Chapter 4

/

For those of you reading this on FF, I post on Spacebattles as well. For those on Spacebattles reading this, I also post on Fanfiction net.

Just so ya know.

Also, someone mentioned that the Man Things time as champion was shortly after Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I did not actually know that, but it works for the timeline I'm cautiously making in my head. So for those wondering when in the MCU he's in, he is right after Winter Soldier but Right before GotG.

/

Watching from the Grandmasters box, I watch as Kerch once again slaughters his opponent, his right arm turned sword impaling the Aakon through the abdomen before lifting the now deceased alien aloft like a trophy.

This is what has become of my life. Whenever I am not experimenting and studying, I am here. Watching the games as millions of Sakaarians flock the stands to watch the champions kill each other.

I have been here almost five months at this point and I had spent every waking moment working on my plans. I had primarily let Kerch sit on the sidelines, as did the Korbanite who surprisingly enough lasted far longer than I expected in a fight. However, they were merely party favors when compared to my end goal. Parlor tricks designed to keep the Grandmaster happy and distracted while I worked my magic.

When he wasn't paying attention, I was sowing distrust in the minds of his guards. When he wasn't looking, I used the Force to project myself into the Contestants cells and convince them to prepare for a revolution. When he was busy, I infiltrated his security systems. When given the chance I would visit Man-Thing and use Sith Alchemy to… alter him. Make him bigger, stronger, faster, bound to me. Where once his fear of negative emotions was a weakness, I made it his strength. Like a Dementor, he now fed on these emotions, making himself stronger.

Since I had bound him to me, he couldn't affect me with his new abilities, but his enemies?

They suffered.

They suffered greatly.

And over time my influences grew. The Guards were under my control, either manipulated by the Force, bribed, or threatened, acting as my spies and my personal army. The prisoners became my eyes and ears, some of them even offering themselves to be enhanced by me.

And finally… Finally it was time. In between matches, as Kerch enters the cellblock, I start my plan.

Summoning my helmet to my hands, I stand up from my seat next to the Grandmaster.

"Wait, aren't you going to watch the rest of the contest?" He asks me once he realizes I was standing.

"There has been a change of plans." I reply simply before gesturing at the various guards in the room, each one standing further at attention and pointing their spears at the Grandmaster.

"Wait, what.. what are you guys, oh… thats a spear."

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and Girls of all ages, I would introduce myself, but let's face it, you don't really care…" I say as I watch a gigantic hologram of myself appear in the middle of the arena. "Sakaar has been my home for a few months now, and in that time frame I have noticed a few things. This planet is rife with corruption and disease. This planet is wrought with hunger, pain, and suffering. In my time here, I realized something important… this planet is in need of a revolution."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, a roar seems to echo through the cellblock and up through the stands. Shutting off the holofeed, I gesture for the guards to take him away.

"Wait, what are you doing? I'm the Grandmaster! You can't just do this!"

"I already have." I reply as I put on my helmet.

Now, had Sakaar been in the Empire, it would be viewed as an asset and potentially a location to sift out potential Sith hopefuls, therefore leaving Grandmaster in charge would have been the best option.

This wasn't the Sith Empire. This was me trying to get home.

As I traverse the hallways, the Grandmaster being sent to the cells and the prisoners running free, I reach out through my Force bond and nudge Man-Thing to head to the hangar where my ship was.

So far everything was going to plan.

Until it didn't.

"What do you think you're doing?" I hear from behind me, the voice annoyingly familiar. Glancing at the window to my side, I can see her reflection behind me.

"Brunhilde… I thought you were watching the Contest on your ship, getting black out drunk, as per usual." I ask as I turn around to face her.

"Yeah, was going to, but you kind of ruined the show with that stupid helmet of yours." She replies with a shrug, getting into a fighting stance.

"You can't win. Or have you forgotten the last dozen times you've attempted this?"

"Yeah, well… thirteenth times the charm." She replies before she punches her fists together, a blue holographic readout appearing over her gloves. Turning my head to the window, I can see her ship aiming at me through the windows.

"Call off the Revolution." She demands as she aims at me.

"Once a Revolution has begun, you will find it quite difficult to stop." I reply.

"Wrong answer." She starts to say before she seemingly cocks her arms back a tad bit. I can see the guns on her ship slowly starting to power on.

And I smirk under my mask as the first bolt flies at me.

Time seemed to slow around me as I watched the first bolt smash through the window and head towards my chest. There was no way I was blocking it with my lightsaber, though there was really no need.

Force Choking Valkyrie, I pull her towards me and into the attack.

Unlike me, she didn't have Sith Enhanced Armor.

I could theoretically survive an aerial bombardment with this armor on.

She however, could not.

The first bolt tore through her legs, vaporizing them and seemingly cauterizing them. One just below the knee and the other to just below the hip. The second one obliterated her right arm, leaving her hand to fall on the floor twitching. At that the guns stopped firing.

Hmm… she was still alive.

Interesting.

Using the Force to enhance her pain to a point that would make most people die of shock, I toss her aside before glancing at her ship. The armaments would prove useful I think…

Taking her gloves from her and her now detached hand, I leap aboard her ship and sit in the captains seat. There should be enough room to store it in my ship.

At least for now.

In the past few months since our first encounter, Valkyrie had proven most… annoying. She had attempted to undermine everything I did. She would speak to the Grandmaster, she would attempt to follow me, attempt to interrupt me while I was at work on sensitive matters. Everything she could to get me booted from the palace.

And each time the Grandmaster would question me, I would hide behind a facade of calm, peaceful, happy, monster maker. Loyal only to the Grandmaster.

It was incredibly annoying.

Part of me didn't want to kill her. The human side who watched her in the MCU wanted to recruit her as an ally, help her through her alcoholism to become a better person.

The Sith in me crushed that suggestion as soon as she became a nuisance.

Landing in the Hangar, I quickly realize that even in death, she was a nuisance. Her ship wouldn't fit inside mine. It was simply too large.

On the bright side, it did have an Autopilot which was capable enough to follow my ship through space.

Hopefully.

Walking towards my ship, several guards walking in and out, carrying supplies and various weapons and armors from the arena that were of no use to the revolution, I can sense Man-Thing already aboard and resting in what was once the conference room. Now it housed a small pit filled with swampy muck and slime.

Entering my ship, I rush to the pilots seat. While everything is in shambles and Kerch causing havok, my window to escape this place was wide open. Now equipped with proper star charts and information on several galaxies, I set a course and take off.

It was time to show the galaxy the power of the Sith.

/

Landing on Xandar was a relatively simple affair. All done legally even!

Mostly legal.

Okay, so maybe I used the Force to convince them I was authorized to land.

The point of the matter was I was now on Xandar, walking around in civilian clothing while Man-Thing taking a nap on the ship and me with a slightly better understanding of the Timeline.

Somewhat.

For example, I had no idea what the hell was going on with the Avengers. Earth, or Terra as everyone calls it, was never in anyone's radar outside of Captain Marvel, or Vers, or even the Avenger by some accounts. However, since Danvers had left Earth alone for the most part, other than a minor glance here and there, Earth was never really under any supervision.

That left me out of the loop on Earth's timeline as the Galaxy as a whole didn't really do the whole BC AD thing.

Because, you know, the lack of space Jesus.

That being said, taking into account the first appearance of Danvers as Captain Marvel near Earth and her utterly obliterating the Kree Warcrafts and running some mental math, I should be just before the Guardians of the Galaxy.

This was both good and bad.

For one, the Space Stone was on Asgard. Unless I was planning on flying by and asking to borrow it from Odin himself, I doubted I'd be getting it anytime soon.

I had no doubt I could defeat Asgards armies. My skill in the Force alone should wipe the floor with most of them, but against Odin? Against Thor? I simply wasn't sure. Odin hasn't had the chance to let loose like in the comics. Could I beat him? Given enough time and preparation, I probably could. Against him, Frigga, and Thor? With Odin's personal guard at my back the entire time?

I liked living.

Another issue was the Mind Stone. Since it was before Age of Ultron, Vision did not have the Mind Stone embedded in his skull. The question is time. Will I have enough to get the Power Stone from the Guardians, potentially recruit them to my side, and make my way to earth before Vision starts existing. I knew the timeline basically, but I was never that focused on it. All I knew is which movies to watch in order and the events happened usually in accordance with the year they were released in.

So I may have to rip the Mind Stone from Vision's corpse. Good to know.

The Time Stone was guarded by the Masters of the Mystic Arts. Of all the Stones I dreaded going after, this one was on the top of the list. I did not doubt my own power against the likes of such as Mordo or Kaecilius. Their powers were limited, weak.

My fear was of The Ancient One.

Like Odin, she possessed great power, unlike Odin, she used it and she was scarily skilled with it.

And like on Asgard, I doubted I could defeat her as easily as I would like to.

The Reality Stone, if I was correct, was with the Collector. If I followed along, I could potentially retrieve the Power and Reality Stones in one fell swoop. I merely needed to convince the servant of its usefulness in killing her master and it would be mine.

The Soul Stone would unfortunately have to wait. In this universe, I had no attachments besides that which I forged with Man-Thing, however even with that… I did not love him. He was a tool to be used.

Could I find love in this universe? Probably. Could I sacrifice them for the Soul Stone? Again, probable. The issue is who.

But these are problems for another day. For now I must keep my senses open. If Quill slips through my fingers, there would be hell to pay.

Walking around Xandar's capital city was surprisingly refreshing. I relaxed in the library, reading through their history and sciences. I would walk the streets, looking through the vendors wares. I even visited the Broker once to look through his inventory.

But never did I allow myself to stray too far from the Broker's shop.

And it was during one of my strolls that I felt it, about a week after I first landed, my use of the Force keeping my ship securely parked on the shuttle pad.

What was that?

A presence. A powerful presence in the Force. One of the most powerful since my arrival in this galaxy.

Still weak when compared to the likes of the Force Sensitives back home, but for this galaxy, the sensitive was like a beacon in the night. How I hadn't seen it before is beyond me, but they had potential.

Now for the question… Who were they?

I can sense that they weren't trained in the Force whatsoever, however they seem to use it to enhance themselves physically. I can feel them unintentionally use it to strengthen themselves, make themselves more limber. I can feel the Force flowing through them.

Hmm… Cybernetic enhancements. Interesting. Most Sith found Cybernetics of any sort distasteful, I personally could see the pros and cons of certain procedures, but it seemed as if the enhancements of the Force Users was designed less as a replacement limb, but more as a way to enhance what was already there…

Interesting.

As I casually walk over to where I sensed the Force Sensitive was located, I notice a Tree drinking out of a water fountain while a talking raccoon berated it.

So soon? I wasn't expecting the start of the Guardians for another week at least…

Extending my senses, I could sense several other individuals of note. The Broker was in his office speaking with a young man, early thirties I would say, making that Quill. Standing outside of the office was…

Gamora was Force Sensitive?

That… would actually make some sense. Considering some of her feats in battle, her skill with a sword, and her own instincts

This changes things…

If she was leaning against the Brokers business, than that meant Quill was inside. Which meant the Stone was also inside.

Interesting.

Now for the next step of my genius plan.

I needed to get arrested. Specifically by the Nova Corps.

A small burst of frustration and fear cane from the brokers store, one of which I recognized to be the Broker himself, the other I assumed to be Quill. Suddenly it seemed as if Quill was pushed outside, the door slamming shut in his face as he shouts at the now sealed doors.

It's been so long since I've seen the movie, I forgot the specifics of this scene. When did Rocket and Groot enter the picture, when did the cops show up? When should I enter the fray?

A flash of surprise and pain came from my targets, drawing my attention back to Gamora and Quill, or should I say, just Quill holding his stomach in pain while Gamora bolted.

Pulling something from his pocket, he pressed a button and threw it at Gamora, red energy seemed to wrap around her legs and trip her up.

Glancing back at Rocket and Groot, I can see that they notice the commotion as they quickly get up from their spots and take a closer look.

Glancing back, Gamora and Peter are fighting, though Gamora keeps the upper hand, pinning him to the ground and pulls a knife out, preparing to kill Peter with it only for Rocket to tackle her.

Grabbing the Orb, Peter gets up and runs, making a fair distance before Gamora breaks free from Groot and Rocket, throwing Rocket into a sign after breaking Groots bindings. Picking up her discarded knife, she throws it and knocks the Orb from Peters hands. I lightly grin as the Orb rolls away and only the level below.

And now it's my turn to join.

Summoning the Orb to my hand, I can feel the power housed inside, though it seems to be dampened quite a bit due to the Orb itself. Interesting… I wonder if its the material or if it is some sort of enhanced technology doing it. Who knows, maybe its magic?

Regardless, I hold the Orb loosely as Gamora lands in front of me before straightening up and pointing her sword at me.

"The Orb. Now." She orders.

"I don't know… I kind of appreciate the design. How about I keep it?" I reply, goading her on.

Growling in anger, she charges me, swinging her sword at me from the side. Leaning back, I watch as the blade passes inches above my face. Returning upright, I turn to face her again.

"Infuriating, isn't it? Being so close to victory, and yet so far. You will never gain the appreciation you want from him, you know?" I smirk. Suddenly, a bolt of energy flies at us from behind Gamora. Hmm… seems Quill hasn't left the fight yet.

"SILENCE!" She yells before charging me once more.

Ducking under her swing, I fill my hand with electricity before jabbing it in her side, tasing her and forcing her to drop her sword.

Summoning the Sword to my hand, I block the next shot from Quill with the sword along with the next one, and the one after that.

"What the hell are you supposed to be? Some sort of Jedi?" He asks as he keeps shooting.

"Not quite." I scowl before I use the Force to choke him. "I prefer the term… Sith."

"Holy shit..." He gasps as he stares at me.

And then I got hit by a tree.

Growling, I see Groot standing over me with Rocket putting a bag over Quill while he recovered.

"Come on big guy, stop staring at the idiot and help me carry this idiot." Rocket berates Groot before noticing Gamora returning, picking up her sword where I dropped it. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me."

Pushing Rocket aside, she hacks and stabs at Groot, removing both of his arms before slamming the sword into his stomach. Opening the bag up, Quill tases Gamora again before he starts to run.

"I live for the simple things… Like how much this is gonna hurt." Rocket grins as he pulls some sort of gun off his back. Aiming it carefully, he fires and the resulting projectile slams into Quill, knocking him down and tasing him mercilessly.

"That's right… Writhe little man." he chuckles before he turns to Groot, who was whining over his now detached arms. "Quit whining, you idiot. They'll grow back."

As I stand up, golden light seems to encompass Groot, Rocket and I.

"Subject 89P13. Drop your weapon." I hear from one of the space ships surrounding us.

"Oh crap..." Rocket replies as he drops his weapon.

"By the Authority of the Nova Corps, you are under arrest for endangerment of life, and destruction of property."

Glancing over at the knocked out Gamora, I notice she had yet to wake up. Interesting. Something that would need to be fixed in the future, but interesting none the less. When I tased her, it was enough to temporarily stun her. I didn't need to kill her or knock her out. Quill had different ideas it seemed.

Lifting us into the air, the golden light dragged us to what I assumed was the police precinct and booked us.

All according to plan.

/

"I guess most of the Nova Corp wants to uphold the law, but these ones here? They are corrupt and cruel. But hey! That's not my problem, I ain't gonna be here long. I have escaped twenty two prisons, this one's no different." Rocket was saying as we were escorted through the Kyln. "You're just lucky the Broad and the Loser showed up, because otherwise me and Groot would be collecting that bounty right now, and you'd be drawn and quartered by Yondu and those Ravagers."

In order, Gamora stood at the front of the line, behind her was Rocket, followed by Quill, myself, then Groot.

"I've had a lot of folks try to kill me over the years, I ain't about to be brought down by a tree and a talking Raccoon." Quill cuts back.

"Hold."

"What's a Raccoon?" Rocket asks himself as the Prison guard has us stop.

"What's a raccoon? That's what you are, Stupid." Quill replies.

"Ain't no thing like me, 'scept me."

Ignoring Rocket, he glances between me and Gamora for a moment as if he wants to ask us both a question before turning to Gamora.

"So this Orb has a very shiny blue suitcase, Ark of the Covenant, Maltese Falcon sort of vibe… What is it?"

"I am Groot."

"So what?" He replies to Groot before turning to Gamora. "What's the Orb?"

"I have no words for an honorless Thief."

"Pretty high and mighty coming from the lackey of a homocidal maniac." Rocket points out as we walk through the halls. I was staying silent. If they asked me, I would answer. Until then, I was going to memorize the layout of this place. It could prove useful in the future…

"Yeah, I know who you are. Anyone who's anyone knows who you are."

"Yeah, we know who you are." Peter says before not so quietly whispering to me. "Who is she?"

"I am Groot." Groot says.

"I wasn't asking you. I was asking the Sith." Peter replies before turning to me for answers.

"I'm surprised you are asking a Sith for answers." I tell him. "Not that I would answer the question as it is her story to tell, but the point still stands."

"I wasn't retrieving the Orb for Ronan." Gamora replies with a sigh. "I was betraying him. I had an agreement to sell it to a third party."

"Cunning." I comment. "Had it worked."

"You keep calling him 'Sith,' Quill. What's that supposed to mean? Some kinda job title? Some sorta species I ain't never heard of?" Rocket asks him as the door in front of us opened.

"Okay, so on Terra we have movies, right? Kinda like holovids. Some of the movies were about two groups. The Empire and the Rebels. On the Rebel Side, we got Jedi's who were like… the peacekeepers. They could move stuff with their mind, jump pretty high, control minds kinda? And on the Empire side, they were the bad guys, we've got the Sith, who were like the evil Jedi. Except they could also shoot lightning from their hands." he tries to explain before seeing the guard messing with his Walkman. "Hey! Don't you mess with that."

"Quill was somewhat accurate, though the movies he was talking about were based on events long after my time. The Jedi are considered Warriors for the Light. They follow the Jedi Code and they try to keep the galaxy in some semblance of order, however they are all mostly self righteous assholes who think they are better than you because they bury their emotions and feel 'Inner Peace.'" I explain as Peter got tased. "The Sith are very similar, and yet still completely different. Whereas the Jedi focus on the Light Side of the Force, the Sith are the Dark Siders who allow their emotions to strengthen them, and with that, we gain power. Often the Sith are deemed as the Villains due to how we try to conquer the galaxy, but the ones who do that are often megalomaniacs who've been around for a long time or manipulative assholes. I am merely a researcher and scholar among the Sith. I study, discover new and interesting ways to use the Force for the betterment of the Sith."

"What the hell's the Force?" Rocket asks as we watched Peter get tased again.

"An ancient mystical power that grants those sensitive enough to use it, phenomenal physical, mental, and mystical abilities." I explain as the guards force us to keep moving, Peter groaning as he was tossed to the back of the line.

"Psht. Magic? Sure. I'll believe it when I see it." Rocket chuckles before the guard yells at us to shut up.

All according to plan…

/

Honestly though? This chapter feels weird. I love that y'all love this story thus far, don't get me wrong, but everytime I write a chapter for it, I feel as if I could have done it better, but I'm not sure how? If that makes sense?

Hope y'all enjoy! And before y'all ask why he's following the Guardians plotline so closely, it will be explained further in the next chapter I hope.

So just hold y'alls horses before them critters get loose.

Anyway, see you next chapter!

The Nameless Scribe