Chapter 25: Barraka
Several hours later, Rocket found himself staring at the icy orb that Warren had called Barraka. The swirl of cold air that surrounded the light blue planet looked like it would freeze a lifeform in an instant. It stuck to the planet as a moth would to a flame, and seemed to suck out any life that remained in the planet. It gave the raccoon chills just looking at it. How any lifeform could survive in its atmosphere, he wasn't sure he could ever understand.
The statistics for the planet didn't look very appealing either. On the planet itself, they would find temperatures in the low negatives waiting for them- which ended up being the planet norm when it came to temperature. The wind chill sounded even more excruciating, so horrid that Rocket didn't even want to begin to think, how cold that felt. Outside its atmosphere, the temperature was at least well into the negative hundreds. As they drifted slowly towards the blue orb, Peter realized that the temperature was too much for the ship to take, and began to back up. The heat inside and outside the ship had already begun to drop as soon as they approached Barraka. When he backed up however, the temperature returned to normal within seconds.
He, along with Rocket and the others, also noticed a much more disturbing feature around the planet. Ships. People. Bright white lifeforms of all sizes and stuck in shape, as if frozen in mid air. Endlessly, the objects floated around space, but never went far, as if stuck in Barraka's orbit.
Rocket nearly jumped as the soulless face of an armed terran floated in front of the windshield. His body looked preserved perfectly, and so did his weapons… but his face held no dread or fear. It was expressionless. His eyebrows were relaxed, and so were his eyes. The man's white lips were parted slightly, as if he were attempting to speak his last words. Eerily, it almost appeared as though the man knew he would die, seconds before his actual death. While Rocket's mind swirled with thoughts of what would happen to them if they got close enough, he also didn't want to feel defeated just by the look of this deceased stranger. He frowned, then shook his head as the terran drifted by, trying to forget what he'd seen, although he'd seen much worse in the past.
While they watched, Peter tried to find a break in the harsh temperatures to land without having his ship ruined.
"Sheesh," Sam murmured under her breath, inhaling and exhaling sharply. "This place is a nightmare. What- what even happened here?"
Gamora seemed just as mesmerized as Sam and the rest of the team were at the sight. "They were frozen to death. Once they had gotten close enough to the planet that they realized they needed to turn around…. I assume it was too late," she finished. "A ship's engines can only sustain so much cold for so long. Decrease the temperature of the air enough…. and you will be unable to control the ship. Within seconds, with temperatures like this, every lifeform on the ship will then freeze to a slow death."
Rocket wolf whistled. "That's cold."
"Literally," Sam added, still captivated by the planet's atmosphere. Her eyes reflected the image of the blue planet. Her tail twitched and flickered to the right as if troubled by the sight of the deceased people. She shuddered just looking at them, causing her fur to begin standing up. In attempt to warm herself, she crossed her arms and placed her paws underneath her pits.
Amazing, isn't it? Rocket gritted his together as the voice began pounding, and growled silently to himself. He was sure the machine immensely enjoyed doing this. The Graveyard of Barraka. So many petty adventurers attempt to try their luck on our planet, yet so little succeed in even reaching the surface. Some just wanted a place to land. So low on fuel…. lack of food driving them mad… all the way to Barraka, where they met their unfortunate demise. Although, I can't say that the number of corpses doesn't provide accessory for our atmosphere. Rocket could hear Grimlock chuckle deeply. Usually, it is enough to discourage most travelers from even attempting to land on our planet. Congratulations. You are one of the few brave souls that is going to try.
Suck on my lead, Rocket shot back viciously through his thoughts.
Your insults do nothing to harm me, raccoon, Rocket heard the words echo throughout his brain.
Get out of my head… Rocket bit back saying the words out loud, knowing Grimlock could hear him plain as day.
Luckily for him, compliance seemed to be a habit for this robotic menace. As you wish.
Finally, the echoes ended, and Rocket's brain no longer felt threatened. What a creep…. Rocket hissed to himself. He gazed to Sam
Noticing her discomfort, Rocket strode next to the female and looked out the window with her. She broke off her gaze and blinked in his direction once she saw Rocket. "Nervous yet?" She asked him.
His tail swept the floor behind him and he clenched his lips shut. After giving some thought he shrugged with indifference, flattening his ears slightly, and said, "I don't know. Are you?" He then questioned.
With an anxious sigh, she turned her head away to look at the bodies again. "I don't even know who I am. I don't know who I was before now," she stated, shaking her head. "And the truth is, I'm afraid to find out what who 'Sam' is. If Astroliopa is your boss… what do you think he is to me?"
Rocket didn't bother to answer her last question. "Well whatever happens…. I'm not forgetting you, I want you to know that." He shuffled his feet. "And I don't- I don't normally say this sorta' stuff, but it's true. I know we moved fast. It's not even been a week and we've gone this far-"
"Stop," Sam ordered softly, placing a paw over his mouth. "Don't talk like I won't see you again. Because that's not true. I care about you now, and I don't care what you did before. I know you NOW."
He growled in frustration, gripping his head. "That's exactly what I'm worried about Sam! What if I'm someone that's supposed to hurt you? You don't know me, sweetheart, that's the problem. I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't." She insisted. "You couldn't hurt me."
Rocket scoffed. "You don't know that." He began to glare. "I could be a killer."
"Yes I do!" Sam stepped in front of him. "You've done things that most people would think is insane, but you wouldn't hurt me. I know you wouldn't."
"What if I killed children too?" Rocket countered.
Sam almost seemed to take back what she'd said before, but regained her stance. "You don't. You are not a child murderer. You are not Maverick, you are Rocket. The Rocket I know doesn't do things like that."
"You still don't know that. I don't know that," Rocket rose his voice slightly.
Hearing his tone changed surprised Sam, but also enraged her. "How can you say those things after what we've been through together? What we've said?"
Rocket sighed. "We've been together for six days. How much do you think you can learn in six days about someone?" He argued.
"A lot can happen in six days, Rocket," Sam glared back at him, "And I'm not about to back away from you just because you think you're going to be some child killer. Why are you so worked up about this anyway?" She demanded, beginning to sound hurt. Her eyes started to twinkle, as if threatening to produce tears.
Why? The word hung in the air. Rocket didn't need to try and calm himself down. He understood her confusion, and knew he didn't have a right to be angry at her. Desperately he wanted to tell her, reach out to her, but he knew if he did, he'd risk losing her. She had to know, she deserved to know the truth, yet Rocket feared if he said what he really felt, she'd drop him forever. Him possibly being a killer wasn't what Rocket worried about most. What worried him was the girl in the photograph. His alliance with Astroliopa. Grimlock calling him 'partner'. All of these pointed to bad things to come for Sam.
Instead, he shamefully looked back up to her eyes, and brushed a paw across her face affectionately. "I'll always care about you. No matter what happens from this point on, and no matter what happens to me, I'll never forget you. If it comes to you or me, it's going to be me. You can't die." He shook his head, taking a step back. "Not on my watch. I won't let it happen."
Sam cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes, confused. She began to open her mouth to talk, but Rocket had already joined Peter before she could speak. Still puzzled, she watched him from behind, not sure whether to feel worried or hurt about Rocket's words. She sincerely hoped he didn't plan on making a hero's death move anytime soon.
"There's got to be a way into the planet somewhere," Peter was murmuring, watching the temperature go down no more than a few degrees as he moved. "We try moving in now, our ship and everyone on board is going to get iced." He stood from the pilot's seat to face the Guardians. "Anyone have any bright ideas?"
Rocket wanted to pitch in. Unfortunately, he knew just as well as everyone else did that he was clueless about Barraka. No one knew about this odd planet, save for Warren himself….
Warren.
Rocket remembered him.
"Remember the numbers, Rocket!" That's what he'd said. But what did they mean? How were they relevant to what he'd set out to do? What could a code help them with? Grimlock had already given the code to get into Astroliopa's facility. What else could the numbers have meant?
Peter sighed when no one spoke up. "If we just had something to help us find a break in the cold. A map, a certain landing area, a more advanced ship…. coordinates…."
6, 4, 5, 22, 7, A1 Omega. Remember the numbers…. Why? What do they mean?
Rocket was started to get frustrated. He put a paw on his forehead and closed his eyes for several seconds to think.
Then those beady brown eyes opened, and he knew the answer. The numbers couldn't be a code.
Rocket rushed to the counsel of the ship and begin to vigorously punch in various character . Peter noticed his sudden rush and walked until he was nearly touching Rocket's fur. He leaned in to look at the screen. "What are you-"
"Silence!" Drax interrupted, "I believe our furry rodent is on to something."
He continued putting in numbers, then paused, and switched counsels, dragging the numbers he'd placed into another box. "The numbers Warren mentioned ain't a code Quill…." Rocket muttered, "they're coordinates."
Sure enough, every number and letter fit the blanks.
6, 4, 5, 22, 7, A1 Omega
Do you wish to confirm this as your destination?
Rocket looked to Peter exceptionally, grinning. "Well? What does our bold leader think?"
"Eh, I don't know Rocket, I'm skeptical to be honest," Peter responded, examining the coordinates. "What if it doesn't lead to a place where the temperature is any better? What makes you think the coordinates are even remotely reliable?"
The mercenary rolled his eyes. "I await another genius idea from you, Star-dork."
All pairs of eyes from the Guardians went to Peter, clearly expecting something leader-worthy to leave his mouth. The Terran gulped, looking ready to speak, but his eyes went to the side of his head, where he flipped Rocket the bird. "Just confirm the coordinates," he miserably replied.
Rocket snickered. "And ladies and gentlemen THIS, is why I always get my way." He sat in the pilot seat, and directed the ship towards their location.
It didn't take longer than a few minutes for him to navigate to the said area. Sure enough, the temperature seemed enough to suffice for the ship, no more than single digit negatives in the atmosphere.
Presumably, Rocket assumed this must've been the entry point Astroliopa's people used to gain access to Barraka. Once they'd penetrated the atmosphere, there was nothing stopping them from traveling wherever they wanted once they'd entered the sky of Barraka. That would've explained how Warren knew those numbers so well. If he'd entered the planet enough times, he should've been able to memorize the coordinates as well as he had in the prison cell.
Peter helped direct Rocket past the cold, and once they'd entered the sky- just as Rocket had predicted- nothing stopped their ship from advancing. Also, just as he'd predicted, upon gaining close enough visibility through the blowing snow, the planet had a basic layout. The hills were snow. The plains were snow. The mountains were snow. Everything was covered in sheer pounds and feet of snow.
"Might want to wear a coat or two," Peter sarcastically commented, "it's a little cold outside children." He looked out the windshield at the snowy plains. "Anyone have any idea where to land in this large scale version of Antarctica?"
Drax frowned. "Ant-what?"
Peter didn't bother answering. Gamora deadpanned Drax, and he directed a look of confusion at Gamora, as if not understanding what he did to receive such a look aimed at him.
Rocket squinted through the blowing snow, noticing an object in the distance. It appeared more of a landmark- difficult to see at first- but not impossible. Appearing in the mountains, a lightning shaped cave rose out in front of the snow covered tops. Zig-zagged into the mountains, it appeared open near the bottom of where the lightning bolt would've hit the ground. Cleary it had to be distinct or unique in some way. Out of all caves, Rocket had never seen a lightning bolt shaped cave before. This must be what they were looking for.
After all why else would such a landmark appear so close to an entry to the planet?
"Quill. I think I have an idea," Rocket spoke up, pointing ahead to the cave.
The cavern's cold wind bit at Rocket's ears as he entered. Once inside, he realized how warm it felt inside as opposed to the outside, Rocket exhaled with relief. Icicles of various shapes and sizes decorated the ceiling as they entered, and the raccoon was careful to mind the slippery sparkling ice that they walked on.
Peter lifted off his hood, feeling the same relief Rocket had as the temperature dropped. All six walked in silence through the brightly illuminated cavern, taking in the winter wonderland they now examined. The sound of blowing snow and the whistling winds were now growing inaudible with every passing second. Occasionally a high pitched draft of wind would break the eerie silence, or a block of snow would fall in the distance with a small crack.
Rocket's eyes warily scanned the icy ceiling, noticing the enormous icicles that stared menacingly down at Rocket- their tips as pointy as the edge of a sword. Something about the quiet cavern spooked Rocket, despite that that this seemed like a reasonable look for a natural igloo. However, he felt that this lightning shaped cave was not natural at all, and couldn't possibly be ordinary. Something about it seemed off. It certainly looked normal, but it didn't feel normal to him.
Then again, it was similar. The odd circular pattern of ice, the enormous sword-like icicles that decorated the ceiling, the frozen blue walls. He'd been here before. Rocket was positive he'd been here in the past. Although it felt similar, it didn't feel like the good kind of similar. His hand instinctively went to his stomach, where Rocket felt a knot form.
Beside him, Sam's sapphire blue eyes took in their surroundings. Nonetheless, Rocket ignored her for right now, still trying to comprehend why this felt familiar.
His paw went to the icy wall near the entrance. The pads of his furred covered hand smoothly brushed across the wall as Rocket walked alongside it with the team. Removing his paw, he examined the snow residue that still clung to the hairs on his paws like iron would to a magnet, and rubbed the ice crystals off his paw tips. Eyebrows creased with wonder, the raccoon continued walking with The Guardians. Every step he took raised his curiosity level. It was not only the familiarity that made him wonder, but also the location of the code doorway.
"How did we not find this place to begin with?" Peter asked aloud, gapping his mouth. His words echoed throughout the cavern.
Drax nodded. "It seems as though there is a place we have not discovered in this quadrant."
A green assassin felt quite different from Drax's idea. "Or it's just not on the Intergalactic Map itself." Gamora suggested quietly without turning, her own eyes also wandering around the cavern. "It is not the first time it has happened," she claimed, eying Peter, "Planets have been forgotten often. Some have even been declared uninhabitable to a degree where they have been removed from the Intergalactic Map."
The terran bit his lip, widened his eyes, and nodded. "Then I wouldn't be surprised if this planet qualified as one of those," Peter replied.
"It would not be startling to assume our adversary has decided to reside here," Drax remarked, breaking off a piece of icicle from the wall to study it. "If this place indeed qualifies as a forgotten location, then Barraka is somewhere their opponents would not think to look for them at."
Rocket's suspicions were confirmed as they walked deeper into the cavern. An arc of ice hung overhead as they entered, as if marking an entryway to some foreign or unmarked territory. Inside, there were very little traces of messy snow piles, or icicles on the ceilings. His eyes began to widen as he realized how much more this place was beginning to stand out to him. Picking up pace, he carefully walked across the ice towards the center of the room, and looked around.
A perfect circle. Indeed, someone had been keeping this area of this icy wonder tidy and snow pile-free. This area was used for a purpose. A very important purpose that Rocket felt he knew, but could not point out directly.
He began walking again. As quickly as he could, Rocket walked past the circle, and through another arc doorway. He was beginning to remember….
"Rocket!" Peter's voice rose, following the raccoon as he moved. "What's going on?"
Rocket ignored him, then stopped, in mid-stride… thinking…. remembering.
He ran. He pants as he runs, picking up pace, trying to get as far as he can from… something. Someone is on to him, he's sure of it. Men with guns. Cyborgs with guns. They don't plan to let him leave what he's trying to get away from, but he won't stop running.
Another arc. He runs through another ice arc, sprinting on all fours at this point. His gun is weighing him down, but he isn't slowing down to worry about the trigger digging into his back. The sweat droplets on his fur are turning to ice, but he doesn't care. He has to leave. Now. He hated the idea, but he had no choice. The boss already knew. There was no going back. It was live in freedom or live in captivity.
A code. He quickly drops to his knees and begins to activate something within the ice. Numbers become visible, but Rocket can't see what he was putting in at the time. Symbols begin to appear, then the numbers turn bright red.
He turns around and brushes snow over the numbers quickly… placing a panel of ice over it, and brushing more snow, as much as he can.
Rocket runs. He stands in the center of the circle. He looks to the ice arc doorway, where frantic soldiers begin to raise their weapons his way when they notice him.
They start to yell, but their voices are inaudible to him. Even so, he knows they're telling him to drop his weapon. But Rocket is smiling. He's smiling at them as they try and threaten him. He knows they won't kill him.
Then the room begins to brighten… and Rocket's mind goes blank.
Rocket shook his head, then opened his eyes, and turned around, sprinting back where he'd come from originally. "I remember!" he shouted, "there's something here…." he said a little more quietly, racing to the center of the circle.
He began to brush away the snow. The ice panel began to loosen. More snow made way for Rocket's paws. He grasped the panel excitedly and pulled, groaning as he felt the panel start to give in to the snow packing it into the ground.
Then it became loose. There it was. The code tablet.
A complex device built into the ground, it contained various numbers and characters that Rocket could change with swipes of his fingers. The symbols became bright red when you touched them, allowing you to use it. It worked like a teleporter. You type in a particular code and location, and it remembered the area you chose. The code led to a particular realm that you saved, anywhere in the galaxy…. yes…. Rocket was sure that was how it worked.
He remembered. He remembered how to use it as if he'd used it a hundred times before. It scared him, but he was too thrilled to care that he understood how it worked. He was too excited to care how it looked, or to drink in any more details.
He'd found it. This was how he would save Ranger. Kill Astroliopa. Kill Grimlock and god knew what other freaks those two were hiding. Find out who he was once and for all, and save the galaxy.
"Rocket…. what is that?" Peter asked, slowly approaching him from behind. The others did the same.
Rocket was about to respond, but became interrupted by the inevitable. Excellent. You do remember more than I once assumed. Grimlock. Rocket growled. You've come this far already, but before you go any further, you remember our deal.
I don't have to do anythin' you say. You're right. I've gone this far. I'm not about to stop now to start obeying you anytime soon. Rocket coldly responded through his thoughts.
I admire the valiant effort you have, JP293, but unfortunately, it ends here. The code, or Ranger and everyone in the teleporter chamber dies right now. It's time to surrender now, subject. It's time to go home.
Rocket scoffed. I'm not bowing down you suck your two inch, Grimlock. How about we compromise? You let Ranger go, return my memory, and I don't scrap you for parts later?
Grimlock's voice pounded throughout his head, clearly becoming agitated. I don't find your harassing amusing subject. Put in the code.
And I don't find your threatening amusing either, Robo-Cop, Rocket shot back.
Do you wish to test your brother's life? If so, I would like you to know that I can finish him right now. All you have to do is choose not to enter the code, and…. well, you'll see your brother soon. In a body bag. And let's not forget your precious mate…. I know you remember the L, Rocket.
Rocket snickered. I already have one, sorry Grimlock ol' buddy.
You cared for her very much, I must say. Loved her, as most lifeforms would say. Loved her to an extent that most lifeforms like you wouldn't normally feel. How much I wonder…. would she remember of you, if she were to- disappear? Better yet, how would you feel, if dear Sam were to simply….. disappear?
As soon as he said it, Rocket heard several simultaneous rough coughs erupt from Sam. He turned at the sound of her pain, and saw her drop to her knees. Widening his eyes, he rushed to her aid, ignoring Peter, and tried to grasp her back. "Sam! Sam!" He shouted. "What's wrong?" She coughed again, then wheezed, grabbing her stomach. Her eyes, were slits at this point, even if she was still alive.
"Hurts…" she wheezed, "my- ch- chest..." She meet Rocket's brown eyes with her own beautiful blue eyes.
He worriedly gazed over her, not sure how to fix this, and grasped her paw, holding it firmly in one hand while the rest of the team crowded next to her. Groot attempted some healing charms of his own- which produced unsuccessful results, while Rocket held her paw. "You're gonna' be okay girl…" Rocket firmly murmured, his eyes darkening as he heard Grimlock's taunts.
She's alive... for now. It's only a simulated heart attack. It won't kill her now, but in a few minutes, she won't be able to recover, and will be dead. Unless you do as I insist. Do not make this any more painful than it has to be, raccoon. You know what I want. Surrender. The code. He ordered again.
Rocket's eyes glared down at the ground as he firmly held Sam's paw, trying to comfort her.
You have one minute left. She will die, subject. My patience is wearing thin.
What can I do?... Rocket knew he was thinking outloud. Loud enough Grimlock could hear every idea he thought now. He wasn't safe no matter how much he tried to think, but he still did. What else could he do after all?
There has to be another way…. Think! Another code… there has to be one.
His mind struggled for possibilities. Anything Tivan had said… if only there'd been something he'd said that had could help them now.
Subject. Put in the code. Now! Grimlock's voice pounded in his head.
I can't double cross them…. It's not right. I can't do this to Peter, not to Groot, or any of them… but Sam can't die.
"She's not breathing Rocket!" Peter shouted, looking up at the raccoon.
Rocket gritted his teeth together and turned around. There was no argument left. Whether she really was dead or not, Rocket wasn't going to test. He wouldn't let her die.
He had no choice. He had to do what Grimlock wanted. Double cross his friends. Run them directly to their doom... endanger all of them. Although he wanted to believe it was the best ending that would possibly end up with them alive, he had his doubts. Grimlock wasn't screwing around. The machine would destroy everything Rocket cared about just to get what he desired, even if it meant projecting disloyalty toward his 'master.'
His fingers began to put in the code…. but then he paused, at Eight-Nine.
There was one last card he had to play against Grimlock. One last wild card.
Wait…. He could feel the panic in Grimlock's voice. What are you doing?! Subject, do not put in that code! I order you-
Rocket knew it was a large leap of faith, but it contained the same amount of characters as 89P13 did. It couldn't have been a coincidence. It had to mean something, and if it would help him go against Grimlock's wishes, he was willing to take the chance.
He began to grin once he was finished, staring at the code he'd entered.
L7114
"Suck it," Rocket said with a grin, pressing enter.
The cavern around them began to shake almost instantly. Peter stood up and began to back away from Sam, his eyes wide with alertness at the sudden tremor in the Earth below him. Gamora, Drax, and Groot all stayed near Rocket and looked around wildly in all directions, worried about what the raccoon had caused this time. Rocket himself remained calm, although he felt wary about his actions.
What have you done?! Grimlock's voice shouted in his head, now you friends shall parish for your actions! Mark my words! You will-
As if he'd been cut off, the psychic voice of the robotic assassin disappeared just as fast as it'd come to Rocket. But he wasn't worried about the assassin at the moment.
"Want to tell us what just happened, rodent?" Gamora nudged him sharply, eying Sam, but also looking around out of the corner of her eye.
Peter continued backing away, looking up and around himself as if searching for threats. He withdrew his laser pistols for safety and began to scan.
The sight of the terran outside of the circle alarmed Rocket. The edges of the icy circle that the group- excluding Peter- stood on, began to turn bright white. The ice underneath was beginning to also shine brighter than the sun itself. Rocket closed his eyes and flinched, shielding himself from the source of illumination with his paws as he glanced at Peter through his eye slits.
The teleporter was about to become active. And Peter wasn't coming with them.
"Quill!" Rocket shouted, trying to talk over the rumbling, "get in the circle!" He waved the Terran over, but he wasn't listening at the moment, or couldn't hear him. "Quill, hurry!"
Finally, Peter whipped around to face him. His face became wild with concern when he noticed the ice beginning to brighten up, and he met eyes with Rocket, who waved him over. "COME ON!" He yelled.
Peter began to run. Then chaos arrived.
'BOOM!' Icy debris began to rain from above as the ceiling burst with explosive residue. Peter squinted his eyes and ducked his head, then lunged onto his back to avoid a hunk of icicle that nearly impaled him in the chest. Peter rolled onto his side to dodge an incoming rock and began to sit up, right as an icicle sliced through the cloth of his jacket. He grimaced at the graze mark it created on his shoulder, but ignored it and started to run again.
"Peter!" Gamora cried, "watch out!"
A large boulder of snow had fell from the roof and was now rolling down the edge of the wall in Peter's direction. He turned his head just in time to hear her voice and jumped for the edge of the ice circle. The terran shouted as the boulder hit the side of his legs, propelling his body back around…. And sliding over a ledge.
He'd barely paid enough attention to the room to even notice the steep drop that was just below him. Peter's heart leapt into his throat once he realized he was falling, and he grabbed out with his gloved hands, just barely managing to catch himself on the ledge with his right hand.
The fingers in his hand tensed, and he hung limply in the air.
"Quill!" Rocket shouted again, "get up, come on!"
Peter squinted through his clenched eyes over the ledge and grasped it with his second hand in desperation. The edge of the circle was within arm's length. All he had to do was reach it... and so he did. Reaching out with all of his might, Peter lurched over, groaning as his left hand strained to reach the bright edge.
Just a few inches…. He felt close, but knew he couldn't reach any further without accidently slipping.
Gamora noticed his struggle and sighed, then sprinted over to Peter. "Take my hand!"
There he was again. With the team. At the Infinity Stone. At his mother's side. Hearing those words. 'Take my Hand.' The words that determined the possible fate of the galaxy now determined his fate at this very moment.
Peter reached out with his fingers, trying to grab the assassin's hand. He strained, growling and grunting as he attempted to summon every ounce of strength within his body. Gamora's eyes locked with his. Something in them urged Peter onward. The way they glimmered with determination. The way she looked at him with desperation. He didn't want to stop now.
Her fingers were inches away...
A cold chill shot throughout Peter's hand. He flinched, then gritted his teeth. His fingers began to slowly sink back out of Gamora's reach, revealing what had caused his reaction.
An icicle pierced his hand. Peter shouted out, and withdrew on instinct.
Gamora watched, as the outlaw Starlord tumbled into the dark abys.
I'm dead. I know it. I'm dead and now I'm waking up in heaven.
Peter opened his eyes and groaned, sitting up from his resting place.
Only… heaven isn't supposed to hurt this bad. He though miserably. Thank god it was only his back. A comfortable bed really made him feel better…. reduced the pain too.
He barely even felt the icicle that had gone right through his palm. Or the boulder hitting his legs.
Or reaching out to grab Gamora's hand.
He frowned at the thoughts, then shook his head. "Wait a minute…." He whispered to himself, beginning to take in his surroundings, and remembering clearly what had happened god knew how long ago.
This wasn't his room on the Milano. Where was his team?... they'd saved his life, hadn't they? That was why he was alive after all, right? Anyone else would've shot him dead if they found him.
Only, he felt he should be dead right now.
Think Peter…. what happened first? You tried to run for the teleporter circle thingy. You fell down the cliff trying to get to Gamora…. then what? Peter rubbed the back of his messy hair, groaning again, trying to think. He examined his palm, and wasn't as surprised to find that it only had the scar of where the icicle had penetrated. His mind ended up blank however, as to what happened after falling. He'd gotten knocked out halfway, falling through the air.
It was in that instant that Peter realized several things weren't right. Groot didn't heal wounds that easily. A fall like that should've killed Peter… he was Terran, and he knew it…. well… mostly Terran. How he survived made him wonder just what other species was inside him. Regardless, this was not Peter's room. His team was not here to greet him either. Nor did it sound like his ship, with the hum of air conditioning and the soft rumble of generators in the night.
Someone else had found him…. saved him…. but who?
"I was worried you wouldn't wake up buddy."
Peter jolted around to face the stranger sitting on the opposite side of his bed, watching him patiently.
The man appeared Terran, and smiled at him. He looked middle-aged, with blackish wavy hair which was smoothed and parted on the right side of his head. He wore a black leather jacket with multiple pockets, and had nothing other than a simple laser pistol for a sidearm on his utility belt. His pants were a pair of regular jeans, which Peter was actually surprised to find on this man. A neatly trimmed goatee could be easily seen on his chin, and some hair seemed to be presently growing on his checks. His eyes were unnaturally blue.
"Who- are- you?" Peter stammered, slowly standing up, squinting at the man. "Were are the others?"
With a kind hearted laugh, the mysterious man stood and walked over to Peter. "One question at a time now. You've been through a lot today. Take it easy. Your friends should be fine," he soothingly responded, "good thing I found you when I did. Those Kree would've dealt with you had I not interrupted when I did." He placed a hand on his shoulder, gazing into Peter's eyes, as if amazed by his appearance. "You are lucky to be alive."
Peter felt a chill run through him at the man's touch. He felt uncomfortable… but also curious about this stranger's move. "Who are you?" He asked again, scanning the middle aged man up and down.
He gazed back at the mercenary and chuckled. "Well…. can't say I'm surprised." He laughed silently, then looked at Peter again. "You don't remember, Pete?"
Astonished, Peter gaped his mouth, not needing to really think much about who this stranger was. He'd connected the dots already. The feel of his touch. The blue eyes. His name being said….
"D- Dad?" He stuttered, dumbfounded.
The face of the man lit up, and he extended his arms in greeting. "Welcome home little buddy."