Before R'Kill, Sif, and other diplomats of the universe arrived at Skrullos third, Dawn and his crew had finished their preparation to set sail in space again.
"Boss. What about us?" Jay asked the Mandalorian. Jay, Deet and Arina were called back to Xandar by Gia and Saal, but they were torn in making the decision.
Mando patted her on her helmet and said, "You should come with me. After training, you can go back to Xandar if you want."
Jay's already red face blushed after he placed her hand on her helmet. Deet snickered from the side while Arina was emotionless. Unlike Jay who wore the helmet 24/7, Deet and Arina periodically took off their helmet.
"Boss. Are you really going to Knowhere after this?" Arina asked.
"Yes. The Captain has something to talk about with the Collector." Mando replied.
Arina gripped her fist tightly whenever Mando said the Collector's name, an action that didn't pass Ryan's shadow clone eyes.
Inside the hidden realm, Frank Castle was holding his Boba Fett armour in his hand, while his helmet was worn by his son Richard who was running around with his new legs.
"Richard, You will fall." Frank said with a fatherly smile.
"No dad. I have been learning from the instructor. I won't fall." Richard said confidently as he quickened his step and made a stabbing sword motion. Then, he slipped and fell as he lost his footing.
"OWwww…" He whined as his father picked him up. Frank flicked the helmet and said to him, "Always plan ahead."
"But Dad. You never plan ahead. You just shoot everything when you're battling."
Frank didn't expect the counterattack and he became speechless for a moment.
"Enough. Do you want to see the battle scenes or not?" Frank changed the subject quickly.
"I want to see the Basilisk. Can I dad?" Richard peeked from underneath his helmet and flashed a puppy-dog eyes to Frank. The Punisher gulped as he couldn't refuse the request.
Back to the Arcadia ship.
Dawn almost initiated the hyperdrive on the ship when the Arcadia was hailed by a Skrulls ship.
"Lord, the high-priestess of the Skrulls requested an audience." Annika said.
"Tell her to wait. I need to go settle something now. I will come back later." Dawn said. After transmitting the message, the ship quickly disappeared from the planet's vicinity.
"Talos, what did he say?" R'Kill asked Talos who was responsible for the communication.
"He said, if we dare to enter the planet's surface, then he will kill us all." Talos replied solemnly.
He was afraid to go back to Skrullos third, as he was responsible for the invasion by Veranke before this. He had concocted a plan to drug the high-priestess after this and took her away to the universe. The high-priestess gift in prophecy that was bestowed on her would help him in getting away from Earthling's revenge.
"I see." R'Kill said disappointingly.
"We should leave." Talos said in a hurry.
"No. We shouldn't. But Talos. You should." R'Kill said.
"What?"
"Go and leave now. In exchange for your service all of these years, I won't kill you where you stand." R'Kill said while staring at Talos with stone-cold eyes.
"My-My Queen!" Talos became flustered and kneeled.
"Go now. Don't make me take back my words."
Talos gritted his teeth and tried to attack R'Kill, but she already had a sword in her hand. She stabbed the sword into Talos' heart.
"How do you know?" Talos asked as he spit out blood.
"I don't." R'Kill said, causing Talos to widen his eyes. "I only know that he wasn't that type of person. Powerful individuals won't chase away their enemy, unless the power they wield is untrue."
"I see. I will see you in hell." Talos said before he closed his eyes forever.
R'Kill wiped the sword with a white handkerchief with an emotionless face and said, "See you there."
Talos has been her closest aide for decades now, but the cold blooded woman knew he would bring more harm than good if he was let alive.
R'Kill, the Queen of the Skrulls then landed on the planet's surface after contacting Dezan, the now King of the Skrulls.
"Sister!" Dezan welcomed R'Kill with open arms. Although Dezan was the brother of Dorrek VII who forced her to get married, R'Kill always has a good impression on Dezan. She once thought that if the one she married was Dezan, she might never have to run away from her home planet.
She smiled softly as she hugged her brother-in-law (A/N:if the Skrulls had an in-laws LoL).
"I will wait for the guest in the temple." R'Kill said. However, Dezan quickly convinced her to stay. He too has a great impression on R'Kill and he would like her to stay with him if he could.
"My home is also your home." Dezan said. He already knew about Dorrek's grandson – the boy that was half Kree half Skrulls. If one day the boy wants to claim the throne, he would be willing to abdicate the throne to him.
The only reason he took the throne was because of the deal with Earth's Vice President who he held in great esteem. 'If the planet's Vice President was so terrifying, I wonder what power the President holds.' Dezan thought secretly.
Together with Xandar, the Skrull would come to the world summit in a month under Ryan's invitation. That was also when Dezan would meet Hulkling as he wanted to meet the last living family he has in the world.
There was another solution to the problem. If Dezan and R'Kill get married, then the boy would still be the direct line to the throne.
…
Knowhere.
The bustling city inside the severed head of the Celestial was now almost deserted after the news of the Skrullos planet battle. Not that the outlaws feared Dawn, but they thought of an opportunity to loot the Skrulls mother planet.
Taneleer Tivan, the Collector, realised that he had made a wrong decision in putting the bounties on the Arcadia ship, Dawn, and also the Mandalorians. Most of the visitors inside the city had run away, but the Collector was a rich man.
He had hired more than 10,000 galaxy famous mercenaries to protect him inside the Celestial head as he planned to have a talk with Dawn Everstar. Who knows? He might be able to soothe him or change his mind.
"Boss. We're here." Peter Quill said to a communicator as he and his crew landed on the severed head for scouting. He split away from Gamora, Rocket and Groot to scout the area in a short time, but he stumbled on his mission in less than 5 minutes.
"But we have a problem. Yondu is also here. He wants to meet you."
Peter smiled wryly as Yondu's arrow was inches away from his head. The Ravagers had come to the battle but they couldn't breach the planet's defence line. And as the Ravagers were a bunch of outlaws, they didn't stay in Skrullos after the danger was over as Xandar was there.
Now, Yondu wanted his payment for his help.
"Quill. Let your Daddy speak to me." Dawn said on the other line.
"He is not my Daddy!" Quill retorted.
"Listen to your boss Boi. Let your 'Daddy' speak!" Yondu smiled brightly and took the communicator from Quill. It was unsure whether he smiled because he was called Daddy or Dawn wanted to speak to him.
"Yondu. I will give you some Yaka for your help. Thank you." Dawn said.
Yondu was stunned. He prepared himself to negotiate with Dawn for a long time, but all of his efforts went to drain.
"How much metal are you talking about?" Yondu asked, almost salivating when he heard it.
"Not much. 2 kilograms. You can use it to make 5 arrows." Dawn said as he browsed the trading site lazily and bought 200 kg of the precious metal.
In Centauri VI where Yondu's home planet was located before this, they already ran out of precious metal and resources. That's how most of his people become wanderers. But not many of them survived as long as he did.
"I will give you 1 kilogram more if you help Quill keep Tivan there until I arrive."
"Tivan is not a weak opponent. Add it by one more kilo, and we got a deal. Also I want to take a first crack at his collection." Yondu said.
"..." Dawn was the one speechless this time. "You're very shameless aren't you?" He blurted out.
"HAHAHA. I hate complicated things the most. It's better to say what I want directly right?"
"Sure Mary Poppins. Let Gamora take the command. However, I hold veto for the collection. If what you demand is too much, such as living beings. I won't honour the deal."
"Deal!" Yondu said excitedly before Dawn cuts off the communication line. "You got a good boss there, Quill." Yondu patted Quill's shoulder.
Quill tried desperately to hold his laughter, but he couldn't. "MARY POPPINS!! HAHAHA!!"
Lucky for him, Yondu was already out of earshot.
Karina, the twin-tailed pink female collection that served Tivan, carried a tray of antiquities for the Collector.
"Don't drop that. It is worth more than you!" TIvan yelled at Karina as she was being shaky in carrying the tray. She couldn't help feeling weak as she was only fed one time per day, just enough for her to survive the abuse from her master.
She passed a glass display containing a sleeping dog in an astronaut outfit with a glass bowl on his head. Cosmo the telepathic dog suddenly raised his head and turned to the Collector's Vault entrance. Then, he lowered his head and continued sleeping again, but this time his tail in the outfit wiggle slightly.
When the Arcadia arrived, it was fairly simple for Dawn and the crew to take on the rag tag group of outlaws waiting for them. The battle was so easy that it couldn't even be joked about.
' So this is a celestial.' Dawn thought as he walked to the Collector's Vault. Tivan had initiated the lockdown process, making his building almost impenetrable. Yondu's arrow flew in a circle around Dawn, penetrating the head of the mercenaries that tried to block his way.
The arrow returned to Yondu. "I have fulfilled the end of my deal. I expect you to honour your word." Yondu said.
"Of course." Dawn said. "But later." He then stood in front of the Collectors building. Yondu nodded and jogged lightly to join the battle.
"Come out. Didn't you want to see me and my ship? I am here now." Dawn said eerily at Tivan's front door.
"Life God. Calm your anger. We can talk about this. I am prepared…to pay compensation for my actions." Tivan said calmly despite being extremely anxious inside. Being an Elder of the Universe, he didn't mind much other mortal's presence or the consequences of his actions.
However, the other elders had told him about Dawn's ability to kill a concept, a strength that was on par with the severed head origin he mined from.
"Open the door. I am giving you till the count of three."
"One."
"Please Life God. Let's talk about this."
"You want me to talk then invite me inside. Twoo."
"I will if you promise not to-"
"Three."
BOOOM
Dawn pry open the thick metal defence on the front door using a magician hand spell. The thick layer of metal was torn by him, causing it to roll around the metal wall edges.
"NO!" Tivan yelled. He turned into his collection and pulled out a rusty looking sword. Then, he threw 5 magic beans into the floor.
POOF
5 white smokes appeared from where the beans fell. Then, five giants – one at least 10 metres tall appeared in front of Dawn. Tivan pointed his sword at Dawn, and ordered the giant using the sword, "Capture HIM!"
In his pocket, there was a concoction of his own named the Obedience Potion. It would allow the target to become completely obedient for him. He used the potion to make his more powerful collection to be docile.
The barbarian looking giants used animal fur to cover up their private parts. Other than that, their muscular body was completely bare. They swung the club in their hand toward Dawn, however Annika kicked the club away before it could reach Dawn.
The 10 metre tall giant then stumbled and fell on his ass. He grunted and stood back up angrier this time.
"You and Hercules are both the same!" Annika yelled in dissatisfaction seeing the hairy body of the giants.
"Hey." Hercules called out sadly. He was behind Annika and was caught unprepared for the insult.
"What?" Annika glared at him.
"Nothing." Hercules said and swung his golden mace at the giant. After a few bouts, Hercules then realises that the giants were becoming stronger over time. They were invulnerable and extremely strong too.
The Collector showed the might of a hoarder for the first time in Aeons. Alibaba magic lamp that summoned a Djinn, Alibaba magic carpet, (A/N :Not joking) Tibetan Crystal balls, and many more mysterious items of unknown origin were thrown toward Dawn.
"Come on. Accept your fate already." Dawn said as he easily blocks or avoids everything the Collector throws at him.
"I will pay you 10 billion units if you let me go!" Tivan bargained in a huffing voice.
"No can do. Today, I will take over your entire collection. And this head too." Dawn said.
"20 BILLIONS!"
"Nope."
Dawn keeps chasing after the Collector deep into his vault.
"Hey ya buddy. How are you?" A cocktail sipping duck greeted Dawn as he passed by.
"I am doing fine. Why the glass house? Rent in the universe is too high?"
"Nah. Lost in a casino."
The Collector ran toward the wall and pulled the latch while waiting for Dawn to come after him.
The Collector thought he had lured Dawn into his trap. He then released a sentient coat of arms named the Coat of Hercules. A coat with a restraining ability so strong, even Thor couldn't break free of it.
The Coat flew toward Dawn and started to envelop his head. He let out a muffled scream as the Coat was suffocating him.
"HAHAHAHA" Tivan laughed madly as he saw Dawn's struggle. He took off the Obedient potion bottle cap and inches away toward Dawn. but first, he needed to lock the man who could invade an entire civilization.
PSHHH
Air steam came out from the floor as an enhanced display glasses started to rise around Dawn, trapping him inside the glass cage. Dawn pulled the Coat of Arm away from his face, but his body was still restrained.
Tivan smiled smugly and started to taunt him. "Oh BOO HOO HOO. I just finished killing a cosmic entity, Now I'm trapped inside a jar for all to see."
The glass door finally closes, and Tivan couldn't help but break out into a small dance.
"I finally have my greatest collection of all times!" He screamed.
"Your crew would be a hassle, but I have laced the display glass with The Poison (A/N: Sounds like lazy writing, but I took it from the Collectors museum) that could kill even gods. It's the most potent poison in the entire universe. They will surrender if they don't want their captain to die." Tivan said arrogantly.
"Why do you collect Tivan?" Dawn asked, strangely calm even though the display glass could even suppress his magic. The Vault was made from an ancient artefact. Once a collection enters its cage, it would lose their will to fight and even their strength.
Dawn thought Tivan had a mission to collect, just like the other elders. But Tivan was actually just a psychopath.
"Because It's fun." Tivan said with a nasty grin.
"I see." Dawn muttered. As he already has his confirmation, he didn't have to play along with the farce any longer.
Tivan's sight suddenly darkened. Suddenly, he found himself being restrained in the coat of arms, and inside the display case he used to hold Dawn before.
"WHAT-" Tivan yelled in horror. He couldn't even bang the glass door as it was laced with the poison.
"I am collecting you now." Dawn said mockingly.
"You won't get my riches…even if you captured me!" Tivan threatened.
"I don't need your riches. I already got what I am aiming for." Dawn said. Even if it was locked, Ryan would find a way to rob all of the Collector's wealth after a short studying process so Dawn wasn't worried about it.
"And that is?"
"The Severed head." Dawn replied and turned his back against the Collector. "COME BACK!!" Tivan yelled, but Dawn ignored him. The controller on Tivan's arm was already taken off by him without Tivan noticing.
Dawn walked toward the Cosmo the Spacedog cage and opened it. "You want to go for a walk buddy?"
"WOOF!" Cosmo barked to agree. The telepathic dog then walked by Dawn's side as he moved toward the entrance of the building where the fight was still ongoing.
Hercules and Annika stood back-to-back as they were encircled by the giants.
"I don't believe I can't destroy them." Hercules gritted his teeth to summon more strength.
"That makes 2 of us." Annika replied. Hercules and Annika turned towards each other, and the atmosphere turned a little weird. Dawn who saw the scene could swear he saw Annika and Hercules inside a pink and flowery background.
He then took the rusty sword that Tivan had abandoned 50 metres away from the giants. "Go and rest." He said as he held the sword. Then, the 5 giants suddenly explode into a white mist and re-enter their magic beans again.
"Ehem Ehem" Dawn cleared his throat when he saw Annika and Hercules still inside their own space.
"Oh. Lord. Have you finished your work?" Annika pushed Hercules away and walked toward Dawn with a blushing face.
"Tivan is captured now. The place is ours." Dawn replied. "In the future, this will become the new headquarters for the Guardians of the Galaxy."
…
On Earth.
After healing himself, Ryan returned to Earth via teleportation across the hidden realm.
Gwen and Ryan stood side by side as they awaited the SSV ship carrying the Fantastic Four.
"I can't believe you don't invite me to the battle!" Gwen pursed her lips and crossed her arm in anger.
"I did call you. You said you're busy." Ryan replied.
"Explain it better! I will abandon the Intelligencia anytime if I can fight an interstellar battle!" Gwen held his arm and shook it heavily. He couldn't say it was her own fault as he had invited her 3 times to the battle. But she was too focused on destroying the Intelligencia who had been talking shit about her and Jennifer Walter.
He couldn't bear watching her teary eyes. Ryan leaned in and hugged her tightly. He kissed her forehead, calming her down.
"I have got A LOT of work from the incident. But, let's take a break. I got an interesting DNA from a giant head. So we're going to spend some time in the lab. I know you missed researching too, right?"
" I do." Gwen said. It's been a hectic year for both of them. She wanted to spend more time with Ryan, that's why she had been whining at him.
The SSV ship finally entered Earth's vicinity after clearing through the Earth's defence fleet.
"Holy SHIT. Is it really 2011?" Johnny stuck his face on the glass window of the ship and saw the giant Paris class ship. He gulped his saliva in both excitement and disbelief.
***************
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