Here we go, new chapter. Hope you enjoy it

An Ravagers Easter Surprise

Chapter 2

All was silence, as everyone tried to take it in. A four-year-old holding a grenade while everyone felt a wave of fear wash over them. All of the Ravagers knew they should get the hell out, but none of them could.

Peter was just holding it, looking confused when the first fat tear began to drop from his face. He was scared, terrified and knew what he was carrying was dangerous. Why had he picked it up, he was so bad.

"I'm sorry daddies" Peter muttered too scared to speak loudly in case the thing, what was it meant to do? Was it meant to kill him?

"Peter just stay very still and whatever you do don't drop it" Yondu's voice was on edge while everyone who was seated at nearby tables got up and moved back carefully, trying to keep casual. If that grenade went off they would all die, but so would Peter. Shit that couldn't happen.

In that brief moment, Peter knew he had done bad, this wasn't sweets it was something else, and he didn't know what but knew the look on the Ravagers around him was very dangerous.

Yondu immediately patched through an order for the Elector to be halted, all missions and jobs suspended until further notice.

"Idiots, just move out of here, go back to whatever you're doing", he demanded to his dumbfounded crew who just glanced at each other, but got up and inched back slowly to the entrance of the room.

"What the hell type of thing is that". Kraglin muttered, sending an order for armoury crews to bring down a scanner. They knew grenades, hell they had a whole room full, but this, the marking on it were different more intricate, and he didn't recognise it but Iztel, even though he was almost blind was a senior Ravager and squinting his eyes recognised it instantly.

Less than a minute later, Horuz came in as calmly as he could and holding a scanner he had grabbed on the way down. Even though he would deny it, he had a soft spot for the kid and tried to keep his voice calm while it held it up to Peter and just let the device do its thing.

He didn't address Peter, instead had the good sense just to walk back and pass it the information to Yondu and Kraglin.

Even with the flourish designs, it was still poorly made and constructed. A relic from an old battle when Kree's and Xandarians hated each other more then they did now. It wasn't just dangerous, it could blow everyone away in one hundred metres. Peter stood no chance, and there was no way to disarm it.

"Who the hell on this ship knows how to dismantle that", demanded Yondu, not caring how stressed he felt while his son sniffed back the tears.

The next voice was almost a whisper, but everyone heard it.

"I do."

All eyes turned to Proctom, who was standing next to Iztel "I know how to dismantle that thing".

Even under the circumstances Yondu couldn't help but roll his eyes it was no secret that the Xandarian had some martyr complex going on. But Proctom insisted. "I know how to do it".

"Oh really, and how the fuck do you know that?" asked Kraglin to the Ravager.

Iztel put an arm on the young Xandarian in a comforting matter whole Proctom explained.

"Before I came to you, I was leased to a new Master for a while. He built bombs and explosives, my job was to put them together, I wasn't there for long, but I was small good for mechanisms and shit".

Everyone in the vicinity just blinked, it was no secret Proctom had been a slave until he was fifteen, everyone knew that. But this, no this was news to them.

"But I need me toolkit, so if anyone can go get me that". Proctom's voice took on a cold edge, which made sense. Mentally he was casting himself back in the world of Slave and Master, which every Yondu understood as Yarovesky came in clutching the Ravagers valuable tools.

Each Ravager had their own set, brought or bartered. But a rule was that over time it became shaped to the user, so each other even in a ship of bloody pirates was always safe.

Taking the tools from the Ravager Proctom addressed the crew in the area "Which one of you has the sturdiest hands."

There was confusion and murmurs amongst the crew until finally, Jamsean spoke up. "I draw a lot, so I guess that me". He sounded uncertain, and the last thing anyone needed was another one to doubt their abilities now.

"Right, I'll instruct you, you have to take it apart". Informed Proctom while Jamsean just blinked and clearly wished he kept his goddam mouth shut.

"I know how to disable it, but I'm going to need some help to do it. I can't handle the thing" Stated Proctom, to the Ravager, while Yondu felt himself get more pissed off.

"Because you don't know you stupid sack of shit" he practically spat in Proctom's face who to his credit didn't even react.

"In case I have a seizure" He informed Yondu, which for once made the Captain of the Ravagers shut up, then Kraglin's voice came out in a whisper. "Just do it".

All eyes turned to Kraglin who had his arms crossed and was just staring at the back of their son's head. "I trust you, just fucking do it".

He said while Jamsean paled slightly and his mate Gunnsen gave him a squeeze on the shoulder but said nothing.

"Daddies". Peter said, breaking everyone out of their silence, while Proctom took his toolkit and grabbing a nearby chair went down on his knees to address the toddler in a comforting voice.

"It's ok Peter, we're going to help you, but you have to remain very still and not let your hand go. Can you do that?". Proctom he was saying this, he was guiding Peter's outstretched arm and pulled off his Ravager red coat.

That morning he had opted to wear a short-sleeved top and all of them could see the outline of the scars on his arms and back through the fabric. Proctom rolled the leather into a ball and placed it under the boy's arms so Peter's could rest his hand on something

Tears were running down Peter's little face, but he managed to nod and whisper "Ok."

Diligently both Ravagers went to work, with Jamsean, following Proctom's instructions carefully, removing the outer casing, then, with his hands thankfully not shaking even with the sweat glistening off his brow, he got to work on the mechanisms.

It was tense, too tense, one wrong move and that would be it, all of them would die. Yet Jamsean willed himself to relax in case Peter picked up on it and cursed inwardly when Peter's tear-filled voice spoke up.

"I don't want to blow up". Peter sobbed, while every Ravager in the vicinity felt the pull on their heartstrings. Peter was only four and having to cope with this.

Several feet away his parents stood, with each minute stretching onto an hour while they watched their two Ravagers deep in concentration. Neither of them knew who did it first, but their hands found each other and fingers gripped tightly.

Kraglin's face was ashen, but Yondu had a look of tenseness on his face. All both of them wanted was to grab their son and hold him tightly, telling him he was hoping to be alright. This waiting was just torture.

"I swear to god Iztel if my son dies then so does yours" Yondu muttered his heart pounding in his chest to which Iztel replied smoothly. "You underestimate the lad, he knows what he's doing

The word wasn't encouraging, but all of them just watched and waited, while Jamsean being directed by Proctom, whose voice was to the point, and even the burly Ravager noticed the lack of hesitation in his voice.

"Ok there is a mechanism, beneath the steel plate, remove it gently" Proctom explained.

The minutes were creeping like hours while Peter cried and the two Ravagers worked slowly. By this time every Ravager had joined the rest, and all waited with baited breath.

"I want my daddies" Peter cried which pulled at the heartstrings of both Yondu and Kraglin,

"Were right here Peter, we're not going anywhere" Kraglin said, as calmly as he could, resisting the urge just to run in and grab his son.

"Ok" Peter sniffed back

In the end, Yondu spoke aloud "I can't understand how that skinny ass bitch knows how to dismantle grenades so well", To this, he heard Yarovesky open his mouth, almost reluctantly.

.

"He knows exactly what he's doing. Trust me he's not bull shitting. He just wishes he didn't".

All eyes turned to the Navigator for an explanation, which he then had to proceed.

"He told you that years ago, our Master leased a load of slaves to an arms merchants. He wanted kids who wouldn't complain. Out of the only kids who went only Proctom came back alive, He was burnt but alive. The Master was pissed, beat him until we all thought he was dead".

At this there was an uncomfortable air, everyone knew the ones who were slaves in the past but getting any of them to talk about it openly was rare.

The grenade was almost open, only a few small motions and that would be in, sweat was now dripping into his eyes, but he didn't care, since Peter was still crying more himself as he followed instruction.

"Ok, that small chip, that's the denotator," Proctom said as calmly as he could, while Jamsean reached in.

No one knew what happened next but looking over both parents thought they saw their son's arm jerk suddenly as a loud clock filled the room and Proctom and Jamsean looked at each other in horror.

To be concluded

Dun dun dun

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