Merry Grootmas [Guardians of the Galaxy]

Part 5

The villain known as Annihilus disappeared into the palace. Peter parked the Milano on the snow-covered lawn. "Everyone, get your weapons ready," he said.

Santa Claus patted himself down. "I, uh, don't have a weapon."

Peter found a small single-thrust blaster and tossed it to Santa Claus. "Merry Christmas."

Santa eyed the gun. "This looks familiar..."

"It should be," Peter said. "You gave it to me for Christmas back in 1987."

"It's not real," Santa said, disappointment in his voice.

"You're staying on the ship with Groot," Peter said. "We'll handle Annihilus."

Gamora hit the airlock, and the Guardians of the Galaxy (once more sans Groot, and also sans Santa) stepped back onto the surface of the North Pole, weapons drawn and ready for battle. 

Drax led the charge, marching straight up to the front door and kicking in what was left of it. "Anybody home?" he yelled.

"That is a terrible catchphrase," Rocket mumbled, following him inside.

Peter shrugged. "I kind of like it."

"Quiet," Gamora said. "If we're going to get the jump on this creature—"

An energy blast hit Drax, throwing him against his teammates. They landed in a pile. Drax's tough skin could protect against one blast like that...but how many more? He stood back up, and helped Peter and Gamora to their feet. "Where's the rodent?" Drax said, looking around.

"Up here," Rocket said, perched on Drax's shoulder.

"I meant the other rodent—Annihilus."

Peter pointed down a hallway, where a flash of purple armor vanished through a door. The Guardians chased the villain and paused outside the doorway. "He's cornered," Gamora said. 

Rocket peered inside the door. 

"What's he doing?" Peter whispered, leaning against the wall. The safety was off on his blaster.

"He's...he's crying."

"What?" Drax said, astonishment in his voice. "It must be a trap. He's trying to lure us in."

Peter looked inside, weapon raised. "I don't know about that. He looks pretty shooken up."

They entered the room. The intergalactic criminal known as Annihilus was laying on his back, hands covering his face. He was bawling like a baby. Peter kicked the cosmic rod he'd shot them with away, and Gamora picked it up.

"Explain yourself, villain," Peter said.

Annihilus looked up. There was sadness in his empty black eyes. "What's there to explain? Look at me. I used to be somebody. I used to be the scourge of the Negative Zone. Now I've been reduced to knocking over convenience stores. I used to have ambition. And now...now I'm fighting raccoons and She-Hulk."

"My name is Gamora. I am a daughter of Thanos."

"Big whoopdy-doo," Annihilus said between sniffles. "I give up."

"Hey, now, don't be so hard on yourself," Rocket said.

Peter, Gamora and Drax glared at him. 

"You have plenty of reasons to be ashamed. Attacking Santa Claus's workshop?" Peter said.

"I'd never heard of Santa Claus until today," Annihilus said. "He explained to me who he was, and what he did, and...and I didn't believe him. I had to see for myself." He pulled a rolled up scroll of paper from his pocket. "I found this here. Santa's list. I found my name right there, on the naughty side."

Rocket snatched the paper from him and looked it over.

"You'll have plenty of time for your little midlife crisis when we put you behind bars," Peter said. "We're taking you in to the authorities, whoever they are in this part of the galaxy."

"I think the Green Lanterns," Annihilus said, standing up. Gamora put a dagger to his back and led him out the front of Santa's mansion.