-Broadcast-
Behind the accelerating ring-ship, Spider-Man had managed to free himself from the parachute's straps. He clung to his web line with one hand, using the other to pull himself forward, climbing hand over hand until he reached the hull again.
He looked back over his shoulder and froze.
Earth hung in the black void behind him—a blue marble against infinite darkness, getting smaller by the second.
"Oh my god," Peter breathed.
He scrambled across the hull and dove through a closing maintenance hatch just before it sealed. Lying on his back inside the alien ship, he watched through the port as Earth shrank to the size of a basketball, then a baseball, then a marble.
"I should've stayed on the bus," he muttered to himself.
Outside, the ship's engines flared with impossible brightness. Reality seemed to stretch and bend around the vessel as Ebony Maw pushed it to maximum velocity. Space itself rippled, and the ship vanished in a flash of distorted light—jumping to faster-than-light travel, leaving the solar system behind.
On Earth, Tony's flip phone lay on the ground where it had fallen during the fight. Banner walked over and picked it up, brushing dust from its cracked screen.
Behind him, Wong opened a circular portal, the gateway showing the interior of the New York Sanctum.
Banner looked up. "Where are you going?"
Wong stepped toward the portal, then paused to look back. "The Time Stone has been taken. The Sanctum remains unguarded. What will you do?"
Banner held up the phone. "I'm gonna make a call."
Wong nodded and completed his step through the portal. With a wave of his hand, the gateway collapsed into sparks and vanished.
Banner looked down at the phone's simple contact list. One name: Steve Rogers.
He pressed the button.
-Real World-
"So this is the origin of the battle in outer space? Tony, Strange and Peter fought Thanos in outer space?" Mysterio frowned. This development was unexpected.
Rhodes shook his head. "No! This could be a decapitation operation! Don't forget that Thanos went to Titan. Gamora said it's been abandoned for a long time! Maybe he's the only one there!"
"Yeah! Ebony Maw's ship usually doesn't have any soldiers deployed. It's basically just him! If they get rid of him, Thanos will be left alone!"
Gamora agreed with Rhodes's assessment. In the past, Thanos had mentioned to her more than once that after completing his great plan, he intended to retire. The origin of his plan came from Titan's destruction, so it was very likely he was alone there!
-Broadcast-
Somewhere in deep space, a sleek spacecraft glided past a ringed planet, its hull reflecting starlight. The Milano—Star-Lord's ship—cruised at steady velocity, its interior lights warm and inviting.
Inside the cockpit, Peter Quill danced enthusiastically, gesturing dramatically as he sang along to "The Rubberband Man" blasting through the speakers. He bounced on his toes, playing air guitar, completely absorbed in the music.
He spun toward Drax, who was slouched in his seat. "Come on, Drax! 'Like a rubberband man!'"
Drax was fast asleep, snoring softly, completely dead to the world.
Gamora sat nearby, and to Peter's delight, she was actually bobbing her head slightly to the rhythm. Months of exposure to Peter's music collection had clearly had an effect.
Rocket lounged in his seat, yawning. His eyes were half-closed, fighting off sleep.
Behind him, Groot—now adolescent-sized, all gangly limbs—sat sideways in his seat, hunched over a handheld gaming device. His thumbs moved rapidly across the buttons, his attention completely focused on the screen.
Rocket sat up straighter, blinking himself awake. "So what is our objective here?"
Peter turned down the music slightly. "Well, it's a distress signal, Rocket. Someone could be dying."
"I get that, but why do we have to go?" Rocket asked pragmatically.
"Because we're nice," Peter said matter-of-factly. "And maybe whoever it is will give us a little cheddar cheese for our help."
Gamora immediately raised a finger in warning. "Which isn't the point."
Peter backpedaled smoothly. "Which isn't the point. I mean, if he doesn't pony up—"
"We'll take his ship," Drax said without opening his eyes.
"Exactly!" Rocket said with satisfaction.
"Yes!" Peter agreed enthusiastically.
"Bingo."
The two of them nodded at each other—a rare moment of agreement between Star-Lord and Rocket.
Gamora looked at Peter with mild disappointment. Peter spread his hands helplessly. "What? We can't just do good and get nothing!"
Gamora turned back around without comment.
Mantis studied the navigation console. "We are arriving."
"Okay, guys," Peter said, his tone shifting to serious. "We got a shot at some money here, and I, for one, am not going to pass it up. So, buckle up."
He glanced back at Groot, who was still playing his game, sitting sideways with his legs draped over the armrest. "Groot, put that thing away. Now."
Groot didn't even look up.
"Groot," Peter said more firmly.
Still nothing.
"Groot!"
Groot finally raised his head, his expression annoyed. "I am Groot!"
The tone and inflection made his meaning perfectly clear.
Everyone stared at him in shock.
Peter's expression hardened. "Whoa. Language!"
Rocket spun in his seat to glare at Groot. "You got some acorns on you, kid!"
Groot went back to his game, completely indifferent to their reactions.
"Ever since you got a little sap, you got a whole attitude—" Rocket started, pointing an accusatory finger.
The Milano suddenly emerged from the jump point.
Everyone's complaints died in their throats.
Floating before them was a field of wreckage. Bodies drifted in the void—hundreds of them, maybe thousands. Asgardian civilians, frozen in death's embrace. Ship fragments tumbled slowly, trailing debris. It was a graveyard stretching as far as they could see.
The Guardians stared in stunned silence.
"What happened?" Mantis whispered.
"Looks like we're not getting paid," Rocket said quietly, for once without sarcasm.
Something large suddenly slammed into their windshield with a heavy THUD.
"WIPER! WIPER! GET IT OFF!" Rocket shouted, his voice pitched higher than usual. "Get it off!"
The "object" was a body—a large, muscular man, his face pressed against the glass.
Then the eye opened.
Everyone screamed.
-Real World-
"Yes!!! I knew I wouldn't die so easily! After all, I'm the God of Thunder!" Thor folded his arms and laughed.
"Looks like you're lucky! You actually met us! Otherwise, you probably wouldn't have been able to hold on for long!" Star-Lord glanced at the excited Thor and brought him back down to earth.
Thor turned to look at him. "Yeah! Indeed! You're right! How about letting me thank you properly?"
"What?! No! I don't want—mmph!" Star-Lord was suddenly grabbed in a headlock by Thor. He tried to protest, but Rocket quickly threw a grape into his mouth, silencing him.
"God!" Gamora looked at Star-Lord being dragged away and covered her face with her hand.
Drax laughed heartily without any restraint.