In 2011 Cassidy Taylor was forced to flee earth with the mother she never knew when the Kree came for her. Three years later she's working for the Nova Corps on Xandar with her mother when her mother is killed in an attack by Ronan's soldiers.
And C...
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I was caught In the middle of a railroad track (thunder) I looked 'round And I knew there was no turning back (thunder) My mind raced And I thought, what could I do? (Thunder) And I knew There was no help, no help from you (thunder) Sound of the drums Beating in my heart The thunder of guns Tore me apart You've been Thunderstruck
Inside the buyer's place was less like a home and more like a gruesome museum. Crates and boxes lined metal catwalks and stairways, glass cages throughout housed every manner of being in an enclosure far too small for comfort, and the whole place was lit by a dull grey-blue lighting. It gave Cass the creeps.
"Okay, this isn't creepy at all," Rocket muttered. For once, Cass agreed with him.
Gamora and Rocket walked out ahead, looking from cage to cage, with Rocket sneering at what looked like a dog in a Terran-style spacesuit. The pair growled at one another as the Krylorian stepped out ahead, launching into a welcome speech.
Cass ignored it and glanced at Peter, walking next to her. It was hard to suppress just how disgusted she was and she had to imagine the look on her face was similar to his - barely holding back disdain. Subconsciously, she took a step closer to him, somewhat relieved by the feeling of his pinky finger wrapping around hers. If she'd been in a better state, she might've pushed him away. But now? Any comfort was good, in her books. And it seemed like he was just as in need as she was.
When the Krylorian turned to face them, the smile on her face didn't reach her eyes, her expression matched the flat and emotionless tone of her words. Cass had to wonder who the hell this buyer was and what he'd done to the poor woman.
"I present to you," she said with the same level of blandness, "Taneleer Tivan - the Collector." Her upper body dipped into a sort of bow as she gestured toward a man covered in furs that matched the mop of white hair on his head.
Tivan turned slowly, looking at them over the top of a pair of glasses with microscopes on the lenses. Disdain oozed from every pore as he inspected them; he looked thoroughly unimpressed. Not that Cass gave two shits.
Peter's finger tightened around hers.
Gamora, somehow seeming unfazed by everything, took a few steps out ahead of the group to meet Tivan. Then again, Cass supposed, growing up with the Mad Titan for a father probably meant not much in the galaxy could draw a reaction from her. Cass didn't even want to think about the shit she must've seen over the years.
"My dear Gamora," Tivan drawled as he took her hand. Somehow his voice made him even creepier. "How wonderful to meet in the flesh."
The tone drew a reaction from Peter, who took a step in front of Cass as his other hand came to rest on top of his gun. For her part, Cass kept a firm grip on his pinky and her eyes on Tivan. Every muscle in her body was wired to grab Peter and run at the drop of a hat.
