Chapter Text
Nova Prime watched as the Nova Corps, along with a group of Kree engineers borrowed to them on behalf of Ronan, put the finishing touches on Xandar. It wasn’t the planet they had all known and once called home but now more of a space station in the rubble of the former planet. Some of the bigger pieces of rock held communication arrays that travelled deep through space so they could remain in contact with the Supernova’s, the Sol System, and those in the Galactic Council that were too far for Worldmind’s immediate reach. Some were anchored together using a gravitational device that held shielding and a weapons system. Richard was adamant about extra protection around Xandar.
They weren’t going to lose it again. Not while he was in charge.
The Kree’s help and resources were invaluable, and Richard knew he owed a great debt to Ronan. Any time he tried to bring the subject up Ronan merely waved him off and brought up his title of Honorary Kree. Peter liked to remind him to just accept the help no questions asked, because asking questions tended to get Rich into trouble. He had to agree with his best friend on that one. So far, the Kree and the Nova Corps managed to remain friendly. Richard had a hunch it was to do with the amount of Kree that had signed up to be Corpsmen.
Or maybe it was because of him. Reel it in, Richie.
As he floated there, Worldmind occasionally updating him on their progress, his thoughts drifted to Peter. They had been talking almost every day, sometimes for a few hours or a couple minutes or even just a quick message here and there. A few days ago, he’d gone radio silent and when Richard tried to contact the Guardians of the Galaxy, he was greeted with Rocket Raccoon. Rocket wouldn’t tell him where Pete was no matter how hard Rich tried. Even when he pulled rank, Rocket didn’t budge. He should’ve expected it, really. Rocket was the most loyal being to those he cared about.
Centurion Malik Tarcel’s voice came crackling through his helmet and pulled him out of his thoughts, <Nova Prime, the Kree say our weapons system is online and ready for initial testing.>
“Give it all you’ve got.”
Richard watched as a group of Centurions and Starcruisers gathered around Xandar. The Nova Force had been distributed once again and Richard was still healing from carrying it in its entirety for so long, but he still held majority of it. It was agreed upon by all members of the Corps in case Xandar were to fall once more. Rich was reluctant to share the truth with the Corps, that he’d die without a certain amount of Nova Force coursing through him. He hadn’t even told Peter.
The yellow glow of the Nova Force lit up as the group blasted the shields, a thin layer of blue shimmering around the station that is now Xandar. The beams deflected off as the blue of the shield rippled. Turrets came to life and fired back at the Centurions and the Starcruisers as they found themselves in a battle.
“Shield function?” Richard asked.
/nominal/ Worldmind seemed impressed. /defence systems came online the minute the first starcruiser powered weapons./
“Good reaction speed to the Centurion’s and the new Starcruisers…”
/shall we?/
Nova Prime smiled to himself as his eyes started to glow blue beneath his helmet, the Human Rocket coming to life, “Lets.”
-
Worldmind was hesitant to be uploaded into this new Xandar and Richard understood that. The times that they had been separated didn’t turn out well for the Nova Prime. He was so used to having Worldmind in his ear, in his head, dictating his every move and his emotions. They both knew it needed to be done. Worldmind was too resourceful to remain solely in Richard’s helmet, despite that being the safest place for the Xandarian supercomputer.
Once Worldmind was uploaded, Xandar truly came to life. The cloaking device activated and hid the station from outside view, only those wearing their helmets would be able to see Xandar. Power to all Corpsmen quarters and community hubs came online. The communications array powered up, transmitting to the Supernova’s, or more specifically their now leader Jesse Alexander. The last he’d heard from Jesse is that they were tracking a strange energy signature to a distant planet. That was good enough for Richard to leave them alone.
/Attilan and Hala have responded./
Richard watched as the signal came through from the different planets the Nova Corps were allied with. They had jurisdiction in most space but those that weren’t allied with them or the Galactic Council, Richard would never admit out loud that the Supernova’s are deployed to those areas under strict instructions to stay off the radar. It was their job to peace keep and after Annihilation and the Phalanx, Richard wanted to maintain that for as long as possible.
/Knowhere has responded./
“The Galactic Council are aware of our coordinates?”
/affirmative./
Someone was missing from that list, an empire he had a somewhat vested interest in because of their Crown Prince, “Anything from Spartax?”
/they are not responding./
“What do you mean? If Hala responded why hasn’t Spartax?” Richard sent off another message and it bounced straight back. His gloved finger pressing at the panel. And again. And again.
/Richard, cease. Your efforts are fruitless./
“But—” but what? He couldn’t exactly drop everything and fly to Spartax as much as he wanted to without good reason. He tried Peter’s personal comm number again and it redirected straight to the Guardians. Richard hung up before Rocket could even get a word in. “Do we have any Corpsmen in the Greater Magellanic Cloud?”
/there is a Starcruiser on routine patrol of that sector./
“Have them check in with Spartax, if they get no communication back, I’m going.”
/very well, Nova Prime./
Richard narrowed his eyes at the Xandarian Worldmind and waited for the Starcruiser’s response. They had managed to make no contact with Spartax nor the outer planets of the Empire. It seemed as if Sparta had gone completely black. Off-grid. That was evidence enough to Richard that something has happened, and a gut feeling told him that’s where he’d find Peter. And he really wanted to find Peter.
Without warning Richard took off, a stargate opening in front of him without even needing to tell Worldmind where he was going. They knew each other well enough by now. Richard pushed himself to the limit, using the Nova Force at its maximum. He needed to find out what was going on.