CURRENTLY, ALL NEW CHAPTERS ARE JUST TO CATCH UP WITH WHAT I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN! THESE UPDATES DO NOT CORRESPOND WITH HOW I WILL BE UPDATING THIS STORY!

UPDATE STATUS: ON HOLD

HELLO, SUNSHINE

JUNE 25, 2014
XANDAR — CAPITAL CITY OF THE NOVA EMPIRE

THE WAR WAS WON, the treaty would soon be signed, and the Nova Corps no longer saw the newly named Guardians of the Galaxy as a threat. The Nova Corps had even taken the Guardians back to their headquarters for a speedy recovery in gratitude for what they did for Xandar.

Evan had been separated from the others, who most likely had been separated as well, but she had to see a doctor for the wound in her leg. Since the gunshot had been a laser, the blast had ended up cauterizing the wound, but at the same time, she had been walking around without proper attention to the injury. The doctor had reassured her that thankfully none of her bones had shattered as she feared and she could get a speedy in the healing pod as well.

So, the doctor set her up, and soon her bullet hole was only scarred over and held a slight limp that the doctor had explained most likely would not go away.

The doctor then led Evan back into the conference room where Corpsman Dey, Nova Prime Rael, Peter, Gamora and a few more of the soldiers stood staring at a 3D replica of a human standing in the middle of the table. The image was only an outline in light blue with a red glow that made up the nervous system.

"Why would you even know this?" Peter asked Dey as Evan walked in.

"When we arrested you, we noticed an anomaly in your nervous system, so we had it checked out," Dey explained although Evan had no idea what the two were discussing.

"I'm not Terran?" Peter asked.

Evan felt her eyebrows jump towards her hairline, approaching the two men as she stood between Peter and Gamora. She stared at Dey for a long moment to see if he'd relent on the charade, but he didn't, so she nudged Peter who turned to her with a shrug and then shushed her.

"You are half Terran," Nova Prime Rael corrected him. "Your mother was of Earth. Your father, well, he's something very ancient we've never seen here before."

"How can you even tell he got it from his father and not his mother?" Evan asked curiously, scrunching her nose as she stepped closer to the monitors to try and see how the Nova Prime had deciphered that.

"It's the way the genetic codes line up," Nova Prime explained, Evan's urging gazing forcing her to continue. "It's very confusing, even for myself, I'm sorry."

Evan nodded, although she slit her eyes feeling like Rael had lied to get out of a long and tedious conversation on the specific way genetic code could tell you if you got the gene from your mother or father. Evan let it slide though; it's not like she'd have any use with the information.

"That could be why you were able to hold the Stone for as long as you did," Gamora noted.

Behind them, the doors pulsed then opened. Nova Prime turned at the noise, turning to Rocket (who carried a stick from Groot's remains in the hope he would come back to life) and Drax.

"Your friends have arrived," she smiled. "On behalf of the Nova Corps, we'd like to express our profound gratitude for your help in saving Xandar. If you will follow Denarian Dey, he has something to show you," Nova Prime urged, holding a hand out to the newly promoted man with hidden excitement in her smile.

"Thank you, Nova Prime," Peter nodded, wrapping his arm around Evan and followed Dey as he showed them outside.

"So, Denarian Dey, huh?" Evan asked teasingly, but the wariness behind her smile sat firmly in the knowledge of why he was promoted. "You seem like someone who deserves a promotion, but I'm sorry for your loss."

"Denarian Saal will be remembered for his honor and bravery in the fight of protecting Xandar against Ronan, but I am thankful for the opportunity he has given me. So, thank you, Evan," Dey assured her, smiling softly back at the young woman.

"Hey!" Evan cheered.

"Oh," Dey laughed as if he were embarrassed and flustered. "I meant, Even. I'm so sorry."

Evan gave Dey a blank look, "Really?"

Dey laughed, patting her shoulder and waving his hand in front of them to the shining Milano without a scratch on her, without the cracked glass and the orange and blue chrome looked as if Peter had just gotten it shined.

"We tried to keep it as close to the original as possible. We salvaged as much as we could," Dey told them, as the other four stepped out as well.

"Wow, I... thank you," Peter grinned towards Dey unsure of how to express the happiness filling him now.

"I have a family. They're alive because of you," Dey told Peter as if reassuring him that his gratitude wasn't needed, he had already earned it. "Your criminal records have also been expunged. However, I have to warn you against breaking any laws in the future."

They seemed alright with that fact, except Rocket who had to ask, "Question: What if I see something that I want to take, and it belongs to someone else?"

"You will be arrested," Dey stated.

"But what if I want it more than the person who has it?"

"It's still illegal."

Evan watched on with a smile as Rocket continued to pester the man.

"That doesn't follow. No, I want it more, sir. Do you understand?" Rocket asked.

Evan looked towards Gamora who had begun laughing, and Evan ended up unable to hold her laughter back as she chuckled some. Rocket looked between them, confused.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked as Gamora set her arm on his shoulder and led him to their new-old ship. "Why? I can't have a discussion with this gentleman?"

"At least he's being polite," Evan noted, smiling to Peter who nodded along with her.

"What if someone does something irksome and I decide to remove his spine?" Drax asked beside Evan.

Dey turned to Peter, his mouth open slightly before returning to Drax, "That's... That's actually murder. It's one of the worst crimes of all."

Drax raised an eyebrow, looking slightly offended by Dey's words.

"So... also illegal," Dey concluded.

Drax made a 'hmph' sound as Evan set her hand on his back and started to push him forward.

"Alright, let's get going, big guy," Evan noted and urged him along, waving back at Dey in goodbye.

As she left Dey and Peter behind, she heard Peter assure Dey.

"They'll be fine, Dey. I'm gonna keep an eye on 'em."

"You?"

"Yeah. Me."

EVAN FLEW INTO the Milano (but not the Milano, as Peter stated) and towards her shared room with Peter where she pulled up her messages from the screen beside her bed. She smiled, seeing Carol asking her to call her when she has a chance between saving the universe. Evan couldn't help the stupid grin come to her face as she pressed a few buttons and was calling Carol within moments.

In between Knowhere and Xandar, Carol and Evan hadn't had a chance to talk soberly. So, this would be the first time Evan got a clear view of her face that wasn't split into two or just the feel of her lips against hers, and that fact made her more nervous than at the club.

"Hey, hero," Carol greeted, her blonde hair looked golden, and her brown eyes were as warm as Evan remembered.

Evan grinned ear to ear as she smiled, "Hey, sunshine."

Carol smiled brightly at the nickname.

"So, I heard you went and saved a whole planet on your first try," Carol mused moving into a sly smile. "Impressive."

"Well, that's just what us Guardians of the Galaxy do. Fight the bad guys, get the girl, and have all of our criminal records wiped clean. I'm a free woman now!" Evan laughed, unable to sit on her bed as she stood in the middle of the room and paced slightly.

"Well, you've only made out with the girl if I remember correctly, you haven't gotten her yet," Carol mused, looking off-camera for a moment before returning her gaze to Evan from her peripheral vision.

"It's about time we change that then," Evan grinned, leaning against her nightstand where the screen played.

"I'd love to go on a date with you, if that's what you're asking," Carol laughed, rolling her eyes.

A loud beeping came from her wrist where she had Evan projecting from and frowned.

"Sorry, Guardian, I have to go save another planet from an explosion... well, really a warton-herder from having the coi's eat all of his livestock. Send me the coordinates of where you'd like to meet. I'll meet you there when I have a free day."

"Until the next time, Carol."

"Yes, until the next time, Evan," she smiled and signed off.

Evan made her way up into the main hull of the ship and found Peter sitting in the hallway with the package he never dared to open in his lap and the letter his mother wrote him between trembling fingers. Evan sat next to him, setting her hand onto his bicep in reassurance, and slowly he handed her the letter. She folded it just as he gave it, the words on the page for Peter and his mother alone. Peter opened the box, another mixtape inside.

Peter stood, and set the tape into the player the Nova Corps was able to salvage. Ain't No Mountain High Enough began to play through the ship, Evan smiling at the familiar song she hadn't heard since her years on Earth. Evan rested her head on Peter's shoulder, and he rested his hand on top of hers where it moved to his knee.

Peter turned his head as Gamora approached the two with a small smile. Evan turned a second after him, watching with a smile as Gamora began to bob her head along with the music.

Peter kissed the top of Evan's head before standing with a loud sniff and led Evan and the rest of the Guardians to the front of the ship. Evan took her seat beside Peter, Drax, and Rocket in their chairs behind them and Gamora standing Peter with a small smile.

"So, what should we do next? Something good? Something bad? A bit of both?" Peter asked, readying the steering wheel.

"We'll follow your lead, Star-Lord," Gamora stated.

"Bit of both," he said, smiling as he pulled the ship into gear and sped out of Xandar's air space.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

SO THIS IS THE END OF ACT ONE! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! GET READY FOR ACT TWO BECAUSE SOME SHIT IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN!