Go the Distance

*AN: Lyrics are from the song "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias, written by Mark Taylor, Paul Barry and Enrique Iglesias.

"You! You're the reason my mother died, you monster! All those people on that planet, you destroyed them!" Adam Warlock lunged for the High Evolutionary, his fists gleaming a flaming yellow with the intent to obliterate this villain who had caused so much destruction to satisfy his messiah complex.

"That's where you're wrong, my dear Warlock... you're the one who killed her. Your failure to save her can never be redeemed. Perhaps you deserve to lose those you love after the mess you created on Knowhere, your comeuppance rightly earned... nearly killing my most valued experiment 89P-13. I might not have Ayesha as leverage, but I have someone else to use instead. Somebody who has become your entire world." The High Evolutionary raised his hand, a purple glowing ring surrounding his fingers.

Adam froze in his path toward his foe, bracing himself for what was about to happen, knowing whatever trick the High Evolutionary had up his sleeve would not be simple to overcome.

The Sovereign alien felt a nauseous twist in his stomach as the High Evolutionary snapped his fingers and a puff of violet smoke swirled behind him, revealing as the fog cleared a visual that made Adam's heart nearly stop within his chest, his strong body paralyzed with horror.

His human beloved, ever so beautiful even in her disoriented state as she materialized before the two men, stood looking about at her surroundings. Her eyes set on Adam, reaching out toward him as he also leapt in her direction, desperate to take her into the safety of his muscled arms, the one place in the universe where she was always protected from danger.

But more purple swirled around her, chains of odorous smoke twisting around her legs and wrapping her arms down to her sides, causing her to fall clumsily and landing on the hard cold ground. Adding insult to injury and increasing Adam's rage at his enemy and anxiety for his love, a thick tendril of smoke pressed over her lips, smothering her cries for her hero to not give into his anger, to not give up everything just for her wellbeing.

She lay helpless on the floor as the hostage used by this wicked monster and Adam would not let her be humiliated and terrorized like this. Someone who gave so much of herself for others... who chose to love him out of all the men she could have in the entire galaxy.

Adam rushed past the High Evolutionary, who only watched in silent bemusement at this melodrama playing out before him. The golden alien man barely reached her as she laid on her side, his hands sliding underneath her small body to scoop her up off the icy ground and keep her safe in his warm grasp.

But she vanished in the blink of an eye before he could even properly hold her close, disappearing in a cloud of indigo smoke as though she had never even been there.

Adam's eyes shone a deadly white hot glow as he turned to the High Evolutionary, his gleaming teeth bared in a feral snarl as he lunged at his tormentor. "Let her go! Bring her back now!"

The High Evolutionary sidestepped Adam's attack, holding out his fist and forming his fingers up to snap again. As he watched Adam fall to the ground and look around for any sign of his mortal paramour, he couldn't help but smirk at this ever so powerful creature being so worried about a mere irrelevant human.

"You foolish, lovesick boy... I propose a bargain if you want your sweetheart back. For the next 24 hours, you give up your abilities, including flight and strength. And for that duration of time, your beloved will be free and safe from harm." The tyrant snapped his fingers again and she reappeared, this time sitting on the ground by his feet similar to how a dog would perch beside its master, still bound and gagged in smoking chains and powerless to escape.