"Dear Peter,
I suppose by now that you're wondering why it is that I haven't seen you after all these years. Well, the truth is I was unable to. I have made many enemies, and I didn't know what they would do to you if I got too close to you, especially Raven. But rest assured, nothing would give me greater pride than to have you here by my side, and I would be with my son once again."
Every citizen of Argus was completely taken by surprise when they heard the Grimm alarm sound. The Atlas military started their evacuation procedure to get the civilians as far from the city as possible. Even the Atlas soldiers stationed there were leaving.
During the evacuation, one of the Atlas commanders approached Caroline Cordovin. "Ms. Cordovin, I don't understand. Why are we leaving too? Why don't we stay and use our weapons against the Grimm?"
Cordo struggled to answer still under Peter Quill's influence. She cleared her throat and answered, "Don't question my authority, lieutenant. Just follow my orders." He and the rest of the soldiers didn't question any more.
Once the streets of Argus were lifeless and barren, the Branwen Tribe finally revealed themselves. Star Lord and Raven stood at the front while most of their allies and fellow bandits were behind them on Main Street.
"Okay. That should be everyone. The city is ours now." Quill said.
"I still think we should have allowed the Atlas goons to fight with us." Rocket said. "We could use the meat shields."
"If we let Atlas fight, they'll just get in the way." Raven said.
"Exactly. Right now, it's all on us." Star Lord said.
"I am Groot."
"Don't be a pessimist, Groot." Rocket said. "I mean, sure, we are gonna die, but you're supposed to be the hopeful one."
"Friend Quill," Drax said, "What exactly is the plan for destroying the mutant Grimm? I had a hard time with that Deathstalker, and most of these people are embarrassingly weaker than me."
"Hey!" Shay D. Mann cried out.
"Hello." Drax responded thinking it was a greeting.
"Destroy them or not, it doesn't matter." Quill said. "We just have to get their attention and Dr. Merlot's. Bother them so much, they'll follow us into the forest in sniper position. Speaking of which…" He pulled out his scroll. "You in position, Gamora?"
"I'm on the cliff like you wanted." Gamora answered over the line. "Just give me the word so that I don't accidentally blow you up along with Merlot and his Grimm."
"Copy that." Quill said. "I've always wanted to say that."
"Peter, this plan is incredibly risky." Raven said. "Are you sure this will work?"
"Honestly, no. But we're past the point of no return anyway. Might as well see this through."
The whole tribe waited a few more minutes, maybe ten. Eventually, a distant sound caught their attention. Mantis shuttered as she felt a dreadful emotion along with the sound of the trees breaking down.
"I can feel it. The death. They're here."
"All right everyone." Star Lord said putting on his helmet and readying his pistols. "Let's rock." He pressed a button on his Walkman and the song played in his head.
"Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods
Where's the streetwise Hercules
To fight the rising odds
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed
Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need"
Immediately, the mutant Beowulves came into view swarming over the front of Argus at lightning speed. The thieves began their assault and attacked as well. They attacked, but were careful to keep their distance knowing how tough these Grimm were. While most took to the streets, Star Lord used his boots to hover above and shoot while flying through the city. All the while, his song continued to play.
"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life"
Eventually, Quill caught sight of Dr. Merlot, who sat in his hoverchair seventy feet above the city. He used his boots to fly up to him and shoot near his feet.
"Hey, robo-eye! How's the weather up there?"
"You?" Dr. Merlot asked. "Don't think you can prevent anything! You're merely a fly buzzing in front of a dragon!"
"Woosh. That would explain your breath." Star Lord said waving his gun like a fan.
"Why you…" Merlot shouted. With one strong mental thought later and all the mutant Grimm focused less on the buildings and more on the bandits that fought them.
"It's working, everyone!" Star Lord yelled. "To the forest, now!" That's when mutant Nevermore tried to attack him. Luckily, he was too slick to get caught in their beaks.
The bandits went on to leave the nearly destroyed city and into the forest. It took most of their energy to avoid getting eaten. Some didn't make it, but they kept going.
The chase gave way to a large forest area a few miles from the city limits. They made themselves out in the open in order to be seen. Once the mutant Grimm arrived, most of the bandits retreated into the thick part of the forest. Star Lord stayed behind so that Merlot's focus wouldn't be elsewhere. Once the mad scientist arrived with every last one of his mutant Grimm surrounding him, Quill smiled under his helmet.
"Enjoy the explosion!" Star Lord said. Suddenly, one of Raven's red portals tore open behind him and he jumped through. Once it closed, Star Lord found himself right by the other bandits and pulled out his scroll. "NOW, GAMORA!" He covered his ears ready for the fireworks…
…Only, there were no fireworks. Much to his confusion, no shot was fired at Merlot's power cell. The plan was failing. Star Lord pulled out his scroll again.
"Gamora, Merlot's in position! What's taking so long?"
Gamora finally answered, but she gave hard grunts. "Sorry! I'm held up by something!"
"Something?" Star Lord asked. "What could… LOOK OUT!"
Star Lord and the other bandits scattered chaotically when the mutant Grimm began catching up.
Gamora was telling the truth. Something was keeping her from firing. It was the very thing that kept hunting her down. It was Nebula. Gamora's former sister clashed with her on top of the cliff swinging her sword. Gamora kept defending by using her sniper rifle to block the attacks.
"Nebula, this is the worst time!"
"I disagree!" Nebula argued. "Since you're nowhere near your foolish companions, this is the perfect opportunity to kill you for what you've done!"
"Kill me?" Gamora asked. She pushed forward keeping Nebula away. "I thought Marcus Black would want me back. Part of his 're-education process'."
"You truly not know anything, do you?" Nebula growled. "Marcus Black and Mercury are dead!"
Gamora widened her eyes. She was almost speechless. "What? How?"
"How? IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU!" Nebula yelled throwing another sword strike, but Gamora dodged out of the way. "After you left, Marcus blamed both me and Mercury for your departure! He said he was going to hurt me worse than he has ever done before! But before he could, Mercury stood up to him! They fought and the house burned down! I barely made it out with my life! But when I did, I found what was left of Marcus along with blood stains that could only be Mercury's! They are both dead… because of you!"
"I… I had no idea." Gamora said. She shook herself awake. "I'm sorry for what happened to Mercury, but I'm not going to apologize for leaving!"
"That's just it." Nebula sneered readying her sword. "I don't want your apology. I want your head." She swung it again and like before, Gamora blocked it. However, this time, the force was so strong, it knocked the sniper rifle out of Gamora's hands and off the cliff.
Shocked at losing her weapon, she was open enough for Nebula to tackle and straddle her at the cliff's edge. Nebula raised her sword and thrusted it down aiming at Gamora's neck, but the green assassin grabbed her sister by her arms to keep them up. The two of them struggled for control until Gamora kicked her leg up flipping Nebula over her and off the cliff.
Gamora turned and saw Nebula hanging off the cliff gripping hard at an open root. Being the caring sister she was, Gamora reached out her hand offering it to Nebula.
"Give me your hand!"
"What?" Nebula asked. "You can't be serious!"
"I may not be able to see Mercury, but you're still my family!" Gamora yelled. "Please, let go of everything Marcus taught us! Take my hand!"
"…Fine. I'll take your hand… AS WELL AS YOUR LIFE!" Nebula swung her blade, but Gamora dodged it letting it hit the dirt on the cliffside wall. The slash caused a few rocks to fall off and hit Nebula in the face. She lost her grip and began her plummet. Gamora watched her yell until she disappeared into the trees below.
Gamora took a deep breath mourning over her fallen sister. She didn't want her to die. She hoped she didn't die. But then, her mind refocused on the bigger issue. Dr. Merlot was still attacking with his mutant Grimm, and without her sniper rifle, she, her friends, and the entire Branwen Tribe were all sitting ducks.
Author's Note: And that's the first half of the final battle done. It will be concluded next chapter. Sorry this seemed short. Any and all comments are welcome.