The last chapter! In which Kraglin is an awesome friend!

In some parts of this story I was lazy. Sorry.

I've also learned the name of Ravagers' ship (thanks to my main man/gal, IronAmerica).

Maybe one day I will write prequel about Guardians of the Galaxy taking Memorandus' therapy.

Past You

Yondu knew that he supposed to dig, but the words of his younger self was haunting him so much that he couldn't focus on the work. So he nailed the lower part of the shovel in the ground and his gaze rolled around the field. The sadness hit him even harder, as he was observing the dead bodies of his people scattered around the ground. He failed them. He failed them in a way that seemed to be unredeemable. He didn't avenge their deaths, he didn't even fight with the Badoon. They had every right to haunt him.

After a short moment the Zatoan tribe opened their eyes and slowly stood up. Their faces were emotionless, their eyes empty, as the still covered in blood Centaurians approached the Ravagers' captain.

Yondu wasn't scared or moved in any way by the fact that they were surrounding him. He had seen it many times during those sleepless nights on "Eclector" and now he felt only overwhelming sadness. His legs started to shake and the Centaurian fell on his knees. His hands were holding onto the shovel and he felt tired, so very tired that he knew, whatever his tribe was going to do to him, he wouldn't resist. So he was just kneeling there waiting for what was going to happen.

That was the moment, when Kraglin came in. He appeared suddenly in the distance and – seeing his captain's predicament – quickly ran towards Yondu, who was just staring at him with astonishment, wondering why he had a vision of his first mate.

Kraglin realized it was worse than he originally thought. He quickly get through the thin hole between two dead, but still walking Centaurians and stopped at his captain's side. He tried his best to block them the way to Yondu, but there was too many of them. Kraglin gazed at Yondu. He looked like he had given up long time ago and now waited only for death. But he turned his eyes on his first mate and for a short moment Kraglin could swear that Centaurian wanted to apologize.

Suddenly the Zatoan tribe stopped. They didn't come closer to Yondu, nor did anything else. They were just standing in one place and looking at Yondu and Kraglin blankly. Something was telling the first mate that they stopped because he was here, at Yondu's side. And the consciousness of his captain didn't want to hurt Kraglin, since Kraglin was Yondu's best friend.

Yondu raised his gaze and looked around with obvious surprise. What was happening? His tribe was coming to him and now they stopped. He was so astonished that he didn't even stand up.

The eyes of the Ravagers' second in command turned to the teenager standing in the distance. Young Yondu seemed to be angry, but there was also another emotion, reflected only in his red eyes. When the gazes of Kraglin and Yondu's younger self met, the Ravagers' first mate saw it clearer than ever.

I'm certain that you have few things to tell this young man…

Sooner or later, the patient encounters the manifestation of their psyche. Whatever this manifestation says or do, it's a combination of feelings and thoughts of the patient…

Kraglin suspected it earlier and he was almost certain his suspicions are correct. Memorandus' words were confirming it further.

The Ravagers' first mate kneeled at his captain's side and comfortingly rested his hand on Yondu's shoulder, smiling lightly.

"I will take it from here. You just listen."

Then his expression changed to more serious. Kraglin stood up and directed towards Young Yondu. The older Centaurian observed with interest (and even a bit of fear), how his best friend was slowly approaching Yondu's teenage self. Finally Kraglin stopped and rested his hands on boy's shoulders. Young Yondu was surprised at first, but then his expression changed into more angry. However, Kraglin could still see this certain emotion in those red eyes. He actually had hard time believing that sixteen-year-old version of his captain was standing in front of him, but he kind of understood why Yondu's consciousness chose this particular form.

"Listen to me, kid." He started, looking Young Yondu in the eyes. "I want to tell you, who you'll become, when you grow up."

He could also feel the gaze of his captain on the back. Good. Yondu had to hear it too.

"You will grow up to be a brave man. A strong, tough man." Kraglin smiled lightly. "Some people will even say that the man, you'll become, is a good man too."

"No, he's a coward. A pathetic weakling." Young Yondu's eyes were fierce.

"I know, why you're saying that." Kraglin told him and started tackling up his left sleeve. "You're lost and you're filled with grief. But look here." He leaned his left arm towards the teen, showing him the words tattooed there. "Do you know what's that?"

Young Yondu didn't reply. He only turned his gaze from the tattoo to Kraglin's face and once again on the tattoo. After a long moment of silence the Ravagers' first mate decided to speak up:

"That's my slave tattoo. I was once a slave. And this man," He turned to Old Yondu, before going back to his younger version. "liberated me. He gave me freedom, home and his friendship. And whole 'Eclector' is full of people who found their place with him." He pointed at the Ravagers' captain and gave Young Yondu melancholic look. "They wouldn't come with him, if he was a weakling or a coward. That's because you won't grow up to be either of those things."

Yondu felt odd, hearing those words. Yes, of course, he knew he wasn't weak. He tried to be strong for his men's sake. But actually hearing those words said by someone else made him feel strangely warm inside. Especially, because it was Kraglin, who was saying all those things. Yondu wondered if his first mate wasn't a reminiscence of his self-confidence; a figment of his imagination sent to fight off Young Yondu's accusations.

Either way, the little brat didn't seem to be convinced.

"He is a coward. He didn't save our tribe." Young Yondu said those words with shaking voice. He even raised it, when looking at his older self and adding: "He let the Brotherhood of Badoon kill them!"

"Oh, yeah?!" Kraglin's voice became harsh too. "And what would you achieve by charging at the whole Badoon army by yourself?! Listen up, kid! They killed off more skilled and better equipped warriors than you! Do you really think that you would have a chance against even one of those reptilian bastards?!" His eyes softened. As did his tone: "You were just a kid. You couldn't prevent the whole army from attacking your tribe, let alone fight with them. It would be a suicide."

Funny thing. Through all those years, Yondu had never thought of it that way. Maybe it was somewhere in the back of his head, but he didn't let it get on the surface and he didn't let himself focus on this thought. Someone actually needed to tell him that fight with Brotherhood of Badoon would be futile. Only then he could actually realize that.

Yes, it would be suicide. He – the last of Zatoan tribe – would be killed off. He would never get his own ship, he would never form the Ravagers and he would never do all those things he did.

Still, the realization that he couldn't even fight with Badoon, made him even more sad. And when Yondu looked at his younger self, Young Yondu's anger quickly transformed into sorrow. He started to cry again and did something very strange. He threw himself on Kraglin and embraced him. The Ravagers' second in command hugged him back.

"It should be the day I'd become a man." The kid said, weeping into Kraglin's clothes. "I should celebrate it with my tribe. I thought, father will be proud of me, when I return with my prey. But when I came back from hunting, he was dead."

Kraglin didn't say anything. He only turned his sad gaze on Old Yondu, who was crying too. Then the Ravager lifted boy's chin and gave him a soft smile.

"I'm sure, your father would be very proud of you, Yondu. You will become a great man, just wait and see."

"No, no!" Young Yondu shook his head. "If I couldn't fight with Badoon, then I should at least die with my tribe."

Kraglin saddened.

"That would be very stupid." He replied.

The teenager broke the embrace and looked at Kraglin with teary eyes.

"But then I wouldn't be a disgrace!" He screamed. Another two streams went down his cheeks, when he added quietly: "Then I wouldn't be all alone."

This time Kraglin was the one, who pulled Young Yondu into a hug. The kid's words were actually heartbreaking to listen. Kraglin's captain and best friend was thinking all those things about himself. The Ravagers' first mate had to do something about it.

"The loneliness is only temporary, kid." He said. "One day you won't be alone. You will gather a crew that will go with you anywhere. A crew that will gladly fight for you. Besides," He looked Young Yondu in the eyes. "do you really think that your tribe would want you to be dead? Do you really think that your parents would want their only son to die? That the Zotoan wouldn't be happy, if at least one of them escaped the massacre?"

Another completely new perspective. Old Yondu looked around, his eyes jumping from one face to another. His people suddenly stopped to look emotionless; they stopped to be menacing. Their faces were filled, not with anger, not with sadness, but something alongside with grin. Their wounds were still visible, but Yondu could see that they were slowly disappearing. His parents came out of the circle and stood in front of him. They both kneeled and his mother actually touched his cheek, smiling to her son. Yondu wanted to be overwhelmed by her touch. To feel it once again. For the first time since that horrible day, he could see not anger, but love in the eyes of his parents.

But a sudden thought crossed his mind and not only his parents' expressions changed back to emotionless, but they also stood up and – alongside with other Centaurians – started to back away from Yondu, like he was leprous.

"No, they cannot be happy that I live." Young Yondu whimpered. "I didn't avenge them. I didn't even try to avenge them."

Kraglin once again glanced at his captain. Yondu's sad form was still kneeling on the ground, surrounded by Zatoan tribe.

Vengeance. Maybe that was what Yondu needed to put his demons to the rest. Maybe his people will stop haunting him, when their murderers will be punished. Frankly, Kraglin sometimes wondered why Yondu didn't try to find the Brotherhood of Badoon, especially since many Ravagers expressed readiness to fight with those bastards. Probably Yondu thought that he shouldn't bring his crew into it, after all it was very personal matter. But Young Yondu (all in all, the reminiscence of Yondu's consciousness) admitted that he didn't even try vengeance.

After a moment of silence Kraglin finally knew what to reply.

"Tell me: are you ready to avenge your tribe? Are you ready to find Badoon bastards and make them pay?"

Yondu thought about it for a moment. Yes, he was sometimes thinking about tracking Brotherhood of Badoon and kill them as they've killed his people… But at the same time there was always something holding him back. He wasn't sure what.

"I don't know." His teenage self replied to Kraglin's question.

The Ravager was silent for a few seconds, observing Young Yondu with sadness, and then he smiled.

"If you'll ever decide that you're ready, some guys will gladly come with you." He looked the boy in the eyes. "Like me, for example."

Yondu smiled. He never doubted that his first mate would help him with vengeance. However, for some reason him admitting it made the old Centaurian a bit more hopeful. It was good to know that, in case of bringing vengeance to Badoon, he had at least one ally.

His thoughts came back to the day of the massacre. And all of sudden revenge on his tribe's murderers didn't seem to be enough.

To Kraglin's surprise the boy hugged him even tighter.

"It's so unfair." Said Young Yondu, still crying. "Brotherhood of Badoon killed my people. They've spared no one, even children. They did this horrible thing and nobody even knows."

Kraglin saddened. It was kind of shocking how few people were aware of this massacre committed on Yondu's tribe. Kraglin could not know about Zatoan, because he spent most of his life as a slave and slaves were barely informed about things happening on the farer parts of the galaxy. But the fact that people who were regularly space travelling and hearing various rumors didn't know about it; hell, people whose job was connected with international politics didn't know about it… that was messed up. Because the galaxy forgot about a demise of a whole tribe. Nobody asked for justice, nobody was speaking for their rights. It was like Zatoan tribe never existed.

But…

"That's not entirely true, kid." Said Kraglin, breaking the embrace and looking into Young Yondu's tear eyes. "I know what they did. All the Ravagers know what Badoon bastards did. You know," The first mate turned to Yondu. "and he knows." Kraglin smiled to the boy. "If it's necessary, we will be talking about your tribe everywhere we go." He rested his hands on youngster's shoulders and gave him the most sincere look in the eyes. "Your tribe, kid, won't be forgotten. As long as somebody will be remembering them."

Yondu was listening to Kraglin's speech and felt how his spirit was uplifted. Once again he realized that he wasn't completely alone with his pain; that he could count on Kraglin, whatever he decided to do. Whenever he'd choose to fight with Badoon or seek justice through the whole galaxy, his first mate would be right beside him. And maybe even now Kraglin was going to help Yondu bury his tribe again.

Now, with new perspective on few things, Yondu felt a lot better. He stood up again, helping himself with the shovel, and looked at Kraglin, who suddenly realized that there was no Young Yondu anywhere. The tribe was gone too. Both Ravagers were standing in the middle of empty, devoid of corpses, village.

That was the moment, when they woke up.


Five minutes after the awakening Yondu and Kraglin still felt the aftermath of helmet's working – their necks ached, but not as much as their heads. Memorandus gave them some herbs that supposed to work like a painkillers, in the meantime he was talking with both men (mostly his patient, but from time to time he was also turning to Kraglin) about the therapy.

"As I informed mister Obfonteri," The psychologist went on with the explanation. "your younger self is a representation of your own thoughts and feelings. I assume that it took this form, because the massacre of Zatoan tribe was a turning moment of your life, mister Udonta."

"Well, I would figure this out on my own." Said Yondu.

But Memroandus didn't seem to be offended by this.

"I assume that this sixteen-year-old boy was displaying the same thoughts about this event that often come to your mind, mister Udonta."

"Well, yeah." Yondu agreed, although with uneasiness.

He still felt nervous about the fact that Memorandus, Kraglin and few of his men had seen what was in his head. It came out only after he was disconnected with the mind machine. He saw the expression of sadness and awkwardness on the faces of those of his crewmen, who were present on the "Memorandum". He kind of wondered if he made a mistake, agreeing on this whole procedure.

"I would like to point out that Teenage You didn't bring up the obvious facts," Memorandus raised his chin and said: "like, for example, that you wouldn't stand a chance in the battle with Brotherhood of Badoon, or that you are a prospering captain with your own crew. Usually there is always a part of patient's psyche that tries to defend him from its own accusations. Also, the patient himself tries to talk with his own psyche. If it doesn't happen, it's, of course, a sign of deep self-loathing and lack of certain perspective on oneself. Let me note, mister Udonta, that most of the time you remained passive. When patient is passive against the accusations of his psyche, he needs a better perspective. The patient needs someone, who knows them better than they know themselves. That's why," Memorandus smiled. "I give mister Obfonteri a proposition to be the 'guest'."

Yondu glanced at Kraglin, but didn't say anything. Meanwhile Memorandus continued:

"As I expected, your first mate brought up the right arguments. I hope you will remember them for the future."

"And that's all?" Asked Yondu, rising his eyebrows. "That's the whole therapy? I won't be haunted by my tribe, anymore?"

Memorandus saddened.

"I wish it would be so simple," He began. "but the recovery to mental health and peace of mind is never easy."

Yondu frowned.

"So you lied to me earlier? Should I show you how people, who lied to me, end, you little man?"

The psychologist remained calm.

"I didn't promised an immediate results. However, mister Udonta, do you remember the shovel that appeared in your hand at some point?"

The Centaurian wasn't amused, nevertheless, he replied:

"Yes."He blinked. "I thought I have to dig up the graves for my tribe. Again."

"That's right!" Memorandus exclaimed with enthusiasm and then got serious again. "This thought came to you for a reason. Even though, you've buried your tribe long time ago, you have to bury them again."

"What?" Yondu raised an eyebrow with surprise.

"Mister Udonta, the Zatoan tribe comes back to you, because you can't let go of their death. You have to bury them once and for all, in other words: accept what happened and move on."

"I should forget about them?" Asked the Ravagers' captain, sending the gray alien cold gaze.

The psychologist smiled.

"Mister Udonta, mister Obfonteri, do you know where the name of my starship originated from?" He paused and waited. When neither one of them said anything, Memorandus continued: "'Memorandum' is a word from ancient Terran language, Latin, and it means 'something which should be remembered'. My therapy's main goal is to make my patient realize important things that may help them recover." His smiled weakened and the psychologist proceeded: "I don't ask you, mister Udonta, do forget about your tribe. In fact, one of your fears is that you'll forget about your dead close ones. No, what you need to do, is remember what you've learned today: that you couldn't prevent the massacre of your friends and family; that you're not alone, that you can do many things to preserve the memory of the Zatoan and that you're not a disgrace to them."

Yondu wanted to disagree. After all, what this guy could know about what dead people did and didn't think about the living?

"If you remember all of those things, mister Udonta," Memorandus gave him a sympathetic look. "one day your tribe will rest in peace."