So Much Stardust ❘ Rocket Raccoon

[19]

Chapter Nineteen

When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
My Chemical Romance;
Welcome to the Black Parade

"The Third Quadrant"

Beth and Rocket emerged from the caverns below through a large fissure on the planet's surface.

Ego was not going down without a fight and the current state of the planet proved it. Storms boomed overhead and the ground shook. The planet had become barren.

Rocket landed gracefully in the large open cargo bay door.

Beth's landing was clumsy at best. She had overshot the landing. The badger's legs kept going as she tried to stop.

The raccoon caught her before she could hit the adjacent wall.

He sighed, "I'm starting to think the clumsy thing is just an act."

Beth opened her mouth to argue but Gamora shouted at the pair.

"Where's Peter?"

When they did not answer Gamora yelled once more.

"Rocket! Beth! Where is he?!"

Rocket pulled a large timer out of his pocket.

54 seconds to go.

"LOOK AT ME! WHERE IS HE?" Gamora's shouts had become frantic.

They couldn't look at their friend.

The raccoon stared down at the timer and the badger looked at her feet.

Baby Groot pointed out the large cargo door to the planet outside.

Gamora got to her feet, "No, I'm not leaving without him."

She grabbed a gun from the wall and made to leave the bay.

A blast of electricity struck Gamora.

Beth looked over at Rocket.

Tears were falling from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can only afford to lose one friend today," he apologized quietly.

The badger grabbed his hand and squeezed. She nodded a silent understanding.

Rocket looked up and yelled to Kraglin at the controls.

"Kraglin Go!" He managed to shout.

The doors in front of the two woodland creatures closed.

Drax's shouts began to echo through the ship.

"Rocket, where's Quill?!"

When no reply came the gray man shouted again.

"Beth, Where's Quill?"

Silence once more.

Drax shouted even louder this time. His tone was panicked.

"WHERE'S QUILL?"

Rocket hung his head. He choked back a sob.

"-Rocket," Beth said softly.

She reached up and touched his cheek.

He buried his head in her shoulder to muffle the sound of his cries.

Beth slowly wrapped her arms around him.

Groot climbed up on Rocket's shoulder and hugged the back of the raccoon's head.

"I should have been more prepared," he cried into her shoulder.