The most infuriating problem with being a gang of morally ambiguous mercenaries was definitely the working with other equally ambiguous individuals such as yourselves. In this case specifically, infuriating problem was their anonymous contractor.

"For the death or removal of one Elenore Finsch," Peter snapped bitterly at the encrypted telecom, "You had agreed the price of four hundred fifty thousand credits!" The exasperation nearly had him yelling now. At this point, even Rocket was suggesting that Peter calm down a bit so they could talk about it rationally.

"You have no proof that he is actually deceased." The artificially deepened voice responded, nearly spinning Peter into a rage induced seizure.

"You want some damn proof?" Peter demanded, truly getting irrational at this point. He stalked out of the room, feet coming down heavy as he left.

Gamora pushed her hand to her forehead, having no idea what they were going to do with Quill. Drax stepped forward, squaring his shoulders.

"So, it is that you do not intend to pay us?" He asked calmly. There was a long pause from the other end.

"Not at all." The speaker paused yet again, choosing their words carefully. "You see, I have no reason to believe that he is truly dead."

"I have killed him across his own weapon." Drax said staunchly.

It had been a little more week since they had completed their last mission. As to having no way to contact their contractor, they simply had to wait for the predetermined time where they would be contacted. Peter was probably so affected because he really didn't like waiting for his payout. The whole situation had made him antsy, and he nearly expected something like this to happen.

"Drax!" A loud and insistent voice yelled from another room. It was Peter, who found that he was infact not capable of carrying, let alone wielding the great blue ax of Elenore Finsch. Drax sighed heavily, and went back to see what all the fuss was about. The two emerged moments later dawning the large weapon.

"Is this considered sufficient evidence?" Drax asked sternly.

There was yet another long pause on the other end of the line.

"This is most unusual." Said the voice, heavy with thought and consideration.

"Why?" Peter demanded. "Do you not have the credits?" He half taunted, half vented his fear.

"I can assure you all that you will be payed." He paused again, thinking.

"Who taught you to talk, Christopher Walken?" Peter asked, he looked around, but no one got the joke.

"It's just in light of recent events this is very unusual." The voice finally continued, ignoring Peter's quip entirely. "Production from that quadro hasn't ceased, in fact it's nearly doubled."

The ship would have nearly shook had the sheer force of the jaws dropping upon it been literal. Peter could have sworn his mouth had went suddenly dry.

"That's impossible." Rocket sighed loudly. "You take out the king pin the rest tumbles down." He stated flatly, it was a fact.

"So it would seem." The voice answered, puzzled.

"I am Groot." Everyone's favorite plant man chimed in.

"That's brilliant." Rocket commented, thinking about the situation as a whole now. He nearly didn't see the five other stares at him demanding the translation.

He looked up to see four sets of eyes and a hologram projection boring holes into him. "Oh, right." He muttered, suddenly remembering their incompetence at understanding even the slightest bit of Flora Marjoram. "Finsch must have just been a figurehead, the real head honcho must be working low key else where."

Everyone looked at Rocket and Groot for what must have been a solid minute.

"That sounds likely." Said the voice. "Very well, since you did not succeed in killing off the true leader, I'm not going to give you full payment." Drax drew a fist back for a moment before realizing the futility of such an action. "However, for the mission you completed, I'm willing to pay you half."

"We're the guardians of the god damn galaxy, you think we won't hunt you down?" Peter demanded, fully adamant in his newly announced decision.

"I don't doubt it." The voice said, mildly amused. "But I think that it would much easier for both of us if you just finish the job." He paused again, thinking. "I'll even tack on an extra twenty five thousand to make it worth it."

The man had a point.

"Deal." Peter responded bitterly.