/this is fic is way longer than usual, please remember to take breaks! And hey, thanks.

Gamora folded her clothes neatly and put them back into her duffel bag. The plan was simple enough, she would break into those abandoned spacecrafts at the docks and steal whatever air they had left. From there, she could get to the jump point and get out of this solar system. Downstairs, Richie was keeping his little brother entertained by playing the piano. She found it odd that Earthlings had music that wasn't tied to ritual or ceremony. Cammi drifted between tables, pretending to be busy. The restaurant was mostly empty. Peanut perked up as Gamora walked into the kitchen. Cammi noticed her duffel bag and set the kettle down on the counter. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah," Gamora confirmed, she gave the old metal key back to Miss Rider. Cammi brought Gamora a wrapped lunchbox from the fridge. "What's this?" Gamora picked up the lunchbox inspecting it.

"Something for the road. I won't have you leaving hungry," Miss Rider said.

Gamora smiled and tucked it into her duffel bag, "thank you."

Cammi followed Gamora to the door. "Do you know where you're going?" She asked, "I could take you to the docks."

Gamora chewed her lower lip, she would probably get lost if she went by herself. She had wasted enough time here, already. "I'd appreciate that."

"Be back before the lunch rush, okay?" Miss Rider called after Cammi.

"Yeah, fine!" Cammi sighed melodramatically.

"Goodbye, Richie!"

Richie glanced over his shoulder at Gamora, "bye strange girl."

His younger brother, Robbie turned to look in their direction. He had the same cloudy eyes as his mother. He waved one small, chubby hand, "bye, bye!"

Gamora waved back, "bye, Robbie!" Cammi called out. Cammi held the door for Gamora, she felt almost sad to leave.

She let Cammi set the pace as they walked. The city hummed with activity. They strolled through the market and Cammi chattered on about some telekinetic Mutant girl, named Matilda. Gamora thought it might have been from a book or something. She didn't understand most of what Cammi said, but that was okay. The majority of any relationship was pretending to be interested in things your friends cared about. Cammi occasionally paused to wave at people on the streets. Gamora thought she recognized a couple of them from the diner. "Who was that?" She gestured to the burly woman chatting up the mother of three.

Cammi glanced back at the couple, "Those are the Ackbery's, they're regulars." She waved and smiled at the people next to them, "and those are the Nathukick brothers."

"Is everyone a regular?" Gamora said.

"Nah, not everybody," Cammi giggled, " Let's see I don't know, uh, " she searched the crowd for an example. "Oh, I don't know them. Might be from the lower floors." Gamora glanced at where Cammi was pointing and froze. Kraglin was leaning against the counter talking to one of the locals, Yondu stood to his left watching the crowd. A chill ran up her spine. Kraglin words echoed through her mind, You really think that you can outrun us? That we won't find you? She felt just as terrified and utterly alone as the day he said it. She needed more time. Gamora grabbed Cammi's arm and picked up the pace. She needed to get off this tin can, right the hell now.

"You need to go home," Gamora muttered.

"Wait, what? Why?" Cammi matched her tone.

Gamora kept glancing over her shoulder. She wouldn't feel safe until she put some distance between herself and Yondu. "It's dangerous." Cammi rolled her eyes at Gamora. She glanced over her shoulder. The local woman pointed at Gamora, Kraglin looked directly at them. "Crap." She shoved Cammi into the crowd and ran.

"Hey!" Cammi yelped, the men in red jackets raced past her. People scrambled to get out of their way. Gamora was running for the docks. Cammi wasn't about to go home when things are just getting exciting. She took a shortcut through the alleyways, she'd meet up with them at the next intersection.

Gamora abruptly turned the corner and collided with Horuz. She stumbles backward and falls. "Lookie what I caught here," he sneered down at her. Horuz grabs her forearm hauling her to her feet. With the rush of fear came adrenaline, Gamora stomped on his foot. Horuz grimaced and yanked her forward, "c'mon kid."

Horuz didn't notice Cammi move behind them. She picked up a large broom. "Cammi?"

"What's a Cam-" She hit Horuz over the head with the metal broomstick. He spun to look at Cammi, "the fuck?"

"Let her go, you cock sucking horse fucker!" Cammi growled. Horuz looked stunned to have a six-year-old girl cursing at him. Gamora took the chance to lodge her elbow firmly into his gut. His grip loosened enough for her to break free. Horuz stumbled backward, and Cammi tripped him. He fell into the food display. She stuck her tongue out at him.

Gamora punched Cammi lightly in the arm, "Why didn't you go home? It's dangerous, you could die!"

Cammi chuckled and spun the broom like a staff. "To die will be an awfully great adventure."

Gamora narrowed her eyes, "Whoever you're quoting must be a moron too."

"Gamora!" Yondu was stalking towards them.

"We should go." Cammi dropped the broomstick letting it clatter to the ground. She grabbed Gamora's hand and lead them towards the docks.

"She's heading for the elevators!" Kraglin called out. The second mate cut them off at the end of the street. Kraglin and Yondu were closing in on them fast. They were running out of places to go.

Gamora felt her throat tighten, she was suddenly gasping for breath. They were going to capture her again. They'd make her go back to that ship. Yondu was going to be so angry with her. "Quick, up here!" Cammi climbed over the retaining wall and into one of the island gardens. She held out her hand, "they can't get us up here." She was breathless but grinning from ear to ear. Gamora grabbed her hand, and she helped her over the retaining wall. They climbed up the plastic tree in the center of the island garden.

The ravagers stopped at the retaining wall. Yondu glared up at Gamora. "Get your ass down here, little girl!"

"No thanks, I'm good," Gamora shouted down at them.

Yondu snarled, "I ain't playing games wit' you girly! Get down!"

Gamora said in a stern, quiet voice, "I said, no."

"Damn it, Gamora!" He said, "if you ain't coming down, I'll come up!"

Cammi laughed at him, "I'd love to see you try, old man!" She plucked a walnut off a branch and hurled it at Yondu. It bounced harmlessly off his shoulder.

That got a smile out of Gamora, "yeah! We'll throw walnuts at you!"

Yondu kicked the retaining wall, and it shook the whole garden. Hundreds of walnuts shook loose from the tree and rained down on the ravagers. "You ungrateful little shit! I'm trying to protect you!" He shouted in frustration. His outburst caught the attention of the locals. They whispered amongst themselves, watching with concern.

"Protecting me?" Gamora scoffed and stood up on the branch. "You kidnapped me!" She threw a walnut at him, it bounced off his chest. "You yelled at me and you hit me!" Two walnuts hit his shoulder. "I'm never going to stop trying to get away from you, Yondu!" He caught the last walnut before it hit him. He crushed it into a fine powder in his fist.

Cammi turned to Gamora, her eyes wide, "that Yondu?" Gamora nodded solemnly in response. Cammi shot to her feet, "we'll be leaving now." The playful, mocking tone was replaced by something more serious.

Horuz and Kraglin exchanged confused glances, "what?" And then Cammi let out a blood-curdling scream.

She hid her face in the crook of her elbow, large wet tears dripped down her face. The water droplets floated down in the low gravity. "Please, don't hurt me! Help, someone, help me!"

"What are you doing to those girls?" A woman shouted at them. Her hand was dangerously close to the blaster in her shoulder rig. Someone else shouted, "isn't that Cammi? Someone call Rider!" The crowd was pushing closer to the ravagers. Kraglin, Horuz, and Gamora looked dumbstruck. None of them had a clue how to react to the growing mob. Yondu's mohawk glowed a violent red. It reminded Cammi of an exotic fish, showing off bright colors to ward off predators. He was probably poison to the bone too, Cammi mused. Yondu whistled and it felt as loud as a gunshot. Everyone reacted at once.

Gamora flinched away from Yondu. The locals who didn't draw their blasters ran for cover. The ravagers drew their blasters a fraction of a second later. The arrow shot out of its holster leaving a trail of red light. A hulking blurry mass of exoskeleton appeared out of nowhere. Its toothy maw snatched the arrow out of the air. The dog landed with a loud, thump.

Gamora and the ravagers stare slack-jawed at the dog. Peanut had single-handedly disarmed Yondu. Cammi burst into a fit of laughter, she nearly fell out of the tree. Peanut pranced around happily with his new prize. Gamora spotted Richie and Miss Rider watching at the edge of the crowd. Yondu whistled again and Peanuts head snapped around to look at Richie for a command. The arrow rattled between Peanuts teeth. It dragged Peanut forward and the dog tugged back on the arrow playfully. It was a game of tug-of-war. "Well, that's a first, " Kraglin muttered, his attention split between the blasters being shoved in his face and the dog.

Since violence had failed, Yondu was forced to find another way out of the standoff. "This is all a misunderstanding, I'm looking after that girl."

The woman with the shoulder rig shouted up to the girls without looking away from Yondu. "Do you ladies know these men?"

"No, Mrs. Ackbery," Cammi shouted the same moment Gamora mumbled, "I've never seen them before in my life."

"They're lying," Yondu snapped. "Gamora ran away from home, her poor mother is sick with worry."

Gamora's lower lip trembles when her mother is mentioned. "You kidnapped me! Don't talk about my mama!" She threw another walnut at him but missed terribly.

Ackbery pointed her blaster at Yondu instead of Kraglin. "You're outnumbered, if you leave now nobody has to die."

Yondu narrowed his eyes, "I've survived worse odds." The mob pushed the ravagers back, away from the garden.

Once it was safe, Miss Rider and Richie emerged from the crowd. Richie climbed into the garden and called up to them. "Hey, are you guys alright!?" Cammi slid down the tree, Gamora climbed down after her. Miss Riders clothes struck Gamora as odd, she wore a rough bomber jacket over jeans and a T-shirt instead of her usual apron and dress.

"We're okay!" Cammi replied chipperly, she hugged Richie briefly. "What are you doing here, doofus?"

Richie chuckled, "what a weird way to say: thanks for saving me, Richie, whatever would I do without you?"

Cammi shoved him, "I saved myself! You didn't even do anything."

"I brought Peanut!" He pointed to the dog.

Yondu lurched forward, and the locals aimed their blasters at him. They kept him from getting close to Gamora. "Get the hell away from them! They're a bounty hunter!"

"We need to leave. These men are dangerous," Miss Rider urged them. Richie climbed down first and then helped Cammi down. He offered Gamora his hand.

Yondu shoved one of the locals out of the way, "Gamora," someone threw a punch but Yondu easily stepped out of the way. "You need to trust me! You don't understand the danger you're in!"

Gamora backed away from Yondu. She had just met Cammi and the Riders, but she already felt safer with them. She took Richie's hand. "What have you done to deserve my trust?" She asked Yondu in a quiet voice. Gamora didn't have anything left to say to him. "I just want to go home."

Gamora heard Yondu call after her as a brawl broke out, but she didn't turn back. Her hands are shaking. The rush of adrenaline felt like electricity, she needed to move. Gamora ran from the crowds. She ran until her chest ached and her legs hurt. When she stopped running she didn't know where she was. She nearly collapsed next to a mailbox. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes, threatening to spill over. Gamora cursed herself for crying. She was so tired of feeling this way.

"Gamora, " Yondu faltered, as he watched the kids retreat. The bounty hunter glanced back at him and smiled. Rage clouded his thoughts. He kicked someone's knee inward. There was a satisfying snap of bone. His fist clipped some else's jaw, as he sidestepped another blow from his left. He felt the sharp familiar pain of a blaster wound in his chest. The sound of a blaster going off in an enclosed space left his ears ringing. The ravager jackets are blaster proof. It took the brunt of the damage but getting shot could break bones and leave minor burns. The city street erupted into gunfire in mere seconds. Kraglin slammed into Yondu pushing him out of the line of fire. They hid in a nearby alleyway. Horuz and the second mate, leaned around the wall to take shots at the enemy.

Yondu leaned against the wall and tried to calm down. Those idiot kids couldn't protect Gamora from real danger. If the bounty hunters got their hands on Gamora, they'd sell her off to the Badoons battlegrounds, the Kree's farms, or worse, they could deliver Gamora to her father. He couldn't let Ego win. Yondu wanted to punch something, or scream, probably both. "I'm out," Horuz shouted, ejecting the empty clip from his blaster. Yondu caught it and tossed Horuz a full one. The task of refilling the empty clip kept his mind steady. He needed to kill that bitch ass bounty hunter before they killed Gamora. Another dead child on his hands. Fuck, none of this was his fault.

Horuz took a blast to the shoulder. The force threw him back against the wall. There was a soft pop as his shoulder dislocated. "What the hell is so important about one little girl?" He groans through gritted teeth as he tries to pop the bone back in place.

"It's not about the pup, it's about the principle of the thing. Little shit stole my ship." Yondu grumbled, "and after everything I've done for her." How could she trust that fucking bounty hunter more than him? Yondu's mohawk unconsciously flared up.

"You mean, to her," Kraglin said absently. He was busy loading rounds into another magazine. He thought Yondu looked confused and clarified, "After everything you've done to her, she's still not afraid of you." Yondu huffed and glared at nothing. What Kraglin said struck Yondu, Gamora couldn't trust him because he terrified her. It seemed obvious in retrospect, and that pissed him off more.

Horuz shot off five rounds but only two of them hit. "I told you keeping her was a mistake. This never would have happened if we had just dropped her off and got paid."

Yondu punched the wall. The sandstone exterior crumbled away easily, creating a small cloud of dust. "Ya dunno shit 'bout shit! Just shut the fuck up and do your job!"

"Captain, you pay me to," Horuz stopped talking when Yondu outright growled at him.

Kraglin figured now was a good point to step in, "stop bitching Horuz. Nobody even remembers the second mate's name do you see him whining?"

The second mate fired off three rounds, two found their mark. Blood and brain matter splattered across the city street. He dropped the empty magazine out of his blaster as Kraglin tossed him a full one."That's not a fair comparison! He's not supposed to talk," Horuz said.

"I wish you wouldn't talk either," Kraglin replied. Yondu rolled his eyes at them. The second mate fired off two more rounds, he didn't miss. Horuz shoots sporadically, rarely hitting what he was aiming at. Several stray blasts hit the side of the buildings outfitted with sandstone. It kicks up massive amounts of dust making it difficult to see the enemy. "What's the plan, Cap?" Kraglin asked.

"Gimme this," Yondu yanks the blaster out of Horuz's hands. He ejects the empty clip and replaces it with the full one. It had been a while since he held a blaster. The weight was comfortable, familiar. He aimed the blaster at the opposite wall.

"What are you," That's all Horuz gets to say before Yondu empties the clip into the sandstone. It creates a huge rolling dust cloud that covers the city street. They can't see three feet in front of them. Yondu presses a finger to his lips and waves for them to follow. The ravagers creep out of the alleyway, and down the street.

By the time the dust has settled the ravagers are already down the street moving with the crowds. They're covered in a thick layer of grime. Kraglin coughs and spits. Horuz shakes the sand from his hair like a dog. The locals keep their distance from the ravagers as they exchanging hushed words about them. They get dirty looks and people hold their children a little closer as they passed. Word travels fast on a small station. "Captain, the plan?" Kraglin prompted him for a second time.

"Kill that bitch bounty hunter and bring Gamora back," Yondu growled. He was going to kill that damn scorpion-dog that stole his arrow too.

Peanut caught up to Gamora first, the giant dog dropped the arrow at her feet. He licked the tears off her face. She smiled and patted his head affectionately, "Thanks, boy." Cammi, Richie, and his mother found Peanut laying in the street so Gamora could rub his belly. Gamora's eyes are puffy and her face is flushed a soft blue-grey.

Miss Rider knelt down next to Gamora, "are you alright?" Gamora nodded without looking up at her. "You have been very brave today, I am so proud of you." Gamora leaned her weight into Miss Rider, and she rubbed warmth back into Gamora's shoulders. "We can return to the diner. You are welcome to stay as long as you need," She suggested politely.

"No, I wanna go home," Gamora repeated herself. "Can you walk with me to the docks? I have a ship there."

Miss Rider nodded and stood up, "whatever you want, dear."

Gamora stood up and Richie glued himself to her side. The sent cinnamon and butterscotch lingered on his clothes after too many hours spent working in the diner. Gamora thought humans were warm and soft. Richie whistled and gave Peanut the command to follow. Gamora flinched, immediately looking around for any sign of Yondu before she realized it was only Richie. "Oh, sorry," He said, "I forgot."

"Its okay," Gamora said numbly.

Peanut picked up the arrow in his mouth and trotted alongside them. The dog leaned against Miss Rider, guiding her as they walked. "How did you know crying like that would work, back there?" Gamora asked Cammi as they reached the elevator.

She laughed like Gamora had said something funny. "I'm a cute little girl, people want to help me."

Richie snorted, "I dunno about cute, but you're definitely little." Cammi shoved him, and he shoved her back.

"Richie behave," Miss Rider chided him softly.

Richie gave his mother an odd look, "okay." They stepped onto the elevator, Cammi held onto the support bar as it lurched up.

Gamora glared at the ground. Nobody had ever shown her any empathy when food was scarce. When her mother got sick, nobody cared. "If I had cried like that on the Eclector all I would have got was smacked, " she grumbled bitterly. Miss Rider glared at nothing and set her jaw. The elevator door opened and they stepped out onto the nicer part of town, Miss Rider and Peanut took the lead.

Cammi stares off into space as if deep in thought. "Well, crying doesn't work on bad guys, but for every Yondu in the galaxy, there's someone like Miss Rider too. They want to help and they will if you let them." She plucked a flower from a nearby garden and tucked it into Gamora's hair. "You're adorable. You should use it."

Gamora flushed and touched the flower in her hair. "It's plastic." She didn't know why she was surprised.

"Like this shithole could afford real flowers, " Cammi scoffed.

"Cammi!" Richie squeaked glancing nervously at his mother. To his surprise, Gamora and Miss Rider both chuckled. When they reached the docks, The woman at the security center buzzed them through decontamination. There were two new ships docked on the flight deck. Gamora immediately recognized the Scarab, it was part of Yondu's fleet of ships. She looked at the abandoned cargo ships and felt nervous. She didn't know how the others would react to her stealing.

"Hey, ma!" Richie picked up a rock. His mother turned to look at him, as Richie hurled the rock at her head.

"Richie!" Cammi shrieked in alarm.

Miss Rider easily caught the stone before it hit her. Richie glared at the woman, "you are not my mother."

The woman who was not Miss Rider sighed. Her real voice was low and smooth, there was something distinctly inhuman about it. "What gave it away?"

Cammi and Gamora slowly backed away from the woman. "My ma hates it when Cammi swears, and she never ever calls me Richie." He scowled at them, "who are you, really?"

When the woman blinks her inner set of eyelids, her eyes turn gold with narrow pupils. Her hair grew longer and turned a dark brown, hiding her ears. Her skin cracked and flaked away revealing scaly forest green skin beneath. "You can call me Jazinda." Her hand went to her hip, and everyone jumped. Gamora tensed, ready to run if she drew her weapon.

Richie whistled, "settle down!" Peanut dropped the arrow and snarled at Jazinda.

"Easy, " Jazinda held up her hands, palms out, towards the dog. "Just reaching for my transmitter. If I wanted to hurt you I would have done it already."

Gamora narrowed her eyes, "I've heard that line before."

Jazinda opened an app on her transmitter as she talked. "Your father is willing to pay a lot of money to whoever kills your kidnappers. There's a nice little bonus for bringing you home too." She slid the transmitter across the flight deck to Gamora.

There is a fixed price for returning Gamora, but they were crowdfunding Yondu's execution. The number kept going up. Yondu must have a lot of enemies. Gamora kicked the transmitter back to Jazinda. "How did you find me?"

Jazinda's mouth quirked into a half smile. "I monitor the Nova's local APB channel." She picked up the transmitter and switched apps. Jazinda opened security footage of Gamora stealing the air canister from the local store. "Someone's been misbehaving."

Gamora slapped her forehead with her palm and groaned. Stupid, of course, the store had security cameras! She was so concerned with escaping she overlooked the small details, again. "You robbed Mr. Q'ogi?!" Richie yelled at her.

Gamora folded her arms across her chest defensively. "That guy was a jerk, and price gouging is illegal! It's basically stealing." Nevermind, that Gamora didn't know the store clerk was price gouging when she stole from him.

"That doesn't make stealing from him okay!" Richie shouted back, "he runs a small business! That's how he supports his family!"

Her eyebrow twitched into a scowl, "well, I'm trying to get back to mine!"

Peanut noticed that someone was approaching before anyone else did. He moved to guard Richie. Jazinda placed a careful hand on Gamora's shoulder, "I'm offering to take you back home to them."

Gamora knew Jazinda meant well, but she was still feeling angry and defensive, "No! My home is with my mama on Polemachus! I don't have a father!"

Peanut let out a low growl, Richie jerked to look around, "Something is wrong."

Jazinda shoved Gamora towards the end of the flight deck. "You need to leave," she ordered. Cammi grabbed Gamora by the hand and they ran. Peanut and Richie weren't far behind them. They hunkered down behind the old water hauler, As Yondu and his men walked onto the flight deck. Kraglin was on his left and the second mate stood at his right. They both had their blasters drawn and lowered at their sides, Horuz stood in the back. Yondu noticed the arrow laying on the ground, but doesn't move to holster it. He gives the flight deck a once over, "Where's the pup?"

"Somewhere safe, where you won't find her," Jazinda said calmly. She was standing in front of her ship, her hands tucked in her pockets.

Yondu studied Jazinda's clothes, thinking out loud he said, "you're the same bounty hunter from before. You're a long way from home, Skrull."

"And somebody cut off your fin, poor little Centaurian." Jazinda cooed at him, tauntingly, "if we're done pointing out the obvious, care to dance, boys?" The ravagers leveled their blasters at Jazinda. In the same second, she pressed a button on her keys.

The kids jumped as the flight deck became a battleground. Cammi covered her ears trying to suppress the sound of gunfire. The twin machine guns mounted on the front of Jazinda's ship went off. Yondu and Kraglin drop to the floor. Horuz takes cover behind the wall that separates the flight deck from the rest of the docks. A spray of bullets hit the wall. Kraglin and the second mate managed to get off four rounds. Three rounds scorched the hull of her ship. The fourth clipped Jazinda's bicep. She's thrown backward against her ship and falls off the edge of the flight deck. A bullet went clean through the second mate's skull. He dropped like a rag doll. His head lulled to the side, he's looking directly at Gamora but the second mate isn't seeing anything anymore.

Gamora scrambled back, running into Richie. "She just killed that man! She killed him!" Even yelling Richie can barely hear her, but he can read the terror on her face just fine.

In the next second, Jazinda caught the edge of the landing gear with her good arm. It's a long drop to the next level of the city. She wouldn't survive the fall. Yondu rolled onto his back and whistled. The arrow shot off towards the machine guns but started to curve off to the left. It shattered the Anilius' windshield. Broken glass was thrown across the flight deck. Horuz cringed because he knew he'd be the one to fix it, "You missed!" Yondu spat a curse, how the fuck did he miss? He tried to call the arrow back, but it swerved to the left again and nearly hit Horuz, "Watch it!"

"We need to take out those machine guns," Kraglin said, taking shots at the ship.

"I know!" Yondu yelled in frustration, "I'm gonna kill that damn dog!" The dog must have bent the arrow. It couldn't fly in a straight line.

Jazinda gritted her teeth and swung herself across the bottom of her ship to the lower hatch. The wound in her arm burned something fierce. The body didn't know how else to process that much pain. She pulled herself into the ship and moved to the gunner's station.

The machine guns suddenly stopped. The silence was deafening, Yondu and Kraglin exchanged glances. They watched the machine gun cautiously as they slowly get off the ground. There was a loud mechanical clank of machinery, as the machine guns are reloaded and switched to manual. "Go. Go, go, go!" Kraglin shouted as he ran to where Horuz is taking cover. It takes Yondu three tries to hit the metal joint holding the left machine gun to the ship. The joint snaps in half. It slides off the ship and landed on the flight deck. Jazinda watched them through a screen. The right machine gun spits out a spray of bullets in Yondus direction. He's forced to retreat behind the steel wall with Kraglin and Horuz. The steel wall was already dented, it wouldn't last forever.

"Horuz, it's a 6th gen Xandarian racing ship. Where's the core located?" Horuz thought for a moment and then did his best to describe the layout of the ship.

Horuz folded his arms, "are you sure this a good idea? You're shooting blind, and if you miss even once it could give away the plan." Not to mention, the arrow couldn't fly in a straight line. Yondu knew it was a risky plan. The machine gun stopped shooting. Something shrieked and exploded against the wall. It shook the entire station.

"Missiles," Kraglin said, "she's shooting missiles at us!"

Yondu looked Horuz in the eye, "I won't miss." He whistled. There was a tense moment, the ravagers held their breath.

Jazinda's ship exploded in a fireball of death and destruction. Yondu hadn't considered that taking out Jazinda meant damaging his own ships, or that it would set all of the air in the docking bay on fire. Anilius was thrown across the docks, slamming into the abandoned water hauler before skidding across the flight deck. The Scarab caught the worst of the shrapnel. It cut through the hull like tissue paper. It skewered the ship's core and set off a second explosion. Metal shrapnel took out the upper half of the wall. When Yondu's ears stopped ringing he could hear the soft roar of the air filtration system. It was quickly trying to replenish the air supply. Every breath made his chest ache, and he was light-headed. His skin felt hot, cancer, undoubtedly. He coughed, "everyone still alive?"

Horuz groaned in response. Kraglin was picking metal out of his skin, "wish I wasn't." Yondu slowly stood up and looked around. The Anilius was totaled, and there was nothing left of the Scarab. Horuz staggered over to the Anilius to asses the damage. Kraglin was looking at the bloody smear of ground meat that used to be the second mate. There wasn't enough left for a funeral. He felt guilty that he didn't feel anything looking at his corpse. He worked with the guy for years, lived with him, and Kraglin couldn't even remember his name. There was no sign of Jazinda."Nobody could have survived this."

"Then where's her damn body?" Yondu growled before calling the arrow back to his holster. It was still smoldering. "Skrulls are damn cockroaches," Jazinda smirked from her hiding spot on top of the water hauler. Her sniper rifle rested in her lap. One of the pros of having a Xandarian ship is that there is a safety feature built into the core. It gives her just enough time to grab her emergency bag and get out. Jazinda duct taped gauze over the gash in her stomach. It was best if her organs stayed inside her body. She heard Yondu barking orders, "Horuz, I want that ship fixed yesterday. Kraglin, you're with me."

Kraglin and Yondu stepped inside the abandoned water hauler. He knew Gamora had to be hiding in there. He would drag her out by her pigtails if he had to. The moment the main airlock door closed, the kids collectively breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you all okay?" Richie asked them.

Jazinda jumped off the water hauler, landing silently behind the kids. She grabbed Gamora by the collar, "don't scream." Gamora froze, her muscles tensed. Cammi and Richie were just as startled, Peanut let out a low growl in warning. "Don't make me kill your dog," Jazinda said calmly. Richie gave him a command and Peanut moved to his side. "Come on," Jazinda walked Gamora towards the Anilius. She shouldered her rifle and aimed it at Horuz. "Hey, shitbag, drop your weapon!" Jazinda called out to him.

Horuz slowly pulled out his blaster and slid it across the flight deck. "How are you still alive? Who are you?"

"A cockroach," Jazinda snarled, "how long will it take you to fix the ship?"

Horuz glanced nervously at the water hauler. "She's totaled. Three hours at least, without help."

Jazinda let go of Gamora and dropped her rifle to her side. Horuz seemed genuinely surprised when she asked, "how can we help?"

"I don't like being manhandled," Gamora grumbled while straightening her outfit. Horuz slowly moved his hand into his jacket pocket and opened one of the local channels on his transmitter. "Why should I help you?" Gamora snapped.

Yondu was surprised to hear her voice echo through the abandoned water hauler. It took him a moment to realize it was coming from his transmitter. That sneaky little bitch, Gamora was back outside with Horuz.

Jazinda took a deep breath, "nobody can go anywhere until the ship is repaired. If you help we can get this done faster."

Gamora sat down on the flight deck, huddled in a ball. She said in a tight voice, "I won't help until I know nobody's going to kidnap me. I wanna go home."

Jazinda shrugged, "I told you I would take you back to-"

"I don't have a father." Gamora cut her off curtly.

"Fine! Suit yourself, if you want to die of dehydration on this tin can be my guest." Jazinda snapped at her, "I'm getting the hell out of here."

Cammi and Richie sat down near Gamora, while Jazinda and Horuz repaired the hull. Peanut paced anxiously around the ship, picking up on all the nervous energy. Cammi got bored and called out, "Are you sure you're a pirate? You don't have a hook for a hand or a big feathery hat." Horuz tried to ignore her.

Jazinda chuckled, "You don't need those things to be a pirate."

"Oh, well that's lame," Cammi sighed. After what felt like an eternity to Cammi but in reality was more like thirty seconds, she dug through her pockets looking for loose change. "If I give you five units will you say 'shiver me timbers'?"

Richie burst into a fit of giggling, "Oh, my god." Gamora snickered and hid her face in her hands.

Horuz glared at her with murderous intent, "are you making fun of me?"

"You drive a hard bargain, sir!" Cammi pulled out a fist full of dollars, "I'll give you fifteen units! But you have to say 'Arrgh' too!"

Jazinda snickered despite herself and hit her head on the metal framework. Horuz's eye twitched. "Cammi, let the man work,"Jazinda said.

"Fine," Cammi huffed and stuffed her units back into her pockets. "No fun allowed." Jazinda and Horuz returned to work.

When the door to the cargo ship slid open, Peanut was the first to react. He barked and growled at the ravagers, guarding the kids. Cammi hid behind Jazinda. She pointed her rifle at Yondu, and Kraglin aimed his blaster at her. Horuz ignored all of them and continued to work on the ship. Yondu and Jazinda shouted over each other, "put the gun down! Drop your blaster!"

"I'm taking my ship and the girl, Skrull," Yondu announced coldly.

"Over my dead body," Jazinda snapped.

"That could be arranged," He narrowed his eyes.

Gamora shot to her feet, "I'm not going anywhere with you!" She saw Jazinda smirk, and shouted, "I'm not leaving with you either! You killed that man, you're worse than they are!"

"How does that make me…" Jazinda furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and studied Yondu's reaction. "Oh, she doesn't know. You didn't tell her."

Gamora glanced between Jazinda and Yondu, "tell me what?"

Yondu's mohawk glowed red, he snarls, "It wasn't my fault!"

"Word on the street is that he's a baby killer." Jazinda spat the words, "got disowned by his own guild for it too."

Yondu forgets about Peanut in his rage and whistles. The arrow flies towards Jazinda, but Peanut snatches it out of the air. The dog prances proudly over to Richie and drops the arrow at his feet. "God damn it! Shit! Fuck!" Yondu kicks a piece of scrap metal. It wasn't nearly as satisfying as killing her would have been.

"Can you even call yourself a ravager after what you've done?" Jazinda taunted him.

"Shut the fuck up! You don't know what you're talkin' about!" He's practically foaming at the mouth. Gamora's expression is blank. She's too overwhelmed to really comprehend what she's hearing.

Richie knew how to deal with temper tantrums from experience with Cammi. His mother always sent Cammi to her room to cool down before they talked. Richie thought it would be dangerous to send an armed criminal to his room, so he would have to skip that part. Richie's voice is as gentle as a warm summer breeze, "then why don't you explain it to us?"

Yondu looks at Richie like he was noticing he was there for the first time. "I… what?"

Richie takes a slow deep breath and watched as Yondu unknowingly mimics him. "I want to understand your side. Please, explain it to me," Richie says calmly.

Jazinda rolls her eyes, "there's no other side. There's no good reason to,"

Cammi shouted over her, "Hey! It isn't your turn to talk yet! You have to wait!" Jazinda was confused by why a small child was scolding her. Cammi had realized what Richie was doing and decided to play along. Not all adults had good mothers to teach them the importance of taking turns and listening, and sometimes they simply forgot.

Cammi and Richie both looked at Yondu and waited for him to explain himself. He shifted uncomfortably, "I didn't know he was killing them. I'd get the pups name, a photo, and a location. Ego said he was their father, that he just wanted to see his pups again. I'd pick them up from their homeworld and bring them to Ego." He sighs heavily, his gaze drifting to Gamora. "I didn't find out until it was too late to help them."

"Okay, it's your turn now," Cammi cheerfully informed Jazinda. Gamora and Richie stayed quiet, both trying to process all the information being thrown at them.

Jazinda let the rifle hang off her shoulder by the strap. She pulled out her transmitter, quickly flipping through tabs. "This Ego?" She slid her transmitter across the flight deck to Yondu. It was opened to the app with both their bounties.

Yondu spat a string of curses when he saw the amount for his execution. Kraglin whistled, "why'd ya even bother tryin' to steal the kid?"

Jazinda half-shrugged in reply, "prefer not to get my hands dirty."

Once Yondu had calmed down enough to speak again, he confirmed Jazinda's fears. "That's the bastard," he slid the transmitter back to Jazinda.

Jazinda scowled at nothing, and after a tense moment she asks, "Can you prove it?"

Yondu nodded, "all my evidence is back on the Eclector."

"Fuck," Jazinda exhales the word. She pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes. She was trying to decide what the best option was. "Okay, let's say I believe you. Where does that leave Gamora?"

"I wanna go home," She droned out numbly.

Jazinda sighs heavily, "that's not an option any more kid. There's going to be more people like me coming after you. They won't be as nice as I am."

Gamora shook her head, anger shaking her out of her dissociative state. "No, I wanna see my mama."

Yondu glares down at her, "your mama is sick. She can't protect you, and if she tries they'll kill her."

"You're lying! You're a liar!" Gamora stomped her foot in protest.

"Hey," Richie touches her on the shoulder gently bringing her closer. "He's not lying."

"I don't want to go with them! I want my mama!" Gamora was on the verge of tears. Cammi pushed past Jazinda and hurried to her friends side. The three of them stood huddled together while the adults talked amongst themselves.

"So this whole situation sucks ass," Cammi stated bluntly. That got a small smile from Gamora. "I know it's really scary right now, but I'll give you my number. You can call me whenever it gets too scary, okay?"

"Me too!" Richie and Cammi both wrote out their numbers for Gamora.

She sniffled and rubs at her eyes, "Thank you."

The adults were talking as they repaired the ship. Horuz was directing everyone. Apparently, they had decided that Jazinda would cover the price of air for a ride back to the red planet, Leeto. Cammi and Richie stay with Gamora trying to comfort her the best they can. When they finally got the Anilius up and running, it made Gamora feel sick. She hated this. Yondu moved towards Gamora with the intent of dragging her back onto the ship, but Jazinda stopped him. "Fuck no! I'm not kidnapping her. If she comes along it has to be her choice," Jazinda pressed the barrel of her gun into Yondu's gut.

"That's a death sentence," Yondu growled.

"Her life. Her choice." Jazinda said slowly. Yondu rolled his eyes and they both looked at Gamora. "Are you ready?"

Gamora hugged Cammi and Richie goodbye. Richie brushed tears off Gamora's face with his thumb. "You need to be brave now. Be a big girl, and don't die."

Gamora walks away from her friends and joins the others. "I'm ready."