Synopsis
This time we open with an intro with Gamora in the present landing the Lachesis on Halfworld. And we see that the person she's telling her life story to is a child (but hidden in a hooded cloak). For the rest of the issue we're back to her story in flashback.
Thanos' crew are losing faith in their leader because he keeps talking to people they can't see (Death and the Magus), he occasionally kills a crew member, and he's gone soft on young teen Gamora. Ebony Maw of Butcher Squadron persuaded the 2 Blood Brothers and the 3 pilots of the Fates to kidnap Gamora and hold her for ransom in the Fate craft Lachesis. But Thanos caught Gh'Ree Blood and beat him senseless ...
... and now threatens to destroy the 3 Fate scoutships. Smiling Death just watches but Magus urges him on. He says he knows that Thanos is slowly crafting the girl into a weapon to kill him, even if the Titan doesn't know that yet. Thanos tries to kill him *now* but Magus is only a projection in his mind. Which Magus says he is only able to do because Thanos is distracted by worry about Gamora.
The pilots of Atropos, Clotho and Lachesis are sure Thanos won't fire at them because he doesn't know which ship Gamora is on. But the Titan is waiting for her to give him a sign. She uses a bit of metal to switch on her new robotic arm and attacks the pilot, causing the Lachesis to veer wildly, simultaneously kicking R'Hos Blood with her cybernetic leg. Thanos spots what's happening and fires at the other 2 ships.
Ballista Grim, Ebony Maw and Proxima Midnight of Butcher Squad hear the guns firing. Maw of course knows what's going on and tells the other 2 that their boss is scared of what might happen to Gamora. Ballista guesses that Ebony is behind it, and admits that plotting is what he does best. And now he's going to tell the rest of the crew what their leader is doing.
Meanwhile Gamora opens Lachesis' airlock and throws the pilot out. As she closes it again she sees the other 2 ships explode. Then she contacts Sanctuary and asks for a tractor beam to bring the Lachesis home. And she tells the Blood Brother he's now *her* prisoner. (Later we'll learn that R'Hos was weakened by her kick and temporary lack of oxygen, but mostly because he's separated from his brother.)
When they dock Thanos asks what she's going to do with her prisoner. She disappoints him by saying she doesn't want R'Hos killed, because she's not like *him*. But she wants the Lachesis for her own. Butcher Squad arrive and are confused when Thanos just tells them to put the Blood Brother in a cell, but on the opposite side of the giant space station from his brother to keep them both weak.
Gamora tags along as they take R'Hos to jail and she hears Ebony Maw convincing the other 2 that they should use the girl to stage a mutiny and take over Sanctuary Proxima is in, and Ballista agrees because she thinks Thanos has lost it. Afterwards the go to the cantina where we see lots of different alien crew. Gamora runs away threatening to tell Thanos their whole plan.
When she reaches Thanos she's being pursued by many aliens (but conspicuously not the Butcher 3). Thanos commences a slaughter. Butcher Squad arrives and Maw suggests they switch to the winning side, so they start shooting the mutineers.
Then Thanos says it's time he settled things with Magus. So he takes the shuttle Sepulcher ...
... but he leaves Gamora behind with a lot of angry crew.