Rocket gritted his teeth. The cruiser landed, somewhere in the size range of Yondu's Eclector, about a hundred hired guns or soldiers in combat spacesuits poured from an airlock almost immediately.
"Fuckfuckfuckfuc…" Rocket began, and for once, I could agree with his crass vocabulary of choice. Yondu's face instantly popped up on the dash comms, and I swiped it aside.
Not now.
He rang again, and I sighed, picking it up as I watched the army trudge towards us.
"Don't ya dare take off, ya… oh, hi, Gamora," came Yondu's voice, a bit too cheerful for my taste.
"Don't take off? Are you insane?" I asked. Rocket looked at the oncoming formation and scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Debatable," Yondu replied with a laugh. "But, in this case, why don't we try and shake these assholes?"
"We?" I blinked, and came to the realization that Rocket likely already had. "You never left, did you?"
"Ya think I'm stupid to have my men preform major surgery in hyperdrive? One snag, and the grav can't keep up. Bad idea. Also…"
"Th' ship's still wired to the Ravager mainframe," Rocket cut in. Ah. So Yondu had gone back to see what was wrong without asking us directly, the meddling parent he was. "You read the file Nova sent, didn'tcha?" Rocket asked, voicing what I'd already considered.
"Guilty. We don' leave our men behind, Rocket. Don'tcha forget that. Takes too much effort t' train a pirate proper. Gotta protect our investment."
I watched as the small army of men took a sharp turn a few hundred meters in front of us.
"What are they…?"
"They think yer a decoy, duh," Yondu replied. "Got another one'a my M-class ships parked near ya in cloak, so it looks like yer coverin' for 'em. Jus' keep revvin' yer engine and threaten to take off."
I did as he said, and, as the entire squadron of Halfworlders and hired guns finished their formation to the side, an identical looking M-class vessel shot in an arc around the moon, flying one way, and another skidded donuts in low orbit, taunting the cruiser. The cruiser began firing potshots halfheartedly, as the men on the ground and in the cruiser assumed that all the vessels were taunting to hide the real ship they sought- but could be the the one with Rocket and the boys itself. Too bad the one in cloak was as much a fake as the two overhead.
"Jus' follow my lead, idjits. When ya see a green contrail, book it to the Eclector n' dock," Yondu finished, smugly.
The comms cut out, and two more M-class ships zoomed by in opposing directions.
"How big is their fleet, Peter?" I shot over the internal comms.
"Whose?" Peter's voice crackled to life. "I'm trying to check on our engines, here! Last thing we need right now is a blowout."
"If yer askin' 'bout Yondu's, he's got eight a' those M ships," Rocket offered, helpfully, as he buckled into the copilot's seat and adjusted the height. "Nine with us. I left his mainframe intact at Pete's request, but don' think I didn't do a bit a' hackin' in on my own."
"Wouldn't expect less," I said, keeping an eye on the ships in front of me, and the men rounding the cloaked vessel. They weren't shooting enough to breach airlock on any of the ships, they needed Rocket and the boys alive- our only real advantage.
After a few more taunting circles, one of Yondu's M's spat out a green contrail from its nacelles and spiraled sideways. I kicked the engines into full gear and peeled off in pursuit back to the ship, just as the cloaked M exploded in a flame-free pulse blast behind, the shockwave likely liquefying the internal organs of everyone outside. Brutal, but painless and instantaneous.
The remaining M-class vessels docked inside the Eclector simultaneously.
"They ain't gonna shoot, a'least," Rocket grumbled under his breath. "They want us alive."
"And they cannot use the same trick they did on Demura to lure us out separately," I replied, as Rocket took over to hitch the Milano into the docking bay. "I think we're safe for the time being."
"Yeah," Rocket agreed. He lifted his paws off the controls and began twiddling his thumbs. I reached out, putting my hand in his view. He looked, cautiously, before rubbing a long trail of goo along my forearm with his snout. "No takebacks," he grunted.
"You are a stubborn ass among stubborn asses," I replied, scratching him behind the ear just so. "But, I will admit, bringing them to Nova in this state is a horrid idea. Their army may take a decade to recuperate after the attack on Xandar. Even hiding here might be preferable to–"
Drax coughed loudly, and I heard a snap. I turned around; he was allowing the emergency restraint in the galley to be reeled back into its housing.
Peter rose from the back of the ship, covered in engine grease.
"We are not keeping the children on a mercenary ship," Drax said, flatly, as Peter began degreasing himself in the station, affronted.
"Hey. I grew up here and I'm fine," he remarked.
"I am not speaking ill of the inhabitants," Drax replied, as he looked out a porthole into the larger docking bay. "They are no more or less respectable than we, and certainly diverse enough to help provide an education. No, I refer to their species. They need fresh air, places to explore, trees. Time on a planet. I had assumed that while we ran missions, so long as the entire planet was neither inhospitable or unsafe, someone would remain behind to give them time outside to play. They are children, raccoon children, and they need this in their development as well. Speaking of, neither of you took care to strap them in," he added, a little derisively.
"Didn't need to," Rocket shot back. "They're in my cabin with Groot."
"How would that keep them safe under an emergency lan-"
Groot stepped out last, and cocked his head innocently, his chest more pronounced than normal.
"Duo, your foot is in my face!" chirped a voice from within. Uno's.
"I am Groot."
One wet black nose peeked out of a break in the chestplates, and Groot put a hand to a barky pectoral. A tiny paw reached out fro inside, and Groot pulled each of our boys out, one at a time, balancing Uno and Trey on a shoulder each, before pulling out Duo and sliding the plates back into place.
"Nice trick," Peter remarked, capping the liquid soap. Drax stood, arms open, and Trey jumped into them, ungracefully.
"And that's why they need time outside, to explore. They will never be as nimble as you if they're confined to the ship. And we cannot afford to not work. Not with eight mouths to feed."
"As stubborn as Rocket is," I finally replied, holding out my arms for Duo to jump into and snuggle my chest, "we need to do something about Halfworld or they will continue to pursue us to the ends of the universe. Their ship did not even seem fazed when an entire platoon went down. They show no fear."
"'Course not," Rocket remarked. Those were androids. They don't care 'bout losin' 'em, they'd just build more."
"Robots?" Duo asked, peeking up. Save for Groot, the rest of the adults looked at him in awe, especially considering he spoke the least. Making a logical leap based on context clues was frighteningly impressive.
"Very good," I replied, scratching him behind his right ear until I felt a purr.
"Yeah, well, Duo cheated," Trey puffed, indignantly. "Groot was describing what was going on outside the airlock and he's the only one that seems to understand him. I can hear what he's saying but it still doesn't make much sense."
"Hey, squirt," Rocket responded with a smirk. "Give it time, buddy. You're already taking rings around your brothers. Everyone has their own special talents."
"You can talk to Groot."
"So can ya. And you'll understand him eventually. It took me a long time to figure out what he was sayin'."
Trey's eyes went wide. "I thought you just knew how to do everything, Dad."
Rocket puffed his chest out. "Well, I do now. But I had to learn, just like ya."
Let it be said that mercenaries have a soft spot for cute fluffy animals. As about half the off-duty members of the Ravagers tried to push their way over to see and pet the boys as we made our way to Yondu's wing of the ship.
"So," Yondu said, kicking his heels up on his desk as the rest of us squeezed around. Peter, Darx, and Groot each held one of the boys while I kept Rocket in my lap so he could see. Better than asking for a booster chair-if they even had one.
"So," Peter replied.
"Looks t' me like y'all need to get some idjits blown inna orbit. I can help, but not for free."
"Can we hire you, then?" Peter asked. Yondu narrowed his eyes.
"With how much money I know ya have I'd sooner just offer charity. But this is too big 'n issue. I'mma definitely lose property- already did, as you saw, and I might lose men. Their salaries are high enough they're willin' to fight, n' they gotta be paid somehow. Ya know that, boy. Run t' Nova. I can get the Eclector 's close to Nova space as possible and jettison ya from there. That's all I can do unless I get compensation."
"Nova's forces are inadequate, you know that," Drax said, lost in thought. "As a regulated force they did not have the turnaround time to replete their manpower or tools as you were able to enjoy. The only advantage they have over you is funding."
"You know," I said slyly. "Between the Xandarians, the A'askavarians, the Spartoi, and the Krylonians, there are four major empires that want Halfworld experimentation shut down. I wonder if we could exact a fee from each of them independently for dismantling their operations. We would not be operating in any of their designated spaces, so, technically, you wouldn't be breaking any laws on any of their worlds. They might be willing to pay."
Yondu lifted his legs off his desk, reshuffling so he was sitting upright, then hunched forward, centimeters from my face. "Four empires, you say? Nova probably won't pay well, considerin' the reconstruction, but I know Spartoi has dough to burn."
"Who would want to eat overcooked bread? That is a lousy method of payment," Drax said, bouncing Trey off a knee.
"Metaphor!" Trey squeaked.
"Come on this is grade-A certifiable stupidity," Rocket muttered, back on our ship inside the hangar.
"You want the kids to see some action. You do not want them separated. I want them somewhere safer than anywhere within a one billion kilometer radius of the front lines. Drax wants them outdoors. This fits everyone's requirements," I said, sternly. I watched as one of Rocket's ears began turning towards the door. "And I know you're listing to someone else and not me. Let's not have a repeat of yesterday, lest I go liberate one of Yondu's shuttles and shove you in it with locked coordinates."
"Yeah, I'm listening t' someone else," Rocket said, dripping with smarm. "Three someones, who should be getting lunch right now."
A few beats of silence.
"Yes, Trey, Mom is beatin' the stubborn outta me. Go eat." I strained my hearing implants and heard the telltale signs of nails on metal.
"Okay, Rocket, you're off the hook on that one," I said, expression softening a little. He buried his face in my chest, heaving out.
"This ain't what I wanted," he muttered into my shirt. "I want them with us, bein' awesome. But I also want them safe. URGH!" He growled and let out a frustrated whine, letting go of my shirtsleeves and pacing on the mattress, in circles, on all fours, growling and groaning like a beast, flinging his head back and forth in frustration.
"We have to split up," I replied.
"Why can't we go together with the kids and send the three other morons t' work with Yondu?"
"Your fur hides your telltale markings, your children do not have them, and Peter is a human. You four would not be nearly as out of place as I."
"So? You could put on makeup. Terra's too backwater for biomed scans. Ya could totally pass with some paint."
"I don't speak Ingleeesh."
"English."
"That. I could understand them fine with my translator, but getting ahold of needed persons to find where the Asguardian is hiding…"
"I still can't believe this is the plan. I make better plans. And Asguardians have Allspeak."
"The Terrans along the way do not."
"I don't speak English."
"You have the capacity to learn enough, fast enough, on the transit there. Also, you are supposed to be a wild animal, so it should not matter if you can speak or not. You can understand just fine. Peter needs to do the majority of the talking and I am needed here."
Rocket huffed, having no reply to my remark about his ability to learn new languages the 'slow way'. I brought the conversation back to my own point.
"The people of Earth destroyed an entire Chitauri fleet with a small band of mercenaries, led by a red android and an Asguardian in residence. If there's anyone with enough manpower and firepower to take down a planet, it's there. The Spartoi, A'askavarians, and Krylonians will pay, but are afraid of overt action- there's a reason why they all dislike Halfworld and it's that their enemies are being supplied with munitions from there. Soon to be biological weapons as well if we stand by."
"Why don't we just blow the whole friggin planet up 'n be done with it?" he huffed angrily, before whiskers fell. He knew why. He grabbed me again, pulling in tighter.
Innocent people lived there, just as tied up by their military-industrial complex as the rest of the quadrant." I pulled Rocket into a tight hug and fluffed his fur. "Apology accepted, by the way. I did not get to say as much earlier."
"Don' wanna leave."
"We cannot stay here indefinitely. And the longer we wait, the more soldiers Halfworld will build. We will be overrun eventually."
"Pet me," Rocket grumbled, under his breath. He'd asked for massages, or for his knots pounded out, or occasionally sat at someone's side until they scratched his head absentmindedly after a hard day of their own accord, but never actually demanded it directly, let alone articulated the word 'pet'.
I unhooked his battle suit to the waist, running my fingers through his fur as the two of us sat in silence and sobbed, neither willing to admit as such to the other.
Rocket paced irritably on all fours. "I swear, this 's becomin' a running joke," he grumbled, looking at his naked self. The boys, too, were out of their clothing and rubbing up against their father, getting a good, close look at the implants for the first time, well hidden under the fur, but still visible if the strands were parted.
"Would you rather wear a harness?" Drax asked. Rocket looked sour.
"Nah. Just like Groot now, I guess." Rocket was putting on a brave face, but still, the prospect of dealing with Asguardians, even one who wasn't a supremacist xenophobe like the rest of their people were (if they weren't on the whole, we would have simply asked for aid and let them take care of it for us), was definitely a risk, running off of loose information from the Ravager network. The skills of the locals may have been grossly exaggerated as well.
We weren't technically breaking interdict, as exceptions were made for returning abducted citizens to their home planet (Peter and Rocket qualified, the boys by proxy, we checked seven times to be sure), but we would be upon pickup. Nova would turn a blind eye for certain, and the other civilizations paying us would as well. But the Kree could certainly use the situation as a call for extradition, and it was not a risk we were willing to take. If the Asguardian listened and assisted, or the Terrans had a means of propulsion to get the four of them back out into neutral space, even the Kree would not be able to intervene politically, they would have to be covert or risk political backlash among most other federations.
Rocket was to use Terran materials to build their escape vehicle once dropped off if the Asguardian did not comply, teaching the boys a few things about building if they were able. Peter was to try and contact the Revengers (Defenders?) team aground and get assistance if possible.
Halfworld couldn't enter the atmosphere without breaking interdict, and even the Kree would not be able to back their action. They were safe for the time being- it was the best option we had.
That did not mean it was a good one.
Peter shifted in his Terran style clothing, almost as if he was unused to the style of dress, and adjusted the straps on his pack. Most of the space was taken up by things for the kits- their formula, pellets, some coloring books and a tablet for reading and playing games. Peter's own tablet was there too, so Rocket could learn some English on the fourteen-hour flight.
I wouldn't be surprised if he had grade-school competence by the time he finished, if not an awkward accent from reading and listening to whatever materials Peter had for him.
I leaned over, kissing the four atop their heads gently, Rocket last, as I tousled his fur again.
"Tummy rub," Duo demanded, as he rolled over on his back, and Groot leaned over to scratch.
"Why are our clothes off? I thought we were adults," Trey asked, honestly.
Rocket twitched his tail, unsure of how to answer. Drax bent down next to the three and provided a reply.
"You are going on a covert mission to Peter's homeworld. On it, there are animals that look a lot like you. Not exactly alike, there are small differences," he said, reaching for Rocket's forepaw and taking it in his hand. "Small things, that you will notice but the locals will not. You are going to pretend to be these creatures as you were on a secret mission. Your mother, Groot, and I will be doing the other half from here. You be good and listen to Peter and your father while we are away. Do not speak out loud unless you have been given the signal you've been taught- you do not wish to reveal yourself, do you?"
"We're gonna be spies?" Uno asked.
"Going to be," I corrected, looking sideways at the diction offender. "And yes, you are."
"We'll see you soon, momma, right?"
"Of course," I replied. If I said it aloud, it would have to be true. "And Rocket and Peter have comms, and I also have a copy of everyone's voices, in case of emergency," I said, holding out a pouch of four labeled voiceboxes. "Rocket will teach you how to activate these remotely, and you can all talk to me anytime on them. Even if you haven't been given the signal. You can always use these."
"Really?" Uno asked.
"Really, really," came Rocket's voice out of my hand as his own mouth stayed shut and silent.
"Coooooool," Trey said, looking at the devices in my hands. "Dad, teach me how to do that. Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaase?"
Rocket rolled his eyes, and rounded to Trey, cocking his head slightly as he contemplated his next action. "On the transport, Trey. C'mon, let's get going." He bent his head forward and gingerly bit down on the back of Trey's neck, lifting him off the ground in his maw. Trey went limp, almost hypnotized in his grip. Groot gasped, not so much in surprise at Rocket biting his child, but it almost seemed like he was surprised something was familiar.
"I figured they'd have the same failsafe, Groot," Rocket's voice from my hand said as he walked around. "You've seen what happens when you lift me by the neck, s' why I wear that leather collar on my jumpsuit."
"I am Groot?" Groot asked curiously.
"Temporary trance 's all, same as what ya do for me. Minute I drop 'im he'll be up and scuttling everywhere- I hope. 'S what the files said a'least."
"You cannot carry all three by the scruff," Drax replied thoughtfully. "But Peter can take the other two, can he not?"
Peter carefully lifted a child in each hand by the fur-roll at the back of each's necks, each becoming boneless in an instant. "Why didn't you tell me about this before, bud?" Peter glanced sideways.
"Because I don't like it, numbnuts. I'm still semiconscious, just limp. Which means it's no good for surg… for fixin' me up if I break." Rocket dropped Trey to prove his point, as Trey shook himself off and stretched out, blinking a few times.
"Not fair," he grumbled. Peter gently dropped the others.
"Only doin' that in an absolute emergency," Rocket said, speaking out of his own mouth and not the backup. "If Pete needs to carry us quick, he's a faster runner than we are. And ya heard me loud n' clear, I've got the same weak spot as ya. C'mon, transport don' got all day."
"I'll see you boys later," I said, giving everyone one last hug before sneaking a grip on Rocket's scruff, lifting him clear off the ground. He did go limp immediately, hanging dazed in my hand. The kids giggled.
"Payback!" Uno cried.
I kissed Rocket on the forehead, then let go. "Now we are even."
"Yeah, yeah," he grunted, shaking himself out. "Seriously, not cool," he muttered, before climbing my shoulder and sitting astride, nuzzling my ear.
"Stay safe, Gams. We'll get these fuckers outta the way," he whispered, as quietly as he could into my ear.
"Moooooooooom," Trey whined. "Dad said another bad word."
"Learn t' understand a few curses in Centurian while you're with Big Blue," Rocket added quickly, before flicking his tail and keeping pace with Peter towards the shuttle hangar, chittering in his animal voice to his sons, who seemed to understand the 'hurry up' sentiment. I may be the boys' mother, but there were limits to this.
"Good luck," I said, gripping the bag of voiceboxes. "I'm going to go annihilate as many robots as I can."
"Androids," corrected Rocket's voice from my palm, as his ear flicked. He took one last look at me with his devil-tooth grins before rounding the corner and out of sight.