So this is probably going to be a record in updating times for me, but I'll be trying to get the other chapters up this fast. I have a feeling it's going to be slow updating, though :(
Enjoy!
Nights on Kallu were, as always, dark and bitterly cold, the howling winds sweeping the snowfall into a raging blizzard, turning the world into a swirling expanse of white. While not quite the icy, barren wasteland of the Jotunheim, the climate of Kallu was decidedly inhospitable, its freezing temperatures and raging blizzards making for difficult navigation, much less comfortable living. Flying in to the planet from above, one would be hard-pressed to spot even the smallest signs of life amidst the snow.
Which is why, of course, it made such a convenient base for those evading the law. Hidden by the heavy snows and protected by the hostile temperatures, criminal activity could be easily conducted without much fear of discovery, much less arrest. In this case, the hulking complex of Nereen, wanted criminal and dealer in the galaxy's most proficient slave trade.
It was unsavory work, as any slave dealing was, but it paid well. At least that was the reasoning of the midnight shift guard's mind. It wasn't as if he enjoyed the enslavement and sale of living beings-but the amount of money Nereen's operations made was simply too much to pass up. He only wished the criminal had picked a warmer climate to house his main operations base in. At least it discouraged any attempts of escape from the hundreds imprisoned inside.
A violent shivering racked the guard as the wind increased, blowing snow and sleet into his face and obscuring his vision. He curled away from the storm, rubbing at his eyes as they watered from the stinging cold.
"Damn this storm," he muttered harshly, rubbing his hands together to bring the feeling back into them. "Can't see a blasted thing."
"Well, that's awfully convenient for me, huh," a muffled voice came from behind him. The guard let out a startled cry of surprise, raising his gun and whirling to face the intruder. His grip on the weapon quickly loosened and his eyes went wide with fear as he saw the figure before him.
It was not the build of the intruder that was terrifying-it looked to be a humanoid male of medium build, clad entirely in black and white snow gear-but the demonic red eyes that glowed brightly in the storm, fixed on the guard.
"Who-what-who are you!" the guard demanded in a trembling voice, raising his gun as he stumbled back. The figure didn't reply, moving closer towards him. The guard pointed his gun directly at the figure's mask, grip shaking. "Answer me now! I'll shoot!"
"Aw, don't be rude," the figure spoke, his voice decidedly male behind the muffling of the mask, stance casual.
"Don't move!" the guard yelled, the order ruined by the fear in his voice. "Put your hands in the air-"
The guard was abruptly cut off as the intruder charged forward, ducking beneath his weapon and grabbing his arm, twisting the weapon away as he slammed the guard in the gut with his knee. The guard's breath escaped with a whoosh as he collapsed to the ground, the intruder casually tossing the gun over the wall. He then flicked open a small device the guard quickly recognized as a magnetizer, and with a tiny hum of electricity the guard was plastered to the ground by the metal on his uniform.
The intruder shook his head, grabbing the guard's communication unit and sauntering his way towards the compound.
"And to answer your question-I'm Star-lord. But considering where you work, you probably haven't heard of me." The guard could have sworn the intruder was smirking behind his mask. "But you'll probably remember me in the morning." The guard stared at him in shock for one second before a flash went off, a stab of pain erupting in the back of his head; then blackness took his vision.
"Where the hell is that moron," Rocket hissed to Gamora from where they were crouched behind a snow mound, overlooking the entrance of one of the compound's loading bays, shivering in the biting wind. "He should have opened the door hours ago."
"It's been twenty minutes, Rocket," Gamora whispered back as she tugged the hood of her jacket further over her head, pulling her snow mask securely back over her nose. "Give him time."
"I've given him plenty 'a time," the raccoon muttered darkly, adjusting his own snow gear. "I just don't wanna be an icicle by the time he finally gets his ass moving and opens the door."
"I am Groot," Groot said admonishingly from where he was crouched behind them, the only one of the three of them not clad head to toe in heavy snow gear.
"Yeah, yeah, I know he's gotta make sure Drax is through on the west side, but still," Rocket grumbled. "Shoulda just sent me in, I'd have this down in seconds."
"We've been over this, Rocket," Gamora sighed. "Peter opens the blast doors from the east operating panel, Drax draws the security's attention, and you and I sneak-"
"I am Groot!"
"I'm sorry-you and I and Groot get in the control room, locate the slaves and disable the communication jammer. We need you here."
"Alright, alright, I got it the first fifty times," Rocket muttered. "He's just taking too long."
Gamora sighed. Rocket had been on edge ever since they had accepted this mission-and given the sensitive nature of the whole enslavement and imprisonment thing, she could understand why. The fact that Nereen was imprisoning and selling people against their will had them all on edge. It was why they had taken this assignment.
But Peter was their leader, and they needed to have faith in him in order to pull this off. The closer to the plan they all stuck, the smoother and quicker the operation would go. Peter just needed more time. He was probably taking his time to sneak through the complex, swaggering all the way with his music. He would have the doors open in a minute.
"He better," she thought, tapping her knife anxiously. She refused to think of any other reason he might be taking so long.
She shook her head, clearing the fear from her mind. It was ridiculous that she was this on edge-she couldn't afford to be so concerned about Peter during battle. This was why she had avoided attachments for so long-they ended up in crippling anxiety as you waited for your idiot lover to open the stupid doors.
Gamora was about to lose her mind when the high-pitched screeching of the alarm caused them all to nearly jump out of their skins.
"That should be Drax," Gamora said, heart racing. "So Peter should be opening the door any min-"
As if on cue the door to the loading bay began to rise, creaking slowly as it moved up, bright lights spilling out onto the snow.
"Thank the stars," Gamora muttered in relief.
"Yeah Quill!" Rocket crowed as he vaulted the snow mound. "Let's bust this place up!" Groot hummed in agreement as he and Gamora followed, sprinting across the snowy grounds to the door.
"Okay," Gamora said as they ducked into the warm air, pulling her face mask off. "Groot, you find Peter and take care of whatever security Drax hasn't wiped out." Groot nodded at her, heading towards the eastern passage. "And meet up with us in the north control hangar as soon as possible!" She called as he left. She turned to Rocket. "Ready?"
"Oh yeah," the raccoon replied, cocking his gun. "First priorities' gettin' the communication jammer offline," he told her as they sprinted down the halls. "Once we got that done we can get Quill and Drax online and-shit!"
Gamora grabbed Rocket and heaved the both of them behind a corner as blaster fire erupted around them. Apparently a few guards hadn't responded the Peter and Drax's attack. Four quick blasts took care of them.
"And then we gotta signal the Nova Corps," Rocket continued as they dashed by the fallen guards. "And then find the slaves and bust them out."
"And Nereen," Gamora added. "We need to take care of Nereen."
"Oh, we'll take care of him alright," Rocket growled. "Take care to split his skull open." Gamora sighed.
"As much as we want him dead, Rocket, we need him alive. We cannot get information out of a dead man."
"Yeah, yeah, fine," Rocket muttered as they reached the north hangar. "But he's a damn scumbag who'd deserve worse."
"Agreed," Gamora said. "Which is why we need to shut him down." She halted at the entrance of the hangar, peering around the wall. "Damn," she muttered, head jerking back behind the wall. "The guards are still there."
"So?" Rocket whispered, taking a look. "There's only 'bout fifteen of them. We can take twice that size."
"Yes, but we need to be careful about this-"
"HRUAGGHHHH!" Gamora and Rocket jumped as a large figure crashed through the other hangar entrance, yelling fiercely and waving his knife at the alarmed guards.
"Finger across neck, dishonorable slavers!"
"Or we can just charge in," Gamora snapped as she yanked her knife out, running towards Drax as he battled the guards.
"Best plan I've heard all day!" Rocket said as he joined her, firing at the guards as they scrambled for cover. Gamora swiped her knife into the first pale-skinned guard, kicking him in the chest as she whirled to slam the hilt of her knife into the guard's face behind her. White-hot streaks of blaster fire hissed just above her head she dropped to the ground, sweeping a guard's legs out and knocking him senseless.
Nearby, Drax was tearing eagerly into the guards, tossing them across the hangar as he landed hit after powerful hit. Rocket darted back and forth, gun flashing as he shot his opponents down.
"Bam, you're dead! Bam, you're dead!" Gamora rolled her eyes at Rocket's laughing taunts as she hit the last of her attackers in the neck, sending him crumpling to the ground.
"Nice timing, Drax," Rocket said as he put away his blaster, scurrying over the fallen guards to the security panel.
"My apologies for the delay," Drax replied, inspecting his knife as he joined them by the panel. "Their forces were more competent than I had predicted."
"No matter," Gamora said, watching Rocket as his hands flew across the panel, smashing through security programs and pulling up blue holograms. "You achieved your purpose."
"And where are our other friends?"
"Hopefully about to be online in a sec," Rocket muttered, typing at the panel furiously. "This technology is ancient-gotcha! Okay, there'll be the slaves," he said, gesturing to a blinking light on the hologram of the complex. "That should be…near the south entrance, I think?" he frowned. "Around there."
"Sounds correct," Gamora said. "Can you locate Nereen?"
"Bastard should be smack in the central security tower," Rocket growled. "Looks like he's got himself holed up with all his underlings, the coward."
"Let us end him, then!" Drax said, raising his knife.
"Yeah, yeah, hold up a minute, just lemme get Quill and Groot online-"
"You may want to pull up the security feeds as well," Gamora cut in.
"I said, hold on, this is tricky-"
"Hey! Get away from there!"
"Aw, shit-" Rocket jumped back from the panel as a security team rushed in from the furthermost door. Gamora and Drax raised their weapons defensively, backing up to Rocket.
"Security feeds, and this could have been avoided," Gamora hissed.
"Oh, shut it, you wanna try and do six hundred things at once with that complicated a system be my guest-"
"Stop talking!" a guard, most likely the leader, yelled, raising his gun. "Put down your weapons!"
"Should we attack?" Drax muttered.
"No," Gamora said, frustrated, as another security team rushed through the door. "We would be outmatched."
"Speak for yourself," Drax scoffed. Gamora glared.
"Weapons down! Now!" the guard yelled, aiming his gun at them as the other guards did the same.
"Damn it," Rocket muttered, lowering his weapon. "This is gonna change up the plan a bit."
"We can't afford this delay," Gamora hissed, dropping her knife as she stepped away. "What about Peter and Groot?"
"On your knees, scum! And hands behind your heads!" The lead guard yelled, waving his gun at him. Gamora met Rocket's eyes, slowly sinking to the ground. She was just putting her hands behind her head when a burst of music blasted across the room.
"OOGA CHAKA, OOGA OOGA OOGA CHAKA-" The too-familiar sounds of Blue Swede echoed through the hanger, and Gamora felt a huge grin split her face. The guards whirled around wildly in confusion.
"What the hell? What is this?!"
"This is Blue Swede, fool," she said, lowering her hands as Drax and Rocket did the same.
"And you are about to get your asses handed to you," Rocket chimed in. With unfailing timing the wall behind the guards exploded, bits of concrete flying across the room as a massive tank plowed through. Shrieks of panic echoed through the room as the guards dove for cover. Gamora ducked her head as Drax darted in front of her and Rocket, sheltering them from the blast as the east hangar wall was entirely destroyed.
It took several minutes for the debris to stop falling, and even then the hangar was clouded with powdery white dust. Gamora rose slowly, blinking the dust out of her eyes as Drax rubbed his arm, a bit bruised but otherwise unharmed.
The tank had ground to a shuddering halt, and there was a metallic clank as the top was lifted.
"You guys alive?" Peter called from on top of the tank, hood pushed back and trademark mask just disappearing behind his ear, sporting the biggest grin Gamora had ever seen.
"You idiot!" Rocket yelled. "You almost crushed us!"
"Groot's idea!" Peter said cheerfully, throwing a thumb back at Groot as he joined Peter on top of the tank.
"I am Groot!" He protested indignantly, but looking entirely too happy.
"Morons," Gamora sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, releasing a puff of dust from where it had clung to her dark locks.
"That was a most impressive entrance!" Drax said enthusiastically to the pair as they clambered down from the tank. "Poorly thought through, but effective!"
"Yeahhhhh," Peter trailed off, staring at the groaning guards beneath the rubble and the complete wreckage of the hangar. "I maaaaybe could have gone less destructive there..." Gamora shook her head.
"Hopeless," she muttered.
"Aw, whatever," Rocket said. "What matters is we got ourselves a tank!" The raccoon climbed nimbly up the side of the tank, darting inside. With a low roar the tank powered to life again as Rocket laughed wickedly.
"Oh stars," Peter said faintly. "This may have been a bad idea, actually."
"It's alright," Gamora said, patting him on the back. "It will be fun to watch him obliterate this place."
"You're okay, right?" Peter asked her in a low but concerned voice as they headed towards the tank.
"I am perfectly fine," she replied, a small smile gracing her face at his obvious concern. "My best friend tried to bring a wall down on my head, but other than that, sure."
"That's boyfriend to you," he said cheerily, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she wrinkled her nose at the name. "And I am sorry-I didn't-well, I didn't really think it through, I guess-I just saw you guys getting surrounded on the security cameras and kinda just-"
"Burst through the wall?" she said with a smirk as she hoisted herself up the tank.
"Uh, yeah," Peter said a bit sheepishly, bracing his hands on the rails as he pulled himself up besides her. "But hey-it worked?"
"It certainly did," she said as she clambered to the top. "And it is fine. Though I am incredibly curious to know how, exactly, you got a tank."
"I too, am interested in knowing how you acquired such useful weaponry," Drax added as he pulled himself up next to Peter, turning back to reach a hand down to Groot. Peter stretched his hand down besides Drax's and they heaved Groot up next to them.
"Easy, really," Peter said. "After you guys sent Groot to bail me out I noticed they'd left the weapons hanger unguarded." He shook his head. "Idiots. But anyways, after Groot took care of the security team it was a piece of cake, gettin' one running and smashing it through the wall. That and hacking into the speakers."
"I do not understand. What does cake have to do with the theft of this vehicle?" Drax inquired as the four dropped into the tank next to Rocket.
"It's a metaphor, genius," Rocket muttered as his fingers flew across the tank's controls.
"He means it was very simple," Gamora said, taking pity on Drax. "Though why Terrans prefer to compare simplicity to desserts is beyond me."
"Don't hate on Terran culture," Peter called from where he was inspecting the tank's firing controls.
"It is your own fault for being so confusing," Drax replied.
"Hey!" Peter exclaimed indignantly.
"I am Groot," the Flora colossus said firmly from where he stood besides Rocket.
"There, see? Groot's on my side," Peter said smugly.
"Actually, he was agreeing with Drax and your girlfriend."
"Aw, c'mon, Groot!"
"I am Groot!"
"Don't apologize to him! He's just sore over his Terra," Rocket growled as he shoved the tank's controls, the other four occupants stumbling back as it jerked forward. "Gotcha!"
The tank surged forward, making a wide turn around the hangar as Rocket grinned. Once the tank was aiming towards the middle of the complex, he shoved the controls forward again, the tank picking up speed. Shots ricocheted off the side of the tank as a group of guards rushed through the destroyed wall, aiming at the rogue tank.
"Take care a' that, will ya, Quill?" Rocket growled, eyes glued forward.
"My pleasure," Peter smirked, having finally figured out the controls, as he swiveled the turret around to face the guards. With a whoop of adrenaline he fired at the guards.
"Eat that!" he yelled as the guards screamed and dove for cover.
"You are ridiculous," Gamora muttered, watching the carnage.
"No to impose, but am I to understand that your plan is to drive this vehicle through the wall?" Drax asked Rocket, who Gamora noticed had not slowed the tank in the slightest.
"Through this wall and the next, until we get to that bastard," Rocket replied, grinning manically.
"I am Groot!" Groot's concerned tone rang through the tank as they rushed towards the wall.
"Oh, stars," Gamora muttered as she tightly grabbed the side of the tank. Peter threw him an incredulous look.
"Rocket, that actually may not be the best idea-"
"You did it once, we're doin' it now!" Rocket cut him off. "Better grab somethin' if you don't wanna go flying!" Peter turned pale and grabbed a rail, Drax doing the same. Groot merely shook his head and wrapped his branches securely around the sides.
"Impact in three, two-" Peter wrapped an arm around Gamora, giving her a faint smile at her glare.
"Seatbelt," he said, just as Rocket gave a cry of "One!"
The tank slammed into the wall, the jolt shuddering through the tank as Gamora squeezed at the railing, Peter's grip around her waist tightening as he stumbled back. The tank tore through the masonry with ease and continued its charge towards the next wall, quickly regaining its lost speed.
"One down, two to go!" Rocket yelled as he thrust the tank forwards. It smashed through the next wall and they all stumbled back again, Gamora's grip white-knuckled now. She had no idea how Rocket was still at the controls. Through the falling debris they caught sight of the flashing alarms, wailing through the base.
"Last one!" Rocket cried with excitement, shoving the speed as high as he could. Groot gave a small moan as they rushed forward.
"GAHHHHHHHH!" the five yelled in adrenaline laced-panic (Rocket with joy) as the tank plowed through the final wall, sliding across the floor as it wiped out the security guards and their guns, finally slamming into the security tower with an almighty crash.
"Ughhhh," Peter moaned from where he'd landed on the floor by Gamora. "Let's not do that again."
"That was most enjoyable!" Drax laughed, pulling a traumatized Groot off the floor.
"There's one word for it," Peter muttered, rubbing his head. "Everyone okay?" he asked, surveying the others.
"I am alive, surprisingly," Gamora said darkly, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Of course we're fine, Quill, that was nothin'," Rocket said snidely as he shoved open the top of the tank. "Shoulda been there when I rammed your old ship into Ronan's."
"Don't remind me," Peter groaned, following Gamora out of the tank. The sight was impressive-the security tower had all but collapsed, the guards lying half-buried under the rubble, and behind them stood three giant holes where the complex's walls had been, bits of stone and rubble still falling.
From inside the security tower, a grey-skinned alien picked his way out of the wreckage dizzily, expensive clothes torn and covered in dust.
"Nereen," Peter said, smirking as he raised his blaster, Drax, Gamora, and Rocket raising their weapons from behind him. Groot growled. "Hi! We're the Guardians of the Galaxy. We'd like to have a word with you about your business."