Author's note: Here's chapter 2, hope you enjoy!
Rocket groaned, his consciousness gradually returning, only to be met with a symphony of aches pulsating throughout his entire body. Wedged uncomfortably in the forked branch of a colossal tree, he blinked against the darkness surrounding him, his eyes slowly adjusting to the scarce light filtering through the dense foliage of what appeared to be a vast forest or jungle.
With a grimace, he attempted to reach for the communicator embedded in his uniform, but the device lay in ruins, and didn't appear to be easily repairable. Cursing under his breath, Rocket shifted his focus to his jammed foot, gritting his teeth as he worked painstakingly to free it from its tangled confines.
After a successful liberation, the raccoon sat up on the branch, gingerly massaging his aching ankle. He surveyed his surroundings. Above him, the treetop obscured much of the night sky, offering little in terms of celestial navigation. He took a deep breath, the presence of breathable oxygen a small comfort in the midst of the unknown.
Talking to himself in an attempt to calm the rising sense of unease, Rocket muttered, "Alright dude. Breathe. Assess the situation."
He pondered his next move, formulating a plan to make sense of the bewildering predicament. Since the tree he landed on wasn't the tallest in the vicinity, he decided to search for a clearing or a reachable vantage point to gain a better perspective on his situation; perhaps even catch a glimpse of signs of civilization.
With determination, he prepared to climb down the tree, when a rustling of leaves below caught his keen ears. He froze, eyes narrowing in the darkness, the anticipation of the unknown heightening the tension in the air.
Rocket squinted, trying to discern the source of the unsettling noises underneath. After a few seconds, he caught a glimpse of a peculiar figure staggering through the bushes. The creature had an unusual shape and moved with an unsteady gait. Despite the limited visibility, Rocket estimated it to be around 7 to 8 feet tall.
Deciding it was prudent to remain hidden, Rocket crouched, seeking the cover of his tree. Just as he prepared to retreat, a faint glimmer of light touched the creature below. Rocket's eyes widened in recognition as he squinted at the revelation. The creature appeared to be made of wood.
Cautiously, he scurried a little closer for a better view, his suspicion turning into disbelief. As the light revealed more details, it became evident. It was Groot, lumbering along beneath him. Relief washed over Rocket, quickly mixed with confusion and curiosity.
Hey, Groot! Up here!" Rocket called out. „Seems like I'm not the only flarkin' guinea pig for testing out the teleporter."
Groot, upon hearing the familiar voice, turned toward the sound, his wooden face breaking into a wide grin.
„I am Groot!", he disclaimed joyfully, delighted to unexpectedly see his furry crewmate.
"Nice to see you too, big guy," Rocket greeted, gingerly testing his injured foot as he descended off the tree onto the grass below. His ankle, however, vehemently protested, signaling its reluctance to bear his weight.
Drawing near with a noticable limp, the raccoon started scrutinizing his trusty friend in the subdued light. He stood in astonishment at the sight of Groot's condition. The absence of his right arm and a portion of his ribcage was glaring, the edges seemingly seared away. It resembled the aftermath of a cartoon character taking a direct hit from a colossal cannonball, leaving a conspicuous void in his upper body. Groot's structural integrity appeared compromised, his upper body swaying precariously from side to side, with a handful of newly formed branches struggling to stabilize his torso.
„I am Groot?"
„That's your concern, seriously?", Rocket replied, taken aback. „Have you taken a good look at yourself? Half o' ya is missing!"
„I am Groot."
„Oh stop it", Rocket muttered, „it's probably just sprained or somethin'. And it's definitely no reason to ignore your own issues!" He put his hands on his hips, eyeing the hole in his friends body closer.
„How come you arent' growing it back properly?"
„I am Groot."
„I know it takes some time, but shouldn' you be able to produce a more.. stable interim solution?"
„I am Groot!"
„What do you mean you can't?"
„I am Groot."
Rocket furrowed his brows. „Huh. Well, we're gonna figure it out later, i suppose. We arguably have more urgend matters to attent to."
Rocket retreated a step and settled into a seated position.
"Alright, here's what we know," the raccoon began, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
"We both got zapped when that teleporter malfunctioned, since those flarking techrats wreaked havoc on the thing. Now, since that teleporter isn't built for interplanetary jaunts, we're likely somewhere close, either on Caelum V or one of its moons, considering they've got a stable atmosphere. Where exactly? Beats me. So, our best bet right now is to figure out our location, and then go from there."
Groot, his expression a mix of understanding and curiosity, tilted his head as Rocket scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. The change in perspective appeared to rouse something within Groot. Squinting his eyes, he directed his wooden finger towards a spot behind Rocket.
„I am Groot."
„Oh, spare me your jokes, Groot," Rocket scoffed, „We've got enough problems without your nonsense."
„I am Groot."
"I'm absolutely certain there's a techrat right behind me," Rocket remarked sarcastically. "But I'm not turning around to entertain your giggles."
Groot, growing visibly annoyed, repeated his insistence with an even more forceful, "I am Groot!"
"Ugh, fine..." Rocket groaned, giving in to Groot's persistence. He turned around reluctantly, only to be - in fact - greeted by the sight of a motionless techrat on the mossy floor, positioned next to a bush just below the tree where Rocket had landed. A triumphant yet irate grin formed on Rocket's face as he examined the deceased intruder. "Serves him right," he muttered, a mixture of satisfaction and anger in his voice. However, just as he prepared to discard the rat, a peculiar metallic gleam caught his eye. He leaned in for a closer look, discovering a strange metal plate affixed to the rat's head behind its ear. Intrigue replaced his initial satisfaction, and Rocket's expression shifted from anger to a wary curiosity.
As Rocket examined the odd piece of hardware, his experienced eyes narrowed in suspicion. The plate seemed unnaturally integrated, not an inherent part of the rat's anatomy. It gleamed with an artificial luster, coated with intricate circuit patterns and a series of tiny, unidentifiable symbols etched into its surface.
A strange sensation tingled in Rocket's back, akin to the familiar itch of his own implants, triggering an unsettling feeling. His gaze darkened briefly, but he clenched his fist, suppressing the rising emotions. Turning to Groot with a determined expression, he spoke.
"Someone's been messin' with these rats, Groot. I need to look into this further." He gestured to the lifeless techrat. "Carry this thing with us."
As they ventured deeper into the jungle, Rocket, still nursing his injured foot, limped alongside his fellow guardian. The surrounding environment embraced them with a mysterious hush, the dense vegetation occasionally parting to reveal glimpses of an uncharted world. Rocket fell silent, lost in contemplation, while Groot faithfully carried the enigmatic rat to a yet to be determined destination.
After a while of trekking through the tangled foliage, Rocket and Groot stumbled upon a sizable, hollowed-out tree atop a small hill. The natural shelter seemed to have been used by various animals, or other life forms, evident from the worn interior. After sniffing thoroughly, it thankfully seemed devoid of fresh scents or traces.
Throwing a brief glance at Groot, Rocket came to a halt. The tree man had been wobbeling alongside him for awhile, fresh branches still in the struggle to construct a new upper body, albeit gradually making progress. Rocket was aware that this process demanded a considerable amount of energy. The burnt remnants of the wound seemed to complicate matters further, likely affecting his cellular structure and impeding the allocation of sufficient rebuilding materials.
"Let's take a break up here," Rocket suggested, his tone reflecting the consideration for Groot's ongoing efforts. "Maybe even crash for the night. We're both running on fumes."
Fatigue bore down heavily on Rocket too, his injured foot having endured hours of limping through the uneven terrain. Groot accepted the proposal with a nod of agreement. The duo set about preparing their interim home, arranging some makeshift bedding from gathered foliage and storing the lifeless techrat safely under a root, before finally settling down.
Adjusting his position on the ground, the raccoon arranged himself into a more comfortable posture, tucking his hands behind his head, while leaning against his wooden backrest.
"You think the others are losing their minds yet?" Rocket asked with a sly grin, imagining the chaos back on the Milano.
Groot responded with a thoughtful rumble, his eyes flickering with amusement and curiosity. „I am Groot."
"Yeah, i bet," Rocket chuckled. "Imagine Quill panicking, Drax probably starting a wrestling match with the ship's console, and Gamora... well, she's likely the only one keeping her cool."
Groot emitted a low, rumbling laughter.
"And then there's explaining this mess to the hybrids. That should be fun," Rocket mused, picturing the bewildered expressions of their companions, with the „legendary Star-Lord" desperately trying to maintain his cool demeanor in front of a fuming hybrid-woman.
After a short laugh, Rocket sighed, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "I just hope those dummies can figure out a way to get to us. I can't wait to find out who messed with the rats and ultimately threw us in this whole mess," Rocket muttered with a hint of frustration.
Closing his eyes, he released an irritated growl. " 'Cause they owe me a shitload of reward money."
After a night of restless sleep, Rocket and Groot stirred to find the world outside their makeshift nest still cloaked in darkness. Confused, they exchanged glances, both certain they had slept for hours.
Rocket yawned and stretched before casting his gaze upward at the dense canopy of leaves. Groot absentmindedly fidgeted with his chest, seemingly inspecting and testing the newly grown outlines of his ribcage and the temporary stump that served as his arm.
Rocket exhaled audibly. "I'm going to climb that tree. It looks large enough that I might get a better view from the top."
Groot glanced over, expressing concern with a grumbled, "I am Groot."
"I can barely feel it anymore," Rocket lied to reassure him. The Flora colossus sighed incredulously.
"I am Groot."
"Come on buddy, I've got caution down to an art," the raccoon retorted as he began ascending the tree.
With a worried frown, Groot observed his trusted companion climbing higher and higher up, the audible grumbles and curses escaping Rockets lips directly contradicting his earlier claims. But he pressed on, undeterred.
Upon reaching the summit, Rocket couldn't help but release a sharp exclamation - a blend of revelation and frustration - as he laid eyes on the distant silhouette of Caelum V in the sky. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and it was the one he had feared: they were stranded on one of the moons.
Memories of Gamora discussing the moons with Peter during their journey flashed through Rocket's mind, even though he had only partially listened at that time. If he remembered correctly, the moons of Caelum V boasted a unique celestial dance, each locked on a fixed axis in relation to the planet and the sun in the solar system, ensuring that one remained perpetually cloaked in the planet's shadow, which further coincided with their current situation.
With a heavy sigh, Rocket lowered his gaze, letting his eyes wander across the expansive horizon. For miles on end, or at least as far as he could see in the limited light, the landscape was dominated by towering trees and small mountains, offering no sign of civilization. Frustration etched across his features, as he began the descent, making his way down to relay his findings to Groot.
As he reached the ground, Rocket muttered to himself.
"Nothing but trees and rocks as far as the eye can see. This place is a flarkin' wilderness."
Turning to Groot, he shared the disappointing news. "We're in the middle of nowhere, pal. No signs of civilization in sight. Looks like we'll have to figure out a way to get back on track on our own."
In the following minutes, Rocket paced back and forth, engaged in a steady stream of mumbling, inspecting the rat, fidgeting with his uniform and its inner workings. After a thorough inspection, he turned toward Groot, who observed the furry spectacle with mild interest.
"Alright, here's the deal, big guy. We're gonna rebuild that communicator. You? You're gonna take a stroll in the nearby area, find anything salvageable – chunks of broken satellites, ship debris, you name it. Doesn't have to be big. The moon's gravity has probably collected some nifty stuff over the years. Get your hands dirty, and let's make this work."
Groot nodded in understanding, his eyes reflecting determination. With a simple "I am Groot," he ambled into the wilderness, ready to scour the surroundings for useful remnants. Meanwhile, Rocket eyed the techrat with a mischievous glint.
"Time to gut this little guy for all it's got," he muttered to himself, preparing to extract both stomach insides and any salvageable parts he could repurpose for their makeshift repairs.
As the minutes stretched into an hour, Groot returned to the hollowed tree with a handful of small metal scraps clutched in his wooden hands. He found Rocket sitting cross-legged next to a crackling fire he had built for some better lighting, his sharp eyes fixed on the dismantled communicator. The disemboweled techrat lay beside him, its metallic components scattered.
Groot gestured proudly with the metal scraps he had scavenged, the raccoon acknowledging the effort with a swift smile towards his companion.
"Good job, Groot. Let's see what we can do with these," Rocket remarked, getting back to tinkering with renewed determination.
As Rocket worked, Groot presented a considerate assortment of water and foraged mushrooms he collected on his way back. Rocket, grateful for the supplies, accepted the water with a nod of thanks.
He glanced at his paws, now smeared with a mix of the techrat's insides and his own blood. Deprived of adequate tools, his own claws had slowly but surely lost the battle of attrition, as he forcefully tried to bend the components in his hands to his liking. Rocket immersed his hands into the water, emitting a satisfied grunt as he cleansed his sticky fingers.
Groot, however, seemed eager for Rocket to partake in the provisions.
"I am Groot."
„Eh, i think I'll pass," said Rocket, casting a sidelong glance at the jumble of fungi in Groots hand.
„I am Groot," Groot insisted, holding his findings closer to the raccoons snout in an attempting to convey their edibility.
Rocket shook his head, a sly grin playing on his face. "Not happening, buddy. I'm not turning my stomach into a fireworks display just because you think they're edible."
Groot huffed, clearly frustrated by his friend's reluctance to trust his judgment. The following minutes passed by with a back-and-forth banter, with Groot persistently trying to convince Rocket to eat the foraged items - and the raccoon adamantly refusing.
After a while, Rocket completed the last adjustments to the repaired communicator. Groot, seated beside him, had turned away, giving Rocket the literal cold shoulder, acting grievously offended.
The small guardian playfully tapped the larger one on his arm, a triumphant grin stretching across his face.
"I think that's it, Groot! Cross your fingers!" the raccoon exclaimed with excitement, flicking a small switch on the communicator. The once broken device powered up, emitting a steady hum.
Rocket looked up, locking eyes with Groot, a mixture of pride and relief shining in his gaze.
"We're back in the game, big guy! Now, lets hope this gizmo's got the juice to reach the others."
In a well-lit room, located an indeterminate distance away, Peter Quill's communicator sprung to life.
That's it for Chapter 2! As always, feedback welcome.
The (very) rough sketch of the next chapter is already written, but there are some busy days ahead of me, so no ETA yet. Until then, have a good time!