"Bleh. Are we there yet? "

Someone walking by Dipper looked at him a little strangely, but Dipper smiled up at them innocently. When the person was out of ear shot, Dipper said, "Yes, we're almost there. "

"Good," Came Rocket's muffled voice from inside Dipper's backpack. "-'cause it's gettin' hot in here. "

Dipper, Mabel, and Peter Quill followed McGucket back to the junkyard, Dipper with Rocket in his backpack. When they reached McGucket's old home again, Dipper took his backpack off.

"One second, Dipper."

McGucket went over to the fence and lifted a singular section of fencing from where it leaned against the fence that surrounded the junkyard.

"Here, old man, let me help you with that." Quill said, sauntering over and grabbing the other section of fence.

McGucket raised an eyebrow. "Son, I may be old enough to be your father or grandfather or whatever, but my name is Fiddleford McGucket. I'll thank you to call me by one of those names. "

Quill turned a bit red, but smiled. "Yes, sir. "

Dipper and Mabel were a little surprised. They'd never really heard McGucket use the tone he was using with Quill, or stand up for himself like that before. As shocking as it was, it was still kind of good to hear.

McGucket and Quill moved the fence section so that it covered the hole left by the missing portion.

"There." McGucket said, dusting off his hands. "Now no one'll look in here and see your li'l friend, Dipper. "

Dipper leaned over and unzipped his backpack, and Rocket fairly bounced out.

"Phew! Man, kid, I could install some air conditioning in—"

He stopped and looked around, wide-eyed. "Whoa! You didn't tell me we were comin' to a toy store! "

McGucket grinned. "Yep. It's a nice place to find things for whatever ya happen t' be buildin'."

Without a word, Rocket disappeared into the piles of junk. Occasionally, they'd see his tail poke out from a pile, and hear sounds of rummaging. After about ten minutes, everyone heard him yell, "Heads up!" and a piece of sheet metal came flying out of the pile.

"That should do it!" Rocket said triumphantly, finally poking his head out of the pile.

Quill got down and looked at and the metal piece, giving it a rap with his knuckles. "Nice, Rocket. Thank you for letting us come down here, Mister McGucket. "

"My pleasure." The older man said, beaming. Looking over at Rocket, who had jumped back down to the ground he said, "If'n you don't mind, I'll bring my blowtorch along – providin' it'll help. " He already had the tank to the torch slung over his shoulder.

Dipper found himself grinning. Some people with PhDs would have insisted on being called "Doctor".

Well, he said he wasn't much for titles…

Rocket paused, then shrugged. "Usually no one touches the Milano but me—but we're in a hurry. "

Rolling his eyes, he climbed back into Dipper's backpack. McGucket and Quill moved the fence section again, and then picked up the sheet metal. After that they were off again.

When the twins and the others returned to the clearing in the woods, Dipper thought the tree-creature Groot looked concerned. It got up from a rock it had been sitting on and said, "I am Groot?"

"Don't you worry, none, big fella. " McGucket answered as if the creature had spoken plain English. "Yer friend is jest in Dipper's backpack. Didn't want anyone to see 'im. "

Mabel looked up at him. "You understood what he said? "

McGucket smiled up at Groot, who Mabel was pretty sure smiled back. "Well, I think he's not so hard to understand—if'n ya listen. "

Rocket climbed out of Dipper's backpack and shook himself. "Seriously, kid, aside from air conditioning—you need somethin' to control the stench in there. What do you usually keep in there—your dirty laundry? "

Mabel opened her mouth, but Dipper shot her a glare and she closed it.

"All right then, Rocket, let's get this gal back in the sky, shall we? " McGucket said, putting the rig for his blowtorch on the ground.

"Sure thing. Lemme just see if we can –"

Suddenly, the clearing became dark.

"Hm. It would appear that someone has extinguished the sun." Drax said matter-of-factly.

"No, Drax, they're just covering it up. " Gamora answered him, looking upward.

Dipper followed her gaze. Above them was a huge space ship. As he watched, a hatch opened on the bottom, revealing a large yellow bulb of some sort. Suddenly the forest lit up, and he had to shut his eyes against the brightness. After that there was a sensation of his feet suddenly not touching the ground.

"Dipper, what's happening?" he heard Mabel yell.

There was a clang, then he fell a short distance and hit something cold and hard.