Rhomann life was quite busy now that Nova Prime had given him a promotion from Millenian to Denarian, but at least the threat if the crazed fanatic Ronan wasn't looming over him or his family. He remembered to take the time after a long days work to talk with his wife, to play jets with his young daughter, to tell them how thankful he was to have them in his life and how much he loved them. And he did, very much so, but with so many recent deaths throughout the ranks, the Nova Corps was struggling with their current workload. He would come home tired and needed sometime to recharge, to forget about the destruction that plagued Xandar.

Botany was calming to Rhomann Dey and always had been. Plants gave him some predictability and added some much needed solitude. Some of the plants needed special care, a certain mineral added to the water, or a shadier spot then on his window, but he could water them easily enough and sort out his thoughts, and see the progress they made day by day. He loved watching them flourish and grow more vibrant. He had acquired many plants from throughout the vast Galaxy, but only one of them, sitting in the middle of his seemed not to grow; he doubted it ever would.

Groot's sacrifice rung deep in his heart. He never knew got to know the sentient humanoid plant, he'd only seen him the day he'd arrested Quill. He was big, and he was very much on the simple side, in fact he could distinctly hear Rocket, a cybernetic something, telling stories about what an idiot Groot was, with a sad smile on his furry face. No, Rhomann never knew Groot personally, but he gave his life protecting his captors. Groot was part of the reason his family was still alive. So, he had taken one of the branches from the crash site, and cared for it out of respect.

The soft swooshing of metal doors opening broke Rhomann out of his thoughts and brought his attention to his beautiful bright pink daughter. A big grin plastered itself on his face as he scooped up the giggling child. She liked to check in on his plants' progress every now and again, mostly because it was their time together. The smiling little girl listened quietly with rapt attention as her father named the plants and what planet they were from, what properties they held, what they might look like when they grow up. The smiling duo went from plant to plant down the line before the doors opened once more to reveal his stunning wife. He set down his baby girl.

"Daddy's got to talk to Mommy for a second, okay Princess?" The adorable girl smiled and nodded to her daddy, then gazed back up to the colourful plants as her father walked out of the room with her mother. They were so pretty.

Her father walked back in only a couple minutes later to see his awestruck daughter gaze her violet eyes up at the flora. Scrutinizing the window where the plants grew he tried to see what was holding his daughter's attention. Maybe a particularly colorful flower? He knelt down to her level. "Hey Princess, what'cha lookin' at?" She glanced at him for a moment before looking up again and giggling into her hands.

"He's funny"

He? What did she mean? He looked again to where her eyes led and almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. The twig that had remained ashen and dead in its glass bowl was waving a tiny branch hand and blinking. Well, shit.

(line)

-uess my race is ru-n She's the best girl that I ever had, I fought the law and the- law won, I fought the law and the-

A well built stubbly human in a red leather Ravager duster bopped his head and expressively mouthed the words to the music blasting through his no longer grimy ship. His fluffy reddish hair bounced to the beat as he scrolled through countless advertisements for odd jobs. The four and a half odd companions had almost no money between them and needed some means of getting by as their last job ended up with building being blown up before their funds could be transferred, and then later a planet nearly being destroyed. The Nova Corps had given them a second chance, and Peter Quill would rather not get arrested anytime soon (but maybe later, hey, he's the legendary outlaw Star-Lord, not saint.)

Most of his hodge-podge crew was asleep now, the only one awake was a hulking grey man with intricate tribal scars across his bare chest, Drax, though "awake" is a loose term, more like sleeping with his eyes open and staring into the vastness of space. Then a buzzing sound "woke" the warrior with a start.

I needed money 'cus I had none, I fought the la-

Drax clamped his hand on Peter's shoulder, making the outlaw jump in his pilot's seat. "Star-Lord, your Nova friend is sending us a transmission" He boomed. Peter quickly turned off the music and tapped the translucent screen with the Denarian's face displayed. The larger screens above the friends lit up.

"Hey, Dey, man, how's it going?" Peter greeted the Corpsman with a grin

"Hey Quill, Drax, I hate to bother you so late, but" Dey's face turned uneasy "I think there may be an issue that involves you" Peter's face morphed into a frown.

"Woah woah woah, we haven't done anything illegal, man. I've been looking in the wanted ads for crying out loud! If something's up its not our fault" They hadn't even been near Xandar territory since Nova Prime had gifted him a new-ish Milano. However, before Peter could continue to rant Dey cut in.

"Its not that kind of issue, Star Prince" he teased. He held up a glass pot filled with potting soil and a plain twig.

"I'm not following."

"Perhaps he has gone mad." Drax suggested plainly. Watching the Denarian Officer coo at the motionless stick, Peter had to agree. Wait, was that, did that stick just yawn?

"Say hello to one of the Grootlings" Groot! Wait, didn't Rocket have Groot? Well, damn. "I think you guys might want to come back to Xandar for a bit so I can explain."

Drax and Peter stared unblinkingly at the screen. "Uh, yeah, we'll be there in about five hours"

"Great. Go ahead and park by Nova Head Quarters*, I'll meet you guys by your ship." And with that the curly haired man disconnected.

The duo looked at their own "Grootling" who was slumbering peacefully on the dash board of the ship. Just how many were there?

Drax turned to look at Peter, with a concerned look on his face "Which of us should inform the small angry one?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it when he wakes up, but in the mean time you get to pilot, because I'm headed to bed." Peter grinned tiredly and shuffled backwards towards the ladder.

"Quill," Peter paused and sighed.

"What" Drax looked down at him with an intense gaze. Drax's brow was furrowed and he wore a slight frown. With a look like that, whatever it was he needed to ask must be important.

"Why did that man call you Star Prince?"