Chapter Six

The three of them fell silent at the sight of the bodies of their fallen friends, even if they had passed away at peace with something.

it didn't change that they were gone, and anger bristled and seethed within them all, "Bastard Kree and Bastard Ogord's" Horuz stated, in bitterness.

Suddenly they all tuned as a low moan filled the air, almost like a death rattle in someone's chest, and they realised that it came from Kraglin.

Instantly Horuz and Yondu dived to their ground whilst Iztel, kept a look out at the door, more footsteps were coming and they knew they were now being surrounded by armed asshole as Horuz felt for a pulse in Kraglin's neck, "He's still alive, it's not much. But he's still in there".

More footsteps were coming their way, as Iztel fired across the deck and Yondu heard Kree falling to the ground. A tactical surprise was over, but all he cared about was getting them out.

Yondu managed to manoeuvre Kraglin into his arms, blood was seeping out of his mouth. Yondu heard and felt bones cracking which drew a gasp and moan and he seemed to open his eyes, which were bloody and battered. Look at Yondu, before they rolled back into oblivion.

"We're getting you out of here". He told the Xandarian, who seemed to swallow thickly in response. Kraglin's lips were battered, and that too some murmuring, Yondu had come for all three of them and was only leaving with Kraglin.

As long as Kraglin held on, since his breath and pulse were so shallow, and he felt small in Yondu's arms,

"Right, we go", he told the ones still standing, before he turned and looked at Regellen and Hoag, on the ground, they were dead, literally dead weight. Then his conscience gave way since they had been some of the few who treated Yondu right and he couldn't leave them there.

This meant a change of everything, as he barked at Iztel and Horuz, both standing at the door, to take the pair. For a second Iztel's eyes were just incredulous, at the thought. Ravagers never cared for the dead, you got a funeral even if there wasn't a body, just an empty coffin and fireworks, and then moved on with your life.

The look in Yondu's eyes stopped Iztel from admitting that, and he had no desire to touch the dead bodies. But, for a moment Iztel had the feeling that Yondu's arrow would go into his eye if he didn't.

Iztel dropped his weapon into his holster he walked over, the stench of death emitting from the group. How they had died was a mystery for another time, but since Iztel had intense strength, and his ego got in the way, of any opportunity to be called a pussy.

The Xandarian managed to wrestle both into his arms, piled undignified on top of each other as if their bodies had fused. Swallowing the smell, that threatened to make him sick.

Iztel was a hard fucker and wasn't tough to admit his much he hated this, hell in truth how all three of them weren't dead was a miracle. Something he didn't share, as Horuz keeping a lookout, gave them the signal to move.

For all his concern of being a fool, something that was just a mechanism for protection, every shot Horuz did, as he flaked the pair, was true. More Kree fell to the ground, however Yondu, with Kraglin in his arms, whistled loudly and his arrow flew out, ripping through those, who were in his path.

"Come on, Kraglin, stay with me" Yondu urged the Xandarian feeling his life ebbing more from him, and the pair made it to the door and managed to stagger out.

However, as the cold air greeted them, Yondu knew it wasn't over and the now group of six staggered back to the ship. The door opened before Yondu arrived, and they all piled in.

Regellen and Hoag left almost unceremoniously on the ground and Iztel panting, from exhaustion, but he didn't have time to rest as Kraglin was practically pushed into his arms.

"Get him some first aid, and take the controls, be over the place, hover and wait for me. Give me ten minutes, if I'm not back just bloody go…and that's an order, I'm in charge of this".

Yondu barked, suddenly sounding very captain-like, which have Iztel no choice but to oblige, as Yondu, with one quick look at the Xandarian in a place between life and death.

The Zatoan turned round and took off back towards, the Kree centre, his blaster drawn in anticipation, which he raised and fired at the blue-tinted devils coming at him.

One of their mistakes in life was making sure a slave was a sure marksman, and Yondu got a kick at seeing them fall one by one. He heard footsteps behind him, but with confidence building within and a small whistle, sent his arrow to its target.

This was causing him considerable pain, but he didn't care, as the Kree's coming up behind him fell one by one, his arrow leaving a red line, almost like dripping blood.

Fired up, Yondu was in the mood, for some real killing since he was going this himself, as he raced back into the burning building and to the control centre.

With a shot of his blaster and arrow, Kree, one by one, tried to say words but was unable to, as the arrow penetrated their neck. However, Yondu didn't have time to feel smug about it.

Regellen, Hoag and Kraglin were being tortured for information, but what if they did have any, which was doubtful, and what did the Kree have?

Getting to the command console Yondu pulled out the data stick and not to his surprise since the Kree were smug bastards, the thing wasn't even locked.

Retrieving the data took seconds, which he put in his picket, and then admits the fallen Kree, who were all dead. They're all he was, holding all the evidence, Yondu set the bomb, to five minutes, giving him a clear escape.

However, in the mele, the numbers flicked up. "Ahhh shit" Yondu exclaimed since it had been damaged at some point and not read two instead.

Instantly Yondu took off through the decks, looking out for Kree who would if they weren't dead soon would be. Got to the outside and the falling ash, the moment the detonator exploded, and in a chain reaction everything else with it.

His M-Ship, his Zatoan, was above him, and with a fireball chasing his ass. Yondu kicked his boots in and took off, feeling raw flames, but not looking back. When a small port opened and he managed to get inside, cutting off his boots, and staggering on the deck.

"Horuz, get us the flying fuck outta here".

Yondu barked, as the Xandarian obliged, and Yondu saw the building explode into more flames and debris and death, anyone else who had the misfortune who was still alive soon would be.

"Fucking magnificent". Horuz breathed and Yondu agreed until he heard Iztel in the small medical area or what passed for it.

"Come on Kraglin, come on".

Yondu rushed into the room, since Iztel was also Xandarian so understood the blue-blooded body better than Yondu ever could, was trying to insert lines and place an oxygen mask over Kraglin's battered face.

But from the scanner, Kraglin was struggling, his top having been removed, or what was left of it, and the entire surface was a mess of cuts, blood and bruises, with faint breath ghosting from his lips.

"His ribs are ripped apart his lungs are pierced, and well fuck Yondu I'm not a medic, I can't fix this". Iztel stated since he was doing his best. Kraglin was a mess, and they could do nothing apart from willing him not to die, as Yondu got over there.

Kraglin's eyes flickered and seemed to look at Yondu before they rolled back again, and Yondu knew that his friend was slipping away. With a faint gasp, a tremor went through his body, and the lines from the biobed, Kraglin's life reading went flat.

There was a moment of silence, apart from the echoing of the machine, before Yondu looked at them, back at Kraglin and cursed out loud. "Like hell," he said, gripping his fist into a ball and punched Kraglin's chest, "Breath, goddammit".

Yondu felt his fist causing Kraglin's already battered state to break further, but Yondu wasn't deterred, he refused to give up like this and like hell was he going to let Kraglin die. As Yondu recalled other Xandarians, and how their insides worked.

Yondu pushed his lips over his crewmate and breathed into his mouth, causing Kraglin's chest to rise and Yondu started beating once move. "Come on you bastard, lost Regellen and Hoag, I'm not going to lose you as well".

Yondu kept his beating for a good minute until there was a faint whisp of air, and the scanners leapt back to life, either Kraglin came back, or just wanted Yondu to stop beating him.

Yondu realised that sweat was ripping down his face, then realised as it fell onto Kraglin's skin, that it was blood. It belonged to him and was coming from his headpiece, but he would worry about all that shit later.

"Ok he's not dead, tough asshole still here", confirmed Yondu, as he went to the Bridge, after making sure Kraglin was more stable and was still under the adrenaline rush of the events. Since this was all his idea, like hell was he going to let Horuz and Iztel take the blame for anything.

In his absence Horuz with a strength he would never admit had managed to arrange the bodies of Regellen and Hoag onto the small bridge bed and placed a blanket over them, to give them a moment of dignity, in all of this.

Yondu saw the Star Hawk Galleon in the distance of the vacuum of space but found that he should be feeling intimidated by all of this, practically crawling on his hands and knees.

Instead found he didn't care, and Yondu crossed his arms and finally accepted the hail, coming in and Staker with Aleta next to him dropped into view.

"We need medics and stretcher, standing by, and body bags. Found Kraglin, he's still alive. Regellen and Hoag are dead". Yondu said briskly as the pair and the rest on the bridge, noted the controller in his head, but it was Aleta who was the first to speak.

"You disobeyed a direct order Yondu, I'll have you in the Brig for this, you Horuz and Iztel". The Xandarian stated to which Yondu replied coolly.

"You know what I don't fucking care, Kraglin needs help, and Regellen and Hoag need a funeral, Kraglin needs medics, and I have information, so here's our coordinates and I'll meet you soon, bitch". Yondu said, which caused both Stakar and Aleta's eyes to wides, and whatever Aleta was about to say she was silenced by her husband gripping her shoulder.

"I have information, too. But whatever, I brought them home". With that Yondu sent over the rendezvous, and flicked the screen back to the stars, whilst Horuz in the pilot seat, just exhaled the breath, he was holding.

"Damn", seemed the understatement of the year for the Xandarian to make, but it seemed to be the only thing. Whilst Yondu turned his back and went back to the small med bay.

Kraglin seemed to flicker in and out of conciseness, but looking more stable, but everything about him internally was busied or broken and now they had to put him all back together.

Yondu, and Iztel since Horuz was more than enough a capable pilot, just stayed with Kraglin, until they felt docking onto the Star Hawk, the door open, and the medics filled in to take Kraglin. Instantly it was as if a bubble had burst and Kraglin after what Yondu had done was suddenly out of his hands.

"I'll send someone for them". The medic stated to the dead figures of Regellen and Hoag, you better get yourself checked out" he told the Ravager since blood had oozed and had now congealed around his arrow controller, as the medic barked to one another.

"Internal bleeding, crushed ribs, body fractures". As Kraglin was gently lifted to a gurney, and rushed out, across the deck. Leaving Horuz, Iztel and Yondu there, for a moment as a second gurney was brought on board for the dead crewmen.

However, Yondu could see the people in charge of the Gallon at the door, so decided to pile out, and face whatever consequences there were.

The air was thick with tension, as Yondu since he was in charge of all of this, stepped out with the others following, but of course, it was Aleta who spoke up first.

"What the hell did you think you were doing Udonta, you were ordered to leave it, but you had to disobey orders. You put all of us at risk, are you happy? You should be in the Brig for this".

Yondu stared at her for a moment, since after what he had been through, and what Kraglin and the rest, Yondu took the information chip out of his pocket and casually threw it to Stakar who caught it with one hand.

"That's the information you wanted, explains why the Kree are here. Consider it a fair fucking exchange, then". Yondu stated, realising his words were slurring slightly and his Yaka arrow controller, felt like it was ripping his head apart.

Staker just looked at him, trying to figure out his next statement since from the exhausted look in Yondu's face, it seemed that he didn't care about the Brig or anything. But looked longer at Yondu's head to see his new creation, making Yondu look more like a member of his not-completely-extinct tribe, and he exhaled.

"Right, we'll sort out Regellen and Hoag, and get yourself to the sickbay" Stakar informed Yondu who didn't react but said in a grim voice" Whatever you have planned, wait for Kraglin to walk up. He deserves that".

To this Aleta just nodded and looked away, pissed that her order had been ignored and her husband had overridden her, and a newish Ravager had disobeyed her like this.

Yondu just nodded, and his footsteps felt heavy on the deck plating. But he wouldn't ask for help, wouldn't let them have the satisfaction, as he thought of Kraglin, and that was his only thought.,

Yondu not noticing as he got closer to the med bay, the blood began to seep down his nose and ears. Kraglin was his focus, not his head, that could wait. Yondu was stubborn, everyone knew that.

However, science, nature and gravity thought otherwise, as he got to the Med Bay door, to see Horuz and Iztel standing there, who turned to face him, just as everything went black.

To be continued

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