Chapter 10

Moonage Daydream

"Alright I'll admit it I'm impressed," the War Doctor whispered.

"Thank the Tivan Corporation for it," Gamora replied with a slightly amused look. The others too were staring with unabashed at the architecture. If the outside view as picturesque then the inside was certainly no slouch in terms of scope and impressive architecture or at least for a time. Well most of them were admiring it except for Drax. In fact, Drax looked a little less interested in what was going on. Of course that could have been because that he was nowhere near killing Ronan.

"Okay nice scenery aside," Rocket interrupted the viewing. "Where're we meeting the buyer?"

"Calm down Ranger Rick," Peter soothed. "I'm sure Gamora knows where it is."

"So say you," Rocket bristled. "But I want assurances that I won't get stabbed in the back and that I'll get paid. That kind of thing has happened before."

"Well it's happened often enough to me as well," the War Doctor replied. "But you don't see me gripping."

"Whoop-de-do for you. Listen all I want is my Units, after that then I don't give a crap about you people. In fact, when this is through I'll kill all of you starting with the geezer."

"Likewise," the War Doctor retorted. "I've always wanted a coonskin hat."

"Oh for…Stop it both of you," Peter groaned. "Seriously you two bicker like a married couple."

"I believe that's called bestiality my boy…."

"WHAT'D YOU SAY?!"

"Enough!" Gamora snapped glaring at the two. Silence descended upon the group for a brief time before Rocket spoke up again. "What kind of name is Star Lord anyway?"

"It's my bandit name," Peter smiled. "I come from Earth which is filled with legendary bandits like Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, John Stamos…"

"Jesse James, Sir Francis Drake," the War Doctor chimed in before stopping in mid-step. "Wait," he paused before recovering his train of thought and began following the group again. "Sorry Sir Francis was a pirate."

"See!" Peter pointed at the War Doctor excitedly before turning back to Rocket with smug smile. "I told you! I come from a place of outlaws."

"Ah huh sure, man I can't wait for this deal to be done because you two are crazy as Daleks," Rocket commented shaking his head. Peter scowled at him which he conveniently ignored at the time. The War Doctor merely ignored the jab and allowed his attention to wander over the scenery as he followed Gamora.

It indeed was like Akhaten when he'd visited there with Susan complete with a plethora of beings wondering around along with several shops selling very interesting concoctions and trinkets that made the War Doctor smile as he thought of what he could use for tinkering. Suddenly in the corner of his eye he noticed a group of children approaching them which caused the savvier among them to place their hands in their pockets or alternatively shoo them away least they to be picked. The War Doctor smiled mischievously and studiously kept his hands away from his pockets.

Soon enough he felt a so-called "accidental" brush of several of the children only for said children to screech in shock as their entire arm disappeared into his transdimensional pockets. The War Doctor looked his left and saw a very stunned boy with whose arm was stuck of his left pocket and on right was a girl looking scared as they were being dragged along by his walking.

"Right," he looked down at the two of them with a merry twinkle in his eye as he stopped. "Well I suppose that teaches you lot not to pickpocket people yes?"

The two children nodded rapidly with girl looking at him curiously. Still smiling he took what little was left of their arms and gently pulled them out of his pockets. The boy immediately ran off without a backward glance but the girl stayed and merely stared at him. Smiling the War Doctor placed his hand in his left pocket and searched for a brief second before finding what he was looking for, a battered paper package which he pulled out and offered the girl. Confused she stared into the package and the contents within.

"Its food," he assured her grabbing a Brilliant one and plopping into his mouth showing it wasn't poisoned. "Care for a jelly baby my child?"

The girl hesitantly took one from him and began to eat it while giving him a suspicious look. But soon as the flavor became apparent she stopped glaring at him and looked rather surprised at his kindness. She smiled at him while chewing the sweet. He smiled back at her before patting her on the head before turning and walking away to join the rest only to see Groot wasn't present with Rocket as per usual.

Looking behind him he soon saw Groot giving another girl a flower that he'd grown himself. That was rather nice of him and perhaps the nicer thing about the ordeal was the girl appreciated it enough to skip away with the flower. It was nice to see that the universe still had a sense of beauty. He allowed himself a soft smile before beckoning Groot who eagerly followed him to the others who were now entering in something that looked suspiciously like a tavern.

"Did you run into any problems?" Peter asked as the two entered in the very dirty and very loud barroom.

"No," the War Doctor shook his head. "I was just checking up on Groot. He'd fallen behind us."

"Yeah well don't," Rocket interjected shooting the tree an annoyed look. "Moron can take care of himself."

"Hey," Peter snapped. "No need to be mean to the Green Giant like that."

"Well he's my problem and if you have an issue with that then tough luck," Rocket retorted.

"And with that lovely ending I'm grabbing a drink," the War Doctor sighed. "Call me when the buyer actually decides to show up."

"Will do," Peter said still glaring at the raccoon as he walked towards the gambling tables along with Groot and Drax. The War Doctor shook his head with exasperation at the raccoon and turned towards the bar.

"Care to join me, my boy?" The War Doctor turned back to Peter whose face briefly, for a split second, looked like he was feeling all of the stress from past several days before it smoothed over to his usual causal smirk.

"Why not?" Peter shrugged. "After dealing with these guys I could use a few."

"Agreed," the War Doctor smiled as they headed towards the bar.