3. EARTH – AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS
A Quin-Jet lands on a platform where War Machine is waiting. The ramp lowers and he smiles as Steven Rogers walks down the ramp, followed by Black Widow and Falcon, "Man it is good to see you guys…"
"Good to see you to Brody…Where is Tony?"
"Follow me."
TONY STARK
Wanda sits on the edge of the table listening as Tony argues with Ross about arresting her. "This isn't the time Mister Secretary...for debates and meetings or enforcing the law…The guy who sent Loki and the Chitauri to attack earth is behind this latest incursion…"
"I told you this would happen Tony!" Steve says entering the command center, "That is exactly why I didn't sign…"
Tony looks at him as his old feelings about Steve's knowledge on his mother's death resurfaces. "Arrest them!" Ross orders.
"It's good to see you as well Mister Secretary…"
Tony waves his hand and the holograms vanish. "This is Doctor Strange…You already know Spiderman…"
Spiderman salutes Steve, "Good to see you again Cap…" He responds with a nod.
Tony tells Steve the plan he agrees with it and suggests that the rest of the team head for Wakanda just in case. He also suggests that they set a trap at the base for the Children of Thanos. Later Black Widow goes looking for Bruce after learning he is back. She finds him in the lab with Vision working with Friday on the miniaturized ship.
"So where ya been big guy?"
He looks at her, "Natasha…"
"I will give you to some privacy…" Vision says.
"Why didn't you come back?"
He looks off to the side, "You know why…"
"Where did you go…"
"The Quinjet got caught into temperal wormhole and I wound up on an alien World…I was the Hulk for two years and fought as a gladiator in their arena…Its long story…"
Meanwhile Tony and Steve stair at each other, "How ya been?"
"Marvelous...Pepper and I are getting married..."
Steve nods, "Congratulations...About time..." There is a awkward silence, "Look Tony..."
"We were both wrong...Let's leave it at that...And go from their..."
When everything is ready Stephen Strange, Iron Man, and Spiderman who is now wearing the special armor Tony made for him board the alien Q-Ship and fly off. Not long after Tony leaves Steve, Brody, Vision, Bruce, Natasha, and Falcon head for Wakanda. A few seconds later a huge beam of light teleports the Enchantress and the Black Order to the Avengers base. When Corvus trips a red light the base explodes killing him. The others survive because Enchantress put up a magical barrier.
"Corvus!" Proxima yells running up to his broken body. "Get up!"
"It is too late my love…I have failed Thanos…"
She looks at Enchantress, "Help him!"
She stands over him and makes the signs with her hands. His body glows and is levitated into the air. "His wounds are beyond my magic…"
"The humans will pay in blood…I swear it…" Proxima vows.
ZANDAR – THE MILANO
Meanwhile across the galaxy the Milano arrives on Zandar and is taken by a tractor beam from a scout ship. When the ships land they force the Milano open, but no one is in the ship. "Find them!" Commander Ehard yells.
The Guardians had used space suits and placed the Milano on remote pilot. "Rocket, Groot and I will take care of their transports…" Gamora says, "Quill, Drax, and Mantis find the person in charge and take him down. The Or troops are placing dead bodies in massive graves. Gamora, Rocket, and Groot sneak aboard a transport. Then she hacks into the ship's systems and sends a signal ordering the Or to board the ship. The signal is a prime code only used by Thanos.
RED SKULL
"My Lord!" Ehard says rushing into the old throne room of Zandar.
"What is it?"
"The Or are boarding the ships…"
"I gave a no such order…"
"It is a prime signal used by Thanos himself…"
When the Or are on their ships Rocket presses the button blowing them all up. That is when Quill, Drax, and Mantis attack Red Skull. Later Red Skull is on his knees with Drax and Gamora standing over him. Peter is walking around Red Skull, "Oh man I can't believe we just took down the Red Skull…Oh my God…They said you were dead…And here you are…"
"You are from Earth aren't you?" Skull asks looking at Peter.
"I'm half human…"
"I take it he is a big deal on Earth?" Gamora asks.
"Was…this guy was taken down by Captain America…When I was growing up we learned all about the Red Skull, Hydra and how Captain America and the Howling Commandoes took them down…"
Red Skull sneers and spits at Captain America being mentioned as Nova Prime joins them, "Guardians of the Galaxy…Once again we are in your debt…"
"All we ask is that if we call on the Nova Core to fight that they be ready…"
"We will be…" Nova Prime offers her hand and interlocks arms with Gamora.
"Hey speak for yourself…I think Zandar should have a Guardians of the Galaxy Day…"
They take Red Skull to the Milano, "Where is Thanos?" Drax asks.
"Threaten me all you want…I will you nothing…"
"Mantis!" Quill says.
She places her hands on his head and her antennae glow. Red Skull smiles, "Tell us about Thanos." Gamora commands.
"He is going to Nowhere…"
"Why?" Quill asks.
"The Collector…Tavon has the Reality Stone…"
EARTH - WAKANDA
King T'Challa is on the balcony talking to Steve over the phone, "Everything will be ready when you arrive…" As he walks through the palace he is joined by Okoye and the royal guard. They take a Land Rover to go see Bucky AKA The Winter Soldier.
"Do you think he will fight with us?" Okoye asks.
"If he does it will be of his own free will again…" Bucky is wearing Wakanda garb and loading hay onto a cart with one arm.
"Your Highness…" He says when he sees them approaching.
One of the guards places a case on the wagon and steps away. "We have need of you…There is a situation…" Bucky opens the case and smiles; a new arm is inside and it is made of Vibranium.
A few days later a jet lands on the platform where T'Challa is waiting. "When you said you were opening up Wakanda to the world I did not think you had this in mind…"
He looks at her, "Really what did you have in mind?"
"A Star Bucks or the Olympics…" As they walk down the ramp Bruce asks Brody if he should bow. Brody tells him yes but looks away and smiles. Everyone laughs and heads inside to Shuri's lab where she examines Vision to find a way to remove the stone without killing Vision.
KAMAR-TAJ
Wu has the Masters and Apprentices remove weapons from sacred armory of Agamatto and send them through a portal to Heimdall and the Asgardians in Norway where they have already built an invisible sanctuary. "Master Wu!" An apprentice says running up. "You better come see this…"
Wu follows the apprentice to the pool of all sight. The Enchantress is preparing spells for large portals to bring a massive army to Earth. With a wave of his Hand Wu switches the view to Wakanda and uses magic to reinforce the barrier around Wakanda.
KNOWHERE
The Milano exits a hyperspace and flies towards the Giant severed head of a Celestial being known as Knowhere. "Does this place seem less lively than the last time we were here?" Rocket asks.
"Scanners are detecting only two life signs…One is level 7 and the other is level 12…" Quill says.
"Thanos!" Gamora says as a warning.
"Listen I have a plan…Mantis and Groot will hold back while the rest of us distract ball-sack…Then Groot ties him and Mantis Jedi Mind tricks his ass…"
"You fools are going to fail…" Red Skull says arrogantly.
"Mantis!" She places her hand on his head and forces Red Skull to sleep.
They land the ship and stealthily make their way through Knowhere. "I smell a rat." Rocket says.
When they reach Tavon's Collection House they find Thanos interrogating Tavon. "Ponder these last moments of your pathetic existence Tavon…Now…tell me where the Reality stone is…"
"I don't have it…"
He pushes his foot down into his chest, "The Asgardians gave you the Reality Stone…How do I know this…Enchantress told…Also she has been watching you on my orders…I knew if anyone had an infinity Stone it would be you…"
As they talk Quill and the Guardians get into position. "Alright Gamora you go right while…"
She and Drax ignore his orders and attack. Thanos throws Tavon in one of his cases as Drax leaps at him. Using the Space Stone Thanos slams Drax into the ground. When he tries to use it again Rocket blasts his Gauntlet with a shield gun, but he shatters the shield. This allows Gamora to reach Thanos, she slashes his throat and stabs him in the chest with the dagger he gave her as a child. "I am Groot!"
"Hey watch your mouth kid!" Rocket yells as Gamora falls to her knees crying.
"Gamora what's wrong? Its over…" Quill stands over her and places a hand on her shoulder.
They all pause as they hear an unfamiliar voice; unfamiliar to everyone, but Gamora, "Why are you crying my child…Surely you did not believe it was that easy?" A red wave flows over all of Knowhere removing an illusion created by the Reality Stone. Knowhere is burning and in ruins; people are dead and everything that Tavon had collected is dead as well. Tavon himself lies nearby on the floor half dead. Thanos appears in front of the Guardians.
He blasts Drax with the Reality stone and he becomes a pile of bricks. Then he blasts Mantis and she becomes a paper doll. He turns Rocket into a stuffed toy and Groot sends large termites the size of dogs to eat Groot. "NO!" Gamora creams attacking him. Thanos catches her sword with his hand and breaks it. Then he grabs her by the neck.
"I told you to go right!" Peter says flying at Thanos guns out.
"Really!' Gamora replies.
"Let her go and restore my friends num-nuts or I'll blast the nut sack of chin off your purple people eating face…"
"Ah the boyfriend…Son of Ego the Living planet was it…You could have been a god…Then you would be more worthy of my daughter and rule at my side…"
"You got five seconds…"
"Shoot and see what happens…"
"No Peter you promised remember…" He looks at her and hesitates, "You swore!" She says with tears in her eyes.
The reality stone on Thanos' glove starts glowing. "You expect too much of him little one…Do it boy! She did ask…" Peter roars and fires, but bubbles come out and Peter's guns turn to water. "I like him daughter…We'll bring him with us…" Peter is placed in a space field and levitated into the air; then he forced to follow Thanos and Gamora into a wormhole.
When they leave everyone returns to normal, "Peter! Gamora!" Rocket screams.
"He took them…" Mantis says in a sad tone of voice.
"I am Groot!"
"You bet your wooden ass we are going after them…" Rocket replies
"Guardians…"
Mantis rushes over to Tavon, "I can ease your pain…" She places her hand on his head.
"Thank you…"
"Thanos has the power, space, and reality stones…Do you know where the other three are?" Rocket asks.
He coughs, "The Mind stone is on Earth…So is the Time stone…The Time stone is guarded by the Sorcerer Supreme…as for the Soul Stone…No one knows where that Stone is…It is well hidden…" He grabs Rocket by the arm, "No wait! There is one who will know where the Soul stone is…" He removes a device from his belt, "You can use this to get to O'mZard…"
"O'mZard I have never heard of it…"
"Few have…O'mZard is the home world of the Watchers…"
They all look at one another, "The Watchers! I thought they were a myth…" Drax says.
"They exist…Tell them the Collector sent you and ask for Uatu he will help you…" He looks at Mantis. "I am ready now…" She places her hand on his head again and Tavon dies painlessly. They bury Tavon and return to the Milano. Rocket hooks the device that Tavon gave him up to the Milano's hyper-drive. They take off and open a portal to O'mZard the world of the Watchers.
O'MZARD WORLD OF THE WATCHERS
The planet is a hundred times bigger than Earth and more beautiful than Asgard. Here is the collected knowledge off the entire Universe. The flora and fauna of the planet change colors every three minutes. There are floating islands and creatures that resemble jelly-fish of earth floating in the air. Giant cat like creatures walk across the ground and the great city of the Watchers stand in the distance.
The Milano is placed in a suspension field, then Rocket, Drax, Mantis, Groot, and the Red Skull are teleported to a large room where a twenty-five foot tall alien is waiting. "Tovanthu…Species 891P3 or Rocket…Drax the Destroyer…Mantis former servant of Ego the Living Planet…Groot…and the Red Skull formerly Johann Schmidt of Earth…Now a Son of Thanos…The five of you are trespassing…"
"The Collector sent us…We seek Uatu the Watcher…"
"I am Uatu…" He replies releasing everyone but the Red Skull.
"Tavon is dead…"
"I know and he sent you to me to ask the location of the Soul Stone…Its on Vamire…Though by the time you arrive it will be too late…You will better serve your time by going to Titan…Thanos' home world…There you will find allies…You have one chance…Remove the Gauntlet from Thanos' hand and bring it to the Sovereign…"
"The Sovereign!" Rocket exclaims, "If you know everything then you know the Sovereign hate us…"
"Other than Thanos there are only a few beings in the Galaxy who can wield all the Infinity Stones…The Sovereign have created a being known as Adam Warlock…He is very powerful…"
"You are a Super Being can't you wield the Infinity Stones?" Drax asks.
"Ha!" Red Skull says, "You know nothing of the Watchers…All they do is record events that happen in the Universe…They do not intervene…"
"Sometimes we offer advice like now…Come time is wasting and soon Thanos will have Soul Stone…"
They follow Uatu from his chamber up a hallway. They come to a large chamber with floating holographic pictures in the air. The pictures show events like the Guardian's fight with Ronin the Accuser, The extinction of the Dinosaurs on Earth, the war between the Kree and The Skrulls, the destruction of Asgard, and other historic events in the Universe.
"Wow!' Mantis says.
"I am Groot…"
Uatu waves his hand and a picture floats down to him. "Go through there and you will be on Thanos' planet…The allies I told you about will come soon…"
Rocket pauses as Drax and the others go through the portal, "You mind watching him until we return…"
"Yes…"
"Sure you don't want to come with us? You can get payback on Thanos for Tavon's death…"
"I have business elsewhere in the Universe…Good luck Gaurdians…You will need it…"