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***
The Blind Maiden descended on Xandar, not somewhere, but a bounty hunter spaceport.
Three men emerged from it. Hyarty - breathed Xandara's air full of breath:
- I'm home. Finally," he smiled sweetly. In the distance, chains of aerospiders stretched among the skyscrapers, the spaceport was littered with spaceships of various designs. Hyarty, accompanied by Steve and Peggy walked towards the guild building. Rogers and Carter turned their heads - they were looking at every little thing. On the way, Hyarty met almost no one, not even the technicians. Only ships...
He piled into the guild building, so familiar and familiar. He was not recognised at first, but those who did recognise him stared at him as if he were a celebrity. His companions got some attention too, but not much.
* * *
- Hyarty! - Vigo jumped up from his chair, Hyarty, you?
- I am, of course I am," Hyarty smiled, "Hello, Vigo. It's been a long time...
Vigo greeted the guests with pleasure. The guests were seated, Hyarty introduced his companions.
- Why didn't you come straight to me? If you were on Xandar and didn't drop in on us... it's a shame!
- I didn't want Thanos associating me with the guild again. I could get you in trouble. I'm a very dangerous person now.
Vigo waved his hand:
- I've seen worse. At least you could have left a message, like a bandit who's gone into hiding, without a word. You can't do that. And now why have you turned up?
- Well..." Hyarty scratched his ear, "actually, I was passing by here on business, and I looked, and there's some shit going on. Some terrorist bastard they can't catch, so I thought I'd heal him, catch him, make some money..." He scratched his ear.
Vigo looked at Hjarti's companions, then at the guy himself:
- Nobody's been able to catch this bastard for a year now. Five million to catch him is a very serious sum, if you capture him alive, the guild will be in debt to you.
- As I understand it, he has already screwed Nova more than once, if the price is so high... - Hyarty smiled greedily....
Vigo waved his hands:
- Hull has already chipped his teeth. He's hiding somewhere outside the Republic, and they have no authority there. If you want - do it, you'll raise money at the same time... And come to our technicians, because it was cruel to leave without saying goodbye....
* * *
Peggy was walking hand in hand with her fiancé. She looked lazily at her surroundings - people, non-humans, merchants, lots of things... They were walking along one of the pedestrian squares of the city. Steve, unlike Peggy, was interested in everything his eyes could reach. Their peaceful walk was interrupted by a shout in the crowd. The Earthlings looked up and immediately sprinted in the direction of the noise. Steve was ready to pull his shield out of subspace at any second. However, they hesitated for a moment. What they saw was a young man, of Earth-like appearance, fighting with a green-skinned girl. Both of them fought very well. The girl was agile, but the boy was clearly trying to escape from her.
The people in the square ran in all directions, and instantly it became empty. The green-skinned girl stood up, but then two men - very strange looking! Peggy's jaw dropped - the first was a natural raccoon with a grenade launcher in his hands, and the second was a large humanoid tree.
Meanwhile, the girl was about to grab the guy, who switched on some engines on his legs and cleverly escaped from her grasp. He picked up some iron ball and wanted to escape, but his path was blocked by two strange figures, a raccoon and a tree.
Steve Rogers threw his shield at the guy, knocking him to the ground:
- Then we'll figure out who's right and who's wrong here ...
- That's right," Peggy pulled her armour out of subspace and pointed her gloves at the two hunters: "Don't move, raccoon, tree! If you move, I'll kill you.
The raccoon did not want to obey and deftly slid behind the back of his friend, who attacked Peggy....
* * *
For the captain of the Nova Corps, the day did not go well from the start. First, some friction with his superiors, then a long and thoughtful explanation to the teenagers... as if it had gone over his head. And now there was a call, and not somewhere, but right in the centre of the city, a fight!
The captain, putting on his helmet, got into his aerospider and flew, trying to make it in time. He was joined by three other cars. He arrived just in time - two unknown men were swaddling the other four. The captain picked up a stun rifle:
- Nobody move, Nova Corps!
Peggy Carter turned on him and, kicking a twitching Peter Quill, raised her hands:
- It's all right, officer. We spotted the fight and broke them up.
You can't fool the captain, though!
- I said don't move! - said the captain even louder.
Quill, kicking Peggy unmercifully in the side, smirked:
- Try talking to the rubbish humanly. It's a waste of time.
* * *
The alarm sounded suddenly.
- Hyarty, we've got trouble," Bercy reported, "Steve and Peggy seem to have been held up by the Corps.
- What?" I jumped up from my seat. "Delayed how? When? For what?
- They were in a fight.
- Find out where they are right away, let's get over there!
The Blind Maiden pulled out of the car park and headed towards one of the buildings in town. All I had time to do was reach the cargo bay ramp - it was already opening. We were over the Nova Corps car park. I stepped out of the corvette, looking around. A mooring dock, a few ships, and a few of the men on duty, who immediately pointed their rifles at me.
- Lower your weapons," I ordered, adding a mental influence, "where are the detainees being held?
They began to explain, so I had to wave my hand and walk in the direction indicated. Inside was a realm of bureaucratic atmosphere. The corps welcomed the guests with holographic posters, wall newspapers and another duty officer.
* * *
Oh, boy, it's just as well it's here.
- Captain," I burst into his office, "did you apprehend four strange individuals today?
The captain of the corps, an elderly policeman, was sitting next to the desk, looking at something:
- Who are you?
- Hyarty.
- Well, yes, and I am Thanos, - the captain said brazenly, - guys, take him and take him to the detention centre with the others ...
A couple of policemen started coming at me. Eh... Either to go to my friends, or to give the captain a beating? So I'll go with the second option. I immediately put on my armour and forcefully pushed a couple of Polizei into the wall, taking the Polizei captain by the scruff of the neck:
- Listen to me with your ears, you rear rat. You almost ruined the whole operation to catch the Black Bomber, so if you continue to show off, my men from the Special Forces will deal with you. What if you're an agent of the Bomber? And if you don't want any trouble, call your superiors--
- I can't - the captain was scared, - and anyway, what do you think you're doing?
- Okay," I took off my helmet, "Bersi, get me the Xandar Minister of Defence on the video link.
- One second," Bersi responded immediately and I put the policeman in his chair, looking back at the wall monitor. In a second the interface of the caller programme used in the army was already visible there, and ten seconds later the image appeared. I saluted as I should:
- Mr Minister!
- Hyarty? - The elderly man, already familiar to me, looked at me with a squint, -Hyarthi, how nice to see you. But how did you know my official number? Oh, well, I'll leave it at that. How's life?
- Not good right now. Mr Minister, I'm searching for the Black Bomber with my team. I've got a few people helping me, but the Nova Corps tried to arrest my men. Mr Minister, I would like to ask you very strongly to ask the Nova Corps to release my team....
- Okay, not part of it," the minister moved away from the monitor, "so you're looking for a bomber? Why?
- I'm still a member of the Air Force, Mr Minister. Although I try not to get in anyone's sight - all visible operations are done by my friends ...
The Minister looked at me thoughtfully, then turned his gaze to the policeman gulping air like a fish.
- Good. Then you have this task - in a week this bomber should be in our Ministry of Defence. I'll call your friends. Who are they, by the way?
- Gamora, Peter Quill, Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter and a couple of other bounty hunters. Rocket and Groot. But that's just freelancers.
- Gamora? You're talking about Gamora, Thanos' daughter? - The Minister's eyes began to round, Hyarty, are you out of your mind? I mean, she's...
- She was recruited by me over a year ago, before I even returned from my famous mission. Gamora is my eyes and ears in the enemy camp. At least she was...
The Minister laughed, and after about ten seconds, he stopped laughing and said:
- Okay, Hyarty, I have one request. It would be very nice if I delivered the criminal to the government, so in a week - what would be.
- No problem. I'll deliver it in the best possible way," I saluted again.
- All right, I'll talk to the first new one, - the minister switched off the connection. That's how it always is - they try to use me, and their own people. After the last series of sabotage, the authority of the Ministry of Defence went up, and now the Minister wants to announce by some important meeting or event that it was them, the VKS, who caught the criminal, and not some Nova Corps. Funding depends on it all, and money... they love money. Even if not for themselves personally, but when beating the government out of its mani-mani, such precedents are not at all unreasonable.
I turned to the captain:
- "My friends are not going to let my friends in jail. Where are they?
* * *
Peter Quill was sitting on the prison bunks, next to Rocket, Groot and Gamora. Separated from them, Steve and Peggy were cuddled together. They were getting bored with their little cuddles. In front of the camera walked a policeman, in dumb armour and with a shock baton in his hands.
Suddenly heavy footsteps were heard from outside. It was Hjarti approaching, in his famous battle armour and accompanied by a dozen policemen. Steve jumped up:
- Hyarty?! You too?
- Me what? - Hyarty stopped in front of the bars of the grate, "No, if there's anything in the galaxy that can hold me back, it's certainly not the Nova Corps," Hyarty turned around, "Open up.
The policemen didn't need to be told twice. They pressed a few buttons and the grate slid aside. Steve looked at the grinning Hyarty in surprise. However, Hyarty shamed them:
- Well, well, first day on Xandar, and already you've put up a big fight....
- It wasn't us, it was them! - Peggy waved her hand in the direction of Quill, Rocket, Groot, and Gamora. Gamora couldn't believe her eyes. Hjarti, in person. He smiled warmly at her and the green-skinned girl slipped out of the cell, hugging Hyarty. He barely had time to take off his armour....
- Thank you! - she rejoiced, - Ah...
- Everyone is free to go," Hyarty smirked, "Your things will be returned at the exit....
Gamora, just like the first time, kissed Hjarti briefly, which he was already mentally prepared for and was not surprised. He was used to having a rather strange relationship with this green-skinned girl. Quill and Rocket were so shocked that they forgot to leave the open cell and only got up from their seats after being clubbed.
* * *
This was the second time Gamora had boarded the Blind Maiden, but it had not been a very pleasant experience the last time. However, Hjarti following her now made it even more enjoyable than simply returning from captivity. Gamora liked Hyarti - known throughout the galaxy, kind and professional. He was sympathetic and he was surrounded by an aura of calm and strength that no one else had. And the fact that he was a good-looking young man, not a brutal man with implants, only added to his good looks.
- So, what am I supposed to do with you? - Gamora, I'm curious to know why I found you in the Nova Corps' custody.
- Does that surprise you? - Quill interjected.
- Shut up, Quill," Hjarti waved him away like a pesky fly.
Hyarty looked demandingly at Gamora. She could not resist his insistence and began to tell everything, one by one:
- Thanos wanted to get this," Gamora raised the metal ball she held higher, "and sent me for it...
- Oh," Hyarty arched an eyebrow, reaching forcefully for the thing, "what an interesting thing. And very dangerous...
Quill immediately asked:
- 'So do you know what it is?
- Peter, if you keep interrupting us, I'll lock you in the loo.
Hjarti took the orb from Gamora's hands and twirled it around in his hands. Yes, there was definitely energy inside, and very, very much energy, not just energy, but energy of the Force. Focuser? Most likely, yes, a Force Focuser. An incredible artefact capable of being a source of endless energy, drawing it from the Force, that is, a little bit of it from the entire universe.
- I can guess why Thanos wanted this thing. It's incredibly dangerous.
- Is it a weapon? - Gamora asked, thinking.
- Oh, no, not exactly. It's something far more dangerous. If Thanos gets his hands on it, there will be trouble. He could destroy entire planets with it, and it would be almost impossible to defend against it.
- Fortunately, I have a buyer for this thing... Thaneliir Tivan has promised to pay four billion.....
Quill, realising the wealth that had sailed out of his hands, groaned. And Rocket interjected:
- Four billion? For this thing?
- He wants to buy the treasure for nothing," Hjarti grimaced, "This thing has no price. Are you going to give it to Tiwan? - Hyarty looked at Gamora.
- 'Why not? If the collector hides it safely, and also gives money for it, everyone will be better off....
- And Thanos?
- I left him," Gamora smiled, "finally!" she winked slyly at Hyarty, "by the way, can you give us a lift to the Eclipse?
However, her answer both pleased and bummed her out at the same time. Bummed, because Hyarty wasn't intent on flying over and helping them, but pleased with everything else:
- Sorry, Gamora, but in order to get you out, I had to whistle to the Minister of Defence that I'm on the hunt for the Black Bomber, and you're my best and fondest team. So in a week's time we have to bring this bomber to the Ministry - on a silver platter. So the collector can wait. You can hide this thing in the ship's safe for now.