okay! So another adventure of Izzy and her space family! This is part 1 of a small story of the family I've been working on. Izzy finds herself in a bit of trouble after a heated argument with some ravagers. See how the family deals with the situation and comes out in the other side.
WARNING: STALKING AND KIDNAPPING OF A YOUNG GIRL. IF IT CAUSES ANY PROBLEMS PLEASE DO NOT READ.
Izzy sighs heavily for the uptenth time as she wanders behind Dram, Oblo and Taserface. It was beginning to be a very boring trip to Knowhere. Yondu had some things to attend to or so he had informed her when she had asked to go along, taking Kraglin with him. When she had begged to go with Peter, well he too supposedly had things that he needed to take care of concerning God only knows what, and brushed her off as well. That forced Izzy, after much crying about wanting to get off the ship, to be stuck with Oblo, Taserface and Dram. Izzy had to stop herself from complaining to Yondu about the arrangements. The threesome was rather boring when she was around. And Dram and herself did not get along very well. Dram was a new recruit and not all too happy about having Izzy come along with the men as they took some needed R and R from a recent job. He would get rather mean and snippy at times with her when she spoke to them. Not that her attitude to question everything and narrow her eyes at the men didn't help. She was 12, what could she say? Izzy, aggressively puts her headphones over her ears before turning her walkman on and stuffing her hands in her pockets with an angry snarl on her face. She was so sick of walking aimlessly in circles.
Izzy glances around at the growling men and women that walk the streets around her. Their eyes glare with a fiery heat as they watch her in a slightly creepy way. Most of the people here were outlaws, having various unsavory professions. They glared at everyone that walked by, but Izzy always found it unnerving when she wasn't with her dad or brothers. She liked coming to Knowhere, it was interesting to see all the different nicknacks and shops, and she absolutely loved walking with her family. Yondu would go into them looking for things needed for the ship and whatnot and he would even let her get something she wanted from time to time. And then if Yondu had to meet someone to talk to them, she could get a hot meal or some sort of treat while he drank and talked. It was enjoyable and fun when they went planet side. But for whatever reason Yondu didn't want Izzy to come along on this trip, like period. He had informed her that she would be staying on the ship while he and several members of the crew went into the town. It was only after her days of begging and pestering the man did he finally agree. But he still poned her off on others, making her wish she would have stayed back on the ship. The preteen kicks a rock absentmindedly as she growls under her breath, irritated that her enjoyable trip had turned to one of annoyance and boredom.
Izzy startles as she suddenly comes into contact with a very unmoving wall. A yelp forces out of her throat as she staggers backwards trying to regain her balance. She blinks her eyes several times before glancing up to notice that she ran into a man. He was tall like Quill. Probably 6'0 or more. He was broad chested, making the shirt strain against it's stitching. He had dark skin and black hair that showed a faded scar running down the side of his mouth. He looked almost human but the slight blue tint to the veins told her that he was probably Xandrain like Kraglin. The green eyes narrow at her slightly, studying her intently. The face softens slightly as he glances down at Izzy with a quirked eyebrow.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Izzy yells, narrowing her eyes as she looks up at the man.
"Sorry kid. I thought you were looking at where YOU were going." He drawls out in a sass.
Izzy's blue eyes quickly flick down to her boots, a heat forming on her cheeks. She rubs her nose absentmindedly. She had not realized that she was that lost in her own world. She pulls her headphones off her head, to settle around her neck. The preteen glances wearily up at the man, hoping that maybe he would just accept her humble display and walk away. But he continues to stand right in front of her, staring at her in a very intently creepy way. He glances around at the crowd, before focusing back down at the much shorter girl. Izzy swallows hard as her gut turns uncomfortably. The man clenches his hands, gazing around once again. Izzy takes a tentative step backwards not trusting the man.
"Well thanks for that reminder mate. I'll be sure to keep my eyes open." Izzy stampers out.
She smiles nervously, stepping to the side to walk around the man. He moves his bulk at the same instant she does. He effectively blocks her, as she takes another step to the side. His hand moves like lighting as it shoots out towards her. Izzy takes in a sharp breath, quickly leaping away. Her heart jumps into her throat, pounding in her ears. The blue eyes survey the people around her, looking for anyone that was familiar or that she could trust enough to help her. They focus back on the big man as a deep chuckle radiates from his throat. He grins wickedly, taking a step towards her as he reaches out to grab at her once again.
"Izzy! Are you coming kid or what?" Oblo yells.
Izzy jumps at the god sent sound of that gravelly voice. She peers around the big man, noticing Oblo running towards the pair. Her shoulders relax, as her panic subsides, seeing the brown haired man. She has never been more happy to see another ravager in her life and has to resist the urge to run to him like a frightened little kid. Izzy gazes back over noticing the man's shoulders tense up. He draws back, quickly stepping away from the preteen and moving towards the crowd that surrounds them. Izzy spins herself around as he pushes and shoves his way through the people, no doubt intending to become lost.
Oblo slows to a stop by her side. He furrows down his brow at the retreating man's back. When he had turned around to ask Izzy a question she was no longer there. Oblo had backtracked only to find her with that man, whoever he was, and the conversation did not look like it was a friendly one. Izzy was tense and nervous. Even at the distance he was at, he could see her eyes flick back and forth, her hands shaking as she kept her distance from him. Oblo had moved fast in calling out her name and rushing over to her. He looks over the girl curiously as she stares at the man in a fearful state. Her breathing was quick, hitching every few seconds. He tentatively places a sturdy hand on her shoulder. Izzy yelps loudly, startling at the touch. She glances up at him with wide, terrified eyes.
Izzy swallows hard as she realizes what she just did. She quickly looks down at her boots, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. She had not been mindful of how lost she was getting staring at the vacant area where the man had stood. That had been a very scary situation if Izzy was being honest with herself. She had always felt relatively safe no matter where she was at. The Ravager flames, along with her last name, kept many at bay. Most people knew, or at least had a general idea, who she belonged to and did not want any dealing with a Udonta kid. They were smart enough to not want the wrath of dad coming down on them. But that situation was different. The man had targeted Izzy specifically.
"Everything alright Iz?" Oblo asks. Concern fills his brown eyes.
Izzy simply nods her head, not trusting her voice to speak the words. She already felt small and dumb for acting the way she had when Oblo touched her, no reason to add to that with a cracking, emotion driven response. Oblo scans her face for a brief moment before pulling on her arm lightly to get her to follow him. Izzy allows the man to drag her along, inspecting the area for the mystery man one last time. The young girl shakes her head, trying to push the disturbing thought away for now. But it was truly too weird of an encounter to easily push aside and forget.
Despite the encounter that did make Izzy stick closer to the man, it did not take long for the preteen to become increasingly bored and agitated again. Dram had picked on her when she had shown back up with Oblo. Oblo never mentioned the encounter with the strange man, but Dram was determined to make sarcastic remarks about her falling behind and "getting lost." It had gotten old, forcing Izzy to snap at the man before burying herself in her music once again. A huff forces past her lips, rolling her eyes at the men. She was truly done with the lack of entertainment. Izzy's mouth pinches into a thin line, her anger boiling as they pass a shop for the third time within the past hour or so.
"For the love of. . ." Izzy growls, tangling her fingers in her hair. "Can we please do something other than walk in circles?! We've passed the same block like 5 times already!"
The three men freeze in their movements. They exchange small glances at one another before focusing back at her. Izzy looks at the men, with her hands open, waiting for them to do something different. Taserface scowls at her. He didn't like the dullness anymore than she did. But if it kept the young girl out of harm's way then he would gladly continue to walk in circles. He really did not want the Captain's fury coming down on his head either. Taserface waves the young girl off, turning back around to continue their wanderings.
Oblo shoulder's sag as he looks sympathetic at her. He knows she cannot stand the mundane. Yondu, or one of the boys, had always kept her busy when they went planet side so she wouldn't complain. And Oblo knows from former experiences that the young girl would much rather be with the captain or one of her brothers, then with them. Even if they were walking in circles themselves, their company would be preferable to the current one. But the sympathy only goes so far as they had orders to keep a close eye on her.
Dram on the other hand had no loving feelings towards the young girl and just scoffed at her. He crosses his arms taking a tentative step forward, "You think we enjoy this anymore than you brat?"
"I'm sure you don't mate. But there has to be something else to do but walk all of Knowhere!" Izzy shouts frailing her arm wide.
Oblo glares slightly at Dram, before stepping forward, "Izzy I know it ain't fun. But we have orders. ."
"Oh please! I know dad didn't expect us to be doing this the whole time we are here!" Izzy interjects knowing this is not what Yondu meant for them to be doing. Yeah, they should keep her out of danger, but even Yondu does not go to this extreme of protecting boredom. Izzy sighs, kicking the dust that had settled on the ground. "I'd rather have stayed on the ship." She mumbles angrily.
"Then why don't you go back to the ship?" Dram challenges.
Izzy narrows her eyes at the man threatening, "Because I'm here now. Unless one of you wants to take me back."
"Fat chance of that." Dram states. "What kind of baby can't walk back to the ship by herself?"
Izzy's mouth drops open as the harsh words hit her hard. Her fist clenched tightly at her side. It was not that she couldn't walk back to the ship by herself, but Yondu had been very clear that she was not to do so. He threatened her with punishment if he ever found out he did it, and even told her stories of kids being taken and what not to scare her. It was probably just him being overprotective and what not, but Izzy had good reason to listen. She did not want to get in trouble with her dad for something as simple as not walking back to the ship by herself. But Dram's words hurt, not only was it embarrassing to think that the men thought she was a baby for listening to her dad, but it also was upsetting with the way Dram said it. She knew she was not a favorite of many of the Ravager crew, but she had tried very hard not to be a burden, or to bother any of them.
"We don't enjoy babysitting your ass anymore than you do kid." Taserface interjects, seeing that the young girl was seconds away from attacking the new ravager.
"Ain't that the truth." Dram scoffs, "We could be out enjoying ourselves. Having us some beers and a beautiful woman. But instead we are stuck with this little snot nose brat."
Izzy crinkles her nose at the men, "I wish you would get a beautiful woman so I wouldn't have to hear you whimpering at night."
A heavy, tenseful silence falls over the small group. Oblo winces as the words hang in the air like a stabbing pain. Taserface has to stop himself from doubling over in laughter at the young woman's comment. She knew how to give it to the men as good as she got it. Dram was the one that had the most violent reaction. He uncrosses his arms as his features take on a furious expression. His face turns a bright red as his anger bubbles forward. Izzy continues to glare ferociously at the man, not willing to back down from her comment. He clenches his fist, taking a step towards her while shaking a meaty finger in her face.
"Now look here. . "
"I'm going back to the ship!" Izzy shouts, retreating from the men.
"Wait. Izzy. You shouldn't go alone." Oblo shouts turning around to grab the preteen.
Izzy jerks her arm out of reach, backing away from the man as he tries to come after her. She was sick of being talked to like she was some insolent little kid. Or being snapped at every time she inquired about something. She was done with being stuck with these three clot heads. She was done with Yondu and Kraglin and Peter ditching her. In fact she was done with the whole ravager crew and all of Knowhere! She was not going to stay here and be bored out of her mind! Screw the consequences if Yondu found out what she did. Anything had to be better than staying here. She quickly spins herself around and dashes off into the crowd, easily becoming lost in the much taller bystanders.
Oblo was a little shocked that Izzy had stormed off in such a manner. The normally sweet and kind girl didn't lose control like that. In fact it took a lot to get Izzy to the point that she was screaming and yelling at someone. Dram's words were harsh, and they must have pained the young girl more than she had let on. Oblo's mind claws back and forth on what to do. He wanted to go and have himself a good time, but he also wanted to make sure that Izzy got back to the ship safely. He wavers for a few more seconds, before the younger man curses under his breath. He starts to go after her when a strong hand clamps around his arm.
"Leave her. Let her find her own way back to the damn ship." Dram scowls, spitting at the ground where Izzy once stood.
Oblo winces slightly as he looks between the two determined men and the lost form of Izzy. He has no doubt that Izzy can easily find her way back to the ship and do so safely. But, anything could happen. And if it did, Yondu was going to have their heads for it. Oblo swallows hard, taking a step towards the crowd once more to go after Izzy, not feeling the need to die today. Taserface grabs a hold of Oblo's arm, stopping his forward movement and pulling him along with them. The shorter man could do nothing but allow himself to be dragged away and pray that the girl makes it back without anyone knowing that she did it alone.
Izzy grumbles under her breath as she stomps her way through the crowded streets of Knowhere. She blasts her music as she shoves her hands in her pockets. It was not fair. She did not ask to be saddled with the three men. Nor did she ask them to not do what they wanted to do. Why hadn't Yondu just let her go with him and Kraglin? She had always stayed out of the way and did what she was told. But Yondu was very adamant that she not go with them. It was infuriating. And then to be dumped by Peter, the one person that normally always took her wherever she wanted, was a little disheartening as well. Izzy sniffs lightly, wiping at her eyes. Was she becoming that much of a burden to the three men that they did not want her around anymore? She was adopted after all and there was a huge age gap between herself and the two brothers. Maybe she was just becoming too much of a nuisance for them now that she was no longer the little kid that hung on their shoulders and stayed glued to their sides. She shrugs her shoulders up more, thrusting her hands deeper into her pockets.
She only walked for a few more minutes when she happened to run into something else for the second time that day. Izzy hmphed a little as she fell onto her backside. She looked up at the snarling pig-like creature. Two of his bottom teeth jutted out from his drooling mouth, coming to a sharp point at the end. He grunts and growls at the unfortunate impact. Izzy gulps, sheepishly smiling as she pulls herself back to her feet. The creature thing turns slightly in the occupied seat eyeing her nastily. Izzy raises her hands a little, sidestepping as she best she could to get away from what she could only guess was a man. She lets out a relieved sigh as the creature grunts at her before turning back to his drink. Izzy glances around at her surroundings, mentally reprimanding herself to make sure to look where she was going. Her blue eyes land on a group just off to the side. She notices the dark skinned scared face man from before. He grins at her devilishly as he continues to stand with a group of rough looking men. Izzy swallows hard, her heart returning to her throat. Was he following her? Her eyes dart about for a brief second before the preteen turns briskly making her way through the crowd and back to the ship. Maybe she can make it there before anything weird would happen.
The young girl weaves her way in and out of the streets and alleyways. She glances over her shoulder to see the dark skinned man following not too far behind. She gulps not liking where this is going. All those stories that Yondu had drilled into her head about kids being taken from Knowhere and Xandar came flooding back to her. Yondu had stressed that they were never found until years later when they had been seen as servants or slaves for people who had too much money and time on their hands. That alone was one of the many reasons that Yondu did not let her wander too far from where he or one of her brothers were. It was an open invitation to get herself snatched. She curses under her breath as she realizes her own folly in returning to the ship without one of the men. Izzy's feet swiftly move her to an alley that connects two of the main walkways. She turns herself around, looking behind her to see where the men were. Izzy slowly backs away from the opening she just darted into. She knows that it is only a matter of seconds before scarface's burly form appears. Her chest feels tight as her breath quickens.
A startled yelp leaves her body as an arm snakes around her chest and lifts her off the ground. The headphones to her walkman slips off her head as the old player is thrown harshley from the shaking hands. She wraps her small hands around the meaty arm, forgetting about the boxed player that had been gripped tightly in her sweaty palm.
"Got ya." A man breathes into her ear.
Izzy kicks her feet and thrashes about desperate to get out of the man's hold. He chuckles deeply, showing off narled and missing teeth. He looks up, shouting something to another man that has come into the darkened area. Izzy looks up at the men. He was a lizard-like creature, with a type of scaly skin. His eyes were that of a reptile's slitted eyes. They were cold and dark as the light shone on them. Izzy's mouth becomes increasingly dry as she realizes that she is not going to be able to get out of this mess.
"Get on with it then Addy. We need to get her to the boss before he comes after us." The man comments while crossing his arms.
The man behind Izzy, who she now knows as Addy, groans drastically. He snaps at the man to mind his own business. Izzy feels him shift her lightly as he reaches behind him for something. The preteen gets the wild notion to ram her elbow into the man's groin. Addy cries out, quickly letting go of Izzy so he can cup his gentiles. Izzy shoves herself away from him intending to run around his withering form. The preteen took one step, before she was caught again by a green skinned man that suddenly appeared from out of the darkness. Izzy thrashes about, screaming for someone to help her. Several people made quick glances down the alleyway, but made no move to help the desperate young girl. The man quickly places a white cloth over her mouth and nose. Izzy bucks against it as the foul smell of a sleeping agent is instantly recognized. The young girl's fight starts to fade as she becomes extremely tired. Her limbs feel like they're made of stones. She flings her head back and forth, the movements wearing her out as her world becomes darker. A strangled gurgle leaves her throat as she tries to ask for help once more. With no one coming to her aid, the girl could do nothing but succumb to the darkness that beckoned her.
To be continued. . . . . . .