Thanos stood on the bridge of Sanctuary II, gazing at the starry expanse on the holographic display.
The Infinity Gauntlet rested on the armrest, worn on his left hand.
The light of the four Stones pulsed slowly in the dim bridge, like four hearts breathing in the darkness.
"Loren Morgan," Thanos murmured, speaking the name he had heard countless times from Ebony Maw.
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest once.
The four Stones flashed at the same time, then dimmed.
Thanos closed his eyes.
In the deepest reaches of his consciousness, beyond where the Stones' energy could touch, he saw Gamora.
Not truly saw her, but imagined her.
Green skin, black hair, defiant eyes, and a heart that had never fully opened itself to him.
She stood amid darkness, looking at him, her lips moving as she said something.
He could not hear her voice, but he knew what she was saying.
"You will fail," she said.
Thanos opened his eyes.
"No," he said.
The fleet continued toward Earth.
By the time Thanos's fleet reached Earth's orbit, the planet's defense systems had not even had time to activate.
Where was the Space Stone on Earth?
In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s possession.
Who was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director?
Nick Fury.
There was a secret vault in Fury's office. Inside it was a silver metal case, and inside that case was the Space Stone.
Thanos did not go himself.
He sent the Skrulls.
The information Ebony Maw had brought back from the future included a list of every Skrull operative infiltrated on Earth, along with their identities.
Thanos selected one of them, a Skrull named "Carl," who had worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. for fifteen years.
She transformed into Nick Fury and entered S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
She passed every security check and verification, opened Fury's secret vault, and took out