[center][h2][color=fff200]Carol Danvers Is[/color][/h2][/center]
[center][img]https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvx0W_KnWUg/Ubi4l6sDvCI/AAAAAAAACus/VjAW0HOvMHM/s1600/Logo+Ms.+Marvel.png[/img][/center]

[indent][color=fff200]"Nice to see you too Joseph."[/color] I responded back sarcastically as I plopped down in my own seat a little ways from him.  If I was going to get a verbal lashing no matter what might as well be sitting down to conserve my strength.

[color=0072bc]"I see you're just as obnoxious as ever Carol.  Must have been some kind of miracle you ever made it through military flight school."[/color]

[color=fff200]"Well I think you're the only one who can bring out this side of my Joseph.  I was the rising star of the air force during my time.  Heck, if I had stayed on I might even be a Brigadier General by now."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"If you had stayed one another instance like this would have occurred and you would have been court marshaled and at the very least dishonorably discharged but more likely prison or worse."[/color]

I grit my teeth in anger as his words struck home.  If I had been a military officer at the time my stupidity would have gotten myself in deep trouble and I knew it.  Joseph Danvers still know where to strike to cut me in places I didn't even know I was vulnerable.  I glared at my old man from across the room, despite everything the man had done, the loses affecting him, he was still stubborn and strong-willed.

It was one of the qualities I inherited from him.
[color=fff200]
"Well perhaps if you had put faith in me from the beginning I could have avoided this from the beginning and have become a top figure in NASA before all this happened."[/color]  I knew this was a stupid argument but I was heated up and little was gonna stop me right now.

[color=0072bc]"Bullshit, I knew from the start one of these days you'd let your feminine emotions cloud your judgement and you'd blow like you did just a few months ago!"[/color]  I could see his face start to heat up toward my level, but I was already raising to a more volatile state.

[color=fff200]"But at least then the money you spent would have actually been useful!"[/color] Everyone froze after hearing what I said: My brother Joe froze as he had decided at that moment to enter with a peace offering of extra beers and snacks, Joseph froze his mind clouded by rage, and I froze in horror at what I had just shouted without thinking it through.

[color=fff200]"Shit...I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that dad."[/color]  I was so horrified at what I had uttered I couldn't even keep up my normal bluster by calling him Joseph.  My brother Steve, had been the one to receive financial help for College despite my superior grades and being the eldest Danvers.  Steve had been a good kid, entered the military out of patriotic duty despite the funds, and died shortly afterward while in the field.  His death had really shaken our family down to its core and I had just [i]spat[/i] on his legacy.

I hung my head down in shame, already cooling down as I let my hair cover my features as much as possible to try and hide.  How could I have let myself go that much, had the abduction incident really screwed me up so bad that I would even desecrate my own dead brother?  If mom was still around there was no way things would have disintegrated so much, heck even our previous spats wouldn't have gone on for so long but only because we all would have been a bit more cheerful.

I heard a creak on the floor and realized Joseph had gotten up off his chair and was standing right in front of me.  I couldn't help but look up, and was promptly slapped in the face.  That wasn't the end though as next he had a fist in my hair and I was literally yanked up to his level by my head.  The funny thing was none of that really hurt, but in a way that just made it hurt worse, as inside I felt I kind of deserved it.

[color=0072bc]"You piece of shit!  Complaining so much about how I never helped you then having the gall to say giving my money to my son was a waste!  At least unlike your sorry ass he gave his life for his country and what about you!  You survived and yet all you are doing right now is wallowing in self-pity!"[/color]  Spittle launched from his mouth and hit my face but despite all my power, I just let it happen.  I always kind of had a bit of a dream, to one day completely overpower my dad.  As a military gal I could already hold my own but my father was a tough old cracker and I never had a distinct advantage over him, but now all I wanted to do was turn back time a little so I could take back my thoughtless words.

Joe apparently couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted the verbal beat-down.  [color=f7941d]"Blast it Carol, dang it father!  Settle down already you nut jobs!  It's going to be Christ's own birthday soon!  Mother is not here any more but she would have loved us to sit down and enjoy our time together like a family would.  We've never had the happiest of homes but at least whenever there was a holiday we would come together and make do!"[/color]  Joe clenched his fists, knowing in a fight he was completely useless so the only things he had were his words, but they struck as true as any heat-seeking missile.

Joseph grunted, but also relented and pushed me back down in my chair as he released me.  I collapsed into the chair more angry at myself than anything else.  Why was I such a screw-up?

While I was trying to think of a way to better apologize that strange pager SWORD had given me started vibrating.  I fished into my pocket and brought it up for a look, while Joseph had one more jab to make.

[color=0072bc]
"So is that your back-up boyfriend or something?"[/color] He sneered as I stared at the message.

[b][Carol Danvers, SWORD requires your [i]expertise[/i] on a certain matter.  A Quinjet will pick you up outside.][/b]

It was short but what SWORD wanted SWORD got.  Since I was going my Quinjet while I could just fly by myself, it was fairly obvious they didn't want me to know wherever it was was located.  It looked like I might not even be able to enjoy Christ's birthday with my family, even if that enjoyment was going to be minimal.

[color=fff200]"It's work actually, kind of a side-job I have going right now before I decide what course to take next."[/color]  As I talked the Quinjet in question was already touching down on the street right outside the house.  I hurried to get ready, checking to make sure I had everything I needed, then realizing I hadn't really taken anything with me considering I had flow incognito to get here.  That also meant that my little communication device most certainly had a tracker on it, SHIELD and SWORD really did like those kinds of things.

[color=fff200]"Look...both of you, for what it's worth I am really sorry for what I said.  I let my anger get the better of me and cloud my judgment, it's something I'll have to work on.  I'll try to finish up quick and be back by Christmas!"[/color]  Not wanting to face them any longer I bolted for the door.  The ramp was already down and I quickly climbed on board where I saw a familiar, green-haired face with dark glasses, Abigail Brand.

[color=39b54a]"Welcome Carol Danvers, we have a pressing matter that needs your attention."[/color][/indent]
[hr]
[indent][color=f7941d]"What the heck kind of side-job gets you that kind of a ride?"[/color] Joe asked his jaw still open after seeing Carol being whisked away on the advanced aircraft.

[color=0072bc]"Beats me."[/color] Joseph shrugged as he stared at the small dot the quinjet had already become.  [color=0072bc]"Carol may be an idiot and a lousy daughter, but she's a tough one, probably the only good thing she managed to get from me."[/color]  Soon it was already too small to be registered to the naked eye, or maybe that was its stealth capabilities.

[color=f7941d]"I know you've never been a model father to any of us but even to this day you still treat Carol the worst.  Why can't you just lighten up dad?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Hell no...being a veteran is the only thing I got left and sometimes, having an enemy can be just as inspiring as having a friend.  Heck what am I defending myself to you about you spineless fool!  Living the high life in those fancy buildings of yours, makes me gag."[/color]

[color=f7941d]"You know what I got you for Christmas dad?  A mug that says 2nd best father."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"You better not have or I'll tan your civilian hide so hard your girlfriend will leave you!"[/color]

[color=f7941d]"Just kidding...ugh I wish Carol could have stayed so you'd have to split your ire between us."[/color][/indent]