"Whoa! Look at that!" Peter Parker shouts pointing at a large flashing billboard with her hero persona on display.
"I see it kid." Sam Wilson responds. "I can't not see it." He looks around the alien city and sees both Avengers and Guardian images plastered everywhere.
"This amazing Mr. Wilson!" Peter tells him. "We're world famous!"
"Galactic famous kid." Star-Lord interrupts. "Get used to it. Once you save the Galaxy people don't forget. Especially when Mojo gets involved."
"Mojo?" Peter Parker asks. "Is that the giant blob guy? They didn't arrest him?"
"Arrest him?" Star-Lord asks. "They couldn't arrest him, even if they wanted to. Think of him as an intergalactic dimensional diplomat, who's very very stinking rich."
"Interdimensional?" She asks. "He's from another dimension? Like a different Universe?"
"Exactly kid." Star-Lord tells her. "His very own universe actually, and that's not a general comment, he literally owns an entire Universe. It's called the Mojoverse."
"The Mojoverse?" Peter Parker asks. "I would love to see that."
"No you don't kid." Star-Lord answers. "No you don't."
"Captain!" Mantis calls out. He is holding a small toy in his hands and rushes up toward Star-Lord. "Look!" He says excitedly. "They made new ones! This one's a boy!" He holds up an action figure shaped like himself. The head is on a spring and wobbling everywhere.
"Whoa!" Peter Parker says. "They have bobbleheads in space?"
Star-Lord looks at her a little surprised that Peter Parker didn't expect that. "Of course they have bobbleheads in space. Where do you think Earth got them from?"
"I didn't know." Peter says in surprised awe.
"You think that's bad, kid," Sam Wilson interrupts. "Look what they've got over there."
"Whoa!" Peter says again. "Are those Troll dolls?" She asks aloud while rushing off.
"Hey," Star-Lord shouts, "Don't call them that. Trolls look very different out here..." Peter Parker is already out of earshot. "And she's not... listening." She turns to Sam while pointing at Peter. "Is she always like this?"
"Just don't mention anything about Star Wars." Sam Wilson tells her.
"Star Wars?" Star-Lord asks. "People still watch those?"
"Religiously." Sam tells her. "It's like a cult. They've got like ten movies now."
Star-Lord frowns at hearing this. "I can't believe Star Wars beat out Footloose."
This time Sam frowns at Star-Lord and asks, "What?"
Star-Lord is about to argue her point when she peaks back toward the Troll dolls. "Hey, where's the kid?"
Sam turns and quickly realizes Peter Parker is gone. "Dammit kid!" He says before rushing forward to look for her.
*** Lost in the crowd ***
"That is intense." Peter says as she watches small models of Iron Man and Captain Marvel fly overhead shooting tiny lasers at a flying Thanos. "I didn't know Thanos could fly."
"Of course he can fly!" The vendor says, seemingly coming out of nowhere. "He is a Titan, why wouldn't he fly? You want to buy one? I will cut you a deal. Twenty-five percent off, if you buy three. Buy four and you get one free."
"I don't have any money... Whoa!" Peter says for the third but not last time that day. "Is that Mojo?"
There is a very lifelike model of Mojo in his chair walking in circles around another model of a male Star-Lord dancing the running-man. Mojo's arms are flailing about and his mouth is moving in wordless speech.
"Ah, another fangirl I see." The vendor says. "This model just came in. Great deal! Directly from the factory."
"I'm not a fan girl." Peter protests.
"It's okay!" The vendor responds. "He is a handsome character! Everyone loved Mojo!"
Peter looks at the model of Mojo and wonders if the vendor is joking. She feels literally repulsed by the sight of him, but fascinated that on this alien planet he would be considered attractive. "How much is it?" Peter asks, forgetting that she doesn't have any alien currency.
"I'll tell you what!" The vendor says excitedly. "We have new ones in the box! I can let it go for..."
Before the vendor can finish answering, a metal tentacle comes flying out from Peter's jacket and clamps onto a small alien's hand. Peter turns and sees what looks like an alien child with a thin pale blue noseless face. "I'm so sorry, she starts to tell the alien."
"This creature was trying to steal from you." Peter's suit says.
"Karen!" Peter addresses the suit. "It's ok. You can let it go. I don't have anything."
"Are you sure?" Karen asks. "I am sure this planet has authorities."
"No, it's fine." Peter responds. "I don't want to start any trouble."
The suit lets go of the alien, which immediately starts squealing something angrily toward Peter.
"I'm sorry." Peter responds. "I don't understand you."
"She says, don't call her an it." The vendor tells Peter. "It's very rude."
"I'm sorry." Peter says, turning back toward the alien. Her suit's arm starts retracting, but not before getting a good look from the vendor.
"Hey, wait a second." The vendor says. He looks at the toys and grabs a Spider-Man from the display. "It's you!"
The female alien's eyes light up and she starts squealing something happily this time.
"Uh, yeah..." Peter responds, "it's me..."
"You have to sign some toys!" The vendor cuts her off. "I'll pay you good money."
The alien child is still squealing happily and now liberally touching Peter wherever she can reach. Other shoppers are starting to notice the comotion.
"Uhm.." Peter feels awkward but looks back toward the Mojo toy. "How many do I have to sign for the toy?"
The vendor looks at the Mojo toy and thinks for a moment. "Five! You can sign five." He immediately shoves a Spider-Man toy into Peter Parker's hands. The alien child is still clinging to Peter.
Peter is thrown off and without a pen. "I uh... how do I sign this?" The vendor realizes the dilemma also and starts looking for something to write with.
"Would you like me to sign it for you?" Karen asks.
"Oh, can you?" Peter asks. "Please." She says before getting an answer.
Another mechanical leg protrudes from Peter's jacket and very quickly burns a Spider-Man emblem on the arm of the toy. Peter only has a moment to admire the image before it is snatched out of his hand by the vendor.
"Signed Avengers toys right here!" The vendor shouts holding the model over his head. "Very rare and signed by a real Avenger from Terra!" His calls seem to work as more shoppers seem to move in and a few are already looking through their pockets and purses.
"I uh..." Peter wants to ask what next, but the vendor is now quickly making a sale. She spots another Spider-Man toy and Karen's mechanical arm reaches for it, branding it before she even sets it down. Moments later another shopper grabs it.
Someone grabs Peter by the shoulder. It's a strange creature with a walrus-like face. "Can you sign mine?" The creature asks. It is holding a Captain America figure in pink Stark armor.
"That's not me..." Peter tries to protest. Another alien moves in and shoves another toy in Peter's face. It starts making strange noises that Peter doesn't understand. The strange child is still clinging to her and the shoppers are starting to push her away from the booth. The vendor is too focused on selling the toys to notice.
"That is all five toys, Peter." Karen tells her. "Would you like me to continue?"
"No, make some space please." Peter grunts. The suit's arms expand pushing shoppers about a meter away. Peter has to grab the alien child's arms and pull her off him. "Sorry kid." she tells her, before jumping over head and using her web shooters to swing away.
"Hey kid! Where are you going?" Peter hears Star-Lord shout from below. She doesn't look back.
"Hey, you need to sign more toys!" The shop owner shouts, not noticing the signed ones already in front of him.
"Oh yeah!" Peter says. She turns mid swing and shoots her webbing toward the shop, snagging the Mojo figure and taking it with her. The toy seller frowns, but does not seem too upset.
"Peter!" Sam Wilson shouts, but Spider-Man is already too far to hear.
"Peter?" The shop vendor asks in confusion before spotting Peter Quill. "Oh! Star-Lord! The Dancing-Hero!" He says aloud as he points at her. "Guardians! Please come, sign my toys! I'll pay good money!" The shoppers turn and get excited when they see Star-Lord. They quickly rush toward her.
"Run!" Star-Lord tells Mantis and Sam Wilson. Sam and Peter Quill turn away and rush off, but Mantis is too distracted and excited by the crowd to escape in time. He is quickly overwhelmed by fans of the Guardians.
*** Swinging over head ***
Peter hears gasps of awe as she swings overhead. "Karen, Mask!"
"Got it." Karen replies, concealing Peter's identity just as a small camera comes floating toward her. Peter lands on a large sign that appears neon but changes images like a tv. A strange alien appears on the screen, with video of the Avengers fighting Thanos in the corner.
Peter Parker situates herself and tries to find a way to carry the large Mojo toy before studying her surroundings. "Where did they go?" She asks aloud.
"Scanning the area." Karen responds. "They seem to have fled in the crowd. Would you like me to send out a signal?"
"No, that's fine. We have enough attention as is. I'm sure they know where I am." Peter takes another moment to look at the city. "Wow." she says before climbing further upward for a better view. She can hear spectators cheering. After getting her view, she wanders around the top of the building, looking for somewhere to hide.
"Is that...?" Peter asks when she spots someone. She jumps off the building and swings her way toward an ally in the distance. The cameras following her aren't fast enough to keep up and she loses them. When she gets near the alley, she swings around back and changes out of the suit as soon as she is out of sight. Peter watches for spectators carefully as she walks out from behind the alley.
"Nick Fury, is that you?" she calls out. Nick Fury is wearing his long leather jacket and traditional eye patch. Plus he is actually very much male. "You changed back! How is this possible?"
Nick Fury looks up at Peter Parker in confusion and worry. "Hey... uh... kid." He says. "What are you doing here?"
"I got separated from the others when someone recognized me." Peter Parker responds. "I came this way when I spotted you." Peter takes a moment to study Nick Fury, until she's certain it is him. "How did you change back?"
"That's a secret kid, but right now I am kind of busy." Nick Fury responds nervously. "Can we talk later?"
"Yeah, that's fine." Peter says a little thrown off. "I just lost everyone, and was hoping you saw them..." She starts looking around at their surroundings and it becomes very obvious the alley is rather shady. "Mr. Fury, what are you doing here?"
Nick Fury makes a startled face for a moment, but quickly tries to hide it. "What am I doing here?" He thinks for a second about what to say before snapping back. "What are you doing here?!"
"I just told you Mr. Fury." Peter responds. "I'm looking for everyone."
"I don't mean right here." Fury snaps back. "I mean here on the planet. Didn't Doctor Odd give you a teleporty thingy?"
"Dr. Strange?" Peter asks, a little baffled that Nick Fury doesn't know her name.
"Whatever!" Fury shouts back. "I mean, shouldn't you be home already? Don't you have school?"
Peter turns red with embarrassment and guilt. "I know I should be home, Mr. Fury, but don't you think being on this planet is a better learning experience than school? I mean even the cultural experience alone should be enough..."
"Shut up!" Nick Fury cuts her off. His raised voice seems to catch the attention of others in the creepy alley. Fury notices his outburst and tries to calm himself down. "Listen kid. Just go home for now, and come back when you've gotten some rest."
"But I can't!" Peter protests.
"And why not?" Nick Fury asks her.
"Because..." Peter digs deep for a good excuse. "What if I bring back an alien disease or something? The whole planet could be in danger."
Nick Fury frowns at Peter. "Are you vaccinated?"
"Vaccinated?" Peter asks him. "Yeah, but why would that matter, this is an alien planet?"
"In accordance with the Nova Corp, the Shi'Ar, Asgardian, and the Kree empires, all planets connected with the nine realms and their surrounding colonies, must maintain and administer up to date and approved interstellar vaccinations. In order to avoid any devastating interplanetary contaminations."
"Wait.. What?" Spider-Man asks. "Are you saying that our vaccines came from space?"
"Most of them, yes." Nick Fury responds.
"So aliens have been on Earth for over a hundred years?"
"Thousands!" Nick Fury snaps back. "Didn't you think it strange that someone as carefree as Thor didn't go around spreading space lice all over Terra?"
Peter looks at Nick Fury strangely, wondering why he didn't say Earth. "I always assumed it was because he was a god." She tells Fury.
"No! It's not because he's a god. It's because he's..."
"I am Groot." Someone interrupts Nick Fury before he can finish. A leafy hand grabs Nick Fury's shoulder and spins him around.
"Wha..." Peter is thrown off. "Groot! Hi plant... person."
"I am Groot." It says to Peter before turning back toward Nick Fury. It seems angry. "I am Groot."
"I'm just here doing some shopping." Nick Fury tells Groot.
"I am Groot."
"No, I am not here illegally!" Nick Fury responds. "I'm from Terra. We're allowed here.
We look very similar to Skrulls!"
"Mr. Fury, what's going on? What's a Skrull?" Peter Parker asks him. Nick Fury gestures to shush her, but is interrupted again before he can respond.
"I am Groot!" Another Groot person says as it approaches from behind Peter.
"Whoa!" Peter says. "There are two of them!"
I am Groot. I am Groot." The first Groot starts talking to the second one. He is pointing at Fury.
"What's going on?" Peter asks a very nervous looking Nick Fury. "I thought there was only one of them."
Nick Fury sneaks closer to Peter and speaks softly. "There used to be only one of them."
"I am Groot. I am Groot." The second Groot which seems to be bigger is now pointing between Peter and Nick Fury.
"But, a few years back," Nick Fury continues, "There was an incident where one exploded near the center of this very town. Next thing we know these things were sprouting up everywhere. Now there's hundreds, possibly thousands."
"Really?" Peter asks.
"I am Groot!" A third, much bigger Groot, says as it approaches. The other two look at him and they start conversing, somewhat aggressively.
"What is going on?" Peter asks, starting to worry.
"I need you to do me a favor, kid." Nick Fury says. Peter locks eyes with him for only a moment. "Run!" Fury shouts before bolting toward the end of the alley.
The three Groots turn toward Fury and make a slow attempt to follow him, but they lose him very quickly in the crowd. They seem to have forgotten Peter long enough for her to gather her thoughts and leap away. "I am Groot!" one of them shouts, as it turns around too late.
Peter hops on top of the roof and rushes to the side. She spots Nick Fury quickly and follows him. "Mr. Fury!" She calls out when she is close enough. Nick Fury turns to see Peter swinging downward.
"Jesus! You are hard to lose." Nick Fury says in a strange voice. They hear commotion coming down the alley. "Put your mask on, kid." Nick Fury tells Peter. The suit does not hesitate and quickly conceals her identity.
"What about you sir?" Peter asks, but before she can get an answer, Nick Fury steps behind a pile of oddly colored crates and changes shape. First his height grows, then his skin tone changes. He grows brown hair with a high hairline. His face seemed to absorb his eye patch and even his coat changed into a very Earth-like business suit. "Whoa!" Peter shouts, taking a panicked step back.
Peter's reaction catches one of the Groots attention, who approaches quickly. It gets close, takes a quick look at the creature that was Fury, then dismisses him. He doesn't recognize Peter in costume so he just walks away.
"Mr. Fury, how did you do that?" Peter asks in shock and a little fear.
The man in the suit stares at Peter guiltily for a very long moment before speaking. "Listen kid, don't tell anyone what you just saw, and I won't tell anyone I saw you."
"But..." Peter looks around in utter confusion. "I don't know what's going on..."
"OK, I'm not Fury..." The man says. "My name's Talos..." Peter keeps watching, still very confused and with concern. She wants to ask questions, but doesn't know where to start.
"Alright, I'll tell you everything." Talos says reluctantly. "Let's just get out of here." He motions for Peter Parker to follow and starts walking back the way they came. Halfway up the alley he turns back and says, "And whatever you do, PLEASE don't tell Nick Fury what you just saw. He'll kill me if he finds out."