Once the guardians had settled down and gone to their separate bunks, Peter was waiting outside Rocket and Groot's door, waiting to hear for Groot's call. Meanwhile in the room, Rocket was in a deep sleep which allowed Groot to ease off a bit, in all honesty the last time Groot remembered Rocket having a major outburst like before was when they met for the first time. It wasn't the best meeting since the both of them were locked up in one of the most secure cells in the Nova Core. They had both done some terrible things which was very unusual for Groot considering his gentle nature. The truth is, Groot was protecting Rocket. If Groot could talk properly he'd describe the day like this:

Years ago Groot was exiled by his masters, the Arbor masters on Planet X. Back then, he started off as a regular flora-colossus just like all the other tree-like humanoids on the planet. He ended up wanting more than just working with the Arbor masters, he had a gift which was quasi-dimensional super-positional engineering since he came from a ennobled sap-line. These were traits that Groot and Rocket similarly had in common. He preferred to have the company of the maintenance mammals since he did not get along with his species. The other saplings saw this as prejudice and started attacking the maintenance mammals. Groot really detested that and ended up killing one of his fellow saplings due to the savage attacks. Just when Groot thought he was doing the right thing, he was then exiled by the Arbor masters because of the murder. This became more than just a murder not so long after as an unexpected conflict was created between the flora-colossus's and the maintenance mammals. Groot was saved by the Nova Corps once they realised what was happening and taken to a secret safe facility on Xandar. From that day forward he helped the Nova Corps with plants and farming whilst the people started analysing him. Whilst he was there, he was being uncomfortably monitored all day to make sure nothing hostile happened. He had no idea that he was the last of his kind. Once he was on his break he saw a spaceship in the distance which looked like a Nova Corps ship. As he tried to get a closer look he noticed that the ship was on fire and falling fast. He tried to gain the attention of the corpsmen but nobody understood him. The ship crash landed in a field not so far from the facility with a loud bang. All of the natives were startled and scared wondering what the heck the rumble was. Groot was as curious as everyone else, maybe even more, which caused him to run after it. He reached the crash before the others despite his slow speed and went over to it.. It was on fire and smoking quite badly. He ignored that and continued to rip the door off his hinges. He was shocked to see a corpsman as well as a badly injured raccoon creature. He extended his arms to pick up the injured two and carried them out the ship.
"HEY!" A corpsman shouted.
He turned around to see that an entire army of corpsmen were aiming their guns at him.
"Place them down slowly!"
"I am Groot!" Groot responded angrily as he tried to get his point across that he was saving them.
That was ultimately his downfall as he was shot multiple times by stun lasers and he fell to the ground with the others.

When he woke up he was strapped tightly in a chair in an empty room with one window. That window contained corpsman who were mumbling between themselves before they noticed Groot was waking up.
A man stepped in with a couple of guards.
"Now, I just want a simple answer from you. What were you doing at the crash site a couple of days ago?"
A couple of days ago? He'd been out that long? It felt like 5 minutes had passed.
"I...am...Groot," he managed to speak.
"We know who you are, that's not what I asked,"
"I am Groot!"
"If you refuse to speak we have no choice but to place you with the other convicts in the Kyln,"
"I am Groot?"
"Your choice,"
Groot was released from the chair and handcuffed.
"If you try to escape, these cuffs will electrify you with enough volts until you fall unconscious!"
"I am Groot!" Groot pleaded trying to say he was innocent. But alas, his lack of vocabulary cost him again.
He was walked into the Kyln with menacing looks and proceeded past other criminals in the facility. He was placed in a very different prison cell to the others which confused him.
"This cell was built to withstand a nuclear explosion so that species like you can't escape," A corpsman informed him.
His cuffs were removed upon entrance and the door locked behind him.
The cell consisted of two bunks hanging on the left and right wall. There was two barred windows overlooking the prison walkway and the other overlooking the outside of the Kyln.
He sat down on the right bunk wondering what just happened when the door opened again. A bandaged raccoon was shoved in.
"Looks like you've got company," A guard said before closing the door once more.
The Raccoon growled at him and then looked up at the 8 feet tall flora colossus. He growled at Groot too before limping over to the other bunk and placing his head in between his legs.
Groot stared at the animal and recognised it. He was what he saved from the crash.
He stood up and extended a hand to the creature.
"I am Groot" Groot introduced.
The Raccoon did not even look up nor did he say anything. In fact, he started crying.
Groot retrieved his hand concerned "I am Groot?"
"Stay away from me!" Rocket shouted.
"I am Groot?"
"Didn't ya here me ya dumb plant?!" Rocket cried.
Groot was offended but regardless went to reach for Rocket.
Rocket quickly responded with a claw straight to Groot's arm. Fortunately Groot didn't feel a thing.
"I am Groot!"
"How did you not feel that?"
"I am Groot"
"Don't touch me!"
"I am Groot!"
"No, you certainly can't help me!"
"I am Groot!"
"Why wouldn't I be able to understand?"
"I am Groot!" Groot replied happily.
Rocket just shook his head confused.
"I am Groot"
"What are ya talking about? I wasn't saved!"
"I am Groot!"
"I didn't need saving! I WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE AN USELESS, DUMB, ANIMAL ANYMORE!" Rocket cried.
Groot looked at Rocket and noticed that there were metal implants sticking out of his bandages.
"I am Groot?"
"I don't know what happened! I have no idea what you are talking about! Now leave me alone!"
Groot picked up Rocket trying to comfort him but Rocket scratched him like crazy and fell out.
"Aaagh!" Rocket screamed upon landing as pain shot up his leg and spine.
"I am Groot?"
"Stay away!" Rocket exclaimed, holding his leg.
"I am Groot!"
"I don't need anybody's help! I've been through hell before I came here, AND I CAN'T GO BACK! I WON'T! PLEASE DON'T TAKE ME BACK!"
Groot's wooden heart was beginning to break as he saw the helpless raccoon plead for mercy.
"I am Groot!" Groot cradled Rocket as he cried into his chest whilst scratching him.
"I am Groot..."
Rocket looked up at him teary eyed. He was placed down again as he began to calm down.
"Never mention this to anyone!" Rocket threatened.
"I am Groot, I am Groot!" Groot reintroduced.
"The name's Subject- I mean, Rocket, that's what I've been known as," Rocket shook his hand, "So, why have you been put in here?"
"I am Groot," Groot replied sadly.
"So you were stitched up for a crime that you didn't comit?"
"I am Groot," Groot confirmed.
"Harsh, but understandable. These bucket-head bozos clearly have no idea what is and what isn't a crime. They just arrest people so they can earn more units. Between you and me, that is the one thing I can relate to,"
"I am Groot?"
"Me? Simple. I clawed up many of those Nova Corps jerks for touching me without thinking about the consequences. So I'm pretty sure they're going to be in hospital for a while!" Rocket chuckled.
"I am Groot," Groot said shocked.
"Yeah, it sure was. That's what they deserve for abducting me!"
"I am Groot?"
"I don't like to speak of it but... back on my homeworld where I was created, I escaped. I escaped because the scientists were attacked by something. As I was escaping and the next thing I know, a corpsman took me in his ship and took off with me. What happened in the ship is a mystery. All I remember is that I woke up in a chair and I couldn't move," Rocket explained, "Anyway, enough talk, how are we gonna escape this place?"

To be continued...