DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from Guardians of the Galaxy, either in its movie or comic incarnation. I own any OC I can invent, though. I am not making a £ out of this. It is just for shits and giggles.
Thanks to for the review. Since I started jotting down this fic even before I first watched Avengers Age of Ultron, there is an inconsistency in the placement of the Gems.
In this fic, Thanos has the Mind Gem (he's had it for a while) and the Chitauri Sceptre that Loki had in the first Avengers held the Soul Gem, which was tainted by Thanos and later used to give sentience to Ultron. Now Vision has it.
I hope this clarifies the inconsistencies.
I apologise for the shortness of the chapter, but I couldn't really help it.
This is going to be the last chapter before the festive period. I should be back with updates on Mon 11/01/2016, hopefully.
Warnings: politics, mentions of Odin behaving like a dick and some silliness (mentions of recreational drug use, maybe?)
Enjoy, and please don't shout at me!
The Council has existed only for little over a week, but Gamora could have bet on how things were going to develop.
There is a lot of talking. Lots and lots of it.
The only thing everyone seemes to be in agreement about, after Thor reports on the whole omnicidal-robot incident is that the situation on Terra is well on its way to become critical and that, if they want to stop Thanos for good, they have to bring the Terran authorities into the plan and send them reinforcements in case of further attacks.
That they need to mount an expedition is the next logical step, but organising it before they all die of old age seems beyond them.
The Xandarians justly insist that they can't spare any troops. Their fighter fleet is still in tatters after the stunt Ronan pulled on them, and they need every single corpsperson to protect the Power Gem and the Senate back on Xandar.
Conversely, the Kree would love to send some warriors and help the cause of Ma'at, but the treaty has forced them to dismantle most of their troop-carriers and fighters, leaving them mostly with freighters that would be useless in a fight.
In spite of the fact that Emperor J'son wants to personally lead an expedition, the Spartoi and Shi'ar fleets are still tied up in their respective theaters of operations, and it will take weeks to ready a wing for a joint mission to Terra.
Odin, instead, lets everyone know that he thinks Asgard is are already doing enough by letting Thor reinforce the Avengers, and so much for intergalactic collaboration.
On the bright side, the look on the old man's face when Thor tells him that he has more or less fathered an android, is totally priceless, just as Loki had anticipated.
The Skrull, instead seem eager to get to Terra before anyone else, but they get outvoted by the rest of the Council. Kl'rt's rowdy, boisterous Raiders are not the frendliest and most reassuring people you can think of, and the rest of the Council is afraid that they might produce a bad impression on the Terrans.
"Why don't they stop beating around the bloody bush and just send us ad a vanguard?!" Nebula grumbles, fidgeting on the chair.
"Don't worry, sister. They will. - Gamora reassures her - We are the only practical solution to the problem." she adds.
"Hold fast, ladies, it's all a matter of time. - Helenai intervenes, leaning over her husband to get closer so that her whispers won't be overheard - They all need to make sure that their needs and concerns are heard. I am sure that they are already in agreement about sending us." she explains.
"You are coming too?" Nebula comments archly.
"Damn sure I am. - the Spartoi princess retorts - I have never been outside of this quadrant in my whole life. And Father owes me a honeymoon." she explains.
"Plus this team needs more girls." Gamora interjects.
"That too." Helenai agrees.
"Fine, whatever floats your boat." Nebula concedes, rolling her eyes. She likes Helenai, Gamora knows it for sure, but she needs to assert her independence. Kinship and camaraderie are still relatively new concepts for her, but she is getting there. She just needs time.
"Blah, blah, blah...I propose that we send the Guardians, at least to start with, until more troops are ready to be deployed."
Gamora tunes back in to the proceedings just as the Duchess of Gramosia puts forward her proposal.
Kamyla, princess of Centauri nods in agreement. "They have sworn, and they have a ship ready to deploy." she points out.
Gamora privately thinks that they ate never going to be able to fit Nebula, Loki, Helenai and Gladiator on the Milano, but keeps quiet. They'll figure out something in time.
"And my son Peter knows the local costumes, he can help smoothen things with the authorities." Emperor J'Son chimes in, casting a significant glance towards Peter, who beams at him.
Gamora bites back a chuckle and shakes her head. Peter has not been on Terra since he was six, and smoothing things out with the authorities has never been their strong suit. Getting sent to jail on their first day on a planet is what they really excel at.
"It's going to be interesting, to say the least..." Ronan comments quietly.
At least she is not the only one to doubt J'son's assessment.
"I second the Duchess' proposal. - Majestrix Lilandra declares - On the condition that Shi'ar is represented in the first contingent." she adds.
"Gladiator and I will go. - Helenai intervenes - We are trained statespersons, and we have a ship. I am sure the Guardians would not mind our presence." she adds.
"Of course not, sis. - Peter confirms - The more, the merrier. And you are always welcome." he reassures.
"I suppose that settles it." Emperor J'son comments, nodding wisely.
"It is highly acceptable." Lilandra confirms.
"Good. Any objections?" J'son asks.
Of course, the only person to pip up is Nova Prime.
"I request the presence of a Nova Corps officer on the mission. Sorry if it ruins your little family outing, but the Council needs to be fairly represented. " she declares.
"Fair enough..." J'son
"What?! - Kl'rt exclaims - So everybody is going but my boys? What problem do you have with them, eh?" he objects.
This seems to throw a spanner in the works, as the rest of the Councillors seem to be at a loss for words to explain why shapeshifting green aliens with a penchant for violence, drunkenness, and pillage are not the best choice for a diplomatic mission, but Derdriyu manages to save the day.
"The fierceness of your warriors is legendary, Emperor Kl'rt. - she says, and Kl'rt puffs his chest and smiles smugly - We fear that it might be too much for the Terrans to cope with." she adds.
"Hardly... They shrugged off the Chitauri and the Svartalfar, and then Ultron. - Loki mutters - They are probably going to kick these green buffoons into the stratosphere without so much as a greeting." he whispers heatedly.
After they defeated him, it's only natural that he supports the Terrans. No one likes to be beaten by the runts of the litter.
"Are we not getting any form of representation in this mission, then?" Kl'rt insists, mollified but not distracted.
"I didn't say this. - Derdriyu retorts - A full Raid would certainly be too much, but a single warrior or diplomat is not going to be so overwhelming, isn't it, my brothers and sisters?" she proposes.
The members of the Council nod in agreement. They can hardly offend Kl'rt by refusing. The fearsome reputation of the Skrull warriors is well warranted, and the Council will need them.
"Then I'll send my son and heir, J'rth. It's time that he makes a name for himself" the Skrull Emperor announces.
The skinny green youth sighs and nods, then shuffles towards the Guardians, looking a bit broken-hearted.
Helenai has told them that she had caught him and and one of the maids from the Duchess' entourage in the gardens a couple of days before, as they were trying to figure out how much certain parts of his anatomy could actually elongate. J'rth can't be more than eighteen, and the girl is only a bit older than that. Gamora feels slightly sorry for the two of them.
"And I'll send my daugther, Denaarian Saskia Rael." Nova Prime announces, pointing at the bright pink woman who was next to Dey during the hearing, and later at the Temple.
None of the Guardians even tries to protest when she moves towards them, not even Ronan.
They need to keep together if they want to have a Universe to have a shouting match in afterwards.
Denaarian Rael looks like she is in her early thirties, about their age, and she must be good, to have survived the craziness that was the Kree-Nova war. She has her mother's eyes, clear and almost colourless, and Gamora hopes that she has also her mother's foresight and ruthlessness.
"Welcome to the team, buddies." Peter greets her and J'rth.
"Oh yeah... It's gonna be great..." the Skrull comments, rolling his eyes.
"What's this defeatist talk, kid? - Helenai chides gently, wrapping an arm around his bony shoulders - We have places to see, things to learn, arses to kick. It's going to be a great experience." she adds.
"I was having enough fun here, thank you very much..." J'rth quips, sighing in misery.
"Man up, son! Don't be such a ninny because of a girl! - Kl'rt butts in - The Terrans will be queueing up to get a tap from a handsome warrior like you." he adds with a booming laugh.
J'rth blushes dark green to the tip of his pointy ears.
"And this is precisely why we can't allow the Skrull on Terra on their own..." Saskia whispers, shaking her head.
"If we are all in agreement now, I think it would be best for the Guardians and the envoys to prepare for their mission. - Emperor J'son proposes, retaking the lead of the meeting - We might have delayed Thanos' plans by attacking him in his stronghold, but I don't think this is going to win us a very long respite. Time is of the essence, brave warriors." he explains.
"The Milano is ready to fly as soon as we restock with food and fuel and get the coordinates for Terra from my foster father. - Peter announces - But we can't really fit any more people in it. Maybe one, at a push. It is already quite cosy just for the six of us." he adds apologetically.
"We hardly need a ship, comrades. - Thor interjects - I am sure the All-Father will be generous enough to grant us the use of the Bifrost." he says, shooting a significant glance at Odin. The greybeard hardly seems in a generous mood at all, from the looks of it, but nods to keep the appearances.
"Thanks, but no thanks. - Peter replies flatly - I don't really fancy appearing on a planet without heavy weaponry and a way to get out of there quickly if the locals don't like me, not even if it is my home planet." he objects.
"Yeah, seconded." Rocket chimes in.
"And thirded. - Nebula agrees - I have a ship and it can carry at least Loki and Thor, if they behave." she adds.
"My husband , Denaarian Rael and Prince J'rth can travel with me. - Helenai offers - Three small, mismatched ships are hardly going to look like an invasion fleet." she argues.
"It is settled, then. - Nova Prime summarises - When are you going to be ready to depart, warriors of the Council?" she asks.
"The day after tomorrow? - Peter offers - It's been a tough couple of days, and we need to make sure we don't end up wasting time and effort by rushing through things." he argues.
"I agree with your judgement, brother." Helenai declares.
"Yeah, finally you've said something sensible, Quill." Nebula comments, heavy with sarcasm.
"It happens to me every now and then, I can't really control it." Peter retorts, without missing a beat.
Nebula smirks and elbows him in the ribs. It seems almost like a friendly gesture.
There is a quick, silent consultation between the members of the Council, then Derdriyu speaks.
"The Council agrees. The expedition will depart in two days' time. - she announces officially - May the gods of your people be with you in this endeavour." she prays, lifting her hands palm up to the ceiling.
The meeting ends on that note, and everyone disbands.
"Oh my gods! - Peter exclaims as soon as they are out of the door, jumping up and down in sheer excitement - Can you believe it?! We are going to Terra!" he continues, dragging little Groot in a sort of victory dance.
"Is he always like this?" Saskia asks with an unimpressed frown.
"Mostly." the Guardians reply in a chorus.
"He's not been home since he was six. - Ronan explains - I think his enthusiasm is justified, for once." he argues.
"I'm going to have a pizza as soon as we land! - Peter announces - No, maybe a hamburger!" he corrects himself.
"And what the hell is that?! Is it stuff that you eat?" Rocket asks, ears perking up.
"It is the best stuff you can ever eat, trust me." Peter reveals.
"I mean, the stuff you cook is pretty amazing, bluebell, - he adds, giving Ronan a quick kiss - but that stuff? Oh, it is something else. You have to try it to believe it. It's almost magic." he adds.
"Like magic mushrooms? - Drax intervenes with a certain alarm - I don't think I am going to try it then. I felt quite sick last time I had them. I thought a giant boot was going to eat me." he adds thoughtfully.
Peter stares at him in horror for a moment.
"No, definitely not like magic mushrooms. Absolutely not like magic mushrooms." he replies.
"Ah, that is good." Drax comments.
"We can watch Star Wars! - Peter continues, bouncing back from worried dismay to utter delight - Get more music cassettes! Even go to a concert!" he insists, nudging Ronan and Gamora. They are the only ones, apart from little Groot, who have been fully taken by his Terran music.
"I'd love to, but I don't think the organisers will be very happy to have aliens at their event, meri." Ronan tries to calm him down.
"Of course they will! We are going to Terra to help them! We are going to be heroes! - Peter retorts with the blind faith of a child - Come on, bluebell... Tell me you don't want to go to a concert of Kiss, or Rainbow, or AC/DC..." he provokes.
"Of course I do." Ronan admits, blushing a bit. Peter teases him to no end for his preference for that loud, heavy music
"You have odd musical tastes, Guardians. - Thor comments - Midgardian heavy metal... Tony will like you." he adds fondly.
"Well, at least they seem to have bonded already. One thing less to worry about." Saskia comments shaking her head.
Peter, Thor and Loki in the meantime have started discussing the respective merits of pizza versus burrito, whatever they might be, while Rocket, Drax and J'rth listen with evident interest and hunger, and Ronan looks at them with fondness.
"Yes, comrade. We are going to have enough of them quite soon." Gamora agrees with a sigh.