I Need A Hero Vol 3 {Peter Quill}

thirty two

The Guardian replicas broke off into groups. Drax, Mantis and Groot went to help Rocket and Thor with Zane, Damien and Quentin went to help Steve and Tony with Brenna. That left Peter and Gamora to help Gwen, Helena and Nebula to deal with Phantom and to get Meredith back.

"The cargo bay is this way. We better hurry. Phantom is probably on call with Thanos right now" Gamora said. She began leading the way and the others followed behind.

~

Rocket and Thor peeked around the corner to see Zane standing over a restrained Kraglin, Lylla and Rhodey.

"What's our plan rabbit?" Thor asked.

"First things first, we need to distract Mr. Gadget. You know, it's moments like this that I wish Groot was here" Rocket said.

"I am Groot"

"I miss him so much that I can hear his voice"

"That may be because the tree is behind you, along with two faces I recognize" Thor said. Rocket turned around to see Groot, Mantis and Drax.

"Groot! You're here! But how? And you two. Gwen said you disappeared" Rocket said.

"Well it's not really us" Mantis said.

"We're duplicates of Kamomile that turned into your friends" Drax said

"I am Groot"

"Wow. The accuracy of detail is scary. Anyways, I've got a plan. Mantis, you're gonna sneak up on Zane and put him to sleep. Groot, you're gonna wrap him in some branches so he can't escape" Rocket explained.

"There's still the problem of their restraints. Zane is the only one who can unlock it" Mantis said.

"That parts easy. We will force Zane into unlocking the restraint" Thor said

"Exactly what I was thinking! So, that's our plan. Let's put it into action" Rocket said. The first part of the plan was easy, since Zane was preoccupied tinkering with one of his gadgets. Mantis snuck up behind him, placing her hand on his head.

"Sleep" she whispered. His eyes closed and he fell to the floor with a thud. It was Groot's turn now. His fingers grew longer, and wrapped around Zane. Groot broke off from the branches that were now wrapped around him. Rocket, Drax and Thor went over to Kraglin, Lylla and Rhodey.

"Rocket! I knew you were coming to save us!" Lylla said

"You know I'll always save you" Rocket said. He put his paw to her cheek, and she nuzzled into it.

"As cute of a moment this is, we need to focus on getting free. How are you guys going to free us?" Rhodey asked

"Kraglin, you still got that arrow?" Rocket asked.

"Always. Why?" Kraglin said.

"We're gonna need it. Mantis, wake up Mr. Gadget" Mantis nodded and put her hand on Zane's head again.

"Wake" she whispered. Zane woke up again. He tired to move but couldn't as he was wrapped in branches. He then noticed the others.

"I demand you let me go now! Or else!" Zane said.

"Now Kraglin" Rocket said. Kraglin whistled and his arrow flew to Zane. He whistled again and arrow halted, hovering just above Zane's head. For extra measure, Drax sheathed his knives and pointed them at Zane. "As you can see, you are in no position to threaten us. You're going to let us take our friends and leave"

"How are you going to free them? You don't know how to unlock the restraint"

"That's true. We don't, but you do. So, how is done? Is there some kind of key or something?"

"I'm not telling you anything!" Kraglin whistled again. The tip of the arrow was now touching Zane's forehead. "Please! Don't kill me!"

"If you wish to stay alive, then tell us how to unlock it" Drax said

"Alright. Alright. It's unlocked telepathically, just like all the gadgets and technology I create. I'm the only one who can unlock it"

"Unlock it for us. If you don't, I'm positive the whistler will not hesitate to plunge the arrow deep into your skull" Thor said.

"He's right. I won't" Kraglin said.

"I would do what he says. He looks pretty serious" Rhodey said.

"Fine! I'll do it!" Zane said. He focused his attention to the lock on the restraint. It popped open. Lylla, Kraglin and Rhodey rose to their feet. Kraglin whistled once more, and the arrow flew back to him.

"Now, was that so hard?" Rhodey said.

"You're all going to regret this! Phantom will see to that" Zane spoke before he was engulfed by a dark cloud.

"Where did he go?"

"I am Groot"

"He said that Phantom took him. Probably to her" Thor said.

"If that's the case then we need to find them" Rhodey said. Rocket took out his com-link and called Gwen.

"Quill, it's Rocket. We got Kraglin, Lylla and Rhodey, but Zane escaped" Rocket said.

"Let me guess. A purple cloud swallowed him, right?" Gwen said.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"The same thing happened to Meredith. We're heading to the cargo bay. Meet us there. We're gonna need back up"

"Got it, Quill" He hung up and put the com-link away. "We need to get to the cargo bay. Phantom's there, and now Zane mostly likely is too"

"I know where it is" Mantis and Drax said at the same time. Groot spoke as well but of course it came out as "I am Groot"

~

When Zane stepped out of Phantom's cloud, he saw that she was in the middle of a call with a holographic Thanos.

"You have the child, yes?" Thanos said.

"I do, my Lord" Phantom said.

"Good. You never fail to disappoint me, Phantom. Perhaps one day you shall stand by my side as my wife. We could raise the child together"

"I would want nothing more, my Lord" Phantom bowed to him.

"I am sending a ship your way. It will arrive in a few hours" The hologram of Thanos disappeared. Phantom turned to look a Zane. She did not look pleased with him.

"How could you let them escape?" she said.

"What was I supposed to do? They restrained me and threatened to kill me" Zane said

"Then you should've killed them first. You're almost as much of a disappoint as Kamomile"

"About Kamomile—"

"I don't want to hear it! Let's just hope that Brenna does her job better. At least she has a dragon on her side"