Guardians of the Galaxy

~I do not own any characters or themes in this story, all credit goes to marvel for making the characters we love~

Last Man Standing

Chapter 1

The day started off normal with Quill leaning back in the pilot chair while rocking out to his favorite tunes, Drax eating all their food, Gamora doing who the hell knows what, and Rocket making some gizmo with Groot watching him. Yup, life was good until some moron decides to screw it up. The Milano headed towards Knowhere, the crew had hit the jackpot when Nova Prime called and told them to collect a bounty and they were stopping at Knowhere to pick up more fuel and more food (because of Drax).

(Peter)

Quill turned off his music and sighed to himself, life had gotten kind of dull in the past few days; it was only a month ago when they had defeated Ronan, and not much has happened since. He slid off the chair and made his way down stairs, beds were scattered about the room and Gamora insisted that it was in a neat fashion, Quill had just laughed. Rocket sat down there on his mattress tinkering with his new toy.

"I am Groot!" The baby tree squeaked from his pot. Peter smiled at Groot, Rocket didn't even look up.

"Watch'ya doin'?" Quill asked leaning over to get a better look.

"Dang it Quill, stop blocking all my light you moron." Snapped the raccoon, Peter knew immediately to give him some space.

"Sorry. . . . Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Quill muttered, but Rocket caught the jest of what he said.

"Oh shaddup, some people don't wake up to fairytale land every morning. Not everything is fun and perfect like you imagine it." After Rocket said this, Quill took a few steps back, and tried to make sense of what he is saying. Before Peter could say anything else, Gamora called his name from the control room.

"Coming!" He shouted back to her. Peter climbed up the ladder and reached the control room. Gamora was leaning over the console.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as he approached her.

"I need you to stop the ship."

"Why?"

"Just do it and I'll explain."

"Okay-okay." Peter turned off the thrust and the ship drifted through space, but since there was no resistance in space the ship continued to drift at the same speed. Quill activated the reverse thrusters just enough to slow them down.

"There, now what was so important that we had to stop for? You're not weirding out on me are you?"

"No Peter."

"Because last time you got weird was when you drank so much alcohol-"

"Peter that's enough."

"That I thought I was going to have to tie you up girl and-"

"Peter!"

"Oh uhh, sorry."

"Thank god, I thought you would never shut up."

"Okay just get to the point."

"I think someone else is on-board the ship." She blurted out unexpectedly.

"You do realize that there is also Rocket, Drax and Groot on-board the ship?"

"I know, but I've been hearing some strange noises and it's not coming from one of them."

"Look Gamora . . . you're just paranoid, you need some rest."

"No Quill, I'm just fine and you better take a few steps back before I break your nose." Once she said that Quill realized he had been edging closer and closer to her.

"Alright, I'll-" she glared at him, "We'll search the ship, okay?" Gamora nodded.

After an hour of searching and no one to be seen but them, they stopped the search.

"See what did I tell you?" Peter smirked, Gamora took offense to that, but her features lightened up.

"Yeah maybe you are right-"

"Of course I'm right"

"I do need some sleep."

"Wait, I am right?"

"I'm going to bed." And with that she jumped onto her mattress and shut her eyes. Peter sighed and climbed up to the control room and set their course once again.

Hours passed by until they finally reached Knowhere. Gamora was still sleeping so the boys left her and Groot on the Milano.

"Okay, so Rocket handle the supplies, like food and any metal junk you want. I'll get some fuel." Peter said then started to head in the opposite direction.

"Wait a moment Quill, where are you goin'?"

"To the fueling station . . .?"

"I know, but aren't you leaving someone behind?" Rocket said pointing an innocent finger at Drax.

"I do not understand. I am not behind him." Drax said, glancing back and forth between the two.

"Fine, Drax come with me."

Drax followed Peter from behind and they went towards the fueling station. They climbed up the steps and into a metal shack where the owner of the place sat. The owner had a large cigar in his mouth and he was leaning back in his rusted metal chair. His white her was matted with grease and his overalls were missing some buttons.

"I don't remember this place." Drax stated looking around the room.

"That's because we've never been here." Replied Quill walking up to the wooden desk.

"Ah first time customers I see," Smirked the owner, "so you here to rent a lot to pay for fuel ay?"

"Yeah. . . ." Peter said awkwardly, shifting his feet.

"Well if you plan on filling up an empty tank that can take some time, so you can rent a lot. The lots cost 10 units an hour." The owner then leaned forward,

"Our fuel cost 1 unit a gallon, now if you have a large ship, it'll cost ya a fortune!" The owner laughed. Peter cursed under his breath and turned to look at Drax, Drax just shrugged not really seeing the problem.

"Do you think there's anywhere cheaper then here on this god forsaken head?" Quill muttered to his comrade. Drax shrugged again.

"If you think there is somewhere cheaper then here, then you're wrong, all the prices have been shooting up lately. Taxes are getting to high to pay nowadays." The owner said then sighed in his chair. Peter thought about then decided he might as well.

"Fine, I'll rent the lot."

"Deal!"

"And if I may ask . . . what taxes?" The Terran asked, staring at the owner suspiciously.

"You haven't heard?"

"Obviously-not."

"Well, a few weeks ago a man came in; he claimed to have the same power of Ronan. People laughed at him and they tried to make him leave. But before he left he stated that he would return and he would rule over us. And just this week he returned, people mocked him, but when he showed that he had the power of the gods, people started to fear him. He brought in his vast fleets and he took over our cities and he has placed laws and taxes. This planet is being in-slaved. If I were you I would get your supplies and leave this place immediately."

"Oh and what did his name so happened to be?" Peter asked, feeling the anxiety rise up in his chest.

"Goddard." Responded the fueling station owner.

Peter cursed. Quill immediately recognized the name as the name of the assassin they were supposed to hunt down.

"The odds are frickin' against me. . . . Like usual."

"Why? What's going on?" The owner questioned from his desk. Before Quill could he respond, Drax spoke up.

"Goddard is the man we are hired to-"

"Zip-it!" Peter cut in, but it was too late, the man put the sentence together on his own.

"You're going to kill him?" He said excitedly.

"Yes, but you can't tell anyone you understand? Not even your friends or family. We can't let word leak out."

"Yes I understand. And for good luck, I'll fill your tank up for free!"

"Really?"

"No."

Star Lord cursed.

Drax literally had to drag Quill out before he could make an argument.

"Let us go now." Drax said, letting go of his coat.

"Fine." He muttered, and they headed back in the direction of the ship.

(Rocket)

Rocket followed Quill off the ship, along with Drax. Peter turned around to face his comrades.

"Okay, so Rocket handle the supplies, like food and any metal junk you want. I'll get some fuel." Quill bossed them around.

"Wait a moment Quill, where are you goin'?" Rocket said, annoyance rushing out of his mouth.

"To the fueling station . . .?" Quill said, sounding a bit confused.

"I know, but aren't you leaving someone behind?" Rocket said pointing his finger at Drax.

"I do not understand. I am not behind him." Drax said, glancing back and forth between him and Peter.

"Fine, Drax come with me." Peter said turning around to walk away.

"Oh what a whiner." Muttered Rocket and stalked away, towards the inner city.

Rocket padded along the path with his blaster comfortably attached to his back. The city lights gleamed, and the rustle of drunken men could be heard along with the chattering of folks who are just going about their day. Rocket overheard several conversations about some dictator or crazy dude, but in Rocket's mind those two words mean the same thing.

He stopped by some shops but found nothing interesting enough to eat. Eventually he found a Market and ordered some food; he had it shipped directly to the Milano. He told them the parking number ID and he payed for the food. The manager told him it would take a few hours before the food would arrive because the business was booked today.

Rocket returned to the Milano and found Quill sitting on a rock beside his ship, face in his hands.

"Quill stop your whining." He snapped, but Quill didn't flinch.

"Hey I ordered the food, the manager said it would take several freakin' hours before the food arrives."

Still no response.

"Hey someone cut your tongue or what?" Peter looked up sadly and pulled a note from his pocket. Rocket stepped forward and took it from his hand, the letter read:

Dear Guardians, I've taken your beloved companions and they shall not return to you, unless you transfer over 800 billion units. I want it electrically transferred over. If you want to see your comrades again, meet me tomorrow at midnight at the Bridges Peak. Until then, good luck.

Rocket muttered a few curses and turned back around to face Quill.

"Where's Drax?"

"Don't know." Peter picked up a nearly empty bottle and gulped down the rest. Rocket gave Peter a good sniff.

"You're drunk!" He exclaimed, Quill just nodded, and nodded, and nodded. Until Rocket punched him in the gut and he fell off the rock.

"Quill get a hold of yourself!" He growled at Quill. Peter scrambled back onto his feet.

"Right." Quill mumbled drunkenly.

"Good, now which way did Drax go?" He asked, Peter thought about it for a good ten seconds.

"That way!" He shouted, pointing his finger towards the city.

"Great, I just got out of that rotten city. But first, let's sober you up." He said devilishly, rubbing his hands together.

(Peter)

Quill's mind was rushing as he felt Rocket's paws grab him by his hair and dunk his entire head underwater. Rocket only gave him two seconds to breathe between and really didn't notice the fact that his head was turning a bit blue.

"Sto-" Peter tried to speak, but his head went under the icy water.

"Op!" Quill finished, but his head went under again. Peter swallowed a bunch of water and came up coughing. Rocket let go of his throbbing head and gave him a few pats on the back. Quill coughed up almost half a gallon of water, and then crumpled down onto the floor. The raccoon jumped off from the stool he stood on and gave Quill a good nudge.

"Hey . . . I'm . . . try-ing . . . to-breathe . . . here." He said between gulps of breath.

"Aw well sweetheart, you do realize we only have twenty minutes until midnight?"

"Wha?"

"Midnight you idiot! We have to meet Goddard at midnight!" Rocket then started cursing under his breath.

"Can you stand?' Rocket snapped at him.

"Of course." Why was Rocket even asking him that? He was Star Lord for crying out loud. Peter jumped to his feet, but his head spun and he almost fell back down if it wasn't for the convenient wall next to him.

"Where are we?" He asked Rocket, who was picking up his gun.

"Oh just in the closest place with barrel full of water."

"And where might that be?" Peter asked, but in the corner of his vision he saw the fueling station owner.

"You got to be joking." He muttered sliding his arms into his coat.

"No I'm not joking, and hurry up before we run out of time!" Rocket was already racing out the door by the time Quill got ready. Star Lord ran after him, but in his weary state it was hard for him to keep up with the agile raccoon. Several times Rocket had to slow the pace for him to keep up, but running three miles in eighteen minutes isn't easy. That's six minute miles right there, nonetheless, Quill did his best to keep up.

When they reached Bridges Peak, the lights were still on but the bar looked abandoned. Peter and Rocket gave each other a stare and then continued down the hill.

(Rocket)

Rocket looked up at Quill, who was wheezing pretty badly from the run. He himself was pretty tired but he was only panting. Every few steps he looked back to make sure Peter didn't pass out. The two of them reached the door, and Quill nudged it open. The door swung open with a loud creak and revealed the inside of the bar. A ticking clock hung on the other side of the room; it was four minutes past midnight.

"You're late." A voice rasped out, sending the chills down his spine. No one gives me the chills! Rocket thought to himself. A man stepped out from the shadows. His skin was a dark brown, but his eyes gleamed white. A somewhat retro design climbed up his arms and his neck, it seemed to pulse a crimson red.

"Woah-ho! . . . Wow, how do you get your tats to glow like that?" Peter exclaimed, Rocket thought he was still not sober enough, but when he looked at him his pupils weren't dilated. Goddard seemed a bit confused for a split second but ignored the question.

"We're here to negotiate the release of our comrades."

"Yes, of course you are."

"Guys can we sit down? My legs are gonna start aching pretty soon."

"What?" asked Goddard.

"Oh, just ignore him, he's an idiot." He snapped, giving Peter a glare.

"Yup, I'm an idiot . . . wait. . ." Quill thought about it for a second. Rocket's brain starting turning, why was he acting like a moron? Maybe he really is just dumb.

"Well we must not waste time bickering, your friends' lives are at stake. Just remember that before you decide to do something stupid."

"Alright, first things first. We can't afford to pay you 800 billion units, it's not possible!"

"You do not like my terms?"

"Hold up guys-"

"What!?" Rocket snapped

"Sorry, I uhh-"

"Just say it Quill!"

"I gotta go."

Rocket cussed. "Fine, just go!"

"Okay-thanks." Peter then scrambled out of the building.

"Hehehe, ehh. Sorry about that." Rocket muttered over to Goddard. Goddard squinted his eyes at him suspiciously.

"It is fine, but we most really continue our negotiation, I grow tired of his stupidity."

"Right."

(Peter)

Quill raced out of the bar before Rocket could bite his nose off. He heaved a sigh and made his way to the back of the building. One window was there and through it he could see Rocket talking to Goddard. Peter tried to prop it open, but it wouldn't budge. He tried again and this time it made a popping sound, but not loud enough to make Goddard or Rocket look over in his direction. Quill pushed the window up and slid through.

"It is fine, but we most really continue our negotiation, I grow tired of his stupidity." Goddard said as Peter found a beer bottle and expertly crept over to the table.

"Right." Rocket chirped, shifting on the seat to get comfortable. Before Goddard could say another word, Star Lord lifted the glass above his head and swung down. The bottle shattered instantly on impact and Goddard fell off his chair. Quill began to laugh uncontrollably; he then muttered something under his breath and stalked away. It took a few seconds for the raccoon to comprehend what just happened but once he did, he joined in on the laugh.

And that's a wrap for now! Thanks for reading, and please give me a rating from 1-10, 10 being the best and 1 the worst. This is my first story so cut me some slack on that. I'm going to try to get the next part done by tomorrow! Oh and the next part will be more action then dialog!