A/N: Couple of review responses for the last chapter in my forums. Now on to the show.
Chapter Twenty-Six: On My Way to Knowhere
"Did we pay for this ship?"
Taylor's question made the two much, much older Asgardians turn to regard her. "Why?" Gna eventually asked.
Taylor looked up over the hand-held tablet that held the ship's schematics. "This is a reconditioned Aekon Vengeance starfighter from their war against the Kree, before they joined the Nova Empire. It has two quad-pulse plasma cannons!"
"Do you read the owner's manual of every ship you ride in?"
Taylor met Gna's grin with a raspberry. "The only small ships I've been in were this and a Kree stealth infiltrator."
She went back to the fascinating manual. It provided detailed schematics not just of the controls and systems, but also the quad fusion power plant and the various thruster systems. It did not have warp capability-most ships didn't. But it could make over twenty jumps in a row without having to reset its navigational controls.
It did not surprise Taylor that Sif could fly it without having to read anything. She sat, studied the complicated dashboard and control interfaces, and ten minutes later was flying the ship as effortlessly as if she'd been born to it.
"The craft was a gift from Nova Prime," Sif said. "Likely made in the hopes that we would overlook the trouble of your near arrest."
"Can we keep it when we're done?"
"I don't think Heimdall will be interested in bringing it through the Bifrost on our way back," Gna said. She caught herself quickly. "And I doubt that fool Skurge would know how."
Taylor lowered the tablet. "Huh. So what I am hearing is that you can send a ship through the Bifrost."
The other two shared a look. "Yes," Gna finally said.
Sif ended the conversation. "We're making our first jump."
Taylor went back to reading. While the manual had nothing on Asgardian books, the lessons her past-self endured at Ebony Maw's hands paid dividends as she absorbed the information sufficiently that with the right materials she could have rebuilt the ship.
When she finally finished, she slipped the manual into her satchel and then looked up and saw that the scene beyond the cockpit had changed.
Around a glowing purple cloud of gas, they came within sight of the distant mining colony that was their ultimate destination. Not for the first time since regaining her memories, Taylor found herself desperately missing her bifrost eyes. Her normal eyesight still allowed her to focus on objects far beyond normal human sight, but with the Bifrost she could have seen inside the object.
Right now, it looked like a marble. As the ship grew closer, though, the numbing enormity of the being left her shaken. No terrestrial world could have given rise to a being so large it had its own gravity. As they drew closer, she could see massive vertebrae each the size of an earth country protruding from the base of the moon-sized skull.
"Scion would have been that size," she realized out loud. "But he wasn't really a physical being. His body was amorphous and multi-dimensional."
In front of her, she noticed how Sif's hands paused before continuing her adjustments to the ship's flight.
Gna looked over her shoulder. "Scion. The celestial you fought?"
"Yeah."
Sif sounded somber when she spoke. "There exists footage from civilizations dating back hundreds of thousands or even millions of years ago, of Celestials visiting various worlds. Some they let be, others they obliterated. None could ever say why. I'm glad they've all died out."
"All things end," Taylor said. Though she thought of her father, she realized Buri had said the same thing when he learned of Frigga's and Freyr's death.
The moon-sized head continued to grow closer. She saw more details-constructs that sprouted from the rock-like bone at various points. One massive eye socket the size of Brockton Bay provided entry into the skull through a series of ringed buttresses. Unable to help herself, Taylor moved forward until she held the back of Gna's seat.
Within Knowhere, she saw a vision right out of the movies. The interior of the skull had structures growing up and down like stalactites and stalagmites of a cavern, only these structures seemed to be processing plants or habitations of various kinds. She couldn't see any logos or labels from corporations, like she did back on Xandar. What she did see was an astonishing density of people of all races.
Sif flew with a sure, experienced hand through the crowded airway that existed between the upper and lower cities. When she next spoke, Taylor began to answer until she realized Sif was speaking to someone below.
"Valkyrie out," Sif said when finished. She'd already dipped the hawk-shaped craft's nose toward one of dozens of landing pads that seemed to rise up in rows along the back of the skull. She settled the ship down so smoothly that Taylor didn't feel a thing until Sif deactivated the ship's gravity.
Everything instantly felt lighter. Stepping back, she watched Sif and Gna both while fighting back an excited grin. "We're inside a giant space alien head!"
Sif rolled her eyes with a tolerant smile. Gna laughed. "It is amazing," the younger of the Asgardians agreed. "I have never been here. Have you, Lady Sif?"
"I have not," Sif admitted. "Vandral came a century ago, when all of this was just getting started. I've been in places like it, though. There is no law. The mining corporations maintain their own security, but there is no central authority. Justice will be swift and uncertain. We'll go in cloaks to hide ourselves, or use enchanting rings in your case, Telos. We're to drop only one of the objects off to the Allfather's contact. The other we will hide elsewhere."
Taylor activated her illusion and appeared as a woman of similar height and dress as Gna. She joined the others in donning travel cloaks that helped disguise their armor and weapons. There were no customs, no authority to check their travel papers. Gna paid the docking fee with a Xandarian unit card and they made their way down into the densely crowded streets of the city.
The novelty lasted just as long as it took the smell to settle in; of unwashed flesh, sweat and misery. She saw children that could have been human running around in rags, their ribs visible and their bellies distended. Just walking, she saw two brutal fights-one with knives, the other with a laser gun that made short work of the victim.
"Why...why doesn't anyone try to make this place better?" she whispered to Sif.
"Who? It sits between the Nova and Kree Empires, with direct access to Skrull and Chitauri space. If any one jurisdiction moved to take it, all the others would be compelled to respond. More importantly-in another century all this will be gone. They're mining away the whole skull, and eventually there won't be enough to hold these facilities, much less support their existence."
"But these people are suffering!"
Sif paused before turning to study her intently. "I know," she said softly. "It speaks well of your character that their suffering offends you. It does me, and I know Gna feels the same. But I also know from harsh experience that if we three were to do anything to interfere, we would only make it worse. I've seen it happen, Telos. More than once. Your compassion does you credit, but compassion without reason never makes things better. That is a harsh lesson we of Asgard have learned. More than once, I'm ashamed to admit."
They had to walk for hours-there was no transit system to speak of, nor taxis to move them about. Taylor felt the gravity was light enough she could probably fly even without magic, but she doubted she could carry her companions.
Eventually, though, they reached what looked like a crowded casino, she guessed. "This is the place Vandral told me about," Sif said. She led the way inside, looking around intently, until she saw what she was looking for.
Their contact was Krylorian-a tall, lanky man with red skin and beautiful violet eyes. He stood with several cowed-looking Krylorian serving women behind a long, low-lit bar filled with aliens of every description and origin.
Sif slipped between two of the aliens whose species Taylor could not identify even with her recent education, and reached out a single silver coin to the startled bartender. "We have need to view the collection," Sif said.
The Krylorian took the Asgardian scaet and stared a moment before nodding.
As Sif spoke with the bartender, Taylor saw one of the aliens beside her reach over a four-fingered speckled gray hand and grab Sif's ass. Before Taylor could step forward, Gna caught her arm. "Do you think the Lady Sif cannot defend her own honor?" Gna whispered.
"Oh. Right, sorry."
The being that groped Sif appeared humanoid, but with that same spackled, hairless gray skin all over his body. He leered at her as she turned and smiled at him. She then windmilled her arm and smacked the male on his own ass so hard the blow lifted and physically crushed him into the bar.
"If you touch mine, I will touch yours back," Sif said archly.
Rather than offend, her comment drew loud, boisterous laughter from the other patrons at the expense of the now thoroughly discombobulated alien who was clutching his posterior in obvious pain.
"Supposedly this place has edible food," Sif said, speaking lightly as she rejoined her companions. "Let's find out."
They found an empty table in one of dozens of alcoves that looked out over the casino floor. Once they climbed in, Taylor noticed the noise from the floor cut out almost entirely. She focused until she could see the shimmer of a subtle particle shield around them. It did not stop solid matter, but was enough to disperse sound waves and smells.
From her belt, Gna removed an inscribed stone the size of her palm and waved her hand over it. Almost immediately Taylor felt the dissonance of Asgardian magic as the stone pulled briefly from the ever-existent dimensional drift. The energy it produced caused a low spark from behind Sif's head.
"You're getting better with that," Sif noted approvingly.
Gna grinned as she slipped the stone back into her belt. "I do not have the enchanter's gift, but uncle tells me I have enough magic to make good use of those items the enchanters provide. Perhaps in fifty years I can use something Telos makes. It is safe to speak freely."
"Our wait may be a few hours," Sif said. "Beings as old as the Collector do not have the same perception of time as we do."
Taylor blinked. "Sif, you're a thousand years old. You don't have the same perception of time as most mortals."
Gna guffawed. "Old Lady Sif! Shall I fetch your cane and shawl? I'm sure Telos can mash your food for you to save your teeth!"
"Your uncle is six thousand," Sif noted.
Gna sobered a moment. "Yes. He is very old. Do you need to borrow his cane?"
Taylor couldn't help but laugh. Gna's humor was so open and infectious not even Sif could be angry, just shaking her head. "Well, it's obvious the two of you are far too young to try that Aekon ale I've heard so much about."
"Bite your tongue, old woman!" Gna declared hastily.
They ordered food and drink from the table. Taylor recognized some of the cuisine choices from her brief flight with Yon Rogg, and picked the one she remembered as tasting the best. It came just moments later, and soon the three women were eating.
As they did so, Sif shared more of what she knew of their contact. "Though the Allfather has not spoken of it with me, I learned that this Collector, Tannaleer Tivan, is an elder of the Universe. He is older than the Allfather or even Bors before him. He may be older than Asgard itself. His company, the Tivan Group, is the majority stakeholder in every business here, including this one. If he gave the word, he could have ten thousand mercenaries descend on us in a second."
Sif gave Taylor a meaningful glance. "He does not just collect objects. Keep your illusion in place. As far as I know, you are unique in the Universe. While we have need of him, let's not tempt him into betraying us."
"Agreed," Taylor said fervently.
They waited, and waited more. Gna taught Taylor several word games, but the boredom soon grew so unbearable Taylor was thrumming in her seat. Just beyond the light forcefield was an entire alien civilization to explore. Things to see and do. And she was stuck with her hands under her thighs
"Ancestors, you truly are a child," Sif finally said with a roll of her eyes. "I've seen more patience from a toddler!"
"With respect, my lady, you haven't been around many toddlers lately," Gna said. "Lord Volstagg's youngest would have been howling murder by now."
Sif sighed tiredly and pointed at Gna. "You are enabling her!"
"I want to join her," Gna said unrepentantly. "How often will I get such an opportunity? Patience is a virtue, but so is taking advantage of the opportunities life presents us."
Sif stared at the younger Asgardian suspiciously. "They have a gambling table, don't they?"
"Forty-seven, that I've counted so far," Gna said. "And we have ten thousand units gifted us by Xandar that will have no use once we return."
Defeated, Sif waved them away. "Just stay close for when the summons come."
It took only one shared glance between them before Taylor and Gna were out of the alcove and moving out into the floor.
Without Sif to corral her, and with Gna enabling her, Taylor let the heady mix of alien languages, smells and signs carry her out onto the floor of the casino. The games involved lots of betting, and at least in a couple, violence.
She was surprised when Gna showed something of a vicious streak by betting on a contest involving small, reptile-like rodents fleeing a larger predator. The betting seemed to be on how long the rodent lasted. Other tables employed games of chance with arcane rules designed to try and minimize cheating.
They drifted in and out of the other games. Gna proved to be a consummate gambler, and with Allspeak she did not need a translator to fit in effortlessly at the various tables. Taylor played a few, but on those games that involved set numbers of chit values, she found she could statistically count the values. After winning a few hands more than she should have been able to, she begged off playing further just for the absence of a challenge.
When she saw the good-old fashioned arm wrestling, though, she had to fight to keep the grin off her face. She tapped Gna's shoulders and pointed. Though the woman was young by Asgardian standards, by human standards she was ancient. She raised one elegant brow before smiling. "Don't break anyone," was all she said.
Taylor gave her friend a grin in return before making her way closer to the contest. She didn't understand the languages they spoke, but what she saw were three massive, alien champions. Those who lasted more than twenty seconds received a little cash prize; no one won. They made their money by taking bets against the champions.
As she listened and let her mind parse out and begin to make sense of the sounds, she realized the beings around her were speaking dozens of languages that their translators were taking care of. Taylor, of course, did not have one. So she stood and concentrated on the language pattern of the champions, and the little insect-like creature behind them that seemed to be running the show. There were a few common sounds with Xandari-if civilizations had been in contact for centuries or even millennia, it made sense there would be a blending of words.
Those formed the key, and after half an hour she was understanding what the creature was saying. All challengers were welcome, with prizes available to anyone who lasted more than thirty seconds, and five hundred units to anyone who could defeat a champion. Betting began at fifty units.
From the number of hungry looking people risking broken arms, it seemed to be sufficient for the risk.
Glancing over her shoulder at where Gna was cheering a win, Taylor decided she'd found her game. Ahead, she saw one of the champions stand and get replaced by an equally large being-this one a giant made of stone. The line in front of him thinned out immediately, as if even the desperate, hungry people of the place didn't want to risk injury.
With the door open, Taylor walked through. The massive, fierce-looking rock creature stared at her with tiny, barely visible eyes. He turned his massive head over his shoulder and spoke to the insect-like being behind him that seemed to manage it. "Hey, boss, I don't wanna hurt a girl. Can I pass her off to Kwanga?"
For all his size and fierceness, the Rock giant sounded like a fourteen-year-old boy. The tiny insect sounded like a 60-year-old heavy-smoking drinker. "You get paid to wrestle, Korg. No wrestle, no pay. Can't do your revolution without units, eh?"
The rock giant sighed. "Hello, little female," he said in the friendliest tone she'd heard in Knowhere. "I'm actually a kind being. My name is Korg. I'm made of rocks, as you can see, but don't let that intimidate you. You don't need to be afraid unless you're a pond surface and I feel like skipping."
The words and voice were so incongruent with the creature before her that she could only sit and stare a moment.
"Is there something on my face?" Korg asked, touching his rocky features. The sound of his hands touching his face made a stone-on-stone clang.
The bug-boss shouted at her. "Girl, wrestle or leave!"
Taylor put down her winnings from the chit counting game. "I bet three hundred units I can win. What are my odds?"
Korg blinked in surprise. The insect, and all the others at the table, laughed uproariously.
"I'll give you ten-to-one, girly!"
"Done." She put her elbow on the pad before her and gave the rock giant a challenging stare.
"I hate hurting people," Korg said.
"Seems like you're in the wrong profession," she noted.
Korg put a massive, rocky arm on the pad opposite. His skin felt like sandstone as she gripped her hand in his. "Eh, I'm a Kronan. The only off world jobs are mercenaries or muscle. I'm trying to start a revolution, you know. Stop the selling of our kids as mercenaries. Mom said she'd join. But it takes a lot of units to make the fliers. So here I am. Please don't cry if I hurt you. I can't stand the sound of girls crying."
"Okay, I promise."
His arm and hand dwarfed hers. Someone shouted out a bet in a surprisingly cultured voice that spoke fluent Xandari, but she couldn't see who. It immediately resulted in two dozen voices against.
"Okay, we go when the light goes off," Korg said. "I'll try not to break anything."
"You seem nice, Korg," Taylor said. "I'll try not to break anything too."
The light went off, and for all his misgivings Korg put an astonishing amount of force into his hand. So much so, he actually made Taylor's arm move a few inches at first just because of the leverage of his longer arm. The metallic bench that held their elbows groaned from the sudden force.
She liked how expressive rock could be, because his look of surprise was as clear as the suns of Xandar. "Wow, you're really strong!" he said.
"Why, thank you! You're pretty strong, too."
"Why is she not defeated, Korg?" the Insect boss shouted.
"Because she's strong," Korg said. "She may look all squishy, but…" He grunted. "I'm really trying, boss."
The champion beside them stood with an angry growl. "You lie. Your body is strong, but your heart is weak! Move for Kwanga the Mighty!"
To Taylor's disgust, the massive, vaguely amphibian monster struck Korg in the head so hard it made the rock giant stumble from his seat. "Hey, now, there's no need to get violent!" he complained. Even after being struck, he sounded vaguely irritated, rather than angry.
Kwanga sat and slammed an arm the size of Taylor's legs on the pad. "Try me, little girl. After I rip your arm off, I'll use that hair of yours to wipe my ass!"
The creature's palms were coated in a sticky slime. Bulbous eyes set over a wide, bat-like nose glared down at her with malice.
The light went off, and Taylor lost all interest in playing nice. She slammed her arm down; he was just strong enough that, instead of bending his whole arm, the bones of his forearm snapped. He stared at his broken arm in surprised shock before the pain hit. He began to scream in a shockingly high-pitched voice.
"Oh, that must really hurt, Kwanga," Korg said. "You better go see the chirurgeon."
Kwanga stumbled away as the remaining champion and the bug stared at her. "He was an asshole," Taylor said as she wiped the slime off her palm. "So, ten-to-one odds, right?"
The insect boss used two of his six legs to hand her a slim little card, just like Sif used to pay the docking fee. "You...ah...want a job?"
Taylor couldn't help but laugh. "No thank you." She waived at Korg. "Good luck on your revolution!"
"Thanks, tiny but crazy-strong female!"
"And my bet?"
Taylor turned at the voice, only to go perfectly still as she found herself staring into the familiar gold eyes of Commander Yon Rogg of Starforce.
"Yeah, yeah."
The man turned to regard her. "Quite the show, there," he said casually. "You wouldn't happen to be Asgardian, would you?"
"What?"
He pointed to her sword, barely visible under her cloak. "Not too many sentient beings still use swords. And fewer yet could arm wrestle a Kronan warrior."
He didn't seem to recognize her illusion, and why would he? The last time he saw her she had wings and body markings that were lost behind her illusion.
"I am not Asgardian," Taylor said. That was mostly true. "I am an Amazon, from Themyscira." That was a bald-faced lie.
Yon blinked. "An...Amazon. I've not heard of such a race. Where is Themyscira?"
"The Krypton Galaxy, beyond the edge of the Neutral Teleportation Network. I'm on my Rumspringa to explore how the mortals of this galaxy live. I'm due to return on the morrow."
"And what have you found about mortals so far?"
She made a point of looking back at the insect boss and his champions. "They are not very strong. Now, I have business with an Elder. Good day."
It was a challenge making herself sound like Proxima Midnight, but she believed she got the tone and haughtiness down sufficiently that Yon did not try to stop her as she stepped around him. She paused at Gna's side as the woman lost half of her earnings, but still ended up doubling her original amount.
She wordlessly fell in beside Taylor as they walked back to the alcove where Sif waited. She knew something bothered her friend, but was wise enough to say nothing until they returned.
"Did you have fun?" Sif asked.
"I did, until the Kree starforce commander Black Swan knew talked to me," Taylor said.
Both the other women sat up in concern. "Did he recognize you?"
"I don't believe so, but I couldn't say for sure. I told him we were Amazons from Themyscira, from a galaxy outside the jump network."
Gna snorted. "Amazons?"
Taylor shrugged. "Stories from my home world. I don't know why he would be here, but he's one of the Kree that petitioned Thanos."
Sif nodded, but her eyes tracked a figure weaving through the casino. "Well, we might be able to finish our mission quick enough.
"What do you mean?" Gna asked.
Just then a strikingly beautiful Krylorian woman in a very short, white tunic and boots arrived. Her dark red-brown hair was done up in two pigtails, as if she were a child, and she stood a full hand shorter than Taylor.
She gripped her hands together as if trying to pull her own arms off, and dipped her head. "The Collector will see you now," she said with a high, forced tone of geniality and a smile that did not reach her eyes.
