So I hope you guys enjoy this! I know I will! :D
~In a little café just the other side of the border~
As Rocket uses tools in the storage area to install the prototype fin on Yondu's head, I keep peering out the entryway to watch for company.
~She was just sitting there givin' me looks that made my mouth water~
"Jeez, would ya relax already, Quill? I'm tryin' to work here, and you bein' all fidgety ain't gonna help scut." Rocket glanced over at me from behind Yondu.
"Well I can't exactly help but be on edge. You were the one that decided we needed to make a flarkin' entrance by playing one of Peter's old mixtapes." I pointed out with a huff. "We could've been discreet about this shit and no one would have even seen what was comin' to them."
"An' now you sound like Gamora." He snorted before rolling his eyes.
"I do not." I huffed quietly.
Okay, so...that probably would be something Gamora would say...not that I'll admit that out loud.
I wait in anticipation for Rocket to finish up and can't help but admire that look of pure concentration on the raccoon's face until being reminded of what's at stake. Considering that if anyone were to stop us before the implant was hooked up, we could basically...right, kiss our asses goodbye (I think that's the saying)? It wasn't like any of us had weapons on hand though, not yet anyway.
"You finished yet?" I asked worriedly.
"Almost done, doll face. Just have to complete the finishin' touches." Rocket replied nonchalantly.
It was another minute of awkward silence filled before noticing Yondu looking at me with an all-knowing grin.
What's up with that smug look...?
"So, you and the rat huh?" He asked.
At first, I'm utterly confused, before realizing that he was likely referring to Rocket. I can't help but fold my arms together as I gave the Centaurian a small glare.
"By all means, I'd love to know what you're talking about." I tried saying sarcastically.
I still suck when it comes to sarcasm...
"You an' yer brother ain't exactly subtle when it comes to folks yer...infatuated with, if you catch my drift." He winked.
I can feel my face heat up at Yondu's implication and teasing tone, but don't comment. It would basically be adding fuel to the fire, or...digging my own grave.
This motherfu- -
"Y'know, it's kinda funny how you're talkin' about me like I ain' even here. You forget that I'm messin' with very delicate technology, ya blue idiot. Who knows...? Maybe I'll mess up somethin' an' accidentally kill you." Rocket interjected.
At this, Yondu fell silent, although his smirk remained, as though Rocket had only further proved a point.
~So I started walking her way. She belonged to bad man, José~
I remember this song, I loved dancing to this one...it was always such a strange song though, I had difficulty understanding the lyrics...
Over the music playing throughout the ship, you could hear the shouts of the other crew members, signaling that they were all clearly awake and knew something was wrong pertaining to their "prisoners". I was going to leave and try to stall for more time, before Groot tugs at my boot laces to get my attention and points to Rocket. The raccoon, thankfully, had just finished attaching Yondu's new prototype fin and gave me a thumbs up to gesture that our impromptu escape plan was officially set in motion. With Yondu's yaka arrow at our side, the four of us would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.
"Kraglin's working on getting the third quadrant ready for release, isn't he?" I asked the Centaurian.
"Don't wanna spoil the surprise, darlin'." Yondu smirked.
~And I knew, yes I knew I should leave. When I heard her say, yeeeeaa~aaa~aahhhh.~
When the first of Taserface's men show up, I'm nearly on edge, until noticing the look of fear on their faces. Rocket hopped down from the stool he'd been using to help attach Yondu's fin onto his head and tossed the wrench to the side. At their hesitation, Yondu finally lets out a sharp whistle, and his yaka arrow comes speeding through the room (from the other side of the ship might I add) before piercing through their chests and killing them. Both enemies fell over instantly, and the Centaurian whistles continuously and flawlessly. The yaka arrow is gone in a flash, likely being sent throughout the entire spacecraft to kill all who betrayed the captain.
Yondu can definitely be scary sometimes, but still pretty badass. I guess he's pretty damn cool for a "dad"...
"Here Quill." Rocket called out to me.
I catch the gun from one of the newly deceased men and give Rocket a nod before cocking the weapon.
"Not as good as my elemental blasters, but I'll take what I can get...I wonder what those scut-heads did to my guns anyway..." I muttered thoughtfully.
"I'm sure we'll find 'em soon." He chuckled.
~Come a little bit closer. You're my kind of man. So big and so strong.~
He...he kinda does look strong...so confident- -STOP IT. FOCUS.
The four us walk together down the hall as many of the crew are being executed via yaka arrow. The stench of fresh corpses is lingering in the air as we head towards our destination. The yaka arrow had already done so much killing the moment it was reunited with its owner.
WAIT! MY GUNS!
I notice a man holding my elemental blasters and charge at him without hesitation. I dodge every shot he fires at me almost effortlessly, and flip over him and knocked both guns from his hands as I kick the center of his back from behind. Using the weapon Rocket had given me earlier, I knock him out with the butt of the gun until he falls before tossing it to the side. I reach down and grab my beloved guns, failing to hold back the urge to treat them like they were my own children.
"Reunited and it feels so gooooood!" I sang.
Turning around, I became incredibly flustered once realizing that Rocket had killed someone that had been ready to attack me.
"Glad you got 'em back an' everything, but you need to pay more attention, Quill." Rocket nearly rolled his eyes.
"I- -I'm sorry. Just...got a little side tracked." I chuckle softly.
~Come a little bit closer. I'm all alone. And the night is so long~
After noticing the flustered look on Rocket's face, I placed my guns in my thigh holsters and knelt down.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'll be just peachy after we get the flark outta here." Rocket merely replied.
"Seriously, you're not hurt or anything are you?" I worriedly asked.
I started inspecting the raccoon for any wounds before he harshly bats my hands away.
"Forget it. We need to focus on escaping."
"Well sorry for giving a scut about you, jackass!" I rolled my eyes.
Rocket drags his paw over his face and sighs in frustration.
"I don't need no flarkin' woman worryin' 'bout me and actin' like they care! And I certainly don't need anyone's pity." He nearly growled.
"Who the fuck said I was pitying you?!" I looked at him in disbelief. "Where the hell is this all coming from?! Y'know, I thought you were my goddamn friend! But ever since we saved Xandar, you've been doing nothing but push me away, and have treated me like literal garbage! What did I do?! JUST TELL ME!"
The ship rocks as something explodes nearby.
"FLARK, you drive me insane sometimes! I dunno if I wanna kill you or kiss you!" Rocket yelled and lowered his gun angrily. "This is literally the worst time for this, Quill!"
Wait what? Did he just- -
The both of us stopped arguing when hearing another loud ear-piercing whistle. In seconds, the two of us saw a line of dead bodies behind us and a faint red glow trailing in the air that indicated that Yondu just saved us with his yaka arrow. Immediately, the two of us felt embarrassed and decided to save the arguing for later as Yondu gave the two of us a scolding look.
"Either lock lips with each other or shut the fuck up an' follow me!" Yondu snapped, before grumbling something underneath his breath.
The trip to the surveillance room, with basically every view on the ship you could imagine, went fairly smoothly. Now that we had eyes everywhere, especially Yondu, he had no issues tracking down every single enemy and killing them with his arrow. Eventually Rocket and I also decide to join in and shoot through the walls once noticing that there were other crew members on their way to stop us from the surveillance feed. It was almost fun and...it felt like old times again, as if everything over the past few months had never happened.
The tension fades away as I actually laugh along with Rocket and Groot over the sound of the pure chaos ensuing, and killing every scumbag baddie along the way. It was also pretty amazing to fight alongside Yondu up close like this, and I couldn't help but think of how cool he looked in action, or how beautiful that deadly whistle really was. I'm brought out of my thoughts as Rocket climbs up my back and planted his feet on my shoulders. I shuddered when his claws dug into my leather jacket.
"Relax, doll face. I'm just gettin' a better vantage point." Rocket yelled over the sounds of gunfire and screams.
I felt myself relax at Rocket's words and continued shooting at more enemies through the melted gaping holes in the walls. The fun comes to a stop when the entire spacecraft begins to shake uncontrollably from an explosion again, but this one had been stronger than the last, before Rocket and I realize that Yondu had deliberately destroyed part of the ship in our killing spree, which in turn caused a whole chain reaction to the other quadrants being blown sky-high. Rocket hopped down from my shoulder before looking at Yondu with wide eyes.
"You maniac, the whole ship's gonna blow." The raccoon seemed panicked.
"Not the whole ship. Come on." The Centaurian replied confidently.
Yondu smirked at Rocket's surprised expression before he gestured us to quickly follow him, and from there we found Kraglin working quickly on detaching the clamps to this quadrant from the remainder of the ship. Rocket takes over the controls and helps Kraglin speed along the process, before setting us into hyperdrive and barely manages to get us away from the giant and deadly explosion behind us. Rocket gets ready to set us into hyperdrive again and starts locking in some coordinates.
"Where to, Captain?" Yondu raised an eyebrow at Rocket.
"Ego." The raccoon muttered.
"No, boy! It ain't healthy for a mammalian body to hop more than 50 jumps at a time." The Centaurian scolded him.
The ship begins speeding faster and faster.
"I know that." Rocket nearly scoffed.
"We are about to do 700!" He pointed out.
Well isn't that just great?
The first jump sends me flying back into Yondu's arms and my head feels incredibly light.
"Hold on, Stells!" The Centaurian warned me before grabbing onto the captain's chair.
God damn it, Rocket!
For the next twenty minutes or so, we continued to jump through space and ended up bouncing around the solar system. I thought I'd hit my head hard enough when I saw Groot and Rocket's face's and eyes bug out almost comically. I glanced over and noticed Yondu's mouth was enlarged and wide open.
Holy shit. Did I really hit my head hard enough to be seeing this type of crap? Or was I high?
After what seemed like hours, the entire ship finally came to a stop and all five of us fell forward and panted from being out of breath.
"Ow...what the fuck?" I groaned in pain.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKIN' BOY?!" Yondu yelled at Rocket.
"I could tell by how you talked about him- -this Ego is bad news. We're here to save Quill!" Rocket argued. "And look at what he did to Stellar!"
"Yeah, and for what?! For honor? For love?!" The Centaurian questioned.
"No! No! I don't care about those things! I want to save Quill so I can prove I'm better than him! I can hold this over him forever!" The raccoon grinned.
I rolled my eyes at the comment and went over to smack Rocket upside the head, before Yondu basically beat me to it, and began to really lay it on him. Yondu let out a bitter laugh, making Rocket incredibly confused.
"What are you laughin' at me for?!" Rocket glared at him.
"You can fool yourself an' everyone else, but ya can't fool me. I know who you are." The older man grew serious.
Wait, wha- -what does he mean exactly?
At this, Rocket began to grow defensive as he now glared at Yondu defiantly.
"You don't know anything about me, loser." Rocket growled.
"I know everything about you. I know you play like you're the meanest an' the hardest, but actually you're the most scared of all." Yondu replied.
"Shut up!" Rocket yelled angrily.
"I know you steal batteries you don't need and you push away anyone who's willing to put up with you because just a little bit of love reminds you of how big and empty that hole inside you actually is." Yondu continued.
"I said shut up!" Rocket shouted.
At the look on Rocket's face, my heart nearly broke in two, and it was almost like that confrontation back in Knowhere between him and Drax. I slowly moved forward but stopped when I saw Yondu raise a hand in my direction while giving me a warning look to stay out of it.
"I know them scientists what made you never gave a rat's ass about you!" Yondu shouted.
"I'm serious, dude!" Rocket wavered.
"Just like my own damn parents who sold me, their own little baby to slavery! I know who you are boy, because you're me!" Yondu finally finished.
Rocket fell silent as his eyes filled with unshed tears. It was like Rocket had finally had an epiphany when he realized that most of what Yondu said was actually right on all accounts. For a minute or so, I could see Rocket contemplating Yondu's words and letting it all sink in until finally he let out a small sigh.
"...What kind of a pair are we?" Rocket murmured softly.
"The kind that's about to fight a planet, I reckon." Yondu walked off.
"All right, okay, good that's... wait, fight a what?" Rocket's face scrunched up in confusion and concern.
"He's a Celestial." I remembered. "He...he said he was trying to...make me like him and Peter."
At this, my mind and heart begin racing. I stormed over to Yondu to stop him from leaving as I demanded for answers.
"What do you know about Peter's father that we don't?" I questioned. "I don't know much about Celestials, but...he's...is he on God level status or what?"
Yondu sighed before putting his hand on my shoulder and gave me a grim look.
"Yer right, Quill's father is a celestial being, a God. That planet down there...in the core is his brain."
"So...he's a literal planet? But how is he also in Terran form? I don't get it..." I stammered.
"He's a God, darlin'. He made like...an avatar. It's...organic, it's made from him, it's also an extension of 'imself. You get where I'm goin' with this? But either way, he's done somethin' to you, an'...I dunno what. And now...he's got yer brother. We'll all be in some deep shit if we don' get him outta there quick." He explained. "I don' know what his plans are, but it ain't nothin' good."
"Damn it." I hissed angrily.
I marched forward, ready to gear up and haul ass to save Peter and the others before Yondu grabbed my wrist to stop me.
"An' where the hell do ya think yer goin'?!" Yondu asked.
"I don't care what happens to me, but I'm not letting him hurt Peter!" I snapped. "If I'm...part Celestial now...or becoming one...I'm using it to my advantage. I m- -might have a chance at stopping him!"
I am so screwed, but I don't care...I can't let him hurt Peter...I won't.
"HEY!" Yondu shouted.
Yondu pulled me in real close for a hug which caused me to snap out of it immediately. It was strange of him to hold me so intimately like a parent would do to comfort their child. While it caught me off guard at first, I slowly relaxed into Yondu's arms, knowing that he wouldn't hurt me like Ego had.
"We're here now, and we're gettin' him outta there, together. You can count on that, darlin'." Yondu muttered. "And I won't let 'em hurt you again."
For once, I could tell that Yondu was being sincere just from the look in his eyes and his tone. It was as if something within him genuinely changed, like he wanted...
Redemption...
"...thank you." I barely whispered.
"Rocket?!" Gamora answers her transmitter.
Rocket, Yondu, Groot, and I all move quickly, crawling down into a huge laser drill as Rocket responds to Gamora. By the sound of things, it's not good, and I can certainly sense their distress. I was practically on the edge of my seat as Yondu and Rocket moved quickly to get everything in the laser drill set up and ready to go ASAP.
"Keep that transmitter nearby so I can find you. We're in an old piece of construction equipment Yondu once used to slice open the Bank of A'askavaria." Rocket explained.
"Ego's unhinged!" Gamora warned.
"I know. Get ready." Rocket frowned.
"Drop it, Kraglin!" Yondu ordered.
The ugly, bulbous and uneven craft we're in falls from the Quadrant, and heads toward Planet Ego's surface quickly.
"I got a plan." Rocket said.
"What is it?" Yondu raised an eyebrow.
"It's pretty simple." Rocket shrugged in response.
My eyes widen when we smash through the palace wall, and while I was happy to see my friends on the other side, I briefly saw a glowing tendril pierced through Peter's chest. My heart nearly skips a beat from the sight, until Yondu's voice brings me out of my thoughts.
"HEY THERE, JACKASS!" Yondu shouted.
Upon seeing Ego, the look of surprise on his face as the laser drill landed on him was almost enough to bring me satisfaction, but I knew that he wasn't dead, not yet. Immediately, the glowing tendril disappears and Peter falls to the floor and catches his breath. Yondu quickly hits some buttons on the dash to open the doors on the laser drill, and it's not long before everyone begins piling inside. Seeing Nebula nearly floored me, before coming to the conclusion that she likely was trying to hunt Gamora down and attempt to kill her, but I could tell in her expression that something had changed between them.
"What are you doing? You could have killed us all crashing in here like that!" Drax shouted at Rocket.
"Uh, 'Thank you, Rocket'?" Rocket glared at The Destroyer.
"We had it under control." The Katathian insisted.
"We did not. That is only an extension of his true self. He will be back soon." Mantis spoke up.
So Yondu was right...man, Gods and Celestials...such a weird concept. I don't know if I'll be able to wrap my head around it...
When Peter steps inside, he looks almost overjoyed to see me in one piece, but his smile fades upon seeing Nebula. He almost had the same type of reaction I did and looked at her skeptically.
"What's Smurfette doing here?" Peter questioned.
"Back rubs, dishes, killing gods, whatever I need to do to get a damn ride home." The cyborg retorts with a shrug.
"She tried to murder me!" Rocket argued.
"I saved you, you stupid fox." Nebula grumbled.
That's a funny way of saving someone...
"He's not a fox." Gamora interjected, sending her sister a warning look.
"I am Groot." Baby Groot said.
"I'm not a raboon either!" Rocket rolled his eyes.
"I am Groot." The small Groot insisted.
"Raccoon, whatever!" Rocket huffed angrily
I glance out of the window, seeing what appeared to be glowing tentacle like strands of energy bursting through the floor. I instantly tensed up as I see them come and wrap themselves around the drill.
"How do we kill a Celestial?" Drax muttered.
"There's a center to him- his brain, his soul, whatever it is, in some sort of shell- -" I spoke up to explain.
"It's in the caverns below the surface." Mantis told us.
Peter climbs up the ladder and finally notices that it's Yondu who brought us here.
"YONDU?!" Peter yelled.
Nebula looks at Gamora with a grim look on her face.
"If he's got that fin back, I am so screwed." Nebula muttered quietly.
I glance out the window just as the tentacles wrapped around the drill yank us back down before we could fly upward for takeoff. Gamora snaps me out of my daze as she plants a hand on my shoulder.
Stellar, I'm so glad you're home.
N...no...Stop it. I'm not...
"Hey, are you alright? You didn't hit your head again did you?" The assassin gave me a curious look.
Before I can answer, Yondu shouts angrily from above at the steering controls.
"Thrusters are out!" Yondu cursed.
Peter quickly gets to work on rewiring the mechanics.
"I guess I should be glad I was a skinny kid. Otherwise you would have delivered me to this maniac!" Peter brought up.
"You still reckon that's the reason I kept ya around, you idiot?!" The Centaurian rolled his eyes.
Everything about Yondu is suddenly making SO much sense. Hala, and here I thought he always hated Peter and I...y'know he and Rocket ARE incredibly similar regarding their personality, now that I'm really thinking about it.
"That's what you told me, you old doofus!" The Terran shouted defensively.
"Once I figured out what happened to them other kids, I wasn't gonna just hand you over." He muttered quietly.
"You said you were gonna eat me!" My brother looked at the Centaurian in disbelief.
"That was being funny!" Yondu shrugged.
"Not to me!" Peter cried out.
"You people have issues." Rocket spoke up.
We all see Ego's skeletal growing in front of us through the windshield and I can't help but gasp in shock at the horrific sight.
"OF COURSE I HAVE ISSUES! THAT'S MY FRICKING FATHER!" Peter screamed before glancing down at the controls. "Thrusters are back up!"
Peter takes control of the ship and thrusts the ship forward instead of upward. We crash through Ego and keep going through the sloping ground. I hold onto the back of Rocket's seat for dear life as I try to fight back the nausea that's occurring as the ship jolts every second we continue down.
Stellar, together? We could be unstoppable...
"We should be going up!" Yondu argued.
"We can't. Ego wants to eradicate the universe as we know it. We have to kill him." Peter spoke seriously. "Rocket!"
THAT'S what Ego's plan is?! Did...did he have anything to do with the destruction of Planet Titan? How did he know so much about my people otherwise? Or was that just coincidence?
"Got it." Rocket called out.
Rocket immediately gets to work and blasts the lasers almost flawlessly, chipping away pieces and hunks of rock, which form an opening in the crack. The laser drill smashes into the opening which leads further down into the planet and closer to Ego's actual life source.
"So, we're saving the galaxy again?" The genius asked.
"I guess." Peter responds with a shrug.
"Awesome. We'll really be able to jack up our prices if we're two-time galaxy savers." Rocket smirks.
"I seriously can't believe that is where your mind goes." Peter sighed.
"It was just a random thought, man! I thought we were friends!" The genius laughed.
Wow, never thought I'd hear those words come out of his mouth.
"Of course I care about the planets, and the buildings, and all of the animals on the planets." Rocket continued.
Or THAT. Maybe...he really took what Yondu said to heart...
"And the people." Peter pointed out.
"Meh." Rocket shrugged.
Behind us, Mantis giggles and continues to stare at Rocket adoringly.
"The crabby puppy is so cute he makes me want to die!" Mantis squealed.
"Your suicidal thoughts sadden me, but your wish will likely come true." Drax mumbles dejectedly.
Finally, we make into the core of the planet, which had a vastly enormous open space. We all begin to gather on the side of the ship as the door opens.
Stellar...now's our chance to do something worth while. Peter won't help me...but I know I can rely on you, kiddo. You've always done what was necessary for Peter's benefit, for his safety...
S- -stop it and get out of my head. I'm not- -
"Whoa." Gamora muttered.
Mantis turns, looking through the portholes on the side of the laser drill.
"There! Thats Ego's core." Mantis shouts.
"That core's thick. Rocket, we're gonna need to use the big laser." Gamora informed Rocket.
Rocket nods in response and gets to work as flips several switches. Within several seconds, the tiny lasers installed on the ship move along through the grooves of the drill and combine into one huge laser at the very center of the ship.
"We must hurry. It will not take Ego long to find us." Mantis gave us a desperate look.
"Keep it still!" Rocket told Peter.
Stellar, listen to me. Now.
Peter lets out a deep breath as he steadies the craft as best he can while Rocket powers up the mega-laser. I glance out the opening of the drill and see the lasers burning a hole into the protective sheath, causing it to melt and disintegrate. Suddenly, I feel a burning sensation in my head and fall to my knees from the sheer pain.
"Stellar!" Gamora knelt down beside me.
My hands move up, my fingers weaving through my hair as I grasp my cranium tightly.
"Stellar what's wrong?!"
"Her eyes- -" Mantis perked up in surprise.
Rocket's ears twitch upon hearing everything going on behind him and powers up the mega-laser while holding the controls tightly to keep his aim steady.
"Hold on, doll face! We're gonna break your connection to Ego, alright?! The moment we get to the center, we kill him. He called out to me from behind.
"R...Rocket..." I barely withheld a whimper.
"Wait, do you know what's happening to her?" Gamora looked up at Rocket.
"The morning you guys left, he did something to her." The raccoon growled lowly. "She said that he forced an extension of himself inside of her when he healed her brain and "restored" her memories." Rocket briefly explained. "Ego wanted to make her like Quill and him, or something along those lines."
"Wait, so...she's part Celestial like Peter?!" The assassin nearly shouted.
You need to stop them, Stellar. Everything I've worked so hard to build for you and your brother...it'll be all gone if you let them go through with this.
I can feel my willpower breaking and let out a scream of pure agonizing pain.
"What's going on down there?!" Peter yelled from above.
I shove Gamora away and stood up to fight as the thought of killing everyone on the ship became louder and louder. Yondu glanced down at the comms, and taps it when he notices that it's been blinking.
"What is it, Kraglin?" Yondu asked.
"Hey, um...boss? Ya remember that Ayesha chick?" Kraglin spoke nervously.
"Yeah, why?"
Yondu looks out the window and his eyes widen when he sees Ayesha's squadron swarming in and surrounding us.
"Aw, hell!" Yondu curses.
Peter quickly pulls away from the envoys as the Sovereign envoys open fire all at once. The vehicle shook uncontrollably as it abruptly lost power, causing Drax, Mantis, Gamora, and I to fall from the opening of the drill. From where we land, the entire chasm begins to tremble and shake uncontrollably while everything around us starts to mutate.
"He's coming." Mantis' voice shook.
"Didn't you say you could make him sleep?" Drax quickly suggested.
"When he wants! He's too powerful! I can't!" She cried out.
"You don't have to believe in yourself because I believe in you." Drax spoke seriously.
STOP THEM. NOW!
W- -what's going on with my body?!
I withdraw my elemental blasters and aim for Mantis, my arms shaking as I fought for control. It was as if I wasn't myself, and just viewing all the events from a screen. Gamora notices what I'm about to do before tackling me to the ground as a light-form appeared in front of us that began resembling Ego.
"SLEEP!" The empath hollered.
Mantis slid her hand down a small crack in the ground where she was able to feel for Ego's life force. The moment she used her abilities on the Celestial, the light in front of us dims down and fades away. The voice in my mind finally diminishes as well, and I feel my body begin to relax as I start regaining control over myself.
"Stellar!" Gamora shouted worriedly.
The assassin helps me stand up and smacks my arm.
"Why didn't you tell us that he- -"
"Look, I didn't even know what he did until after you guys were gone." I breathed out and blink back tears. "Plus...I was all fucked up and confused. It was like I had the worst form of identity crisis. I could barely function."
Nearby, I can see Mantis trembling as her antenna glow strongly.
"I don't know how long I can hold him!" Mantis cried out.
I wipe at my eyes and look to the empath with a small glare.
"You can! If you don't keep Ego at bay, well...we're pretty damn screwed! I know you can do it!" I assured her.
I can't let Ego take control like that. It was like I couldn't say no...
"Watch out!" Nebula spoke up.
All of us make a run for it as several laser blasts hit the ground from above.
"Let's get to work, people!" I told the others. "We need to protect her from the Sovereign!"
I try to shield Mantis from falling debris as she concentrates on keeping Ego asleep. Keeping my back to the empath, I start shooting at the Sovereign fleet flying around, and help in lowering the numbers to even the "playing field" as my brother would refer it as. In the distance, I spot Rocket, Peter, and Groot making their way closer to Ego's core beneath a crack on the surface, before Peter flies back into the drill to help Yondu and Nebula. However, things are starting to look grim as Ayesha's voice surrounds the area from a loudspeaker.
"Guardians! Perhaps it will provide you solace that your deaths are not without purpose."
"Shit. This isn't good." I shook my head.
"They will serve as a warning to all of those tempted with betraying us; don't screw with the Sovereign."
"NO!" I cried out.
I watch in horror of what I believe is about to be the deaths of my friends and brother, before the entire drill suddenly powers up and shoots out lasers from every direction like a deadly sphere of doom. The entire Sovereign fleet gets wiped out in one sweep while the laser drill gets hit in the process and begins to catch fire. A loud piercing whistle echoes through the chasm just as the laser drill explodes within minutes. All of us begin to think the worst as the smoke starts to clear.
"PETER!" Gamora shouts.
Nebula falls to the ground beside us and gives Gamora a tiny fraction of a smile. When Peter is flying down on his aero-rig, and Yondu as he holds onto his arrow, I sigh in relief knowing that all of them were able to make it out unharmed.
"What?" Yondu glances at Peter.
"You look like Mary Poppins." Peter pointed out.
"Is he cool?" Yondu asked.
"Yeah, he's cool." Peter cracked a smile.
"I'm Mary Poppins, ya'll!" Yondu yelled smugly.
Well, that solves one issue. Now we've got Ego to deal with...
After all of debris and fragments from the Sovereign fleet fall around us, I notice that everyone is finally together again. Suddenly, the empath is struck in the head from flying debris.
"Mantis! Look out!" Drax yells after the fact.
Gamora quickly checks her pulse and placed her fingers along her neck.
"She's fine, just unconscious." The assassin assured us.
While she moved to pick her up, I came to the realization that Ego now had free reign again. I can feel tingling in back of my head, just signaling that the Celestial and I were "connected" once more.
"Oh fuck me." I breathed out.
"Stellar, that's highly inappropriate at a time like this- -" Drax started.
"How long before the bomb goes off?" Peter cut him off with a roll of his eyes.
A BOMB?
"In the unlikely event that Groot doesn't kill us all, about six minutes." Rocket replied.
"Why the hell didn't you mention you guys had a bomb?!" I looked at the raccoon in disbelief.
"It was a last minute decision, cupcake! Don't worry about it!" Rocket snapped.
"Well when I'm on a flarkin' planet that's about to be blown the fuck up, I feel like I should be made aware of it!" I snapped.
Hala, he's such an ass sometimes...
"Would you two lovebirds, shut it?!" The Centaurian shouted at us, before speaking into his comm. "Kraglin! Come in! We need the Quadrant for extraction in T-minus five minutes!"
I don't even know what a lovebird is, but I can tell what it implies...
"Aye Cap'n!" Kraglin replied.
"Someone needs to be up top when Kraglin arrives. Drax, take Mantis." Peter ordered.
The Destroyer nodded before moving to pick up Mantis. Quill grabs the aero-rig off of himself and quickly slaps it onto the Katathian's back, which automatically wraps around his torso as it activated.
"AH! MY NIPPLES!" Drax cried.
Drax flies upwards with Mantis in his arms just as the ground splits apart into giant cracks along the surface.
OH SHIT.
I don't react quickly in time and fall into one of the cracks with a surprised shout.
"Stellar!" Rocket yelled.
As I'm falling, I looked up in time to see Rocket flying at me full speed with his own aero-rig attached. Rocket caught me in time, literally sweeping me off of my feet and holding me by my waist as I held onto him for dear life. It still managed to surprise me how strong the genetically engineered raccoon was at times.
"Hey! You alright, sweetheart?" He asked.
"Holy fucking shit." I breathed out.
Rocket chuckles at my reaction before flying up to the surface again.
"You can say that again." The raccoon muttered.
The scene is utter chaos when Rocket placed me on the ground, and all I can see are those tentacles of pure energy swarming all over the place. I grab Rocket's paw before he can fly away.
"Listen...I'm sorry about snapping earlier. Just...come back in one piece, alright?" I smiled sadly.
"I should be tellin' you that." Rocket rolled his eyes playfully.
"I mean it, dude." I sternly told him.
"Wasn't it just me that saved your fine ass a few seconds ago?" Rocket smirked.
The conversation is over when several of the glowing tentacles make their way towards us, and the both of us spring apart to shoot our weapons at them.
You leave me no choice, honey. If neither of you will listen, I'll have to take some extra measures- -
"Quill!" I could hear Rocket shout from behind. "Look out!"
I get ready to turn towards the sound of his voice when something pierces through my chest. My eyes widen upon seeing the bright tendril of energy sticking out of me.
Now, sweetheart, you need to readjust the way you process life. Everything around us, including the triangle faced monkey… Everything is temporary. We are forever.
I...I feel...strange...but what is- -?
Do you see it, Stellar?
Millions of images fill my mind rapidly, but unlike before when Ego had healed my head and restored my memory, this time, I could see it all and understand. It wasn't overwhelming like it had been before.
I...I see it. Eternity...
Good! I'm so happy you could see things my way, buttercup. Your...brother on the other hand...he'll need some more convincing. But you're a good sister, I'm sure you'll be able to help him understand- -
"STELLAR!"
When my vision refocuses, I see Peter standing straight ahead. For once, I'd had a sense of obligation to Ego's purpose, and nothing else mattered to me more than to help Peter understand our father's intentions- -
"You bastard." Peter growled lowly as his eyes filled with unshed tears. "You let her go right the hell now, or I'll make sure you suffer in your last moments alive. Whatever you did, you better undo it."
I don't jump from the hand that landed on my shoulder, in fact, it felt kind nice and warm and helped stabilize me. I glance over and see my father standing beside me and let out a small sigh as I slip into a euphoric daze.
"Now now, son. Your sister just wants to help you understand. She gets it." Ego's smile grew as his arm slyly wrapped around my waist. "Plus...I made her one of us back on Berhert. Her body chemistry is just so...unique. You've gotta love Titanian's." He chuckled before giving me a playful wink. "Go and show him your new moves, honey."
I can't help but return his smile since everything felt so light. I hadn't felt so utterly...at peace since...
Wait, Peter looks...angry- -
He's just stubborn, Stells. Now, you might have to get a little rough with him, but he won't feel a thing if he's strong like his old man.
"Stells, wait- -" Peter put his hands up defensively.
By Ego's will, I run towards Peter at full speed and try to hit him with numerous attacks that felt completely natural. I fail to hold back as Peter gets hit with numerous attacks with my newly found god-like powers.
"Flark, you seriously pack a punch." The Terran wheezed.
Peter barely blocks my next punch, his hand glowing with power similar to Ego and I. This time his hand encloses my fist, and he quickly grabbed my other hand before I could throw another punch.
"Stellar, you need to focus on my voice, okay?" Peter practically pleaded.
"It's pointless, Peter." Ego smugly told him. "And if you won't help me, I'll have your sister do what you're not strong enough to."
"What did you do to her?!" Peter shouted angrily over my shoulder.
"I helped change her, gifted her an extension of myself...made her perfect." Ego spoke fondly of me. "...she's almost reminds me of...Meredith. So beautiful and free."
At the mere mention of his mother, the Terran looked outraged and murderous, something I hadn't quite seen from my brother before in all the time I'd known him. When I start fighting in Peter's hold, he struggles to keep me at bay and looked straight into my eyes.
"Stellar, please." Peter groaned in pain. "You need to listen to me. Ego plans on killing the entire universe, our family. We can't let him win."
When I turn the tables and use the extra strength my father gifted me, I broke out of Peter's grasp and held onto his fists, before forcing the Terran down to his knees.
"Yo Quill! Need any help there?"
Is that...Rocket...?
"How could you tell?" Peter spat out. "Y'mind givin' me a hand here- -?"
Focus, Stellar. You've almost got your brother exactly where I want him...damn, I'm so proud of you.
"Alright, permission to snatch up your sister?" The raccoon grinned.
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say it like that, but yes! Keep her busy while I take out Ego! I'm kickin' this douche's ass." The Terran nodded.
Something flew and crashed into the side of me, and held on tightly as we sped away from my father and brother.
"Sorry 'bout this, cupcake." The raccoon mumbled into my ear.
I let out a scream when I suddenly got dropped onto the ground. I quickly picked myself up and whirled around as I instinctively started using Ego's powers and trapped the enemy with the beautiful tendrils of energy. The ground around him begins to mutate, and rocks start piling up around his body at a rapid rate.
"FLARK!"
I walked over towards the creature, and from its facial features alone, it gave me some sense of familiarity.
"Quill, you know me!" He cried out in pain. "GAAAH!"
Stellar, think of it...eternity together...you know what has to be done.
"C'mon, Quill!" Rocket shouted worriedly, the tendril of energy wrapping around his body, before he starts gasping for air. "I- -it's me, it's Rocket, for flark's sake!"
Somehow, the small creature managed to break free using a device he'd created, and after reactivating his aero-rig to avoid being grabbed again, flew straight towards me. The raccoon like creature looked at me desperately as his paws grasped at my shoulders.
"Stellar, can you hear me?!" He shook me gently. "I know you're stronger than this! You need to snap out of it! This ain't you, doll face!"
...Rocket...Wait, Rocket...I...I know him.
Don't listen to that pathetic creature, honey. That little rat is trying to confuse and lie to you- -
"R...Rocket." I breathed out, as if testing his name on my lips.
"That's my girl, fight. him." His hold on me tightened. "You can't let that bastard win, sweetheart. The others are countin' on you...I'm countin' on you. And...I'm sorry that I've been such a d'ast asshole, you were right...I...I tried pushin' you away 'cause I was in my own head 'bout...feelings...but I promise I ain't lettin' you go ever again...I need you to come back to me though...please..."
R...Rocket...
I groaned in pain and let my head fall to the raccoon's chest as he held me in his tiny arms.
"It hurts..." I cried out softly. "I- -I dunno if I can..."
His paws move to cup both of my cheeks as he made me look up at him.
"I know it hurts, baby." Rocket sighed. "But you can't give up. You can't let that scut bag win and take control over you. He's trying to use you- -"
The one time he admits to having any sort of...feelings for me, and it's right when we're close to the brink of death.
"'m sorry, Rocket." I blinked away tears. "It's...not fair."
STELLAR. STOP IT.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
"Nothin' is ever fair in our line of work, cupcake." He smiled sadly. "But we've beaten impossible odds before, an' this time won't be any different."
I reach up and cup the raccoon's cheek as well. If I failed in fighting off Ego, I didn't want to have any regrets.
Everyone was right...I didn't know what I was feeling before, but...I think I understand now. I do love Rocket...I love him more than family...he's...he means everything to me. It might be weird to others, but I don't care. He's...always understood me...
"I'm t- -trying so hard t...to keep him out of my head..." My voice trembled. "I- -if I fail...I- -I need you t...to know..."
Another wave of pain courses through my body as I fight back Ego's control.
"...I love you." I breathed out.
Rocket's eyes widened, especially when he knows how genuine my statement is. His eyes well up slightly, before he clenched them shut tightly.
"I..." The raccoon hesitated.
An explosion rocks the cavern from Peter and Ego's fight, and I can tell that Planet Ego is on its way to total destruction very soon. Slowly, I leaned in and press my mouth to his, and to my surprise, he returns the kiss and pushes himself closer towards me.
"Flark, I love you too." He murmured softly. "Now go kick some Celestial ass, doll face."
I crack a small smile and pull away. I took a few deep breaths and searched around until finding Ego and Peter fighting each other through the air and conjuring the weirdest shit I'd ever seen. I didn't know if I was capable of doing so, but there was no time like the present. I tried thinking back on everything Ego ever said and searched deep within me for that essence. I could make anything I wanted if I focused hard enough.
What about a large missile gun?
"HOLY SCUT!" Rocket exclaimed.
I grinned and using my strength, aim the gun towards Peter and Ego.
"You literally have God-like power and you conjure up a freakin' missile launcher?!" The genius questioned, before smirking. "A woman after my flarkin' heart."
Revised as of 04/18/22. I might go back and revise again if I see some errors or inconsistencies, but I was trying to keep this ball rolling! I'll come back to this chapter later, but if you guys think it's good as is, let me know! :D
WE ARE GROOT!