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Late Night — In Ego's Palace, the Family's Room
Gwen sprinted into the room like a gust of wind, plopped down beside the tea table, and called out, "Dad, I know you've got something tasty. Hurry, hand it over!"
She had seriously overestimated the food here.
Was it delicious?
…It was fine.
Was it filling?
…Also fine.
But it lacked that certain something. Even after eating, there was no sense of satisfaction.
"You little glutton, you're still not full?" Raven laughed, tapping Gwen lightly on the forehead.
"Mhm! Mhm!" Gwen nodded furiously, eyes already locked on the plate of red-braised pork Mike produced.
Smiling, Mike reached into his dimensional pouch and pulled out two more dishes, then three sets of utensils—and even three bowls of rice.
Raven arched a brow. "None for me. Better to eat less at night."
Mike nodded. Gwen, however, had no such scruples—she grabbed chopsticks and rice and dove into the steaming dishes.
"Wow, this is so good!" she exclaimed, practically burying her small face in the bowl.
Mike chuckled and kept adding food to her bowl.
Watching father and daughter eat with such obvious joy, Raven licked her lips. In the end, she couldn't resist and joined the feast.
A short while later, Gwen let out a long, contented breath and patted her stomach.
Hic!
The ungainly burp popped out before she could stop it. She clapped a hand over her mouth and grinned sheepishly at the two of them.
"I'm stuffed!"
Raven dabbed her lips and glanced at her slightly rounded belly, sighing despite herself.
At this rate, she was definitely going to put on weight.
"Do more exercise and you won't," Mike said, winking at her. "I'll keep you company later."
Raven's cheeks flushed.
This scoundrel—Gwen was right here.
Gwen slapped both hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. "I didn't hear anything. I'm sleepy. I'm going to bed."
"Ahh, I'm so tired!"
Muttering as she went, she slipped into the washroom.
When the little rascal vanished from sight, Raven couldn't help but laugh. "So precocious—just like Clark when he was young."
She turned back to Mike, eyes turning suggestive. "Are all your kids like this? Just like you?"
"That, I can't say for sure." Mike rubbed his chin, very seriously. "After all, they're all adopted."
He paused—then suddenly scooped Raven into his arms. "Let's make one of our own and find out."
Raven gave a low laugh and lifted her lips to his.
Mike blurred—and the two of them vanished.
"Yesss!" Gwen pumped a fist in the corner. She needed to create more opportunities for those two—then she'd get a little brother or sister to, uh… bully—cough—protect!
In the Guardians' Rooms
After dinner together, Star-Lord had gone out with his ball-tossing dad to "have a heart-to-heart."
Gamora and the others stayed inside, fussing over the little Groot in his flowerpot.
Though he wasn't fully formed yet, he already had awareness. When touched with kindness, he would wave his twiggy arms in response.
"How long until he hops out of the pot?" Gamora extended a finger, touching Groot's tiny hand and giving it a gentle pat.
Rocket bared his teeth at Drax, who was reaching in to poke at Groot. "Hands off. You're all thumbs."
"About half a month," Rocket estimated blandly. He flexed his claws—and smacked away a sneaky hand.
Drax, disgruntled, turned and trudged out toward the palace grounds.
Rocket wouldn't let him touch Groot. It made him sad.
As if he'd yank Groot up to see whether what was buried was a root or a leg. Ridiculous!
He stomped out of Ego's palace—only to find Mantis standing there, staring into the distance with deep worry.
"You?" Drax eyed her with open distaste. "Why are you here? You're making the scenery look worse."
Mantis blinked, then hurriedly said, "Sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just…"
She glanced into the distance again, voice heavy. "It's about to begin."
"What's about to begin?" Drax asked, genuinely curious.
The antennae on Mantis's forehead twitched. Her expression tightened with conflict. "I'm hesitating."
She knew Ego's plan—knew what would happen now that he'd found Star-Lord. She was torn over whether to stop him.
"Ugly and indecisive. You're beyond saving," Drax declared, even more dismissive.
"I'm sorry…" Mantis murmured.
She moved to stand beside him, and the two fell into a halting, casual conversation.
Star-Lord and Ego — The Walk
At the same time, Star-Lord was strolling with Ego.
Ego spoke about his past and his Expansion plan as he taught Peter how to control the planet's light.
Star-Lord progressed quickly, and Ego was delighted.
His plan was nearly ready to execute.
"The Expansion—what's the point?" Star-Lord suddenly asked.
Ego halted. He tapped a finger to Peter's forehead and said softly, "This is the point."
With a light touch, Ego activated the power within Peter and showed him the meaning.
A strange energy flashed and vanished at Peter's brow.
In the next instant, Peter's eyes became like the depths of the cosmos, star-speckled and unfathomable.
Clearly, he'd entered a peculiar state.
Seconds later, he whispered, "I saw… eternity."
He understood Ego's intent, understood the "meaning." In that moment, his thoughts were influenced by Ego—his goals aligning with Ego's own.
"Yes. Eternity." Ego set a hand on Peter's shoulder, a feverish gleam in his eyes.
A crooked smile tugged at Star-Lord's lips.
Then Ego asked, out of nowhere, "That Kryptonian—where did you meet him?"
"Xandar. He saved us. He's the one who told me you were my father—and he brought me here," Peter replied.
Ego's heart gave a jolt.
Did that Kryptonian know something?
Otherwise, how would he know Peter Quill was Ego's son?
He brooded for a breath, eyes turning cold.
That one must know something.
The Kryptonian was very strong. If he truly understood the truth, he could jeopardize the plan.
"He'll stand in the way of my purpose. I must remove him," Ego muttered—and dissolved into light, vanishing from before Peter.
Watching Ego disappear, Star-Lord stood silent for several seconds.
"I still wanted to ask him about my mother," he murmured. The star-deep eyes flicked toward a nearby structure, a faint waver crossing his face.
Mike Kent had saved him—but Mike might interfere with the Expansion. What should he do?
Maybe… he could persuade Mike to take Gamora and the others and leave—stay out of father-and-son business.
With that thought, he broke into a run toward the palace.
Alarm — Collapse of the Palace
At the same time, Drax and Mantis raced inside. Mantis had told Drax about Ego's plan.
Drax barged into the Guardians' room.
Little Groot startled, his tiny branches drawing tight to his body.
Rocket and Gamora glared furiously at Drax, ready to lay into him—when Drax shouted, "Bad news! Peter's in danger!"
"What happened?" Gamora demanded.
But before the words finished leaving her mouth, a thunderous boom echoed through the palace.
"What was that?" Rocket clutched Groot protectively.
Explosions rolled one after another. The palace shuddered and split, the ground cracked beneath their feet, and streams of flowing light surged up all around them.
"What is this?" Gamora cried out.
Mantis's antennae glowed faintly. Face pale with fear, she said, "It's Ego. He's angry."
As she spoke, energy tendrils erupted from the depths below. The entire palace heaved—and began to collapse.
"Run!" Rocket bolted with Groot in his arms.
Gamora and the others sprinted after him.
"You said Peter—what happened to him?" Gamora called to Drax.
Mantis panted as she ran. "Ego has a plan…"
She sketched out Ego's scheme for Gamora and Rocket between breaths.
They burst from the crumbling palace into the open, coughing dust, eyes wide at the writhing energy tendrils lashing the ruins.
"We have to save Peter!" Gamora cried, frantic.
"But he might already be on Ego's side. If we go, we could be in danger," Mantis faltered.
"That idiot," Rocket growled.
Just then a figure dropped from the sky wreathed in energy.
"Peter!?" The Guardians stared, startled.
Star-Lord looked over them, those star-filled eyes unreadable. "I think I heard someone bad-mouthing me."
Seeing him like this, Gamora gritted her teeth. "You joined Ego's plan?"
"The Expansion?" Peter asked softly—then said, "It is the meaning of my existence."
Their faces changed. Gamora shouted back, "No! That's meaning Ego forced on you, you—"
Rrrrrumble!
She didn't finish. More energy tendrils speared up from below.
From the collapsing ruins, blue fire blossomed like exploding fireworks; a whirling chain shattered several tendrils. Wherever the blue flames scattered and landed on the coils, they caught and burned fiercely.
Boom!
With a thunderclap, Ego—half his head missing—was blasted away, skidding over the ground toward Star-Lord and the others.
From the wreckage rose two figures amidst the flailing energy limbs:
Mike hovered in the air, black battle suit gleaming, cape stirring gently behind him.
Beside him stood Gwen, wreathed in blue hellfire, a chain lashing wildly around the Spirit of Vengeance she had become.
Ego glared past them at the father and daughter, then whipped his head toward Star-Lord and roared, "Child—attack!"
(End of Chapter)