Nova Outpost – Xandar, Three Days After the Fall
The galaxy had finally stopped screaming.
Smoke still curled above the broken skyline, and the wreck of the Dark Aster glimmered in low orbit, a black scar against the pale blue of Xandar's sky.Inside a temporary Nova Corps triage dome, the Guardians were learning how to breathe again.
Max sat upright on a cot, half-bandaged, pale light still moving beneath his skin like slow lightning. Each pulse dimmed a little more, settling from the near-nova glare that had nearly torn the ship apart.
Rocket perched on a crate, goggles pushed up."Gotta hand it to you, Glow-Boy," he said. "Most folks who grab cosmic energy turn into space dust. You? You just take a nap."
Max exhaled through a tired smile. "I'm a fast learner."
"Or a slow melter," Rocket shot back.
Gamora stood beside the cot, arms folded. "Ronan knew you. He called you a prince. Why?"
The question hung heavy. Max's gaze drifted to the viewport, to the faint purple haze where the Dark Aster had burned up."I don't know," he said quietly. "Every time I try to remember, it's like someone rewound the film and taped over it."
Peter leaned against the wall. "So, mysterious glowy guy with royal amnesia. Great. That'll look awesome on our next wanted poster."
Drax nodded approvingly. "At least it sounds honorable."
Groot reached forward, touching Max's arm with a soft creak of wood."I am Groot."
Max's lips twitched. "Yeah. Still breathing."
For a while, no one spoke. The quiet wasn't uncomfortable—just exhausted.
Later – Nova Barracks Bay
The Nova engineers were rebuilding the city in shifts. Ships hovered like worker bees over wounds in the planet.Inside, the Guardians had been given a narrow room and a single table.
Peter slid a dented mug toward Max. "Nova coffee. Tastes like burnt jet fuel, but it's hot."
Max took a sip and nearly coughed. "You undersold it."
"Yeah," Peter said, grinning. "I do that."
Silence stretched again. Outside, repair drones hummed.
"I keep seeing flashes," Max admitted finally. "A crown. A city of light. A voice made of static that won't shut up."He rubbed his temple. "And then fire. Always fire."
Gamora glanced his way. "You think the Collector did this to you?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." His eyes dimmed. "Someone did."
Rocket flipped a switch on a handheld scanner; it squealed immediately."Whatever you are, you're not human. Not Kree either. Energy signature's closer to a reactor core than DNA."
Peter gave him a look. "That's comforting, thanks."
Rocket shrugged. "I call it like I scan it."
Max set the mug down, fingers trembling slightly. "If I ever find the person who put me in that pod…"
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Observation Deck – Same Night
The lights of Xandar shimmered below like constellations flipped inside out.Max stood at the window, his reflection faintly outlined in blue.
Peter joined him, two cups in hand. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Too quiet." Max took one cup. "Thank you."
They stood side by side for a while, watching transport lines trace the sky.
"You know," Peter said, "the first time I woke up in space, I thought I was dreaming too. Still kinda feels like that sometimes."
Max gave a low laugh. "If this is a dream, I hope it doesn't end soon."
Peter tilted his head. "You planning on sticking around?"
"Until I figure out who I was," Max said. "Maybe longer."
Peter smirked. "We do offer excellent dental."
That earned an actual chuckle.
Outside – Nova Security Station Delta
Two Nova Centurions monitored a floating holo of the Guardians' ship. A pulse of turquoise energy moved across Max's silhouette.
"Sir," one whispered into her comm, "subject's readings just spiked again. Unknown energy type—self-generating."
The voice on the other end was calm, bureaucratic, and wary."Keep your distance. File the anomaly under Nova Shadow Protocol Nine. We'll send an observer."
The Centurion hesitated. "Should we inform the Guardians?"
Static. Then:"No. Let's see what he remembers first."
Deadpool Meta-Cut
"Ah, there it is — post-battle calm, government surveillance, and just a pinch of trauma bonding. Classic Act Two energy, folks! Tune in next issue when the glowing space prince tries 'therapy,' only it's really an interrogation with snacks."
Final Beat
Back in the quiet room, Max traced a faint glow across his palm. The light shifted—blue, white, then green—before fading.
He whispered into the dark:"N'Baro… Steel… I hope you made it out too."
The hum of the ship answered, soft and steady.
Above Xandar, stars flared and cooled—each one a heartbeat in a universe still watching.