Here we go, chapter 4

Being a bounty hunter or a Guardian, Rocket never had a routine, he seemed to live his life being thrown from one adventure to the next, some good some bad...and most a little bit of both. He loved them they furled his existence, however as the days passed on the Eclector, he developed a routine…and he liked it.

After he got up in the morning after breakfast it was straight to the Hanger to continue his bomb and Yondu was right it was done less than two days, so he immediately set to work creating several more, along with blaster repair to which the crew slipped him units, since each one took less than than five minutes, he soon had a long line of junior Ravagers forming a line, each time taking care to explain where they had gone wrong. It was rare that he would impart his own knowledge, but most of these kids needed it.

Several times a day, Yondu came down from the bridge to inspect what Rocket was doing, the news that he could build bombs that could blow up moons had spread, and Yondu wanted a piece of that. Rocket at first found it intrusive; to have his work inspected. Then he found that he wanted Yondu to be there, to see what he had been doing.
It was when Yondu just turned to him and said in his usual harsh tone that sounded slightly stressed "Good work" that Rocket felt like he was glowing inside and set about building some blasters for the crew.

After the shift was finished, Rocket piled to the mess where he engaged the rest of the Ravagers and learned the reason they had joined a life of crime. It was the usual story, slavery, abuse, some left orphans from the Battle of Xander like Donatell who had to choose between family members who would work him to death on a back ass world, or the Ravagers…to him it really was an easy option.

Rocket observed how much of a family these different species had become and in some ways envied them. They led a life of crime but were a unit. Hell, he was a Guardian, but at times bogged down by some state mission, or having to keep his record clean was difficult to the point he missed being a bounty hunter, even if he was aware he sucked at it. He was aware that he wasn't missing the Guardians as much as he thought he would. Little by little he could see the virtues of this life and wondered at times how different his life would have been if he'd met them straight after escaping Halfworld.

Even though Rocket worked himself to the bone, and at times took a break from the M-Ship hanger to do other work on the ship, usually collapsing into bed, then one night he was asked to check one of the internal lines which meant going through the vents. Rocket knew he should have been pissed at being asked to do it, being the smaller member of the crew, but an order was an order…and that order came from Yondu.

The vents were cramped and cold in some places and warm in the others, and he was amused to find on some of the vent walls the initials PJQ with arrows pointing in the right direction.
So he was following in the crawl space of the famous "Star Dick", he thought with a chuckle as he fixed the internal line which was simply frayed in less than a minute, and leaning back against the metal plate with his jumpsuit sticking to him decided to get one of those delicious beers.

At this time in the mess, there were only two other people and apart from Yondu had the highest power on the ship, and who were currently playing a game resembling top trumps! Something he knew since Peter had created a deck, as part of trying to recapture his childhood, and they often killed a few hours on the Milano playing the game, even if it were made up of Thundercats, Star Wars, He-man and Rocket could never figure out why some guy called Han Solo always topped Boba Fett…Fett was a Bounty Hunter, who cared how he died?

Rocket wanted to be discreet, and just grab his beer and go but since Kraglin seemed to have a sixth sense, didn't even look up as he called his name. "Rocket, we need a third. You in?" Rocket wasn't sure if this was an order or not, but he could see the trump cards were different from the Milano and was curious as he grabbed a beer.
"And get us a beer would ya". Stated Alezduran up as he dropped his last card and run his head through his hands "You are such a dick Kraglin". He muttered, as Rocket finally reached the table and hopped up on a chair.

"Right, the rule is two units a card, winner takes all. Do you know the rules?" Rocket couldn't suppress the smile that crossed his face, as he pulled out his earnings. "Yes, I do".
Three games later, with a new pile sitting across Rocket, who was shuffling the deck and getting ready to deal, there had been delays in the game since the cards that had been created by Peter contained the name and statistics of Ravagers, some he didn't recognise and some Peter had never even met, as he was given a crash course on Ravager history.

"So why does Horuz trump Proctom?" As he studied the card and the Ravager, who was given a minus in everything.
"When Peter got here, he was part of a group who beat the shit out of him. Peter didn't tell anyone, and almost died…Yondu killed the bastard in the end though". Kraglin shrugged, as he placed a card, as Rocket fuelled by the beer decided to ask a question that was playing on his mind.

"So what is the deal with Peter and Yondu anyway? I thought the guy hated him because of the infinity stone thing?"
Both Xandarians, even the one who was a hybrid, just stopped and laughed.
"Oh now if the ship has a complicated relationship, it's those two. But hated him...that never happened". Kraglin stated as he took a drink. "Guy raised him since he was eight, taught him how to survive."

"Though he did go through some dark shit when he was in his teens, but they sorted it out" Alezduran remembered, as both Ravagers shared a look.
"Truth be told, he was secretly proud of being ripped off, finally knew the boy would be alright on his own…well not alone, got his own crew…Legitimate saviour of the universe and all."

"I got here after Peter joined the crew, and yeah it's complicated but that's just Yondu…but don't think he's never cared for the boy. Why do you think they talk so often, it's not for his benefit, and it's also why Yondu won't clean out his room…because he wants him to come home."
Rocket digested the information knowing the messages Peter received and often rushed off to take in privacy, but thought he was getting berated over the stone, as Alezduran finished his bottle and cracked open another one.

"We all knew Peter wanted to leave the moment he moved all his good shit onto the Milano, and Yondu knew it too. But he had to prove that he was capable and he nailed it, why do you think he never killed Peter when he had the chance, and Yondu was the first on his M-Ship to defend Xander, even though everyone on this ship hates Xander…even Peter, shit even me!"

"Why you?" Rocket asked in all innocence, which caused Alezduran and to some extent Kraglin to chuckle. "Hybrids are treated like shit, and after my M-Ship was brought down in the battle, which is how I got this, by the way". He gestured to his face. "I woke up in prison because I'm half Kree…hence "dangerous". In the end, Yondu had to break me out…Fuck Xander". His attitude twisting from jovial to pissed at the memory which Kraglin shared with a look.

"But it all worked out; still kept my looks and got a promotion since Horuz died that day…it's not all bad". He said with a sigh, as Rocket really studied the face under the scars.
"What half of you is Xandarian?" Rocket regretted the words the moment they came out of his mouth, but no one seemed to notice. "My dad, I've never met the bastard, my mum's Kree…and she's a saint". Something Kraglin confirmed as they clicked their bottles.

With the top trumps game pretty much forgotten, Rocket's next words, along with the shiver up his spine that was involuntary…and something he knew he would regret saying died, as the familiar footsteps of Yondu came into the room, and everyone looked up.
"Will you bitches stop playing that stupid game, missions changed. We go tomorrow. So sober up assholes, crew reports in six hours". Before clicking his fingers at Rocket "And you, follow me".

Rocket pocketed his units quickly and feeling like a child about to be scolded by a parent left the room, as the Ravagers took their empty beer bottles to be refilled by someone later.
As they walked back to the crew quarters, Yondu walking quickly so Rocket had to keep up with him, which caused the gyros in his legs to creak slightly, the Captain was the first to speak. "You've done impressive work Rocket, your weapons are frankly brilliant, your bombs are perfect and the crew seems to like you…now I know why my boy keeps you around".

Rocket wondered where this was going, and begun to feel slightly worried…had Yondu overheard the conversation about Peter, and was about to kill him. He knew about the arrow he possessed which could do it in a heartbeat.

"Because of this, I'm going to give you a chance to really prove it. Tomorrow I'm putting you in the field…you're joining the mission" the harshness in Yondu's tone made it clear refusal wasn't an option, as Rocket could barely hide his surprise and glee.

"But, this mission is going to be tense, and no one can fuck this up. Ever since the Battle, it's becoming harder for a Ravager to earn an honest living. Tomorrow will keep us flying, and in pay for the next year…it cannot fail".

Even though Rocket didn't know his part in the mission yet, he just nodded and came to the door of Peter's room. "It won't fail, my bomb is perfect". He said, with slight indignation, what caused Yondu to smile with uneven teeth, "You're counting on it". He grinned as he stepped away, as Rocket genius inventor, Guardian, only five years old, almost danced on the spot like a child…tomorrow he was going to steal some shit!

next chapter, the grand finale xx