"That bastard Quill!" one of Yondu's crew members exploded, jabbing his finger at the projection screen. "How dare he trick us like that! We should hunt him down and make him pay!"
Kraglin shot the loudmouth a withering glare that could've melted hull plating. "Yeah? And what happens when Thanos comes knocking on our door? You got a death wish, genius?"
The crew member's bravado deflated like a punctured oxygen tank. Everyone knew Thanos had become the universe's most wanted—a mad titan hell-bent on collecting those cursed Infinity Stones. If they'd actually handed over the real Power Stone, they'd be marked as accomplices in universal genocide. But refuse him? Thanos would've just taken it anyway, probably along with their lives.
The whole situation was a cosmic-sized hot potato. Sure, the Power Stone was valuable beyond imagination, but you had to be breathing to spend the profits. After weighing their options—and their odds of survival—Yondu had made the smart call to walk away.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. Their "cooperation" had earned them Xandar's gratitude, and the Nova Corps had promised future assistance when needed. Yondu wasn't exactly sure what a bunch of space pirates could need from the galaxy's most upstanding police force, but favors were better than empty pockets.
What really gnawed at Yondu now was how famous Star-Lord had become. The boy's heroics were spreading across every news feed in the galaxy, and that meant Ego—that ancient, manipulative bastard—would definitely come sniffing around soon. Yondu's jaw clenched as he considered how to handle that particular nightmare.
[Nova Corps Headquarters]
[Star-Lord's voice echoed through the chamber, tinged with disbelief. "How do you know this?"]
["When we arrested you previously, we detected abnormalities in your nervous system," Rhomann Dey explained, gesturing to the holographic display. "We conducted a thorough examination."]
[The projection showed Star-Lord's biometric data in stunning detail, each reading more incredible than the last.]
["I'm not from Terra?" Star-Lord asked, his voice barely above a whisper.]
[Nova Prime stepped forward, her expression grave but kind. "You possess Terran blood through your mother's lineage. However, your father..." She paused meaningfully. "He carries genetic markers we've never encountered before—something ancient and powerful beyond our understanding."]
[Gamora's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. "That's why you could hold the Power Stone without dying."]
["Exactly," Nova Prime confirmed. "That extraordinary heritage allowed you to channel the stone's energy without being destroyed by it."]
[At that moment, Rocket and Drax entered the chamber, carefully carrying a small potted plant that housed what remained of Groot. Nova Prime's stern expression softened as she addressed the group.]
["Your companions have arrived. Please allow me to express the Nova Corps' deepest gratitude on behalf of all Xandar," she said, placing her hand over her heart in formal salute. "You have saved our world, our people, our children. We are forever in your debt."]
["Please follow Commander Dey. He has something special to show you."]
[Star-Lord straightened, hands on his hips in his characteristic confident pose. "Thank you, Nova Prime. Just doing our job."]
["Thank you," Gamora echoed more quietly, clasping her hands behind her back as they followed Rhomann Dey through the gleaming corridors.]
[As they walked, Drax fell into step beside Gamora. "My wife and daughter can finally rest in peace," he said with quiet satisfaction. "Their deaths have been avenged."]
["Yes, but remember—Ronan was merely a puppet," Gamora replied carefully. "The real enemy, the one we must truly fear, is Thanos himself."]
[Drax's expression hardened with renewed determination. "Then Thanos will be next."]
[Gamora shot him a concerned look. Drax's courage was admirable, but his understanding of Thanos's true power was dangerously naive.]
[Rhomann Dey led them outside to the Nova Corps' main hangar, where he stopped before a familiar but transformed ship. "We've done our best to restore her to original specifications," he said proudly. "We even managed to recover most of the scattered components."]
[Star-Lord's jaw dropped as he stared at the Milano, now gleaming like she'd just rolled off the assembly line. Every dent, scorch mark, and battle scar had been meticulously repaired. She looked better than the day he'd stolen her.]
["Whoa... I... this is..." He struggled for words, emotion thick in his voice. "Thank you. I mean it—thank you."]
[Rhomann Dey smiled warmly. "I have a family too, thanks to what you did. They're alive because of your sacrifice."]
[The Guardians exchanged pleased looks, the weight of their accomplishment finally sinking in.]
["We've also expunged your criminal records," Rhomann Dey continued. "All of you start with clean slates. I trust you'll keep them that way?"]
[Rocket perked up with obvious mischief. "Hypothetically speaking, what if I really need something, but it happens to be in someone else's pocket?"]
[Rhomann Dey didn't miss a beat. "Then you'll be arrested."]
[Rocket's ears twitched with frustration. "But what if I need it way more than they do?"]
["Still theft. Still illegal."]
[Rocket threw his tiny hands up in exasperation. "That makes no sense! If I need it more, logically I should have it! How is that hard to understand?"]
[Gamora chuckled, grabbing Rocket's paw and tugging him toward the ship. "Come on, you incorrigible thief."]
["Hey! What's so funny? Can't I have a serious philosophical discussion about property rights?"]
[Drax took a few steps, then paused and spoke in a low, thoughtful tone. "What if I witness someone committing evil acts and I break their neck?"]
[Rhomann Dey looked genuinely pained. "That would be... murder. Which is quite possibly the most serious crime we have. So yes, definitely illegal."]
[Drax nodded slowly, processing this information. "Hmm," he grunted, continuing toward the Milano.]
[Star-Lord clapped Rhomann Dey on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Commander. I'll keep them in line."]
[Rhomann Dey couldn't help but laugh. "You? Keep them out of trouble?"]
[Star-Lord grinned, watching his team board their restored ship. "Yeah. Me."]
Rhodes shook his head in amusement as the projection faded. "You two really know how to give law enforcement headaches."
Drax remained characteristically silent. He was still adjusting to being around the Avengers and preferred observing to speaking.
Rocket crossed his arms defensively. "I still say my logic was sound! If I need something more than someone else, I should get priority!"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Ever heard of buying things? It's this crazy concept where you exchange money for goods."
The suggestion hit Rocket like a slap. He wanted to argue that purchased items never had the same thrill as stolen ones, but admitting that would damage the Guardians' hard-earned reputation. They were heroes now, famous across the galaxy. He couldn't afford to look bad.
Meanwhile, Star-Lord was lost in thought, replaying Yondu's words in his mind. Why hadn't the Ravager captain told him about his real father? Why call the man a "jackass" and leave it at that? What secrets was Yondu keeping?
His eyes drifted to the projection's earlier scenes of his grandfather—now much older than the man in his childhood memories. The years had clearly taken their toll, and Star-Lord felt a familiar pang of regret.
Gamora noticed his distant expression and gently took his hand. "If he knew you'd returned, he'd be overjoyed."
Scott nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! You saved the entire galaxy—imagine how proud he'd be of his grandson!"
Tony placed a serious hand on Star-Lord's shoulder. "Want to make a quick trip? We could get you there and back in no time. Or take your ship if you prefer staying under the radar."
Star-Lord was quiet for a long moment, wrestling with emotions he'd buried for decades. Finally, he looked up with resolve. "Yeah. Let's do it. I need to see him."
The memory of his mother Mary's final moments haunted him—how he'd been too scared to take her hand, too overwhelmed to give her that last comfort. He couldn't let his grandfather die with the same regrets hanging between them.
Some mistakes couldn't be repeated. Some chances, once lost, never came again. He'd been foolish once; he wouldn't make that error twice.
Seeing Star-Lord's determination, Tony squeezed his shoulder supportively. "Good choice. The rest of us will sit this one out—too many Avengers might draw unwanted attention."
Captain America nodded in agreement. "Sometimes smaller is better."
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