Time passed swiftly in the silence of deep space.
Apart from a few skirmishes with pirates along the route, the journey had remained uneventful. Bella, ever composed, handled each threat like brushing off dust from her coat. But finally—after over half a month of constant flight—they arrived at their destination.
"Is this it?" Bella asked from the co-pilot seat, gazing out the transparent viewport.
Before them hovered a bizarre and majestic sight: a colossal severed head of a celestial being, floating in space like a monument to forgotten gods. It was shaped like a giant skull, its hollow eye sockets vast enough to fit cities. A shimmering nebula of blues, purples, and greens swirled around the head like the aura of something ancient and untouchable.
This was Knowhere, the abandoned head of an ancient Celestial—and now a hub of lawless chaos, also known as the planet Norwell.
Nobody truly knew its history, only rumors and myths. But one fact was clear: it was the oldest known corpse of the Old Gods. There were no laws here. No gods. No kings. Only deals, guns, and secrets.
The skull-world was alive with motion. Spaceships zipped in and out of hangars, warships hovered like vultures, and countless smaller crafts scurried between mechanical scaffolding that dug deeper into the giant skull every day. Massive buildings with sci-fi aesthetics glittered beneath the haze of stardust and corruption.
The Asgardian ship Bella and Loki had taken was just one among thousands. And yet, Bella could feel it—the faint echo of ancient power, radiating from the bones of the celestial titan. It was a subtle thrum, but unmistakable.
In her heart, Bella marveled: The universe is so vast... and the beings within it, even more terrifyingly powerful.
"This place is called Knowhere," Loki explained, walking beside her in his emerald and black robes. "The Collector, Taneleer Tivan, laid claim to it hundreds of years ago. Though this Celestial's body has long been dead, the organic and mineral resources it holds are incredibly valuable. Even in death, it's worth a fortune."
Bella nodded quietly, observing as their ship landed in one of the bustling port bays. The platform hissed with pressurized steam, and docking arms gripped the ship like insect legs.
To stay low-key, Bella slipped on a hooded trench coat, concealing most of her appearance. But even so, her figure, posture, and presence drew many wandering eyes. Still, these were criminals and mercenaries—they knew better than to provoke someone without knowing her strength.
She followed Loki toward the towering structure at the heart of Knowhere.
It resembled a twisted combination of palace and fortress, with walls plated in obsidian metal and lights glowing like dying stars. The guards standing at the entrance were clad in thick armor, more like machines than men. As Loki approached, they stepped aside for him—but moved to block Bella.
"She can't enter," one guard said flatly, their voice distorted through a mechanical filter.
"She's with me," Loki replied coolly.
"Body search required."
As soon as those words were spoken, Bella's head tilted slightly, and she met their eyes. A faint golden light shimmered within her pupils, and an overwhelming aura poured off her like waves of divine pressure.
The two armored guards instantly froze.
Their bodies trembled under the weight of her presence, and their grips on their weapons faltered. A deep instinct screamed at them to get out of the way or face death.
"She is a guest of Asgard, honored above all," Loki added with a sharp undertone. "Do you really want to deny her entry?"
The guards exchanged a nervous glance. Then, nodding quickly, they stepped aside. "Go in."
Even in a lawless place like Knowhere, strength was the ultimate pass. And Bella's aura declared that she was not to be trifled with.
The pair entered the lift and ascended to the highest level of the fortress. When the doors opened, they stepped into what looked like a private museum the size of a cathedral.
Dim lighting illuminated rows of glass containers and pedestals holding all manner of rare and strange artifacts: fossilized skeletons of extinct races, living alien creatures in containment fields, alien metals that shimmered unnaturally, and even ancient weapons from long-forgotten wars.
A soft barking suddenly echoed through the chamber.
Bella turned, surprised. Inside a transparent pod sat a golden retriever wearing a space suit, its tail wagging with excitement as it barked energetically at her.
"There's a dog here?" she muttered, eyebrows raising. "And it's wearing a suit? That writing on it… is that Russian?"
The golden retriever barked again, clearly thrilled to see her.
"Cosmo," a calm, aged voice answered from behind them. "I picked him up from a slave market years ago. Isn't he delightful?"
Bella turned and saw a white-haired man wearing a spotless lab coat and round sunglasses. His face was etched with patterns, possibly tattoos or old scars, and beside him stood a pink-skinned alien woman in a servant's uniform.
"Welcome to Knowhere, honored guests. I trust you'll find your visit... enlightening," the old man said with a crooked smile. He was none other than The Collector, Taneleer Tivan.
Loki stepped forward with a small nod. "Let's get straight to the point."
"Of course. Please, let this lovely lady explore our exhibits." Tivan gestured toward the pink alien. "If anything catches her eye, it's hers. After all, the Asgardians are always generous... especially when their favor is at stake."
The servant bowed gracefully. "As you command, my master."
Bella, sensing they wanted to speak in private, simply nodded and turned to follow the alien guide. But before she left, she glanced back toward the glass pod. Cosmo looked at her with such warmth, as if he recognized something in her.
She turned back to Tivan. "Can I take the dog with me?"
Tivan hesitated. His fingers tapped on the edge of a display panel. "Hmm. Cosmo is... a rare find. Quite intelligent, perhaps even psychic."
Bella remained silent, but her gaze didn't falter.
Finally, Tivan smiled. "Since the lady seems fond of him, consider him a gift. Of course—"
"Put it on the Asgardian tab," Loki cut in, clearly prepared for the demand.
"Splendid," Tivan said, his grin widening. "Then the matter is settled. You may take Cosmo when you leave."
Bella smiled, satisfied. Gaining a strange, space-suited dog without firing a shot? Not a bad day.
She followed the pink-skinned alien through the rest of the exhibit. Floor after floor was packed with rare objects, from glowing ore veins to bizarre alien fossils. Some items had no labels—just glowing runes and sealed glass.
Still, Bella wasn't impressed. Many things were rare, yes, but rarity didn't equal power.
"The real treasures aren't shown to just anyone," she murmured aloud.
The alien servant smiled nervously. "That is true. The Collector stores his most valuable assets deeper within, away from curious eyes."
Bella nodded thoughtfully, but didn't press. She wasn't here to rob the place.
Cosmo, however, had turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Her intuition whispered that the golden retriever would be more than a companion—that he had a future alongside her.
As they toured, Bella gently shifted the conversation. "Tell me… has your master collected anything from Earth lately? Or perhaps... dealt with beings connected to the Infinity Stones?"
The alien's eyes twitched subtly. "That is not information I can share. I'm sorry."
Bella chuckled softly. "Of course."
She let it go for now. But her questions were planting seeds—and the pink-skinned servant, clearly unaccustomed to kindness from visitors, grew more talkative over time.
By the end of the tour, Bella had extracted several interesting hints about ancient relics, forbidden zones, and galactic ruins long abandoned.
As she returned to the top floor, Cosmo trotted beside her in his awkward little suit. The Collector handed her a small device—a leash of sorts—but Cosmo followed her willingly, tail wagging with pride.
"I hope your time here has been satisfactory," Tivan said as she reunited with Loki.
"It has," Bella said simply. "And I believe Cosmo and I will get along just fine."
With that, the two of them returned to the Asgardian ship—Bella, Loki, and now, one extremely enthusiastic space dog.
In a universe filled with monsters and gods, sometimes the most loyal guardian comes in the form of a golden retriever in a space suit.
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