MV1 Presents
Guardians of the Galaxy 67
"A Time Too Soon: Chapter One"

Vance Astro, Nikki, Aleta, Charlie 27, Hollywood, Talon and son have just returned from the Alternate time line they had been living in since the Infinity War (GoTG #29). They were greeted by Stark Warriors, who wee looking to destroy Centauri IV. Our heroes wouldn't have that though, and after saving the day Earth's appearant new monarch Doctor Doom has brought our heroes back to earth for some warm cider and cookies, not!

The scene opens with torch light, illuminating a room decorated with treasures beyond the imagination. Torches alone don't ensure the serenity of our scene, and soon a voice breaks the silence, a voice that men have grown to fear, a voice which could command a world, a voice which soon may.

"Welcome Guardians, please enjoy what my home has to offer. Dinner will be here shortly."

And with that display screens across the home turn off. Our heroes, obviously unnerved by the sudden announcement of the Monarch, are all anxiously awaiting.......Doom.

Aleta and Vance Astrovik:

"Really Vance, I wish you'd talk to me. You seem awfully distant right now, and being here, in this palace Doom has built himself on Earth everything seems so upside down. I find much strength in you, I love you, please allow me to help."

"Thanks Aleta, that really does mean a lot to me, especially right now. I've got a lot of things going on in my mind right now, all of which I'll explain to you as soon as I've got things straight myself."

".....but", our heroine thinks to herself "why is that? Vance never had troubles opening up to me before. What's going on with him? I know his powers aren't totally in his control, but could that possibly be what's bothering? No, it isn't, there's something more......"

Main Lab:

"Excuse me sire, most production plants across Europe are up and running. We expect to be at full operation with in a day."

"And the railways?"

"Inclimate weather has halted construction of lines through out the Northern Italian/Austrian corridor, but all other stations are online."

Doom nods, turns and resumes his experiment.

"Arrange for a global address tomorrow morning, then report to commissions office and pick up a salary bonus."

"Thank you sire, thank you, I shall do so immediately."

Games Parlor:

Hollywood, Simon Williams, has laughed very little these past few millennia. Kidnapped away from a world that needed him, betrayed by his brother*, Simon has felt very little compassion for anyone or anything. He has continued his heroing, no doubt, a the glimmer of a hero true at heart can never fade, but surely this hero has lost his spark.

( * The Vision abducted Simon Williams from Earth during the final stages of "The War Of The Worlds", when the Vision believed the heroes final assault to be a lost cause. Explained in GoTG #50 -- Nick)

Here in the home of Doctor Doom things are different. Simon and his team mate, Charlie 27 find themselves deep in concentration over a chess game.

"Strider to level 2, knight's roost". (an obvious move) says the Jovian.

"Oh what a wonderful move Chunky! But what's going on with him?"

And then Simon laughs, a soul cleansing laugh from deep inside.

Equally confused Charlie speaks "I haven't the foggiest. We spend two hours in here dueling......and then I beat you with a 6 step trap and conquer? You've got a lot to say for yourself Williams!"

"I...I..." and the laughter returns.

"That cut's it! Explain yourself now mister, or you'll have several tons of Jovian might to deal with."

The Laughter Ends. "Now listen here, I've had laundry stains that were scarier than you. Don't even think you can push me around."

"Oh quit it you two idiots!"

Both Heroes jump back from their confrontation just a little bit singed, courtesy of the Mercurian Femme.

"If you had kept your fool mouth shut long enough I would've told you how I swindled some Galactic simpleton out of half a fleet of Titian planet skimmers. But No! You went and played the hard line and now you've got to live with that. I'm out of here."

Exit Simon Williams, in a fervor.

"Simon --- wait!"

"It's ok Nikki, let him go. Our game's done anyway."

"But he left in such a horrible--- "

"It's ok Nikki. He's a Guardian now, part of our team, *my* team. I think he deserves the same right to privacy we all have, and part of that is the throwing a tantrum every once and a while. He'll fit in, William's is a good one."

Somewhere deep in space:

Two cloaked figures depart from a small star craft. They set foot upon an asteroid, the vast brilliance of space is the lone sight to behold from this otherwise all-too-common speck of rock and ice.

Alas, that isn't the truth here. The step, breaking the virgin surface of the centuries of collected dust particles. Finally, from the bleakness of space a distinguishable form takes shape.

"The altar, here!*"

(* translated from some ghastly alien tongue that you probably can't speak, I know I can't. A-lucky-he-passed-french-Nick)

"Tis true! Tis true!" As two ancient space mariners rejoice we fade away -- back through the depths of space from whence we came.

But Wait! How could you think I had forgotten about the most menacing monarch in this galaxy, if not this reality! Surely he must make an appearance some where in this strip! So shifteh now, Oh Scene, and let us behold........Doom!

"Now heroes, though you may have been long gone in Earth's time of need, eat. Dine and be merry on all that I can, all that the Earth may, offer you."

Dine they do. Aleta, Vance, Charlie, Nikki, Simon, Yondu and Marty, Guardians all. A luscious meal has been prepared for them, a meal befitting a King.

And once they've finished:

"I've accommodated your friend Talon with transportation off this Earth as per his request*, I would know what plans you seven have for the future."

(* a plot dangler! -- thats-all-he's-sayin'-Nick)

And now, they all think to themselves, things begin to come together.

"Out in the depths of space, beyond my current grasp, lies a threat to the sovereignty of Earth"

"he couldn't be talking about Stark*, what is Doom up to?" Martinex ponders.

(*see previous issues for details on the now destroyed Stark star fleet)

"So what do you propose Doom." Charlie-27 interupts, noting a displeased expression come across the brow of Vance Astro. "There's a baddie, and we're a bunch of heroes..."

"You jump to conclusions my friend. As earth's sole protector I deem it fit that you travel to the Seletian star system and return with this....."

With a movement of his hand Doom commands a holographic display to appear above the dinning table. The picture, almost real. Simon Williams is the first to recognize our despot's prized artifact........

"I don't understand.... that's Mjolnir?"

Author's Comments

Well, i'm hoping this is it. It's taken a little while, it's not quite as long as i'd hoped, but my first issue is finally out. I'm going to continue with Mark Beaulieu's idea that "the guardians of the galaxy are a combat military team", but with a different twist. I'll be introducing a few new things in to the MV1 3000 universe, but as soon as "A Time Too Soon" is over with things will slow down a ton, promise. Please send letters to me at "Guardians Mail" c/o NFavorito@worldnet.att.net with thoughts, comments, suggestions, threats, and please, please, a better letter column title.

Nick