Chapter 2
Silence surrounded the King once more as his ship cruised through boarder of Xander. He didn't even spare the time of telling Samuel where he was headed, instead he sprinted to his personal ship and gave the command for auto-pilot to Xander as fast as he could, Polaroid still clenched in his hand.
Despite flying as fast his ship, the Bowie could go, it still took 28 hours to reach the war torn city. These were the longest hours the King has yet to come across in his life. Countless thoughts streamed through his head like a ticker on a news screen. Emotions ranging from anger, to doubt, to a more foreign one; hope flourished through his system.
Now he was less then 30 minutes to landing his ship at the make-shift landing post. The main landing post was apparently destroyed in the attack a long with a quarter of the city. Upon seeing the destruction, the King messaged back to Samuel ordering that emergency supplies and provision to be sent to the Xander Capital.
A beeping noise alerted him to an incoming call, looking at the glass panel he saw the stern face of the current Nova Prime. Swiping the screen, he prepared to talk to her and find out the whereabouts of this Peter Quill. The rational King in him knew the chances of this being his Peter were slim to nothing. With 12 billion people in the known Galaxy it would be a miracle for this Star Lord to be the same son he was forced to abandon. However the father in him hope beyond anything that this would be second chance, his son.
"Greetings King J'son, how may I be of assistance," Nova Prime said as her face lit up the screen. Behind her many Nova commanders stood barking orders and scurrying around the offices.
"Actually I have come to be of assistance to you, Madam Prime," said the King while preparing to arrive at the landing strip, "however I am here on personal business as well."
A look of confusion crossed Nova Prime's face, regardless she nodded for the royal to continue.
"I know you must be incredible busy these past three days since the attack but I must speak with you in private, " J'son pleaded.
"You have my permission to land, " said Madam Nova with a nod of acquiescence, "Corpsmen Dey, my advisor will meet you." With that she waved her hand for he call to end. The King and her go back a long way. His assistance would be much appreciated, however the king prided himself with being a private man. What personal business could he have in her republic?
At the calls end the King landed the Bowie with ease on the landing dock. After powering down the ship, he took a minute to gather his thoughts. Before he made any claims to be this kid's father he needed proof. Taking the photo that he had pinned to the drive panel, he tucked it into the breast pocket of his worn brown leather vest. Standing up he tucked his white long sleeve shirt into this navy blue pants.
He walked to the back of the ship were a small bathroom was located. Looking in the mirror, he didn't see a King, his eyes were worn and sunken in from the whisky he was drinking and the lack of sleep. Taking attention to his appearance, he slicked back his long middle of his hair, taking a second to scratch the shaved sides of his head and followed it down to the short stubble on his beard. Splashing some water from the sink on his face, he looked up and he didn't see a King he saw a father reclaiming his son.
Departing the Bowie he looked around at the once white and pristine city. In the distance near the river he could see the smoldering remains of the Kree warship that had fallen from the sky. A thick blanket of smoke still hung around the city and the smell of ashes permeated the air. Debris from both the Ravagers and Nova Pilots ships were scattered all over. Looking east towards the Nova headquarters he saw Corpsmen Dey approach him.
"King J'son, it is so pleasing to see you again. I trust you've heard of the recent attack," said Corpsmen Dey, as he reached his hand out for the King.
"Yes, yes I heard and I am very sorry for your losses," the King said shaking Corpsmen Dey's hand. They had met before many years back when Nova Prime made a trip to Spartox for a Galactic Counsel meeting. The King could see how badly the attack weighed on Dey, seeing his sunken eyes like himself confirmed that he had little sleep.
"Thank you my lord, if you will follow me I'll show you to Nova Prime's office," Dey replied breaking the handshake. Taking the lead, Dey headed arcos the lawn towards the Nova headquarters, which by a miracle was still standing.
"The last time I we spoke you mention you and your wife were expecting a baby," the King said breaking the silence between the two men, "how is the little guy?"
Corpsmen Dey looked back at the King that was following him, only he didn't see a King he saw a fellow man. A man that believe to be equal and not higher then those he ruled. He did not expect the King to even remember him, let alone something that was mention years ago.
"Little girl," Dey said with a smile, "she is going to be four this year."
"Four years old," the J'son said with surprise, "how does time fly by so fast."
"Yes it does especially when you're a parent," Dey replied.
Hearing the comment the King nearly flinched, yes time does go by fast when you're a parent he only knows because it drags on like a needle against a record when you are not one.
They remain silent the rest of they way to Nova Prime's office. Walking into the building the King was surprised to find it void of the usual personnel.
"They are either out assisting with the clean up or with their families," Dey's explained seeing the confusion on the King's face.
"I trust that your family wasn't...," the King asked as they turned a corner to a thin white walled hallway.
"No thank the gods, or I should really thank Peter Quill. If it wasn't for him none of us would be here," said Dey as they reached the doors to Madam's Nova office.
The king stopped short partially due to pride in his son, partially due to the fact he didn't even know if it was his son.
"What do you know about him," asked J'son as Dey opened the door for him, "about Peter Quill."
Dey gave the King another look of confusion, but was opening his mouth to answer until being interrupted by Prime Nova.
"Ah King J'son, how are you," said Madam Prime from behind her desk. She too had sunken and dark eyes from lack of sleep. Behind her through the windows he see the remains of the Kree warship and demolished buildings. Although a much worse disaster was prevented, it was still a sad time for these peaceful people.
"I'm well Nova Prime," the King said as he approached the desk and held out his hand.
"Please take a seat, my lord," she said, raising to return the gesture she gave a small, tired smile. "Dey you are dismissed, please give my love to your family."
Nodding Corpsmen Dey turned to leave.
"Actually I would like him to stay if it pleases you Nova Prime," the King spoke up quickly.
Giving a curt nod, she motion for him to come farther into the room. Moving slowly he walked and stood to the right of her desk.
"First of all I would like to express my condolences for your losses. From the report I read on the way over hear you were very fortunate but at a great cost," J'son said to his friends. Although on two his Kingdom and the Xander Republic were on separate ends of the galaxy their alliance has always been strong.
"Thank you for your kind words," she said, "it has not been easy but we will endure and thrive as we always have."
"Assistance from my kingdom is already underway and should arrive tomorrow," J'son said, "that is if you choose to accept it."
Giving a small smile, Nova Prime looked down at her desk. The king could be charming in the most subtlest of ways.
"Thank you again for generosity," she said, "but at risk of sounding bold and ungrateful. Why are you really here?"
The King knew that Nova Prime was not one to mess with, if he needed her help he needed to give her all the details.
"The main reason I came here is because of...because Of Peter Quill," said the King. "But first I need to ask...this Would be way before your election as Nova Prime but do you remember an attack the Xanderian Fleet made on pirating ship 26 years ago. The group that help you, the Ravagers, they had a ship that was gunned down outside of Earth."
"What...what Is your interest in Mr.. Quill," she asked, " and no I have no recollection of an attack however I can have the records searched for you."
"I do," said Corpsmen Dey quickly.
"Pardon me?" Nova Prime asked looking up at her advisor.
"The attack on the main Ravager's ship. I remember it, it occurred on my first day of training," he continued.
Leaning forward in his chair, the King braced his palms on his knees and prepared himself for either the tale of his son's survival or death and nodded to Dey to continue.
"I don't know the full story but apparently they raided an Xanderian outpost and had stolen a Nebula bomb. When our fleet caught up with them, they were order to surrender or they would be fired upon. After they received no repose the Xanderian ship scanned it for life but found none. They were about to board the ship when the Nebula bomb that they had concealed blew," Dey continued.
"So there was no one on board the Ravagers ship when the bomb exploded," asked the King, hope flourishing in his voice.
"No your majesty. We now believe it was a trap..." Dey words slowly softened and stopped as he observed J'son.
The usually stoic and proud man had tears streaming down his face, his elbow rested on his knees, head in hands. He could see his back shaking slowly in tiny sobs that were trying to be contained. Looking over to Nova Prime, she sat unreacting.
"What is your interest in Peter Quill?," she repeated.
"Where is he?," he asked after a pause to compose himself. This was it, this was all the proof he needed. His son, his Peter Quill, his little Star Lord was alive.
"He is your son isn't he?," Nova Prime asked quietly.
"How..How did you know," the King asked quietly.
"In order to prevent the destruction of this planet, Peter grabbed the infinity stone with his bare hands. Not only did he survive the power surging through him but harness its power to kill Ronan the Destroyer. After him and his friends were check over by our medical staff, they did a series of scans on his system." Nova said pausing and observing the King. "They found he was not completely Terrian. The only thing we knew was that his father's family was ancient. The royal blood line of Sparta perhaps," she finished.
Corpsmen Dey stood there stunned not as much as the King through. He barely registered as Dey moved over to the clear computer glass and began typing and swiping away.
This was King J'son's confirmation, Peter Quill, the savior of Xander was his son. Silent tears streamed down his face, all doubt was thrown out the window. His son was alive, his son was taken from him, his son captors were going to pay.
"Where is he?," the King repeated forcefully.
"After the attack I asked a group of mechanics to repair Quill's ship. It was both a tactical move and thank you present," Nova Prime said.
"Surprisingly the ship had only minimal damage, so they builders got it out in under 12 hours , after that a night of rest, we let him and his crew go," Dey said from across the room, still swiping away at the control panel. "They left only 6 hours before you arrived."
"Someone is after him, isn't there," the King asked. He seen this tactical move before, if someone dangerous is looking for your prisoner or guest you get them the hell out of dodge.
"The city suffered one attack, I couldn't let it suffer through another one while our defenses are down," she said. "His name is Y..."
"Yandu," the King finished for her, "his name was Yandu. I had hired him to claim Peter from earth when he was a child."
"And after the ship was blown up, you thought he died on it," Nova Prime said after piecing together puzzle. "He was raised by them," she added quietly.
Rage boiled in the stomach of the King. Anger, white hot and burning was going through his system like locomotive releasing steam. His son was raised by a group of worthless, low-life scavengers. His scared little boy was taken captive by these monsters. Soon Yandu and the rest of his crew will know what Spartan vengeance feels like. But first he had a son to find.
"Do you know where he was headed," the King asked a eerie calm settling over him.
"Your son has proven resourceful, but troublesome in the past, especially with this new crew of his," she said, "we placed several tracking devices in his ship but he neglected to say where he was headed to."
"I have already transferred all the information we have on him and his crew, along with the access codes to our tracking devices, " Corpsmen Dey said from the control panel. Locking eyes with Dey, he nodded thank you. From one father to another, Dey knew what he needed.
"I suggest you get a move on," Nova Prime said standing up and walking to the door to show out her guest. "Like his father he has a knack of finding trouble everywhere he goes."
"Thank you Madam Prime and Corpsmen Dey," King J'son said quietly his head still wrapping around the situation. "I will be in touch."
On that note the King turned and sprinted from the office to ship.