Chapter Seven
"Evacuation protocols, go, go, go!"
Haraks was already running before Brother Doc's voice had finished crackling across the ship's speakers. Most of his siblings would already be in the safe zone, the little ones cooped up in the medical rooms with many of the others defending the hanger. Haraks was one of the unfortunate few still in danger, still needing to reach at least the hanger before the doors locked.
He passed a window, barely flinching as he saw the star-bright glow of his father wrapped obscuring the glass and pressing closer with an ominous creak. He rounded a corner, bouncing off the metal and keeping momentum. The hanger was only a short distance away and the ship's groans were beginning to reach a higher pitch.
In front of him a figure lay crumpled on the floor and he snatched them up by the back of their jacket without missing a stride, shifting them over his shoulder and dimly recognising them as Elder but Young Sister Vigdis of Asguard.
He took another turn, the hanger doors looming wide open before them, Respected Sister Maris standing in the doorway counting them in. He stumbled forwards as the ship rocked, one of The Sibling Brood brushing passed him in a flurry of feathers and staggered the last few feet through the door.
"Haraks and Vigdis accounted for." Respected Sister Maris barked into her communicator, "who else are we waiting on?"
The communicator whined in her ear and she winced at the feedback, ushering Haraks away from the door. The hanger was filled with his siblings, young ones of every species huddled into anxious groups on the various catwalks or sprawled on the floor near Sister Lelon and Sibling Arax's makeshift triage station. He was briefly taken aback by the lack of Brother Doc but supposed that the older Xandarian must be the one on the other end of Maris' communicator. He handed Sister Vigdis over to them, carefully sidestepping his Kylorian sibling with the obvious broken leg and placing gently on the floor before returning to Maris.
Haraks was not the only one lurking near the door. Brother Peter and Sister Iln had both planted themselves firmly behind Respected Sister Maris, both scanning the corridor for any sign of a slower running sibling. The ship groaned again, and someone screamed as something in the distance snapped, the hollow clang echoing around the ship.
"Stay where you are." Respected Sister Maris snapped and Haraks looked up to see her arm snap out like a knife, cutting across Sister Iln's and Brother Peter's path to the door as the two started forwards. In front of the open door the corridor stretched away and, there, where it turned to the left, a bright glow was flickering.
"Everyone stays back." Respected Sister Maris commanded the order rippling through the hanger in a wave of almost audible tension as Haraks' siblings snapped to attention. His hand darted down to his blaster, still firmly attached to his hip out of the corner of his eye he saw the flutter of movement of hi siblings grabbing their own weapons.
Someone in the distance hollered and Haraks' bristled, ready for a fight, as Eldest Sibling Kraglin barrelled around the turn, pushing Sister Nayadina before him, Brother Chii dangling from the other arm. He shoved Sister Nayadina towards the door and near bowled Brother Chii after her before turning back. Respected Sister Maris darted forward to pull the two firmly into the room and safely behind their older siblings.
In front of them Eldest Sibling Kraglin had turned, blaster held in front of him as Father Yondu fell 'round the corner, arrow a scarlet blur around him as it slashed and stabbed at the light.
Respected Sister Maris' earpiece crackled again and she winced, grip on the door turning white knuckled as Father Yondu fell back. The light glowed fiercer, a piercing white that dug into Haraks' eyeballs until he had no choice but to turn away, blinking black spots out of his vision.
Even blinded he recognised the soft hissing gasp of Brother Peter and the trembling whimper of Sister Nayadina.
Haraks forced himself to squint through the pain and watched as the Light that was their Blood resolved itself into a humanoid figure, glowing dangerously like the spots of a Sea Squid and unfaltering before the deluge of Yondu's arrow and Kraglin's blaster fire.
The creature spoke, to low for him to hear and swatted at the arrow as one would a fly, snatching it from the air and snapping it neatly in half. Yondu lunged forward with a battle cry, and the light – Ego – grabbed him by the arm, holding him high and plunging the broken halves of the arrow into his chest. Kraglin yelled, lunging forward and jumping on Ego who tossed Yondu to the floor the grab Kraglin by the legs.
"What ch'ou waitin' for?" Yondu yelled, head twisted to look at them. "Go!"
Maris faltered, hand hovering over the button to lock the doors.
"You can't." Iln whispered.
"Sister." Haraks murmured, unsure if he was condoning or condemning her.
"That's an order girl!" Yondu shouted, scrabbling for Kraglin's discarded blaster.
Something in Kraglin gave way, snapping with an audible crunch as he screamed in pain and Ego discarded him, turning his attention back to Yondu, his false form smiling in grotesque victory. He raised one foot and pressed it firmly onto Yondu's chest. There was a screech of metal as he tugged something from the wall and, slowly, almost gently but without pause began pressing it into Yondu's skin. Haraks couldn't look away. Maris' arm still blocked the doorway, Yondu'r order was still in place. But that pipe was going all the way through. Soon there would be no Yondu left to disobey.
The hanger was filled with shouting, screaming. Siblings trying to get close to the door, trying to hold the others back, trying to do something.
Heat and light radiated out, and for a moment Haraks feared that their father was already there. Then the light pushed outwards, rushing down the corridor and flinging Ego's false form away, disintegrating it as it barrelled down the path.
The light died away and in it's echo Haraks could see their father starting to reform. But he wasn't reformed yet. Ignoring Maris' cry he dashed out, grabbing Kraglin by the scruff of his neck and seeing one of the brood follow his lead, grabbing a beakful of Yondu's coat and dragging him back towards the door.
Kraglin moaned in pain as he was moved but Haraks had no time to be gentle, an arm of light was already reaching for them, blaster-fire from behind Haraks, disintegrating the arm as fast as it could form.
As he reached the door, hands emergered, taking the burden from him and pulling Kraglin to safety. Maris slammed her hand down on the button the second they were through, so close Haraks felt the doors graze his ankle as they closed.
"Get us out of here, Doc." Maris snapped into her ear and the engines rumbled, the front half of the ship breaking away from the rest, rocketing forward into a jump and leaving their father clutching only scrap metal.
Xxx
Wiz was quickly coming to the conclusion that cages were not for him. Besides, what kind of weirdo had a cage readily available anyway. Wiz glowered out at their kidnapper. He carefully didn't think about Peter, who had been rolled into what Doc had once assured them was an important Terran recovery position. He didn't think about the Ravager jacket blotting the blood that poured from his brother's head or the way that Nayadina trembled beside him or the sharp distressed tang of metal and rust that oozed from Glim.
"Hey." He called, leaning forwards, careful not to touch the bars – they had learned that mistake early on and Chii was nursing a nasty burn on his tail from the lesson – "Hey, dipshit I'm talkin' to you."
Haraks placed his hand onto Wiz's shoulder, with a chastising "Brother, Wiz. Perhaps antagonization is not the wise course of action."
Wiz shook him off, "Hey, Hey ugly. Pay attention."
Their captor turned, ugly face furrowed into an even uglier frown.
"Watch your tongue. You are in the presence of the glorious TazerFace!"
Wiz frowned, and Lana snorted, huddling closer to Peter. "'M sorry, the glorious who?"
"TazerFace." The man bellowed again, arms rising.
"…So, is that like a name? Like that's what you're mama called you? You popped outta that womb an' your mama went, looks like a TazerFace Ta' me?"
"It is a name I chose!" TazerFace refuted, spittle flying towards them.
"Um," Nayadina rustled her petals and slid closer to Haraks. "why?"
"That is a certainly a wise question, Sister Nayadina." Haraks said, patting her on the head.
"It is, Metaphorical!" Tazerface boomed, arms rising even higher as I to an invisible audience.
"He does know there's no one else here right?" Wiz whispered, feeling a brief burst of pride as the little ones snickered and even Nayadina flicked her crowning petals in amusement.
There was groan of pain and Wi glanced down in alarm to see Peter rolling onto his back, squinting at the dim lights as though they hurt. "You know," He mumbled, words slurred, "I might not've gone to Middle School, but I'm pretty sure that's not how metaphors work."
Chii let out a crow of delight and went to leap on his older brother, only stopped by Haracks grabbing him by the shoulder's before he could land.
"Yeah," Peter grimaced, Lana propping him up as he uncurled into a seated position. "Let's leave the jumping on big brother Peter until his brain isn't trying to squish out his ears."
Haraks frowned. "That sounds painful, brother Peter."
"Metaphor buddy. Like an actual metaphor."
"Ah."
"Do not ignore me!"
Wiz startled, looing over his shoulder at TazerFace who was glaring at them through the bars.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that. Forgot you were there." He said.
TazerFace growled. And turned back to the pilot's seat. "You will do well not to anger me. We begin our decent. Your father will be with you soon. And your death will come at the hands of TazerFace."
Piece said he seemed content to slump into the chair, and stab at the monitor in front of him, starting their decent.
Wiz swallowed and felt Nayadina slip her hand into his. He clutched back just as tightly. Glim had oozed herself onto Peter's lap as she trembled with sharp citrus fear. Haraks nudged them together, gathering them into a loose huddle. His eyes were pained as he brushed his hands cross their heads as if to remember the feeling.
"What are we going to do?" Nayadina whimpered and Wiz squeezed the hands tighter. The ridges of her petals dug lines into his palm as he tried to squeeze them closer together.
"We fight. We win." Lana declared, chin tilting up and dark eyes glittering with defiance.
"No, sister." Haraks said, brushing his knuckles across her sandpaper skin. "We cannot win."
Lana frowned. "We always win."
"I know, sister." Haraks tugged her fins flat. "here we win by staying silent. Do you understand?"
There was pricking in the corners of Wiz's eyes and he blinked it away, glancing up at the bars so he couldn't meet anyone's eyes.
In his periphery he could see Lana shake her head.
Haraks sighed. "We win by not allowing him to know where our siblings are. No matter what. Do you understand now, Sisters, Brothers? No matter what we must stay silent. If we see a chance to run, we take it. If we see a chance to win, we fight. But no matter what, we do not speak."
The ship whined as its reverse thrusters activated, stopping their decent with a harsh jolt that had them clutching at each other to not fall into the bars. Wiz swallowed the lump out of his throat and tugged Nayadina closer, allowing Chii to wrap around his leg. He hadn't needed the warning to know that they were getting close. He could feel their father thrumming beneath his feet like lightning.
The bay doors opened like grave and in front of them the golden fields of Ego's planet sprawled. Their cell opened with an almost inaudible click as TazerFace pressed a button on the monitor. There was somebody standing in the field beyond. His face was impossible to see through in the light but not even Wiz could pretend that he didn't know who was waiting out there.
"Move." TazerFace snapped, slamming his hand into the bars. "I want my money."
Lana snarled at him on reflex and Peter scooped her and Glim up, staggering to his feet and leading them out of the cage towards the door, ducking away from TazerFace's shove. Wiz followed. What else was there to do?
Together they stumbled down the ramp, towards the one person they had spent their life avoiding the person who was running towards them.
"Oh, thank the gods."
What?
Wiz flinched backwards as their father reached them, hands fluttering across them as though anxious to touch but unsure of how to.
"What?" He tugged Nayadina behind him, squinting at the person. Maybe it wasn't Ego. He had a humanoid form, pale skin and dark, curly hey streaked with grey. Perhaps he was another sibling? One Ego had a purpose for.
"Are you all okay? I could just kill that blue bastard for keeping you from me." Probably Ego exclaimed, reaching out to tilt Peter's face up and examine the injury. Peter flinched backwards, letting Lana drop down to curl around Chii, further away from their father.
"Enough." TazerFac snapped. "We had an agreement. My credits."
"Of course." Ego straitened, waving a negligent hand. "the credits have been transferred to your account. You can check if you want."
TazerFace grunted, turning to stomp back onto the ship. Business done the man clearly had no desire for pleasantries.
"Come on, come on." Ego encouraged, ushering them in front of him towards a large, ornately decorated palace. "I've been waiting so long to show you or your siblings around this place. I may have gotten a little carried away with the decorating but I'm sure that can be changed with time."
Bewildered, Wiz glanced over at Peter who shrugged, apparently as lost as he was. Even Haraks looked vaguely taken aback and his face wasn't particularly expressive at the best of times. For want of a better idea they allowed themselves to be shuffled in the direction of the palace, grabbing onto loose clothing and arms to form an awkward sort of chain – desperate to stay together.
"Oh, one more thing." Ego said, tone turning from genial to cold. Chii hissed slightly and Nayadina rustled nervously. "I do believe I specified unharmed."
TazerFace screamed.
Wiz started to turn but Haraks caught him by the face, keeping him painfully still.
"Do not look." Haraks snapped, head twisted to look behind and grey skin turning pale.
Wiz swallowed. TazerFace was still screaming, the noise swallowed by the grinding of metal and stone. "Yeah, got it. Not gonna."
Haraks nodded firmly, eyes still horrified and fell into pace beside him, placing himself between Ego and the rest of them.
"Oh, I've got so much to show you." Ego said, striding to the front of the group – easily done as Wiz's siblings parted before him. Careful to stay out of arm's reach. "What do you think?"
He waved an arm at their surroundings. It was certainly opulent, golds and marbles and intricate designs. Wiz's fingers ached to pry of some of that fine filigree from the walls. The shimmering pearl could set them up for months.
"I prepared it for you and your siblings when I learned that my seed had born fruit." Wiz wrinkled his nose at the term. Then Ego's face fell. "Then that damn pirate kidnapped you. I've been searching for you ever since."
"We weren't kidnapped." Chii protested with a sibilant hiss, climbing up Lana's back so that he didn't have to slither across the cold marble floor.
"Of course you were." Ego explained, leading them further inside. "'Course that bastard would never tell you the truth. It's all my fault really. I hired him to pick up some of your sisters." He shook his head ruefully. "I should have never trusted a criminal, I just thought it was the fastest way to get them home. Once he had picked them up he started demanding more and more money. Of course I would have paid any number to see your sisters safe but Yondu went crazy. Started saying I had reneged on the deal. Took the kids and ran. Of course I never imagined he'd go after the rest of you just to see me suffer."
He turned back round, gazing at them beseechingly. Eyes pleading for forgiveness.
Wiz swayed backwards, glancing around at his siblings to see that they looked as unmoved as he felt. Nayadina had hidden herself in his shadow and seemed reluctant to come out and Peter had tucked the trouble twins behind his legs where Ego couldn't see them.
Their father sighed. Shoulders slumping. "You aren't buying it are you?"
Haraks raised his chin defiantly. "No."
"Ah well." Ego straightened, face going cold. "The hard way it is."
Wiz didn't see Haraks move but he was in front of them, arms opened wide between them and their father.
Ego rolled his eyes. "Not what I meant. I'm after information."
Lana growled and snapped, "We aren't telling you."
"Well I didn't even ask yet." Ego sighed, staring at them as though they were being the unreasonable ones. "That force that sent me off your ship, who was it?"
Wiz frowned. What force? He'd been near the back of the hanger and hadn't actually had a clear view of the fight between their father and Yondu, just the aftermath. He'd seen a light, but he'd just figured that it was someone dropping a flare or sparkbomb down there.
"There was no force." Haraks protested, shoulders steady. "I am unaware of what you speak."
Ego narrowed his eyes. "I don't like being lied to boy."
"I am not – " Haraks cut off with a yelp as his foot started to sink into the floor beneath him, cursing and struggling to pull himself free.
"Chii, don't!" Peter yelled, as Chii used Lana's shoulders as a springboard to launch himself at Ego, fangs dripping poison and wings spread wide. Wiz darted forwards, trying to pull him back but Chii's tail slipped from his grip.
Ego laughed, backhanding Chii across the face. Their brother landed in a coil and spun to attack again. Ego grabbed the tip of his tail, dragging him off balance like a fisherman reeling in a large catch.
Lana shrieked in outrage and lunged forward, only to be caught around the middle be Haraks, who ground in pain as the movement twisted his foot in its stone prison.
Wiz scrambled for a gun that he no longer had, catching sight of Peter doing the same.
"Ah, ah ah." Ego chided, pressing one foot down onto Chii's neck. "Don't move."
Wiz froze, holding both hands out to the side in surrender. Chii flailed, tail writhing and hands grasping at the foot pressing down on his windpipe.
"You are very brave." Ego commented, peering down at Chii. "Was it you I wonder?"
Wiz didn't dare move. His heart was thundering in his chest and beside him he could see Peter trying to subtly edge closer to Ego, hear Nayadina's soft gasps as she tried to stave off a panic attack, petals rustling.
Chii bared his teeth, a threatening hiss echoing through the near silent room. His feathers flared in defiance, Chii managed to give himself enough room to turn towards Lana and give a hoarse, victorious crow.
Ego shook his head, silent examination over.
"Pity." He said.
And then his foot pressed down.
