Thousands of light-years away, on Sovereign Planet.
Inside a resplendent throne hall, Ayesha, the golden high priestess of Sovereign, stared fixedly at a screen.
"The most primitive form of human communication..."
Ayesha repeated the words, her golden fingers unconsciously rubbing the armrest.
The Sovereign reproduced through genetic pods. They had eliminated every uncontrollable genetic variable in pursuit of absolute perfection and order.
Yet that man had destroyed an entire golden fleet she took pride in, using nothing but his own strength.
"A perfect being..." Ayesha's lips parted, her voice trembling with excitement.
"What is that man's name?"
"According to an intercepted relay signal... they call him 'Homelander.'"
"Homelander..."
Ayesha murmured the name, a barely perceptible longing in her eyes.
"High Priestess?" a subordinate asked cautiously. "We still have two reconnaissance drones. Should we recall them?"
"No."
Ayesha raised her head, her cold, haughty composure restored.
"Activate silent stealth mode. Follow him."
"I want to know everything about him."
"Yes!"
High above Ego's Planet.
"Bzz—"
The air trembled faintly as the two surviving stealth drones silently fell in behind Homelander.
Homelander's ears twitched. He smiled to himself.
Ignoring his pursuers, he turned into a red-and-blue streak and flew toward the temple.
Bang!
With a thunderous crash, the heavy doors of the Ego Temple flew off their hinges under a kick and slammed onto the floor inside, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At the center of the temple.
Ego stood with his arms spread and eyes closed, basking blissfully in blue divine light.
It was the concentrated energy sent back by countless planets being devoured by Celestial Seeds.
Above him, Peter Quill hung suspended, pinned spread-eagled by a glowing energy tentacle.
Star-Lord's face was twisted in pain, his eyes rolled back. He was clearly suffering.
"Quill!"
Gamora's shout interrupted