I'm an alligator, I'm a mama-papa coming for you
I'm the space invader, I'll be a rock 'n' rollin' bitch for you
Keep your mouth shut,
you're squawking like a pink monkey bird
And I'm busting up my brains for the words

"Heads up! We're inbound," Rocket said, the others joining him in looking out at Knowhere.

Which seemed to be a giant detached head.

"Whoa," Peter said.

"What is it?" Drax asked.

"It's called Knowhere. The severed head of an ancient celestial being. Be wary headed in, rodent. There are no regulations whatsoever here," Gamora said.

As the Milano landed, Gamora explained.

"Hundreds of years ago, the Tivan Group sent workers in to mine the organic matter within the skull. The bone, brain tissue, spinal fluid. All rare resources, highly valued in black markets across the galaxy. It's dangerous and illegal work, suitable only for outlaws."

The group walked around, Tessa marveling at the vastness.

"Well, we come from a planet of outlaws. Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde," Peter said.

"John Stamos," Tessa added, Peter nodding in agreement.

"It sounds like a place which I would like to visit," Drax said.

"Oh, they'd just love you, Roswell," Tessa said under her breath, Peter smirking at her slightly before a bunch of kids surrounded them.

"Watch your wallets," Peter warned, Tessa smiling and ruffling the hair of a young girl with dark brown hair.

"Can you spare any units?" One of them asked.

"Get outta here," Rocket said, Groot growing a flower for one of the girls before continuing on.

The group arrived at a bar.

"Your buyer's in there?" Rocket asked incredulously.

"We are to wait here for his representative," Gamora replied.

"I can do that," Tessa said, smirking slightly.

Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love

Drax, Rocket, and Groot were at the betting table, getting plastered.

"My Orloni has won, as I win at all things! Now, let's put more of this liquid into our bodies," Drax said.

"That's the first thing you said that wasn't bat-shit crazy!" Rocket replied.

Tessa laughed softly from her spot at the bar, a bit away from the betting table, drinking, but not enough to get drunk, even though she had no shortage of drinks.

Or, men for that matter.

She didn't mind; these men were rather chill in comparison to some of the men she'd encountered, maybe she was finally giving off an aura of someone who'd fuck you up if you tried anything.

She noticed that, instead of drinking, Peter was out with Gamora, making her snort and roll her eyes; same old player, she didn't care, though; she rather liked Gamora.

"Won'tcha tell us what your name is, little lady?" A large man with purple skin asked, a few other men nodding in agreement.

"Sorry, fellas, I'm on business," Tessa replied, returning to her drink before she heard a loud crash and turned around, seeing Drax and Groot fighting "Shit."

Peter and Gamora noticed at the same time and all three of them pulling them apart.

"Stop it!" Gamora commanded, Rocket pointing his gun at Drax as Peter and Tessa blocked him.

"Whoa, Whoa! What're you doing?" Peter demanded.

"This vermin speaks of affairs he knows nothing about!" Drax announced.

"That is true!" Rocket replied.

"He has no respect!"

"That is also true!"

"Hold on! Hold on!" Peter yelled.

"Keep calling me vermin, tough guy! You just wanna laugh at me like everyone else!" Rocket said, some definite pain in his voice, Tessa getting down to his level/her knees with her hands out.

"Rocket, you had too much to drink; nobody's laughing at you," Tessa said slowly.

"He thinks I'm some stupid thing! He does! Well, I didn't ask to get made! I didn't ask to be torn apart, and put back together, over and over and turned into some...some little monster!" Rocket yelled, Tessa swallowing hard.

"Rocket, you're not a monster and nobody is saying you are."

"He called me vermin! She called me rodent! You called me Weasel! Let's see if you can laugh after five or six good shots to your frickin' face!" Rocket pulled up his gun again, but pointed it more at Drax than a very guilty Tessa.

"No, no, no, no! Four billion units! Rocket! Come on, man. Hey! Suck it up for one more lousy night and you're rich," Peter said, Rocket hesitating before lowering his gun slowly.

"Fine. But I can't promise when all this is over I'm not gonna kill every last one of you jerks."

"See? That's exactly why none of you have any friends! Five seconds after you meet somebody, you're already trying to kill them!" Peter yelled.

"We have traveled halfway across the quadrant, and Ronan is no closer to being dead," Drax said before stalking off.

"Drax!" Peter called.

"Let him go. We don't need him," Gamora said.

Then, a young pink woman stepped forward.

"Milady Gamora, I'm here to fetch you for my master."

Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah!

Tessa looked around the cavernous room, filled with glass cells that contained various things.

"Okay, this isn't creepy at all," Rocket said, Tessa grunting in agreement; this place didn't feel right.

"We house the galaxy's largest collection of fauna, relics, and species of all manner."

"Not makin' me feel better," Tessa muttered.

"I present to you, Taneleer Tivan, the Collector."

Gamora went up to the white haired man wearing a cape.

"Oh, my dear Gamora. How wonderful to meet in the flesh." Tessa felt her skin crawl as he spoke.

"Let's bypass the formalities, Tivan. We have what we discussed." The Collector was distracted from Gamora by Groot.

"What is that thing there?"

"I am Groot."

"I never thought I'd meet a Groot. Sir, you must allow me to pay you now so that I may own your carcass. At the moment of your death, of course."

"I am Groot."

"Why, so he could turn you into a frickin' chair?" Rocket asked sarcastically.

"That's your pet?" The Collector asked.

"His what?!" Rocket demanded, drawing his gun, only for Tessa to stop him and say under her breath.

"Four billion."

"Tivan, we have been halfway around the galaxy, retrieving this orb," Gamora cut in.

"Very well, then. Let us see what you brought."

Gamora looked over at Peter, who pulled the orb out of his bag, dropped it, and picked it back up.

Don't fake it baby, lay the real thing on me
The church of man, love
Is such a holy place to be
Make me baby, make me know you really care

"Oh, my new friends. Before creation itself, there were six singularities."

The group watched as a machine opened the orb.

"Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots. Infinity Stones. These stones, it seems, can only be brandished by beings of extraordinary strength. Observe." Footage of giants using the stones "These carriers can use the stone to mow down entire civilizations like wheat in a field."

"There's a little pee coming out of me right now," Peter said, Tessa just whimpering slightly in response.

"Once, for a moment, a group was able to share the energy amongst themselves, but even they were quickly destroyed by it."

The orb opened, revealing a purple stone, and Infinity Stone.

"Beautiful. Beyond compare."

"Blah, blah, blah. We're all very fascinated, whitey. But we'd like to get paid," Rocket said, mocking the Collector for a second and making Tessa's lips curve slightly.

"How would you like to get paid?" The Collector asked.

"What do you think, fancy man? Units!"

"Very well, then."

The Collector moved a bit away to grab his money, the others watching him and not noticing as the pink woman, Carina, moved towards the stone.

"Carina. Stand back," The Collector ordered.

"I will no longer be your slave!"

"No!"

Carnia grabbed the stone, which seemed to be set off; slowly eating away at her as she screamed before exploding. Groot grabbed Rocket and ran while Gamora, Peter, and Tessa dove behind a table.

"What the fff?" Peter said, all three's eyes wide.

Make me jump into the air

Gamora had grabbed the Stone as the five regrouped.

"How could I think Tivan could contain whatever was within the orb?"

"What do you still have it for?" Rocket asked, slightly hysterical.

"Well what are we gonna do, leave it in there?" Peter replied, also slightly hysterical.

"I can't believe you had that in your purse!" Rocket yelled.

"It's not a purse, it's a knapsack!"

"NOT THE TIME!" Tessa yelled "Gamora, what solution were you about to present?"

"We have to bring this to the Nova Corps. There's a chance they can contain it."

"Are you kidding me? We're wanted by the Nova Corps! Just give it to Ronan!" Rocket said.

"He'll destroy the galaxy," Tessa replied.

"What are you, some Saint all of a sudden? What has the galaxy ever done for you? Why would you wanna save it?"

"Because she's one of the idiots who lives in it!" Peter yelled.

"Peter, listen to me. We cannot allow the stone to fall into Ronan's hands. We have to go back to your ship and deliver it to Nova," Gamora said.

"Right, right, okay. I think you're right. Or we could give it to somebody who's not going to arrest us, who's really nice for a whole lot of money. I think it's a really good balance between both of your points of view."

"Peter!" Tessa said, giving her best friend a look.

"You're despicable," Gamora hissed "Dishonorable. Faithless!"

Gamora turned to leave.

"Oh no."

Keep your 'lectric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love
Freak out in a moonage daydream oh yeah!

Ronan and his crew were arriving.

"At last! I shall meet my foe and destroy him," Drax announced, laughing.

Right as Ronan landed, Tessa's and Peter's attention was caught by someone else.

"Quill! Stark! Don't you move!"

Yondu and the Ravagers.

Freak out,

Tessa and Peter looked at each other with wide eyes for a moment.

Far out,

"Run!"

In out