"Th—the—" Dipper stammered.

"Th' Gobblewonker." McGucket said, still staring at the screen and blinking slowly. "My word—who'd'a thunk it—an' it looks like I got m' rob't pretty close t' the real thing, too. "

The twins couldn't help but cast grins at each other, remembering how they'd gone hunting for the "legendary" Gobblewonker at the beginning of last summer, only to find that McGucket had built a large robotic version of the creature to get attention from his son.

Dipper shook his head and looked down at the control panels under each screen. "These must open and close the cells and things. "

"But which button-y—switch-y thingy does what? "Mabel said, looking thoroughly confused as she stared at the control panels herself.

McGucket was gazing intently at the nearest control panel, then lifted his head and turned his gaze on the screen that showed the Guardians in the cell below. "Well, lemme see…."

He walked closer to the control panel under the Guardians' screen and looked it over. "Dipper, have y' got yer pocketknife handy? "

"Yes, sir." Dipper answered, pulling the knife back out of his pocket. What could the older man want with—

"Thank you kindly." The older man said, taking the knife, exposing the blade, and prying open a small plate Dipper hadn't seen on the corner of the control panel. As the lid of the panel popped off, several wires were exposed.

McGucket glanced up at the screen again, then pulled a bunch of the wires out. "Welp, hope this works!"

Then, before Dipper or Mabel could say anything, the older man put the blade of the knife under the wires, lifted them up, and sawed back and forth a few times.

*Snap-snap-snap*!

Dipper and Mabel both jumped back as sparks flew. Looking back up at the screen after the initial shock, Dipper saw the door to the Guardians' cell swing open. Quill ran out, turning as Gamora said something to him, then Rocket ran out ahead of him, followed by the other Guardians.

Dipper's eyes went wide. "How—how did you know it would do that?"

"I didn't." McGucket answered, going to the next panel and prying it off. "—but I've been around long enough to know that if'n' you mess with the wires on somethin', it's likely to muck it up. "

Dipper and Mabel just looked at each other.

"Uh, Doctor McGucket, what about that Collector guy?" Mabel asked.

"Guess we'll worry about him when it comes to it." McGucket answered as he snapped another set of wires and set the gnomes free.

Dipper looked to their left, and finally noticed the door that led out of the room. "Um—Doctor McGucket, if you're going to let everybody out, what—"

Just then they all heard running footsteps in what must have been the hallway outside the door.

Mabel brandished her grappling hook.

Dipper clenched his fists, wishing he had a better weapon.

Suddenly there was a ZZZZZZZT! noise from out in the hallway, and ice covered the door.

Dr. McGucket stepped in front of the children.

Bam! BAM !

The trio in the room saw the ice crack. A couple more BAMs, and :

Crack! Shatter!

The twins and McGucket put their hands up to shield themselves from flying ice.

"Hey!" came a familiar voice. "You are in here! Awesome !"

Dipper, Mabel and McGucket uncovered their faces to see Peter Quill standing there, an odd, almost horse-shoe shaped weapon in his hand.

"Um…" Mabel muttered.

"Hi?" Dipper added.

"Son, where're the rest of th' Guardians?" McGucket asked, lowering his hands.

Quill holstered the weapon. "They're out taking care of the Collector—along with—I guess—some of your friends? " he finished, throwing up his hands.

Dipper nodded, grinning. Mabel rolled her eyes when she thought of last summer's first encounter with the gnomes. "Well—some friends…"

Just then they heard lots of yelling that seemed to be coming from further down the hall.

"Well, let's go, kids—Doctor McGucket. Sound like we may be needed out there. "

Mabel looked up at the screen that showed the Gobblewonker in its tank. "But—"

Quill followed her gaze, then smiled down at her. "Don't worry—we'll make sure everyone gets back where they belong. "

Mabel smiled back, took a last glance at the Gobblewonker's screen, and then headed out the door after her brother and McGucket. Quill followed her.

McGucket stopped in the hall and addressed Quill. "Son, you'd better show us the way outta here. I'd be as lost as'n ant in a shag carpet."

"No problem." The Guardians' leader said, charging ahead of the old man and the twins.

The quartet went partway down the hall, turned right, went down another short hall, and turned left, then immediately right again.

Both Dipper and Mabel looked upward. "Whoa…."