"SPACE IS FUCKING AWESOME !" Francis yelled in pure joy as he continued to float around in the midst of the ship
Laughing hysterically Francis was floating among the ship in pure zero gravity enjoying the joys of being weightless granted they haven't even been in space for more than 10 minutes yet
But sadly his fun was soon cut off when the gravity was turned back on forcing him to plummet to the metal floor with a hard thud making him groan as the sliding door opened revealing James and Pym who just came from the control room
"Alright eyes up team, Just got off call with Franklin answer have our first assignment, Ronan's Hammer or the cosmi-rod as it's called inside the head of an ex-known Celestial Knowhere" James said
"It's a black market site location, a place people within the cosmic space go to get things off the grid to hide from the Kree, Nova, Skrulls and whatever the hell is out here"
Francis's attention was immediately sparked
"So what you're telling me is it's a giant black market auction in the head of an old celestial…WHAT THE HELL ARE WE STILL DOING HERE LET'S GO !"
Immediately pushing past the group Francis wasted no time heading to the ship's controls as Sam just laughed as he followed him
"And to think you weren't excited for this trip"
James too was ready to make his way to the control center before Pym pulled him aside grabbing his attention
"Hey James I just wanna say. This mission….the places were gonna see. It's gonna put a huge target on your back-"
"Pym. I know. But I need the shield with me at all times-"
"No…No….James it's not that. I mean…ok it could be that but also it's you"
James just raised an eyebrow
"What ?"
Buffing breathe out his nose Pym found this harder to explain
"Franklin's right thank god Ultron didn't go past earth so while we were dealing with our downfall the rest of the universe was continuing to thrive. Even with most of the cosmic heroes who tried to help in defeating Ultron and ended up failing leading to their deaths People like The Collector, Grandmaster, The living Tribunal, The Beyonder even Lady Death herself still live. Immortal gods that play with the universe in their hands. People you seriously don't want to fuck with James. This is space. Their home court, their home field. One wrong move one screw up in a blink of an eye the world goes black and were gone, defeated, game over"
The way Pym said it. It damn near brought a shiver down James's spine
But he just blew his mouth and laughed
"Trust me Pym we got this-"
"No James. This is serious. Look…Science is my life. Just how fighting and the star shaped shield around your back is yours. Your only connection to your parents. Science is the only connection I have left to my Mother and Father. I know what's out there that we are about to face. Some serious shit that not even our parents wanted to truly mess with. And your Father. He wasn't just an icon on Earth. The whole universe knew about him, James. Everyone was on his list. So when they find out he just happened to have a super soldier of a son. One that is the impossible child of Black Widow creating the perfect weapon friend or foe people will be gunning for you for whatever reason. Your blood, your shield, your body whatever and I just need you to know James if you turn…we…."
Immediately James placed a hand on Pym's shoulder
"Pym, I would never hurt you guys. Mind control or not I'd jump off a building before anyone would force me to turn on my friends. And trust me when I say I know what it's like to have a target on my back. My Mother did and so do I so if I have to punch a few Aliens so be it but trust me when I say aim prepared to face whatever we have to"
A soft smile was displayed on Pym's face as he just nodded his head
Amd soon enough James smiled back
"Well what do you say Captain, ready to lead the ship" James smirked and soon enough Pym chuckled
"Let's go visit a Celestial"
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Granted everyone saw nothing but a giant flash of bright shining light it was the most beautiful thing they've ever seen
Granted it lasted a couple of seconds before it was over
And there it was
In the dead midst of the edge of the universe in Space stood a singular head of a fallen Celestial
Truly the sight left everyone in shock as they've never seen anything that big before
"That…..that thing used to be alive" Sam said with shaky hands he damn near had to clench his seat tighter to calm himself
"Yeah well let's just be glad it's not anymore" Francis said
"Alright Pym get us in there" James said as he checked his wrist to see the information Franklin sent them
"The auction starts soon and by the info Franklin sent me there's more artifacts we need to collect here so everyone get your grabby hands ready and suit up normally with your suits ready for activation just in case we need to make a quick escape. Something tells me people here don't truly play by the rules"
Everyone gave a head nod showing they understood as Sam deployed his wings and Francis connected his Bow together before soon enough Pym started to fly the ship into the head ready to land
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"And to think i'm just a guy with a bow and arrow" Francis said as the team of 4 continued to walk the ground of Knowhere following James to the auction point
Francis found himself more weirded out with the people with different colored skin and tentacles for ears as he truly couldn't stop staring
Hey don't blame him this is the first time he's even seen an Alien
Sam had too damn near hold Pym back from wandering off alone on this god forsaken place as he seems to be interested on every little thing this place had as his eyes were wide in wonder
"This place is so cool !"
"Yeah nothing says cool like space gambling" Francis quoted as he pointed to the group of aliens hovering around what seemed to be a space slot machine
"Everyone stay together. We're blind here and we have no idea what this place holds so we need to-"
Immediately when James stopped hearing the 3 footsteps behind him he turned around to find everyone else gone in the blink of an eye making him go wide eyed
"WHAT THE FUCK !"
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Great just great James was stranded alone on a floating head of a giant cosmic being he might add when they've partaken in what is to be their most dangerous adventure yet and what is the first thing they do SPLIT UP LIKE IT'S FUCKING SCOOBY DOO !
"Francis, Sam, Pym ! hello do any of you copy, guys turn your trackers on" James said within the wrist devices
No one was yet to pick up leaving him only in more anger as he continued to walk the streets of Knowhere on his own
He was so lost he didn't even noticed the hooded figure that was watching him atop a building that soon squinted his eyes at him before pouncing away
"Jesus christ guys the one time you had to disappear. The one time. The fuck !"
As he continued to rant James felt the strongest scent that he was being watched
Great anothing he had to worry about
Except attack was different as the target didn't even mean to wait for his prey as Immediately from up above a hooded figure unsheathed his blade before slashing down in a attempt to attack James
One that only failed as he rolled out of the way watching as the figure dropped down
He grew a closer look at him. From the looks of it he had green skin with darker green hair underneath his green hoodie and cape as he was also holding a sword. The strangest thing about this was it was a boy. Probably not even older than him
"Look buddy, I just got here. So there's no possible way someone could have beef with me. Without a doubt you have the wrong target so just go ahead and leave me alone"
Bring the sword up the young boy pointed it at James
"That shield, I know it"
James just gulped as he tightened his knuckles
"Yeah you and the whole entire universe good for you"
"Where did you get it"
"None of your business now get out of here before I kick your ass"
A smirk was formed hidden under his hoodie face as he twirled the sword in his hands
"I'd love to see you try"
Well James was never one to back down from a challenge
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"PYM ! PYM ! WE NEED TO TURN BACK NOW !" Francis continued to call out but the boy genius didn't stop
Francis continued to maneuver past the crowds of people following Pym blindly still not knowing why the hell he dispersed from the team like that
Finally catching up to his friend he wasted no time turing him around forcing him to come face to face himself
"Alright you have 5 seconds to tell me what the hell your doing before I punch you in the face and drag you back myself"
Forcing Francis's hand off of him Pym huffed
"Look I had to dispatch from James"
Well that's not the answer Francis expected
"What ?"
"He's too big of a target. People are gonna immediately recognize his features and jeopardize the mission. Dispatching from him was the smartest choice just for now. When I get Ronan's hammer well group back together"
Truly Francis had a look on his face as this….this seemed so out of character for Pym
"And you didn't even want to tell us ?"
"Francis there's more important things going on right now besides friendship. Plays had to be made"
"What if James uses his tracker"
Bring his wrist forth Pym deployed a hologram
"I rerouted his tracker, sending it blank. Unfortunately I had to do the same to all of you"
"What !" Francis said as he checked his bracelet to find it true. His tracker was scrambled
Looking back at Pym with a more serious expression Pym showed his device
"I can see you guys, we're fine, see Sam and James aren't even that far from each other. Everything's fine I have it under control"
Francis didn't know what made start to act like this but he knew one thing
He didn't like it
"Once we get that hammer we regroup immediately, and Pym this better not be a new personality of yours. Because I would hate to have to kick one of my closest friends asses"
Despite the fact that Francis was glaring at him tightly from his threat pym just kept his serious face before nodding his head
"Come on the auction starts soon" he said before beginning his walk and Francis only looked at his friend once more before following him
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To say Francis has seen it all would be a true understatement
"Man my life is weird" Francis narrated as he stood in the midst of a pile of aliens all talking to one another
"Alright Francis your doing fine, all you gotta do is buy the hammer and we'll be able to leave"
"Yeah alright easy for you to say your not the one that has to be here"
"Hey im here" Pym said
He didn't lie
He was there
Expect he was small floating up in the air hiding in plain sight
Francis just rolled his eyes
"Whatever"
There was a short silence between the two while they waited for everything to happen but once Francis started to softly chuckle Pym's attention was taken
"What you laughing about"
"Oh nothing it's just…..when I was a kid. Kate would set up this little fake auction where she would act like she's giving me things. It would be stuff like spoons and forks and books stuff I already had but I still loved it"
"Who's Kate ?" Pym asked
The question made Francis smile
"Kate Bishop she….she was….." Francis sighed
"She was my everything. Granted she was 19 and I was barely a toddler I still remember being nothing but in love with her"
It took a couple of moments to click inside Pym's head but finally it got to him
"Ohhh. Kate Bishop, your dad's protege. Also the archer of the Young Avengers. It should've clicked to me sooner that you would've had chemistry with her your Dad parents practically raised her"
"Yeah and it took me all my Childhood to fall in love with her"
Again the silence Brew Pym wanting to say something but hoping he wasn't crossing any lines
"Francis, all the years we've known you. All the History that's happened. You never told us how you survived with the Scavengers and freedom fighters all these years. I mean your Mom died on Ultrons Attack and your Father died protecting you when you were a kid how…..how did you survive ?"
The last time Pym heard Francis speak like this was when they first met him years back when they were only 14 as his voice suddenly got darker
"It wasn't easy. I lost everything. My Mom, My Dad. Lucky….Kate. While you guys were living away on your remote Island I was fighting to survive. I was 10 when my Dad Died fighting Ultron's robots to give me a chance to survive. All I remembered was him telling me to run and never look back. To stay strong and know that he and my mom will always love me before he gave me his bow and took an arrow out of his quiver before stringing the tool around me"
Suddenly Francis began to grip his bow tightly his fathers bow tightly only adding on to Pym's display
"I didn't stop. Didn't look back. I just kept running straight. And forward until I physically couldn't go anymore. I ran for what felt like days until I finally stopped and fell to the ground. That's where I broke down crying my eyes out for what felt like hours as I hugged my Dads Bow in my hand"
"Days passed and I was left to wander the destruction of New York on my own, desperately trying to find someone some little glimpse of hope. I was starving, scared and most of all I was lost. The robots attacked again as it was the start of Ultron's patrol to clean up any life in the city of The CItadel. They almost killed me when they found me, luckily the Scavengers found me first. They took me in and told me about how my father started the group. Once I found that out, that was all the motivation I needed. Soon enough my training began and by the time I was 12 I was leading the group. I met you guys when I was 14 and now the rest is history"
Pym was left speechless as he physically couldn't say anything
"Francis….Im….god man i'm so sorry you had to go through that"
Taking a deep breathe Francis sighed at the fact that he had to relive the horrid memories
"Pym My parents would still be alive if it wasn't for your dad"
The words hurt like one of Francis's arrows to the chest
Francis's words started to get a little more serious as he spoke
"I would still have my Mom and Dad and Kate and Lucky and everything I would ever want in life if your Dad didn't decide to end all of humanity because he wanted a end a fight that didn't even start yet"
Leaving Pym speechless Francis noticed the auction was ready to start and better yet the first prize was Ronan's hammer
"So go ahead and think about your Father's mistakes and their dire consequences before you begin to act like him"
With his final words he muted his comm link leaving Pym to float in the air as the auction began
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Sam truly didn't know what the hell happened. How everyone disbanded in seconds
All he knew was he found some sort of bar and now he was inside it
With it's glowing neon lights inside and smell of space booze Sam decided to take the first seat he saw and immediately slumped his head down on the table with a groan
"What will it be" the bartender asked and frankly Sam just looked up from the confinement in his hands
"Give me the cheapest thing you got"
Nodding her 3 heads the alien bartender left and once again Sam went back to slumping his head on the table
"You look troubled" a female voice said immediately making Sam raise his head and his eyebrow as he turned his head to see a girl in a white shirt in what seemed to be headphones connected to a walkman around her neck
"Jesus, I haven't seen that thing in years. Is space outdated or something ?"
The girl just cutely laughed
"No it was my Dad's he gave it to me before he died"
Sam's drink arrived and he immediately grabbed it
"Oh, well I'm sorry. My Dad also died when I was young"
"Who said he died when I was young ?" she smirked immediately making Sam tense up
"Oh ! i'm sorry for assuming I was just-"
Again the girl laughed
"I'm just screwing with you weirdo" she laughed
Sam just strangely laughed back before she raised her glass
"To Dead Dads"
With a smile Sam raised his glass
"To Dead Dads" he said before clicking his drink with hers to drink his
Immediately Sam began to gag making her laugh again
Space alcohol definitely wasn't anything he was used too at all
"Alright weirdo tell me your story" she began "definitely not from around her and your human so again I might ask"
Her hand trailed to his arm touching his revealing skin sending a shiver up his body a warm one at that
"What is a human from Earth doing so far from home"
Being Immediately tongue twisted Sam couldn't help from smiling to nervousness as he had no idea what to say
He was in such a total state of blindness he didn't notice the device the girl sneakily took from the back of her pocket bringing it up to him and turning it on starting the transmitter
It should've been easy enough to spot as something like this is something Sam's been training for his entire life but it was so hard to stay focused when she was slowly stroking his neck
"I…I don't know I shouldn't really be telling you"
"Aww why's that. Big bad boy on some undercover mission"
"Heh, kinda"
With a smirk she leaned in and whispered into Sam's ear
"I can keep a secret"
Immediately when she said those words Her device vibrated and she hastily brought it back to her pocket before getting out of her seat to grab her jacket
"Well it was nice meeting you"
"Wait what ?"
Before Sam could even understand what happened he saw her leave the Bar and he just sighed
"Dammit. I should've gotten her number" he said before slumping down in his seat again extending his hand to look at his wrist
"At least I still have you Alien drinks"
Swiping his hand he checked his wrist balance to find out he had
ZERO CREDITS !
With so much surprise Sam almost fell out his seat as he looked back at his credits counter
"NO NO NO NO NO NO ! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE WE HAD 10,000 ! WHAT HAPPENED !"
Panic beyond Sam's Belif filled his body as he truly felt nothing but fear
"FUCK FUCK FUCK ! THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR TRUSTING PEOPLE ! FUCK !" he yelled before immediately racing out the Bar to find that girl
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James hated to admit it but this guy was fast quick
He was persisted and trained his slashes of her sword weren't just normal fighting experience no they were peaked up
Dodging another slash James grabbed his hand a attempt to stop his attacks but was ultimately met with a kick to the leg making him bend down and groan before the figure vaulted over him dragging him to his feet bringing the blade close to his neck
James Immediately brought his hands up stopping his clean cut as he made a case of fighting back blocking wrist to wrist but the attack was so close James's eyes went wide when he slightly turned the blade seeing it shine sharp
The closet he got to James was a cut on the wrist before the redhead gave him a headbutt with the back of his head sending him off his guard before James grabbed his arm doing a side flip before bring him close into his elbow before kicking him away finally making him let go of the sword as James held the blade in his grasp
From James's kick the hooded figure's hood came off revealing his green skin and green hair but when he rose his face he revealed his yellow eye rings to James granted he didn't care as he just groaned at the sight of the bloody cut on his arm
"Who are you" James asked before tossing the sword
Catching the blade in his hand the young boy twirled it in his hands
"My name is Rick Rider, Son of Richard Rider. And Gamora"
Immediately James went wide eyed
"What ?"
"By the looks of that shield I know who you are too. James Rogers of Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy. Son of Captain America and Black Widow"
"Yeah well I wish we did introductions before you tried to impale a sword into my chest"
Rick just smirked as he twirled the sword once more before strapping it behind his cape
"Truth is it's not my fault. I've learned to be cautious and careful about who I encounter. And truly I didn't think heroes existed anymore"
"Yeah well we do. Your Mom and Dad were one of them"
Nodding his head Rick but his cape back covering his hair
"We will meet again, James Rogers. And when we do I hope we can resume our fight"
With that he jumped away off the building leaving James to only stand there and grunt
"I hate space"