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He stepped forward and performed a crisp Nova Salute.
"Honored envoy of Asgard, I am General Romen of the Nova Corps." His voice was resonant, his manner impeccably respectful. "By order of Nova Prime, I am here to welcome you. Welcome to Xandar."
Hermione gave a slight nod and opened her mouth to offer the appropriate pleasantries.
Then Romen's gaze slid past her.
He caught sight of Yondu standing behind her and went still, squinting as if trying to place that blue face.
Recognition hit a second later. His eyes flew wide.
"Yondu Udonta?!" His voice cracked upward. "You notorious Ravager scum — you actually dared set foot on Xandar?!"
He swept his hand in a sharp arc. "Guards! Seize him!"
The Nova soldiers standing at attention snapped into motion, weapons raised in unison, every muzzle swinging toward Yondu.
It was hardly a surprise. As one of the most infamous Ravager leaders in the galaxy, Yondu's name and face were flagged across practically every civilized world. In any halfway legitimate place, he was a wanted man. Romen had never in his wildest dreams imagined he'd encounter a top-priority fugitive in the middle of a welcoming ceremony for a distinguished foreign guest.
Two fully armed soldiers charged forward.
Yondu sneered and let out a whistle.
Fweet,
He couldn't afford to provoke Hermione. But a handful of ordinary grunts waving guns in his face? Did they really think the Whistler Yondu was made of clay?
The metal Sonic Arrow rose silently from his side and floated level with his shoulder, aimed forward.
The surrounding Nova soldiers reacted just as fast, snapping their energy rifles up. Dozens of dark muzzles locked onto Yondu simultaneously.
The air went taut.
Then Hermione raised her hand, casually, the way someone might brush lint off a sleeve, and gave a light wave toward the two charging soldiers.
Bang. Bang.
Two muffled impacts. Both soldiers shot backward as though struck by an invisible wall, skidding to a halt dozens of meters away. They weren't injured, but they couldn't move.
General Romen blinked. His gaze snapped from Yondu to Hermione, sharp with suspicion and something close to alarm. He threw up a hand to stop his other soldiers from joining in.
"Your Excellency!" He looked at her, his expression flooded with concern. "Are you being held under duress by this Ravager? You have nothing to fear. This is Xandar — the Nova Corps will ensure your complete safety. We will get you out of this villain's hands."
Behind Hermione, Yondu very nearly ground his back teeth to powder.
Are you blind? Who exactly is holding who?
Hermione glanced sideways at him, her smile sitting somewhere between amused and neutral. "Seems you're quite famous."
Yondu instantly produced a thoroughly ingratiating smile and dipped noticeably at the waist. "Hardly, hardly. Compared to you, my lord, what does my little reputation even count for?"
General Romen watched them exchange pleasantries as though no one else existed and went completely blank.
What was happening.
"It's fine, General," Hermione said, turning back to him. "Mole is my captive."
"Mole?" Romen repeated.
Hermione pointed at Yondu. "Him. I gave him a new name."
"..."
Romen's expression curdled further into bewilderment.
"Your Excellency." His tone was careful and very certain. "You must be saying that because he's forcing you to. You don't have to be afraid, this is Xandar. The Nova Corps will not allow any harm to come to you. We will rescue you from this man."
In his mind, the only explanation was that Yondu had used some method to control this young envoy and was making her play along.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Yondu, reading the room faster than anyone, didn't wait for her to say another word. He dropped to one knee with a decisive thud, clasped both fists together in a salute, and bellowed up at Hermione: "Thank you, my Lord, for bestowing this name!"
Hermione nodded with satisfaction. "Put away your little flying arrow."
"Yes, my Lord!" He didn't hesitate for a heartbeat. His whistle shifted pitch, and the hovering Yaka Sonic Arrow dropped obediently back to his side.
That did it.
General Romen's mouth opened and stayed open. Every Nova soldier on the landing platform stood frozen, staring.
Was she actually telling the truth?
Yondu Udonta, this Ravager chief, infamous across the stars, with a body count and a warrant list to match, was genuinely the captive of this one person? But even granting that Asgardians were formidable fighters, this envoy was a petite young woman who looked like a stiff wind might trouble her. How could she have possibly subdued Yondu?
Hermione looked at the collection of ghost-seeing expressions surrounding her and let out a quiet sigh.
She raised her hand.
Whoosh,
Dozens of fire dragons materialized out of nothing, massive and ferocious, coiling through the air above them. Waves of scorching heat poured off their bodies. The air itself warped. Everyone on the platform took an involuntary step back, shielding their faces.
"Magic!"
The word tore out of General Romen in an unguarded shout.
He finally believed it.
Asgardians were legendary for their mastery of magic and divine power. He'd simply never seen it in person before.
Romen collected himself with visible effort, reined in the shock still playing across his face, and saluted again, with considerably more depth than the first time.
"I see! My apologies for the discourtesy. Since Yon, since Mole is your captive, he is of course yours to deal with as you see fit. Your Excellency, please follow me. Nova Prime is already waiting."
One couldn't blame him for the reaction. In the galaxy, the vast majority of powerful factions ran on technology or on bodies built beyond baseline limits. True magical ability was genuinely rare, rare enough that any being who wielded it drew the attention of every major power in the cosmos.
The group moved toward the VIP reception area.
General Romen held out for almost the entire walk. Then curiosity won. He fell half a step behind and drifted sideways toward Yondu, dropping his voice as low as it would go.
"Ah... this great one... who exactly is she?"
Yondu pitched his voice just as low and rattled off a few quick words.
General Romen stopped dead.
He pulled in a slow, sharp breath. "Cab..."
That legendary name.
Well. That explained the magic. That explained why even Yondu was bowing with both hands.
They arrived shortly at an elegantly furnished VIP lounge. General Romen showed Hermione inside with a deep, reverent gesture.
"Esteemed Lady Cabbage Witch, please rest here for a moment. Nova Prime will be with you shortly."
"Pfft—"
Hermione had just taken a sip of the alien beverage an attendant had set out for her.
She sprayed it across the table.
Her head came up. She fixed General Romen with a flat stare. "What did you just call me?"
Romen blinked, startled by the reaction. "My Lady... are you not the Cabbage Witch? The one who singlehandedly routed the Chitauri army?"
"I did slaughter the Chitauri," Hermione said. "But Cabbage Witch, what kind of name is that?!"
Yondu muttered a quick explanation under his breath.
The corner of Hermione's mouth twitched.
Flame Witch. Dark Witch. Even something like Library Witch, she could have lived with any of those. Domineering, or at least thematic.
Cabbage Witch. Kale Witch.
What absolute brainless idiot had coined that?
She sat back in her chair with a dark expression, the temperature in her personal atmosphere dropping several degrees.
Yondu and General Romen exchanged a glance. Neither had anything useful to offer. The verdict was clear: she did not care for her title.
Silence stretched.
Then the door opened.
A middle-aged woman stepped inside. She wore magnificent formal attire, her bearing unhurried and composed, her silver hair combed into a flawless arrangement. Her gaze went directly to Hermione, and she spoke first.
"Hello, Your Excellency. I am Nova Prime."
➤ Next: Still Thinking of Running?
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