C41 No Stones?!
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(🛑A/N: ps- there is a two year time skip coming up in a few chapters. And after this time skip, Peter will have a lot more freedom, as he's already completed a marvel/mcu related solo Jedi mission in the newest patréon chapters. But to avoid spoilers, I won't say anymore…)
The next day…
In the heart of the Jedi Temple, Peter stood before the Council. Next to him, Gamora, her demeanor guarded, yet hopeful, recounted the harrowing tale of Thanos—the Mad Titan.
She spoke of his reign of terror across Wild Space, his noble, yet psychopathic war against overpopulation, how he decimated half of her planet's people, and how she was forcibly taken to be raised as his daughter, as well as a future member of the Black Order.
Gamora gave them every bit of information that she had, feeling absolutely zero allegiance to the man who ripped her from her home, forcibly adopting her as a half-daughter, half-servant for his cause.
Peter listened, though his thoughts occasionally wandered. He already knew this story, and while the details were grim, he could barely keep the smile off of his face, his focus elsewhere.
-Flashback-
The night before, in the quiet solitude of the temple infirmary, Peter and Gamora had a long conversation, in which she explained everything she knew about Thanos and his army.
Gamora had just finished her explanation, the air heavy with the weight of her words. Peter, however, had one more question, one that had been gnawing at him since they began talking.
"So, uh, just curious," Peter started, trying to sound nonchalant. "Since your dear old daddy may attack Coruscant, are there any exceptionally powerful weapons that we should worry about?" He asked, fishing for information about the Infinity Stones, which she has yet to mention.
Of course, Peter could always flat-out ask about them, but he didn't want to give out too much information.
After all, for all he knows, the Stones could actually exist, yet no one knows about them, not even Thanos. And if that was the case, mentioning them now could possibly make him or others aware of their existence, which wouldn't be good, to say the least.
"First of all, eww, don't ever call him my daddy again." Gamora cringed before thinking for a moment, shaking her head. "And no, I can't think of any crazy weapons, just the normal army stuff, ships, plasma cannons, things like that. He has a lot of weapons, like swords and stuff too, but not anything too powerful. Why do you ask?"
Peter's heart soared at her answer, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, no reason, just making sure we're prepared..."
-FlashbackEnd-
Back in the present, the Jedi Council murmured among themselves, digesting Gamora's testimony. "…"
Peter's mind, however, was light years away. He was elated, knowing that the Infinity Stones, at least to Gamora's knowledge, did not exist in this reality.
'This is the best-case scenario,' Peter mused, the corners of his mouth fighting the urge to turn up into a smile. The knowledge that the Infinity Stones most likely didn't exist in this universe was more than just good news—it was a game-changer.
After all, Thanos without the Infinity Stones is like a conductor missing the vital sections of his orchestra. He can attempt a performance with what he has, but without the key parts, his power is significantly reduced.
Peter had seen firsthand the devastation wrought by those stones; he knew the sheer power they offered to whoever wielded them. A Thanos wielding even one of them was relentless, a force of nature that seemed almost impossible to stop.
'But here?' Peter's relief was palpable. 'Here, Thanos is just another psychotic tyrant. An extremely powerful one, yes, but not omnipotent. Not unbeatable. Without the stones… he's got limits. And anything with limits can be outmaneuvered, outplayed.'
In conclusion, Thanos is a very scary threat, certainly, but without the Infinity Stones, he was a challenge that the Jedi and the Republic could feasibly face.
"Grave, this threat is." As the Council deliberated, Yoda finally spoke, his gaze turning to his young Padawan. "Your thoughts, Peter, hear we would,"
Peter, who had been itching to jump into the conversation, straightened up, a spark of eagerness in his eyes. "Well, Master Yoda," he began. "I've actually been thinking about this all night, and there are three things we have to do."
The Council members leaned in, intrigued by Peter's perspective.
"First off," Peter continued, "the Republic's gotta have a way to defend itself. I say we chat with the chancellor about putting together some sort of standing army, whether it be droid or living, it doesn't matter. Gamora's testimony makes it clear—Thanos is planning a galaxy-wide purge, and we can't just sit back and let that happen."
A murmur ran through the Council. The idea of building an army was met with visible discomfort from several members, their commitment to peace and diplomacy clashing with the harsh reality of the situation.
"An army," one of the Council members repeated, skepticism evident in his tone. "Is that a path we truly wish to tread?"
Peter, sensing the hesitation, pressed on. "Do we want trillions and trillions of innocent lives on our conscience, or do we want to have a chance at protecting them?" He paused for a moment, eying each member of the council one by one. "Sadly, we don't live in an ideal utopia. Sometimes, to keep the peace, you have to prepare for war."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Even the most pacifistic of the Council members could not deny the logic in his argument.
Yoda nodded slowly. "Wisely spoken, it is."
Encouraged, Peter moved on to his second point. "Next up, we should reach out to our allies, like the Nova Empire for example. We're gonna need all the help we can get while the Senate spends the next century debating whether or not to actually take this seriously."
Mace Windu, his features etched with thought, agreed. "The Nova Empire will likely request something in return for their assistance."
Peter shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "As long as what they're asking isn't outlandish, we should consider it. Allies are priceless, especially when we have no way of protecting ourselves."
Finally, Peter concluded with his third and possibly most crucial point. "And lastly, we need intel—lots of it. We gotta know where Thanos is, what he's planning, and what his army's capabilities are. In war, information is as important as firepower."
The Council members exchanged nods of agreement, the strategic importance of intelligence gathering undisputed among them.
"Much to consider, we have," Yoda acknowledged, his voice somber yet resolute. "Act we must, but wisely. Ensure, we will, that this is properly addressed.."
Peter's proposals, though met initially with skepticism, had sparked a crucial turning point in the discussion. The Jedi, guardians of peace and justice, found themselves at the precipice of a possible war, forced to balance their principles with the stark reality of the threat looming over the galaxy.
As Yoda prepared to conclude the meeting, Peter interjected with a question. "Master Yoda," he began, his tone a mixture of curiosity and seriousness, "have you revealed what we learned about Count Dooku yet?"
The room, already thick with the residue of grave discussions, seemed to tighten further. Yoda's aged, but still sharp eyes glanced towards Peter, a flicker of concern passing through them. "Mention it, I did not. Investigate further, I wished, before making accusations about a former Jedi."
The mention of Count Dooku immediately piqued everyone's interest, drawing their attention back to Peter. Mace Windu, his voice carrying a note of urgency, asked, "What have you learned?"
With much less hesitation than Yoda, thanks to his movie knowledge, Peter dove into the explanation. "Well, it's like this. I might've goaded Dooku a bit when we met," he admitted with a slight, shrug. "And, uh, he didn't exactly take it well. Let's just say he showed a side of him that felt… well, dark. Now, I've never seen a Sith before, so I can't say for sure, but It's a pretty solid bet that Dooku, at the very least, has begun to experiment with the dark side."
Next to him, Gamora, who had been following the conversation with a mix of interest and confusion, asked, "What's a Sith?"
Yoda, seizing the opportunity to educate her, replied smoothly, "Agents of the dark side of the Force, they are. Seek power, they do, at the expense of all that is good."
Then, turning his attention back to the matter at hand, Yoda addressed the Council with a gravity that matched the depth of their situation. "Guard up, we must keep around Dooku. Trust him, we cannot, not until properly investigated we have."
The revelation about Count Dooku cast a new shadow over the Council, adding complexity to an already dire situation. The possibility that a former Jedi could fall so far from the light was a sobering thought, one that weighed heavily on everyone present.
As the meeting adjourned, the members of the Jedi Council were left with much to ponder. The threat of Thanos, the necessary preparation for an unknown war, and now the troubling news about Count Dooku—it was a time of uncertainty and trepidation.
————
As the Jedi Council's meeting disbanded, on the edge of the galaxy, a chilling calm pervades the flagship of Thanos, the Mad Titan. In a dimly lit chamber, vast and cold, Thanos sits enthroned, a figure of immense power and malevolence. Before him, Ebony Maw, the most loyal and capable of his children, bows before him.
Above Maw, a holographic screen flickered with the holonet news coverage of a recent battle on Coruscant, showcasing the prowess and determination of the Jedi.
Thanos watches with an impassive gaze as a small fraction of his army falls, but his stoic demeanor masks a simmering rage—not at the loss of his forces, but at the demise of his generals, Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight. But even worse, the absence of contact with Gamora, his favored child, adds a sharp sting to his growing frustration.
"Maw," Thanos' voice booms, echoing off the metallic walls, "what is our next move?"
Maw, ever the astute observer, senses the depth of his master's ire. "My Lord, the Jedi have proven themselves formidable. It would be best to exterminate them as soon as possible…"
A shadow of contemplation crosses Thanos' features. His initial desire to obliterate Coruscant with his wrath lingered in the back of his mind, a craving for vengeance that would satiate the annoyance within him.
However, wisdom—or perhaps a strategic caution—prevails. "Attacking the heart of the Republic directly would be premature," Thanos muses aloud. "Though they lack a standing army, the Republic still controls the majority of the Galaxy, which would no doubt unite against us should we reveal our hand too soon."
His decision made, Thanos fixes his gaze on Maw, a directive clear in his eyes. "Send someone reliable and discreet to Coruscant. I want Gamora brought back to me, alive and well." He ordered before adding, "And, if for some reason she can't be stealthily extracted, at the very least, I need to know her condition…"
Maw, understanding the importance of the task, nods, but then hesitates slightly. "And what of Nebula, my lord?"
Thanos' response is swift, and dismissive with a wave of his hand. "Nebula is of no consequence. She lacks the worth of her sister. Focus on Gamora."
Maw bows, "As you command, my lord," and turns to leave, already plotting the execution of this delicate mission.
Left alone, Thanos stared up at the holographic screen, his eyes narrowing on both Peter snd Yoda, the two Jedi who had dared to kill his children…
A/N: 1967 words :) ps- for anyone who's curious, since the stones don't exist/no one knows about them, Thanos will be more of a warlord, who plans to cull half of the Galaxies population through conquest. If anyone has questions, leave em here and I'll answer them later.
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