Chapter Forty-Three: Planet Sandar

"Hey, Broker, I'm here." Quill entered the mysterious shop with Arthur.

"Mr. Quill, and who might this be?" asked the Broker, whose head was crowned with four strands of hair.

"This is my friend Arthur. The Orb of the Universe—mission accomplished!" Quill took out the orb and placed it on the table.

"Wasn't Yondu supposed to come?" the Broker inquired.

"He wanted to come personally, but sends his regards instead. He also asked me to pass on a message: your eyebrows are the coolest among our peers..." Quill joked, and Arthur couldn't help but laugh, for the Broker's appearance was truly amusing.

"Are you mocking me?" the Broker asked.

"We've had rigorous training; no matter how funny, we never laugh..." Arthur replied.

"But you both just laughed!" The Broker laid several copper coins on the table.

"We went through hell to get this!" Quill protested.

"Risk is part of the business!" the Broker retorted.

"There was a mechanical-headed monster, apparently one of Ronan's minions," Quill explained.

"Ronan! Sorry, Mr. Quill, but any deal involving Ronan is one I refuse to touch!" The Broker's face suddenly contorted with terror, and he shoved the orb back into Quill's hands.

"I can't afford to mess with someone like Ronan. You two should leave!" The Broker hurried Quill and Arthur out of the shop.

Standing at the shop's entrance, Arthur said to Quill, "Now do you believe me? I told you he wouldn't dare take this thing!"

"Damn! I wasted my time for nothing!" Quill muttered, his dreams of fortune dashed.

"What's wrong?" asked a girl with green skin standing by the door.

"This guy turned on us! Peter Quill—though everyone calls me Star-Lord!" Quill fell into his old habit, flirting whenever he saw a woman.

Arthur recognized her at once—it was Gamora, daughter of Thanos. That meant Rocket and Groot were likely nearby as well.

Gamora exchanged a few words with Quill, then snatched the orb from him and delivered a swift kick, fleeing immediately.

Arthur was ready. He fired a droplet that struck Gamora's calf, causing her to stumble and fall.

Quill rushed at her, grappling fiercely. Arthur picked up the fallen orb, slipped it into his pocket, and melted into the crowd like an innocent bystander. He had no desire to pay a visit to the Nova Corps prison on Xandar.

As Gamora and Quill wrestled, a diminutive figure lunged at Gamora.

Beside them, Groot wielded a cloth sack, binding Gamora with his branches and attempting to stuff her inside.

Gamora struggled free, hurling Rocket away with all her strength.

Drawing a sword, she slashed at Groot, who blocked with his arm. She then turned the blade on Quill, who was ready and stunned her with an electric gun.

At that moment, Groot’s sack enveloped Quill, who fought desperately but was still packed inside.

"Done! A big payday today!" Rocket exclaimed.

"I am Groot!" Groot said, equally pleased.

Suddenly, six Xandarian ships soared overhead, unleashing golden energy beams that immobilized Rocket, Groot, and Quill inside the sack.

"Subject 89P13, drop your weapon!" came the voice of a Nova Corps soldier from the ships.

"Damn!" Rocket grumbled, tossing away his gun.

"In the name of the Nova Corps, you are under arrest! Charged with endangering lives and property!" Gamora was also restrained by two Nova Corps soldiers.

"Hey, isn't that Star Prince?" the Nova Corps captain leading the squad recognized Star-Lord.

"I'm Star-Lord!" Quill insisted.

"Sorry, I've arrested him before for petty theft," the captain explained to his team.

Quill glanced around and finally spotted Arthur at the back of the crowd, who waved at him.

"Damn! Some friend you are!" Quill muttered.

The four were led away by the Nova Corps. Arthur, knowing they'd find a way to escape, let them go and blended into the crowd.

...

Sanctuary, Thanos' Domain

Ronan arrived to meet with Thanos, who had learned that Gamora had been captured by the Nova Corps.

"With all due respect, Thanos, your daughter caused this trouble, and yet you summon me here!" Ronan protested.

"You'd better keep your voice down, Accuser," warned the Chitauri leader.

"She was defeated by a band of savages, then locked up by the Nova Corps!" Ronan continued.

"You're the one making baseless claims," the Chitauri leader replied.

"Your people said she had already betrayed us!"

"Show some respect, Accuser!"

Ronan raised his hammer, energy surging forth, and killed the meddlesome Chitauri.

He turned to Thanos, "I only hope you take this seriously!"

"Listen well, boy! The only one I don’t take seriously is you! Your political games are tiresome; you act like a petulant child! And you chased away my beloved daughter—Gamora!" Thanos declared.

"I will honor my promise, Kree, but you must bring me the Orb! If you show up empty-handed again, I’ll bathe the galaxy in your blood!" Thanos warned.

"Let’s go, we’re heading to Kyln," Nebula said as she led Ronan away.

"What did you see?" Thanos asked.

A figure dressed in black stepped forward.

"Ronan will ultimately fail. A human from Earth will wield the Power Stone," the figure replied.

"An Earthling able to use the mightiest Infinity Stone? Intriguing. Send Ebony Maw and Corvus Glaive to follow Ronan. Wait for the right moment and bring back the Orb!" Thanos was unconcerned by this person, but he intended to let the mantis stalk the cicada while the oriole waits behind.

"As you command, my master!" The figure withdrew.

...

Rocket, Groot, Quill, and Gamora were imprisoned in the Nova Corps facility on Xandar.

The three wore yellow prison uniforms issued by the facility; Groot wore none. Half the inmates despised Ronan and, by extension, harbored deep hatred for Gamora.

Late at night, Quill saw Gamora being dragged off by several inmates. He and Rocket followed.

Just as the inmates prepared to deal with Gamora, a muscular, bald man intervened—Drax, known as the Destroyer. Ronan had slain his wife and child; now he sought vengeance on Gamora.

"Ronan murdered my family. I will do the same to his!" the Destroyer declared.

Gamora sensed danger and suddenly fought back, seizing knives from the others. She faced the Destroyer, saying, "I am neither Ronan’s nor Thanos’ kin!"

The Destroyer gripped her throat. "Woman, your words mean nothing to me!"

"Wait, wait!" Quill jumped in, stopping the Destroyer from harming Gamora.

"If your target is Ronan, killing her won’t help." Quill reasoned.

"This woman tried to assassinate you as well," the Destroyer said.

"There are plenty of women who’ve tried to kill me," Quill replied.

"She’s betrayed Ronan, so Ronan will come after her! When he does, you can get your revenge!" Quill explained.

The Destroyer considered this, decided Quill was right, and released Gamora, walking away.

"Listen, I don’t care whether you live or die," Quill told Gamora.

"Then why did you stop that giant?" Gamora asked.

"If you and Ronan are enemies, then we should stick together!" Quill replied.

"Where’s the Orb?" Gamora demanded.

"In a safe place. Right now, escaping this hellhole is our priority!" Quill answered.

"How do we get out?"

"This Rocket here has escaped twenty-two times!" Quill gestured at Rocket, who was folding his arms.

"We need to break out, then we’ll head straight to Yondu for your forty-thousand reward!" Rocket said.

"I’ll pay forty million for your Orb!" Gamora suddenly announced.

"What?"

"What?!"

Quill and Rocket were stunned by the number.

"If we break out, I’ll take you to the buyer. We split the proceeds three ways!" Gamora said.

"I am Groot!" came Groot’s voice from nearby.

"Make that four ways! Sleeping through trouble, but always perking up for money—never change!" Rocket chided Groot.

"But I already promised to give the Orb to my friend," Quill said, torn, though tempted by forty million.

"What?"

"What?"

"Groot?"

The three were all astonished at Quill’s generosity—forty million, given away just like that.

"We’ll just cut him in for a share when we sell it," Rocket said.

"Fine!" Quill thought it over and agreed.

...