The Huntresses

Nebula

(four days after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy; Volume One)

On a small planet in the Eroles Galaxy, Nebula was sparring with androids.

Watching her was Thanos, her "father".

The one who had taken her in from a planet he had destroyed, upgraded her body to a machine, taught her how to kill.

 She glanced sideways at him, thinking of his hand in her life. Was he not proud?

His face was unreadable, even as Nebula executed still more complex moves, her shortsword a blur.

Android after android fell under her deadly onslaught, decapitated.

Nebula met Thanos's eyes as the last android fell.

He looked away, seemingly still thinking of his other daughter.

It had been a week since Nebula had returned to him, empty handed and bearing news of the death of Thanos's former ally, Ronan, who had betrayed them. Ronan's death pleased Thanos. Nebula's other piece of news, however, did not.

That his favorite daughter, Gamorra, had also betrayed him. She had stolen the very thing he had sent her to find, and joined a band of his enemies; a group of mere common criminals, no less.

Nebula had returned after losing a fight with Gamorra, her right hand missing and half of her circuits shorted out.

To reward her for her loyalty, Thanos had paid to replace her hand and her broken circuits.

To punish her defeat at Gamorra's hand, he had sentenced her three straight days of training, without rest.

She was good, he had said, but she lacked Gamorra's spirit. Nebula followed his orders without question, without logic.

She was too complacent, Thanos had told her.

Yet that was why Nebula was still here, at his command, while Gamorra had gone rogue.

She had thought he'd be proud of her, the faithful one. Instead, he had blamed her for driving away Gamorra.

Now she knew.

She would also betray Thanos if given the chance.

But only after Gamorra was dead.

When Nebula sheathed her weapon and bowed before Thanos, her fists were clenched and her dark eyes burned.

Thanos didn't see her hatred of him. 

She didn't see the letter tucked in her belt until later.