"So, you grabbed an infinity stone without thinking?" Rocket asks, somewhat amused.
Rocket, Nebula, and a still topless Drax are sitting around on protruding rocks speaking to each other. Mantis is the only one standing and he has his arms wrapped around Nebula's neck, because he is just so happy to see him. Star-Lord and Groot are nowhere to be seen.
"I was in a hurry." Nebula says somewhat defensively. "I didn't have time to think about it."
"Don't take it the wrong way." Rocket tells him. "We've all done the same thing. Quite literally actually."
Nebula looks up and this comment, somewhat confused. It suddenly dawns on him that Rocket is telling the truth.
Anyway, not long after you left, we got your call. When you didn't answer we came here, to this charming excuse for a planet." Rocket tells Nebula.
"Yes, we spent days looking for you." Drax adds. "We thought maybe native wildlife ate you, or the zombie."
"Zombie?" Nebula asks.
"He's not a zombie." Rocket counters. She starts to look around. "At least I don't think he is." Rocket doesn't see anyone so she turns back toward Nebula. "He's just some creepy guy with a red face who hangs around here."
"His name is Johann." Mantis says, looking around also. "He's a Nazi!"
"A what?" Nebula asks, confused. He tries to look at Matis, but he is being hugged too closely to turn around.
"It's some word the Captain keeps calling him." Rocket states. "She doesn't like him very much. It seems she knows him from somewhere. We think it's an animal or something."
"Like a dog..." Drax offers, as an example, "or a raccoon." She points at Rocket, which earns her a glare.
"He is the guardian." Nebula says. When they all turn towards him he continues to speak. "Thor's brother Hela, placed him in charge of guarding and guiding others to the stone."
"That explains all the cryptic talk." Rocket responds. "With this one asking a million questions," Rocket points at Mantis, "and Star-Lord trying to punch him in the face, he didn't have much time to talk."
"She tried to fight him?" Nebula asks, rather surprised.
"Yes," Drax answers, "but he is much tougher than he looks. Our captain couldn't land a single hit..." Drax thinks about it for a moment before smiling. "It was quite hilarious." She laughs, which causes her breasts to jiggle.
"Anyway, I doubt he's gonna want to help us now." Rocket continues.
"And we don't need his help!" Star-Lord shouts as she unexpectedly comes flying up over the cliff edge. She zooms in close and lands a few feet from the group. "Anyway, we don't want his help either." She continues. "He's like the Darth Vader from Earth. Grade A, pure evil."
"Darth Vader?" Nebula asks.
"He's some sort of space monster." Rocket tries to change the subject. "Quill, what are you doing? You've barely even spoken to Nebula since he got here!"
"I'm looking for an entrance." She loudly claims. "Now that we know a stone is here, we can try to take it back."
"And you need Groot for that?" Rocket asks.
"I am Groot." Groot answers from somewhere off in the distance.
Star-Lord looks at Rocket judgingly. "He can spot caves and traps more easily. Infinity stones are always surrounded by traps and things."
"Not this one." Nebula interrupts, "It's enchanted."
"Enchanted?" Rocket asks. "Like a curse or something?"
"Not exactly." Nebula answers. "Thor's brother, cast some sort of spell. You have to trade something for it."
"Trade something?" Rocket wonders, "Like currency? Do we gotta buy it back?"
"What kinda booby trap takes money?" Peter asks in frustration.
"Haha, booby." Mantis laughs then points at Drax.
"You cannot trade my chest." Drax says defensively, looking at Star-Lord.
"That's not what I meant!" Star-Lord snaps.
"No!" Nebula interrupts them again. "It's something more severe. I can't quite remember." He looks up at the others and thinks of what to say next. "I was quite inebriated at the time."
"Inebriated?" Rocket repeats.
"You were drinking?" Drax seems a little surprised.
"Great!" Starlord complains. "Here we are working hard, looking for you, and you're off drinking and partying it up." Nebula's face flushes with embarrassment.
"What are you talking about Quill?" Rocket snaps. "You were drinking the entire way over here!"
"Yeah! You said you wanted to get wasted." Drax points at Peter.
Peter Quill makes a face and gestures, but cannot think of a response. Her eyes dart between everyone.
"You do drink a lot..." Mantis says almost sadly.
"I am Groot." Groot says from a distance.
"Hey, you shut up!" Starlord shouts, upset by Groot's comment. "OK, fine. What can you remember?" She asks Nebula.
Nebula starts to organize his thoughts. "The stone has a personality." The other's look a little surprised at this comment. "It likes to barter, or deal with souls."
"A soul for a soul Nebula, daughter, now a son of Thanos." A voice calls out from the darkness. They all turn to see Red Skull, sliding from an opening in some nearby rocks. An ominous staircase appears behind him. "Only when..."
Red Skull's introduction is interrupted by the sudden loud blasts from Star-Lord's pistols. "I thought I told you to get out of here!" She shouts.
The blasts from the pistols hit Red Skull, but do not seem to faze him. He looks at Star-Lord with distaste.
"Hey, hey! Can you stop fighting for five seconds?" Rocket shouts. "He's trying to help us!"
Star-Lord still has her guns trained on Red Skull as she thinks about Rocket's request. "We can't trust him. He's evil." She protests.
Rocket looks down in frustration rubbing between her eyes. "Listen, Captain. If you do not stop chasing away the only guy who can help us, I'm gonna take away your guns." She looks up at Peter now. "And you do not want me to take away your guns!" Her voice starts to raise until she is shouting. "Do you want me to take away your guns?!"
Peter takes a moment to contemplate what Rocket is saying then looks up toward the others. Everyone looks concerned except for Drax who is smiling. "Please say yes." She tells Peter.
"Alright, fine!" Peter Quill shouts. "We'll listen to what he has to say." she puts away her pistols. "But just know, I'm watching you!" She points at Red Skull.
"Please excuse our idiot captain." Rocket says, turning back toward Red Skull. "She was raised by a group of cannibalistic ravagers and was never given a proper education."
"I was educated!" Star-Lord starts to protest.
"Shut up!" Rocket shouts while pointing, but not looking at Star-Lord. Peter looks generally hurt now, but she stays quiet. Rocket looks back toward Red Skull and addresses him again. "Please continue, Mr. Johann."
"As I was saying," Red Skull continues, "The stone cannot be obtained by any easy means." He turns toward the staircase and points. "Only when we sacrifice that which we truly love, can we obtain what we want."
"So, you're saying we have to sacrifice something to get the stone?" Rocket asks.
"Up there?" Mantis asks before Red Skull can answer Rocket's question.
"Yes, Mantis, child of Eg..." Red Skull starts to answer.
"Can we go see?" Mantis asks excitedly.
"Mantis," Rocket calls out, "please stop interrupting him."
"But I want to see the creepy staircase." Mantis whines.
"I'm sure he's going to take us up the creepy staircase." Rocket tells him. "Just please be patient, so we don't miss anything important." Rocket turns back toward Red Skull. "Please continue."
Red Skull surprisingly does not seem bothered by the constant interruptions. "Your friend speaks the truth." He continues. "At the peak of this staircase you will find a steep cliff that drops into a natural basin. It is there that you will find what you seek... and face what you fear most."
"I fear nothing!" Drax protests.
Rocket grins and makes a shush gesture toward Drax, which she does not seem to notice.
"We all think that at first." Red Skull tells Drax. "We are all wrong, Drax, son of Douglas."
"Your last name is Douglas?" Star-Lord asks, both surprised and humored.
"Yes." Drax answers. "It is a warrior's name!" She states proudly.
Star-Lord chuckles. "Sure it is..." she turns and smiles, "Doug."
"That is not my name!" Drax protests.
"Will you two shut up!" Rocket snaps. "Let's just get the stone and be done with it!" She stomps past Red Skull and waves for him to follow. "Is there anything else we should know?" She asks him.
Red Skull turns to follow her. "A lifetime ago, I too sought the stones. Brought her by my lust for power, but I was cast out and banished here. Guiding others to a treasure I cannot possess."
"Boo hoo!" Star-Lord says, "Nobody gives a shit!"
"Captain!" Drax protests. "That is a very cruel thing to say."
"I don't care!" Star-Lord replies, before pointing at Red Skull. "He's a genocidal murderer!"
"Genocide?" Rocket asks, turning around looking surprised. She studies Red Skull and wonders if she should be worried.
"Is that true Johann?" Mantis asks, peeking around from behind Nebula.
Red Skull actually slows down as if reminiscing. "It was a different time. The Earth was a different place in my youth. I doubt anyone remembers, now."
"Yeah well, I remember." Peter Quill says. "And I don't think Captain Rogers is going to be happy either, knowing you're still kicking."
"Captain Steve Rogers still lives?" Red Skull asks, rather surprised. There is an odd almost excited look in his eyes. Mantis unexpectedly releases Nebula's arm and takes a step away.
Nebula, Star-Lord, and Groot, who is trailing behind, all notice.
"Are you okay?" Star-Lord asks. Mantis is looking at Red Skull with legitimate concern now.
"Hey guys! We're here!" Rocket shouts from just ahead. Red Skull turns away from the others and proceeds to the top of the steps. The others follow. Mantis takes extra precaution to keep his distance from Red Skull.
When they reach the top, Rocket and Drax are looking over a circular cliff edge. "I assume this is the place." Rocket asks Red Skull.
"Yes," he responds, "In order to take the stone you must sacrifice that which you love."
"Like what?" Rocket asks.
Before Red Skull can answer, Drax pulls out one of her knives and drops it off the side of the cliff. Everyone turns to see what would happen. It clinks a few times as it hits the side of the rocks and bounces around. Eventually the sound of it tumbling gets quieter and there is one last click as it seems to hit the bottom. They all wait silently for a long moment.
"Darn!" Drax says. "I thought that would work." She turns to look at the others who seem rather confused by her actions. "What?" She asks. "I really loved that knife. It was really sharp."
"Didn't you just find that like an hour ago?" Star-Lord asks.
"You did!" Mantis says, pointing at her. "I saw you pick it up!"
"It was a really good knife!" Drax complains.
"Idiots!" Nebula says angrily. "It's not that kind of sacrifice!"
"We know it's not that kind of sacrifice, Nebula." Star-Lord says in a pained voice. "It has to be something meaningful."
"A soul for a soul, is what the stone demands." Red Skull states.
"A soul for a soul?" Star-Lord asks. "Why do you keep saying it like that?"
"He means a living sacrifice." Nebula answers. "Someone you love."
"Someone we love?" Peter asks. "That can't be it! Then how did Thanos get a hold of it?"
Nebula looks down, knowing the answer, but not wanting to answer. It doesn't take long for Quill to realize why. She turns around and looks at the edge of the cliff. "No..." She says taking a few steps forward and suddenly falling to her knees. "It was here?"
"Peter?" Mantis calls out, still not realizing the truth himself.
"Thanos gave the life of his only favorite child... for power." Red Skull tells them. Mantis covers his mouth in shock. "It was the only thing he had to offer."
"Are you saying he sacrificed Gamora!" Rocket shouts angrily. Drax hangs her head in sadness.
Star-Lord is silently crying now, and starts to shake her head. "No!" She says firmly. "No!" She stands up and turns toward Red Skull. "We're not doing this! There has to be another way! I'm not sacrificing another person I love!"
Red Skull watches Star-Lord with an almost sympathetic look on his face. He hesitates to answer, but still speaks anyway. "It is the only way, Peter, son of Ego. The stone will accept nothing less." He pauses and turns to look toward the cliff. "A soul for a soul."
"No! Shut up!" Star-Lord shouts. "We just want Gamora back! Not the stone! Gamora! Just Gamora!"
"There is no other way." Red Skull says calmly. "The stone demands a high price, and it must be paid."
"We're not sacrificing anybody!" Rocket shouts.
"I'll go!" Drax offers.
"You shut up!" Rocket shouts at her. "Nobody loves you!"
Drax looks hurt.
"I love you Drax." Mantis says, reassuringly. This actually makes her smile.
"No!" Rocket grabs Drax's wrist and pulls her away from the cliff edge. She is getting very teary eyed. "We're not losing anybody. You're all my family."
"I am Groot." Groot adds.
"Thank you Groot." Mantis says, wiping away tears. "But we have to save Gamora."
"There is no other way." Red Skull chimes in.
"Shut up!" Rocket shouts, pointing at him. "We'll find a way!"
"A soul for a soul." Nebula suddenly speaks up. Everyone pauses and looks up toward him. "Those are the rules."
Star-Lord tries to force herself to calm down. "Yes, but we're not losing anybody. Not even you!"
"It's true!" Mantis says. "You're one of us now, and we love you too." Nebula looks down toward Mantis and wonders if what he says is really true. Mantis actually senses this. "Drax loves you!"
Nebula looks at Drax who is somewhat shocked by the sudden attention. She looks away, hiding her emotions. "It's true." She admits. "You are my brother in arms, and I do care for you."
"Drax!" Mantis says, annoyed because he knows she is lying about how she feels. Nebula notices tears forming around Drax's eyes.
"I think I understand now." Nebula says. They're all paying attention to him. "I understand why Gamora stayed with you." He looks toward Star-Lord. "I understand why she cared so much." He looks toward Rocket. "You all had every reason to hate her, and to not care for her." He looks toward Groot then Mantis. "You were all strange in your own way, and nothing alike." He looks at Drax. "And you still loved each other." Drax looks up, somewhat teary eyed, but still fighting the emotions.
"Three months ago, I would have been no different from him." Nebula now looks at Red Skull. "All I wanted was power, without knowing what I truly needed." A pained look begins to form on his face. "But you gave me that. What I needed. A family that I never had. Love that I never deserved."
"Nebula..." Mantis grabs his hand sadly, feeling the emotions well up within.
"I realize now why she loved you so much," Nebula continues, "Although she is gone I feel closer to her than I ever have been." Nebula looks at the cliff. "Her and I were more alike than I could have possibly imagined, and I love her for it. I love her because she never gave up on me." Nebula looks down and feels tears in his eyes welling up. "I love her because she loved me... And I didn't deserve it."
Nebula turns back toward Red Skull. "The stone wants a sacrifice?" He blinks, causing a couple of tears to trickle down. "Well, it has already taken away the one I love the most."
Red Skull frowns a little confused, but continues to listen.
"A soul for a soul." Nebula tells him. "I just want my sister back..."
"Nebula..." Mantis grips Nebula's wrist harder, terrified of what he is feeling.
"The stone can have my soul." Nebula says. "Just give us Gamora."
"Nebula!" Mantis shouts. He does not have the strength to hold on as Nebula rips his hand away.
"Nebula?" Star-Lord calls out. She is unable to move quick enough as she is still kneeling on the ground.
"No! Stop!" Rocket shouts trying to step in the way. Nebula leaps over her. He turns just in time to see Drax and Groot both reaching out and trying to catch him. Neither is fast enough.
The wind is cool and moist. The abyss below seems to pull him quickly toward it, and it is strangely relaxing. He closes his eyes and embraces the feeling.
The Guardians cry out loudly with heartbreak when they hear the moment of impact. Drax wails loudly in shock. Everyone else is on their knees now crying. Star-Lord crawls toward the edge of the cliff afraid to look over the side. When she gets close she has to muster all her strength to peer over the side. All she sees is a dark mist.
Mantis forces himself to stand up and he walks toward the edge also. "Peter... Nebula..." he calls out.
Before anyone else can speak, a rush of wind comes flying up from the cliff side carrying mist and dust with it. A massive beam of light suddenly erupts from below and shoots into the air. Star-Lord falls backwards onto her rear, Rocket crawls back, and both Mantis and Drax have to steady themselves.
"No!" Star-Lord shouts. "I said, we're not losing anyone else!" She activates her suit's arm jets and launches herself toward the light.
"Peter!" Mantis shouts.
"Nebula!" Drax shouts, jumping toward the light as well, daggers drawn.
"It looks like we're doing this!" Rocket shouts over the rushing wind. She jumps to her feet and rockets toward the beam of light also.
Mantis stands there for a few seconds confused. He turns around and looks at Groot. "Are you coming too?" He asks.
"I am Grooooot!" He shouts as he grabs hold of Mantis and leaps with him toward the towering Pillar of light.
*** Moments later ***
Nebula finds himself laying on what seems to be the softest bed he has ever felt. He wants to get up but he feels very at ease. He eventually does rise, and when he is finally sitting, he sees a familiar person sitting at the edge of the bed, smiling at him. "Gamora!" he calls out.
"Hello, sister." Gamora says. "You look good."
"Is it really you?" Nebula asks.
Gamora smiles. "Yes, it's me."
Nebula is looking around the room. It is well lit like a summer morning. Almost everything shines like ivory and gold. He looks out the window and the scene reminds him of a home he had long forgotten. "Did it work?" He asks.
Gamora looks around and her eyes rest on what looks like a circular door, composed entirely of light. "I think it did." She tells Nebula.
"Gamora..." Nebula moves in closer and pauses in front of her. It feels weird looking downward toward her. "Sister... I wanted to tell you."
"It's okay, sister... brother?" Gamora smiles as he interrupts. "I heard everything you said."
Nebula looks down and away. "Then you know, I can't come with you."
"I know, sister." Gamora grabs Nebula's hand and holds it to her chest. "But I know you will always be with me."
Nebula looks at his sister and feels more overwhelmed with emotions than he has ever felt in his entire life. He is not sure what comes over him, but he hugs her tightly. Gamora hugs him back. The hug lingers for quite a while before they let go.
"You should probably go..." Nebula says, sadly.
"I know." Gamora answers, slowly standing up. Nebula stands too, following her.
Gamora walks toward the door of light and pauses when she reaches it. She turns back around for one last look. "Nebula... Thank you..." She hugs Nebula once more. "I love you, sister."
"And I love you." Nebula responds. He feels overwhelmed with happiness at being able to say it for once, and truly mean it. Despite the sad context, he feels happier than he has ever felt before. "Goodbye, Gamora." He says.
"Goodbye, Nebula." Gamora says, releasing him and slowly stepping through the door. They continue holding hands until the last second before Gamora softly lets go. Nebula watches the light slowly begin to fade.
A hand unexpectedly shoots out from the light and grips Nebula's wrist very tightly.
"You're not going anywhere!" He hears Peter Quill say.
"The Captain's got him!" Rocket can be heard shouting, as two more paw like hands reach out and also grab onto Nebula. "He's over here!"
"I'm coming!" Mantis shouts. A pair of green hands protrudes and grips Nebula's fingers, before pulling.
"I am Groot!" Over half a dozen vines come from the light source and wrap themselves around Nebula. He begins to worry if he will even fit through the exit.
"Get in here STUPID!" He hears Mantis shout.
"Nebula! I'm here..." Drax says softly as her hands reach through. Nebula reaches for Drax with his free hand. They begin to pull him forward very slowly. For a moment Nebula is terrified that he is going to pull all of them back in with him. He contemplates letting go.
"My Sister..." Nebula pauses when he hears Gamora's voice. He looks at the light and sees Gamora coming back through.
"Gamora! You can't." Nebula starts to protest. Gamora reaches forward and places one hand on each of Nebula's wrists. "Let's go."
The room seems to explode into a bright light and Gamora feels cool damp air rush around him. For a moment it feels like he is in the middle of a torrential downpour, but it does not last long. Soon he is soaking wet and can feel a light mist of falling droplets on his face. He is laying in a shallow pool of water.
"Did we get him?" He hears Rocket ask.
"Yeah..." Star-Lord answers. She is breathing heavily, like she was just running.
"What about Gamora?" Rocket asks now.
Nebula hears the water shift as if someone was moving nearby.
"Yeah... We got her." There is a splash as Star-Lord lays back down in the water, exhausted.
Nebula notices something warm in his hand. He turns his head and sees Gamora laying in the water, his head very close to his, her small hand holding his hand.
"You did it." Gamora says, locking eyes with him and pressing her forehead against his. "You crazy assholes. I can't believe you did it." She starts to laugh.
Nebula can feel a fresh set of tears forming as he presses his forehead back against Gamora. He can't help but smile, and pretty soon even he is laughing loudly. Several of the Guardians begin to join in the laughter as well.
*** At the top of the cliff, just out of sight ***
Johann Schmidt turns away from watching the others at the bottom of the cliff. He immediately and unexpectedly spots something on the ground. He takes a few steps toward it and when he gets close enough, he has to kneel for a closer look. He reaches down and gathers several pieces of what was once the Soul Stone. It seems to pulse with energy, but looks somewhat like a dying flame. "Fascinating!" He says as he shuffles the pieces around with his thumb.
"Yes, fascinating indeed." A woman's voice chimes in, softly agreeing.
Red Skull looks up, completely startled to learn he was not alone. He stands up slowly and despite being a similar height, it somehow feels like this woman is towering high above him.
"Hello, Johann." She smiles softly while looking into his eyes. For the first time in ages, Red Skull finds himself confused by the person standing before him. Who was this dark skinned woman, dressed entirely in strange blue garb?