The Milano — En Route to Xandar
The Milano shook as it dropped out of hyperspace. Below them stretched the jewel of the Nova Empire: Xandar, its shining cities like webs of light against the surface. Above it — Ronan's warship, The Dark Aster, blotting out the sun.
The Guardians gathered in the cockpit. For once, even Rocket wasn't cracking jokes.
"Okay," Peter said, gripping the controls a little too tight. "We've got one genocidal Kree zealot juiced on the Power Stone, a planet full of innocent people, and… us."
"Five," Rocket corrected. "Six if you count the glowstick." He jabbed a thumb at Max, still strapped to a seat, faint energy crawling along his veins.
Max exhaled slowly, staring out at the looming warship. "That's not a weapon. That's a starbreaker. If Ronan drops onto the surface with the Stone, there won't be a Xandar left."
Gamora turned to him, sharp. "You've seen this before?"
Max hesitated, his chest tightening. He didn't remember Ronan, not exactly — but he remembered worlds burning, the weight of command, and a brother-in-arms who wasn't here anymore. The static of his dreams buzzed faint in his skull.
"I've seen zealots with too much power," he finally said. "And I've seen what happens when no one stops them."
Xandar Defence Line
Nova Corps ships streaked across the atmosphere, forming golden lattice patterns to block the Dark Aster's descent. Their voices filled comm channels, clipped and urgent.
"This is Commander Rhomann Dey. Guardians, we're holding the net, but we need that ship disabled. If he breaks through—"
"We get it," Rocket cut in. "Boom, doom, yadda yadda. Just keep the tin cans busy."
The Milano roared into formation, weaving through blasts of violet energy. Max braced against the hull as energy flared under his skin, his control slipping with every tremor.
"Steel…" he muttered under his breath, clutching his head. A voice flickered at the edges of his memory — digital, sarcastic, familiar — but gone before he could hold it.
The Dark Aster — Infiltration
They landed hard, the Milano latching onto the warship's flank. The Guardians spilled into steel corridors choked with Kree soldiers.
Drax roared, blades flashing. Rocket tossed detonators like candy. Groot plowed through lines of warriors. Gamora cut down a squad without breaking stride.
And Peter… kept glancing back at Max.
Max fought like a man remembering moves from a half-forgotten dance. His fists glowed, arcs of silver-blue energy exploding with every strike. He wasn't just strong — he was unpredictable, like he wasn't entirely sure where his limits were.
At one point, he caught a Kree soldier's hammer with his bare hand, energy surging so bright it melted the weapon to slag. He stared at the glow in horror, whispering: "This isn't supposed to be me."
Peter met his eyes, grim. "Yeah, well, get used to it. Around here, none of us are supposed to be what we are."
The Throne Room
The Guardians burst into Ronan's chamber. The Accuser stood tall, hammer brimming with violet fire — the Power Stone fused into its head. The sight of it made Max's veins scream.
Ronan's voice was a thunderclap: "Xandar will burn. And the galaxy will remember my name."
Peter muttered under his breath, "Yeah, you and every other psycho with a hammer."
Max staggered forward, clutching his temples as energy rippled violently beneath his skin. The Stone's resonance was tearing at him, awakening something deep and dangerous. He saw flashes of his dreams: the grid collapsing, his father's sacrifice, the Alphalink blotting out the sky.
And over it all — a laugh, distorted and alien. Not Ronan's. Not the Collector's. A memory still locked.
Gamora grabbed his arm. "Max! Stay with us!"
His eyes burned silver-blue as he rasped: "I remember… standing against something like this. And losing everything."
The Guardians braced as Ronan raised the Stone-charged hammer high.
The battle for Xandar had begun.
Deadpool meta-cut (over black):
"And there it is, folks — the Infinity Stone Boss Battle DLC! Coming up next: desperate teamwork, questionable dance moves, and yes, probably a heroic trauma dump from Glowstick Dad over here. Stay tuned!"