes radiated menace, his presence oppressive. My heart sank—I recognized him immediately. Ronan, the fucking, Accuser, a war-obsessed fanatic.

"Xandarian," his deep voice rumbled with authority, "hand over the Infinity Stone, and I'll let you live."

I blinked in confusion, my ice-blue eyes darting around the cockpit as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. "What the hell is he talking about?" I muttered, then said aloud, "First off, I'm not Xandarian, I'm Kryptonian. Secondly, what Infinity Stone? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ronan's sneer was sharp, cutting through the tension. "Do you think we found you by chance? The energy fluctuations from the power stone led us right to you."

My mind raced, and I quickly glanced at Titania, my biomechanical fairy companion. The guilt etched on her face confirmed that something was up. "What do you know about this?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.

"Uh, nothing, I swear, it's just..." Titania stammered, her wings fluttering nervously.

"Just what? Spit it out already!" I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

"Well," Titania hesitated, "since I met you at the very beginning, you've kinda been emitting some type of energy. It keeps cycling through different frequencies, and apparently, now it matched the energy signature of the power stone that ugly blue asshole just mentioned," she mumbled apologetically.

Ronan's eye twitched involuntarily as he overheard our bickering in a language alien to him. He could've sworn there was an insult in there somewhere.

"You didn't bother mentioning this to me?" I shot back, my frustration boiling over.

"I thought you knew about it! Besides, it didn't seem harmful!" Titania muttered, staring guiltily at her tiny feet.

"Not harmful? My ass!" I repeated incredulously. "That explains why enemies in my previous lives kept finding me and why I ended up pushing daisies so often!"

"With each life lost, the Returner shall be reborn, stronger than before, to claim her rightful throne as the Nemesis of all who oppose her destiny," Titania whispered.

But her words escaped me, my thoughts raced as I tried to process the situation. Think, think, think! There had to be a way out. Telling Ronan I didn't have the power stone would be pointless.

Ronan's voice, dripping with condescension, interrupted my frantic thoughts. "It's useless to resist. We've sealed all nearby jump points. You have two options—surrender or die."

I exhaled slowly, masking my anxiety with a look of helplessness. "Fine. Just give me a few minutes to think."

"Stalling won't save you," he sneered.

Without another word, I cut the transmission, my calm façade collapsing as soon as I was alone. Crap. I needed a plan, not just to save myself, but to avenge the innocent Xandarians Ronan had murdered.

"Navi, scan for any jump points the Kree haven't blocked yet!" I commanded.

The AI responded immediately. "Jump point Xandar-Prime is still open."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

A brief pause. "Mistress, there's a supernova near that jump point. Forcing a jump carries a high risk of leading to an unknown space," Titania warned, her voice tinged with concern.

I smirked grimly. "Better than sitting here, waiting to die. Besides, I have a plan."

Titania was unconvinced. "The success rate of navigating the debris cloud is only 7%."

"I didn't ask for your opinion," I shot back, my voice hardening as my eyes narrowed with determination. "Have you forgotten I can shield the ship with my telekinesis? Just show me the route. I'll handle the rest."

This was my true nature. When danger closed in, my instincts sharpened, my decisions became swift and firm. My fate was mine alone, and if I had to die, it would be on my own terms. And in this situation, my terms were clear: bring Ronan down with me if I must die.

On the Kree Imperial Cruiser, Ronan watched the unusual Nova fighter streak across space. "Follow her. Let's see where she thinks she can run."

"Leader, she's heading towards jump point Xandar-Prime, near the supernova."

Ronan's brow furrowed. "Is she insane?"

"Shall we pursue, Leader?"

"Of course. Send the high-speed fighters and shoot her down."

"Won't the power stone be damaged?"

"No. Nothing can destroy the power stone."

The Kree fighters had begun their pursuit of me, but my ship—my modified Kryptonian vessel—was fast and powerful, keeping the enemy at bay for now. For half an hour, I pushed the fighter at full throttle, the supernova looming ever larger in the distance. As I neared, gravitational waves and radiation battered the ship, systems flickering, alarms blaring.

Through the viewport, I watched the dying star rage, its core a dark red abyss spewing torrents of fire. Planetary debris—once colossal worlds—swirled chaotically, forming a nightmarish storm of destruction. My breath caught at the sight. Is this... the death of a star?

Yet even as awe filled me, I remained focused. I knew the jump procedure by heart, and I wasn't about to leave my life in the hands of anyone. If I was going to die here, I would be the one in control.

Determined, I guided the ship deeper into the supernova's debris cloud. The hull rattled violently as fragments of the destroyed planet hurtled past.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

Collision warnings screamed in the cockpit as a massive, flame-wreathed chunk of rock appeared in my path. I deployed my telekinetic shield at max power, but I was unsure of the outcome this time. Thankfully, Navi displayed a route in time, and I narrowly veered away from the deadly obstacle.

Seeing her actions Ronan sneered, "Still hoping you can escape? Pathetic!"

"The supernova debris cloud lies ahead, and our ship cannot safely pass through it, mistress!" Titania yelled anxiously. "According to my calculations, not even your telekinetic shield will be enough. If you have a plan, now is the time to put it into action."

"Stop the advance! Focus all resources on monitoring the Infinity Stone's energy fluctuations! Have the Sakaarian high-speed fighters continue the pursuit!"

Ronan, watching as Kara plunged headlong into the supernova's debris cloud, gave the order reluctantly. Though consumed by his desire for vengeance, he had no intention of following this madwoman to his death. 

The small fighters could maneuver through the debris, dodging obstacles; but sending a massive cruiser into the chaotic cloud would be tantamount to suicide.

One large enough fragment of the destroyed planet would mean the obliteration of both ship and crew.

Ronan didn't care in the slightest about sending his lowly Sakaarian servant army to their deaths—they were mere cannon fodder to him, expendable without a second thought.

"Beep! We've arrived at the jump point. The environment is highly unstable, and a jump is not recommended."

"Shut up! I know exactly what I'm doing!" I snapped, disregarding the AI's warning without hesitation.

I predicted Ronan's actions and now was the time to put my plan into action. Navigating the ship, I positioned it behind a large piece of debris and took out a device the size of a Rubik's cube with a timer on one of its sides from my subspace unit. I really looked harmless, really, but it packed a punch greater than the MOAB, that much was sure.

Upon seeing the device, Titania's eyes widened. "That...bomb?"

"Exactly. It cost me quite a large amount of reward points and rank rewards. Who would have thought...?" A cruel hint of a smile appeared on my face. "Now open a space door in the center of that cruiser; you should have collected enough energy from that supernova!"

"W-was that your plan all along? T-that is overkill, and the ensuing explosion will also affect us!" Titania stammered.

"Trust me, we are far enough; I did the calculations. Just do it!" I reassured her.

"I ran the same calculations, and it doesn't look good, though..." Titania muttered.

But all she needed was a second to focus, now that Ronan's cruiser wasn't moving. Soon, a space door appeared, scaring a couple of Kree soldiers in the process. I didn't waste time; I set the timer to five seconds and quickly threw the bomb through the portal.

Titania didn't wait for my command and quickly deactivated the space door.

Seconds later, I gripped the controls, my eyes locked on the cruiser, heart racing as I counted down in my head. Seconds felt like an eternity. Then—

A blinding flash erupted in the distance. The bomb detonated inside the Kree cruiser, its core shredding through metal, energy, and bodies alike in a massive explosion. The shockwave followed, consuming the surrounding area. Even from my vantage point kilometers away, my ship rocked violently as the force of the blast reached us.

Titania's voice quivered. "The Kree cruiser... it's gone."

I exhaled, a slow smirk creeping onto my lips. "Fuck that asshole! Told you I had a plan."

But there was no time to celebrate. The debris cloud around the supernova was shifting, pulled by the violent energy of the explosion, and my ship was still caught in the midst of it. I could feel the gravitational forces pulling harder now, threatening to tear my ship apart. As I rushed to get the ship under control...