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[Don’t adjust your tint. The woman is green, not your screen. Gamora, a very unique looking woman unless one’s used to seeing someone with her particular shade of skin, looks into the video feed uncertainly but also with a note of defiance. She will not be intimidated by this… peculiar prison so easily. Sure, it may appear to be a comfortable mansion, but a place she is brought against her will is a prison no matter what it looks like.]

My name is Gamora. It looks like we are all prisoners here. I have no quarrel with you, but should you cross me, I will not hesitate to deal with you in ways you won’t enjoy. Let’s make that clear from the start.

[She is a captive, right? And she doesn’t know if the people here are hostile or not. She’s not about to let this turn into her last prison visit.]

This is not the first time I’ve been in a prison, though this one doesn’t look like the typical style I’m used to seeing. It’s far too… well, it doesn’t matter if it’s reasonably comfortable or not.

[The less sense it all makes the more irritated she gets.]

Who is in charge here? I demand to know why I've been brought here and where my crew is.

[Whoever is in charge is probably going to get punched or worse.]

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[ That's a good way to look at it, and maybe a lesson that Steve should keep in mind for himself. The past often does hurt him -- or rather, thinking about it does. But it's set in stone and shying away from it won't do any good either.

Gamora's strong. That much is already obvious.

But the tragedy doesn't end there. She'd then been forced to kill by the very person responsible for ruining her life in the first place. That sounds familiar, but Steve keeps that thought to himself, particularly because now he has an idea of how it feels too. ]

I'm glad you were able to get away from him. It sounds like you and Rocket and the rest of your friends do good work... keep all of us safe.

[ Steve nods, a small smile on his face. ] So I guess we owe you guys.

Edited 2015-09-24 17:02 (UTC)

[She has some things in common with Steve and his good friend. Though there is perhaps a major difference, and it's the amused smile that crosses her face. Gamora may have been torn down and remade by Thanos from the inside out, but he didn't take the heart out of her.]

It's a little strange being on the side of the law for a change, but I think I like doing 'good work'. I think we all do.

[Clearly, she's also a bit flattered.]

But no thanks are needed. It wasn't your world we saved before Rocket or I arrived here. Where Thanos will take his allies or the Chitauri next, though, is uncertain.

Edited 2015-09-25 05:01 (UTC)

[ It's good to see that Gamora's still got that spark in her. If she could bounce back from what she's been through, then Steve should be able to do the same after that event. He's never going to be okay with the things he'd been made to do, but he can still move past them, right?

Steve's always wanted to do good work, and so he can only agree with that, offering a nod.

It's the mention of Thanos which really catches his attention, though, and his demeanor shifts to something more professional, shoulders straightening. ] Thanos... I think Quill said something about him, too. He's trying to get his hands on all the Infinity Stones, right?

[ Steve hadn't understood it back when Peter had told him about it, but now that he's seen one of the Stones in action in the Vision, he's got a better idea of the sort of threat they're dealing with. Good thing that's all been put on hold here. ]

[Gamora looks a little concerned at the mention of Quill's name. If he was here before and left, he might be back home, but there's no way of actually knowing that. She just saw him, which makes no sense, and the same goes for Rocket. Quill could very well still be here or held prisoner for all they know.]

Yes. With that kind of power, he could rule the universe.

And I'm guessing he doesn't have benevolent intentions either.

[ Usually people who aimed for that kind of power wanted to use it to subjugate others, to destroy, to rule. Steve had seen it so many times. In Johann Schmidt, in Loki, in Alexander Pierce. This Thanos would be no different.

With a hardened expression, Steve stares off for a few moments before returning his gaze to Gamora. ]

Any ideas on how to stop him?

Only if you find being ruled benevolent.

[Her people didn't.]

Stop him? [She gives him a wry smile.] No one stops Thanos. He's impossible to get to and even without the stones he's powerful. With them he would be an unrivaled god.

[And she's not talking about the Asgardian kind.]

He can't be allowed to get them.

No thanks.

[ Not the kind of rule that Gamora is referring to, that's for sure. Steve's pretty sure that's tyranny, and he wants no part of it.

He's always has a hard time being told that something's impossible, but Wonderland has already proved that. Even though it's a though pill to swallow, Steve nods. In that case, it's about shifting their strategy. ]

So we don't let him. There's one stone on Earth, at least. If he's already so powerful, how do we keep them away from him?

[ Steve realizes it's probably pointless to discuss this. He won't remember anything Gamora has told him once he goes home. But on that tiny, tiny chance that they figure out a way to get back on their own with memories intact, this will be worth knowing. ]

[Gamora isn't sure just what it will take to stop Thanos from obtaining them. Once he gets one stone, he'll just grow more powerful until he can collect all of them.]

Give them as much protection as we can. The stone Rocket, myself, and the others recently found was given to the Nova Corps. I just hope with all of their defenses they can protect it.

Thanos never fails, but he cannot be allowed to succeed this time.

What's the Nova Corps? Someone sort of galactic governmental force?

[ That's certainly what it sounds like, anyway. Steve doesn't blame them for wanting to give the stone to an organization they thought would be better equipped to protect it, but on the other hand, can they really trust everyone who's involved in that task? At least the Vision can defend himself if anyone tries to take his stone.

At Gamora's definitive statement, Steve nods and rubs a hand over his mouth. ] I've dealt with pretty bad odds before. We'll do our part to make sure he never gets his hands on ours. Or... that's what I'd like to say, anyway, but it really depends on whether or not I even remember having this conversation. [ Which really doesn't inspire much confidence about this plan, but Steve would rather be honest with Gamora. ]

You could say that. They are on the planet Xandar. The planet we saved from Ronin, who nearly destroyed it with the Infinity stone. I don't think they'll allow anyone to get near it after that.

[Not after nearly losing their entire planet to it.]

I'm glad you intend to protect it. I just hope you can.

[She's not convinced of his ability to do so, yet. They just met, after all.]

But it's the other stones we should worry about. You say there is one on Earth and there is one on Xandar. At least we know where two are, but what of the other four? Thanos needs only one to do unspeakable things.

[ It made good sense that this Nova Corps would take good care of the Infinity Stone if they had seen firsthand what kind of damage its power could do. On the other hand, it would also have displayed to anyone particularly power-hungry just what kind of risk it was worth.

Steve realizes there's nothing he personally can do about it, and even protecting the one stone on Earth isn't entirely in his hands. He doesn't blame Gamora for being skeptical. ]

I guess it's possible that there are others on Earth, but it seems unlikely when there's an entire universe out there. [ How are they even supposed to begin to search? ] We don't have the most high-tech space travel capabilities, so we might have to throw that ball into your court. [ Which Steve hates to admit to, but unless they suddenly get lent a fleet of spaceships, their hands are tied. ]

[Gamora looks momentarily surprised.]

You would trust us to do that?

[Sure, she paints a good picture, but Gamora is certainly not someone who was always a good person. Doesn't he fear she might revert to her old ways?]

[ At this point, Steve has met the majority of the Guardians. Rocket, Gamora, and Quill. Rocket's the one he knows the best, but the point is that he's gotten enough of a read on them to make a judgment call. ]

Like I said, it's not like I have much of a choice. [ Though it isn't just that. Steve quirks a smile, amused that he's managed to surprise someone like Gamora, who seems so together. ] You guys have already managed to retrieve one, why not more?

Assuming we can even find the others.

[Who knows where they might be. Still...]

Most have been found within a reasonable proximity of each other, though. [Within a few galaxies being reasonable.] With each one appearing in time, perhaps the others will follow.

[And with that, increased danger.]

If we have any kind of luck, anyway.

[ But at this point all they can do is hope and speculate, and none of that is going to help Gamora within Wonderland. ]

That's enough about back home, I think.

[ Steve gestures for Gamora to step back inside with him, glancing over his shoulder at her as he goes. ] Do you have any questions about this place?

If we have any kind of luck, the rest will never be found.

[Then Thanos won't be able to go after them. With his gesture, she follows.]

Only the ones you can't answer.

[How to get out of here.]

[ It's not particularly difficult to guess what Gamora means by that. Steve sighs and nods. ]

I know it sucks hearing over and over again that there's no way out. But at this point we're just looking for an opening.

[ Being stuck in a holding pattern like this isn't his idea of fun. It's not that Steve likes the events, but if it weren't for them he might have gone nuts from boredom by now. ]

What about the queen? Have you ever seen her?

[Because Gamora thinks whoever is in power here is the answer to getting out of here.]

Never face-to-face. She's made a few broadcasts, though.

[ Having gotten about halfway in crossing the entrance hall, Steve pauses and looks back to Gamora. ]

Have you picked out a room yet? [ He assumes green people need to sleep, too. ]

A room?

[She shakes her head.]

It wasn't my first priority, but I suppose I should make arrangements.

Yeah, it takes some time to let it sink in that you're stuck here for a while. But you might want to look into it now. Any vacant room should get the job done.

[ Steve shrugs. He's curious to know what her room would end up looking like, what Wonderland would arrange to be comfortable for someone like Gamora. But that's more like a passing thought. ]

Any empty room? I guess I can go look for one now.

[He's been plenty helpful.]

Thank you.

Not at all. Feel free to call me if you need anything else.

[ A friend of Rocket's is a friend of his, and Steve's hoping he won't regret that. But from what he's already heard and seen, he doubts it. ]

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