When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
"This is the dumbest plan I have ever been a part of," Tessa said.
"Shut up," Rocket hissed at her before talking into the speakers, right after Drax took a shot at the Ravagers' ship "Attention, idiots. The lunatic on top of this craft is holding a Hadron Enforcer. It's a weapon of my own design. If you don't hand over our companions now, he's gonna tear your ship a new one. A very big new one! I'm giving you to the count of five. Five, four, three-."
"Rocket, it's me, for God sakes! We figured it out! We're fine!"
Rocket and Tessa exchanged a look as Peter's voice came over the com.
"Oh, hey, Quill. What's going on?"
Tessa just sighed into her hands, laughing slightly.
Oh baby, give me one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go
(Let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Yes I do now
(I want you back)
Ooh ooh baby
(I want you back)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(I want you back)
Na na na na
"You call that "figured it out"? We're gonna rob the guys who just beat us senseless," Rocket asked incredulously.
"Oh, you want to talk about senseless? How about trying to save us by blowing us up?" Peter demanded.
"We were only gonna blow you up if they didn't turn you over!"
"And how on earth were they gonna turn us over when you only gave them a count of five?"
"We didn't have time to figure out the particulars of the plan," Tessa said, Rocket nodding in agreement.
"This is what we get for acting altruistically!"
"I am Groot."
"They are ungrateful," Rocket agreed.
"What's important now is we get the Ravagers' army to help us save Xandar," Gamora cut in.
"So we can give the Stone to Yondu who's just gonna sell to somebody even worse?" Rocket asked.
"We'll figure that part out later," Peter said.
"We have to stop Ronan," Gamora said.
"How?" Rocket asked.
"I have a plan," Peter stated.
"You've got a plan? Okay, first of all, you're copying me from when I said I had a plan," Rocket replied.
"That's not that an original thing to say, if you have a plan, you have a plan," Tessa argued, gaining a dirty look from Rocket.
"And secondly, I don't think you even have a plan." He continued glaring at her as he spoke before turning to Peter.
"I have... part of a plan," Peter amended.
"What percentage of a plan do you have?" Drax asked.
"You don't get to ask after the nonsense you pulled on Knowhere!" Gamora said, glaring at Drax.
"I just saved Quill!" Drax protested.
"We've already established that you destroying the ship I'm on is not saving me!" Peter replied, his voice raising an octave.
"When did we establish that?" Drax asked.
"Like three seconds ago!" Peter replied.
"Well, I wasn't listening then. I was thinking of something else," Drax admitted, Tessa dropping her head onto her lap and groaning.
"She's right, you don't get a opinion," Rocket said to Drax before turning to Peter "What percentage?"
"I dunno... Twelve percent?" Peter shrugged
"Twelve percent?" Rocket asked before breaking out into raucous laughter, his head thrown back and everything.
"That's a fake laugh," Peter grumbled.
"It's real," Rocket said harshly.
"Totally fake."
"That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my entire life, because that is not a plan!" Rocket yelled at Peter.
"That's almost not an idea, Peter," Tessa interjected, Gamora nodding in agreement.
"You two are taking their side?" Peter asked, outraged.
"I am Groot."
"So what, "It's better than eleven percent!" What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Rocket asked.
"Thank you Groot! Thank you! See? Groot is the only one of you who has a clue," As Peter said this Groot started eating a leaf that had grown on his shoulder. Peter turned away from the group and took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Guys. Come on. Yondu is gonna be here in two seconds. He expects to hear this big plan of ours."
It was quiet.
"I look around at us and you know what I see? Losers." As everyone gave Peter a look he backtracked.
"I mean like, folks who have lost stuff. And we have, man, we have, all of us. Homes, our families, ourselves, normal lives. And you think life takes more than it gives, but not today. Today it's giving us something. It is giving us a chance."
"To do what?" Drax asked
"To give a shit, for once and not run away. I for one am not going to stand by and watch as Ronan wipes out billions of innocent lives."
"Quill... stopping Ronan... it's impossible. You're asking us to die," Rocket said, sounding more empathetic and almost kind.
"Yeah. I guess I am."
Peter turned away from the group, sighing.
"Quill, I have lived most of my life surrounded by my enemies. I will be grateful to die among my friends."
Gamora stood up.
There was a beat of silence
Tessa stood up with a sigh.
"I guess I should stand up for something at least once in my life instead of just running away."
Drax stood up.
"You're an honorable man, Quill. I will fight beside you. And in the end, I will see my wife and daughter again."
"I am Groot."
They all looked at Rocket, the only one still sitting, who sighed.
"Aww, what the hell, I don't got that long a lifespan anyway." Rocket stood up "Well, now I'm standing. Happy? We're all standing now. Bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle."
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
The six stood in the Ravager ship, explaining their plan.
"The stone reacts to anything organic. The bigger the target, the bigger the power surge," Gamora explained.
"All Ronan's gotta do is touch the stone to the planet's surface and zap. All plants, animals, Nova Corps," Peter said.
"Gone to their maker," Tessa said.
"So Ronan doesn't make the surface. Rocket and Tess will lead a team to blow a hole in the Dark Aster's starboard hull. Then, our craft and Yondu's will enter," Peter said.
"Won't there be hundreds of Sakaaran soldiers inside?" One of the Ravagers asked.
"I think of Sakaaran as paper people," Drax said.
"Once they know we're on board, Ronan will isolate himself behind impenetrable security doors on deck. Which I can disable by dismantling the power source," Gamora said
"We'll make it to the flight deck, and I'll use the Hadron Enforcer to kill Ronan," Peter said, seeming slightly worried about that bit.
"Once Ronan is dead, we will retrieve the stone. Use these devices to contain it," Gamora said, passing out the things to contain the stone, not unlike the orb it was in originally "If you touch it, it will kill you."
"I'll contact one of the Nova officers who arrested us. Hopefully, they'll believe we're there to help."
"There's one more thing we need to complete the plan," Rocket said, everybody frowning in confusion "That guy's eye!"
"No! No, he's kidding," Tessa cut in, her lips quirking as she obviously tried not to laugh.
"No, seriously, I need it! It's important to me," Rocket said, also chuckling.
Peter just groaned.
Let me tell ya now
Oh baby, all I need is one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go
(Let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
Tessa pulled on her jacket before starting on a tight French braid on her hair.
"Tess," Peter said, catching her attention "I've got you riding with Rocket, is that gonna be a problem?"
"No, it'll be fine," Tessa said, smiling slightly and going back to her braid.
"You sure? You two seem to hate each other."
"I don't hate him, Pete, I just… He kind of reminds me of a meaner, crasser, poorer version of my dad, okay?"
"Oh," Peter said, looking away and thinking "Is that also why you gotta thing for him?"
"What?!" Tessa demanded, looking over at Peter "I don't have a thing for him!"
"Sure you don't, Scarlett Fox."
"I'm gonna kick your ass, Quill."
Oh, just one more chance
To show you that I love you
Baby baby baby baby baby baby!
(I want you back)
Forget what happened then
(I want you back)
And let me live again!
"I won't call you Weasel if you don't call me Bitch."
Rocket looked up at the Terran woman, who'd just changed into some not completely messed up Ravagers clothing like she'd been wearing before. She wasn't looking him in the eyes with her hands shoved in her pockets; obviously a tiny bit uncomfortable.
"What?"
"I won't call you a Weasel or Vermin or whatever if you don't call me a Bitch," She looked at him and shrugged "It hurts my feelings too."
"It don't hurt my feelings," Rocket said, Tessa giving him a look that made him sigh "Yeah, okay."
"Okay," Tessa said, smiling slightly as she went to walk away.
"Can I still call ya Blondie?" Rocket called after her.
Tessa stopped and turned around, smiling.
"Can I still call you a Raccoon?"
"What is that?" Rocket asked, making a face that made Tessa laugh.
"It's what you are."
Rocket sighed and gave her a look.
"It's a creature on Terra. You look like a bigger, bipedal version of one," Tessa explained.
"Great; I'm what a humie considers an animal," Rocket said, looking away and back at his work.
"I was wrong."
Rocket looked over at her in surprise, making her sigh.
"Yes, I admit it; I was wrong. You're not a raccoon. Not in the slightest."
"You just said I'm like-."
"I said that's what you look like; not what you are. You look like a raccoon. And you are… Well, you are what you said; there ain't no thing like you."
Rocket was quiet, giving a surprised look, making her laugh.
"What, am I not allowed to be nice?"
"I'm wondern' what caused this change of heart."
"Well, we may all die a fiery death; makes a girl reconsider her bitchy comments."
Rocket gave a significant look.
"Hey, I'm allowed to call me that," Tessa said, making Rocket chuckle "Anyway, we should probably get on the Milano soon."
"You ridin' with me, Blondie?" Rocket asked, making Tessa snort as she started to walk away.
"Someone's gotta make sure you don't scuff her up, Raccoon."
Oh baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cause
(I want you back)
Give me back what I lost!
"Be careful, okay?" Peter said, pulling Tessa into a hug.
"You're the one in a more dangerous role," Tessa countered, squeezing Peter.
"Yeah, but you're dumb," Peter said, getting a pinch in return.
"You're one to talk. My dumb BFF," Tessa said, pulling away and punching Peter in the arm softly "Love ya."
"Love you too."
Tessa exchanged nods with Drax and Gamora, before letting Groot pull her into a bear hug along with Rocket, making them both laugh.
Tessa and Rocket entered the Milano, strapping in and preparing to undock from the Ravagers' ship.
"Ready, Blondie?" Rocket asked, punching in a code and looking over at Tessa.
"Sure thing, Raccoon," Tessa replied, smiling slightly.
"Let's go save the Galaxy."
Oh baby, I need one more chance, hah
I tell you that I love you
Baby, oh! Baby, oh! Baby, oh!
I want you back!
I want you back!