Guardians of the Galaxy (Part 2)

Knowhere…

Carina escorts us to the Collector's home.

"Okay, this isn't creepy at all." Rocket said, scoffing.

Collector's home…

"We house the galaxy's largest collection of fauna, relics, and species of all manner." Carina said, and she takes us to the Collectors massive room of collections where he's waiting for us. "I present to you, Taneleer Tivan, the Collector."

Gamora and the Collector walk towards each other.

"Oh, my dear Gamora. How wonderful to meet in the flesh." The Collector said, kissing Gamora's hand.

"Let's bypass the formalities, Tivan. We have what we discussed." Gamora said.

"What is that thing there?" The Collector asked, noticing Groot.

"I am Groot." Groot said.

The Collector goes over to Groot, "I never thought I'd meet a Groot. Sir, you must allow me to pay you now so that I may own your carcass. At the moment of your death, of course."

"I am Groot." Groot said.

"Why, so he could turn you into a frickin' chair?" Rocket asked.

"That's your pet?" The Collector asked, looking at Groot.

"His what?!" Rocket exclaimed.

"Oh no." I said, rolling my eyes. "Here we go."

Rocket goes to grab his weapon and the Collector chuckles, Gamora intervenes.

"Tivan, we have been halfway around the galaxy, retrieving this orb." Gamora said, sadly.

"Very well, then. Let us see what you brought." The Collector said.

Gamora looks at Peter. Peter retrieves the orb from his bag, but accidentally drops it, he quickly picks it up to show the Collector.

Meanwhile, a drunken Drax notices a man making a call in a booth.

"Three quarnyx batteries, seven cases of cotati seeds. No, cases. Last time, you sent me…" The Knowhere civilian said.

Drax comes up from behind and holds a knife against the Knowhere civilian's throat, "You shall send a message for me."

"Oh, my new friends. Before creation itself, there were six singularities." The Collector said, using a device to unlock and open the orb. "Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots. Infinity Stones. These stones, it seems, can only be brandished by beings of extraordinary strength. Observe." He shows us the giant beings that use the Infinity Stones as weapons. "These carriers can use the stone to mow down entire civilizations like wheat in a field."

"There's a little pee coming out of me right now." Peter said, frowning.

"Once, for a moment, a group was able to share the energy amongst themselves, but even they were quickly destroyed by it." The Collector said, as the orb is opened to reveal an Infinity Stone. "Beautiful. Beyond compare."

"That's the Power Stone." I said, looking at the Power Stone. "I saw the Mind Stone and the Space Stone back in 2012. Now the Power Stone. What's next? Me encountering the Reality Stone?"

"Blah, blah, blah. We're all very fascinated, whitey. And you made Jared all nostalgic for seeing it. But we'd like to get paid." Rocket said, annoyed.

"How would you like to get paid?" The Collector asked.

"What do you think, fancy man? Units!" Rocket yelled.

"Very well, then." The Collector said, as he goes to get the money, Carina, fascinated by the Infinity Stone, walks towards it. "Carina. Stand back."

"I will no longer be your slave!" Carina said, angrily.

"No!" The Collector said, terrified.

Carina grabs the Stone, triggering an explosion that destroys herself as well the Collectors archive, Groot grabs Rocket and runs out of the place as it explodes; Peter, Gamora, and I come out from under the table to look at the destruction caused by the explosion.

"What the fff...?" Peter asked, at a loss for words.

"I still can't believe the Infinity Stones are in the same universe as the Daleks and Cybermen." I said, sadly. "How did this happen in the first place?"

Gamora grabs the orb and locks it back up to contain the Infinity Stone.

Knowhere…

We left the Collector's place.

"How could I think Tivan could contain whatever was within the orb?" Gamora asked.

"What do you still have it for?" Rocket asked, looking at Gamora.

"Well what are we gonna do, leave it in there?" Peter asked.

"I can't believe you had that in your purse!"

"It's not a purse, it's a knapsack!" Peter yelled.

"We have to bring this to the Nova Corps. There's a chance they can contain it." Gamora said.

"Are you kidding me? We're wanted by the Nova Corps! Just give it to Ronan!" Rocket said, angrily.

"So he can destroy the galaxy?" Peter asked.

"He's part of Thanos' gang that wants to wipe out half the universe!" I said, crossing my arms. "That's bad enough, Rocket?"

"What are you, some Saints all of a sudden? What has the galaxy ever done for the two of you? Why would you both wanna save it?" Rocket asked, looking between Peter and I.

"Because we're two of the idiots who live in it!" Peter said, worried.

"Rocket, I lived in this universe for over a thousand years." I said, letting out a sigh. "I've seen so much while traveling with the Doctor. You guys and the Infinity Stones weren't here before. And now you are."

"Peter, Jared, listen to me. We cannot allow the stone to fall into Ronan's hands. We have to go back to your ship and deliver it to Nova." Gamora said, looking between Peter and I.

"Right, right, okay. I think you're right. Or we could give it to somebody who's not going to arrest us, who's really nice for a whole lot of money. I think it's a really good balance between all of your points of view." Peter said, sadly.

"You're despicable."

"I…"

"Dishonorable. Faithless!" Gamora said, and she turns and starts to walk off when she notices Ronan and his crew arriving in their ships. "Oh, no."

"At last! Ha-ha-ha! I shall meet my foe and destroy him!" Drax cheered.

"You called Ronan?!" Peter exclaimed.

"Son of a bitch!" I said, while Yondu and the Ravagers show up in their ship. "This is why it was better when these universes didn't collide. It was so much simpler."

"QUILL! SHAY! Don't you move, boys!" Yondu yelled.

Quill, Gamora, Rocket, and I run for it. Ronan steps off his ship and Drax waits for him with his knives raised.

"Ronan the Accuser!" Drax said, angrily.

"You are the one who transmitted the message?" Ronan asked.

"You killed my wife. You killed my daughter!"

Gamora, Rocket, Peter, and I find the little mining pods and go to board four of them.

"Rocket! Groot is trying to fit into an escape pod!" I said, looking over at Groot. "He can't fit!"

"I told you, you can't fit. Now, wait here. I'll be back." Rocket said, frowning.

Nebula notices the four mining pods taking off, "It is Gamora. She is escaping with the orb."

Nebula goes back to board their ship, Ronan turns to join her.

"No!" Drax said, running towards Ronan he goes to strike him with his knife when Ronan easily dodges it.

"Nebula, retrieve the orb." Ronan said.

Nebula takes off on the ship, Ronan stays behind to fight with Drax.

"Crap." I said, as Nebula is chasing after the four mining pods containing Rocket, Peter, Gamora, and I. "This is bad."

"The stone is in the furthest pod. Bring it down!" Nebula said, chasing Gamora's ship, at the same time Drax continues his battle with Ronan.

Nebula chases after Gamora, Peter takes his pod over to Rocket's and mine.

"Rocket, Jared, keep them off Gamora until she gets to the Milano." Peter said, looking between Peter and I.

"How? We've got no weaponry on these things." Rocket said.

"These pods are industrial grade, they're nearly indestructible."

"They're not against Necroblasts!" I said, worried.

"That's not what I'm saying." Peter said, rolling his eyes. "Jared. Remember that move you told me you're going to do someday. The one with a team called Avatar."

"Oh yeah. That'll work!" I said, excitedly. "Rocket! Follow my lead!"

Rocket takes his pod as I took my pod over to the two ships chasing us. I crash into each one destroying them both, then as another one comes over to shoot at our pods, Rocket flies straight into it making it explode. Peter then hijacks one of the ships chasing us.

"Let me borrow your ride." Peter said, smirking.

Ronan and Drax continue their battle with Ronan beating Drax and holding him down by his throat.

"I don't recall killing your family. I doubt I'll remember killing you, either." Ronan said, at the same time Nebula and her crew continue chasing after Gamora.

"Quill, Jared, I'm trapped! I can't make it to the Milano, I have to head out." Gamora said, sadly.

"What? Wait! These things aren't meant to go out there." Peter said, frowning.

Gamora takes her pod above the atmosphere with Nebula chasing after her.

"You are a disappointment, sister. Of all our siblings, I hated you least." Nebula said.

"Nebula, please. If Ronan gets this stone he'll kill us all." Gamora said, looking at Nebula.

"Not all. You will already be dead." Nebula said, blowing up Gamora's ship leaving Gamora floating in space and taking the Infinity Stone.

"Shit." I said, seeing Ronan dragging an unconscious Drax on the ground and then throwing him into a tub of yellow liquid. "I hate this. I really do."

"Ronan, it is done." Nebula said.

At the same time, Peter, Rocket, and I watch Gamora's body as it floats in the atmosphere.

"Quill, Jared, 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, turning his pod and starting to leave.

"Aw, damn it!" Peter said, worried.

"Peter, we have no choice but to call for help. We need your daddy." I said, turning my pod and starting to leave with Rocket. "We need Yondu."

"Quill?" Rocket asked.

Peter reluctantly places a call, "Yondu! Yondu! This is Quill! I'm with Jared! Our coordinates are 2-2-7-K-3-2-4."

"Quill? Quill, what are you doing?"

"Just outside Knowhere. If you're there, come get us. We're all yours." Peter said, putting on his mask, exits the pod and goes over to Gamora.

"Quill, don't be ridiculous. Get back into your pod! You can't fit two people in there, you're gonna die." Rocket said, as Peter hold Gamora's body and starts to take off his mask. "You'll die in seconds! Quill!"

Space…

Peter puts his mask onto Gamora's head and she starts to breathe.

Eclector…

Yondu's ship arrives and takes Peter and Gamora before they die, with me guiding my pod towards the ship. As we enter Yondu's ship, Gamora becomes conscious whilst Peter is still holding her.

"Quill? Jared? What happened?" Gamora asked.

"We 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. I mean, not to brag, but objectively…" Peter said, sadly.

Gamora sighs with frustration, "Where's the orb?"

"Um…Ronan has the Power Stone." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "At least it's still contained in the orb."

"What?" Gamora asked.

Just then, a door opens and Yondu's men enter.

"Welcome home, Peter, Jared." Kraglin said, looking between Peter and I.

(Open POV)

Knowhere…

Groot saves Drax out of the yellow liquid and stabs him, causing the same liquid to leak out, helping him to breath. Rocket then lands his pod right in front of them and gets out.

"Blasted idiots. They're all idiots! Quill and Jared just got themselves captured!" Rocket said, looking at Drax. "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.

"Oh, boo-hoo-hoo. 'My wife and child are dead'." Rocket said, as Groot gasps in shock at his callousness. "Oh, I don't care if it's mean! Everybody's got dead people! That's no excuse to get everybody else dead along the way! 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."

Groot rises to his feet in defiance, "I am Groot."

"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!"

Drax rises and stands next to Groot, "Three."

Rocket grunts in anger and frustration, turns and starts kicking the ground with his feet, "Aw! YOU'RE MAKING ME BEAT - UP - GRASS!"

Dark Astor…

Ronan contacts Thanos, "The orb is in my possession, as I promised."

Korath holds up the orb in his hand.

"Bring it to me." Thanos said, as a hologram.

"Yes, that was our agreement." Ronan said, taking the orb from Korath. "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."

"Boy, I would reconsider your current course."

Ronan opens up the orb and looks at the Infinity Stone inside.

"Master! You cannot! Thanos is the most powerful being in the universe." Korath said, sadly. "He is as powerful as Davros, the creator of the Daleks."

"Not anymore." Ronan said, embedding the Infinity Stone in his warhammer and absorbing its power into his body. "You call me 'boy'?! I will unfurl one thousand years of Kree justice on Xandar, and burn it to its core! Then, Thanos, I'm coming for you."

Ronan ends the call.

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

"You dare to oppose me?" Ronan asked.

"You see what he has turned me into. You kill him, I will help you destroy a thousand planets."

(Jared's POV)

Eclector…

Yondu is beating Peter who's being held by Yondu's men, "You and Shay betrayed me, Quill! Steal my money!"

"Stop it! Leave him alone!" Gamora said, worried.

"When I picked you up as a kid, these boys wanted to eat you. And they wanted to eat Shay when he approached me a few months ago. They ain't never tasted Terran before. I saved your life and I saved his life!" Yondu yelled.

"Oh, will you shut up about that? God! Twenty years, you've been throwing that in my face, like it's some great thing, not eating me! Normal people don't even think about eating someone else! Much less that person having to be grateful for it! You abducted me, man. You stole me from my home and from my family." Peter said, sadly.

"You don't give a damn about your Terra! You're scared because you're soft, in here." Yondu said, beating his chest. "Here! Right here!"

Yondu grabs Peter again to hit him.

"Yondu! Stop it! Just listen to us! Ronan has an Infinity Stone. He has the Power Stone!" I said, terrified.

"I know what he's got, boy." Yondu said, looking at me.

"Then you know we must get it back! He's gonna use it to wipe out Xandar. We have to warn them. Billions of people will perish." Gamora said, grabbing my hand.

"Is that what they've been filling your head with, boy?" Yondu asked, looking at Peter, referring to Gamora and I. "Sentiment?" He slaps Peter and his men laugh. "Eating away your brain like maggots! That's it."

Yondu whistles, commanding his weapon to fly over to point at Peter's throat.

"No!" Gamora said, squeezing my hand.

"Sorry, boy. But a captain's gotta teach his men what happens to those what cross him." Yondu said.

"Captain's gotta teach stuff!" Kraglin cheered.

The Ravagers grunt in agreement.

"If you kill me and Jared now, you are saying goodbye to the biggest score you have ever seen." Peter said.

Yondu smiles and turns to face Peter and I.

"The Stone? I hope you got something better than that. Because ain't nobody stealing from Ronan." Yondu said, scoffing.

"We have an inside source on how to defeat Ronan." I said, happily. "Gamora. Daughter of Thanos. The person he loves the most."

"Is that right?"

"Since Ronan was one of Thanos' lackeys, she knows everything about him. His ships, his armies. We have the upper hand. Since she basically switched sides to ours."

"He's vulnerable." Gamora said, smiling.

"Hey, what do you say, Yondu, huh? Me, you, and Jared, taking down a mark side-by-side, like the old days." Peter said, as Yondu hesitates as he thinks for a moment, then he whistles and his weapon moves from his throat.

Yondu and his men start to laugh and Peter and I join in.

"Let him go! Oh! You always did have a scrote, boy! That's why I kept you on as a young'un." Yondu said.

Just then the ship shakes as it gets hit by something. Yondu, Quill, Kraglin, the others, and I ran to the bridge.

"Captain, the shot was non-damaging." A Ravager Pilot said.

Milano / Eclector…

"Damn it, Rocket." I said, seeing the Milano approaching Yondu's ship. "He's going to crash our ship, Peter!"

"Attention, idiots. The lunatic on top of this craft is holding a Hadron Enforcer." Rocket said, and we see Drax in a space suit standing on top of the Milano holding a weapon. "It's a weapon of my own design."

"What the hell?" Yondu asked.

"If you don't hand over our companions now, he's gonna tear your ship a new one. A very big new one!" Rocket yelled.

"I ain't buyin' it."

"I'm giving you to the count of five. Five, four, three…" Rocket said.

Peter, Gamora, and I stop Kraglin from giving the order to blow up the Milano.

"No!" Peter said, terrified.

"No, no! Don't!" Gamora said, worried.

"Don't!" I said, angrily.

"No! Wait, hold on!" Peter said, quickly grabbing the radio comm. "Rocket, it's me, for God sakes! We figured it out! We're fine!"

"Oh, hey, Quill. What's going on?" Rocket asked.

Eclector…

Peter explained his plan to us.

"You call that 'figured it out'? We're gonna rob the guys who just beat us senseless." Rocket said.

"Oh, you want to talk about 'senseless'? How about trying to save us by blowing us up?" Peter asked.

"We were only gonna blow you up if they didn't turn you over!"

"And how on earth were they gonna turn us over when you only gave them a count of five?"

"Well we didn't have time to work out the minutiae of the plan. This is what we get for acting altruistically!"

"I am Groot." Groot said.

"They are ungrateful." Rocket said, sadly.

"We are not ungrateful." I said, rolling my eyes. "We didn't want to be blown to smithereens."

"What's important now is we get the Ravagers' army to help us save Xandar." Gamora said.

"So we can give the Stone to Yondu who's just gonna sell to somebody even worse?" Rocket asked.

"We'll figure that part out later." Peter said.

"We have to stop Ronan." Gamora said, sadly.

"And how are we supposed to do that?" I asked, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "Time can change with me being here."

"I have a plan." Peter said.

"You've got a plan?" Rocket asked, looking at Peter.

"Yes."

"First of all, you're copying me from when I said I had a plan."

"No, I'm not. People say that all the time, it's not that unique of a thing to say."

"Secondly, I don't even believe you have a plan."

"I have part of a plan!" Peter said, angrily.

"What percentage of a plan do you have?" Drax asked.

"You don't get to ask questions after the nonsense you pulled on Knowhere." Gamora said, looking at Drax.

"I just saved Quill and Shay." Drax said, happily.

"We've already established that you destroying the ship that Jared and I are on is not saving us." Peter said, annoyed.

"When did we establish it?" Drax asked.

"We established it like three fucking seconds ago!" I said, angrily. "God. Drax, you're making my days with the Paternoster Gang look good."

"I wasn't listening, I was thinking of something else."

"Oh!" Gamora said, in frustration.

"She's right, you don't get an opinion." Rocket said, looking at Peter. "What percentage?"

"I don't know, twelve percent." Peter said, frowning.

"Twelve percent?" Rocket asked, laughing out loud.

"That's a fake laugh." Peter said, scoffing.

"It's real!" Rocket yelled.

"Totally fake."

"That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my entire life because that is not a plan." Rocket said.

"It's barely a concept." Gamora said, sadly.

"You're taking their side?" Peter asked, looking at Gamora.

"I am Groot." Groot said.

"So what, it's better than eleven percent? What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Rocket asked.

"Thank you, Groot. Thank you. See? Groot's the only one of you who has a clue." Peter said, turning to see Groot starting to chew on a leaf protruding from his shoulder.

"So you're happy that the tree agrees with you." I said, doing a facepalm.

"Of course I am." Peter said, shaking his head and Rocket and I chuckled. "Guys. Come on. Yondu is gonna be here in two seconds. He expects to hear this big plan of ours. I need your help. I look around at us, you know what I see? Losers. I mean, like, folks who have lost stuff. And we have. Man, we have. All of us. Our homes, our families, normal lives. And, usually, life takes more than it gives, but not today. Today, it's given us something. It has given us a chance."

"To do what?" Drax asked.

"To give a shit. For once, not run away. I, for one, am not gonna stand by and watch as Ronan wipes out billions of innocent lives." Peter said.

"But, Quill, stopping Ronan, it's impossible. You're asking us to die." Rocket said.

"Yeah, I guess I am. I…" Peter said, turning his back to us in defeat.

"Quill. I have lived most my life surrounded by my enemies." Gamora said, rising to her feet. "I will be grateful to die among my friends."

Drax rises to his feet, "You are an honorable man, Quill. I will fight beside you. And in the end, see my wife and daughter again."

Groot rises next, "I am Groot."

"Peter, I've known you for months now." I said, rising to my feet. "You remind me of when I first started traveling with the Doctor. All that hope, that optimism, that kindness, and being an absolute idiot at times. I'm glad I see the best parts of me in you."

We all then look at Rocket, who finally sighs and gives in.

"Oh, what the hell. I don't got that long a lifespan, anyway." Rocket said, also rising and stands on his seat. "Now I'm standing. You all happy? We're all standing up now. Bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle."

"Yup. I'm one of the bigger jackasses that had to make stupid decisions." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.

Quill suits up and we start to plan to take back the stone from Ronan.

"So, how do we stop the Power Stone and Ronan the Accuser?" I asked, looking at the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

"The stone reacts to anything organic. The bigger the target, the bigger the power surge." Gamora said.

"All Ronan's gotta do is touch the stone to the planet's surface and zap. All plants, animals, Nova Corps." Peter said.

"Everything will die."

"So Ronan does not make the surface. Rocket will lead a team to blow a hole in the Dark Aster's starboard hull. Then, our craft and Yondu's will enter."

"Won't there be hundreds of Sakaaran soldiers inside?" Kraglin asked.

"I think of Sakaaran as paper people." Drax said.

Kraglin smiles and gives Drax a friendly punch on the shoulder, but Drax, not understanding the playful jester, gives Kraglin a look like he's going to hit him.

"Once they know we're on board, Ronan will isolate himself behind impenetrable security doors on deck. Which I can disable by dismantling the power source." Gamora said.

"We'll make it to the flight deck, and I'll use the Hadron Enforcer to kill Ronan." Peter said.

"Once Ronan is dead, we will retrieve the stone. Use these devices to contain it." Gamora said, and the devices are passed out. "If you touch it, it will kill you."

"I won't be able to survive that. Even if a friend gave me immortality." I said, looking at Gamora. "I'll be dead if I touch it."

"I'll contact one of the Nova officers who arrested us. Hopefully, they'll believe we're there to help." Peter said.

"That being one of the Nova Corp." I said, looking down at the floor.

I see Peter contacting Dey.

"There's one more thing we need to complete the plan." Rocket said, pointing to one of Yondu's men who has one robotic eye. "That guy's eye…"

"No! No, we don't. No, we don't need that guy's eye." Peter said, annoyed.

"No, seriously, I need it! It's important to me."

"Actually, Rocket's right. We do need that eye." I said, happily. "Someone might need it someday."

"Exactly!" Rocket said, looking at me. "At least you get it."

"Ronan's fleet has been spotted, and will arrive in t-minus fifteen minutes." A Ravager Navigator said.

"Remember, boy." Yondu said, looking at Peter. "At the end of all this, I get the stone. You or Shay cross me, we kill you all."

After getting ready, Peter, the rest of the Guardians, and I start walking along the ship.

"Let's go get 'em, boys!" Yondu said, angrily.

Yondu's men leave on their ship.

The Milano…

"This is a terrible plan." Gamora said, sadly.

"Hey, you're the one who said you wanted to die among friends." Peter said, looking over at Gamora.

"This isn't the first time I did something this stupid. Me and my family once stole an airship." I said, laughing a lot. "That was a fun day."

(Open POV)

Nova Headquarters…

Dey approaches Nova Prime.

"Nova Prime. I received a transmission from one of the Ravagers. He says Ronan's in possession of something called an Infinity Stone and he's headed toward Xandar." Corpsman Dey said.

"Good God." Nova Prime said, at a loss for words.

"It's a trick. He's a criminal." Denarian Saal said.

"Did he say why we should believe him?"

"He said his crew just escaped from prison so he'd have no other reason to risk coming to Xandar to help. He says that he's an 'a-hole'. But he's not, and I'm quoting him here, 'one hundred percent a dick'." Corpsman Dey said.

"Do you believe him?" Nova Prime asked.

"Well, I don't know that I believe anyone's one hundred percent a dick, ma'am."

"I mean, do you believe that he's here to help?"

Dey hesitates a moment before replying, "Yeah."

The Dark Astor…

"A fleet approaches, they appear to be Ravagers." Nebula said, looking at Ronan.

Space…

The Ravagers fleet of ship stop near the Dark Astor.

"Fire!" Yondu yelled.

The ships fire at the Dark Astor and the explosion bounces off the ship forming a cloud of fire.

"Cover it down! Submerge!" Yondu said, angrily.

The ships, including the Milano duck beneath the wall of fire and go beneath the Dark Astor.

"Rocket, hurry!" Peter said, worried.

Dark Astor…

To the crew on Dark Astor; the cloud of fire disappears.

Nebula sees the last two ships go under, "All pilots, dive! They're beneath us!"

Nova Headquarters…

"Evacuate the city. Our priority is to get our people away from the battle." Nova Prime said, looking at her crew.

(Jared's POV)

Space…

The Ravager ships and the Milano are firing at the Dark Astor.

"Forward thrust, now!" Nebula said.

"Come on!" Kraglin said, after they've managed to blow a hole in the Dark Astor.

"Quill! Yondu! Now!" Rocket said, while Yondu's ship is shot down.

"Aw, hell! I'm going down, Quill, Shay! No more games with me, boys! I'll see you at the end of this!" Yondu said, looking at the fleet of Ronan's ships firing at us.

"There are too many of them, Rocket! We'll never make it up there!" Gamora said, worried.

"Not without some help." I said, while the Nova Corps ships joined us.

"Peter Quill, this is Denarian Saal of the Nova Corps. For the record, I advised against trusting you here." Denarian Saal.

"They got my 'dick' message!" Peter cheered.

"Prove me wrong." Denarian Saal said, smirking.

With the help of the Nova ships, Peter lands our ship inside the Dark Astor through the hole that was shot through it.

The Milano…

"Yes!" Drax said, laughing.

We crash land inside the Dark Astor.

"Yes!" Drax said, excitedly.

"We're just like Kevin Bacon." Gamora said, looking at Peter.

"Now if Footloose was actually the greatest movie of all time." I said, happily.

(Open POV)

The Dark Astor…

"The starboard kern has been breached! We have been boarded!" Nebula said, looking at Ronan.

"Continue our approach." Ronan said.

"But the Nova Corps have engaged!" Nebula said, worried.

"None of that will matter once we reach the surface." Ronan said, looking at the guards.

"Seal security doors! Now!" Nebula said, looking at the guards as she walks out of Ronan's chambers. "Get out of my way!"

The Milano…

Rocket looks up from our ship at the Dark Astor who is being attacked by the Nova ships, "Oh, man."

Space…

"All Nova pilots, interlock and form a blockade. The Dark Astor must not reach the ground." Nova Prime said, as the Nova ships start to form a giant net.

"Locked in!" Nova Pilot #1 yelled.

"Locked in. We're locked in." Nova Pilot #2 said.

Nova ships capture the Dark Astor in their giant net shape form.

The Milano…

"This adventure is reaching its end." I said, smiling. "I just know it."

Inside the ship, Peter, the rest of the Guardians, and I leave our ship.

Dark Astor…

We make our way through the Dark Astor.

"I can barely see." Drax said, and Groot releases glowing particles from his body to light our way. "When did you learn to do that?"

"I'm pretty sure the answer is 'I am Groot'." Peter said.

"Yup." I said, squeezing the strap of my sling bag.

"The flight deck is three hundred meters this way." Gamora said, leading the way.

"I want you all to know that I am grateful for your acceptance after my blunders. It is pleasing to once again have friends. You, Quill, Shay, are my friends." Drax said, looking between Peter and I.

"Thanks." Peter said.

"Thanks. Glad you're happy." I said, looking around the ship.

"This dumb tree, he is my friend." Drax said, looking at Groot.

"Mmm." Groot said.

"And this green whore, she, too…" Drax said, looking at Gamora.

"Oh, you must stop!" Gamora yelled.

Nebula intercepts our progress across the Dark Astor, "Gamora, look at what you have done. You have always been weak. You stupid, traitorous... "

"Drax. Nebula isn't my Amelia Pond. Can you please get her out of here?" I asked, looking down at the floor.

"Okay." Drax said, firing a shot at Nebula, sending her flying off. "Nobody talks to my friends like that."

"Head to the flight deck. I'll shut down the power to the security doors." Gamora said, running away from us.

(Open POV)

Xandar…

After crash landing his ship, Yondu is surrounded by Ronan's army.

"Yondu Udonta. Order your men to turn on the Nova Corps." A maskless Sakaaran said, and Yondu starts whistling which activates his arrow weapon to start floating up. "Enough nonsense, Ravager! Time to die…"

Yondu whistles again, setting off his arrow which kills the entire platoon.

Dark Astor…

Gamora comes across Nebula as she rises pulling her cracked bones into place.

"Nebula, please." Gamora said, sadly.

Gamora and Nebula start battling it out as Gamora tries to shut down the power to the security doors.

"Enough of this. Necrocraft pilots, enact immolation initiative." Ronan said.

Space…

"They're dive-bombing the city! Denarian Saal, should we break formation?" A Nova pilot asked.

"No! Hold your positions!" Denarian Saal said, worried.

Ronan's ships start attacking Xandar.

"Keep Ronan up there, Saal. We'll take care of the people down here." Rocket said.

"I can't believe I'm taking orders from a hamster." Denarian Saal said, annoyed.

Dark Astor…

Peter, Jared, and the rest of Guardians are intercepted by Korath and Ronan's crew.

"Star-Lord and the Black Pearl." Korath said, looking between Peter and Jared.

"Finally!" Peter cheered.

"Took you long enough." Jared said, excitedly.

They all start battling it out.

"You thief!" Peter said, looking at Korath.

As everyone is battling it out, Korath throws Drax aside.

"You will never make it to Ronan." Korath said.

Xandar…

Rocket is ordering Yondu's men, "Everybody shoot them before they hit the ground."

Rocket and Yondu's men start shooting at Ronan's men in their ships.

Dark Astor…

Gamora and Nebula continue to battle it out.

"Come on!" Gamora said, worried.

At the same time, Peter, Jared and the rest of the group continue their battle with Korath and Ronan's crew, Drax manages to grab hold of Korath and shoves a device into his head.

"Finger to the throat means death." Drax said, ripping the device from Korath, killing him, and Peter and Jared walked over to the Kylosian. "Metaphor."

"Yeah, sorta." Peter said, sadly.

"Crap." Jared said, and more of Ronan's crew come after them.

"Oh, no." Peter said, looking at Ronan's crew.

Groot saves them by skewering a bunch of the goons, then whipping them around to take out the rest, after which he turns to Peter, Drax, and Jared and smiles.

Ronan gives a speech.

Nova Corp headquarters…

Ronan's speech is heard over the speakers.

"Xandar, you stand accused. Your wretched peace treaty will not save you now. It is the tinder on which you burn!" Ronan yelled, over the speakers.

Space…

Ronan activates the Infinity Stone which sets off burning a fire through the Dark Astor and destroying the Nova Corps ships that are attacking including Saal's ship.

"Rocket!" Denarian Saal said, terrified.

"Hold on, Saal, just…" Rocket said, watching as the fire destroys Saal's ship and the other Nova Corps ships. "Quill, Jared, you gotta hurry. The city's been evacuated, but we're getting our asses kicked down here."

Dark Astor…

Peter and Jared continue to fight off Ronan's men as they make their way to the bridge.

"Gamora hasn't opened the door!" Peter said, angrily.

"She's busy fighting her damn sister." I said, letting out a sigh.

Gamora and Nebula continue to battle it out, Gamora manages to kick Nebula which throws her off the side of the ship, her arm catches something and she hangs off the edge, Gamora goes to help her.

"Nebula! Sister, help us fight Ronan. You know he's crazy!" Gamora yelled.

"I know you're both crazy." Nebula said, cutting off her own hand and falls.

"No!"

Space…

Nebula lands on a Ravager ship and smashes the window.

"What the...?" The Ravager pilot asked, at a loss for words.

"Get out!" Nebula said, throwing the Ravager pilot off the ship.

Dark Astor…

Gamora opens the bridge's door and she, along with Peter, Drax, Groot, and Jared enter. Peter shoots Ronan with Rocket's super cannon.

"You did it!" Drax said, excitedly.

"Damn it." I said, and Ronan rises and uses the power of his warhammer to throw the group aside.

Drax rushes towards Ronan but Ronan grabs him by the throat and holds him up.

"I was mistaken, I do remember your family. Their screams were pitiful. I... " Ronan said, smirking.

Rocket crashes the Milano into the bridge and seemingly destroys Ronan, the group then huddles together as the ship starts to plummet, Groot forms a giant nest around the group to keep them shielded.

"No, Groot! You can't, you'll die. Why are you doing this? Why?" Rocket asked, looking at Groot.

"We are Groot." Groot said, happily.

The ship then crashes.

Everyone in the group has survived the crash except Groot, who is now a pile of twigs strewn all about.

Rocket holds a bunch of the twigs in his hand in sadness, "I called him an idiot."

(Jared's POV)

Xandar…

Just then, Ronan emerges from the ship's wreckage. Rocket turns to face him, and furiously rushes towards him.

"YOU KILLED GROOT!" Rocket said, angrily.

Ronan blasts Rocket aside with a Concussive Blast. He then presents himself to the populace of Xandar.

"Behold! Your Guardians of the Galaxy! What fruit have they wrought? Only that my father and his father shall finally know vengeance. People of Xandar, the time has come to rejoice and renounce your paltry gods! Your salvation is at hand." Ronan said, chanting in Kree and preparing to use his warhammer to destroy Xandar.

"It's now time for the dance off." I said, when Peter stands up and starts singing. 'Ooh-ooh Child'. "Finally."

'Ooh-oo child, things are gonna get easier. Ooh-oo child, things'll get brighter.'" Peter said, looking at Ronan. "Listen to these words." He starts singing again. 'Ooh-oo child, things are gonna get easier. Ooh-oo child, things'll get brighter.' Now bring it down hard!" Peter starts dancing as he continues to sing. "'Some day, we'll get it together and we'll get it…'"

"What are you doing?" Ronan asked, looking at Peter.

"Dance-off, bro. Me and you." Peter said, happily.

"He's doing the dance off to save the universe." I said, as Peter dances, he holds his hand out to Gamora.

"Gamora." Peter said, and Gamora shakes her head. "Subtle. Take it back."

Peter continues to dance.

"What are you doing?" Ronan asked, in awe.

"I'm distracting you, you big turd blossom. And I'm giving Jared a show he knows he loves." Peter said, happily.

Rocket and Drax appear beside Ronan who uses the super cannon to destroy the warhammer which frees the Infinity Stone, both Ronan and Peter go to grab it.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Gamora said, worried.

Peter grabs the stone which then begins to destroy him. Ronan watches in delight.

"PETER!" Gamora said, looking at Peter. "TAKE MY HAND!"

(Open POV)

Hospital…

As Peter turns to Gamora, he has a flashback to when his mother asked him to take her hand on her death bed.

"Take my hand, Peter." Meredith Quill said.

"Mom." Peter said, sadly.

(Jared's POV)

Xandar…

"TAKE MY HAND!" Gamora said, terrified.

With tears in his eyes, Peter finally does it. Gamora is also affected by the energy surge.

Ronan continues watching as they will both seemingly share the same fate.

Drax then grabs Peter's shoulder. The stone starts to crack down on his body.

Rocket soon follows, and grabs Drax's hand.

"Thank goodness I'm immortal." I said, grabbing Rocket's hand and we received the least amount of damage out of the five of us. "I can survive anything."

With the power from the stone spread between us, our damage is temporarily mitigated.

"YOU'RE MORTAL! HOW!?" Ronan exclaimed.

"You said it yourself, bitch. We're the Guardians of the Galaxy." Peter said, smugly.

Ronan tries to impale him with the pole of his Warhammer, but Peter then re-directs the Power Stone's surge at him. The Kree's body can't contain the stone's energy for more than a quarter of a minute before exploding. Peter and Gamora then quickly seal the orb shut to contain the stone before its energy can continue destroying us.

Peter turns to look at Gamora, at the same time, Yondu and his men show up.

"Well, well, well. Quite the light show." Yondu said, chuckling. "Ain't this sweet. But you got some business to attend to before all the nookie-nookie starts."

"Peter, you can't. Peter." Gamora said, sadly.

"You gotta reconsider this, Yondu. I don't know who you're selling this to, but the only way the universe can survive is if you give it to the Nova Corps." Peter said.

"I may be as pretty as an angel, but I sure as hell ain't one. Hand it over, son." Yondu said, looking at Peter.

Reluctantly, Peter gives the orb to Yondu, who laughs and turns to leave with his men.

"Yondu." Peter said, as Yondu faced him and I again. "Do not open that orb. You know that, right? You've seen what it does to people."

Yondu chuckles to himself and walks off.

(Open POV)

Eclector…

Yondu and his men take off in their ship, they look down and Peter and Jared.

"Yeah, Quill and Shay turned out okay. It's probably good we didn't deliver Quill to his dad or Shay to Missy like we was hired to do." Kraglin said.

"Yeah, those guys were jackasses." Yondu said.

(Jared's POV)

The Milano…

Our ship takes off.

"He's gonna be so pissed when he realizes I switched out the orb on him." Peter said, looking at Gamora.

"I did that trick on you all the time with your cassette tapes." I said, taking out a stick of Pocky out of my sling bag to snack on it. "God, that was a fun week."

"It was." Peter said, holding the orb containing the stone in his hand.

Gamora chuckles, "He was gonna kill you and Jared, Peter."

"Oh, I know. But he was about the only family I had." Peter said, smirking.

"No. He wasn't." Gamora said.

"We're your family." I said, snacking on my Pocky. "Yondu was a dick."

Rocket is sat by Groot's pile of twigs crying when Drax sits next to him and starts stroking his head to comfort him.

Nova Corp headquarters…

Peter, the group, and I are at the Nova Corps headquarters.

"Why would you even know this?" Peter asked, looking at Corpsman Dey.

"When we arrested you, we noticed an anomaly in your nervous system, so we had it checked out." Corpsman Dey said.

"I'm not Terran?"

"Peter, you're half human." I said, tossing a chocolate chip cookie in my mouth. "Your mom was born on Earth."

"The Black Pearl's right. Your father, well, he's something very ancient we've never seen here before." Nova Prime said.

"That could be why you were able to hold the stone for as long as you did." Gamora said, in awe.

A door opens, Drax and Rocket have joined them with Rocket holding a pot with a tiny Groot planted in it.

"Your friends have arrived. On behalf of the Nova Corps, we'd like to express our profound gratitude for your help in saving Xandar. If you will follow Denarian Dey, he has something to show you." Nova Prime said.

"Thank you, Nova Prime." Peter said, happily.

"Thank you." Gamora said, as we follow Dey, she walks next to Drax. "Your wife and child shall rest well knowing that you have avenged them."

"Yes. Of course, Ronan was only a puppet. It's really Thanos I need to kill." Drax said.

We follow Dey outside who takes them to the restored Milano.

"We tried to keep it as close to the original as possible. We salvaged as much as we could." Corpsman Dey said.

"Wow. I…" Peter said, looking speechless. "Thank you."

"I have a family who are alive because of you. Your criminal records have also been expunged. However, I have to warn you against breaking any laws in the future."

"Question. What if I see something that I want to take, and it belongs to someone else?" Rocket asked.

"Well you will be arrested." Corpsman Dey said.

"But what if I want it more than the person who has it?"

"Still illegal."

"That doesn't follow. No, I want it more, sir. Do you understand?" Rocket asked, looking at Gamora and I laughing at him. "What are you two laughing at? Why? I can't have a discussion with this gentleman?"

"Rocket, you're worse than River." I said, and Rocket started following Gamora and I towards the Milano. "Hell, you're even worse than Jack. Gah. I can't take it sometimes."

"What if someone does something irksome and I decide to remove his spine?" Drax asked.

"That's...that's actually murder. It's one of the worst crimes of all, so also illegal." Corpsman Dey said.

"Hmm." Drax said, starting to make his way to the Milano.

"They'll be fine, Dey. I'm gonna keep an eye on 'em." Peter said, happily.

"You?" Corpsman Dey asked.

"Yeah, me."

The Milano…

Peter holds the present his mother gave him before she died, he finally opens the letter and reads it.

"Peter, I know these last few months have been hard for you. But I'm going to a better place and I will be okay. And I will always be with you. You are the light of my life. My precious son. My little Star-Lord. Love, mom." Meredith Quill said, as a voiceover.

Peter opens the present and sees it's another 'Awesome Mix' tape, he puts the tape into his ship's cassette recorder, presses play and it starts playing 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Gamora walks over to Peter and they smile at each other.

(Open POV)

Eclector…

Yondu is opening his orb to find inside it is a Troll doll, he smiles to himself.

Nova Corp headquarters…

Dey is returning home to his wife and daughter.

(Jared's POV)

The Milano…

As Peter, the others, and I prepare to take off, Drax smiles at Rocket who looks at the little Groot plant which starts to wake.

"So, what should we do next? Something good? Something bad? A bit of both?" Peter asked.

"We'll follow your lead, Star-Lord." Gamora said, happily.

"Why not go with a bit of both?" I asked, tossing a chocolate chip cookie into my mouth. "That'll be fun."

Peter smiles before replying, "Bit of both!"

The Milano takes off to music from The Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back'. I looked over at a little bit larger version of Groot dancing to the music in his pot. Groot stops when Drax and I look at him,, then starts dancing again when Drax and I turn again.

(Open POV)

Collector's home…

The Collector is sitting in his destroyed archive drinking when a dog comes up and licks his face.

"Why do you let it lick you like that for?" Howard the Duck asked, sitting in his broken cage, holding a glass of drink in his hand. "Gross." He takes a sip. "Yeah! But it burns going down."