"I'm here Peter." I said, gathering him in my arms. We were floating out in space due to a "rescue" led by Rocket, which involved us getting sucked out of a suppose-to-be-extinct Kree warship. I got a better look at his chest wound and breathed out, "oh, no…" "Well that…could've gone better." Peter said with a grunt. "You're bleeding out and you still make jokes?" "I…can't help." Peter said, his breath getting faint. I just looked at him. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and was surprised by both option. "Rocket, I'm coming aboard. Hala is chasing us, we need to move." I don't know if we can out run her." Rocket's voice came over my comm. "We've got to try!" I said as I landed inside the Milano. As the airlock closed behind me, I set Peter down as gently as I could and deactivated his mask. "Peter, stay with me." If he could just hold on, we could get him to the help he needs. But at the same time, I knew it was a fool's hope. Peter was fading fast, and to be honest it was, what Peter would call, a "miracle" that he had lasted as long as he had. I saw Drax coming up behind me, and I saw Groot and Rocket coming in near Peter. "Pete? Peter?! What happened? Are you-?" Rocket cut himself off, looking more shocked that I have ever seen him. "I…am Groot?" "I don't know buddy. I hope so." Peter turned his head towards Rocket and weakly said, "Hey guys…" He was gasping now, his chest heaving.
"This is your fault green witch!" Drax said, his voice full of anger. "You have allowed him to die!" "Like you could've done any better! Either of you!" I snapped back at him, trying to hide how much those words stung. Drax was right, I should've seen her attack coming. Why didn't I? I was distracted from further thought as Rocket said, "Oh, right. Blame the guy how rescued you!" we continued to argue, when I heard Groot say, "I am Groot!" He sounded concerned, instead of argumentative. I looked to where Peter lay, and saw that his eyes were nearly closed, and his chest under his wound was barely moving. "Peter." I called to him, trying to keep him with us. "Peter no!" it proved in vain, when in the next instant, his eyes closed and the smallest of sighs left him as his chest stilled.
Peter was dead.
As we all gathered around our fallen Leader, I bowed my head, and closed my eyes out of grief. Unbidden memories started to come to me. The dancing lessons I had gotten from Peter, his bickering with Rocket, trying to teach Drax metaphors, when he had shared his most treasured possession, his music, with me, and many others came in a relentless tide. Each were memories of happy times, times that now would never come again. That mere thought caused an ache in my chest that made me feel as if I had been stabbed as well. Suddenly, in the somber quiet, I hear Rocket gasp. I opened my eyes to see why, and saw the reason for this entire mess, the Eternity Forge, glowing and hovering over Peter's wound. There were also two small green fires at the top and bottom of the Relic, as the glow of the Forge seemed to transfer itself to Peter. Suddenly, Peter jerked upright with a gasp as Rocket jumped back. Relief as I have never known it flooded through me as the sight of Peter breathing and living again. He felt for the wound on his chest, and I saw that the only damage was a rip in his shirt. Peter picked up the Relic, and looked at it with wide eyes saying, "Holy-!"
I couldn't agree more.