Nine - An Old Acquaintance
Knowhere - Space
"This place looks deserted," noted Peter as their ship sailed into Knowhere. The usually bustling, colourful planet was now dark and eerily quiet.
"Maybe everyone evacuated after hearing what's been happening," suggested Envy.
"Good plan. However, I figure a certain collector won't be abandoning his precious goods," Quill remarked.
"Let's hope not."
"Tivan isn't foolish enough to leave the Reality Stone unattended, even if he's aware of what's been happening with the Stones," said Gamora. "It's too valuable."
Peter looked at her, trying to meet her gaze. After her story about Adonia - Thanos's girlfriend, which he was still trying to process - her words carried a different weight now, but only he knew.
He landed the ship right outside the Collector's, well, collection. It was dark in there too, but seemingly alright.
"Stay close," he whispered. "I have a strange feeling about this..." Everyone kept their weapons close and at the ready as they entered the vast exhibition hall.
"Tivan?" called Gamora as they pressed further and further into the vast collection and were not stopped, or encountered anything or anyone. "Tivan?" They continued to weave through the various displays.
Suddenly, a shadow moved up ahead, jumping out in front of them. In turn, they all jumped back into a fighting stance. But it was only the tall, cloaked figure of Taneleer Tivan, the Collector himself.
"Oh, oh Guardians, it's you." He straightened his posture, fixing the fur cloak around his neck. His white hair suck up at odd angles and his eyes, already dark, had equally dark, heavy bags beneath them.
"Tivan, you look awful," noted Gamora.
"Well, I could look worse, let me tell you! 'Awful', humf! Now, I'm sorry to turn you away, friends, but we are closed." He turned and began stalking back into his collection.
"We're not here to buy, sell, or trade, Tivan."
"Well then you've come to the wrong place."
"We're here to warn you."
"Warn me?"
"Thanos is coming."
He appeared to smirk. "Your father." Gamora's jaw tightened. "And why does this concern me?"
"Dude, come on, you must have heard," stepped in Peter.
"Because he's after all the Infinity Stones, and you have one. You almost had two, which we nearly gave you," Gamora reminded him.
"Yeah, thank God we didn't do that," added Peter.
"Hmmm..." Tivan still did not seem phased. If anything, he appeared slightly amused, though no one could understand why he would be in this situation. "So it has begun," he added, almost to himself.
"He already has two, the Space and Power Stones. He's already destroyed Xandar, and what was left of Asgard."
"I know for a fact that Asgardians brought the aether here," Sigyn said, stepping forward.
"Oh, now who is this divine creature?" Sigyn appeared startled as Tivan swept forward, scooping up her hand to kiss the back of it. "I do not believe we have yet had the pleasure of meeting, my dear. I am Taneleer Tivan, the Collector. Welcome to my great collection. Beings come from all over the universe just to catch a glimpse of it. It, and myself, are quite famous. Perhaps you've heard of us?"
She raised an eyebrow. "A little."
"Oh." He looked offended. "Very well. But who better to introduce you than myself? Please, what is your name, my dear?"
She did not look amused. "Lady Sigyn of Asgard."
"Oh, an Asgardian-" He dipped forward in a strange little bow. "Now, if it is not too bold a question, may I ask if you are seeking employment, my dear? You see, I have been without an assistant for quite some time now and I am finding all the work to be too much of a strain for just myself. Would you be interested in such a job, do you think?
"She wasn't an assistant, she was a slave," accused Peter. "She killed herself just to get out of the job. Don't forget that important detail."
"Tivan, don't change the subject," cut-in Envy before Tivan could further pursue his flirting with Sigyn. "We believe Thanos is coming here next, which puts you in danger."
"Ah, and you are-"
"Envydora, daughter-"
"-Daughter of Thanos," he finished. "So you are Envydora. I have heard of you."
"From who?"
"Certain sources I have." Unlike others they had met, he didn't seem quite so phased by the resemblance of the two women, as if it were already something he had encountered before and knew of.
"Tivan-" Gamora tried to continue her sister's efforts of focusing the conversation again. "You need to get out of here."
The stubborn Collector scoffed. "I will not leave my precious collection!"
"No item here could be worth your life."
"You don't know that! Have you any idea of how ancient and precious some of these items are? They are rare, the only of their kind, priceless!"
"And you need to get the Reality Stone out of here too. We need to get it out of Thanos's reach," said Gamora. "And we need to act quick."
"Well, if that is the case, you are putting yourselves in danger as well."
"We're going to kill Thanos." Peter held up his guns, one in each hand.
"Then I wish you luck with that."
"Why did you want all of the Infinity Stones?" Gamora pressed, now onto a different mission.
"Other than the fact that it would make him the most powerful being in the universe?" said Peter.
"He's already an Elder of the Universe, he doesn't need any more power," spoke-up Drax.
"Tivan, you know what's going on?" But he was staring at the two almost identical women. "Tivan?" He jumped, snapping from his trance. "Enough, Tivan. What about Adonia?" Gamora stepped forward. She had backed him into a corner now, she knew she had. "She told me about you, said that you were an old friend. That's how I knew about you when we gained possession of the orb. You told us about the origin of the Stones before, now tell us about her."
"Before the universe, there were six singularities-" The group was now huddled in the centre of the collection, with Tivan explaining. "You now know that these, of course, are the Infinity Stones."
"Yeah, yeah, you told us this story before, last time we were here," interjected Peter. "We know."
"Ah, but there is more. Much more." Tivan continued. "Now, at the start of this new universe, a group of beings arose, the Elders of the Universe, as powerful as they were ancient. But there was one among us who-" He was cut off by a sudden, distant rumble, followed immediately by another, no-so-distant one. The group exchanged a glance - they figured who that would be. They weren't certain, but it made sense, and they weren't keen on sticking around to find out.
"Back to the ship - now!" Peter gestured for the others to run on ahead. "We gotta get that Stone outta here!" he yelled to Tivan who was now scrambling around.
"Tivan, now!" yelled Gamora. But he was too busy rummaging around. "Tivan!"
There was a louder rumble, and one of the larger display cases burst in a spray of glass. They couldn't see the Collector anymore.
"We gotta go," Peter called to her.
She began running, he quick to follow. They had just made it to the collection's entrance when there was one last rumble, and everything went dark.
Cliffhanger, kind of! ;) we all know what happens! I really wanted to see more of the Collector in the movie, so I came up with this. I hope you enjoyed, thanks so much for reading! :)