Chapter Two

Over the months, one thing Yondu and Kraglin observed was that being around Regellen, and Hoag was infectious since the couple was respected and well-liked for junior Ravagers, and the six of them often went on missions.

When one day when there was time to spare, and they had some downtime and all of them had ditched the red jackets to blend in, and Yondu had his trademark bandana around his head, and it had been Regellen's idea to go to a carnival.

Yondu looked around as they went in with all the bright lights and children running around. Parents who were chasing after them and gave a damn about them were disconcerting as they all went inside.

Whilst Kraglin who had never seen anything like this acted with a childlike enthusiasm and wanted to try everything, while Yondu just felt like putting a blaster to his head, and Regellen informed Kraglin.

"You know if you like shit like this, you need to get to Contraxia. It's a brothel planet, for the Ravagers, gambling, sex, and all the fun stuff, we just haven't been there in a while. Great place to get your rocks off."

"As in everything goes there, we get out rocks off with each other." finished Hoag, since it was something unique in their relationship that they had the habit of finishing each other's sentences.

When the group came to a shooting range, even though they had left their blasters back at the ship, all were intrigued as they put down their Units and picked up what would only, be described as a glorified toy gun.

The others were not taking it too seriously as the pellets ricocheted off the surfaces whilst they just took the mick. Yondu was more tempered and patient and hit every single one, as they all fell back, in a perfect row, declaring himself the winner. And the rest congratulated him, and even the barker was impressed while Yondu offered himself a small smile, beginning to enjoy this.

"Ok, pick your prize," he declared and since they were aimed at children, and were the normal cheap junk until Yondu's eyes fell on a small crystal animal only a few inches tall and instantly wanted to have it.

Of course, the others took the mick, but Yondu who never had anything like this. In a small way had something that was all his, he had won it, and just stared at it

"I want to win some more", he said to the rest, and they went through the places whilst he tried to win as many as he could, winning four in the end, while Hoag managed to win one which he passed to his mate.

The group were just walking and admiring their treasure, with all of them being tough Ravagers. Having more fun than all six of the would care to admit, with Regellen and Hoag and their arms around each other, just like so many other couples.

Suddenly the happy air was dashed when they turned and run into Stakar and Alita.

There was an uncomfortable pause admits the group, since running into their Captain on a night out was never part of the plan, however, it was Regellen and Hoag, being a pair of cocky bastards just took it on their stride.

"Didn't know, you were intending to come here" Stakar told the group whilst Regellen just grinned.

"Never was the plan, but we've decided to have a date night, that's allowed, isn't it? A couple having some fun with some friends got to show our affection in some way. I mean, that's as far as we can go, isn't it?"

Regellen was always one to skate close to the edge, of what the Ravager Code expected of them, but there was still tension in the air when Aleta stepped more forward.

"We don't appreciate your insubordination." She informed the men, whilst Stakar quickly decided to defuse the situation.

"However, as agreed with all the crew their downtime is their own, and what they do with it, no Captain…nor First Mate can comment on." Which was enough to calm Aleta down, but her nostrils flared in frustration, but she finally said "Agreed."

However, everyone noted that Yondu was given a nod, as the married couple went on their way, to do whatever, as Yondu felt himself unclench his hands since being with crew members who were on the edge of being thrown in the Brig, was tension within itself.

Yondu was meant to be grateful to Stakar who had released him from bondage, however when he was with the others. The demands in his head, which he felt he had to replay, didn't matter as much, as if he could just forget and be like the rest of them, whilst the rest just exhaled.

"You know that bitch is going to put you on the crap duties when we get back". Stated Iztel to Regellen who just gave his cockiest smile and just shrugged "Not the first time and I don't care, she can't space me. Not for having an opinion, and neither can Stakar. Ravager Code and all that fun shit."

There were so many layers to the "Ravager Code" that neither Yondu nor Kraglin felt like they could keep up. But the pair loved getting a raise out of the ones in charge of the ship. and no one could really put down the reason why it was such an issue.

However, as the months went on, Yondu and Kraglin got more settled as bunkmates, and Yondu started to admit to himself more, the gentle snores from Kraglin in the darkness as he slept became a source of comfort and familiarity.

Maybe he was finding himself more of a home with the Ravagers, as both newest recruits began to feel more settled in their new surroundings, with Yondu's good instinct, both with a blaster and on missions were noticed.

Everyone observed that he had a cool demeanour during a heist, but everyone noted that he was also calculating and also cunning. Finally, he was earning his own money and good money at that. With no family or dependents, no one to whom he had to send anything too.

Even his clothes were second-hand, since Yondu, though he never admitted it to anyone about his life of slavery. Yondu had grown up having to make when he could and could easily patch up anything.

When Yondu realised that he had enough to buy his own M-Ship, the first thing in his life, and in his own name. Yondu though he didn't show it, was more ecstatic, after it was mentioned, and he had to go to Stakar and state his plans.

There with Aleta also in the room, Yondu saw all his hard-earned units exchanged and the title to his M-Ship received,

"You know most of us give ours a name, thought if one for yours?" Aleta asked, since she knew what Yondu had suffered both knew what a big deal it was.

They were not surprised when Yondu stated "The Zatoan" after the Tribe, they had checked, and it no longer existed. Something that didn't get much of a reaction from Yondu, as if he was expecting it.

With that, after a while longer, Yondu was making good money and he and his five friends, which was a strange concept for him begin to drift into a sort of family of camaraderie, and for the first time in his life, began to really feel at home.

However, as Yondu learned, that being a Ravager, meant their entire existence was clandestine, and when it came to things like the upkeep, of anything they had to be creative.

Since now he oversaw the upkeep of his own Zatoan, which was why he and a bunch of other crews including his friends went off to an abandoned Quarry mine which had been used as a dumping ground for years, of old ship parts. Who had now abandoned the sector, so they had more time to explore.

Getting off the ship, was normally an experience though, as the group went over the list, they all wanted. With Kraglin having just brought his own M-Ship, wanted extras for everything.

It had already been noted that Kraglin had a good head for things like this, as they went through the debris, and found what they wanted when Yondu stepped at the quarry wall leading to a bunch of abandoned mines when he stopped suddenly.

The strip of metal ran through the compressed earth, almost at the height of his eyes, as it would have since everyone had missed it, and curiosity got the better of him. Using his tools, Yondu managed to dig out the long piece of pure Yaka almost two feet long and a few inches thick.

Remembering the arrows his people used on Centurai VI, which were also Yaka, and deep in his mind, an idea began to form. Which was something, for a man who did not have much imagination, since that was the only piece, he could find.

However, Yaka, often went hand in hand with crystalline, which he recalled was normally found in caves. A common base mineral, but venturing into a cave, Yondu pulled out his scanner and began walking. When Yondu stopped suddenly as the red crystalline piece. Bigger than his head just left on the ground and abandoned, for many years.

For this moment, if Yondu had a romantic side, he didn't just for this, as he picked it up and checked its density, which was thick and solid. Remembering how this all worked since in the undersides were small crystals embedded in its surface.

Yondu held the Yaka in one hand and the crystalline in the next and gave a short whistle, one thing picking up the vibrations of the next as the Yaka gave a slight movement.

In almost a lightning moment, Yondu saw an image of himself, how he should have been, and instruction was giving way to creativity. Wordlessly, he placed them both in his bag, and left the cave, the only sound was footsteps and dropping water from the wall, but Yondu made a mental note to come back if needed, but he thought he had enough.

There back on the ship, the group noted that Yondu was being unusually quieter than most, but everyone left him to it. Until Kraglin walked into their quarters, to see a holo image of Yondu, as he was cutting through the crystalline with his tools, modifying it until he matched the holo image.

Yondu was absorbed in his work when Kraglin, observed Yondu being quiet and patient, the Yaka having been crafted into a rudimentary arrow.

What was beyond being ignored was that Yondu had removed his trademark bandana, so for the first time in the light Kraglin could see it clearly.

The mess of mottled and scared tissue that if he looked close enough to see the membranes of the brain matter itself. Kraglin couldn't help but shiver involuntarily wondering what had happened to Yondu, but his sharing any information about his life was like pulling teeth.

"Ok, what the hell are you making," Kraglin finally asked, the curiosity getting the better of him, but Yondu couldn't explain it, not to Kraglin not even to himself, since this was a new thing and bloody hard too.

"I'm making myself," came Yondu's cryptic replay, which Kraglin just left there, and sat on the edge of his bed, as Regellen and Hoag came into the room, just as Yondu looked up and everyone looked at Kraglin and their jaws dropped in unison.

To be continued

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