Oh wow, it's been awhile.
Life has been, well, life, ya know?
THANKS to Rachel01160 (x3!), MewWinx96, breannakyle520, kaylee2019 (x2!), Guest, Guest, and Guest (same person?), and Kael for your kind words and encouragement, sorry I left you hanging so long on this one! Enjoy!
Hope y'all are staying safe out there.
Chapter 20 Summary:
"Nebula, are you there? Did you find Peter?"
There's silence on the other end of the line, just a beat too long, and Gamora feels like she can't breathe. Just as she's about to call her name again, Nebula finally replies.
"We found him Gamora...but I won't lie to you. It's not looking good."
Once they arrive back to the ship, Gamora makes it to the medbay to take stock of whatever supplies they may have to help her deliver the baby, while Mantis gets the Sovereign children settled safely in the main room of the Benatar.
That's all they can do while they wait for the rest of the Guardians to return with Peter. Gamora has never done well with waiting, she's one to take action, to do something about whatever perilous situation is at hand...and waiting for the others to return with Peter, and not even knowing what condition he is in, is pure torture.
A sharp contraction runs through Gamora right as she enters the medbay, startling her out of her thoughts, and she clings to the edge of the metal table for a moment as she breathes through it.
The contractions are getting closer together, and she knows it won't be much longer now.
As she begins carefully gathering supplies, pausing to catch her breath during each contraction, she hears small footsteps approaching the medbay in the distance with her enhanced hearing.
Gamora turns around and smiles as she sees Zyla, now awake and looking unharmed, hesitantly approach the doorway of the room a few moments later.
"Gamora?"
"Zyla, you're alright," Gamora breathes in relief, motioning for the golden child to enter the room.
Zyla nods, walking over to her with a wide, proud smile now spreading across her face. "I'm fine! Well, I'm tired, but I'm okay, promise!"
Without hesitation, Gamora sets her supplies down on the metal table and bends down to pull the little girl into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you are okay. And we are all so grateful for your help. We couldn't have defeated those creatures without you."
Zyla suprises her by hugging her back tightly, squeezing her arms around her neck. "You're welcome. But you and the other Guardians saved us from our master, too. Thank you, Gamora."
Zyla pulls back and Gamora nods at her, understanding more than Zyla could ever know what it's like to escape an abusive, power-hungry being that claims to be a parent. "And you'll never have to worry about him or someone like him again harming you, or any of the other children. I promise."
Zyla nods slowly, her small eyes full of trust and understanding beyond her young years. "I know."
Gamora grimaces as another contraction hits then, but luckily it's a shorter one this time, and she quickly recovers.
Zyla just stares at her in concern. "Is it the baby?"
Gamora stands up slowly and gives her a reassuring smile. "Yes. The baby will be here soon."
"Does it hurt a lot?" Zyla asks her, her little gold face pinched with worry.
"Yes, but it's nothing I can't handle," Gamora quickly reassures her. And really, after the torture she'd endured under Thanos, this isn't even the worst pain she's ever felt...but it is definitely painful, and isn't something easily handled either, especially when she is more concerned about the baby and the delivery happening without any complications than about herself. It was infinitely more stressful having to be concerned for the baby's health as well.
When Zyla still doesn't look convinced, Gamora gently pats her head. "Besides, it's a good kind of pain, not the kind when someone hurts you because they want to hurt you."
"What do you mean?" Zyla asks curiously.
Gamora smiles warmly at her in reply. "Because even though it hurts, it's just part of the process, what my body has to go through...but at the end of all of it, the baby will be here. That is worth all the pain."
Zyla nods slowly, as if it finally makes sense to her. "Okay," she pauses, before adding, "are you scared?"
If only she knew.
Gamora downplays her fears for the young child though, not needing her to also be afraid. "Yes. But only because I want the baby to get here safely. And for the others to return safely too."
"Are you worried about Star-Lord?" Zyla asks, and Gamora is once again amazed at how perceptive the young girl is. "Are you afraid because you don't know if he's okay?"
Gamora has to school the features on her face, which is difficult even with her years of engrained training, because her heart isn't quite ready for such an honest question.
She purses her lips tightly, and gives a slow nod before answering. "I'll be worried until he and the others get back...but I also trust the other Guardians to bring him home."
"Why?" Zyla asks, full of innocent curiosity, not understanding how Gamora could put such trust in them.
Gamora smiles. "Because they're my family."
Zyla smiles back. "They are a good family."
Gamora couldn't agree more, despite their various issues and differences, but after everything they've all been through together over all the years, there's no one else she'd rather have to be aunts and uncles to her and Peter's child.
Just then, Mantis comes bursting into the room, a panicked look on her face. "Gamora!"
Gamora quickly turns to face her, fear flooding through her. "Mantis, what is it?"
"The comm system just came on," Mantis answers breathlessly. "I know the others do not have their comm units anymore, but someone just came through the line, but it is very staticky, so I am not completely sure…"
"Mantis," Gamora cuts her off sharply, although she's pretty sure she already knows the answer, "who is it?"
Mantis exhales heavily. "Nebula."
Relief and hope floods through Gamora at that.
Nebula had gotten her message.
Despite her current condition, Gamora takes off in a dead run for the cockpit, Mantis and Zyla running along behind.
She scrambles the ladder in two steps and makes her way to the comm system, grabbing the unit and speaking into it without hesitation.
"Nebula, come in. Nebula!"
She winces against another pain coursing through her stomach, but determindely remains upright, leaning heavily against the console with baited breath as she waits for a reply.
There is the loud, crackling sound of static, but then there's the unmistakable reply. Static or not, she'd know that voice anywhere in the galaxy.
"Gamora."
Gamora lets out a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding, clutching the comm unit in relief. Of course Nebula had come, and of course she had her own comm unit. "You got my message."
There's more crackling across the line, and no reply for a moment, and Gamora fears the connection has gone dead. She tries again, unable to hide the desperation in her voice.
"Nebula, are you there? Did you find Peter?"
Nebula answers immediately, voice more clear this time. "We found him."
Gamora could almost cry in relief, tears springing to her eyes, but she knows this isn't over yet—far from it. But at least Peter has been found, and they can get him back to the ship and start treating his injuries. She sucks in a deep breath to maintain her composure. "How badly is he hurt?"
There's silence on the other end of the line, just a beat too long, and Gamora feels like she can't breathe again. Just as she's about to call her name again, Nebula finally replies.
"I won't lie to you, Gamora…it's not looking good."
Gamora is winded with dread, and she clutches the comm unit so tightly it starts to crack. Behind her, she hears the worried gasps of Mantis and Zyla.
Closing her eyes, Gamora replies into the comms, voice strained. "How bad?"
"Gamora," Nebula warns, "I know the baby is coming now. You need to focus on that. We will bring Quill back…"
"How bad is it, Nebula?" Gamora interrupts her forcefully. "Tell me, right now, if Peter isn't…"
She can barely finish her sentence, the thought too painful, but luckily Nebula answers for her.
"Quill is still alive."
Gamora exhales shakily at that. Alive she can work with.
But she also knows the hard, pragmatic truth that there's only so much they can do for him on the ship...depending on how badly he's injured. She prods Nebula for more information. "But?"
Nebula huffs, knowing Gamora will be undeterred, but she continues. "He's unconscious, and he's lost a lot of blood, but he's still breathing. I intend to keep him that way."
And Gamora knows she will. She knows Nebula will do everything in her power to bring him back. She trusts in Nebula more than anyone else, and she tries to hold onto that hope. "Okay...and you and the others?"
"Rocket and I are unharmed. We are currently looking for the tree and the maniac who set up the diversion for those beings. Then we will take the remaining escape pod back to your ship."
Gamora breathes out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sister. Be careful. And please...bring Peter home."
"I've never failed a mission. Don't expect me to start now," Nebula replies shortly, but Gamora can hear her underlying concern. Nebula cares about the other Guardians, even Peter, more than she'd ever care to admit, and she won't let anything happen to them if she can help it.
Gamora tries to feel reassured by that, that everything will be okay now that Nebula's there to help them...but there's a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Peter is hurt, badly, and even though their medbay is well-stocked with supplies—more often or not to be used for Peter, unfortunately—she doesn't know if they'll even be able to help him until they get back to the Benatar.
Not to mention that she is currently in need of medical help as well, although in a very different way from Peter. If anything goes wrong with the birth, she and the other Guardians are on their own.
This whole rescue mission was a complete disaster. She had known something was off, every instinct warning her not to let Peter and the others go...but she hadn't been able to stop them.
Not that there was ever stopping Peter anyway, not really, when he thought someone was in trouble.
And really, there had been—the Sovereign children, now rescued from a lifetime of servitude and experimentation, thanks to the Guardians.
Gamora tries to find solace in that, that this mission, although a trap after all, wasn't all for nothing, that some good had come out of it in the end. Squaring her shoulders in determination, she speaks into the comm again. "Mantis and I will be ready for your arrival."
She can hear Nebula whispering harshly under her breath, probably to Rocket, but she can't quite make out what she's saying. She replies to Gamora a moment later. "Take care of yourself now, sister. We have got this under…"
Nebula cuts off abruptly, and Gamora straightens up, immediately sensing something is happening over on the enemy ship. "Nebula?"
There's more harsh whispering between Rocket and Nebula, and then Gamora can hear loud shouting in the background, sounding unmistakably like Drax, and one "I am Groot!" echoing into the unit.
They sound panicked.
"Nebula," Gamora tries again, clutching the comm unit tightly again so it creaks under her fingers, "Nebula, what's happening?"
More shouting from Drax and Groot, closer now, and Rocket audibly swearing in the background now from somewhere closer to Nebula. Nebula barks an order to Rocket and then finally replies through the comms.
"The beasts have found us."
Gamora tries to push down her panic, but she's already faced off once against those things, and she knows how deadly they are. And now, after their little electrocution stunt and whatever distractions Drax and Groot have been taunting them with...those golden monsters are more than angry.
They're out for the kill.
And the Guardians and Nebula don't have any extra tricks this time—that she knows of—and now they're dragging around a seriously injured Peter as well.
"Nebula! Get out of there now!" Gamora cries in panic into the comms, just hearing more commotion in the background and feeling completely helpless.
She's going to lose them all.
"Go!" Nebula barks loudly at the others, and it sounds like she's running now, but Gamora can't really tell…
Then a loud, thundering roar echoes in the background, along with what sounds like metal bending.
"Nebula!" Gamora cries again, but it's clear she isn't listening, too focused on whatever is happening as they try to outrun those creatures.
There's suddenly loud feedback screeching through the comm, and Gamora pulls back with a wince, the static and crackling over the line painful to her enhanced ears.
There's one more loud pop through the unit...and then the line goes dead.
Peter isn't sure what's happening.
Everything feels fuzzy around him, almost like he's simultaneously dreaming and awake at the same time, somehow, but he can't fully wake up for some reason. Everything is black around him, like he's floating out into space, except without any stars. It's incredibly disorienting, and he feels dizzier than any hangover he's ever had...which is saying something.
His body feels heavy and leaden, and he can't open his eyes, no matter how hard he tries.
Peter thinks he can hear noises in the distance, and he strains to focus in on them, to try and discern what they are. At first, it's all nonsensical, just loud sounds every so often, but after a while, he starts to pick out what they are.
Voices.
He tries to focus in even harder, still not sure where he is or if he's just dreaming, after all, until he can finally distinguish what, or more accurately, who it is.
The other Guardians.
He can finally make out Nebula and Rocket's voices, and occasionally Drax and Groot as well. He can't always make out what they're saying, but they sound panicked, or at the very least like they're in the middle of something big.
Peter doesn't hear Gamora or Mantis, and he vaguely wonders where they are, brain still sluggish as he tries to figure out what's going on.
What the hell is happening?
Slowly, he is able to focus in on their voices, and he can catch parts of their conversation, although he has no idea what they're talking about.
"Put him over there!"
"These blasters are frickin' useless against these things!"
"Their skin is too thick!"
"We can't outrun them to the pod."
"I am Groot!"
"Quill is running out of time."
"We gotta go, now!"
Peter still doesn't know what's going on, what he could possibly be running out of time for...when it suddenly all comes flooding back to him.
The rescue mission. The trap and the High Councilman. Gamora saving the day. The pods opening and those super powered Sovereign monsters being freed. The High Councilman, stabbing him as he dies.
Rocket and Nebula cauterizing his wound. The worst pain he's ever felt, and then darkness…
They're still on the ship. They're still on the damn enemy ship, and it sounds like his family is in trouble.
At that, Peter is finally able to open his eyes.
He squints blearily as he takes in his surroundings. The flashing emergency lights above in the darkness of the ship's hallway don't do anything to quell his dizziness, and he grits his teeth as he struggles to focus against his surroundings whirling around him.
Finally getting his bearings, Peter somehow manages to turn his head unsteadily to the right, and from his sitting position on the floor—someone must have put him there, trying to keep him out of harm's way—he can see the Guardians doing their best to hold off five very angry looking golden monsters.
It's not going well.
They all have their weapons back—Drax and Groot must've found them, apparently, while they were leading the creatures on a wild goose chase—but their blasters are doing little to hold the creatures back, only making them hesitate a step or two before they continue trying to descend on them.
In short, they're screwed. There's no way they can all outrun these things in the narrow, winding hallways of the High Councilman's ship, and especially not with him being as injured as he is.
Almost as if on cue, the wound in his side starts throbbing with renewed force, and Peter bites back a groan of pain, not wanting to distract the others as they are just barely holding off the monsters as it is. They haven't even had time to notice that he's miraculously awake again.
"They're gaining on us here!" Rocket shouts over the sound of gunfire and the roars of anger from the monsters. "We can't hold 'em much longer!"
"We need another diversion!" Nebula snaps back, firing a perfectly placed shot between one of the creature's eyes. It makes it stumble back a few feet with a roar of pain, but doesn't drop it to the ground. The blasters only seem to stun the creatures, at best, for a few moments, before they continue their slow progression towards them. They're gaining by the second.
"These beasts have impenetrable hides," Drax adds unhelpfully, skidding across the floor of the hallway after unsuccessfully tying to slice through the skin of one of the creatures and then being violently thrown back.
"I am Groot!" Groot yells out as another monster easily breaks off one of his branches before he can fully wrap them around its feet. "I am Groot!"
"Yeah, I know the bomb will take 'em out, but we're too close!" Rocket says back in a growl, flashing the homemade grenade in his vest pocket. "At this range the bomb will take all of us out too, and we'll all be sucked out into space with 'em, but we can't get away from these things! They're too fast."
Peter takes all of this in from his spot slumped against the wall behind the other Guardians, knowing that in mere moments they're all about to be pummeled to death by these creatures unless they can come up with another plan.
He opens his mouth to say something, to get their attention, but quickly snaps it shut again at the wave of nausea that passes over him. Breathing heavily through his nose, he leans his head back against the wall, staring at the ceiling and trying to swallow down the bile rising in his throat.
And that's when he sees it.
Directly above him, running along the entire length of the ceiling, over the Guardians and over the heads of the massive Sovereign monsters...are the pipes from the main heating unit of the ship.
He quickly realizes what they are, is able to discern them from the other various types of pipes and tubing along the ceiling, because of all of his years climbing through vents and ducts as a Ravager, fitting into places that only he could as a kid.
He pushes away a fleeting memory of Yondu as he realizes exactly what they need to do.
Those pipes are full of steam—thick, burning hot steam—and although it might not kill or even hurt the creatures, it would certainly be enough to cause a distraction.
A distraction is all they need.
"Guys," Peter croaks, but his voice is gravelly and weak, and he just doesn't have the strength to shout any louder right now. "Hey...guys..."
But they don't hear him, trying to hold off the creatures with everything they have.
Peter groans in pain, putting his hand back against the wall in an effort to try and push himself up, holding back tears as it pulls at the freshly cauterized wound, causing fresh waves of agony to shoot through his side.
But he can't give up now or they're all dead, and he tries to power through the pain.
As he continues struggling to get upright, he brushes against his hip, and he belatedly realizes that he has his blasters back. He bets that Drax put them back on him, even though he was unconscious, because Drax firmly believes every warrior should have their weapon on them at all times, no matter alive or dead, or even awake for that matter.
Peter silently thanks Drax for his strange but heartfelt traditions as he shakily pulls out his blaster from the holster. The effort takes all of his energy and he clumsily drops the blaster into his lap, unable to maneuver it smoothly like he normally would. The effort of just pulling it out leaves him breathless, fiery pain burning relentlessly through his side, and he seriously contemplates giving up for a second.
Then another roar from one of the monsters and shouts from his team renews his determination, and he fumbles around until the safety is off and the blaster is finally gripped in his hand.
He looks up at the pipes directly above the creatures, trying to focus his blurred vision with one eye as he slowly raises up his arm, gritting his teeth as the blaster shakes in his unsteady hand.
He'll only have one shot at this. Literally.
Taking a deep breath, he aims and pulls the trigger.
It works.
The blaster fire squarely strikes the pipes directly above the monsters, by some miracle, and thick, white, burning hot steam instantly comes pouring out onto them.
The creatures shriek in pain and anger, but they drop back, unable to see the Guardians as they are momentarily blinded by the steam.
Simultaneously, the other Guardians all wheel around, staring back at Peter in shock and surprise.
Peter offers them a wobbly grin, the blaster slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor, because he no longer has the strength to hold it. He exhales heavily from the effort, looking up at the others. "We should...pr'bly go."
Nebula gets her bearings first, striding over to him and pulling him back to his feet in one smooth motion, without any warning, throwing his arm over her shoulder again. Peter cries out in pain at the sudden movement, but somehow manages to stay conscious.
"Move! Rocket, set the bomb!" Nebula orders the others, and starts running, dragging Peter along with her.
"On it!" Rocket yells back. "Get to the pod!"
Peter can't keep his eyes open, jaw clenched tightly as he just tries not to hurl or cry or do anything really as Nebula literally drags him down the ship's hallway towards where the pod is docked.
The pain is unbearable, and not for the first time since this all started…he wonders how he's still alive.
He doesn't know how much longer he can last.
The world is spinning around him again as they move, but he's vaguely aware of Drax and Groot behind them as Nebula carries him towards the pod.
They reach the docking chamber and she hands him off to Drax for a moment, quickly hacking the code, and the chamber opens.
"Quill, I thought you were dead," Drax says incredulously as he holds him up, sounding both impressed and relieved. There might even be tears in his eyes, Peter isn't sure.
"I am Groot," Groot scoffs, because yeah, they had definitely told Drax that he was just unconscious, and badly hurt, but not dead.
"Morons," Nebula scoffs, before reaching over and taking Peter back from Drax as she opens the door to the escape pod. Peter can barely stand on his own and he has no choice but to be helplessly maneuvered between his teammates.
In the distance, they hear a loud explosion, and shrieks from the golden monsters, and even more alarms start blaring around the failing ship.
"Get in," Nebula says shortly, and Drax and Groot nod, ready to board the pod behind her.
Nebula glances over at Peter as she pulls him inside the pod, and he tries to focus on her face swimming in front of him.
"Quill, that was an idiotic move, in your condition," she starts, referring to his stunt with the pipes, but Peter manages to cut her off.
"...but thanks...f'r savin' our asses?" he rasps, trying to give her a cocky smile, but he's pretty sure his expression looks more pained than anything.
Nebula scowls, and lowers him carefully into a seat before she finally concedes. "It...was not your worst idea."
That's basically a glowing endorsement from Nebula as far as he's concerned.
"I am Groot," Groot says proudly, and Peter gives him what he hopes is a grateful look.
"If I had not replaced your blaster, that never would have worked," Drax says simply, and Peter wishes he could laugh right now, but regardless of the meaning behind it, he really does owe Drax like a new knife set or something.
"Let's roll!" Rocket says, appearing only moments later. "This whole ship is 'bout to blow!"
"And those abominations?" Nebula questions as she closes the door of the pod and lets Rocket take the controls.
"They're big golden icicles now, " Rocket gives them a victorious grin over his shoulder as he pulls the pod out of the docking bay and they finally, finally leave the High Councilman's ship and all of its horrors behind. Rocket quickly accelerates it towards the Benatar as fast as it will go.
The bomb had worked, blowing a hole in the side of the ship and sucking the golden monsters out into the void of space.
Even they couldn't survive that.
Rocket glances back over at Peter as he hits the throttle on the dashboard. "I'll hand it to ya, Quill...that was a nice move back there."
Peter coughs roughly, trying to find the energy to answer. He's fading fast. "...t-thanks."
Rocket frowns, giving him a once over before he turns back to piloting. "We're almost back to the ship, so try not to die, okay?"
"Tryin'," Peter exhales heavily, but his eyes are already slipping closed again. Shooting the pipes and running—well being dragged, rather—from the creatures was more than his already battered body could take. He's not sure how he even woke up again to begin with. He'd been sure that he was going to die when Nebula and Rocket had had to cauterize his wound. And he's just so so tired…
Moments later, he's shaken roughly, and manages to peel open his eyes again to the steely gaze of Nebula only inches from his face.
If he wasn't half-delirious right now, he'd be terrified of the sight.
"Stay awake," she commands him. "If you lose consciousness again, you won't wake up."
Peter hadn't even realized he'd been fading again. He swallows thickly, trying to ignore the strong taste of blood in his mouth. He knows he's likely bleeding internally still. "I kn'w…"
And he does know, that if he loses consciousness once again, with as badly as he's hurt...he's probably a dead man.
If he isn't already.
"I am Groot," Groot encourages gently from the back of the pod where he and Drax are crammed together behind their seats.
Peter nods slowly, eyes fluttering against the pull of fatigue and pain washing over him. "Doin' m' best, guys…"
"Well try harder," Rocket demands from the pilot's seat. "You've made it this far, Quill. You can't quit now!"
"I can't believe you are still alive, with your injuries as they are," Drax says bluntly, before adding, "but you were a fine warrior during today's battle, and you must return to Gamora and your child."
Gamora.
Peter can barely think straight right now, between blood loss and pain and exhaustion, but he has a nagging feeling that something is wrong with Gamora, that Rocket told him something really important earlier when he was bleeding out all over the torture chamber...but he can't exactly remember what it was.
"Gamora," he chokes out, "is she…"
"Quill, I already told ya," Rocket starts to say in disbelief, "she's…"
"Fine," Nebula cuts him off sharply. "She's back on your ship, waiting for us to retrieve you."
Peter looks at her skeptically, but he's too exhausted to argue right now. "Good…th't's good…"
As long as Gamora and the baby are safe, he can try to focus on staying alive.
"But you said…" Drax begins, but Nebula cuts him off again with a death glare.
"She's safe," Nebula says, turning back to Peter. "And she needs you to come back alive, Quill."
It sounds somewhere between a threat and encouragement, but even in his haze Peter knows that just how she's showing she cares.
Even about him.
"I don't," Peter exhales heavily again, trying to force his eyes to stay open, "d'n't know...if that's...gonna happen."
A heavy silence falls over the pod, because they all know what he does. He's mortally wounded, and even if by some miracle he makes it back to the ship right now, they might not have enough resources to keep him alive until they reach Xandar.
"I am Groot," Groot encourages him again, voice full of worry.
"The tree is right," Nebula says, "dying is not an option, Quill."
As if he really has a choice in that matter.
"Stay awake," Nebula says fiercely only moments later, and if he wasn't completely numb right now—except for the searing pain in his side, of course—he'd say one side of his face is burning.
Peter looks at her with what he hopes is incredulity. "Did y'u...slap me?"
Nebula quirks a metal brow, but she's not sorry in the least. "It was necessary."
"And I'm next in line if you don't freakin' keep your eyes open Quill," Rocket adds over his shoulder. "The Benatar is right there! We're about to dock!"
"As will I," Drax adds solemnly. "We will not let you die, Quill."
"I am Groot!" Groot adds firmly.
And Peter knows they're just worried, that they're just doing everything they can to keep him alive, and he doesn't fault them for that.
But as the Benatar comes into view, his eyes slip closed again, even as he fights against it with everything he has left. He can hear the others yelling at him, and he wouldn't be half surprised if Nebula off and punches him right now if that would keep him conscious...but he doesn't think that's gonna matter.
They're so so close.
He just wants to see Gamora, one last time...
"Quill!"
