WARLOCK

The Journals of Gamora, Entry # 2048 :

It's been two years since Adam used the Infinity Gauntlet to help birth the new Eternity and Infinity, two years since the Infinity Gems were scattered throughout the multiverse.

Only Adam kept his Gem. The Soul Gem still resides on his forehead, looking both threatening and beguiling. It's capable fo stealing one's soul, but in return that soul gets to live forever in the heaven that is Soul World. I had that heaven once, but I gave it up to follow Adam back into the world of the living.

What was I thinking? I was thinking that Adam has a way of making you feel so damned spiritually inferior if you dare disagree with him... I was thinking that without him, heaven would not be nearly so sweet.

There. I said it. After years of playing cat and mouse with my feelings for him, I've come to admit the truth that others saw long ago : I love Adam Warlock. I love him for his bravery, for his intelligence and for his brooding beauty.

Since he created Infinity Station here in the center of the cosmos, this floating city in space has become home to over 10,000 displaced aliens. Most of them have been the victims of various tragedies, be they related to Galactus eating their homeworld or the Kree-Shi'Ar War having driven them from their birthplaces. These 10,000 souls, floating in the void, look to Adam for guidance and protection.

He has provided both -- in spades.

The man known as Warlock stood in the grand chamber of the Imperial Majestrix of the Shi'ar, looking calm and confident. His sudden appearance had sent guards scrambling for their guns, but not one shot had yet been fired.

Adam held his staff in one hand, gesturing with the other as he spoke. "Imperial Majestrix Lilandra -- Infinity Station has sovereign rule over its own citizens. If you wish to ask for extradition of alleged 'criminals,' you are free to do so. But I would advise against sending more of your Imperial Guard to my home."

Lilandra, leader of the largest empire in the known galaxy, flicked her eyes towards the forms of Manta and Titan. Both of them were experienced members of the Imperial Guard, the most feared fighting force in the Shi'ar arsenal. They had been dispatched to Infinity Station to retrieve a Kree scientist who had recently sought asylum from Warlock. Now, they lay unconscious on the floor at Warlock's feet. "Warlock... Your sudden arrival in my court is unexpected." She cast a wary glance at Gladiator, the leader of the Guard, who loomed behind her. At a subtle signal from her, he backed down from his angry stance, though he obviously wished to forcibly remove Warlock. "I agree that Infinity Station belongs to you and you alone -- but the space it occupies was recently annexed by the Shi'ar Empire. My Imperial Guard was dispatched to inform you of this and to request that you turn over to us the Kree scientist Mol-Tis."

Lilandra tried to use her best diplomatic voice, putting aside the surprise she felt over his sudden arrival. She had led the Shi'ar Empire for many years now, ruling with confidence and wisdom. But there was something about this Warlock... that made her uneasy.

"Mol-Tis was in charge of weapons development during your Empire's war with the Kree. He has no desire to be pressed into service by your own military."

Gladiator lost the tenuous grip he'd held on his temper. "How dare you?! You teleport into the Royal Court and make such an accusation? We want to see that killer stand trial for his crimes! Millions of Shi'ar died because of weapons he created!"

Warlock smiled enigmatically. "Calm yourself, Gladiator. I have not come here to harm your beloved Majestrix, nor am I here to besmirch her reputation. But Mol-Tis feels that you would have him designing weapons in lieu of a prison sentence and I am forced to agree with him. As for your annexation of the Sigma System... I reject it, on all counts."

An excited buzzing filled the court. Many of those present could scarcely believe their ears -- no one showed this sort of disrespect to the Imperial Majestrix, especially in the presence of Gladiator, who was well known for dealing harshly with such matters.

Lilandra waited for the commotion to die down before speaking. Her tone was colder and more confident now. At first, she hadn't known what to expect from Warlock but now she felt on steadier ground -- he was here to bargain. "The Galactic Convention has acknowledged our right to the Sigma System. I am afraid that galactic law is on our side."

"I am not bound by your laws." Adam Warlock stepped forward quickly, bringing a sudden roar from Gladiator, who moved to defend his queen. "I have held creation in the palm of my hand -- twice. I have sipped from the cup of Heaven and returned. I exist outside the forces of order and chaos. I am Adam Warlock..." he stopped just short of Gladiator's heaving form. "... and I am here to tell you that the Sigma System is off-limits to the Shi'ar."

Gladiator drew back a fist, but came to a halt when Lilandra touched his arm. "Majestrix, please... He deserves --"

The Majestrix silenced him with a stare. Turning back to Warlock, she murmured "You know that I cannot abide by that... without proper compensation."

Warlock nodded, his eyes glinting. Things were proceeding exactly as he'd expected. He prided himself on his grand schemes and manipulations, frequently planning things months and years in advance. He knew that his sudden arrival in Lilandra's court would throw her off-balance and make her doubt her own security -- and now, after his show of charismatic force, she was willing to listen to him. "Of course. I realize you need something in trade. I offer you my services to deal with a problem of great importance to you. And, in exchange, you surrender your claim to Sigma. And to Mol-Tis."

The Majestrix set her jaw and fought to hide her surprise. "What exactly are you speaking of?"

Warlock leaned close to her, ignoring the stares of those around him, and whispered the one name that chilled Lilandra to the bone. "I speak of the Thanos problem."

Pip the Troll took the last swig of beer from his mug and belched loudly, patting his rotund belly with one hand. He was seated at the shuttle's helm, his feet propped on the control panel. "So when's Goldie comin' back?"

Gamora glanced back at him, tearing her eyes away from the scene outside the viewport window. The forces of the Shi'ar navy were massing around them. Still, she felt no fear over the situation. Gamora was widely known as "the most dangerous woman in the galaxy," and she felt fear only rarely. Being raised by the nihilistic Titan named Thanos had that effect on one. "He should be here any minute, assuming he hasn't started the next great galactic war."

Pip examined her critically. He reached and scratched one of his hairy legs. "You still wussed off, huh?"

Gamora replied cooly, " I just think we have better things to do with our time than play nursemaid to some Kree scientist! I don't mind Adam taking a stand every now and then, but this time... I say let him go back to the Shi'ar and deal with them himself."

"Whatever. You're just pissed that Adam didn't remember your birthday."

Gamora let out an angry sigh and stormed out of the cockpit. "Go to hell, you mangy little goat!"

Pip grinned as he dragged a match over his scabby knee. It caught flame and he brought it to his lips, carefully lighting his cigar. "Heh. Women...."

Adam Warlock stepped through the airlock, barely having time to step out of the way as Gamora stormed past. "Is something wrong?"

Gamora stepped into her personal quarters and slammed the door shut.

Adam stared after her for a moment and then moved to the front of the ship. He could smell Pip's cigar, the smoke wafting through the corridors. "I assume you're responsible for Gamora's mood...."

Pip looked up at Adam, grinning. "Nope. You are. You forgot her birthday. Again. What is it now? Six, seven years in a row?" The Troll leaned forward and winked. "Dames. Ya can't live with 'em and--"

Adam waved him off. "Spare me. Gamora has to realize that I don't have time for trivialities. The Shi'ar are becoming increasingly imperialistic and the other major powers are beginning to gear up for possible conflicts. The pacts I forge in the next few months could be critical to Infinity Station's survival."

"Women don't consider their birthdays to be trivialities, boss. Ya gotta remember that. They need flowers and sweet talk every now and again. If you want the boom-boom, ya gotta pay the price."

"Boom-boom?" Adam mouthed the words before abandoning the subject altogether. "Set course for these coordinates," he said, handing a datachip to Pip. "I've agreed to deal with a problem for Lilandra, in exchange for her promise to halt the annexation of the Sigma System."

"What sort of problem?" Gamora's voice from the doorway made Pip jump, but Adam seemed nonplussed.

"I've found Thanos. He's erected some sort of base on the moon of Dengari Prime and has forbidden the Shi'ar from entered his airspace. Lilandra is fearful that Thanos might be planning something deadly."

"That's a safe assumption." Gamora moved to stand near Warlock, studying his eyes. Though almost everyone found him enigmatic to the point of being maddening, Gamora could usually study his moods fairly well. "You don't think so?"

"No. I've had dreams of late... about Thanos. I think that he might be in some danger." Adam surprised her by reaching out and touching her face. Her green skin was somewhat wet around her eyes, evidence of her tears. "I... I sometimes forget that others do not see the larger picture as I do. Forgive me."

Gamora smiled softly. "Adam... You'll never be a romantic, but neither will I. We're different than most. Of course I forgive you."

"Great. So let's drink a few beers on the way to celebrate your b-day!" Pip held up a six-pack. "So how old are you anyway?"

Gamora's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she merely grabbed a beer from Pip's hand. "Still young enough to whip your hairy little butt."

Warlock looked away as his friends laughed. He'd meant his words to Gamora -- sometimes he did forget to feel for others. He'd been created to be the ultimate man, but when he saw that his creators sought to use him for evil, he'd fled and sought out his own destiny. Part of that destiny had led him to Other-Earth, where he'd died for the sins of an entire world -- and been resurrected. Since then, it had been one strange adventure after another : the banishing of his evil future-self, the Magus; death and rebirth once more in the Soul World; a return to the world of the flesh, followed by the omnipotence of the Infinity Gauntlet; battles against the Magus and his female variant, the Goddess; his brief trip to the Ultraverse; and now, he was leader and protector of the Infinity Station. In the process of all those battles, he'd grown cold and distant, thinking of people as pawns to be used.

That must change, he thought. Somehow, I must find my emotional center once more. When I first held the Infinity Gauntlet, I cast out all goodness and all evil from my soul. In doing so, I have lost the essential humanity that I was supposed to represent....

Lost in thought, Adam Warlock stepped from the cockpit.

SOMEWHERE ELSE

He lashed out with a fist, feeling the satisfying crack of his opponent's nose. There were more enemies swarming about him, but their numbers were growing fewer and fewer by the moment. He fought like a man possessed, all rage and fury.

In moments, he stood alone amid a pile of bodies. A few of them still twitched with life, but most were cold and silent. Wiping blood from his own wounds, the being known as the Champion strode from the scene. He had journeyed to this world to test its greatest warriors, only to find them sadly wanting. As an Elder of the Universe, he was immortal -- and dedicated to the task of testing those who considered themselves fighters.

In all his time, he had found only world -- Earth -- that was capable of truly testing his might. It was with these dark thoughts moving through his mind that he noticed he was not alone. He glanced over to see his fellow elder, the Grandmaster, watching him. "Brother. What brings you here?"

The Grandmaster, long and thin, smiled coldly. "More than a mere interest in watching you at play, Brother. I come to seek your aid in a plan of mine. I seek to regain those things which were taken from us -- the Infinity Gems."

"Eternity has scattered them across the multiverse. Only the Soul Gem remains." The Champion felt the stirrings of interest, however. To hold the Power Gem in his grasp... he could once more challenge the heroes of Earth.

"What if I told you, Brother... that I knew the whereabouts of the Gems... and how best to retrieve them?"

The Champion flexed his muscles. "Tell me."

And so it began.

THE MOON OF DENGARI PRIME

Gamora stalked through the dense jungle, slashing through the limbs that blocked her path. Adam followed behind, silent and thoughtful. "Why didn't we encounter any resistance when we landed?"

"I'm not certain... Perhaps Thanos has anticipated our arrival."

Gamora glanced over her shoulder. "You mentioned dreaming about him. What did you dream?"

Adam glanced at her. By his calculations, they should be no more than a few hundred yards away from their goal. "I saw him floating in the void, his hands outstretched. Mistress Death was nearby, but she would not touch him. He was screaming."

Gamora didn't reply. As far as she knew, Adam never dreamed. Why now? Conflicts emotions also rose up when she thought of Thanos in danger -- she had stood against him time and again, but he had raised her... given her a purpose.

Those thoughts came to an abrupt end as she stepped into a clearing. A large monolithic structure rose up before them, one erected with a cold sterility that reminded one of a mausoleum.

Adam pushed past Gamora, eliciting a cry of surprise from the warrior woman. She started to protest, but fell silent as her eyes fell on a figure propped in front of the structure.

He was tied to a cross, his arms restrained by heavy steel cables. His clothing was ripped to shreds, showing his bloody flesh. The face that had frightened millions showed no signs of life.

Adam touched the man's neck, knowing what he would find. Without looking at Gamora, he whispered. "He's dead. Thanos is dead."

Next Issue : Adam Warlock goes on a perilous journey -- one that takes him straight into the soul of Thanos!

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Welcome to the world of Adam Warlock! This series spins out of another fanfiction series of mine, based around the Defenders. When the fanfiction group I was part of at the time split apart, I elected to continue telling stories about Adam and his friends on my own. You don't have to read the older stories, though -- all you really need to know is that Adam has founded a facility called Infinity Station (as depicted in our zero issue), which is a city-sized space station that is home to numerous refugees. Beyond that, all you need to know is the basics of Adam Warlock's comic book past. I assume you're at least somewhat familiar with that, in order to have made it this far. :-)

I'm a big Warlock fan, which is why I force-fed him into the Defenders series I wrote. In this book, you'll see characters from his 1970s series pop up again, as well as heavy references to Warlock and the Infinity Watch, The Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, Infinity Crusade and Warlock Chronicles. I make no apologies -- I'm a fanboy and I'm proud of it.

If you like cosmic action that focuses on dialogue, intrigue and metaphysics, you're in the right place. There won't be too many slugfests, though there will be a few from time to time.

So buckle your seatbelts and hang on -- the fun's just starting.

Barry Reese