Notes

This chapter runs in parallel to the trip Peter is making to Dey's office and the conversation they have in chapter 5. Both sequences match in real-time length, I used a clock to check it.

Thanks for reading! This chapter and the last one introduce some new characters and set the plot for the coming chapters. In the next two or three chapters a lot is going to happen. Fun stuff mixed with serious predicaments!

If you like this story, feel wellcome to place a review. I really appreciate all the feedback, short and long. Don't be shy!

If you want me to read a story of yours and you want more reviews too, I'd be glad to exchange reviews! It doesn't even need to be a GotG story.

Tracks in Space

Meanwhile in the conference room, Rocket was working on a mission plan. Sam showed a hologram of the building Drax was supposed to be in. It consisted of a large construction platform with windowless cubes stacked on top of it. Each cube measured about six metres. One layer of cubes covered three quarters of the platform; two cubes on top formed a small second layer. It looked like a coarse pyramid.

The raccoon asked, "Sam, what can ya tell me about the buildin'?"

"What do you want to know?"

"How ta get in an' out, fer starters."

Sam gestured a few commands. "The cubes are made of a tough steel alloy. Each cube contains two or three large doors; most of them connect to neighbouring cubes; a few open up to the outside. The doors close seamlessly. They are moved by a force field."

Rocket looked at Gamora and suggested, "We can start by torching a hole in it."

Sam added, "Inside, the doors joining adjacent cubes are open. A pathway through these openings goes round and then further to the inside. But each cube can seal itself off independently."

"Torch a lot of holes then"

"Can you see who's inside?" Gamora asked.

Sam replied, "Only schematically ... Got it, there are fifteen people, not counting Drax. See, your missing Guardian is the green dot and the other guys are the red dots."

"What kind of weapons do they have?" Rocket wanted to know.

"My system shows this type," he said and pointed to a hologram of an assault rifle.

"That can't be right, that's a Skrull weapon."

"Let me check. No, it's correct. The guards are all Skrulls."

Gamora and Rocket looked puzzled. The warrior woman said, "Kree and Skrull are mortal enemies. They don't work together."

Sam was working his interface to double check the information. He reproduced footage of the Kree ship landing on the planet, Drax getting off and walking straight to the metal building. He ascended a staircase onto the platform. When he approached one of the cubes, two large rectangles appeared on the outside that slid apart like sliding doors. He went in and the door shapes merged seamlessly with the outer hull of the building again. "I can't see any Skrulls directly, but my system says with 100% confidence that there are fifteen inside."

"OK, let's presume that's true," Rocket said, "then we have ta get in, burn holes and disable fifteen guys armed with photon guns. Maybe we should just blow up half the place."

Gamora asked, "How do you keep Drax safe?"

"He's a tough guy."

Sam looked up and said, "I just ran another query. A visual detection grid covers the outside. They can see you coming from a great distance in every direction. Inside, there are seismic and heat detection units. Apparently, they are prepared for incursions of this type. Each part of the internal corridors is watched by at least two guards simultaneously."

"That's a bummer," Rocket said in frustration, "do you have anythin' we can use?"

"What would you suggest?"

"Like somethin' that helps us gettin' this job done!" the raccoon exclaimed impatiently.

"This is a query system. You need to formulate precisely."

Rocket let out a soft growl. "I'll come up with somethin' during the trip."

For a moment it was silent. Sam deactivated his images, leapt onto a table and sat down on the side.

Peter was still somewhere else in the building. Everyone was silent and the atmosphere was a bit gloomy. Gamora decided that making conversation would be a good use of the time and may improve the mood. She asked, "How did you get to work for the Nova Corps, Sam?"

"I'm an external contractor. The Tangerine performs rescue operations. Since about half a year we have an office on Knowhere. We introduced ourselves to the various delegations. Three days ago the Nova Corps contacted us for help."

"What kind of rescue operations?"

"Mostly small stuff, like missing persons. We also provide medical services. We can help in the aftermath of a local disaster."

"A medic?" Rocket said with dismay, "Are you a doctor?"

"Where I come from, we call it 'health care practitioner'."

"Great. A cat an' a doctor. Two things I hate."

"You hate cats?" Sam asked in surprise, "Why?"

"I just hate them."

"I don't hate raccoons," Sam said with a smile on his face, "although some say that cats and raccoons are natural enemies." He mentioned it as an amusing fact, not something he actually worried about.

"That must be it."

Gamora, who knew her moody shipmate well enough, intervened in the discussion by asking, "How big is your crew?

"About a hundred. But most of my colleagues do other stuff, like research and engineering. We got about twenty rescue and health care operators."

"Do you have armed forces?"

"We don't use offensive weapons. Basically, the Tangerine is a civil operation. But we do have state of the art non-lethal defence systems to withstand attacks if needed.

"Then you don't have experience with armed missions?"

"We have been attached to combat groups a couple of times."

"Did that work out?"

"If the rules of engagement are clear at forehand, yes. We save lives, we don't kill if it can be avoided."

Rocket muttered, "Yeah, but sometimes ya have ta kill a life to save a life."

"Save two."

"What?"

"That's one of our rules: killing a life is only justified if it prevents the death of more than one sentient and there is absolutely no alternative. We are restrained by medical and humane ethical codes."

"Not everybody here will agree with ya. I don't know where ye're from, but this is a tough galaxy."

"Our knowledge isn't absolute; I don't mind discussing principles of ethics."

"Don't count me in," Rocket said peevishly.

Finally, Groot wanted to know, "I am Groot?"

"No I'm not from Halfworld," Sam replied.

Gamora and Rocket both said in surprise,

"Can you understand Groot?"

"I don't, but my translator does."

The warrior woman and the raccoon looked at each other while a number of thoughts crossed their minds.

"Do you want me to see if I can upgrade your translators?" the cat asked.

Gamora said, "That would come in handy."

Groot and Rocket exchanged a look. They had their own private conversations and the raccoon wasn't sure if he wanted to give up that privilege. "There's no haste," he said.

Rocket continued, "Now that ya mention it, I wondered if ye're a Halfworlder too. Did we meet before? I can't remember ever having seen ya."

"My home world is an Earth-like planet in a distant galaxy."

"Were you ... genetically engineered?"

"No, I have parents. But my ancestors have been created that way, thousands of years ago."

"So, you're like a human pet then?" Rocket snickered.

"Goodness, no! Besides, there are no humanoids on my home world."

At that moment Peter came in, "Guys, we're leaving now."

They all stood up and headed for the exit. Sam walked towards Peter and asked him, "May I join you on your mission to find Drax?"

Rocket taunted, "No you can't. We have a no-cat policy on board."

"Don't mind Rocket," Peter interjected, "I was thinking about asking you to come with us. You may be of use during this mission."

"OK then," Sam said contently and stuck out his tongue to the raccoon. He cheerfully teased, "Don't worry; you and me are going to be b-e-e-e-st buddies."

"Don't bet on it. And there ain't much room on the ship either."

"I don't need much space."

They arrived at the Space Port and entered the Milano. Peter and Rocket went straight into the cockpit. Sam followed them. He was curious and wanted to get to know the ship. They lifted off soon after.

Sam explored the ship. He sniffed at the walls, the floors and all the junk that lay about.

Rocket, who was co-piloting, briefly turned around and looked annoyed, barking "Hey, don't touch anything!"

"Not without gloves," he riposted. "Boy, this ship is messy. Don't worry, I'm just sniffin'"

The Raccoon growled, "As long as you don't put yer nose where it doesn't belong."

He set course for the Triangulum galaxy and fired the FTL drive.