While Drax was more than willing to follow the Sakaaran warriors to Ronan, the others weren't feeling good about it. Gamora wondered if maybe she could pull it off like she was going to be bringing the Orb to Thanos. It wasn't like she needed Ronan. As a daughter of Thanos, it's something she would have likely done. The problem was Nebula. What would she do? Quill kept looking between everyone but mostly focused a worried gaze on Gamora and Clint before glaring at Drax. Rocket walked with his head dropped in submission, almost like he had given up but if one looked closely they'd see his eyes flicking about, analyzing everything. Groot... Well, it was hard to tell what he was doing. Honestly, he just kept looking about as if he was admiring the architecture of the place.
Bucky had his eyes on Clint the entire time. A sense of dread had covered over him the moment they had walked onto the Dark Aster and it was clear that Clint could feel it as well. Something bad was going to happen and not in the normal sense of being captured and potentially killed. No, it was something worse. Meanwhile, Clint was focused internally.
"Use my power," Natasha/Aether called out to Clint but the archer mentally shook his head.
"I can't," he thought to the stone. There was no way he'd use it right now. It was too dangerous.
"I can stop what it about to come," Natasha/Aether reminded. Clint grimaced. While it was true, he couldn't take the risk. He couldn't allow the stone to drain him, using his own magic and energy to work. Nor could he risk asking for help in the wrong way. The Reality Stone's power was too dangerous.
"Gamora," a voice cooed in pleasure after walking through a fair amount of the ship. Gamora, Quill, Bucky and Clint looked over to the source, slowing down a bit as they focused on the shadows of the hall. Behind them the Skaarans shoved at them, trying to make them move on.
"Nebula," Gamora replied in a flat tone as the blue skinned, half robot sister of Thanos stepped forward from the shadows, a smile on her face. It was clear that she was enjoying the fact that Gamora was caught. Clint pursed his lips at the sight of her. He knew that in the past Gamora and Nebula hadn't gotten along and he had technically been unconscious when they seemed to resolve whatever their issues had been but right now, he had no idea how to get her to switch sides. Hell, even Gamora technically hadn't turned to the side of good. All she wanted was to avoid Thanos at whatever cost.
"You're making a mistake with trusting Ronan, you know that, right?" Clint asked before the sisters could get any deeper into it. Nebula gave Clint a brief flash of curiousness before focusing back on Gamora. Rolling his eyes, Clint realized that Nebula was too 'one track mind' on her revenge against Gamora at this point. Bucky leaned closer to Clint.
"I'm guessing she won't help us," the Sergeant whispered. He remembered her at the final battle but honestly, he had no idea who Nebula was. But, given Clint's statement in a pathetic way to recruit her, Bucky figured she had helped before. Clint gave him a subtle nod even as the group was lead into the flight deck. Guards stood all over the place, all weapons trained on the group. Figuring everyone was more than ready to shoot rather than talk, Clint whispered his protection spell over everyone in the group. Bucky, now getting used to magic, looked over to him for half a second before focusing on the rather imposing alien dressed in dark armor.
"Ronan the Accuser!" Drax called as soon as he laid eyes on the Kree warlord. Clint closed his eyes, just about to face palm as Ronan turned his focus right onto Drax.
"You are the one who transmitted the message?" Ronan wondered, tilting his head to the side. Not many called to him for their deaths and so he was slightly curious as to why Drax would. But, as he looked over the rest of the group he found he didn't really care. Drax had apparently made some important friends/companions.
"You killed my wife. You killed my daughter!" Drax cried, not even noticing that Ronan wasn't paying attention to him. Ronan hummed. He had killed many women and children without thought and care as to who they were. And he certainly didn't care now. So, he simply turned his full focus to Gamora.
"You have the Orb?" he demanded of her. Even with being sent to the Kyln, Ronan was sure Gamora had done her task. Drax let out an angered cry and rushed forward, weaponless. He got only a few steps from Ronan before the Kree leveled his Cosmi-Rod at the fool. Drax made it only a few steps further before a blast hit Drax in the chest and sent him flying backwards. Clint and Bucky jerked forward a step as if they could help but smartly held themselves back from doing anything further. No need to draw attention to themselves too soon. Quill didn't really seem as inclined but when he got too far, a Sakaaran leveled their weapon on him and he backed up into the group again.
"I was going to return it to Thanos," Gamora lied but stopped when Ronan scoffed at her.
"My spies say otherwise," the warlord retorted. Gamora ground her teeth a bit wondering how exactly Ronan had gotten his information. Ronan looked over the rest of the group with a critical eye. "Are these who you intended to sell it too?"
"No," Rocket replied even as Quill and Gamora tried to quiet him. It was clear that Rocket was just about willing to give up whatever information needed to save his life. Even if it implicated the others. "We were gonna share the profits."
"Rocket!" Quill snapped. Ronan sighed deeply before focusing on Clint and Bucky. For a moment he paused and then stared at them a bit more carefully. Bucky tensed slightly, wondering what the warlord was seeing but Clint just stared back, defiantly. After a second, Ronan turned his attention to the group as a whole.
"Turn over the Orb," the warlord declared as if they would do it right away.
"Or what? You'll kill us?" Rocket huffed. Even though he was willing to give information he knew the likely hood of actually walking away was pretty much nil. Ronan raised an eyebrow. Of anyone he had figured the raccoon would be the easiest to threaten. "Not good incentive when we know you'll kill us after we give it up."
"I have no war with you, unless you withhold the Orb any longer," Ronan decided as he looked everyone over to see their reactions. Clint meanwhile glanced over at Drax to see the man was slowly getting to his feet. He grimaced, knowing that Drax would try and charge Ronan again. The Destroyer was just too determined. It wouldn't take long and no one seemed to be paying attention to him. Bucky shifted a bit, making sure he was within easy reach of grabbing Clint if the archer tried to do something stupid.
"We sold it already," Quill bluffed. He then hooked a thumb over toward Drax, who had been quickly swarmed with Sakaarans ready to shoot him. "We promised him a lift to another planet to find you-"
"You did no such thing! I called for my revenge while you all-" Drax interrupted and Clint couldn't help but shift over and whisper a silencing spell before he could add too much. Bucky hissed giving the archer a quick glare before focusing on Ronan again. When the Destroyer's voice cut out, Ronan glanced to him and then back over the group before settling on Clint. Almost like he could sense the magic coming from the archer. The Kree raised his rod once again, pointing to Clint and then waving it away from the others in a clear sign of the archer separating from the others.
Clint and Bucky tensed, clearly ready to fight being separated but the amount of Sakaarans very clearly outnumbered them. Even with everything Clint could potentially do, there would be no way to walk away unscathed. Clint winced as Bucky shifted a bit more as if to stop them but they all knew it was a lost cause at the moment. They couldn't fight just yet. They needed to wait. Knowing that, Bucky stepped away from Clint as the Sakaarans got between them. Clint watched Bucky carefully, both men mentally calling out to each other and begging the other not to do anything stupid. As soon as Bucky was far enough away and Clint was fully separated from the others, Ronan stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention once again.
"Who are you?" Ronan questioned in a way that promised punishment should he not get the answer he desired. Quill glanced toward Drax with a dark look as Gamora tightened her hands into fists. Bucky pursed his lips as Rocket shifted his weight a bit in a nervous tick. Groot simply watched in silence. How were they going to get out of this mess? What were they supposed to do?
"No one," the archer answered. Ronan leveled his Cosmi-Rod at him and the archer couldn't hold back his small wince as he remembered what happened with Drax. Protection spell or not, that would hurt. Never mind the Aether hiding in his body. While he had gotten a better hold on it's powers, that didn't mean much when it came to a full frontal attack with magic. Being in a full on battle was nothing like the fist fights at the Kyln. The Aether was far more likely to respond even if Clint didn't want it to. "Just a Terran trying to get away."
"There is something special about you," Ronan declared. His tone had Nebula shift around the group and come closer to Clint. The archer turned his attention to her. Of Ronan and Nebula it was actually Nebula that he feared the most at the moment. She was too big of a wild card right now. He had no idea which side she'd take at any point. The small history he had with Nebula in saving the universe made him want to get her on his side. To keep her alive and befriend her even though that second part was highly unlikely to happen due to the proper events that had turned her not going to happen this time around. "Are you smart enough to admit the truth and hand over the Orb?"
"If one was really smart, they wouldn't work with Thanos," Clint couldn't help but remark, looking back to Ronan. Bucky let out a soft groan, glaring at his lover. Clint licked his lips, fighting the small smile that attempted to appear on his face at Bucky's reaction. Ronan scoffed before looking to the group again and then back to Clint. He pulled the rod back to him and aimed it upwards as he did so.
"I will give you all one more chance. Hand me the Orb," Ronan announced, turning partway through to show he was speaking to them all. The group stood there, watching him. Sighing deeply, Ronan pointed his rod back at Clint and shot. The archer was hit hard and tossed backwards into the wall beyond. The cracking of him hitting had the guardians and Bucky cry out. Nebula also seemed slightly concerned. As Clint laid on the floor, Bucky felt the protection of magic vanish. Clint had lost concentration on his spell. But honestly, Bucky was more impressed that Clint held back the Aether from attacking. "Do not test my patience further."
"Fine!" Quill stated even as the rest of the group looked to him.
"Quill-" Gamora started as Bucky reached out to stop the man but Quill was already digging into his coat pocket to pull out the Orb. Ronan gave a dark smile to the man before walking toward him to grab it. Quill held it out, knowing they were defeated. Bucky lunged forward, getting into the way between Quill and Ronan. Ronan didn't even think twice as he blasted the Sergeant to the side. By the time Bucky was back up, Ronan was already walking away, Orb in hand.
"Kill them," the Kree declared.
"We know where there are more!" Rocket shouted as the Sakaarans readied their weapons. Bucky's eyes widened in horror. Quill and Gamora paled a bit as Groot glanced about. Ronan paused.
"More, what?" he wondered.
"Rocket!" Quill cried, moving to shut the raccoon up. He wasn't the only one either. Gamora was turning in an attempt to as well. And even Groot. But it was too late now. Nebula stepped toward the group, grabbing Rocket by the scruff and pulling him away.
"Talk," she demanded. Rocket winced. He always hated when people held him like this.
"We know where there are more Infinity Stones," the raccoon continued. Quill groaned, looking to the sky as Gamora closed her eyes and looked to the floor. Groot let out a soft moan and Drax looked to Rocket with a disproving face. Bucky cussed in Russian, glancing to Clint in time to see the archer slowly perking up. Nebula's gaze flicked from Rocket to Gamora and back in shock.
"Infinity Stones?" Ronan repeated. Somehow, those words finally clicked into Rocket's head that this was a bad idea as he stopped talking. Slowly, Ronan turned back to look at Rocket as Clint stumbled to get to his feet. Bucky shifted toward the archer, ready to help if needed even as the Sakaarans leveled their weapons on the duo. Nebula narrowed her eyes on Rocket before shifting her gaze to her sister and then landing on the Orb clutched in Ronan's hands. "What are you saying?"
"Nothing, he's confused," Quill called, stepping closer. Clint looked up and immediatly noted that Ronan had the Orb. He grimaced before glancing over everyone. It was clear he had missed something important and it had to do with Rocket. "I mean come on, he's just a..."
"Silence!" Ronan shouted making Quill wince. Clint turned a slightly betrayed look to Rocket as the raccoon hung limply in Nebula's grip. The warlord looked to the Orb, twisting it in his grip to see it better.
"Ronan," Nebula muttered, wondering what the Kree was thinking. She had heard from Ronan's spies that someone had been talking about the stones. He hadn't believed it but now, all he could think about was if it was true. Ronan knew Thanos thirsted for power, just like he did. If this Orb was an Infinity Stone, specifically the Power Stone like Ronan had been informed, then the Kree warlord wondered why he needed to hand it off to Thanos. "You would dare betray my father?"
"Nebula, please," Gamora pleaded even as Nebula dropped Rocket onto the floor. Smartly, Rocket slid back toward Groot and the protection from the others. "You know Thanos. You-"
"Shut up," Nebula hissed before walking toward Ronan, who was still distracted with the Orb.
"If they speak true... I would have the power to destroy Xandar and would no longer need Thanos," Ronan muttered. Another Kree, who had mostly been hidden in the shadows stepped forward as Ronan held out his Cosmi-Rod to be taken from him.
"Master, Thanos is the most powerful being in the Universe!" the Kree informed but still did his job and took the rod from the warlord. Clint couldn't help but lightly scoff at that, thankfully not loud enough for anyone but the enhanced Bucky to hear. The Sergeant couldn't help but give him a quick dark look before watching as Ronan gripped the Orb differently. Without speaking, Ronan crushed the Orb into two pieces showing the Power Stone hidden inside. Everyone let out a surprised cry and Clint fell to his knees, curling into himself with a whimper.
"Sister," Natasha/Aether called in his mind as the stone's power grew. Clint grimaced, focusing on holding it back but he knew he wouldn't be able to for long. The Aether was simply too powerful.
"Not anymore," Ronan whispered before dropping one half of the broken Orb and then grabbed hold of the Power Stone. Energy flung all around the room as Ronan arched his back as the stone forced it's power into his body. The power flue around the room in blackened and purple wisps, crawling up Ronan's body and then down, cracking into the floor. Before getting completely overwhelmed, Ronan held out a hand for his rod. The other Kree smartly handed it over and once Ronan had his hands on it, he slammed the stone into the rod, releasing the strength into the item rather than himself.
As the purple light from the Power Stone dimmed, the area slowly began to glow red as the Aether reacted to it's partner. Everyone turned to Clint, watching as the archer did his best to contain the loosened power. The glow wasn't as strong as the purple from the Power Stone but it was obvious that something powerful was hiding underneath Clint's skin.
"Oh my god," Gamora mumbled, realizing that things had just gotten far worse than before. Ronan now had two Infinity Stones in his possession. And if Rocket told Ronan of the three on Terra, Ronan would be even stronger than Thanos.
"Clint!" Bucky cried, rushing toward his lover, pushing the Sakaarans away. In their distraction over the current events, none of them tried to stop the Sergeant. Bucky got within a few inches of Clint before pausing, remembering how the Aether would tend to defend itself, even from friends, if it felt threatened. It took a moment longer before Clint got control over the Aether and once he did, he looked to Bucky in fear. Bucky rushed the remaining feet, dropping to his knees to be closer.
"Buck," the archer softly said before leaning into his lover's arms as exhaustion dropped over him. That much power had drained him. Already his magic was attempting to pull energy from the Aether but it wasn't enough. The Power Stone was till calling it's sister stone and the Aether kept replying. Bucky curled around Clint, scared of what would be happening next as he then looked to the others. Ronan looked ecstatic while everyone else, Sakaarans and Kree as well, seemed just as frightened over this turn of events.
Rut, row. What's gonna happen now? MuHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Life keeps moving forward and I can't seem to settle into a rhythm. Especially a good writing/editing one right now. The inspirations/ideas I had before are harder to reach but I am at least still a few chapters ahead of what I am posting.
Darius is great. Enjoying school, enjoying messing up the house with his toys, and enjoying playing some board games with the hubby. And sometimes me, but mostly hubby. They've mostly been playing Trouble and it's funny to listen to as Darius sometimes attempts to cheat by moving his piece further than it was meant to, or even attempting to double move/roll when he isn't supposed to. It's still fun. We've been working on not being a spoil sport and not being too big of a bragger if he wins. For the most part he's okay at it (more the losing than the winning) but there have still been times... Anyways, things are going well in that aspect of life so I pray things will start going well in everything else.