The Trek Across Berhert

Rocket hummed gently as Harmony and him wandered across the dense forest to get themselves a ship. Harmony appeared content to be in nature but Rocket kept his ears and eyes peeled at all times. He didn't want to startle Harmony, but Rocket was preparing for a fight as they got closer to the village. Berhert was inhabited by the Sagittarians. They were a race of people much like humans in appearance but highly technologically advanced. Despite having a planet covered mostly by forest and ocean they had some of the most powerful technology to exist. Thanks to their monarch, Princess Daydra, who had fought for their freedom years ago this planet thrived. Any and all visitors were unwelcome. Rocket hoped his standing with the mechanic would help him and Harmony pass through.

The two came to a small stream that gurgled with bright blue water. Harmony knelt down next to it. Rocket sighed and flopped on the rocks. He didn't remember the town being this far away! Either that or he was just desperately out of shape. "Is it safe to drink?" Harmony asked Rocket. He nodded tersely as his ears swiveled. What sounded like rustling leaves came from their left. Perhaps it was just the wind he had heard? Rocket shook his head. Being paranoid was good especially in dangerous territory such as Berhert. The leaves rustled again but this time Rocket felt a light breeze ruffle his fur. It was just the wind. Or perhaps that is what they want us to think, his mind chided him. Rocket shook the thought away. His senses were fine tuned; nothing would get past him.

Except maybe a Sagittarian in a mechanical flying contraption.

The creature had grey skin, bright grey eyes, and sleek black hair cut close to its head. It wore the royal colors of Princess Daydra, red and grey, but it also had silver colored armor glistening across its torso and neck. It almost looked like a normal warrior, except the large metallic wings embedded into its back. Rocket shouted just in time for Harmony to roll out of the way of the knives carved on the tips of each wing. Each knife was three inches long and razor sharp. There had to be at least 40 in total; 20 on either wing. They ran up and down the sides like the teeth of a monster. The machine screeched as the knives cut through thin air and the warrior flew back into the trees.

"Wha-what was that, that, thing?" Harmony panted in shock. Rocket just grabbed her arm and pulled her into the thick foliage. Up until this point Rocket had been sticking to the paths that had been worn down by years of travel. Now the uncharted woods were their best bet. Yes the Sagittarians knew the woods better than anyone, but Rocket had instincts, camouflage, and Harmony. He hoped that would be enough.

The two raced through the trees and bushes as if an entire army was chasing them down. As far as Rocket knew there very well could be. Every rustle of the leaves made his hair stand on end, and the slightest mark on the ground caused his eyes to dart wildly. Harmony hurried along as well and Rocket could feel her wind power bristling at the ready.

After a few minutes of running relentlessly through the trees they slowed to a stop. Rocket's throat burned. He needed something to drink. Harmony seemed better off; she had at least gotten a drink out of the stream. Rocket sniffed the air to see if he could smell dampness that would signify water. Nothing. He began to wish that Courtney was here.

"We need to get some cover," Harmony said, "There might be more creatures." Rocket nodded. The two began stalking under leaves and behind bushes as their eyes scanned for a place to hide. Meanwhile Rocket had his eyes and ears peeled for more Sagittarians. A loud shrieking reached their ears and they simultaneously dived for the bushes. Rocket landed on a pile of leaves but instead of a cushioned fall he kept going down. Rocket let out a scream as his body hit the jagged rocky ground. He looked up at the 10 foot fall he had just taken. The opening of the cave was barely the length of him while the cavern itself was like a house. Well, I did want some cover, he thought. Harmony's face poked through the opening.

"Are you okay?" She asked. Rocket nodded. Harmony looked around before pushing herself through the small opening and landing gracefully beside him.

"Show off," Rocket grumbled. Harmony just grinned at him. A rustling wind swept through the air and Rocket watched as Harmony guided the leaves back up and over the opening. She set them down gently as her wind powers died out. Rocket always loved to watch her hair as it went back from a whirling mass of uncontrollable wind to the crazy black curls she always let run free. Wind sprite suited her very well.

The sound of shrieking metal went past them but the Sagittarian didn't see them. Rocket relaxed. They were safe. It was then that he felt the slight wet sensation on his fur. He turned to see his tail soaking in a small pool of water. Rocket smiled and quickly bent down to lap up the cool drink.

"So do you mind telling me what exactly that thing was?" Harmony asked.

Rocket sat up and laid back against the wall. Where to begin? "Well you see," he began, "that's not exactly an easy question to answer."

Harmony leaned closer to him. "Well then try your best." Rocket smirked. He had to admit, this Terrain had some spunk.

"It all started long time ago, like any stereotypical story does," Rocket said with a chuckle. Harmony grinned but didn't laugh. "Fine, no jokes," Rocket scoffed. "Ya see, Berhert wasn't always so pretty and peaceful. Back in the day it was ruled by war and destruction; typical stuff for this universe. The Sagittarians were ruled by some crazy nut-job, another typical thing in the universe, called the Galaxy Master. It was either submit to him or be killed so their choice is kinda obvious. Well after being his slaves and servants for generations they finally got a bit of sunshine in their lives. Some ship crashed on Berhert and this guy called the Warlord Supreme and some green creature he called Hulk fought with the Sagittarians for freedom. The Sagittarians won and they spent the past years saving their planet and rebuilding it. Now they're the leaders in the galaxy for tech and stuff like that. Big traders with war planets and sometimes illegal organizations. Princess Daydra is a fair leader but could care less about keeping peace with the rest of the universe. As far as she is concerned we can blast each other to pieces but as long as Berhert remains intact there's no reason for them to interfere."

Harmony nodded. "That explains why they're trying to turn us into mince meat."

Loud metallic screeches sounded from above as winged shadows glided by their hole. The creatures didn't see them though and the duo was safe. "Guess we're gonna be waiting this one out," Harmony sighed. She lied down on her back and flopped her arm over her face. "I'm taking a nap." Rocket smiled. That was a good idea. The battle, the crash, Peter's dad, the separation, and the trek through the woods had taken all his energy from him. It was hard to believe that it had only been two days. Rocket curled up with his tail over his nose and fell asleep


A loud crash awoke him. Rocket sprang up, his guns out and ready, but it was only their leafy covering laying on the ground. Harmony stood there, wind still whirling. "Calm down Rocket," she chided him. "It's just me." Rocket nodded and put his guns back in their holsters.

"What are you doing?" He asked her as Harmony used her wind to remove items from the opening to their hiding place.

"Isn't it obvious? The Sagittarians are long gone and daylight is running out. We need to get moving," Harmony swept her hand over Rocket and he began to hover inside of her power. She pulled him closer and the two breezed through the opening and back into the forest. Harmony set Rocket down and disintegrated back into human form. "Let's get moving," she said before trudging off into the shrubbery. Rocket honed in his senses, but upon sensing no danger he dropped to all fours and chased after Harmony's retreating figure.

The two walked at a brisk pace through the dense trees. Rocket wanted to find the pathway so they wouldn't get lost but the risk of seeing the Sagittarians was too great. As the suns sank lower though and the shadows turned long and disfigured Rocket began to hope for the path to magically appear before them; Sagittarians or not. Harmony on the other hand was perfectly content to sneak through the darkness; using the shadows as extra cover. She seemed almost in touch with the darkness around her. Rocket's own animal instincts helped him along but the fear at the back of his mind remained.

"How are you so natural at this?" Rocket asked. His voice echoed in the emptiness.

"I never considered myself a natural at sneaking through hostile alien forests but if you say so," Harmony joked. Rocket rolled his eyes but grinned a bit at her humor. "All seriousness though," Harmony began, "I kinda have experience with getting around in the dark." Her voice was solemn and downtrodden; like the weight of her words made her whole body ache. "I don't know if Drax told you this already, but my family is gone. He kinda figured that out when we were on Earth and he saw my home," Her voice turned sour on the word home. Rocket had a feeling she didn't consider where she lived her home. "I watched them die ya know," she continued. "All three of them: Mom, Dad, and my brother. I was maybe 10 when it happened. Masked robbers looking for money and jewelry came barging in. When my parents, who were so poor that they couldn't afford to pay for proper shoes, didn't give them what they wanted they shot them both. My brother tried to be a hero and it got him killed too." Harmony took a deep breath as the memory poured from her lips. Rocket felt a pain in his chest; pity for the poor girl. "I kinda had to get used to sneaking around for what I want," Harmony laughed darkly. "I was born for this I guess."

"I don't have a family either," Rocket said in the echoing darkness. "I was born to a family I guess, but then the scientists came and ripped me away. I don't even remember them."

Harmony reached down and wrapped her arms around Rocket in a hug. He stiffened for a second but relaxed enough to put his arms part way around her as well. "Well you know what they say," Harmony sighed, "two broken parts make a whole."

"That's not what they say," Rocket snickered.

"Well that's what we'll say."

After a few silent moment the two continued along through the thick trees and dense leaves. Rocket relished in the feeling of being present but absent at the same time. He felt so natural in nature. It was in his blood he supposed. After some time of walking, lights shone ahead of them. Not search lights like Rocket's instincts initially warned but warm lights. Lights that came from a house or a shop. Harmony and Rocket emerged from the woods to overlook a small town of wood and smoke. Some people moved throughout, not like the mechanical monstrosity that had chased them, and there was talking and laughter sounding out of open windows. They almost looked friendly but Rocket knew better than to trust anyone on this land. Except one person.

"Where is this mechanic that you know?" Harmony whispered from behind Rocket.

"She's down there," Rocket pointed down to a hut on the edge of the town. A similar warm glow emitted from the slightly cracked windows and random scrap parts were strewn across the yard. Unlike the rest of the houses which were carefully built by trained hands this piece of wood was so lopsided and dingy a blind person could have done better! Harmony raised an eyebrow in confusion. If this person couldn't fix up a nice looking hut then how could they be trusted to get them a ship capable of going to Xandar? Rocket sensed her apprehensions and smiled. "Just wait," he said.

The two slid down the hill easily and crept past stragglers heading home. In the shadows that the lights cast it was easy to not be detected. They moved around back of the hut and Rocket rapped his knuckles in quick succession on the metal door. After a moments pause he made two longer taps before stepping back. The door inched open just enough for a small face to poke through the opening. The creature was the same size as Rocket but Harmony recognized it as a different Earth creature. A cream colored otter stepped out into the lamp light.

"Rocket?" She asked softly. He nodded and the otter threw herself into his arms. They embraced like lovers who hadn't seen each other in years and Harmony wouldn't doubt that description to be true. She wore a jumpsuit similar to his and her whiskers were stained with grease. After their long hug ended Rocket turned to present Harmony.

"This is my Terran friend Harmony," Rocket began. When the otter raised her eye at Harmony Rocket shook his head as if to say 'don't ask'. "Harmony, this is the person who is going to help us get back to Xanadar," Rocket said as he put his arm slightly around the smiling otter. "This is Lylla."