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[Frog] Chapter 285: Xandar
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 17:17:42 +0000 UTCAboard the ship, Alan introduced Peter Quill to Wanda and Gwen. The two women showed little interest in Star-Lord, but Quill was visibly shocked upon seeing so many prisoners tied up on the floor.
"Did you capture all these people?" Quill asked.
Alan nodded. Quill followed up with another question, "How do you know so much about the Kree?"
Alan pointed at Korath on the ground. "They told me. You can ask them if you don’t believe me."
Quill grabbed Korath off the floor, glaring at him while interrogating him about their plans. After half an hour, Korath’s subordinates spilled everything about their attack, leaving Quill furious enough to want to slap each of them.
Outside the ship, Alan stood waiting as Quill approached him from behind.
"So, you were telling the truth. What’s your name?"
"Alan Ford. From Earth," Alan replied.
Quill chuckled. Meeting another Earthling in the vastness of space felt like a reunion with a fellow countryman. The two quickly hit it off.
Seizing the opportunity, Alan explained his mission regarding Jane Foster.
"I have these coordinates," Alan said, showing Peter the location Red Queen had pinpointed. "But I’m not sure if the person I’m looking for is there."
Peter examined the coordinates and frowned in thought.
"I’ve been to this place once before, but there shouldn’t be anything there," Peter said, puzzled as to why someone would appear on such a remote planet.
After a moment, he added, "I know a place where we can find star charts of the Nine Realms. If you want, I can take you there."
Although Alan didn’t know the location Peter mentioned, he decided it was worth investigating.
"I’ll go with you," Alan agreed.
Peter clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. "Those prisoners—if you sell them on the black market, they’d fetch a good price. Want me to handle it for you?"
Alan glanced back at the prisoners. Since they weren’t important to him, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to let Peter take them and owe him a favor.
"Sure, they’re yours. Sell them if you want," Alan said.
Peter transported the prisoners to his own ship. Alan had Red Queen pilot their smaller ship to dock onto Peter’s larger one. With their two ships stacked like bunk beds, the group settled into their new arrangement. Wanda and Gwen, however, never ventured down to Peter’s ship, leaving Alan as the sole bridge between the two groups.
One day, while Alan was visiting, Peter handed him a can of beer, having somehow scrounged up two. As they drank, Peter casually played with the Orb, tossing it from hand to hand.
If Ronan could see this, he’d probably faint with rage.
The Orb contained the Power Stone—one of the Infinity Stones capable of obliterating countless lives with a mere flick.
"I’ve made contact with a merchant on Xandar," Peter said, lounging in the cockpit. He was still fit at this point in his life, far from his later appearance. "Once we get there, I’ll hand over the Orb, and then I’ll take you to the star charts."
Alan wasn’t in a hurry. With the Dark Elves eliminated, Jane Foster’s life wasn’t in immediate danger. Besides, she still had the Aether within her.
"That star chart wouldn’t happen to be in Yondu’s hands, would it?" Alan suddenly asked, aware that Quill hadn’t yet formed the Guardians of the Galaxy and was still tangled up with his adoptive father, Yondu.
"How do you know that?!" Quill exclaimed, jumping up in surprise.
Alan quickly calmed him down. "It’s the Ravagers—we’ve all heard of them. A third of the universe knows about them. But let me give you a piece of advice: don’t hand over the Orb."
...
