Lost Soul

Shadows of the Star

KNOWHERE

The dimly lit bar hummed with the quiet murmur of conversations and clinking glasses, the atmosphere thick with smoke and the scent of exotic liquors. In a shadowed corner near the back, a feminine figure cloaked in a tattered black robe sat silently, her presence almost unnoticed amid the chaotic mix of alien patrons. The hood of her cloak was pulled low, casting her face in deep shadow, but beneath the fabric, sharp eyes observed and listened, waiting.

Nearby, a group of gruff-looking aliens, their skin rough and scaled, laughed raucously, their voices carrying over the din. Two of them were leaning in close, speaking in hushed but eager tones.

"Did you hear?" one of them rasped, his jagged teeth flashing in a sinister grin. "Caught wind of something big. The Guardians of the Galaxy were in here earlier—Quill and that oaf Drax, drunk off their asses, talking way too loud."

The figure's head shifted slightly, just enough to focus on the conversation. Her posture remained casual, but the tension in her body betrayed her intense interest.

"Yeah?" another alien, shorter and squatter, asked, leaning in closer. "What'd they say?"

The first one snickered. "They're meeting with that fugitive, Captain Marvel. Sounds like she's finally come out of hiding. They mentioned some isolated planet, a real backwater spot. Easy place for someone trying to avoid the bounty hunters."

The shorter alien's eyes gleamed with greed. "Captain Marvel, huh? She's got a price on her head big enough to buy an entire moon. Where was this meeting supposed to happen?"

The larger alien frowned, scratching at his chin. "Quill didn't mention the exact place, but it's one of those uncharted planets. We could find it if we follow them...or sell the info to the right people. Bet there are plenty who'd pay for a chance to bag her."

The cloaked figure's gloved hand tightened slightly, the fabric rustling softly as her interest deepened. Captain Marvel, finally resurfaced.

Without a word, she stood from her seat, moving silently toward the bar's exit. Her cloak flowed behind her, the edges worn and frayed, but her movements were smooth, almost predatory. No one seemed to notice her departure, their eyes too focused on their drinks or their own conversations.

As she stepped out into the cold, dimly lit street, she pulled her hood further down, concealing her features. The alien sun was setting in the distance, casting the world in shades of crimson and deep violet. The figure paused, the faintest hint of a smile pulling at her lips beneath the hood.

She had been searching for Carol Danvers for too long. Now, the game had changed. The prey had stepped into the light, and soon, their paths would cross.

Without hesitation, the figure moved into the shadows of the street, her destination set. The trap was closing, and Captain Marvel would not escape this time.

XXXX

ISOLATED PLANET

The cloaked woman glided through the dense, rocky terrain of the isolated planet, her footsteps barely audible on the uneven ground. The planet was as desolate as it was hidden, a perfect place for someone to disappear—or for an ambush. Beneath her hood, her sharp eyes scanned the landscape, searching for any sign of her elusive target.

Her search had taken her to the edge of a cliff, overlooking a wide canyon below. The faint hum of energy in her chest kept her focused, her mind calculating her next move. The Guardians had been careful to keep Captain Marvel hidden, but she knew this planet had something more. A lingering presence, a familiar power.