MARVEL'S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

PROLOGUE

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars twinkled like the eyes of ancient gods and worlds danced in the gravitational embrace of their suns, a sense of unrest rippled through the universe. It was a time of uneasy peace, one fragile enough that the faintest tremor could shatter it.

On the far edge of the Andromeda sector, the planet Kalthar spun in quiet turmoil. Once a flourishing hub of trade and culture, its vibrant cities now lay in ruins, ravaged by the insidious rise of the Nova Imperium, a faction that proclaimed order but reveled in chaos. Across the galaxy, whispers of dissent grew louder as oppressed worlds sought hope, and in the shadows, an unlikely band of misfits began to coalesce.

Peter Quill—Star-Lord, as he fancied himself—had become a rogue of sorts. After abandoning his past as a member of the Ravagers, he roamed the galaxy in the Milano, a ship more temperamental than its captain. With his trusty mixtapes blaring, Quill sought treasure, thrills, and maybe a little redemption. But the universe had other plans.

Gamora, the deadliest woman in the galaxy, had left behind her life of assassination to forge her own path. Haunted by the sins of her past and the blood that stained her hands, she found herself drawn to Quill, their destinies intertwined by fate and circumstance. Together, they scoured the galaxy, but the weight of their shared burdens threatened to crush them.

Rocket Raccoon, a genius mechanic with a penchant for explosives, was always a step away from catastrophe. His loyalty to his newfound family often wavered, but in the dark corners of his heart, he yearned for a cause larger than himself. The galaxies were filled with enemies, and he was ready to unleash his arsenal against them.

Drax the Destroyer, a warrior with vengeance coursing through his veins, was a relentless force. Fueled by grief and fury, he sought to dismantle the Nova Imperium and avenge his family. Yet beneath his brutish exterior lay a wisdom born of pain and loss, a guiding light for those lost in the void.

And then there was Groot—a creature of few words but infinite strength. His bond with Rocket was unbreakable, and together they formed a pair unlike any other in the universe. Groot’s gentle nature and fierce loyalty provided a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them.

As the Nova Imperium tightened its grip on the galaxy, a desperate plea for help echoed across the stars, reaching the ears of the Guardians. It was a cry for justice, a chance for redemption—a call they could not ignore.

With the fate of Kalthar hanging in the balance and the shadows of the past looming over them, the Guardians embarked on a journey that would test their bonds, challenge their beliefs, and ultimately redefine what it meant to be a family in a universe fraught with danger. Little did they know that the stakes would be higher than ever before, leading them to a cosmic reckoning that could change the galaxy forever.

The adventure was about to begin.

Inside the Milano, the hum of the engines provided a familiar backdrop to the chaos of space. Peter Quill leaned against the pilot’s console, flipping through his latest mixtape, trying to find a song that felt just right. Rocket Raccoon was sprawled across a workbench, surrounded by a chaotic mess of wires, gadgets, and half-assembled weaponry.

“Hey, Quill,” Rocket called, not looking up from his tinkering. “What’s the deal with the mixtape? You got something on here that isn’t pure garbage? I mean, I know you think you’re a musical genius, but your taste is as questionable as your choice in pants.”

Peter chuckled, adjusting his red leather jacket. “These pants are stylish, thank you very much. And I’ll have you know this mixtape is a classic. You’re just too busy blowing things up to appreciate real art.”