"And we have no reason to believe you are being dishonest?" Professor Xavier asked the Guardians of the Galaxy and Tarin.
"Correct. Do you guys always treat your guests this way?" Gamora asked expectantly.
"You can't really blame us," Doctor Strange started, "you show up in the battlefield of one of our most dangerous and resilient enemies. Along with Tarin crashing moments later; the six of you are under high suspicion.
"Can you wait outside please while we discuss this?" Black widow asked the group receiving curt nods.
The group left and the doors closed behind them.
Elijah's POV.
We were in Avengers Tower. The Defenders, X-men and Avengers themselves were inside a danger room type place while they're were questioning the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers.
And of course, during this meeting I wasn't invited.
I didn't even get to make it through the doorway leading to the training room before a force field was blocking my way. Part of me wanted to use my powers to get in on the meeting but right now I was too tired to try.
"I can't believe they're putting us on trial. Who the hell do these earthlings think they are?" The big green alien shouted exiting the room with his team and Tarin.
At the sight of them man in my visions I stood up and approached quickly but I didn't know what to say. "Hi there," Gamora said sarcastically. I immediately frowned at her tone but didn't respond with the agitation I felt.
"I'm sorry about the interrogation in there. For some reason the Heroes of this world often believe they're above civil rights," I apologized and their hesitant expressions of me were changed. "What's your name kid?" The raccoon asked.
"Elijah Richards, I'm the son of that stretchy man and the blonde that always by his side," my description of my parents earned an impressed smile. "And you guys?" I asked.
"Peter Quill, also known as Starlord," the second part of the human's introduction caused his team to groan and roll their eyes.
"Gamora," the green lady said, "pleased to meet you." Gamora held out her hand for a shake that I returned it.
"I'm Rocket," The raccoon said simply. "Rocket Raccoon. Nice," I said but instantly regretted it when Rocket hissed at me.
"And you?" I asked the giant tree. "I am Groot!" Groot boomed. "It's nice to meet you," I replied. "I am Groot."
"Okay then," I turned to the giant green man. "Drax the Destroyer!" He announced before I got the chance to ask. "Should I be concerned by your title?" I asked. "No, maybe before but now I serve to protect."
Finally, was Tarin. "Hi," I greeted him timidly. "Hello Elijah."
"Do you two know each other?" Peter asked. "I don't know yet," I said honestly. "I've had dreams of him," Tarin explained honestly. "During my trip to Earth my memories have been lost but one thing I can recollect is him." I blushed at his statement and looked away from him.
"Did you have dreams of him?" Drax asked. "No, not dreams. But Visions. I'm a Psychic and a lot of my precognitions were of him. Lately most of them are from him. And the planet he comes from," I explained.
"Do you know the name of this planet?" Tarin said. This caused Gamora to exclaim in surprise. "It's still mind boggling that you don't have any memory," Gamora said puzzled.
"Why so?" Tarin asked. "You look like you induce the memory loss. Not the other way around," Rocket answered for Gamora.
"What I find more mind boggling is the fact that you could send a distress signal from earth to us, in a Xandarian space pod, when you weren't even on Earth," Peter said. "I am Groot," Groot chimed in.
"I'm sorry for that seems, and it does seem like I set you up, but I have no idea why my pod did that," Tarin explained apologetically.
"I just want to leave this planet and find out what's going on. I feel it's no coincidence we met you," Gamora said to Tarin.
"Or you," She continued towards a me.
"Shall we fight our way out?" Drax asked excitedly.
"No, too many of them. Wouldn't be a wise strategy," Tarin said to them.
"I can do it," I offered. "Do what?" Peter asked.
"Get you to your ship, duh. Then we can go find out what's going on."
"Whoa! Who said anything about you coming along?" Rocket said. "Seeing as I have a connection with Tarin I should come too," I said adamantly. "I'm sorry Elijah but I don't think that's a good idea," Gamora said gently.
Fed up I groaned. "Look guys. I have been monitored, restricted, and held up in one place for my entire life. And the moment I got some freedom that freak Onslaught had to steal my powers temporarily. I'm done being weak and hiding away in my towers," I rented before catching my breathe.
"What is this way you have for us to get to the ship?" Tarin asked curiously. "I have the power to manipulate reality; I can create a portal to the ship back in central Africa," they all gave me disbelieving stares. "What?"
"Are you sure kid? Okay, telepathy and being a precog is believable. But reality manipulation? We would've heard about you," Peter stated skeptically.
"No one off planet knows about me except for a few entities. My parents love keeping me under lock and key. If they could have it their way the only people who would know about me is their team," I said the last part to myself somberly.
"It's a deal then." Gamora said. I looked up and was greeted by the determined expression of my friends. "You can come I guess," Rocket said, "if you really can manipulate reality you might come in handy."
I laughed and rolled my eyes. I turned away from the group and in front of us I concentrated, picturing the area I wanted to arrive in. Soon a portal materialized in front of us.
"Let's go. They won't know we're gone until Jarvis tells Tony I left," With that I walked into the portal and after walking past a screen of bright light.
I emerged back in Africa. In front of a large creator and a ship off to the far left of me. The guardians of the galaxy and Tarin soon passed the portal and once they did I turned to the portal off.
"As soon as you stepped through that portal sirens when off," Tarin informed me.
"Then we must hurry," I said before staring at the sky above me. I waved my hands above me causing a blue field to materialize in the sky before disappearing.
"What was that?" Drax asked as we made our way to the edge of the creator. "I manipulated reality so it was impossible to teleport at least 20 miles in this area. It's a force field too. The people back home will try to mass teleport here," I explained and tried to ignore the impressed gazes.
Once we were at the edge of the creator I used my molecular manipulation to create a staircase all the way to the Space Pod.
We ran towards the pod but all I can think about was my situation. I'm actually leaving. If we pull this off and my parents and the team don't find a way around my barrier, I could actually be leaving earth. Going on the adventure I've been waiting for.
We had reached the Pod and Tarin opened it. Tarin gestured at the Guardian to have a look and Peter went forward, hopping into the Pod and taking a look at its mainframe.
"I see what the issue is, the mainframe was so fried it sent a distress call from his destination, mixed up the simultaneous codes," Peter explained before hopping out of the Pod. "I loading his entire flight plan history, lets load it into the ship and get moving," Peter commanded and the team followed his orders.
As we entered the ship doors the Team turned around to look at me. Tarin and I shared a confused glance at each other. "Elijah, are you sure you want to leave? I know it may seem like bad, the way they're keeping you locked up, but maybe it's all for a good reason," Gamora said gently. "No, I'm ready. I need this," I said determined and almost pleadingly.
I was started by Tarin holding my hand supportively. "Alright, then welcome to the Guardians of the Galaxy," Drax said before climbing into the ship with the others.
I made eye contact with Tarin one last time before entering the space ship.
Peter had lead everyone into the pilot's room of the ship and started typing into a holographic keyboard.
"Okay, the flight plan is being downloaded into the Milano's mainframe as we speak. But the system is a bit battered to its probably going to take about 20 minutes," Peter explained and sat down at the head pilot seat.
I had finally gotten a good look around the ship as everyone sat down and relaxed.
The bridge/pilot room of the ship had 3 seats in the front: One in the middle elevated higher than the other two on either side of it. Behind the pilot seats was the giant round holographic console Peter had typed into. The console was in the middle of the entire bridge.
Off to the right slightly past the console was monitor built into the wall with a keypad dimly lit. I could tell this was a computer of some sort.
At the end of the room was a ramp moving into the entry way to the bridge. I knew past this entry way was a very small corridor with the door leading outside and an elevator on the opposite side.
"So Eli!" Rocket said breaking me out of my thoughts. "What powers do you have exactly?"
"Um... telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, energy & molecular manipulation, and reality manipulation," I listed to them calmly, ignoring they're surprised expressions.
"I am Groot?" Groot questioned.
"How?" Was all Gamora asked.
"I'm not sure. I'm just a mutant, sometimes we have a lot more potential than is anticipated," I explained. "What about you?" I asked Tarin.
"I am of my people, I remember," Tarin said with pride, "I have incredible strength, speed, and invulnerability. I can also part take in flight—" Tarin was cut off by loud sonic boom.
This caused us to rise in haste and exit the Milano.
Outside we saw pulses of the barrier I had created. "What's wrong with it?" Tarin asked.
"Either a reality manipulator or someone with seriously strong magic is try to break down the barrier and get in," I said grimly. Closing my eyes, I focused on the barrier to find the culprit.
I saw the Avengers, X-men, and Defenders all at the edge of the barrier while Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange blasted my barrier trying to get in. "Well? What's the verdict?" Rocket asked nervously.
"It's both," I said before turning them. "Those three teams are back again, at the edge of the barrier and they're using a sorcerer and a witch with reality altering powers to break down the barrier. We have to get going guys," I said and started towards the ship.
"You should say goodbye to them," Gamora said. "No, I don't think that's a good idea. My family is smart. They'll try and find a way to keep me here," I explained.
"But if you don't say goodbye now, you'll regret saying it later," Drax said.
With a groan closed my eyes a vanished from my new team to my old one.
"Elijah," Sue said breathlessly. "Hi mom," I replied quietly. "Elijah," Reed began, "whatever you think you're doing, don't. You have no idea what those people are capable of. No idea who they are."
"Neither do you Dad," I shot back.
"Yes I do, they're former criminals; assassins, thieves, bad people," Reed explained. "They were bad people, but they've change. Like you said: former criminals. They're heroes now."
"And quite frankly you don't know what kind of person I am. I need to go with them. To prove that you don't need to keep me under lock and key," I looked away as I felt the tears sting my eyes. "Everything we've done is to protect you, Eli," it was Ben who had spoken up.
"Ben's right, don't get yourself killed Elijah," Johnny continued.
"I just want you to be proud of me for once," I explained. "We've always been proud of you, I've always been proud," Reed explained. I shook my head in understanding.
"You're right. I know you always have been proud of me," I said. "But I've always been disappointed in myself. It's time to make me proud," I said.
"Goodbye."
With that I vanished away from them.
I was greeted with the sympathetic gazes of my team.
"The flight plan is ready, if you're ready to go," Peter said sweetly. "Yeah, let's get moving," I nodded reassuringly and started towards the ship.
We all settled into our seats in the bridge and began takeoff.
As we ascended I stared out of the windows with a wide mix of feelings.
I'll miss them but I know I in my heart this is for the best. This is what I'm supposed to do.
It was destiny. For me to to Become a Guardian of the Galaxy.
•••
"Okay so we're going to trace the flight plan backwards guys," Peter explained to the team.
But I couldn't pay attention to him for anything.
We were on our way back to Knowhere, an interdimensional crossroad/scientific observatory. This was the HQ of the guardians. The view was just as amazing though.
I couldn't believe I was actually in space. To think I almost settled for trying to be an X-Men.
Surrounding the Milano was a large void of space specked with far off stars and meteor fields.
It still felt so surreal. I had left home, joined a team of space superheroes, and met the guy I've been having visions of for the past six months.
Defiantly felt surreal.
I glanced in Tarin's direction and as if on cue he glanced in mine. He smiled before walking over to me.
This gave me time to go over his appearance. Tarin still wore the tattered body suit he had on earlier that day.
The remaining pieces of the top of his shirt fallen and detached, displaying his buff and hairy upper torso. His pants were torn too on his thighs and the back of his calves.
"I think you should probably change," I suggested playfully. Tarin looked at himself, as if just noticing his appearance. "You're right, I should. Can your powers do that for me?" Tarin asked curiously.
My eyes flashed quickly then a blanket of light covered his body. After the light vanished he was wearing a all black battle suit. "Thank you," Tarin said in awe.
"Do you know anything of this place we are journeying to?" Tarin asked after a couple moments.
"Knowhere? Yeah. It's the severed head of a Celestial. A Celestial that I killed," The statement I had made birthed curious gazes and noises of surprise.
"I am Groot!"
"I didn't even know Knowhere was a Celestial's head. But you killed it?" Gamora said in surprise. "Yeah, I was battling a Celestial and destroyed by severing its head. I had no idea it has floated through time and space to The Rip though. That's new to me."
"You are just chalk full of surprise," Peter commented before turning back to pilot. "I am Groot," Groot muttered.
"You have destroyed a Celestial?" Tarin asked. "Yeah, he was hell bent on destroying earth and harnessing my powers. It's not something I'm ashamed of but I'm not proud of it either," I explained honestly.
"Why be ashamed?" Tarin asked, "Celestials are known to be cruel. And now you have rid the univese of one. That's a credit to be proud of."
"But, I wish I didn't have to take their life. I wish they could've been saved, not destroyed," Tarin held my hand in understanding. The gaze he gave me was so intense it almost took my breath away.
I went to the living quarters, and the room was huge.
The living quarters had been a large entertainment room with a bar off to the right of the room and a staircase leading to cabins on the left. At the end cabin hallway was a door leading to the bathroom. I had made a a quick snack before heading to an empty cabin, falling asleep.
•••
"Elijah?" Tarin called waking me up.
I rubbed the sleep out of my eye groggily. "What's up?"
"We have arrived at Knowhere."
I shot up out of my bed immediately and hurried to the bridge.
The team was suited up in similar navy blue battle suits. I turned to Tarin and noticed he dawned the same type of clothing.
My eyes flashed and I waved my hands over my body. A light covered me and suddenly I was wearing a long navy blue leather coat with burgundy lines on the color and sleeve cuffs. I had a navy blue sleeveless shirt underneath this coat. My navy-blue pants had burgundy lines on the side.
"Nice, we didn't even need to make one for you," Drax said impressed before gesturing all of us to leave the Milano.
Outside the Milano we were greeted with the harsh industrial smell of Knowhere.
All around us were alien of all shapes, sizes, and colors trying to be discreet about the dealing, black market selling, and trafficking they were doing.
"Not what you were expecting Penthouse?" Rocket joked. I smiled in the raccoon's direction. "I love it!" I said excitedly.
"I am Groot?" Groom asked Peter. "In his flight plan, Tarin took off from right here. So, we take a look around and see if we can find anything to help jog his memory," Peter said before moving forward.
"Why can you just restore Tarin's memories?" Rocket asked me. "I need someone to train me in telepathy to be strong enough to do that. Right now, I'm a strong telepath but my mind is too raw, untrained. As for using my reality powers, too much of my energy on one single mind could be dangerous. I'm too raw and untrained for that too," I explained.
"We might have someone to help train your psychic powers. But we'll go to him later," Gamora said before heading into a bar.
Inside was spacious in barren. It looked like a tavern in Star Wars with sketchy looking aliens walking around in ratter cloaks.
"Wait!" Tarin said alarmed before clutching his head. "I have been here before," he groaned. "Good, my friend. You mind is returning!" Drax exclaimed jubilant.
"Yes," Tarin said. His head snapped towards a hallway on the far end of the bar, "back there. I recollect going back there with someone in a gray cloak."
"Onward!" Rocket shouted before running through the hallway. "I am Groot!" Groot called after his best friend.
We ran towards rocket and Groot. At the end of the hallway was a shut door.
"Shut doors usually mean do not enter so we should probably turn back," I said turning around. But Peter grabbed my shoulder. "Let's go," Peter said simply.
Tarin pushed the door open and entered the dark room. We all followed slowly, putting our guard up as we entered the dim room.
Inside the room was a plethora of shelves with scrap pieces of technology.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Peter shouted but was greeted with an echo. "Nice, Quill. Very subtle," Gamora chided.
"Oh relax. No one's in here anyway," Peter said right before someone in a gray cloak flew out from being the shelves and tacked Tarin.
They wrestled to the ground before Tarin kicked the figure hard. The figure flew away from him before regaining control and flying to the air.
Tarin started to fly into the air and his hands were surrounded by a red aura. He placed his fist in front of him and his energy blasted towards the cloaked figure.
A stream of yellow light shot out from the hood and became a shield, blocking Tarin's energy blast.
"Enough!" A female voice came from the hooded figure. Under the hood was beautiful woman with flowing white hair. "Don't get all red eyed with me Tarin. I'm the one who told you not to return to this side of the galaxy until it was safe and here you are," The woman shouted, "with the Guardians of the Galaxy and a teenager?"
"Who are you?" I asked the woman venomously. I really don't need a gorgeous woman with a history with Tarin in my life right now. "Phyla-Vell of the Kree. I'm an old friend of Tarin's. Who are you and what are you doing with Tarin?" Phyla-Vell questioned us angrily.
"I am Elijah Richards of Earth. I assume you know the Guardians already. Tarin has lost his memory and we're trying to help him restore it," I explained to her trying to hold back my animosity.
Immediately the angry in her eyes vanished and she stared at Tarin with surprise. Tarin was still flying in the air, hands glowing as he stayed on guard. "You found him?" Phyla asked. "You know I was looking for Elijah?" Tarin asked.
"Yes, you were having dreams of him and I wanted to help you find him. He could help send you back home. How did you lose your memory?" Phyla had asked the last part to herself.
"I think we should talk; if that's okay with you," Peter offered. Phyla and Tarin floated down to the ground simultaneously.
"Yes. That is for the best," Phyla said. She walked towards me and held her hand out. "I'm glad Tarin found you. But now we need to help him. It is of the most importance right now," Phyla said determined and I nodded in agreement.
