VENOM

[Nova Corps Hq] [3rd Person POV]

Irani Rael sat down on her chair. She looked tired from today's incident. Captain Marvel had already reported everything that happened.

"So, he singlehandedly killed a high-level Kree operative?" Irani massaged her temples before looking at Carol who was sitting opposite to her. "Then he beat you up? The team also said the same thing, but I can't believe it. A mere human?"

"It's true. If not for him, many more would have died. I did warn you all to take steps regarding that space crack, yet none listened. While you people were playing politics, I was out there fighting a fleet of raiders from another dimension. That Kree earlier was a part of that fleet," Carol explained.

Irani sighed, "I know, I know. But we don't have any information about that space crack. We can't just send our forces there without knowing the nature of the threat besides, we have lost contact with our multiple outposts across the galaxy. So, our main priority was investigating those outposts and making sure the civilians remained safe. I don't want to say it but we are spread thin this time." She leaned back on her chair.

Carol nodded, "I understand."

"No, it was my fault," Irani opened a file on her tab and slid it over to Carol. "Outpost S23. They were investigating a newly evolved Lizard Planet when a space crack appeared out of nowhere. Then the whole outpost was destroyed. A week later, the second investigating team found multiple corpses of lizards and Nova Corps soldiers floating in space around that area. The lizards were all mutated beyond recognition and the second team detected traces of unknown lifeforms, but we lost contact with them soon after. Outpost S24 suffered the same fate too." Irani pointed at the two files.

Carol frowned. "This sounds serious. Have you checked on the others?"

"We are still waiting for reports." Irani sighed again. "You said something about following leads on Rocket and Groot beyond that space fissure with Gamora and Nebula. So, any news on them?"

Carol shook her head. "No luck, we found their ship crashed in one of the asteroids. But there are no signs of Rocket or Groot. So, we can say they are alive out there somewhere. Then the sudden attack and the fissure began to close. We barely escaped. After we split up, I was on my way here, when that Kree used some kind of device to teleport out of that fissure and attacked me. The rest you already know... He nearly got me." She clenched her fists tightly.

"Hmmm... I've read the report. Now, I'll be honest with you, those necro-mites aren't from this era. They are ancient. Way too ancient, yet advanced enough to kill someone like you within minutes," Irani explained with a grim expression.

"You look worried," Carol narrowed her eyes.

Irani nodded, "Yes. I hope it's not him. No, I must be overthinking. Anyway, I won't draw any conclusions before investigating thoroughly."

"Him?"

"A being of darkness, sealed or gone or maybe just sleeping. Nobody knows. Even though I doubt his return, but if it's really him... We might be facing another intergalactic war. Worst case scenario, extinction," Irani's expression darkened as she spoke.

"I will look around and gather information," Carol stood up with a serious expression. "You keep me posted and sorry for the damage. Many civilians got caught in that fight. I'm truly sorry for that."

Irani smiled faintly, "Don't worry. You saved us from a bigger crisis. But what about that Jack guy? He beat you up pretty badly. And that power of his... It's not natural."

"Well, he's strong. I mean, he killed that Kree that even I struggled to defeat with a simple metal rod and smashed him to death with it. Raw physical strength, and he must have some ability to reinforce things or else that mere rod wouldn't have broken through that Kree's barrier and killed him without breaking in two. I don't know. Why don't you try to recruit him? Given proper training and equipment, he might become a powerful asset." Carol explained.

"Humm... Let me dig around him for a bit. If everything turns out fine, I'll recruit him. But it would depend on what he wants. Just so you know, humans with superpowers are rare in this part of the galaxy, but they exist. It's not unheard of. Maybe he's just another one among them. A mutant or a half-breed... Whatever it is, we'll see. Oh, if you have time, could you go to Outpost 9 and check out the situation?" Irani uploaded the location to Carol's smart wristwatch. It was a multipurpose gadget. A small computer if one may call.

"Yeah, I'll take a look. Well, I'll leave the rest to you."

After that, Carol flew out of the headquarters and made her way toward the next destination.

Irani sat alone in her office, staring outside through the glass wall. She could feel another storm brewing out there in the vast universe. Something dark, sinister, and old. A danger that could threaten all of existence itself. She shook her head and focused back on the documents.

--------------

[Knowhere]

Gamora and Nebula got out of their ships.

"We were this close..." Gamora clenched her fists.

"Leave it. There's nothing we can do. That fissure was already unstable to begin with. At least we now know that they are out there somewhere and not dead. We'll just keep an eye out for another fissure like that. Rocket and Groot together, I doubt they will go down just like that. But what the hell were those two thinking? Disappearing on us like that without a single word? I swear, when I catch them, I'll break their legs and stick a shock collar on them." Nebula vented her anger on a nearby metallic pole.

Gamora sighed. "Let's just hope they are safe. Anyway, I'm gonna take a nap. See you around." With that, she left.

Nebula stared at Gamora's back with a complicated expression before turning around and boarding her ship. She activated the engine and took off toward her new destination, Xandar.

.

[Gamora's room]

Gamora took off her clothes and stood under the shower. The warm water ran down her green skin, but she didn't enjoy it much. Her mind was still on Rocket and Groot. She was glad that the ship was empty, but knowing that they were out there in some unknown world or dimension worried her. She just hoped they were alive and well.

She turned off the shower and dried herself with a towel. Then she lay on her bed and closed her eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

A small blob of black gooey substance seeped out from her ship's vent and silently made its way to Gamora's room. It got inside the room and stopped beside Gamora's bed, before stretching itself up. It looked like a bizarre humanoid figure made of tar. Then it jumped onto Gamora's naked body.

"HUH?!" Gamora opened her eyes, but she was too late. The gooey mass covered her whole body, sealing her mouth shut and restraining her limbs. She struggled hard, but nothing worked. She was trapped.

"Finally, a worthy host..." A deep voice resounded in Gamora's mind as her struggle slowly died down. The gooey substance shrunk and merged with Gamora's green skin, vanishing without a trace.

"What the fuck?!" Gamora jumped down from the bed and looked at her body. She felt awesome, full of energy and power. She clenched her fist, feeling the strength in it. "What the hell are you?"

"I'm Venom," a voice replied from within her.

"Huh?" Gamora frowned.

"Venom! Your new symbiote partner."

"Symbiote?" Gamora tilted her head in confusion.

"Yes! Symbiote, your new friend and companion. Now let's go find some head to chew on!" Venom's excited voice echoed in Gamora's mind.

"WHAT?! HEAD TO CHEW ON?!" Gamora shouted in panic.

"Yes! I'm hungry. We haven't eaten in days. Now come on, let's go eat someone!" Venom whined.

"What the fuck?! NO!!!" Gamora quickly put on her clothes. "First of all, get the heck out of my body. Second, Symbiotes should be sealed off in another dimension. Thanos made sure to reseal the dimension with the infinity stones back then. Wait! That fissure?!"

"Oh, yes. Thanos feared Knull, our creator, so he made sure the seal was rock solid. But that snap created a glitch in the realities and opened up multiple cracks. Then we sensed some magic that widened the fissures even further. Eddie and I ended up in another dimension, but then suddenly he disappeared alone without me. Our connection was cut off, so, I've been drifting in that place for years, jumping from one body to another, but no one was compatible enough until I met you. Gamora right? Nice name. So, how about we help each other? I'll give you power, you'll help me with my food and if we encounter other Symbiotes, you'll help me fight them and eat them." Venom proposed.

"EAT THEM?! You are fucking crazy." Gamora massaged her temples. "Alright, calm down, girl. It's just a talking alien, that's all. A parasite..."

"You are a parasite. I'm Venom. Remember that." Venom corrected Gamora as it made a head out of its organic body around Gamora's right shoulder.

"Get out, now!" Gamora yelled as she grabbed Venom's head and tried to pull it out, which she miserably failed.

"OW OW OW!!! That hurts, stop pulling my head." Venom whined. "Come on, we can work together. You are strong, and I can make you stronger than ever before. And I can also help you with that thing... Jack, was it? I'm experienced in this type of relationship thing. I told Eddie to kill that loser, but nooo... So, I told him to punch him hard, again, noooo... I told him to kiss her and confess in front of her new boyfriend, but he ran away. And what happened next? Eddie's girlfriend left him for that loser. Anyway, if you want that boy, I can help you with that. Just say the word and we'll go and kidnap him for you. Then, you can lock him up in some basement and enjoy his company whenever you want. Yeah, that's it."

"Wait, what?" Gamora blushed as Venom's words entered her mind.

"I know, right? Just imagine. You, him, and a dark room full of candles with soft music playing in the background. That sounds romantic, doesn't it? Oh, I know. How about we..." Venom kept spouting nonsense.

"STOP IT! No kidnapping, no locking people in basements, no nothing. Can you detect those space fissures? If yes, then lead me to them. I have friends stuck in one of them. I need to save them." Gamora changed the topic.

Venom's head nodded, "Yeah, I can sense them. But, going in is equal to suicide. I thought Eddie was stupid enough to jump in, but you? Really?"

"I have to save them."

"No. It's stupid to go in there alone without preparation. There are other Symbiotes and dangers on the other side. And if the fissure closes, you'll end up floating in space or worse," Venom explained.

"So, you want me to abandon them?" Gamora gritted her teeth.

Venom shook his head. "No, I'm saying we prepare ourselves first before diving into that madness. And to do that, I need to evolve further. Right now, I'm in my weakest form. I need to eat other Symbiotes to evolve further. And we'll need a big team if we were to explore the other side. But, let me warn you, we won't be the only ones hunting Symbiotes. Others will hunt us too. Are you ready for that?"

Gamora sighed, "Fine. We'll do it your way."

"Great. Now, I need brains. Human brains..."

"Ummm... We don't have many humans in here."

"Oh, c'mon. Argggg! Fine! How about chicken and chocolate?"

"Yeah, I can arrange that..."

"Good. Let's go..."

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