Chapter 1

Taking Care of Business

The Milano had arrived on Xander, the home of the Nova Corps, a style of interstellar lawmakers earlier in the day. The crew had two very important missions that needed to be addressed. Thankfully it was a beautiful day to have to those two missions. They split up into three small groups. One group's mission was for Rocket and Groot to escorting Stormy home, after she had spent almost two months in recovery aboard their flagship, the Mulan Rouge, so named by Peter Quill. It had after all been one of his favorite movies back on Earth. The second groups mission was for Dr. Adams and Peter Quill to try and convince the Nova Corps to assist them in bringing down the Deadlights Society. The last group consisting of Alastair, Anders, and Alicia who were placed in charge of watching over the ship and seeing to any needs that Aisha may have while she was still unconscious and bed ridden.

Aisha had been asleep for almost three months now. The damage that her brother Artemis had done to her had been severe. But thanks to Dr. Adams' nanomite reprogramming tool, he'd been able to reprogram her nanomites and set them to work healing from the inside out. The process had been slow though due to all the damage. But her condition was at least as stable for a long time now. All she needed was the will to open her eyes.

Luckily, today was the day she did. The first moment she'd become aware of what was going on, was when they moved her from the sick bay of the Mulan Rouge, to the tiny sick bay of the Milano. This time it was different though, instead of seeing the blackness all around her, she started to see white. Aisha was finally brought around by the soft baritone voice of her eldest son Alastair. When she opened her eyes fully, she looked around to find him. Her handsome boy, he looked just like his father. His warm golden fur held a tint of orange to it. Those large amber eyes of his. A muscular form with those curvy hips. He certainly got those from his father, she would always remark and Alastair would get embarrassed about it. He was lying on the sick bay bed next to her, singing softly to himself and tossing a florescent green ball into the air. Catching it and then throwing it back up, almost hitting the ceiling every time.

It wasn't until that moment, that her ears really started working. Alastair was singing the song she use to sing to them before bed when they were children. Such a sweet sentiment that pushed tears to well up in her eyes. Another voice joined in now. Her youngest boy Anders, who was moving around at the foot of her bed, dancing with an oversized lab coat. His youthful face, carried more of her charm, when she was a younger woman of course. His ears were taller and rounder than his brother's. He still had the big beautiful amber eyes of his father. He carried a more slim form than his brother. Graceful in definition, right down to his mock dancing skill, where he dipped the lab coat and pushed a fake kiss upon it. Aisha's emotions were all out of wack, she couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh for cry. There was nothing she could have asked for more, then to wake up to her two darling boys.

When she decided that she couldn't hold onto this moment any longer she spoke, her voice dry and scratchy. "Hello boys."

Alastair jolted as the ball came down hitting him in the muzzle. Anders dropped the coat and looked over. At first he'd thought he imagined her speaking, but when he saw her eyes open, his heart raced excitedly. They both stared in disbelief, before it really dawned on them that their mother had woken up, and that she had spoke to them. Alastair rolled off the bed and was at her side, Anders was at the other side of the bed almost exactly at the same moment. Each of them taking one of her hands. Anders was weeping softly, his lips resting tightly against the back of her hand. Alastair was doing a good job fighting the urge to cry, but he held her hand tightly despite the fact.

"Oh my boys, my boys. I love you guys so much." She shifted her head from side to side, so that she could nuzzle both of her boys.

"We love you two mama." Both of them said, kissing her cheeks.

"As much as I would like to stay like this, but right now, I have really got to pee." There was an urgent tone in her crackling voice.

"No problem mama, we got you." The two brothers join in and helped her off of the bed, walking with her to the bathroom.

Rocket stopped in front of the giant apartment tower. It must have been over two thousand stories high. There was no doubt in his mind now at how heavily populated Xander was. It was beyond him, why anyone would allow themselves to be packed into little apartments like sardines, when they could be out in space sucking up all the wonderful openness. His brown eyes scanned the sign next to him. 'Xander's Sterling Towers.' Even the name seemed like a lie to him, there wasn't anything sterling about the place.

At least the landscape looked nice, Rocket thought. There were trees of all different kinds speckled throughout the garden. Well maintained flower bed all around. The greenest grass Rocket had ever seen. A pristine marble fountain set in the center of it all. There were birds flying around in the sky singing. Honestly even Rocket thought that he might burst into song at seeing all of this splendor.

Stormy stepped around Rocket and into the main garden. "Oh its so beautiful to be home, the apartments might not be much. But this garden is so worth it."

Groot too joined her on the pathway in the Garden. Rocket smirked and nodded. The answer to his question about why anyone would want to live in these apartments. The answer was, the beautiful garden. He quickened his pace to catch up to them.

There was a voice calling to Stormy, as the three of them reached the fountain. "Mommy!"

Stormy reeled around in time to catch a little girl, that had been running to her. "Oh Sylvan sweetheart, I've missed you so much."

The girl was the spitting image of her mother. Right down to curly, windswept hair. Her long yellow flower dress crushed easily under her mother's embrace. The two embraced tightly, a mother and daughter's reunion forced some emotion into Rocket's eyes. It always made him wonder if that's how things would have been with his own mother, if he had one that is. Groot lightly touched his friend's back.

"Yeah I'm alright you d'ast idiot, quit looking at me." Rocket snapped at his large friend as he wiped his eyes.

"Oh mommy, you brought me a talking raccoon and a living tree. They are wonderful gifts." The child beam as she hurried over to Rocket and hefting him up off his feet, giving him a firm hug.

Rocket choked at first, by how hard the child squeezed him. Her soft vanilla scent tickled his already sensitive nose. The smell was warm and inviting, he'd never smelt anything like it before. Then came the heavy petting to the top of his head and his ears. Rocket scrambled away, doing what he could to not hurt the child and still put distance between them.

Despite Stormy's giggle, she shook her head. "Sylvan, you have to be gentle."

"No no no, kid I'm not a toy, I'm not a gift. I'm not even a raccoon, well I guess I am in a way but not really. I'm a genetically altered raccoon, with a particular set of skills." Rocket adjusted his tight orange body suit.

"Oh my gods you're Rocket Raccoon, of the Guardians of the Galaxy aren't you? That must make you Groot. I'm so pleased to meet you both. Forgive me Mr. Raccoon." Her fuchsia cheeks were already flushing a deeper pink.

"It's alright, everyone makes mistakes. Cute kid Stormy." Rocket started to feel awkwardly out of place, this may have been the first time he'd ever been recognized as someone who wasn't a complete deviant.

"I am Groot!" Groot said softly holding out a flower to the little girl, on of his own design even.

"Please to meet you Groot." Sylvan said taking the flower and smelling it.

"He said, it's nice to meet you Sylvan. This is for you." Rocket translated for the little girl.

"No, I clearly heard him tell me his name." Sylvan traced her fingers along the petals of the delicate flower.

"Well in a way, yeah that's what he said in a literal way, but he also says other things when he says I am Groot." Rocket tried to explain, feeling silly about the whole mess.

"Then why doesn't he just say the other thing?" The little girl skipped around as if she were dancing with the flower.

"Because his vocabulary is only limited to three words. I am Groot, but the nuances say so much more. Listen kid it's really had to explain." Rocket was starting to get exasperated.

"Sylvan sweetie, all that matters is..." Stormy smiled up at the tall tree man. "Groot is very special to mommy."

"How so?" Sylvan asked putting the flower behind her ear.

"Yeah, how so buddy?" Rocket asked cocking his head.

"That's not important right now. What is important, is he promised to come back here when he's done taking care of something really important that he has to do. He wants to help us take care of the garden." Stormy spoke softly, kneeling down in front of her daughter.

"That's going to be awesome. I bet he's really good with plants. At least he should be." Sylvan said touching her tiny hand to Groot's much larger leg.

"Is that so buddy? After we're done out there, saving the galaxy, you're coming back here? This is the first time I'm hearing of it." Rocket crossed his arms.

"I am Groot." Groot nodded and looked down at Rocket.

"Well if you say so, I just don't understand why the Nova Corps bozos would want to cut funding to such a beautiful garden though. It's the only part of these apartment's that seems worthwhile." Rocket shrugged and shook his head.

"I agree with you Rocket. As for why Nova Corps doesn't want to help take care of this precious landscape is beyond me. I just know what they told me. But perhaps you can come back with Groot and help us maintain it. You don't have to do it everyday, but once in a while would be nice." Stormy asked, her soulful gray eyes locking with his.

"I'll do you one better, I'll come back from time to time. But when I can't I'll wire you some units, so you know, you can get someone to help you out." Rocket chuckled and tucked his hands in his back pockets. "I'm not much of an outdoors type, which is weird because my so called 'ancestors' were all about the outdoors."

Stormy rose up from where she was kneeling, a little giggle in her voice as she touched the top of his head gently. "You're a saint Rocket, thank you so much."

"Yeah, we'll roll with that. Alright, well it was really nice meeting you Sylvan. Stormy as always it's a pleasure, but we really should get going." Rocket said starting to feel a little out of place again, once the two lovebirds were eye locked.

"It was nice to meet you too Mr. Raccoon. Please you and Groot come back and see us soon, okay." Sylvan said, her voice was sweet, as sweet as one would imagine honey to sound like, if it could in fact talk.

"I am Groot." Groot spoke softly and he squeezed Stromy's small hands in his.

"Me too, I can't wait to see you again, please hurry back." With that, Groot let her hands slip free and stood up to his full height. "Rocket, please take good care of him for me. If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible." Her voice gave way to her playful nature.

"You have my word, Stormy." Rocket nodded his head at her and smile. "Come on Groot let's get a move on, we're burning daylight."

"I am Groot." The large tree waved at the pair as they started walking away.

"Oh wait, I have something for you before you leave!" Stormy stepped up, holding out a pouch to Rocket.

Rocket took the pouch and turned it out into his hand slowly. Inside were several pins. Upon closer examination they were rose petals. One from each of the roses that Groot had given to them, when they were in the sick bay. The petals had been fastened to a gold plated pin backer, and lightly brushed with sap from Groot's own body. The sap had become almost unbreakable when it hardened. They were beautiful looking, but they didn't really resonate with him as he guessed they should.

"What are these for?" Rocket asked, looking up at her.

"They're pins, one for each of you. You wear them on your uniform, like this." Stormy motioned to the salmon colored rose petal on her collar, it almost matched her skin perfectly. "We made them to signify the Knights of the Rose. You know, your group."

This had actually been the first time Rocket had heard about this as well. It seemed to Rocket that Groot and Stormy seemed to be making a lot of plans lately. Groot had given them the roses almost three months ago, so the pair of them had been planning this for a long time. Rocket had almost completely forgotten about the roses. He was actually moved by how much effort they'd both put into making the pins. Even though he wasn't a fan of the name, there was a bit of truth to it. A rose signified so many things, among them, love and friendship. Which were the two principles that their group had been founded on. Rocket swallowed hard and nodded. Knights of the Rose, it's a keeper. Rocket thought to himself.

"Thank you so much for these, it means a lot." Rocket thought at first that he might sound sarcastic, but even he was surprised to hear how appreciative his voice really sounded.

Stormy reached down and picked up the red petal pin, and stuck it into the strap at Rocket's shoulder. "There you go Mr. Raccoon. It looks dapper on you."

Rocket slipped the pins back into the pouch, before tucking it into the knapsack at his back. "Thank you, I really mean it. We'll be back soon. Come on Groot lets get a move on."

"I am Groot!" Groot called out as he started walking behind Rocket.

"Goodbye my sweet Groot." Stormy called after him.
Groot turned and looked back over his shoulder at the small Krylonian woman and her lovely daughter. Their eyes met and lingered on each other for a long moment. A big beautiful smile on his craggy lips, before Groot tripped on the large fountain, that was pretty much unmissable. Groot flailed to regain his footing. Rocket jumped out of the way on one of his falling tree trunks, rolling onto the grass. When Groot managed to snap back from his blunder, he turned and waved at Stormy and Sylvan again. Both were giggling hysterically and waving back at him, before they turned to go into their apartment building.

"What in the shiny Silver Surfer's metal ass was that all about?" Rocket wiped at the fresh grass stains on his knees.

"I...am...Groot..." His large friend shuffled his feet.

"What!? Are you out of your mind?" Rocket Raccoon gripped his ears and pulled on them. "You're in love with her, are you sure?"

"I am Groot!" He said happily with a large smile on his face.

"Well alright buddy, who am I to judge. I mean my girlfriend came back from the dead and glows in the dark now." Rocket chuckled softly as he started walking again.

"I am...Groot." His deep voice rumbling out whimsically.

"Nah I'm sure it'll be fine. Sylvan seemed to like you quite a bit." Rocket looked back at his large friend, who was positively glowing.

"I...am...Groot!" His friend said sheepishly, moss growing on his cheeks to symbolize a blush.

"Oh man, you got it bad. Already talking about saplings and stuff." Rocket chuckled at first then he stopped suddenly. "Wa...gross." His face changed to an exaggerated sick face.

"I am GROOT!" His craggy face was bent in a scowl.

"Alright, alright! I'm sorry. I was just giving you guff. I'll stop." Rocket kept walking again. "Let's get a move on, all this love talk is making me miss Alicia."

"I am Groot." His tree friend mused.

Now it was Rocket's turn to scowl back. "Ah shut up!"

Groot lumbered behind his hot tempered friend, chuckling as they made their way back to the docking bay.

The office of the Nova Prime was quite the spectacle. Marble floors, alabaster white walls, everything was laced with the signatures royal blue and gold colors of the Corps. A gold plated Nova helmet sat on the edge of the beautiful glossy wooden desk. It was a spectacular looking relic, bearing the proud red star burst at the bridge of the nose. Corpsman Rhomann Dey, who had been nice enough to escort them to the Nova Prime's office stood by to escort them out in case of trouble. Nova Prime sat at her desk with her fingers laced in front of her. She was as perfectly pristine as the office was, right down to her perfectly styled blonde, almost white hair. Her sharp blue eyes danced between the two men as they told their story.

In honesty Quill might have been more interested in his surroundings, if the meeting wasn't going so poorly in the first place. He and Dr. Adams had set up the meeting with the Nova Prime to ask for assistance in stopping Artemis and Alexandra from destroying the Galaxy. But now that they were forced to actually tell the story out loud, it did sound unbelieveable.

Nova Prime had been a very patient woman while the two told her about what had happened, but the looks of skepticism in her eyes couldn't be ignored. At times she would ever look up at Dey, who just offered a shrug back. When Dr. Adams and Quill had finished their story, the Nova Prime slowly rose from her seat and adjusted her pressed uniform. It was clear she was thinking of something to say.

Her blue eyes move back and forth between Dr. Adams and Quill, before she elegantly spoke. "Gentlemen, I thank you for bringing this to my attention. It sounds like we might be dealing with an isolated entity of some severe aggression, which can be very dangerous and sporadic. I will put together a squadrons to go out and research this threat immediately. When they return with more information, you have my word that I will personal offer you the man power you're asking for." When she finished she tucked her hands behind her back.

"Let me get this straight. You're going to send out a Squadron to confirm what we just told you?" Quill leaned forward putting his hands on the edge of her desk.

"Yes, essentially. It's not that I don't believe your story. It's just Nova Corps is always busy policing every issue the galaxy has. We get thousands of calls everyday asking for help. We cannot make this a priority if we don't have visual confirmation." The Nova Prime explained as she moved to stand next to the door, pulling it open.

"Come on Prime, we came to your aid without you even having to ask us for it. We need your help, this danger is real." Quill stepped up to her, a desperate look coming to his face.

"I'm not saying that we won't help you. I'm just saying that I need visual confirmation. How much more clear do you want me to make it?" Nova Prime was beginning to lose her patience with the constant pestering.

"I just..." Quill started, but a warm hand rested on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Peter, there is no use beating a dead Korbinite, man. The young lady said she will help us when she can, we have to put our faith in that." Dr. Adam's said politely before offering a hand to the Nova Prime.

She took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "Thank you for understanding Dr. Adams. This was not an easy decision to make I assure you. In times like this, we need to cling to our Allies. I will gather that squadron as soon as I possibly can."

"I'm sure it wasn't ma'am. Thank you for hearing us out." Dr. Adams looked at Quill and beckoned him to shake her hand.

Which he did begrudgingly, before the Nova Prime looked at Dey. "Please Rhomann will you show them out for me."

He nodded and paced across the room to stand behind Dr. Adams and Quill. "Come with me gents."

Dey wasted no time in marching into the hallway, with Dr. Adams, and Quill in tow. They heard the door close behind them. The sound for some reason made Quill even angrier. Pushing him to flex all of his muscles and grit his teeth. Dey could see the young man's expression from out the corner of his eye, he reached over and put a hand firmly on his shoulder.

"Quill, I know how you must feel. I'm not happy with her decision either. I promise you, I'll see to it myself, right away." With that Dey took a few steps away, his eyes locking with Quill's. "Trust me. You gents know the way out right? I hope to see you both soon."

"Yeah we do." Quill slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Thanks Dey, take care of yourself buddy."

With that Dey turned around and walked down the wall. Quill and Dr. Adams continued the other way, entering back into the main hall, which was as huge and beautiful as it had been when they first entered it. It did seem to be a bit busier than it had been when they came in. They made there way down the stairs and past all the other people that were hustling around the main hall. Quill was quiet the whole way, his demeanor hadn't changed. Dr. Adams could see the pain in the young man's face. After a long moment of working through the right thing he could say to cheer up Quill. Finally when he was comfortable speaking, he looked at the young man.

"Don't stress yourself too much, man. If we can't get the man power we need, perhaps we can get the weapons we need. I think we should make our way to Knowhere, I know a few contacts there, that might be able to help with what we need." Dr. Adams nudged Quill in the side.

"Might as well, we're sure not going to get the help we need from these bastards. Honestly, why did we risk our lives for these jerk offs, if they weren't going to help us out when we needed it." Quill huffed as they stepped through the large sliding glass doors into the courtyard.

"You did it because it was the right thing to do my friend, not so they would owe you a favor." Dr. Adams tucked his hands behind his back and continued on.

Quill slowed his pace when he heard the good Doctor's response, he knew what he was saying was true, but didn't want to admit it that easily. "Well yeah, that was part of the reason, but there was more...There was...damnit why do you always have to be right."

"Because I went to school for twelve years so I would never have to be wrong. After twelve years man, you hire people to be wrong for you." Dr. Adams laughed as he beckoned Quill to catch up.

Quill found himself chuckling as well. Dr. Adams was always good for a laugh when he needed it the most. It was good to know that he could rely on someone else for a change. He quickened his pace so he could walk beside the good doctor, as they went on their way.

Quill and Dr. Adams had double their speed through the city. After an utter failure to gain Nova Corps support, they just wanted to leave Xander behind them. That want was only compounded when they rounded the corner and could see the Milano in the distance. Actually it would be the Milano 2.0, since the last one was destroyed while they were protecting Xander. Again Quill gritted his teeth at the thought of it. His face softened as they got closer, they could see a rather large group of people sitting in the grass near their ship. Dr. Adams chuckled and quickened his pace even more when he recognized who they were.

Dr. Adams smiled warmly at the Ar'Leirian woman who was sitting in the grass near where the Milano was docked. She was surrounded by her family, all of them happier than he'd seen them in a long while. Especially Alicia, who was having a particularly difficult time coping with the treachery of her father. But for now at least, she looked like a new person. It did Dr. Adams' heart good to see her like that.

"Well now as I live and breath. If it isn't patient numero uno. I'm glad to see you finally decided to join the land of the living." Dr. Adams joked as he put his hands on his hips.

"Oh my, isn't he a looker." Aisha joked back, fanning herself with her hands. "I have to be honest with you Doc, I've never let a man have his hands inside of me before without at least knowing his name first."

"Oh Gods Auntie!" Alicia gasped as she got up from the ground, dusting her butt off.

"Allow me to change that. My name is Dr. Philip Adams. But please call me Dr. Adams." He said adjusting his lab coat as if he were preparing for an outing.

"Can I just call you Doc?" She batted her eyelashes at him playfully.

"If that is what you wish." Dr. Adams took her hand, and helped her to her feet.

"Oh I wish it, always wanted to spend the night with a doctor, eh boys." Aisha wanted to make sure she got the last flirty word in.

"I'm out." Alastair said pushing himself up from the grass heading into the ship.

"All pleasantries aside. I hate to put you in an awkward situation ma'am. But do try to take it easy for a while. You're still healing, I don't want you to have a relapse or anything." Dr. Adams kissed the back of her hand gentlemanly.

"Is that an order Doc?" She said casually, with a flirty smile.

"Gross, mom cut it out." Anders winced as he exaggeratedly shook his head.

"Oh that is indeed an order." Dr. Adams chuckled in response to Anders' reaction, before leading her up the ramp into the Milano.

The rest of them ascended the ramp into the ship, leaving Quill behind. The sun was slowly setting behind the Nova Corps tower. Quill couldn't help but feel betrayed by the Nova Corps. He was sure that they would have helped if they could, but now he was faced with the task of explaining it to the rest of the group that they just didn't want to for now. It was probably the last thing he wanted to tell anyone. Quill sighed solemnly and climbed aboard the Milano behind him, closing the hatch.