Avenging Justice 2:
Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday
Part VI
Sector 1416, The Milano
Star Lord was at the helm, his tunes blasting through the ship. His foot tapping to the beat as he masterfully brought his baby around. To the side Rocket was giving him the glare, little furry guy thought he was the better pilot. Peter Quill brought the ship around, eyes on staring intently outside. Behind him, the living tree alien, Groot, made some snide remark.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy, watch the language," Peter said.
Groot threw up a rude hand gesture, "I am Groot!"
"Don't make me come back there," Rocket shot back.
Gamora though quieted everything down, "All of you, stop. We're near Zamaron."
"Why are we out here again?" Rocket asked, sounding as bored as any child on a long trip.
"Our friends in the Nova Corps are needing us to investigate the planet," Gamora explained. "There are rumors of a new power rising on this planet. The ripples are hitting every major player. We have Green Lantern, Kree, and Sovereign interested as well."
"So, they were hoping we could do a quick looksie before the others could then," Peter continued the thought. "Always happy to oblige, and it they're paying well."
The Milano blasted by, taking a full circle of the planet before lowering into the upper atmosphere. Gamora kept her eyes on her station's screen, she trusted Peter to keep things level while she did her part. That was if he and Rocket could quit arguing for more than three minutes.
As she watched, recording the surface of the planet, a shape began to form. Multiple stories high, the material was crystalline, with a vaguely familiar shape. Peter pulled the Milano into the atmosphere, and she got an even better look. What took her by surprise was the blast of light erupting from the structure.
Emanating from the structure, it pulsed across the surrounding area. The familiar shape became more focused, that very much like a lantern. Inside the lantern a brilliant crystal pulsed with light, almost blindingly. Inside the brilliant light, were a multitude of others flitting about like bees. It was beautiful and enticing, so inviting that Gamora almost forgot what they were there for.
Things that are beautiful can be dangerous, and soon the Guardians of the Galaxy were reminded of this. Half a dozen light blazed as they raced towards the intruding ship. All the instincts honed by Gamora over a lifetime being Thanos' daughter, instantly told her it was time to leave, with haste.
"Peter, get us out of here, now!" she said as she switched over to weapons.
"What's going on…" Peter began to ask when he noticed more blazing lights coming to intercept the Milano. "Hold on people, it's going to be a bumpy ride."
He hit the thrust and launched the Milano upward. Behind them, the blazing lights had resolved into humanoid like forms. Each one wielding a ring, and surrounded by a shield of hard light. Rocket switched his screen to show the view from behind the Milano, even he was surprised by what he had saw on it.
"It's like looking at a bunch of Lanterns, except their all chicks, and very angry," he commented, then turned to Peter. "Recognize any? They look like your type."
"I am Groot," Groot piped in.
Rocket cackled, "Good one! You're right, they're all way outta his league."
"Less talking, more updates," Peter growled, even as he felt his ship leave the planet's gravity.
The Milano rocked as a hit landed against the shields. Peter rolled the ship, and put it into a climbing ascent. Another hit glanced against the Milano's, and Peter cut thrust, tightened his turn and then pushed the throttle to full. The ship blasted away, the next few hits missing it as they were incorrectly aimed.
The next few seconds were chaotic as more of the attackers seemed to appear from all sides. The Milano was rocked as more and more hits started resound to the crew inside. Rocket had the guns going, Peter twisting and turning the ship around. Energy projectiles hit against hard light shields, and more came.
One huge axe hit the cockpit, nearly penetrating the to the inside. Another hit made the engines sputter, and the Milano began to slow. Rocket increased his shooting, making some of the attackers fall back, but not enough. Above him, a massive hammer came crashing down. Only at the last second, a green spring mattress appeared under it.
"What the.." Rocket looked around, just in time to see six green rockets materialize around the Milano.
Across the communication system came a cocky voice, "This is your captain speaking, prepare for Ludicrous Speed."
Inside the Guardians of the Galaxy were thrown back into their seats as the rockets ignited. Taking position above them, a man in green and black flew above the. More Green shields, a mattress and even a construct pool intercepted each attack. Following that up, a giant green bowling ball blasted towards the attackers. It traveled quickly, before exploding into a mist of green.
"Never been so glad to see one of those Green Lantern jerks," Rocket commented. "Their normally full of themselves assholes."
Peter quipped, "So, you're saying you ran in the same circles. Why don't you get the drive fixed so we can get out of here?"
"Already done numb nuts," the talking racoon shot back. "Some piloting there, why don't we just paint a 'kick me' sign on the back?"
Gamora interrupted, "Both of you idiots stop. There may be more going on there. Not everyone who gets you out of a mess, is your friend."
"Nah, he's cool," Peter said. "He quoted Spaceballs."
Gamora shook her head, "I don't want to know. Just, let's play this careful."
Carol Ferris stopped her flight, as the ship disappeared, pulled by the green rockets. Around, her Star Sapphire sisters glared angrily. They weren't ready yet, not to be thrown into the spotlight of galactic affairs. Their numbers were mighty, not as many as the Green Lanterns or Nova Corps yet, but they could put up a hell of a fight. She just hoped Hal knew what he was doing.
"Wasn't that your boyfriend," one of her sisters in battle growled.
Carol ignored the unsaid message, "He has his reasons. Let's get back and report in."
Back on Zamaron, their leaders awaited. A band of female aliens, they were like the Amazons of Earth. Tall, muscled, and blue skinned, they were both fearsome and beautiful. They were dressed in armor that wouldn't have looked out of place in ancient Greece and Rome, wielding war spears of purplish pink hard light.
"Report," the lead Zamaron ordered.
One Star Sapphire recruit, "The intruders got away, with help. A Green Lantern."
"We should have imprisoned him long ago!" the same one who had been angry with Carol cut in. "Now the Guardians know of us, if their little spy hasn't told on us before."
"They knew of us before now," the lead Zamaron said softly. "If Ferris' mate had told the Oans anything, we'd be neck deep in Green Lanterns. No, he may have told one he trusted, but otherwise has kept our secret."
Another Zamaron interjected, "We must prepare, obviously we have garnered enough attention to warrant such a mission. Our luck is they were unaware, but it won't stay that way for long. Prepare for battle."
Carol shook her head, pushing the power of the Star Sapphires back. It was intoxicating, like constantly being in love all the time. She felt like she could do anything, overcome everything, all because her love would see her through. All of her sisters experienced the same feeling. Which is why most of them were ready to throw themselves at the enemy coming. It was what had caused her to attack Hal on Earth three years ago.
Since then she had learned how to subdue, channel it and reform it into a power she wielded, not one that wielded her. It was what allowed her to remain herself, and a part of why she had become so powerful in the corps in such a short time. The others, they could commit great amount of strength, but soon found themselves depleted.
Her power, she could wield for long periods. The Zamarons had realized her endurance, and ability to think clearly, and had made her the leader of the corps. Carol still felt like they weren't telling her everything. Hal joked maybe the Zamarons were like the Oans, as they too kept their own counsel, and were extremely reluctant to share their thoughts.
Carol looked up at the Zamaron sky, and hoped she was had told her Star Sapphire sister correctly, and that he did indeed know what he was doing. She smiled, knowing he acted more than thought or planned. His instinct was to do what he thought was right, even if it went against orders.
Hal's military career, and even the one of Green Lantern, was one full of willful actions, that infuriated his commanding offers. To be fair, he could infuriate her too, because of his recklessness. That was due to how much she cared for him, and how much that love made her fear for his safety.
Back on the Milano, Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814, walked in like he owned the ship. Catching his eye was a bipedal, foul mouthed racoon, a gray skinned, red tattooed man, a green skinned woman and a human man. He almost sent out a construct as their plant thing moved. Hal wasn't aware of the species, but his ring came back with a designation of, "Planet X, Flora Colossi." Another life form, just different than what he was used to. He had seen crazier as a Green Lantern.
"Alright, what were you doing in this sector?" Hal asked, still sizing up each one.
They each appeared to be an outcast, not necessarily loners, but not ones that normally worked well with others. The green skinned woman, his ring came back with a designation of, "Zen-Whoberian," for her people. She gave off the impression of being relaxed, but he could see her hand on one of the daggers on her side. The big guy, didn't hide it so well, he was deciding if there was to be a fight. The Human though was cocky, extremely so.
"We had it covered, but thanks for getting the Milano out of there," Peter Quill said. "I'm Star-Lord. These are my friends, Gamora, Rocket, Groot and Drax the Destroyer."
"Speak for yourself laser brains," Rocket grunted. "Look Lantern, I'm the brains of the bunch, say your piece and then leave."
Hal looked at the racoon, "So, with multiple warrants out for your arrest, your first inclination is to antagonize the guy who just saved your butts. Please tell me how you expected this to end?"
"Bring it, loser, I ain't afraid of you. Take away that pretty ring and what good are ya?" Rocket brought out a blaster out from seemingly nowhere.
Peter decided this was a great time to get between them, "Okay, everyone one calm down. Rocket, put the gun away, we're all friends here. Lantern, we're just doing a simple job, nothing more, nothing less."
"Make me, Quill!" Rocket chambered a round.
Peter couldn't help but grind his teeth, "Rocket, stand down! No need for this to get worse."
It was then that Gamora decided to enter on Peter's side, "Rocket, the Lantern came to our aid. It would be rude to treat him like this." Turning to Hal, "The answer to your question, we were hired by some concerned people about what was going on in this sector. They had reports of things happening around, that made them worry about new threats."
Hal recognized two things. One, she wasn't telling him everything. That was to be expected, even if their reason for being here was on the up and up. Two, she had given him just enough to where he'd have no reason to detain them further. Technically he could, but that brought more issues into play, then he would have liked. His instinct though, was that they were telling the truth, so he went with that.
"Alright, if you guys don't need any help fixing your ship, I'll get back to my sector," Hal said. Noticing not a one piped up to say they needed anything else, he left. "Good luck out there."