GHOSTLY GUARDIANS

Chapter 10: Something Incredibly Heroic.

Peter and Rocket, both in their mining pods, and Daranak and Salzer, both floating outside with their spacesuits, continued to watch Gamora's body floating in the vastness of space as Ronan's forces leave with the Orb. Peter is in a conflicted state as to whether to save Gamora or not.

"Quill, come on. Her body mods should keep her alive a couple more minutes, but there's nothing we can do for her. These pods aren't meant to be out here. In a second, we're gonna be in the same boat." Rocket said before he turns his pod back towards Knowhere.

"And our life-supporting spacesuits aren't designed to last this long in these conditions." Daranak said as he and Salzers stay put.

Peter continued to look at Gamora, knowing that he can't let her die like this.

"Aw, damn it." Peter muttered before turning on the pod's communicator, gaining Rocket's, Daranak's and Salzer's attention.

"Quill?" Rocket called as he turn back.

"Yondu! Yondu. This is Quill! My coordinates are 227K324. Just outside Knowhere. If you're there, come get me. I'm all yours." Peter said, calling for Yondu.

"Quill. Quill, what are you doing?" Rocket asked.

"You won't survive!" Daranak said.

"You'll get killed, Peter!" Salzer said with concern.

Peter however ignored Rocket, Daranak and Salzer and activated his helmet before exiting his pod. Peter used his jet boot attachments to fly towards Gamora.

"Quill, don't be ridiculous. Get back into your pod! You can't fit two people in there. You're gonna die. You'll die in seconds! Quill." Rocket called.

"Peter, don't!" Daranak called.

"Peter!" Salzer called.

Daranak and Salzer then flew towards Peter, but Peter took off his helmet before placing the mechanism for it on Gamora and activates the helmet for her and she regains consciousness. Daranak and Salzer managed to reach Quill and Gamora.

"Get back in your pod, Quill! We'll handle her." Daranak said.

Just as hope was about to be lost for Peter, a group of Ravager M-ships as well as the Eclector from Yondu's clan arrived and surrounded Peter, Gamora, Daranak and Salzer. The Eclector then fired a beam at the four and brought them in, saving their lives, with Peter on top of Gamora, gasping for air, and Daranak and Salzer crashing onto each other.

"Quill? What happened?" Gamora asked.

"I saw you out there. I don't know what came over me. But I couldn't let you die. I found something inside of myself. Something incredibly heroic." Peter said, making Gamora look annoyed. "I mean, not to brag, but objectively..."

"Where's the Orb?" Gamora asked.

"It's... Well, they got the Orb." Peter replied.

"What?" Gamora said, not believing what Peter said.

"Okay, enough the chit-chat." Daranak said as he took of his spacesuit.

"Can we figure out how to explain to Yondu." Salzer said.

Salzer's words spoke to soon, as Kraglin and the rest of Yondu's clan came and aim their weapons at the four.

"Welcome home, Peter." Kraglin said.

"Kraglin?" Daranak and Salzer asked in disbelief.

...

Meanwhile, back at Knowhere, Groot has managed to save Drax from drowning in the spinal fluid as Rocket's pod crash landed.

"Blasted idiot. They're all idiots!" Rocket muttered before facing Groot and Drax. "Quill and the Nova Twins got themselves captured. None of this ever would have happened if you didn't try to single-handedly take on a frickin' army!"

"You're right. I was a fool. All the anger, all the rage, was just to cover my loss." Drax said, admitting his mistake.

"Oh, boo-hoo-hoo. 'My wife and child are dead'." Rocket said with no sympathy, making Groot gasp at him. "Oh, I don't care if it's mean! Everybody's got dead people. It's no excuse to get everybody else dead along the way!" Rocket said as he looks at Groot. "Come on, Groot. Ronan has the Stone. The only chance we got is to get to the other side of the universe as fast as we can and maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to live full lives before that whack-job ever gets there." Rocket said as Groot stands on his feet.

"I am Groot." Groot said.

"Save them? How?" Rocket asked.

"I am Groot." Groot said.

"I know they're the only friends that we ever had, but there's an army of Ravagers around them. And there's only two of us!" Rocket said as Drax gets up.

"Three." Drax said.

Drax offer frustrates Rocket, causing him to kick a patch of grass.

"Aw! You're making me beat... up grass!" Rocket yelled.

...

Back at the Dark Aster, with the Orb now in his possession, Ronan has contacted Thanos to report his success.

"The Orb is in my possession, as I promise." Ronan said as Korath raises the Orb to prove to Thanos that Ronan has it.

"Bring it to me." Thanos demanded on the holographic screen.

"Yes, that was our agreement." Ronan said as Korath hands the Orb. "Bring you the Orb, and you will destroy Xandar for me. However, now that I know it contains an Infinity Stone, I wonder what use I have for you." Ronan said.

"Boy, I would reconsider your current course." Thanos warned.

However, Ronan opened the Orb to reveal the Power Stone, which brought fear to Korath, knowing that Ronan is about to betray Thanos.

"Master! You cannot! Thanos is the most powerful being in the universe." Korath said in fear, knowing what Thanos is capable of.

"Not anymore." Ronan said.

Unafraid of its power, Ronan ripped the Power Stone from the Orb and consumed its energy, causing explosions all around him, as Nebula looks on, before he attached it to the Cosmi-Rod in order to control its force, becoming more powerful than even the Mad Titan himself, who watched in silence at the betrayal.

"You call me 'boy'! I will unfurl 1000 years of Kree justice on Xandar, and burn it to its core! Then, Thanos, I am coming for you." Ronan threatened before he ends the call.

"After Xandar, you are going to kill my father?" Nebula asked.

"You dare to oppose me?" Ronan asked.

"You see what he has turned me into. If you killed him, I will help you destroy a thousand planets." Nebula said, vowing to help Ronan on his quest.