The disappearance of the colossal beast meant the danger had passed, leaving only silence across the barren valley.
Peter Quill, however, wasn't in any hurry to leave. Curiosity burned inside him. His sharp eyes swept across the jagged ridges, and after a moment of hesitation, he began climbing the mountain nearby. His body was trained by years of roaming across countless planets, so the ascent took him no time at all.
When he finally reached the summit, his eyes searched every corner. But to his disappointment, the mysterious woman who had saved him earlier was nowhere to be seen.
"Tsk. Really mysterious," Quill muttered, a bit annoyed. He scratched the back of his head, then slid back down the slope in frustration. Still, the day hadn't been a total loss. He grinned to himself, remembering the heavy egg secured in his pack. "At least this little treasure will fetch me a fortune."
Back aboard his ship, Quill carefully secured the egg in a protective capsule within the cabin. Then he dropped into the pilot's seat, staring at the stars outside the viewport. He tapped his fingers on the console, deep in thought.
"There are so many humanoid races scattered across the universe," he murmured. "But she… she looked exactly like me. Human. And that suit she wore… I've seen it before."
He closed his eyes. Somewhere in the back of his childhood memories, buried under years of blaster fire and outlaw life, an image surfaced. A similar suit, sleek and designed in the style of Earth. The realization struck him like a jolt of lightning.
"In other words… she might be from the same place as me," he whispered. "From Earth. From my mother's home."
The thought twisted something in his chest. He remembered his mother's face, pale on her deathbed, and his expression darkened.
"Forget it," he muttered, shaking his head. He wasn't ready to face that wound again.
Yes, he could return to Earth. He could even track her down if he really tried. But he didn't want to. He was afraid of the memories—afraid of facing the sight of his mother's final moments. Life in the stars was messy, unpredictable, but it was the life he knew now.
---
Meanwhile, far away, Bella wasn't giving Quill a second thought.
Their meeting had been nothing but coincidence, an accident in the grand scheme. Though Quill carried within him a spark of something greater—the blood of a god, Celestial lineage that granted him immense potential—Bella wasn't impressed.
"Potential is just potential," she thought to herself. "Until it is realized, it means nothing."
She knew well that Quill's father, Ego, was no ordinary being. Ego was not even human in the true sense but a living planet with its own thoughts and ambitions. His existence placed him far above most life in the cosmos.
Ego had once risen to heights close to the rank of a God Father, an echelon of power that even Thanos could scarcely rival in a direct clash. Bella, despite all her strength, admitted that if she fought Ego at her current level, she would fall short.
But she was patient. "When I reach the level of a God Father myself," Bella whispered, determination flashing in her eyes, "I'll challenge them all, one by one. Ego will just be another stepping stone. Another experience."
With that, she dismissed the thought entirely. She turned toward her ship's control deck and issued a command.
"Never mind. Let's continue traveling."
And so, in the vast dark ocean of the universe, Bella's black battleship streaked past the stars, vanishing into the endless void.
---
Earth – One Month Later
A month slipped by quietly on Earth.
In a brightly decorated bedroom filled with soft colors and girlish charm, Angie lay sprawled across her bed, tangled in blankets. She hugged her quilt like a child, murmuring sleepily. Sunlight streamed through the window, landing directly on her exposed backside. The warmth made her shift, scratching lazily at an itch without opening her eyes.
Then came the smell.
Something savory, rich, and warm drifted in from the kitchen. Angie's nose twitched instinctively, sniffing at the air even as her eyes stayed shut.
Sniff… sniff.
Finally, with a groan, she sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms wide. Her hair was messy, her pajamas wrinkled, but none of that mattered. The promise of food was enough to pull her out of bed.
Still half-asleep, Angie shuffled down the stairs into the villa's main hall. What she saw there made her blink in surprise.
In the kitchen, her golden retriever and the massive blue cat were busily helping with breakfast. Meanwhile, on a small bench near the counter, a petite figure stood humming cheerfully as she stirred a pot.
The aroma of shrimp porridge filled the room.
"You say you are mine, all my life…" The little girl's soft voice sang sweetly, "…make my eyes water, I feel like I'm flying in the sky, looking at the stars every night. Only you are always by my side."
The corners of Angie's mouth curled into a smile. Quietly, she tiptoed closer. Then, unable to resist, she reached out and tapped the little figure's shoulder playfully. She crouched down, trying to hide herself.
But her tall frame made her efforts ridiculous.
Little Sally turned her head, caught sight of Angie, and broke into a wide grin.
"Sister Angie, what are you doing~?"
Angie pouted, realizing her prank had failed. But she wasn't one to sulk for long. Her eyes shifted to the steaming pot on the stove, and her expression softened.
"Wow, Sally," she said, giving a big thumbs-up. "This smells amazing."
The little girl beamed, cheeks puffing out proudly even as she tried to stay humble. "I learned from you, Sister. You're the best."
Angie ruffled Sally's hair affectionately. "You're too sweet."
---
After they washed up, the two sat together with their pets, enjoying breakfast. The shrimp porridge was delicious, especially knowing it came from Sally's own effort. Angie savored every bite, guilt tugging faintly at her heart. She had been so busy with work lately that she hadn't spent enough time with the girl.
With school only a month away, she promised herself she would make the most of this time.
So, after the meal, Angie and Sally curled up on the soft sofa with the retriever and the cat, brainstorming fun places they could visit together. Their laughter filled the room.
Then—
Beep! Beep!
The sound of a phone rang sharply from the glass table. Angie reached over, answered casually, "Hello, this is Angie."
"Miss Angie? This is Sally's teacher, Sarah."
"Oh, Ms. Sarah," Angie said warmly. "What's going on?"
"It's about an upcoming school activity," the teacher explained. "We're organizing an outdoor camp. The children will be going to the small town of Consilience in Colorado. It's a self-driving trip meant to cultivate their love of nature. They'll collect specimens, explore, and learn. The camp will last about a week."
Angie nodded thoughtfully. She knew well how common such activities were in America. Schools often arranged group outings like this, and while they cost quite a bit, the experiences were invaluable for children.
Especially at a private academy like Sally's.
"Consilience Camp, huh?" Angie murmured, her smile returning. "That sounds wonderful."
"Of course, the parents will need to prepare certain essentials for the trip," Sarah continued. "If you'd like, I can provide a checklist later."
"Yes, please do," Angie said. "I'll also be accompanying her, so I'd like to make sure everything's ready."
After confirming the details, Angie hung up and looked at Sally, who was bouncing on the sofa in excitement.
"A camp, huh? Looks like we've got an adventure ahead of us," she said with a grin.
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