Chapter Summaries

Chen Mo let Star-Lord hold the Orb while planning to use him to reach Knowhere, Ego, and the future Guardians of the Galaxy. Their plans were interrupted when Ronan’s subordinate Kylas and two Necro-Soldiers stormed the chamber to take the Orb.

• Star-Lord offered Chen Mo increasingly large shares of the Orb’s sale while secretly planning to steal it and escape.
• Chen Mo saw through Star-Lord’s scheme but tossed him the Orb, saying Star-Lord could hold it for now.
• Kylas led two Necro-Soldiers into the chamber after his squad found Star-Lord’s ship on Morag.
• Kylas aimed his energy cannon at Star-Lord, ordered him to put down the Orb, and sent the Necro-Soldiers to restrain him and Chen Mo.

Kylas disarmed Star-Lord and tried to take him back to Ronan for questioning, while Chen Mo watched. When Star-Lord's reputation failed to help him, Chen Mo killed two Necro-Soldiers with telekinetically controlled throwing knives, and Star-Lord seized the Orb and escaped through a hole in the wall.

• Kylas forced Star-Lord to drop the Orb, then questioned him about how he had found it.
• Star-Lord gave his name as Peter Quill, but Kylas ordered him to come along so Ronan could question him.
• Star-Lord called himself Star-Lord, but Kylas and the Necro-Soldiers showed no sign of recognizing the name.
• When Kylas tried to take Star-Lord away, Chen Mo used Adamantium throwing knives to kill the two Necro-Soldiers.
• Star-Lord shot Kylas, retrieved the Orb, and dodged Kylas's counterattack before flying through the hole in the wall.

Star-Lord fled the secret chamber with the Orb, while Chen Mo disarmed Kylas and caught up with Star-Lord aboard the Milano. With Necro-Soldiers preparing to destroy the ship, Star-Lord piloted the Milano away.

• Star-Lord escaped the secret chamber with the Orb, and Chen Mo severed both of Kylas's arms with his Throwing Knives.
• Star-Lord reached the Milano, trapped the Necro-Soldiers guarding it with a gravity generator, and leaped aboard.
• Star-Lord found Chen Mo waiting inside the cockpit and realized he could not keep the Orb for himself.
• Chen Mo urged Star-Lord to leave as the Necro-Soldiers broke free and prepared an energy cannon.
• Star-Lord activated the Milano's thrusters and began lifting the ship away.

Star-Lord escaped the Necro-Soldiers’ cannon fire but lost control of the Milano when an underground water column launched it into the air, and Chen Mo saved the ship from crashing. Afterward, Star-Lord discovered Bereet had been aboard all along and decided to make up his losses from her.

• Star-Lord piloted the Milano away from the Necro-Soldiers’ cannon fire, but an erupting underground spring hurled the ship skyward.
• Star-Lord was tossed around the cabin as the Milano plunged toward the ground, and Chen Mo grabbed the control lever and stabilized the ship.
• Star-Lord felt conflicted because Chen Mo had saved him, though he still resented having to give Chen Mo most of the Orb’s value.
• Bereet climbed up from the sleeping compartment, and Star-Lord admitted that he had forgotten she was aboard and could not remember her name.
• Star-Lord noticed Bereet’s appearance and decided to make up his losses from the Orb by taking advantage of her.

Chen Mo and Star-Lord escaped Morag, while Chen Mo kept Kylas alive so Ronan would send Gamora after the Orb. Aboard the ship, Star-Lord recognized Chen Mo’s sword and shield as belonging to his childhood idol, the Commander, and excitedly asked if Chen Mo was from Earth.

• Chen Mo warned Star-Lord to flee before their pursuers caught up, and Star-Lord piloted the ship away from Morag.
• Chen Mo explained that he had spared Kylas so Ronan would learn the Orb’s location and send Gamora to retrieve it.
• The remaining Necro-Soldiers carried the wounded Kylas to Ronan’s Dark Aster, where Gamora volunteered to pursue the Orb on Xandar.
• Star-Lord set the ship’s autopilot for Xandar and returned to the cockpit, where he tried to make conversation with Chen Mo.
• Chen Mo revealed the King’s Sword and Vibranium Shield, and Star-Lord recognized them as the weapons of his childhood idol, the Commander.
• Star-Lord excitedly asked whether Chen Mo was from Earth and a fan of the Commander.

Chen Mo revealed to Star-Lord that he was the Commander, explaining how he survived frozen in ice and that Captain America and Carter had also been rescued. Star-Lord grew excited and curious about Earth, and asked Chen Mo what had happened there over the years.

• Chen Mo told Star-Lord he was the Commander, and Star-Lord doubted him because the Commander was believed to have died more than seventy years earlier.
• Chen Mo explained that he had been frozen near Greenland and later rescued, and that Captain America and Carter had survived and had a daughter.
• Star-Lord felt a renewed longing to return to Earth but remembered his mother's death and decided he was not ready to go back.
• Star-Lord accepted Chen Mo's identity more fully after seeing his advanced armor and reflected on how much Earth might have changed.
• Star-Lord excitedly acknowledged Chen Mo as the Commander and asked him what had happened on Earth.

Chen Mo told Star-Lord about major events on Earth, including Iron Man’s arrival and Loki’s invasion with the Chitauri. Star-Lord feared Earth had been destroyed and anxiously asked Chen Mo what had happened.

• Chen Mo and Star-Lord went to the lounge to talk while Bereet watched an alien soap opera.
• Star-Lord tried to hide his childhood poster of Chen Mo, but Chen Mo had already read the words Star-Lord had written on it.
• Chen Mo told Star-Lord that Tony Stark had become Iron Man, and Star-Lord envied Tony for having Chen Mo as his godfather.
• Chen Mo told Star-Lord that Thor was real, then explained that Loki had led the Chitauri in an invasion of Earth.
• Star-Lord nervously asked Chen Mo whether Earth had already been destroyed.

After watching footage of Earth's battles against the Chitauri, Star-Lord accepted that Chen Mo was the Commander and realized how much Earth had changed while he was away. He began to feel a stronger desire to return home, then asked Chen Mo why he was on Morag and what he wanted with the Orb.

• Chen Mo told Star-Lord that the Chitauri had been wiped out and Loki had been imprisoned in Asgard, then sent him J.A.R.V.I.S.'s footage and notes about Earth's major events.
• Star-Lord watched Chen Mo and the Avengers fight the Chitauri, and the Commander's sacrifice convinced him that Chen Mo was the hero he had admired since childhood.
• Star-Lord learned how Earth had survived repeated alien threats and felt ashamed that he had stayed away, while recognizing that Earth was still his home.
• Star-Lord watched footage of the Iron Man suit's capabilities and realized Earth was far stronger than he had assumed.
• Star-Lord asked Chen Mo how he had ended up on Morag and why he wanted the Orb.

Chen Mo revealed that the Orb contained an Infinity Stone and explained its immense power and dangers to Star-Lord. He suspected that a powerful physique, possibly a divine bloodline, was needed to withstand an Infinity Stone, while true control required even greater strength.

• Star-Lord admitted that he knew only that the Orb was valuable and examined it without knowing what it contained.
• Chen Mo told Star-Lord that the Orb held an Infinity Stone capable of immense destruction and warned that its energy could kill anyone unable to withstand it.
• When Star-Lord dropped the Orb, Chen Mo caught it with telekinesis and drew Star-Lord’s attention to his own abilities.
• Star-Lord asked whether Chen Mo could wield the Stone, and Chen Mo recalled his past attempts to use other Infinity Stones and considered Star-Lord’s inherited physique.

Chen Mo explained the Power Stone’s danger and Thanos’s plan to wipe out half of all life, then told Star-Lord that Ronan had allied with Thanos to obtain the Orb and destroy Xandar. Star-Lord realized they would have to stop both Thanos and Ronan.

• Chen Mo reasoned that his healing ability might let him use the Power Stone briefly, but decided not to test it aboard Star-Lord’s ship.
• Chen Mo told Star-Lord that only All-Father Odin could fully wield the Power Stone, and Star-Lord grew more solemn about the Orb.
• Chen Mo revealed that Thanos planned to gather the Infinity Stones and wipe out half the universe’s living beings.
• Star-Lord vowed to stop Thanos, and Chen Mo agreed that this was why he had come.
• Star-Lord asked about the men on Morag, and Chen Mo identified them as Ronan’s men and explained Ronan’s deal with Thanos to destroy Xandar.

Star-Lord decided to raise money by selling the Orb to a buyer and robbing him, hoping to afford upgrades to face Ronan and Thanos. As the Milano continued toward Xandar to meet the Broker, Yondu contacted Star-Lord from Morag and demanded to know where he and the Orb were.

• Star-Lord realized he needed money to become stronger, and he told Chen Mo he planned to sell the Orb and steal the payment from its buyer.
• Chen Mo agreed to the plan and decided he would prevent Star-Lord from undergoing mechanical modifications.
• Star-Lord kept the Milano on course for Xandar, where he planned to contact the Broker and meet the other Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Bereet answered a call for Star-Lord before he could stop her, revealing an angry Yondu on the screen.
• Yondu told Star-Lord he was on Morag but could not find either him or the Orb.

Star-Lord refused to tell Yondu where he was, and Yondu ordered his crew to capture him alive despite their anger over his repeated betrayals. After one subordinate challenged that decision, Yondu threatened him with the Yaka Arrow, leaving the crew silent and Yondu troubled by their resentment.

• Star-Lord hung up on Yondu after refusing to reveal his location and dismissing Yondu's threats.
• Yondu ordered Kraglin to put out a forty-thousand bounty for Star-Lord, insisting that he be taken alive.
• A bearded Coloniser challenged Yondu for repeatedly forgiving Star-Lord and argued that Yondu should have delivered him to the client.
• Yondu seized the bearded Coloniser and threatened him with his glowing Yaka Arrow, making the others back down.
• Yondu noticed that most of his subordinates had been eager to join the challenge, while Kraglin and a few others had stood by him.

Yondu set out for Xandar after learning others were also pursuing the Orb, while Star-Lord, Chen Mo, and Bereet traveled there aboard the Milano. On Xandar, Chen Mo encountered Groot and Rocket, who were arguing beside a fountain.

• Yondu warned his crew that the Orb’s other pursuers were the real threat and headed for Xandar with his Colonisers.
• Star-Lord and Bereet said goodbye after arriving on Xandar, while Chen Mo took in the alien city and its residents.
• Chen Mo spotted Groot drinking from a fountain and heard Rocket angrily tell him to stop.
• Groot stopped drinking and shook his head at Rocket as if denying the accusation.

Chen Mo watched Rocket Raccoon identify Star-Lord as the target of Yondu Udonta’s bounty, then noticed an old man he recognized before accompanying Star-Lord to meet The Broker. The chapter ended with The Broker asking whether Star-Lord had obtained the Orb.

• Rocket Raccoon detected Peter Quill on Yondu Udonta’s alive-capture bounty warrant, which offered 40,000.
• Chen Mo spotted an old man with white hair and mustaches on the skybridge but did not approach him.
• Chen Mo reminded Star-Lord to leave Bereet and get down to business, and Star-Lord resolved to keep the Orb from Thanos.
• Star-Lord and Chen Mo went to The Broker’s shop, where The Broker asked whether Star-Lord had the Orb.

Star-Lord and Chen Mo confronted the broker over the Orb, and Chen Mo forced him to reveal that Tivan, The Collector, was the buyer. They left the shop intending to deal with Ronan.

• Star-Lord refused to sell the Orb through the broker and warned him that Ronan’s subordinate had appeared on Morag.
• The broker refused to reveal his client’s identity and tried to force Star-Lord and Chen Mo out of the shop.
• Chen Mo used a telekinetically controlled Adamantium Throwing Knife to threaten the broker until he gave up the buyer’s identity and location.
• The broker revealed that Tivan, The Collector, who owned Knowhere, was behind the purchase.
• Star-Lord praised Chen Mo’s method and promised the broker they would take care of Ronan before leaving.

Chen Mo left the Broker’s shop with Star-Lord, who then stayed behind to flirt with Gamora while she sized up Chen Mo as a potential threat. Gamora questioned Star-Lord about Chen Mo, and Star-Lord proudly called him his Boss.

• The Broker watched Chen Mo and Star-Lord leave after Star-Lord claimed they would take out Ronan, and muttered that they were psychos.
• Chen Mo recognized Gamora outside the shop, while Gamora focused on Star-Lord and the Orb he carried.
• Star-Lord flirted with Gamora and discussed Ronan as Chen Mo walked away without warning him about her.
• Gamora felt relieved when Chen Mo disappeared into the crowd, then asked Star-Lord whether Chen Mo was his friend.
• Star-Lord hesitated to describe Chen Mo, then proudly told Gamora that Chen Mo was his Boss.

Gamora tricked Star-Lord into handing over the Orb, then fought him when he tried to get it back. She pinned him and raised a dagger to strike, leaving Star-Lord facing death.

• Gamora praised Star-Lord, then snatched the Orb from the air and kicked him before fleeing.
• Star-Lord recovered and used a Yaka Arrow to entangle Gamora, making her drop the Orb.
• Gamora freed herself, knocked Star-Lord down, and overpowered him in a ground fight.
• Gamora pinned Star-Lord's wrist when he reached for his pistol, then raised a dagger to strike him.

Gamora, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot fought over the Orb as Rocket and Groot tried to capture Star-Lord for Yondu. The chapter ended with Star-Lord shocking Gamora with a high-voltage gun after she opened the bag he had been trapped in.

• Rocket Raccoon and Groot attacked Gamora by mistake while Star-Lord escaped with the Orb.
• Gamora broke free, threw Rocket Raccoon away, and struck Star-Lord with a dagger, making him drop the Orb over the railing.
• Gamora recovered the Orb, but Star-Lord used a leg thruster to send her crashing into a fountain before Groot captured him in a bag.
• Gamora returned and defeated Rocket Raccoon and Groot, cutting off Groot's arms and disabling him.
• Gamora opened the bag to confront Star-Lord, who shocked her with a high-voltage gun.

Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Gamora were arrested by the Nova Corps after their fight over the Orb. Chen Mo watched from the crowd, having assessed Gamora’s formidable abilities, while Star-Lord looked forward to making his name known after saving the galaxy.

• Star-Lord knocked Gamora down with an electric shot and ran, but Rocket Raccoon hit him with a stronger bolt and left him convulsing.
• Rocket Raccoon teased the defeated Star-Lord, then scolded Groot for whimpering over his severed arms, which he said would grow back.
• Nova Corps ships used tractor beams to capture Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and the unconscious Gamora, while Nova soldiers arrested Star-Lord.
• A plump Nova officer recognized Star-Lord as a petty thief but repeatedly got his name wrong, leaving Star-Lord indignant.
• Chen Mo watched the arrests and judged Gamora to be exceptionally strong, noting that she had held back during the fight.

Chen Mo let Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot be captured so they could bond in prison, then waited on Xandar for someone. Meanwhile, Nova Prime confronted a Kree official over Ronan’s attacks, but the official refused to condemn him.

• Chen Mo watched the Nova Corps capture Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot, believing their imprisonment and escape would help them become comrades.
• Chen Mo stayed on the overpass after the four were taken away, observing Xandar while waiting for someone.
• Star-Lord and the others were locked in detention cells at Nova Corps headquarters.
• Nova Prime demanded that the Kree Empire respond to Ronan’s attacks on Xandarian outposts.
• The Kree official dismissed Nova Prime’s demand, citing the peace treaty and refusing to condemn Ronan.