Chapter 41 – A Favour

[2014 – March]

[Xandar – Outskirts – Residence of the Maximoff Family]

Today was one of the few days where we just relaxed and lazed around together.

Laying on the comfortable couch with Silver resting on my chest and Wanda by my side, as music from Earth echoed quietly through the room.

Penelope had found her place beside Silver, right inbetween Wanda and myself.

It was a very soothing and wholesome moment, and I made sure to remember it.

Looking at Wanda's enchanting form, as she rested on her side with her eyes closed, I knew it was time to resolve all remaining worries I had about the future. The life growing inside her abdomen only hardening my resolve.

I couldn't let any harm come to my family. I had to eliminate all those threatening to disrupt our peace and quiet.

As if decreed by fate, I could feel a small ship approaching. Through my Spatial Sense, I knew it was one of the Nova Corps' and that Irani Rael was on board.

…

"Commander, is it really necessary to visit them personally? Couldn't we just have sent a message or sent someone to fetch them?", her subordinate Garthan Saal asked, as they were on their way to meet 'them'.

"Extraordinary Individuals with unkown powers and potential should always be handled with the utmost caution. Especially they, who have already proved their capabilities by eradicating the Marauders. Furthermore, we are the ones asking for a favour and it is a short flight of only a few minutes. If I can't even be bothered to make such a small trip, how can I expect for them to extend a helping hand? You understand this, don't you Denarian?", she explained to him, hoping he would remember her words.

There existed individuals in this universe more terrifying than whole armadas and Irani had this feeling since the first meeting with 'them', that they definitely belonged into that category. Of course that was just a feeling in her gut – instinct, if you will – but until now, her instinct had never been wrong.

"I understand, Nova Prime.", Saal responded with a respectful salute.

…

[Pietro Maximoff]

Careful, as to not wake up Wanda or the little cub, I stood up and took Silver with me.

I knew she had already woken up, as she was even more sensitve than me when it came to approaching vehicles. As a former virtual life form it was easy for her to spot anything containing advanced technology.

Leaving the small house and walking a short distance on the open field, I created a barrier to isolate the sound of the approaching ship and avoid Wanda being disturbed.

Waiting for a few moments, the glider approached and landed only a few meters before us, as Silver inspected it curiously.

"Nova Prime, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?", I greeted the perfectly styled blonde commander of the Nova Corps, as she stepped of the landing ramp with two other Nova Corps members following her. One of them being a Denarian – a lower ranked officer from the Nova Corps – and the other probably being the pilot.

"I am here to ask for your assistance Mr. Silverfire, maybe we could talk in private?", Irani answered with a pointed look at Silver.

She probably thought that a child shouldn't hear what she was about to ask me, though Silver was by no means a normal child.

"Don't worry, my daughter knows full well about the cruelty that is sometimes necessary to bring peace to the ordinary people. Also, excuse my poor hospitality, but my wife is resting right now. It's not convinient for me to open my home to you at the moment.", I answered, making it clear to her that she would have to tell me what her visit was about here and now, or return to the Nova Corps headquarters.

After a short moment of hestitation, the commander ressumed her words: "I am sure you know about the recently signed peace treaty between the Kree Empire and Nova Empire."

Seeing me nod in assent, Irani continued.

"A rogue Kree warlord and former member of the Accusers has since then attacked Xandarian outposts and slaughtered countless civilians, as a show of his disagreement with regards to the peace treaty. The Kree Empire has declined to persecute or even condemn his actions, even after repeated prompts from our side. Ronan's force is rather substantial and he never stays long enough for us to be able to confirm his location and send a fleet of our own."

"You want me to take care of Ronan?", I asked in a neutral tone.

Shaking her head, the commander continued: "Just a few hours ago we captured one of his known associates named Gamora. We just hoped you could be of some assistance in locating Ronan, as you had done with the Marauder's fleet. You do not have to confront him, jus-"

It seemed the commander thought we had special means of intelligence gathering, since we had managed to locate every last one of the Marauders without letting on slip through the net.

And while she wasn't wrong, I had long since planned to take down Ronan, so I simply stated: "Alright, enough. I will take care of Ronan and his men."

I also didn't accept her request on a fluke, as I had kept track of the happenings on Xandar and knew that Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket and Groot had been arrested earlier that day and brought to the Kyln along with the Orb containing the Power Stone.

I hadn't taken the Power Stone from Morag directly, as the Guardians of the Galaxy where one of the very few groups I had a good impression of. Though I had been on Morag and made sure that Peter was able to get away safely as a precaution.

I didn't known if my actions had caused a butterfly effect and changed his future, so I had wanted to make sure that nothing unexpected happened and the Orb reached Ronan's hands.

Still, the Orb had always been within reach for me and now it was finally time for me to grab it.

A brief widening of her irises was all that informed me of the Commanders suprise, though her two companions showed more obvious signs of disbelief and surprise.

"Are you sure of this?", Nova Prime asked, as if to confirm that my words hadn't just been a hallucination.

"Of course I am. Don't worry. In a few days time at most Ronan will lose his head, but I need a favour from you in return.", I assured the commander and I meant what I said.

Ronan would only turn into a real problem when he aquires the Power Stone, which I won't allow in this time line, even though I was confident to kill him even then.

There were enormous diffferences even between wielders of Infinity Stones and in comparison to Ronan, who would only rely on the pure destructive capabilities of the Power Stone, I had a very advanced degree of control over the Space Stone. My speed alone was something that made me untouchable and in combination with the Space Stone, Ronan simply wasn't my opponent.

Combining my Spatial Sense with the ability to create portals, I briefly scanned the Kyln by creating a finger wide gate in the palm of my right hand and using the Space Stone to spread my conciousness around the high security prison.

The small dark-blue disc, that suddenly appeared in my hand, surprised my guests while Silver seemed only a bit curious about what I was doing.

We often talked about different aspects and ways to increase our control over the Infinity Stones, as she had also just started to gain some basic understanding of hers, though to be honest her 'basic' understanding was miles ahead of Thanos'.

Sensing that the Guardians had just arrived at the facility, I closed the portal again and retracted my senses from beyond the miniature Space Gate.

I turned my attention back towards the leader of the Nova Corps, while Silver had seemingly lost interest in our conversation and had nestled her head in the crook of my neck.

While softly stroking her back, I disussed the favour I wanted from Irani Rael.

I wasn't something outrageous, so she agreed easily enough and only a few minutes later they went back into their glider and departed.