Chapter 138: [137] : My name is Roger, and I’m from a Parallel Universe
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Star-Lord's ship followed the one ahead, landing on a desolate planet with no intelligent life.
Knowing Roger's overwhelming power and having witnessed him kick Ronan away with a single strike, Star-Lord had elevated Roger's threat level to the maximum in his mind. He kept his distance from Roger's ship, staying far enough away to ensure he wouldn't be detected before finally stopping.
As the ship touched down, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer joined Star-Lord in disembarking to find Roger, while Rocket stayed aboard to care for the newly-awakened Baby Groot and guard the ship.
As they moved in Roger's direction, Gamora turned to Star-Lord and asked:
"Have you thought about what you're going to say to him?"
"Say what?"
"…?"
Gamora stopped in her tracks, staring at Star-Lord in disbelief.
"You didn't plan out anything before coming here to confront him?"
"This isn't a confrontation, alright? I'd have to be insane to drag you all here just to pick a fight with that monster! I just… want to negotiate with him, you get it? Negotiate!"
"What is there to negotiate? You already said he's unwilling to hand over the Power Stone to the Nova Corps, which is why he altered our memories. Do you honestly think he's going to give you the Power Stone just because you asked?"
From Star-Lord's description, Gamora understood clearly that the man known as Superman had no intention of handing the Power Stone over to anyone.
If he wasn't planning on giving it up, what was the point of negotiating with him?
"…"
Star-Lord found himself speechless.
Before coming to find Roger, he hadn't thought of any specific plan. Perhaps because he'd recently received praise and rewards from the Nova Corps, he got swept up in the moment and impulsively pursued Roger, hoping to reclaim the Power Stone.
Now, hearing Gamora's question, he sobered up a little, realizing how rash he'd been. He turned to her and said:
"Well… we can at least try... ah!"
Before he could finish, he felt himself bump into something.
Looking up, he saw Drax's massive frame blocking his path; he had accidentally walked into Drax's back.
Holding his nose, which hurt from the impact, Star-Lord looked up and asked:
"What's your problem, man? Why did you suddenly stop!?"
"There is no problem," Drax replied, pointing ahead. "I stopped because of her."
"Her?"
Star-Lord leaned forward and saw someone familiar standing in their way.
They knew this person: Thanos's daughter, Gamora's sister, and fellow renegade, Nebula.
Recently escaped from Xandar, Nebula now stood there with a cold smile, her gaze fixed on the Guardians, though her eyes lingered on Gamora behind Star-Lord. She spoke with a mocking tone:
"Well, look who it is, my dear sister and her little group of sidekicks."
"Nebula…"
Gamora stepped forward, her voice heavy as she asked, "What are you doing here? Are you here for the Power Stone, too?"
"I don't care about the Power Stone anymore."
Nebula replied coldly.
She had previously sought the Power Stone for Ronan because he promised that once he had it, he would confront Thanos himself, which was why Nebula had chosen to serve as Ronan's lieutenant.
But now that Ronan was defeated, let alone seeking revenge on Thanos, he couldn't even protect himself. Why would Nebula continue searching for the Power Stone for his sake?
Gamora thought it over and understood. She asked again:
"Then why are you here?"
"Because she's my subordinate now."
Roger's voice drifted down from the sky.
Descending from above, Roger landed in front of Nebula, raised his hand in a casual greeting to the Guardians, and said, "Hello there."
Seeing Roger appear so suddenly, the Guardians instantly went on alert. Star-Lord instinctively donned his helmet, drawing his weapon in preparation for a possible fight.
Their reaction wasn't unwarranted, Roger's presence alone created intense pressure.
Even though he wasn't doing anything, just the sight of him standing there brought back memories of his feats on Xandar and everything he'd done, putting them on high alert.
After a moment, seeing that Roger didn't appear to be attacking, Gamora spoke up:
"So… you took Nebula as your subordinate?"
"Why not?"
"Let me tell you in advance, Nebula isn't exactly the ideal candidate for a subordinate."
Gamora glanced at Nebula.
Roger didn't respond immediately; Nebula, however, cut in before he could speak.
"That's none of your concern."
As Nebula and Gamora appeared ready to argue, Roger quickly intervened to prevent the sisters from fighting.
"Alright, enough. Making Nebula my subordinate was my decision. I'll be the judge of whether she's qualified."
Gamora closed her mouth, a brief flash of concern crossing her face as she looked at Nebula. She quickly shifted her focus, directing her energy toward Roger:
"I thought you were supposed to be one of the good guys."
"Of course I'm one of the good guys… okay, maybe not entirely, but I'm certainly better than most."
"Is that so."
Gamora responded doubtfully, casting another glance at Nebula.
Roger noticed and couldn't help but chuckle.
"So, just because I took Nebula as my subordinate, you think I'm not a good person? Gamora, isn't that a bit hasty? After all, you yourself, the so-called 'deadliest woman in the galaxy' and daughter of Thanos, are now part of a hero team, aren't you? Why can you, but Nebula can't?"
Gamora found herself at a loss for words.
Star-Lord, on the other hand, seemed pleased at Roger's mention of a "hero team," and proudly chimed in:
"A hero team, hear that, Gamora? Our hero status is known across the galaxy now!"
"…Is there something wrong with you?" Gamora snapped at Star-Lord, then reminded Roger, "Nebula isn't like me."
"Oh, yes," Nebula interjected before Roger could respond. "To you, I'm just a useless failure."
"Nebula, that's not what I, "
"Enough, ladies!"
Roger took a deep breath, cutting them off before they could start arguing again.
"Look, I have no interest in the drama between you two sisters. I didn't come here to listen to you bicker."
Then he turned to Star-Lord and asked:
"Peter Quill, right? I'd like to know the reason why you followed me."
Star-Lord was left speechless, having not prepared any response in advance, never expecting Roger to confront him directly. So he hadn't thought about what to say.
Gamora remained silent as well; since only Star-Lord's memory hadn't been altered, it was up to him to answer.
But even as the two hesitated, one person reacted faster than both of them.
When Roger asked his question, the ever-direct Drax answered without a second thought:
"Because we're here to take the Power Stone from you."
"No!!!"
Almost immediately after Drax spoke, Star-Lord shouted a denial and said to Roger:
"It's not about taking it, it's a negotiation, a discussion! We think it's too dangerous for you to have the Power Stone. Something that powerful should be locked away somewhere, not carried around!"
"…I see."
Star-Lord's response made Roger understand the situation.
It seemed that Star-Lord, unaffected by the Mind Stone's influence, had remembered that the Power Stone was with Roger and, on an impulse, had followed him to retrieve it.
Roger had a rough idea why Star-Lord was immune. His biological father was Ego, a being who called himself a Celestial and who existed as a sentient planet.
Ego was extremely powerful, with the ability to assimilate other planets into himself, and he sought to create a race capable of helping him conquer the universe by producing offspring with various lifeforms.
Ego had numerous descendants, with at least one in nearly every species, but Star-Lord was the only one who inherited his Celestial abilities.
It was likely Star-Lord's Celestial gene that made him immune to the Mind Stone's control.
Of course, this might also have been due to Roger not using the full power of the Mind Stone at the time.
In any case, remembering that the Power Stone was in Roger's possession, Star-Lord had followed him here, acting impulsively and without much thought.
Understanding Star-Lord's motives, Roger relaxed a little.
Despite growing up among the Ravagers and having a somewhat roguish personality, Star-Lord was undeniably a hero at heart.
Because at its core, heroism is about sticking one's nose into others' business, and Star-Lord undoubtedly embodied that trait.
And when it came to heroes, Roger's attitude was always friendly. After hearing Star-Lord's reasoning, he placed his hands on his hips, displaying the three gems on his chest, and said:
"Is the Power Stone the only dangerous one?"
"Oh my god…"
It was only now, as they focused on the gems on Roger's chest, that the Guardians realized that the other two were also Infinity Stones!
This guy was in possession of not one, but three Infinity Stones!
All this time, they'd thought the other stones were just decorative, there to make the Power Stone look better!
Roger then spoke:
"It's not just the Power Stone that's dangerous. The other Stones are just as hazardous. So, I can't leave these Stones in this universe; I'm taking them with me."
"Wait, this universe?"
Gamora quickly picked up on the key phrase in Roger's words and raised a question.
Roger smiled and said,
"Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Roger, and I'm from a Parallel Universe."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Guardians of the Galaxy were stunned on the spot.
...
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