"TAKE COVER!"

Crimson shoot red energy beams towards the guardians. The fight was long and painful for the guardians and Yondu. They were out of breath and almost out of time. Meanwhile, a mindless Peter Quill watched from the far corner. Gamora took a look at her lover once in a while during the fight. He had some strange metal collar around his neck. It was probably the thing that was controlling him. But that wasn't what creped out Gamora. It was his eyes. His usual brightness of happiness and joy was nowhere to be found. His eyes were dark and empty. Gamora never cried, but just the look of Peter and the mere thought that she might lose forever the only man that truly ever loved her could be gone made her do so while fighting. And Lotus. The poor little baby who she had come to love and care for as a daughter was thrown into this evil twisted game. If they lose this fight, Peter will never have freewill again and Lotus will never see her father again. Or know him.

Gamora tried to punch Crimson straight in the face, but she was thrown back against a cold metal wall by one powerful red energy beam. She landed on the floor, her sword did as well. She was disorientated. The sounds of the fight were mere mumblings and echoes. The only thing she could hear clearly was her breathing. Slow breathing. Slow heart beats. She could only think of two names. Peter and Lotus.

She only wanted to be the mother Lotus deserved and spend the rest of her life by Peter's side. Maybe have a baby of their own in a distant future. Have lots of adventures together. Just be able to love and be loved back. Was it too much to ask?

A blurry figure ran towards her. "Gamora!"

She took deep breaths, trying to make out who he was. "Gamora!"

The figure turned out to be Rocket. "Gamora!" He shook her shoulder. He was as beaten up as her. "We'll distract this red bitch! You go get IT! Now!"

"What about Peter?"

"We'll figure out a way to save the asshole but you must get the Thing and get her out of here now! Understood?"

She nodded and watched as Rocket went back to battle. Groot was currently throwing powerful punches at Crimson while she flew side to side in a red aura trying to avoid them. Gamora slowly got up and grabbed her sword, she made a mad dash towards an exit. The last thing she heard before leaving was Groot's fierce battle cry.

"I AM GROOT!"

OOO

She didn't know how, but she ended up following baby cries towards an isolated lab. She made her way through tables with glowing chemicals and other things she didn't want to know what they were. Finally, she reached a big transparent box with breathing holes in it and inside, Lotus was crying her eyes out. Gamra smiled and approached the box. The baby looked at the green skinned woman and immediately stopped crying. She waved her pigtails in happiness.

"Mama!"

Gamora chuckled as a happy tear. "Oh, baby girl. You're right, I'm mama, and mama is getting you out of here."

Gamora looked around the box, searching for a way to get the baby out without breaking the glass she couldn't harm her. She saw a small glass door on top of the box. She reached for it and open it. She slowly grabbed the baby and pulled her out. Gamora hugged her tightly as Lotus snuggled on her neck. "Come on, baby girl. We are leaving and your uncles will save your daddy."

She turned around but stopped shortly, gasping in shock. A powerful hand grabbed her throat.

OOO

Crimson floated two feet in the air surrounded by a red aura and grabbed Rocket by the neck. The raccoon tried to fight her grip but he couldn't. He hated being weak. Especially against a bitch like this one. He was thrown away and landed on Groot's chest. The humanoid tree, who was leaning against a wall, had his arms and legs cut off and it will take a little while for him to grow them out again, but for now, he was at a great disadvantage. Drax was leaning by the tree's side, holding onto a broken arm. Yondu on the other hand, was still on the floor, rubbing his head. That will cause a big headache in the morning. His arrow was broken-scratch that- it was practically disintegrated by the crazy lady. Great. Now he'll have to get a new one. And he was stupid enough to not to bring a gun with him. He felt a cold hand grabbing the back of his shirt collar and pulling him in the air. He faced Crimson.

"You dare to betray me?" She asked.

Yondu rolled his eyes. "I never even worked for you in the first place. We just had a deal." He glared at her. "A deal I would have never made if I knew that the baby was in fact my 'granddaughter'."

Crimson growled and punched him in the face, throwing towards the wall as well. Yondu landed on Groot's other side.

"I am Groot?" Groot asked.

"Sorry buddy." Yondu said while rubbing his now black eye. "I don't understand ya'."

"ARG! He's asking if you are alright, dumbass!" Rocket said while slowly, and painfully, climbing up to Groot's shoulder. Rocket was pretty sure Crimson Red broke a few ribs and his tailbone, because they hurt like hell.

Crimson approached them carefully. "Fools. You just came to tell me your last wishes? Pathetic."

The doors to the throne room opened and Peter walked into the room holding tight onto Gamora's shoulders. Gamora was currently holding onto a crying Lotus. Peter walked towards Crimson's direction and shoved Gamora into the guardians pile. Gamora's back landed on Groot's chest and Lotus keep on sobbing.

Crimson looked at Gamora with hatred. "Give me the baby."

"No!"

Crimson glared even deeper at Gamora. She landed softly on the floor. She put her hand on her curvy hips. Well… she didn't exactly wanted the baby, she will just destroy her eventually, so… yeah, why not? Crimson turned her head towards Peter. "Peter, sweetie, you got the Orb?"

Peter mindlessly reached for his pocket and pulled out a metal orb. The Infinity Stone. The guardians gasped. Peter awaited orders.

Crimson smiled cruelly. "Destroy them. Especially that one." She pointed at Lotus.

Peter nodded and opened the Orb, taking out the glowing purple stone from the inside. The metal case as carelessly thrown to the floor. Parts of his body, including his eyes, turned a devious purple. Some parts distorted. A purple aura engulfed him and his body screamed power all over him. He hovered three feet above the ground.

Yondu and the guardians looked at Peter in fear. He looked so… so… evil. And Peter Quill was not like that.

"Peter! Stop! I know you can hear me!" Gamora shouted.

Peter took a step forward.

"Hey asshole! If you want to kill your own daughter, you gotta go through me first!" Rocket shouted as well, but in reality, he was as scared as a lost puppy.

Yondu shake under Peter's gaze. Never in his life he thought this will be his end, in the hands of the very boy he raised and cared for. Peter looked so intimidating. And he was holding a freaking Infinity Stone! Yondu didn't really believed it when Kragling told him, but now he did. And he wished it wasn't true.

Groot looked at Peter, begging for mercy. He knew that deep inside this… this monster was his friend Peter. Therefore, he will not try to harm him. Drax felt defeated and he felt like he was the worst friend in the galaxy. He should have known this was a trap. But then again, he wasn't exactly the smartest.

Gamora looked at her lover. Her grip on Lotus tidied. This was it. This was the end of everything she loved.

Peter walked forward and half raised his right hand, pointing at the guardians, especially the baby.