Tomorrowland

“I’m your family now.”

It rang in his head like a chant, and Orion wanted nothing more than to block out his voice. It had been days or weeks since the massacre of his own family, and he couldn’t leave the room he was assigned to avoid escaping or doing something stupid.

His captor kept him like an animal in a cage. But he was only eight. What could a little boy like him do? He didn’t know the ship from the back of his hand, he didn’t know these people.

Sanctuary II was a massive ship. It was large enough to fit almost a city in there, and just trying to map out where each corridor lead made him feel exhausted.

He couldn’t escape if he tried. He was kept on strict supervision most of the time. He never got out of the cell unless the Mad Titan decided he could leave.

But Thanos was generous too. He gave him a bed to sleep on that was comfortable and soft. He was allowed to decorate the room with whatever he liked but there was nothing that could cover up the fact that he was imprisoned so he skipped it. He offered food that wasn’t just the normal grub. It tasted good or, at least, better than what grub tasted like.

If he didn’t know better, he would think the man was trying to make up for the family he ripped him from. His father taught him better. This man didn’t deserve his kindness.

Orion sighed heavily.

“Orion,” his name was called out, and as he whipped around, he saw said man standing just beyond the line that trapped him inside, creating a barrier between the both of them. “Come here.”

He tensed and slid further back against the wall. “No.”

His refusal earned a small scowl on the man’s countenance. “I won’t hurt you.”

“But you hurt my family.”

And uncharacteristically, Orion saw his facial expression morph into sympathy. Why? “You won’t understand, and I don’t think you ever will. But one day, I hope that you can see why I did what I did.”

He shook his head vigorously, trying to keep the tears at bay. “You’re right. I won’t understand.”

“My son—”

“I’m not your son!” He yelled loudly, anger raging through his veins like a wildfire. “I’m not your son,” this time, his voice was a little bit calmer, “You took me away, you killed my family, and you killed my people!”

Thanos ducked his head down but it wasn’t out of shame. Was it pride? Was it the satisfaction of seeing him so miserable that made him do it? “I had to do it, Orion. Your planet was barely surviving, and I did what I had to do to save it.”

“By killing them?”

He smiled, “That’s the reality we have to live with.” He bent down on one knee and looked at the eight year old child intently, “Orion, come here.”

“Why?”

“I have something for you.”

Curiosity filled him, and Orion looked over to him. He had an expectant look on his face knowing that Orion was going to come to him whether he liked it or not.

As the kid moved across the room to stand behind the barrier, Thanos smiled at him. “You’re a special one, Orion. Special than anyone I’ve ever come across. Someday, you might take over my mantle.”  

Orion nearly grimaced at his last sentence.

Thanos continued without missing a beat and brought his left hand into view. “Do you know what this glove is?”

Orion lets his eyes wonder over the details of the golden glove with empty holes. It was the one he saw when Thanos approached him for the first time. He answered hesitantly, “No.”

“This glove is important. It can hold six very powerful stones that can save this universe. With this, we can save it. We can be heroes.”

He felt himself believing him. Thanos sounded so convinced that whatever this glove can contain can help others, and that’s what Orion always wanted to do. To help.

Maybe it can stop Thanos’ murdering spree, and Orion hopes that one day, he’d have a change of heart.

But, oh, how he was wrong.

Orion was only fifteen when he met Gamora.

Thanos returned from his raid from the planet, Zen-Whoberi, and arrived with a little girl who clung onto him. She was scared. But what did he expect for someone who had been taken away on a strange ship where she knew no one?

Gamora was about his age when he was taken in by Thanos, and no one had shown one ounce of sympathy to her when they arrived. She’d be force to grow up in an environment where no one cared about anyone unless it was themselves or the money.

Orion stood from one of the railings on the second level of the ship watching down from below when he saw the little orphan gripping a red custom switchblade in her tiny little hands.

His heart clenched. He couldn’t let her have the same fate as him. He doesn’t want to see her be tortured into something unrecognizable like Thanos had done with him. He couldn’t.

She was just a little child.

Orion was called down by one of Thanos’ henchman to meet him in one of the wings at the back of the ship. He was escorted by guards who were assigned to keep an eye on him for purposes and only left when they successfully lead him to his destination.

When Orion arrived, the two guards left him alone with Thanos. The girl was nowhere to be seen. “Orion,” the man acknowledged with a simple nod and only gathered silence as a response from him. “There’ll be another addition to this family.”

“I know,” his tone was flat and monotone. “I saw.”

“Good. I want you to earn her trust and convince her that you can be depended on.”

“Is this for her own good or yours?” Orion asked sharply. His fingers curled into a fist at his sides yet he chose to stay still. He knows Thanos’ motives for bringing in a new orphan; it wasn’t to take care of them. No, it was to make them his own little soldiers. He wanted them to be what he imagined them to be: killers. People who could finish his dirty deeds for him.

If he had the opportunity, Orion could’ve killed him a long time ago.

“It’s for yours.” Thanos responded and looked away to avoid looking in his adoptive son’s eyes. “She has potential to be something great. I can see it in her eyes just the way I’ve seen it in yours. You share that same passion, and I know that you’re going to take great care of her.”

More than you could, Orion thought to himself.

“She’s inside. You know what to do.”

Thanos didn’t give any more information and left Orion alone to stand in the hallway. He watched the nine-foot being disappear around a corner, and Orion lets his shoulders slump when he was finally out of sight.

He looked to the metal door that kept in the girl and pressed his lips tightly into a thin line. He wasn’t going to do what he wanted, he was better than that. He was going to take matters into his own hands, and he was going to gain her trust. Not for some kind of manipulation, but an alliance. She was his responsibility now; he had to protect her.