A/N: Hello Space fans. It has been a sad state of affairs in the Guardians of the Galaxy world but joyous news in Avatar the Last Airbender universe. We might not get any more Guardians but we are getting Avatar live action served up on the streaming platter of delights. So, I might be neutral with my emotions. I hope I tip your balance toward only stars of delight with this new edition to Guardians of the White Lotus. Enjoy, review, and spread the word!

Disclaimer: Only tears of appreciation for I own NO rights to either Avatar the Last Airbender and Guardians of the Galaxy

Zuko needs to figure out some things and what those things are he isn't quite sure. His previous plan had a clear directive. It was simple. He would pay his debt and then free himself and Azula from Thanos. When Azula made it clear that she had aligned herself with Thanos, Zuko understood that he would have to go it alone. It was hard enough having a sister by blood that could out do you, but having Katara vying for the same type of achievements made him question whether he was prudent to continue with this mission. Now, he is riding in Shipie with Katara and Sokka. He feels protective of Katara, and Sokka isn't as irritating as long as he keeps his lame jokes to himself. What he is feeling with these two siblings can't be camaraderie. Zuko checks himself, not liking that he had another pleasant sensation associated with Katara. No, he firmly reminds himself of his destiny. This mission has to be merely a means to the end.

Katara taps Zuko on his shoulder, "Excuse me, that's where I sit."

Zuko ignores her taps and doesn't move. "I can't help it that you're slow." He feels compelled to move but knows anything shown as weakness might confirm that he does feel something beyond temporary bonds of a convenient alliance.

Katara flicks Zuko in his ponytail. "I am not slow; you're slow."

Sokka speaks as he pushes some buttons on the console. "Listen, you two; we don't have time for your weird flirting."

Zuko and Katara simultaneously sputtered their protestations. "We aren't flirting!"

Sokka moves Shipie into a faster speed. "Yeah, yeah obligatory denial noted, park it in the flip down bucket seat, Katara. We are about to put some serious space distance between us and that Draconian Destroyer."

Katara huffs while dropping down the seat. "Sokka, we'll never be able to outrun their ship."

"You are right, which is precisely why I made sure to drop some flea-termites into their engine room, via the air ducts" Sokka chuckles, "Just as they are about to overtake us," He slaps his hands together. "Those little buggers will have completed their job, infiltrating all the mechanics and turning their electrical system into goo."

Katara laughs heartily, "Good one, Sokka."

Sokka looks over his shoulder at his sister and nods, "It will take them days to exterminate with exhaust-cide and even then the ship might be a little…" he snickers, "buggy."

Zuko blasts, "That is not honorable!"

"Trust me. Admiral Zhou wasn't about to let us go." Sokka defends his actions. "Our obliterated planet illustrates that is no such thing as Drac honor."

Zuko's good side clenches. "Zhou is not a true Drac. Those others on the ship are following his orders, so..." Zuko trials off not sure if he is proving a point or not.

Sokka ignores Zuko's protests. "If I had a guess, Admiral Zhou is giving us enough leeway to let us think we are getting away." He taps at the console screen, "If you don't believe me, check the rear trackers." A red dot is gaining onto the green dot, which represents Shipie. The red dot is quickly closing the green's dot initial widening gap.

Sokka moves up Shipie's throttle to increase that distance. "Sorry to disappoint you, Zuko, but as I said, most Drac can't be trusted."

Zuko protests. "Not me!"

Katara clears her throat, "I thought you kept telling us you no longer belong to the Drac, so not a problem, right?"

Zuko stares out straight ahead and says tightly, "Right."

"Listen, Buddy, I know you're obsessed with your honor, but in the Drac world you're an exception, not the rule."

Katara peers over Sokka's shoulder, trying to look at the rear tracker. "Sokka, are you sure those flea-termites will work in time? That red dot is gaining onto our green dot."

"Little sister, I have learned many things, some from Dr. Who and some from cactus juice, all taught me, don't ever underestimate something at face value."

Katara rolls her eyes, "And does that mean what exactly?"

Sokka accelerates a little bit more. "Those flea-termites won't let us down." The Destroyer Cruiser red dot suddenly stalls and blinks at a dead stop, while the green dot moves off screen. "Free and clear." Sokka triumphantly glances from Zuko to Katara. "Ladies and…" Sokka is not quite sure if Zuko is more machine than man but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Gentlemen, you are free to move about the cabin. The rest of our trip should be a smooth ride."

Katara grinned, "Sokka, you are amazing."

Sokka turns his seat around and looks at his sister. "Thank you, don't hold the applause." He nods and waves his hand in a regal manner. He eyes his sister pointedly. "It would seem prudent on many levels that I managed to avoid for us a potential space battle since somehow my space gun got blown off." Katara blushes and then gasps, while Sokka stares at her. "Didn't think I would notice, huh?"

Katara sputters, "Sokka, I swear it was an accident."

"Your accident is going to have us go visit Momo and Appa for a little military fix-me-up." Sokka gets up from the seat. "Try not to break anything else, while I find some parts that we can offer as a trade." He moves past both of them and smiles, "Try to not get into trouble…" Sokka glares at Zuko. "Especially together."

Katara unbuckles her seat belt and ducks out of the pilot's cabin. She moves to the back. She begins to search the cabin, looking for where Sokka might have hidden the item. She doesn't hear Zuko behind her and startles at his voice.

"Looking for something?"

Katara blushes, while answering shortly, "No, are you looking for something?"

"Yes," Zuko seems very smug. "Probably the same thing you are looking for."

Katara says triumphantly. "Ha! I knew it." She dwindles in response and then adds with extra bravado. "You think you can get the artifact, well you won't."

"I will, but that doesn't matter." Zuko had been thinking about the interchange while Sokka had been rambling nonsense about the Drac. It occurred him that both siblings were overly nervous, too nervous, to be on a Drac ship. They should be more worried about the Avatarian Empire. "I'm trying to understand why you were so nervous about Admiral Zhou? He is a pompous peacock, but there was something more than that for Sokka and you, what is it?"

Katara's color slowly fades, she is beyond terrified. Her thoughts are racing wildly, tripping over each other. She reaches out for the only logical reason. "Admiral Zhou was the one that pushed the button, destroying all that we know."

Sokka suddenly appears. "It looks like we will be there momentarily." He tosses his greasy rag at Zuko, who bats it away with annoyance.

Zuko looked at the coordinates and said sharply, "Where are we going?"

"We are going to get Shipie fixed." Sokka stands between Katara and Zuko. His back facing Zuko, Sokka mouths to Katara that she needs to stay calm.

Katara forces a laughed, and it trails off as Sokka's face is registering confusion over Katara's pathetic attempts of acting nonchalant.

Katara swallows and says quickly. "So Sokka, you think seeing Momo will go better than last time?"

Sokka asks quizzically, "What? Momo likes me."

Katara elaborates the story, pleased that she is finally in the know with one of Sokka's jokes. She tosses over Sokka's shoulder at Zuko. "That's right Sokka, and Momo trying to use as target practice is always the best way to consider someone as a friend."

Zuko says truthfully, "So, I'm not alone in finding you annoying."

Katara burst out laughing. Zuko glances at Katara shocked over her response to a tossed response. A slow pleased smile turns his thin grim mouth into a grin. His handsome side glows pleasantly with pride.

"Thanks, Katara!" Sokka says dryly with a decided glare.

Katara realizes that maybe she went too far. "Sokka, I..."

Sokka waves away her excuses. "Yeah, yeah, why don't you two save your little pathetic comedy act for the open mike night at the Bounty Hunter Talent Show." Sokka points to the map. "We're approaching No Man's Space now."

Zhou paces the bridge, "Status report now!"

A guard standing at attention, his rigid form is more derived from fear rather than his military training. "Sir, we won't be able to eradicate the flea-termites for at least three days..." Zhou's thunderous expression causes the guard to add, "And that's with us working around the clock."

Zhou stares out with disgust and then relaxes with a knowing smile. "Please notify all the best bounty hunters in the tri-state galaxy that Admiral Zhou is offering four million shekels for the capture of Katara, Sokka, and the former Prince Zuko." He simmered with delight. "Make sure you indicate dead or alive is acceptable to collect payment."

The guard immediately types out the requisite message with relief that he wasn't forced into the brig or ejected into space because the cruiser was infected with flea-termites. "Yes, sir, I'm sending out it across VTech waves. Anyone should be able to get it."

"Good, that will help remind these fools to never tangle with the Drac or me." Zhou faces the giant window of space with folded arms across his chest.

Azula leans back against the edge of the wall. The skin of her arm is peeled back, revealing the mechanical innards. She is tinkering with her arm device. Fiddling with it, she isn't startled by Thanos's roar of anger. She moves the loose wires, reconnecting them to each other.

Thanos clenches his stone-fisted hand over the arm of his throne. "Daughter, go retrieve your brother, Zuko, and demonstrate to him how to properly complete a simple job."

The hooded advisor in a dark robe protests this news that he reported via the Vtech. "Noble Thanos, your son's bounty is now wanted. Perhaps, you shouldn't send your daughter, too."

Thanos growls, "This is why I'm sending Azula, someone more capable with her persuasion techniques. What initially was to be a simple exercise in fetch and retrieval has evolved into a much more complicated manner."

Azula closes the flap of skin over her arm and smooths it; it becomes seamless with her skin. She hops off from the wall's ledge. "Thanks, Dad," Azula drolls and then strides out of the room with a gleam in her eyes.

A/N: Time to save the world and edit more chapters. Thanks to ALL out in fanspace universe who click on read this little ditty. I heart you!