Lightyears away in a swirling multicolored cloud of stardust, there's an explosion of light. The stardust shifts colors as a star is born, joining her sisters in their dance. Gamora has never seen anything like it, this was the best nightlight she's ever had. She was looking up at the stars through the large glass hatch in the flight deck. She laid back against the cold metal, her feet dangling off the edge of the platform. Gamora had spent most of the night exploring the hangar bay. It would be easy enough to steal a ship. They were all unlocked, and the keys were kept beneath the steering wheel. It was as if Yondu had never considered someone might steal from him. The only deterrent from theft was the security cameras monitoring the flight deck and the hangar bay. Gamora couldn't remember how to get back to her cabin so she ended up sleeping on the floor of the flight deck.

She doesn't realize Yondu is in the room until he turns on the lights. Gamora rolled onto her side, trying to shield her eyes. "This is where you've been hidin'."

Gamora didn't know she was going to whine until she opened her mouth, "I wasn't hiding. What do you want?"

Yondu kicked her in the ribs. Gamora cried out as she recoiled away from him. "Ya wanna try that again, girly?"

The unspoken threat of being kicked again made her consider her words carefully. "Did you want something from me, Captain?" She spits his title like an insult, her words dripping with malice.

"Now, that wasn't so hard." Yondu shakes his head at her. "Breakfast ends in half an hour. I can't have ya skipping meals..." He continues to scold her but Gamora finds her attention drifting back to the glass hatch. He stops talking, waiting for her to respond. She muttered an empty apology hoping to placate his anger somewhat. He kicks her again. Intense aching pain blossoms on her side. It pulls the air from her lungs. It hurts. "You're not listening!"

Gamora scrambles away from him. She holds her sore ribs. Panic makes her blood pound in her ears. "Don't do that! I am listening!"

"Did you sleep here last night?"

Gamora watches him cautiously, if he moves to kick her again she would bolt. She can't tell him she was planning her escape so instead, she says, "The bed uh, the bed was too soft. I couldn't sleep." It was a half truth at least.

Yondu sighed forcefully, "Don't make it a habit." Gamora stands up, wincing a bit at the pain in her ribs. She kept one hand on her injured side. She walked around the large m-ships. She paused outside the door. "Go left."

"I know!" She didn't know.

When Gamora reaches the safety of her cabin, and the door closes behind her, a wave of sadness washes over her. She was so tired of being brave. She wanted her mother so badly it hurt. She wanted to hear her voice, she wanted to hug her. Gamora curls up in her bed and hugs her pillow. She's careful not to apply pressure to her injury.

Her mother had only ever hit her once after she was caught stealing spare change. This was a different kind of pain. It was like when Gamora had sprained her ankle. It's a dull throbbing, and if she moved the wrong way it was a sharp stabbing pain. Every breath she takes hurts. She wants it to stop, instead, it's a constant reminder of her run in with her so-called Captain. Yondu must hate her. Gamora hadn't done anything to deserve such cruelty. She didn't understand why this was happening to her.

Gamora squeezes her eyes shut hoping that when she opens them again, she'll wake up at home. Her mother would be making breakfast, and she'd call her to the table. Gamora would hug her, and her mother would brush the hair out of her eyes and wish her a good morning. Gamora prays quietly under her breath, "please, please, please, be a nightmare. Wake up. Wake up." Gamora falls asleep.

Someone knocks on the metal door. Gamora sits up too quickly, there's a sharp pain in her side. She remembers everything that happened this morning. She's still here, in this awful nightmare place and her mother was still millions of light-years away.

The door is unlocked, and it slides open. Kraglin leans against the door frame, looking at her with concern. "Good morning, sleepyhead, the Cap'n said I'd find you here. You slept through breakfast, it's nearly time for lunch."

She hated him too. He just let Yondu do whatever he wanted, he never did anything to protect her. "Go away!" Her voice cracks as she chokes down a sob.

He frowns, "Are you sick?" He walks into her cabin and knelt down across from her. He reaches a hand out towards her forehead. Gamora tries to swat it away but feels a sharp pain in her side. "You feel a little warm."

"I want my mama." Gamora a few stray tears escape her eyes. She tries again to push Kraglin away, but he doesn't so much as budge.

Kraglin brushes her tears away with his thumb, and gently holds her face. "Ah, you're homesick. That is serious." He stands up and glances around her cabin. Gamora never unpacked her bag, her dirty clothes were left in a pile on the floor. "Come on get up."

"No, leave me alone," Gamora whines pitifully.

"Even sick little girls need ta brush their teeth and eat three meals a day." Kraglin picks out a clean outfit for her to wear. Gamora doesn't move from her bed. "Are you so sick you need me to carry you?"

Gamora didn't like either option. "I hate you."

"That's fine," Kraglin shrugs. When she doesn't say anything else, he sighs heavily. Kraglin picks her up. She resists at first, struggling in his grasp and trying to push him away. He rubs her back and holds her tight against his chest. Gamora quickly gives in. She desperately needed a hug.

Kraglin carries her down the hallway to the only girl's bathroom on the Quarter deck. He sets her down outside the door and hands her the clean clothes. "Go brush your teeth, and get changed. Lemme know if ya need any help, and no more cryin', okay?"

Gamora nods her head and rubs her eye with her fist. "Okay." She manages to brush her teeth by herself. However, every time she raised her arm to take off her nightgown there was another stab of pain in her side. It hurt too much. She had to stop. All of this because she mouthed off to Yondu this morning. The memory leaves a bitter taste in her mouth and she tries to push it to the back of her mind. Maybe if she could undo the buttons on the back she could take it off that way. "Hey, Kraglin?" She pokes her head out of the bathroom.

He was using his pocket knife to pry the S off the girl's bathroom sign. It read: Girl Bathroom. "Yeah?"

"Can you help me with the buttons? I can't get my nightgown off."

"Sure," he puts his knife away and frowns at her. "Why are you holdin' your arm like that?"

She shifted uncomfortably, "Yondu kicked me."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "You can't stay outta trouble huh, donut head?"

"They're not donuts!" She turns around so Kraglin can undo the buttons. He knelt down to help her. "I'm not even wearing my hair in braids right now."

"I'm just teasing you." He undoes the last button "There."

Gamora mumbles a quiet, "Thank you," to be polite and disappears back inside. She wiggles out of her nightgown easily enough. A gasp escaped her lips when she saw the bruise on her side. Her skin had turned a dark shade of blue, and little spots of red in certain places. She felt like crying again. She gently poked at it with her finger and hisses. It hurts. It really hurts. She didn't even do anything to Yondu! So why… why?

"Gamora? You okay?" Kraglin asked from the hall.

"I hate it here, I want to go home."

"I know, kiddo. Do ya need more help getting dressed?" His voice was gentle and reassuring.

Gamora shakes her head, then remembers that he can't see her. "No." She takes a deep breath. Kraglin had picked out the fluffy grey sweater for her to wear. It was her favorite. She pulls it over her head, she pauses to rub her finger over the sheep stitched into the hem. She finished getting dressed slowly. "Yondu bruised me." She says glumly as she exits the bathroom. Kraglin raised his eyebrows and Gamora lifted up her shirt to show him. "I didn't even do anything."

"That's quite the punishment ya got there, kiddo." Kraglin inspects her wound, he touches it gently, and Gamora yelps. She forcefully lowers her shirt. "Looks like it's swollen a bit. You brought that on yourself, y'know. It wouldn't've happened if ya just did what you were told the first time."

Gamora drops her gaze to the ground. She was certain it wasn't her fault up until a minute ago, now she suddenly felt guilty. "Don't say that."

"It doesn't look so bad. We'll get that taken care of, okay?" Kraglin gestured for her to follow and started walking away.

Gamora takes two steps and then grabs onto Kraglin's arm. She stares at her shoes, feeling a little embarrassed. "Can you carry me, please?"

He sighs, "You still feelin' sick?" She nods a little.

He picks her up gently, careful not to touch her bruises. Gamora rests her head against Kraglin's shoulder and clings to him. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat is soothing. She felt safe and warm in his arms. "This doesn't mean I like you now." She mutters, and Kraglin laughs at her.

"That's fine. I don't care if ya like me or not, donut head. Captain ordered me ta look after you," Kraglin explains lightly.

Gamora frowns, "Why would he do that?"

"He reckoned that cha wasn't adjustin' well, and I got the most experience dealin' with homesick babies," he sighs.

"I'm not a baby! I'm eight!" She protests.

"Ah ya coulda fooled me with all that cryin' you've been doin'," Kraglin mocks her.

Gamora felt her face heat up. She pressed her eyes into his shoulder. "I hate you."

"Sure." He carries her through the mess deck and back into the galley. It was a whirlwind of activity. Four different cooks are working all at once, while others quickly plated food and washed dishes. They call out to each other as they move through the galley.

"Good morning, sir!" Someone calls out to Kraglin as they enter. They look surprised to see him.

"Morning," Kraglin replies cheerfully. He sets Gamora down on an empty stretch of counter.

A pair of twins are riding on a cart full of dirty dishes. They roll to a sudden halt in front of Gamora, they're both clamoring with questions. "What are you doing here, sir? Is that our new cabin girl? Finally, someone else to wash the dishes!"

Kraglin snorts, "Yeah, this is Gamora. She ain't working today, she doesn't feel well."

"Aw that's too bad," says one twin. The other replies, "I hope you feel better soon!" Then the first one bangs on the cart and yells, "Charge! Make a hole!" They take off running and then jump on the cart. They nearly crash into the sink. One of the cooks knocks the twin's heads together and scolds them.

Kraglin shakes his head and mumbles something about teenagers. "Who were they?" Gamora asks curiously.

He grabs an empty plastic bag out of the cabinet. "That's Bones and Buttons, they're the third mate's younger brothers. They've been taking care of the twins since their mother died. They were kind of a package deal." Kraglin fills the plastic bag with water and ice cubes. He closed it and then pressed the bag against her bruise. Gamora gasps at the sudden cold sensation, but after a moment it feels kind of nice. "That'll help keep the swelling down." She nods holding the ice pack to her side.

One of the cooks ladles some soup into a bowl and grabs one of the freshly baked bread rolls. He carries it over to Gamora. "You skipped breakfast, little one."

Gamora shrugs, "I'm sick."

"Doubly important that you eat, then." He says sternly before turning his attention to Kraglin. "There's a table in the back for the staff. She can eat there."

He helps Gamora off the counter and they follow the cook further into the galley. There was a large wooden table with 10 or so chairs set up. The cook set the food down in front of Gamora. She never had freshly baked bread before. It was warm and buttery and soft. Then one of the twins runs over with some kind of warm pastry wrapped in a napkin. "I snagged this from Angler, don't tell, okay!" He winks at her and runs off before she can say thank you.

"You all are being too nice to me again." She complains softly. She only meant to nibble on her bread and save the rest for later. However, once she started eating she realized how hungry she was. She quickly eats the whole meal.

Kraglin chuckles, "You're one of us now. We look after our own." Gamora doesn't know what to say to that. She wasn't one of them. She was only pretending. It didn't matter how much food, units, or clothing they gave her, she would rather be at home with her mother. She was happier at home. She would never feel loved, protected, or safe here. Not while Yondu was around.

Kraglin sighs and shoves his hands in his pockets. "I've got work ta do, will you be alright if I leave ya here?" Gamora shrugs and then nods. Kraglin ruffles her hair. "Alright, my station is on the bridge. Come and find me if ya start feelin' sick again, okay?"

"Okay," Gamora mumbles. Kraglin left the galley. She sits and watches the staff run around cooking, and cleaning. It was all very exciting. Bones and Buttons seem to make everything look fun, they get into a water fight while washing dishes. One of the cooks has to scold them again. Before she knows it, lunch is served. The cooks sit down to eat with her at the table and others join her soon after. Bones made her a plate of food. The cooks ask how she's feeling, and if she's going to work tomorrow. Someone makes her hot tea from her homeworld. It smells like home. As soon as they finish eating everyone is up and working again. The galley is full of wonderful smells and sounds once more.

Gamora nibbles on her lunch. She would need food for the trip home, she would have to start rationing again. Although, there was so much food on the Eclector. Would Yondu even notice if she took some? She quietly slides out of her chair and retrieves the plastic bags from the cabinet. "Did you wanna another ice pack, honey?"

"Uh, yeah, please," She stammers nervously, as one of the cooks appears behind her. "My side still hurts."

The cook takes the plastic bag from her. "My name is Angler, by the way. I'm our baker."

"Gamora," She says politely.

Angler sighs and turns away to fill the bag with ice and water. Gamora quickly stuffs a handful of plastic bags into her pocket. "The first mate said that Udonta gave you a beatin' for mouthin' off this mornin'. Our Cap'n has never had a cabin girl before. I hope you can forgive him if he's too harsh wit' ya. He doesn't know any better yet." Angler holds out the ice pack for her.

Gamora takes it and glares at the floor. She wouldn't ever forgive Yondu. "Thank you." She turns and walks back to the table. For some reason, she felt like crying again. She quietly puts her leftovers in the plastic bags. It wasn't nearly enough, but it was a start.

Bones grabs the empty dish cart, and Buttons climbs on top of it. "Hey, Gamora! C'mere!" Buttons called her over. She slides out of her chair and walks over to them. She looks at them with curiosity and uncertainty. "You're new here so we'll introduce you to everyone."

Gamora takes a step back, "No, that's okay."

"It'll be fun!" Buttons grabs Gamora by the waist and hoists her onto the cart. He holds her snugly in place. He taps the cart and yells, "Charge!"

Bones begins to jog, quickly gaining speed as they fly through the galley. The wind whips her hair. The wheels of the cart squeal in protest of the speed they're going. Someone yells at them to slow down. They're headed straight for the door. Gamora watches through her fingers, certain they're going to crash. Buttons giggles and Bones is outright grinning.

The door glides open at the last second. They rocket into the mess deck. It was still rather busy. "Make a hole!" Bones yells over the noise. The crew jumps out of the way of the cart. As they whip around a table, Buttons grabs dirty dishes with ease. While all of Bones' attention is on keeping them from crashing.

Buttons points people out as they fly past them. "That's Oblo, he's the head mechanic, Horuz is his second in command. Oh and there's Tullk he's our pilot"

"Our pilot? Shouldn't he be flying the ship?"

Bones chuckles, "Nah, the autopilot can handle things as long as there aren't any dramatic weather changes."

"Or people shooting at us," Buttons adds. Gamora eyes widened, an autopilot. She could use an autopilot. She didn't need to know how to fly a ship to escape. She was so close now. Gamora could almost taste her freedom. The opportunity would come and she would escape this nightmare. Gamora can't help but smile.