Valkyrie sat in the pilot's seat. At super speed, objects were impossible to distinguish with the naked eye; the view was a chaotic blur of light points stretched into long, radiant streaks.
Yet this hazy perspective held its own unique charm, reminiscent of an abstract masterpiece from an ancient artist.
Valkyrie watched with anticipation as the ship streaked through jump points, closing the distance to Morul.
"How much longer until we arrive?" Gamora asked, stepping into the cockpit. She had showered and changed into fresh clothes, currently toweling her damp hair.
"Soon! Once we clear the next jump point, it's about two more hours."
Gamora nodded slightly and took a seat, continuing to manage her long hair. Drax sat on the floor, leaning against the hull, his deep, rhythmic snores echoing through the cabin. Groot sat nearby, knees tucked to his chest, watching Rocket assemble his weapon with intense fascination.
"Haha! Success! Just in time," Rocket suddenly burst out laughing.
The maniacal cackle startled Drax awake. The group turned to see Rocket holding a weapon that looked like a heavy grenade launcher, his expression one of pure smugness.
"Check this out. This bad boy is the only reason I'm feeling okay about heading to Morul."
Seeing him still plotting to blow up Jason, Valkyrie shook her head and looked away. "We're hitting the jump point in a minute. You better hold on tight and make sure that little firecracker doesn't take out the ship."
"Firecracker?! This is a Quantum Rocket Launcher, and my hands are rock steady! It's not going off by accident!" Rocket barked back, though he quickly set the weapon down and buckled himself into a seat.
Crossing a jump point was an ordeal; it made the brain spin and the body ache. For a first-timer, it was a one-way ticket to vomiting.
Valkyrie gave a final warning: "Brace yourselves! Five seconds to jump!"
"Five... four... three... two... one..."
A brilliant flash erupted in the dark void as a rift opened before them. The ship plunged through, accompanied by a sudden, deafening roar. Everyone reflexively covered their ears, though the ringing in their heads persisted. The hull groaned and vibrated violently as if it were on the verge of disintegrating.
Seconds later, the turbulence vanished. The ship had held together; they were safely through.
But before the discomfort could even fade from their faces, they were struck dumb by the sight before them.
In the void ahead, a massive ship lay in wait, flanked by hundreds of smaller vessels that formed a seamless, impenetrable blockade.
After a moment of shock, Gamora screamed, "Dammit, it's the Dark Aster! Turn back! Run!"
But the waiting fleet didn't give them a chance. They opened fire immediately.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Instantly, a sun-blocking storm of multi-colored laser fire surged toward the ship.
"Shit!" Valkyrie roared, fighting the controls to initiate emergency evasive maneuvers.
However, the barrage was too dense. Despite her best efforts, the ship was hit.
BOOM!
The first volley struck the energy shields, which absorbed the blow perfectly. But under the sheer volume of fire, the shields held for only a few seconds before shattering completely. The subsequent impacts rocked the ship, explosions blooming across the hull as fires broke out in multiple sectors.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Piercing alarms wailed, and the console screens were swamped with red warning icons.
"Engines are gone!" Valkyrie yanked the controls, but there was no response. She tried to contact Jason for backup, but the communication arrays were slag. Finally, even the defensive cannons were silenced by a direct hit.
After a single coordinated volley, Valkyrie's ship was little more than a floating wreck. Seeing their target crippled, Ronan's fleet ceased fire and dispatched hundreds of Necrocraft to close the distance.
"We're dead. We're totally, 100% fucked! Engines gone, comms gone, guns gone!" Rocket's eyes were wide, paws clutching his head in terror.
"Come then, Ronan! I will have my vengeance for my wife and daughter!" Drax roared, drawing his daggers and glaring at the Dark Aster.
"Are you insane?! You want to throw your life away, but I'm not ready to die yet!" Panic and despair had finally broken Rocket's nerves.
"Hmph. Coward," Drax spat.
"Fucker!" Rocket snarled, leveling the Quantum Rocket Launcher at him. "Come on! Let me kill you first, then I'll deal with Ronan!"
The two were at each other's throats, weapons drawn and ready to spill blood inside the dying ship.
Gamora turned, her voice a whip-crack of authority. "Look at where we are! Shut the fuck up, both of you!"
Rocket turned on her, teeth bared. "You bitch! If I hadn't listened to your lies, I wouldn't be in this mess!"
"You—"
"Enough!"
Valkyrie's brow darkened. She whipped a dagger across the room, the blade grazing Rocket's cheek before thudding deep into the wall. She stood up, unsheathing Dragonfang, her eyes like ice. "Everyone shut the hell up! We are facing the end. If anyone else starts a fight, I'll kill them myself!"
Her sheer presence and known power worked. The cabin fell silent.
Only when she was sure they were listening did Valkyrie sheath her blade. "Ronan's fleet stopped firing. That means they want us alive. As long as we have value to him, there's a chance to turn this around."
Gamora was dejected. "Ronan wants the Orb. Once he has it, we're as good as dead."
"Relax," Valkyrie said calmly. "I have a way to keep you alive."
Surprise and hope flickered in their eyes. Rocket lowered his weapon, scurrying closer. "What way? You have a backup signal for Morul?"
Valkyrie shook her head. "The ship's comms are fried. Without a transmitter, my beacon is just a hunk of metal."
Rocket's head slumped.
"Trust me," Valkyrie said with total confidence. "I have a plan. You'll see when the time comes."
Gamora stared at the Dark Aster, her brow furrowed. "Given their position, they were lying in wait. Our plans were leaked. I want to know how."
Rocket's eyes lit up. "What if it was that Star-Prince? He used that tape as an excuse to split from us. Maybe he sold us out to Ronan for a bounty."
Drax nodded. "It makes sense. No sane man risks a prison for a piece of plastic."
Gamora shook her head. "No. I served Ronan long enough to know he wouldn't waste time with a small-time thief like Quill. He doesn't even know he exists."
"I agree," Valkyrie added. "If Quill talked after we left the prison, Ronan wouldn't have had enough time to set up an ambush at a jump point. The logistics don't work."
"Fine, you win," Rocket shrugged. "But forget who talked. How do we deal with the guys knocking on our door?"
Gamora asked, "Valkyrie, what's the move? Do we take out as many as we can when they board?"
Valkyrie looked out the window at the swarming Necrocraft. She turned back to them. "What do you think?"
Drax brandished his daggers. "I think we should gut a few of Ronan's lackeys first!"
Gamora remained silent.
"I didn't think I'd get to use the Quantum Launcher this fast. I've only got two rounds, but that's ten ships down," Rocket said, crouching to finish the load.
Valkyrie spoke firmly. "The odds are impossible. We have no hope of winning a straight fight."
Drax looked at her in shock. "You want us to surrender?!"
"Yes!" Valkyrie nodded, then clarified, "Specifically, a strategic show of weakness. We wait for the right moment to strike back."
"No! I will not surrender to Ronan! I owe it to my family!" Drax shouted.
Valkyrie met his gaze coldly. "Then go join them. Perhaps they'll forgive you for throwing away your only real chance at vengeance because you were too proud to wait."
Killing Ronan was Drax's entire life. Valkyrie's words hit him where it hurt. After a long silence, he spoke. "If I surrender... Can I really kill him?"
"I promise you," Valkyrie said. "You will."
Drax sighed, finally lowering his head.
The Necrocraft swarmed the ship. Just as the boarding parties prepared for a breach, the hatch hissed open. Valkyrie and the others stood in a line, hands raised high. The soldiers, expecting a bloodbath, were momentarily stunned.
They were shackled and brought aboard the Dark Aster.
In the vast hall, Ronan sat upon his throne, clutching his warhammer, his face a mask of cold arrogance. Nebula stood at his side, her eyes burning with disbelief as she stared at Gamora.
She... she surrendered without a fight? That's not like her at all.
But if you're walking into the trap yourself, I won't stop you.
"Gamora!" Ronan roared, stepping down from his throne.
"Hey, Ronan," Gamora replied flatly.
"You have a lot of nerve betraying me," Ronan said, leveling his hammer at her chest. "Hmph. I'd love to kill you myself, but your sister is quite eager to do the job for me."
Gamora glanced at Nebula and let out a cold laugh. "A wise choice. Because with her pathetic skills, she'd never manage it otherwise."
"You—!" Nebula's temper flared instantly.
"Quiet!" Ronan barked, silencing her. He lowered his hammer. "Where is the Orb?"
"Right here," Valkyrie said.
Ronan shifted his gaze to her, a smirk forming on his lips. "Gamora, is this your partner? I expected a warrior. I didn't expect a group of cowards."
Before Drax could snap, Valkyrie pulled the Orb from her pocket. "I call it knowing when you're beaten. Dying for a trinket like this isn't worth it. Here, it's yours."
Ronan laughed. "Even with the Orb, you're all still dead. But since you were 'smart' enough to submit, I'll grant you the honor of dying by my own hand. Be grateful; few get the chance."
Valkyrie smiled, showing no fear of the impending execution.
Ronan took the Orb, turning it over in his hands. "Finally! With this, Thanos will help me cleanse Xandar. A thousand years of waiting... the revenge of my fathers is finally at hand." He breathed heavily, his voice a manic growl.
Valkyrie let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Borrowing someone else's strength for 'family revenge'? You really are pathetic."
Her words were a thunderclap in the silent hall. Everyone froze. Is this woman insane? Insulting the Accuser?
Nebula, already in league with Ronan, snarled, "Watch your mouth, or I'll tear it from your face."
Valkyrie scoffed. "Why? It's the truth."
"Shut up!" Ronan's eyes turned bloodshot, his rage peaking.
Valkyrie pressed on. "I see you clutching that Orb... don't you even want to see what's inside?"
Ronan stared at her, his eyes cold. "This belongs to Thanos. It is no concern of mine!"
Valkyrie let out a derisive snort. "I see. No wonder you're content to crawl at Thanos's feet. You have no ambition. No balls. A golden opportunity is right in front of you, and you're too scared to even look at it."
Ronan narrowed his eyes. "Woman! If you want a quick death, speak plainly!"
"Thanos promised to destroy Xandar for you just to get this Orb. Aren't you curious why? What could possibly be inside that would make the Mad Titan willing to pay such a price?"
Ronan hesitated. Curiosity began to gnaw at him. And he wasn't the only one—Gamora, Rocket, Drax, even Nebula... they all wanted to know.
After a moment, Ronan couldn't resist. He gripped the Orb with both hands and twisted it open.
Instantly, a blinding surge of purple light flooded the dark hall, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
"What is this..." Ronan gasped, his expression one of pure awe and terror.
Valkyrie smiled. "I see you recognize it. That's right. You're looking at the Power Stone—one of the six Infinity Stones."
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200 power stones.
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