far and away | quill

twenty-one

Hala.

The ship had made its way into a port; James flying them skillfully between the hangar's ceiling and landing pad. He landed.

"Who are you and why are you here?" A guard inquired James as he stepped onto the planet.

"I am James Keller of Huron, these are the Guardians," he motioned to the curious, but noble ensemble behind him. He then motioned to Quinn and spoke, "This is Quinn-"

"Quinten Grey of Huron, home planet Terra. Mass murderess, arsonist, thief and warrior. We know about you," the Kree spoke.

She raised a brow, "I'm impressed."

The Kree guard placed a hand on the blaster at his hip. He spoke solely to her, "Why are you here?"

"I believe a royal child here is at danger. Will be, at least. The Collector has come for his daughter, he has the Aether. My Aether."

"Your Aether?"

"Indeed. May we speak with Ronan?"

The guard looked around the group and weighed his forces against their's, nodded, and led them into the nearby palace.

The crew stepped inside a grand foyer with polished rock pillars. There was a central, navy carpet that ran the length of the entrance. They met with a double grand staircase.

Stephen slipped his fingers into hers and she pulled away, jamming her nervous hands into her pocket. He'd really been rude with Peter, despite his help with the Stone.

She glanced at James, then to the rest of the crew.

"Up those stairs and in the main door," the guard instructed. She blurted a quick 'thank you,' and started the lead up the stairs.

"You okay?" Peter asked.

"I just want to get this over with and go home."

"Where's home for you?" They were seven or eight steps in front of the rest, but they kept their voices low.

"Huron."

"So no Stephen?"

"I don't know."

"You do though."

"James and I have always been friends, he's safe. Huron's my safe haven. It's the best choice as of now."

They came to the doors and he didn't have a chance to ask her what he'd been thinking, and she'd been too pre-occupied to wander his thoughts. So we'll have to save that for another time...

Drax opened the door.

Ronan sat on a larger-than-life chair (as expected), and talked to some accounting-like servant.

A young girl with starling white hair sat away from them, playing with some toy cars.

Ronan looked up and immediately sat straighter. The lawyer looked over to where he was looking, and scurried away. They approached, and the little girl turned to look at them.

She smiled in awe, Quinn watched her carefully. The little girl had a pale-orange tint and her roots were actually darker than the rest of her hair, a sort-of ombré effect.

She heard the girl muttered under her breath, "Real superheroes..."

Quinn looked back up to Ronan, who stood. The throw was atop a mountain of black bedrock stairs, and he stood gallantly on the very top.

"King Ronan," Quinn bowed respectfully. Everyone took awkward and random bows accept Gamora and Drax. "We come to warn you and to ask for help."

"You stole the Orb," he watched Peter.

"Technically, I stole it back."

"You took it from me," Ronan began the descent.

"I-"

"Peter," both parties looked to Quinn. She watched only Ronan. "I apologize for whatever prior hatred you and the Guardians may hold, but this is important."

Her voice lowered, "That you girl is in danger. The Collector is coming here, to Hala, to get her back. He has my Aether and will induce great harm to you, and it may even hurt her. So if you have any compassion for the young girl or your people - maybe you simply don't want to die - you will help us. We must stop him before he inflicts any harm and I need the Aether in my custody, where is it the safest."

"I understand," he glanced at the young girl who'd gone back to her toys. "I will fight beside you."

She extended her hand and the king shook it.

"What is her name?" Quinn glanced at the young orange girl with silver hair.

"The Dreamer."

"Dreamer," she chimed and walked closer to the girl on the floor. She looked up. Quinn squatted and rested on her calves.

Everyone watched, everyone was still but Quinn.

"My name is Quinn Grey. I'm here to protect you, so I'm going to need you to trust me. I know the whole 'Stranger-Danger' thing and I don't necessarily have the best track record; but I will protect you. Come on," Quinn stood and extended her hand. The Dreamer stood as well, pocketed a spaceship in a fold in her robes, and took Quinn's hand. They led everyone to the hangar.

"We need gunmen and pilots in ships incase Collector decides to leave," Quinn stated. "I need three or four trust-worthy guards to take her to a shelter. My people will be frontline as we know Collector best."

"You're going to kill my dad?" The Dreamer beckoned. Quinn froze in her steps.

"Of course not. We're just going to get him into custody," her heart felt the dramatic weight of the lie. She took the thoughts of those around her as the girl left with the guards. She whispered back to these apprehensive thoughts:

'We have to kill him. He'll kill us if we don't.'