lady stardust.

29. wanted dead or alive

They arrived at the High Evolutionary's palace, a huge deep red pyramid that had sat on the horizon of counter Earth. They drove across a narrow bridge toward the building as water poured around them. They slowed to a stop outside the entrance, and Ziggy wondered how the High Evolutionary could disregard someone like Rocket so easily but keep those like his guards, who honestly, in Ziggy's opinion, looked worse than Rocket.

Everyone clambered out of the car and Peter stepped forward, turning to face the guards. "We're here to see —"

"The High Evolutionary is expecting you." The Raven spoke, interrupting him.

Ziggy glanced at Peter, who glanced back at her. "Trap."

"It's a face off." Peter counters.

"She stays here." The bird nods at Nebula.

"Why?" Nebula demands, frowning.

"Policy against weaponry, and your arm is a gun."

The pig pulls out a scanner, scanning Peter and then turning to Ziggy. Ziggy frowns slightly, but she knows of their concealed weapons that the others don't. And if anything else, they don't know about Ziggy's powers.

"They're both clean." The pig says.

Then, the Rave and the Pig lead Peter, Ziggy, and Groot inside, where they leave them in front of the Evolutionary's desk. He raised a finger upon their entrance, and Ziggy already knows how he's gonna be. She glances again at Peter, sighing and crossing her arms. He glanced around the room before spotting the recorder man they had been talking about earlier. "You!"

The man backed up in alarm, and Ziggy turned to watch. "The passkey is in that thing on your head?"

"I would advise against aggression." The High Evolutionary spoke, standing and turning to the group.

"Now look who has time for us." Ziggy murmurs.

"Your friend once took advantage, I learned my lessons." He told them, slowly approaching the group. "I aim some small part of my mental capacity back in my own direction, and now, gravity itself serves my whims. You must find Counter-Earth familiar."

"Counter Earth?" Peter questions.

"I visited your planet many years ago."

"Earth hasn't been my planet in a long time."

"Your people had wonderful spirit. The art and music and literature were some of the finest in the universe. Earth would be a fabulous place, were it not for the ignorance and bigotry. It inspired me to create Counter Earth — all of the good and none of the bad."

"I don't care!" Peter exclaims. "I don't need another speech by some impotent whackjob whose mother didn't love him rationalizing why he needs to conquer the universe."

"I'm not trying to conquer the universe — I'm perfecting it." He told them.

"I just want the passkey." Peter sighs, turning to him.

"Then bring me 89P13."

"I am Groot."

The High Evolutionary glances at Groot then Peter, who translates: "He says 'suck my—"

"Why are you so angry?" He questions, tilting his head at them.

"You tortured our friend!" Ziggy exclaimed, stepping forward now.

"Anything I've done, I've done for the betterment of the universe!" The High Evolutionary hisses.

"Right, but that obviously includes your creatures selling hardcore drugs to the kids here?" Ziggy scoffs.