INT. WHITE HOUSE – LEFT WING ROOM – DAY
A small, window lit room. Pale walls. No decorations. Just a worn out couch, a metal chair, and a narrow window letting in a strip of daylight. Dust floats in the still air.
Talos lies on the couch. His eyes slowly open. For a moment, confusion. His breathing quickens. His face tightens and suddenly, he breaks.
TALOS (screaming)
Why… WHY?!
He sits up abruptly, clutching his head, his body trembling. Tears stream down his face.
The door creaks open. Gravik steps in, in full Skrull form. Calm. Watching.
TALOS (hoarse, desperate)
Why?
Gravik closes the door behind him. Takes a few slow steps forward.
GRAVIK (quietly)
It's called karma.
It doesn't care if you regret your actions… or understand them too late.
He tilts his head slightly.
GRAVIK (CONT'D)
Do you accept your mistakes?
Talos' hands tighten into fists.
TALOS (soft)
…Yes.
A long pause. Talos slowly stands. Wipes his face. Looks Gravik in the eye now.
TALOS
Then what about yours?
GRAVIK (smiles)
Mine?
GRAVIK (stepping closer)
I'm not making mistakes. I'm fixing what was broken.
Talos exhales.
GRAVIK (leans in slightly)
Soon… our people will have a new Elaris Reach.
TALOS
You don't understand Elaris Reach.
TALOS (steps forward)
It was your father's dream. Asanctuary, not a conquest.
GRAVIK
Don't talk about him.
He turns away briefly.
GRAVIK (CONT'D)
His weakness is why we lost everything.
GRAVIK (CONT'D)
He had higher aim… but never had thewill to achieve it.
Gravik stops. Looks back at Talos.
GRAVIK (CONT'D)
Maybe that is the reason he treated me harshly, for his failure.
He used to ask me why I wasn't like G'iah… or Mira.
Even on the last day of us in Elaris Reach he said just shut up and follow orders.
GRAVIK (smiles faintly)
Turns out… I became somethingbetter.
TALOS (narrowing his eyes)
Better?
GRAVIK (stepping closer)
I understand what you never could. Dominance.
TALOS (a hollow laugh)
So that's it?
TALOS (gestures around)
You dominate… rule… kill innocents.
TALOS (leaning in)
Tell me, how are you different from the Kree?
Gravik's expression doesn't change.
GRAVIK
Innocents? Humans are no different.
GRAVIK (steps past Talos)
The moment they realize what we are…what we can do
GRAVIK (turning back)
They'll dissect us. Weaponize us. Profit from us.
Talos moves closer now, almost confronting him.
TALOS
You've locked yourself in your own pain.
Stuck in one moment… ignoring everything else.
A long pause.
GRAVIK (low)
I was once hopeful too.
FLASHBACK – 1996
INT. BASE 2 SKRULL SHIP – ENTERING EARTH – NIGHT - 1996
A dim interior. Pulsing walls. Bioluminescent veins running across surfaces. Control panels flickering. Gravik stands at the center.
THARAN stands beside him.
THARAN
I'm sorry about your father.
You lead us now.
Gravik doesn't respond. Just looks ahead.
GRAVIK
When do we land?
THARAN
In minutes.
The ship descends over dense forests and open land. Suddenly, alarms.
THARAN (O.S.)
There's interference!
Inside the ship
THARAN
High energy field around the coordinates.
We can't penetrate it.
Gravik frowns.
GRAVIK Is it global?
THARAN - No. Localized.
GRAVIK
Land at the edge.
EXT. LANDING SITE – NIGHT
The ship settles near an invisible barrier. A group of Skrull soldiers step out with Gravik. Ahead, a shimmering energy field.
From the inner side… three figures approach. The Dora Milaje. And BLACK PANTHER.
BLACK PANTHER (stepping forward) - King T'Chaka from Wakanda
GRAVIK (stepping closer to the field)
Gravik from Elaris Reach
T'CHAKA
You are standing on the outskirts of Wakanda.
GRAVIK (voice steady)
We seek refuge.
We've lost our home.
T'CHAKA
No outsiders can enter Wakanda.
The Dora Milaje tighten formation.
T'CHAKA (CONT'D)
Leave… or we will make you.
Silence.
THARAN (quiet)
What do we do?
GRAVIK (staring at the barrier)
We will make our Elaris Reach.
BACK TO PRESENT – WHITE HOUSE ROOM
Gravik stands still.
GRAVIK (looking at Talos) Earth was already divided. That's when I understood, Peace only exists under something stronger. That was also the reason why wedidn't fight among ourselves in out planet.
TALOS
What you're doing is wrong.
Humans are dying. Skrulls are dying.
TALOS (stepping closer)
Mistakes don't give you the right to become a God.
GRAVIK
Did I go too far?
TALOS
Yes.
Silence.
GRAVIK (exhaling)
And yet… I'm this close.
Why stop now?
GRAVIK (walking past Talos)
Humans kill for profit.
GRAVIK (turning back)
I kill for order.
So choose.
Stand with me… or against me.
TALOS
Why did you kill Mira?
Gravik pauses. A faint smile.
GRAVIK
I didn't. I saved her.
Envy is common is every species.
GRAVIK (quietly)
Even among us. Back in our planet you bragged about her deeds, so others wanted her dead. When I made her work for me, they would not dare to touch her. I just ordered Tharan to bring you here anyhow.
GRAVIK - And about killing innocents, I haven't. I abducted the abused children who when they would grow up would do something wrong so it's better they help me. Using Mira's replication pods our children will see what those innocents experienced and our children will punish the abusers.
Behind him, DR. VARYN, steps forward, adjusting his coat nervously.
DR. VARYN
Sir… apologies for the interruption.
May I have a word?
Gravik doesn't look at him immediately. Just starts walking outside.
INT. WHITE HOUSE – CORRIDOR – DAY
A long, corridor stretches across the wing. Polished floors reflect the overhead lights. Security cameras quietly rotate. The door to the room opens. Gravik steps out first.
DR. VARYN quickly falls in step beside him. They walk side by side down the corridor.
DR. VARYN
I'm not sure if this is… progress or a complication.
We've observed genetic anomalies in human subjects.
Gravik's pace remains steady.
GRAVIK
What kind of anomalies?
DR. VARYN (swallowing)
Primarily in younger individuals.
DR. VARYN (leaning slightly closer, lowering voice)
There's an unusual protein expression… linked to the 23rdchromosome.
Gravik's eyes shift slightly.
DR. VARYN (CONT'D)
We've designated it… the X-gene.
GRAVIK
And what does it do?
DR. VARYN (exhaling slowly)
It mutates.
Triggers evolutionary changes under extreme cellular stress. Radiation exposure, far beyond normal thresholds.
GRAVIK
Gamma?
DR. VARYN
Stronger.
Energy signatures consistent with the Infinity Stones. This planet experienc3ed that twice.
They keep walking.
DR. VARYN (looking at Gravik)
In simple terms
Some humans are… evolving.
Silence for a few steps.
GRAVIK
How does this affect my formula?
DR. VARYN
We don't know yet.
It could enhance compatibility…
or destabilize it entirely.
Gravik keeps walking, hands behind his back now.
DR. VARYN (CONT'D)
That's why I came.
I need authorization to proceed with deeper testing. On live subjects.
Gravik slowly turns his head toward him. A long, heavy silence.
GRAVIK
Every turning point in history, was unexpected.
GRAVIK (narrowing his eyes slightly)
That's what makes it powerful.
DR. VARYN
I'll begin immediately but I don't feel alright. I mean they are just children.
GRAVIK (calm)
They are not just children, they are children of abusers. Some times they are abused by their own parents.
He steps back, then turns and walks the opposite direction, faster now. Gravik watches him go. Then continues walking. He lifts his left arm slightly. A faint flicker of Skrull tech, pulses on his arm.
GRAVIK (low)
Zorak. Be ready. I need you… now.
Gravik lowers his arm and walks forward.