Always and Forever

Chapter 15

"That over there is Drax," the human said, pointing at the bluish-grey guy. He then pointed at the bug lady. "That's Mantis. And I'm Peter Quill. Call me Star-Lord."

"Yeah ok. The Guardians of the Galaxy. Right," I muttered absentmindedly as I started pacing and trying to think of a plan.

Quill pulled something out of his pocket and started walking around with it. "The heck happened to this planet? It's eight degrees off its axis. Gravitational pull is all over the place."

"Yeah, well we got one advantage. He's coming to us. We'll use it," Tony said. "Alright, I have a plan. Or at least the beginnings of one. It's pretty simple. We draw him in, pin him down, get what we need."

"Exactly. We don't wanna dance with this asshole. All we want is the gauntlet," I said.

As I finished my last word, Drax let out a big yawn. "Are you yawning? In the middle of this, while we're breaking it down? Huh? Did you hear what we said?" Tony asked.

"I stopped listening after you said 'we need a plan'," Drax said.

"Oh my fucking God," I muttered.

Tony turned to Quill. "Okay, Mr. Clean is on his own page," Tony said.

"See, 'not winging it' isn't really what they do," Quill said.

"What exactly is it that they do?" Peter asked.

"Kick names, take ass," Mantis said about as ferociously as a week-old kitten.

"Yeah, that's right," Drax agreed.

Everyone paused for a second. "I am surrounded by idiots," I said.

"Alright, just, everyone get over here, please," Tony said. "Mr. Lord, can you get your folks to circle up?"

Quill scoffed. "'Mr. Lord.' Star-Lord is fine." He motioned for Drax and Mantis to come over to us.

"We gotta coalesce," Tony said. "'Cause if all we come at him with is a plucky attitude-"

"Dude, don't call us plucky. We don't know what it means," Quill interrupted. "Alright, we're optimistic, yes. I like your plan. Except it sucks, so let me do the plan, and that way it might be really good."

"Tell him about the dance-off to save the universe," Drax said.

"What dance-off?" I asked.

"It's not a- it's not- it's nothing," Quill stammered.

"Like in Footloose, the movie?" Peter asked.

"Exactly like Footloose," Quill said excitedly. "Is it still the greatest movie in history?"

"It never was," Peter said.

"Babe, please don't encourage this, ok?" I said.

"Yes ma'am," Peter said.

"We're getting no help from Flash Gordon here," Tony said.

"Flash Gordon? By the way, that's a compliment. And don't forget, I'm half human. So that 50% of me that's stupid? That's 100% you," Quill said as he pointed at Tony, Peter, and me.

"Your math is blowing my mind," Tony said sarcastically.

"I'm only half human too," I said.

"Excuse me, but...." Mantis said. "Does your friend often do that?"

I looked in the direction she was pointing. Strange was floating above the ground cross-legged doing something weird with the Time Stone. His head was jerking so rapidly from side to side that it was turning into a blur. I rushed over to him. "Uncle J! You alright?" I asked.