Kara's earlier guess turned out to be correct. The High Evolutionary was indeed monitoring the Avengers' actions through the underground facility. Yet, even though he observed their every move, he had no intention of confronting them. Just as he had avoided revealing himself when the Avengers first arrived on the Sovereign Planet, he continued to steer clear of them now. The sheer strength of the Avengers made him deeply wary.
Even when his Sovereign re-engineering experiment was discovered, and his frustration boiled over, the High Evolutionary chose to suppress his anger. As a scientist, he wasn't willing to take unnecessary risks.
"Let's call Tony and Reed over to take a closer look," Steve suggested after hearing Kara's observations. This wasn't his area of expertise, so he turned to Kaecilius, who was managing the portals.
Kaecilius sighed heavily, resigning himself to the task. Not every member of Kamar-Taj was on call, and assignments like this were usually rotated. It was simply Kaecilius's turn. He hadn't expected this mission to take so long, especially with multiple long-distance portals. Nonetheless, he opened another portal, and soon Tony Stark and Reed Richards arrived to investigate the massive laboratory.
Despite their brilliance, Tony and Reed were initially at a loss when faced with the unfamiliar biotechnology. They decided to start by locating any monitoring devices in the area.
"Kara, can you see what's inside that large cocoon?" Tony finally asked, his gaze fixed on the glowing golden pod. He had scanned it earlier but could only detect what appeared to be a pool of golden liquid.
"I was going to mention it earlier," Kara began. "The cocoon is filled with liquid, and while there are signs of coagulation, there's no evidence of it evolving into life."
"So, is it possible that this so-called biological experiment hasn't actually started? That this is just a preparatory phase?"
"I can't say for sure," Nebula admitted, shaking her head. "Every biological experiment is unique, especially one aimed at creating an intelligent species. This kind of technology is far beyond anything I've encountered."
"I don't know either," Rocket Raccoon added hesitantly. "I have no idea what the process of creating life even entails."
"What now? Do we take it with us?" Reed Richards's eyes sparkled with curiosity. To him, this level of biotechnology bordered on divinity, and his drive to explore it was undeniable.
"No way," Steve immediately opposed. "We didn't find any monitoring devices, but that doesn't mean they're not here. The timing of the Sovereigns' downfall is too coincidental. We can't risk taking these potentially dangerous devices back with us."
Steve's caution was well-founded. If their enemies were indeed watching and analyzing the Avengers' actions, it could lead to disastrous consequences.
"Then we destroy it," Tony agreed reluctantly. While it pained him as a scientist to destroy such advanced technology, he couldn't let curiosity endanger the Earth or the Avengers.
From his hidden vantage point, the High Evolutionary's face darkened further. Listening to Reed's initial proposal, he had hoped his experiment might survive. But as the conversation unfolded, his hopes were dashed. Worse still, he couldn't intervene. Facing the Avengers head-on was simply too dangerous for him.
Steve gave the order to destroy the lab. The Guardians quickly left under Star-Lord's protective power, and the Avengers unleashed their combined energy on the facility.
The resulting explosion was immense, shaking the entire planet. Star-Lord could feel the intensity, even from above ground.
"Did they get caught in the explosion?" Rocket wondered aloud as the tremors subsided.
"No way. Maybe they found something else down there," Star-Lord speculated, recalling past experiences with buried secrets.
"I sense something—a new life," Mantis interjected, her antennae glowing faintly. "It feels confused… curious…"
"A new life? Could it be that experimental creation?" Rocket guessed, shouting, "Let's go check it out!"
They quickly descended back into the underground space. Upon arriving, they found the Avengers standing amidst the ruins. In the center of the destruction was a golden Sovereign figure, newly born.
Steve stared in disbelief. "He's already fully grown? And why does he look like an adult? This makes no sense!"
"I scanned him earlier," Tony said. "Even when the cocoon was destroyed, he wasn't harmed. That's not normal. He might have absorbed some of the energy we unleashed."
"So, he was accelerated by our energy?" Kara speculated, still puzzled.
Rocket was astounded as he looked at the golden figure. "Is this really a new experiment?"
The figure stirred, its golden eyes filled with innocence and confusion. "So many parents," it muttered, scanning the group. "But none of you look like me. Who are my mom and dad?"
The Avengers and Guardians exchanged uneasy glances, silently stepping back to avoid being chosen.
But Drax stepped forward with a broad grin. "Come to Daddy, child."
"???"
The room fell silent as everyone stared at Drax in stunned disbelief. Even his fellow Guardians were at a loss for words.
"What's wrong? Am I not the father? Should I be the mother instead?" Drax said matter-of-factly. "But our species doesn't have male mothers, and I can't nurse him."
"You're my father?" The golden Sovereign tilted his head, studying Drax. "But we don't look alike."
"You're still growing," Drax explained. "One day, you'll look just like me."
"Wait, how did you become this guy's dad?" Star-Lord hissed, pulling Drax aside.
"I'm tan, and he's gold. Gold comes from digging in the dirt, doesn't it?" Drax replied, his logic impeccable in his own mind.
"Dad," the Sovereign said suddenly, running to Drax and embracing him.
"Good child. I'll find you some milk later," Drax said warmly. "But first, what should I name you?"
"I'm Adam," the Sovereign said. "That's the name you and Mom gave me. Where's Mom?"
"Your mother…" Drax hesitated before adopting a solemn tone. "She's far away, but we'll see her someday."
Meanwhile, the Avengers discussed the implications of Adam's creation.
"Does he have pre-programmed memories? If the Sovereigns were designed, their entire existence might be pre-set," one suggested.
Steve nodded thoughtfully. "Even so, he's innocent for now. We can't just destroy him."
"Agreed," Tony added. "But we should document everything we can about him. If he ever poses a threat, we need to be prepared."
In the end, the Avengers decided to entrust Adam to the Guardians, hoping they could guide the newly born being. For now, Adam's future remained a mystery, one that would unfold in the days to come.
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