[Inside the Milano, Star-Lord opened the drawer containing the gift box, took out the gift box and envelope, and sat on a chair looking at them for a long time.]
[Looking at the words "Little Peter" written on the envelope, Star-Lord opened the envelope and began to read the contents.]
["Peter, I know the past few months have been tough for you, but I'm in a good place and I'm doing great! My heart will always be with you."]
["You are my warm sunshine, my favorite son! My cute little Star-Lord! Love your mother!"]
[Star-Lord silently put the letter and envelope aside and began to open the gift box, tears unconsciously flowing from his eyes.]
[Inside the gift box was a tape with the words 'Awesome Mix Vol. 2' written on it]
[Star-Lord picked it up, put it into the speaker in the spaceship, pressed the switch, and the music started playing.]
["Listen, baby, no matter how high the mountain is, no matter how deep the valley is, no matter how wide the river is! Baby!"]
["If you need me, call me! No matter where you are, no matter where in the world you are!"]
[Gamora heard the music and walked towards him. Star-Lord turned to look at her. The two looked at each other with their mouths slightly raised.]
["Don't worry, baby. Just call me and I'll be the first one to come to your side. There's no need to panic! Because baby, my love for you is higher than the mountains, deeper than the valleys! My love for you is wider than the rivers, and I'll cross thousands of mountains and rivers to be by your side!"]
[The song continues...]
[Inside the Eclector, the crew was celebrating excitedly. Yondu was holding the orb given to him by Star-Lord and sitting on a chair with his eyes closed.]
[Then he slowly opened the orb, revealing a toy troll doll inside. Yondu looked at the doll and grinned.]
[This brat knows what he likes. It's no wonder I love him so much!]
[In Xandar, the orb containing the real Power Stone was placed in the vault by Nova Prime, and the two rows of soldiers around raised their hands in salute.]
[Rhomann Dey returned to his home and put his briefcase aside. His daughter heard the noise and ran out quickly. He smiled and picked up his daughter.]
[When his wife saw her husband, she went forward and hugged him with joy.]
[The scene changes to the Milano. Star-Lord and his companions are ready to set off. Gamora comes to their side and looks at the city ahead.]
[Rocket stuck his head out and nodded to Drax behind him. Drax smiled and nodded in response.]
[In front of Rocket is a potted plant with Groot. Groot has regrown his facial features and arms, and is stretching leisurely.]
[Rocket looks at little Groot, feeling mixed emotions.]
[Star-Lord, who was sitting in the main pilot's seat, asked.]
["So, what should we do next? Do something honest? Or something dishonest? Or maybe a combination of both?"]
[Gamora put her hands on her hips and glanced at Drax behind her, "We'll follow your command, Star-Lord!"]
[Star-Lord raised his lips slightly and said loudly: "A bit of both!"]
[After saying this, he started the spaceship, flew into space, and disappeared from sight.]
[The scene changes to show Drax wiping his sword.]
[Little Groot kept swaying his body, nodding his head to the rhythm of the music, and dancing with his hands outstretched, looking very happy.]
[Drax wiped his sword and felt something was wrong. His eyes fixed and he turned his head to look at Little Groot.]
[Noticing Drax's movements, Little Groot immediately stopped swinging and remained motionless.]
[Drax looked at it with some confusion, but found nothing unusual. He squinted his eyes and turned back to continue wiping the blade.]
[When he turned his head, Little Groot immediately swayed more happily, with a much larger amplitude than at the beginning, while Drax was unaware and concentrated on cleaning his sword.]
[In Knowhere, the Collector sat in the ruins, holding a glass of wine and questioning his life choices.]
[The transformed golden retriever Cosmo ran over and licked his face. The Collector ignored her actions and silently drank a sip of the liquor in the glass.]
["Why did you let that mangy mutt lick you like that? Gross!" Howard the Duck sat on the cage that had previously imprisoned him, also holding a glass of wine in his hand.]
[It shook it twice and took a sip, saying appreciatively, "This wine is really good though! Sweetheart!"]
Carina was leading Nebula toward where they'd spotted a functioning ship when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar golden form in the distance. Her eyes lit up with recognition.
"It's Cosmo! And Howard the Duck!"
"What is that thing?" Nebula demanded, her mechanical eye whirring as it focused on the distant figures.
"A dog from Earth," Carina explained casually as they changed direction. "The High Evolutionary experimented on her—gave her intelligence, speech, even telepathic abilities. The Collector bought her afterward."
What Carina didn't mention was just how powerful Cosmo's psychic abilities had become after the transformation. That information might prove useful later.
"Find this Cosmo," Carina suggested, though she knew exactly what Nebula were thinking. "Maybe she can help us."
They'd all seen Nebula's temperament—ruthless, unpredictable, willing to kill anyone who became inconvenient. Who knew if she'd turn on them once they'd outlived their usefulness? Better to have backup, especially backup with telepathic powers.
Nebula's expression remained cold, but she didn't object. As long as she could secure transport off this floating graveyard, she'd work with anyone—even talking animals.
Meanwhile, Cosmo sat alone on a pile of debris, her golden fur matted and her usually bright eyes dulled with loneliness. The initial excitement of escaping her cage had faded quickly, replaced by a crushing sense of isolation.
She'd tried finding others to communicate with, but most of Knowhere's surviving residents were exactly the kind of criminals and cutthroats who'd made the station their home in the first place. Thanos's attack had killed many, but those who remained weren't exactly the friendly sort.
Most people she encountered either wanted to eat her or sell her. Even Howard the Duck, her fellow escapee, seemed to find her presence annoying. The isolation was becoming unbearable.
"Cosmo! Good dog!" Carina's voice echoed through the wreckage as she and Nebula searched the area. She knew the telepathic canine wouldn't venture far from familiar territory.
Cosmo's ears perked up immediately, her tail starting a hesitant wag. "Someone called me good dog!" she thought excitedly, bounding toward the sound with renewed energy.
She found Carina and the others quickly, immediately pouncing and covering Carina's face with enthusiastic licks, her powerful tail threatening to knock over nearby debris.
"Hey there, Cosmo! Long time no see!" Carina laughed, crouching down to scratch behind the golden retriever's ears. "How've you been, girl?"
Cosmo's excitement dimmed as recent memories flooded back. "Not good! Very lonely! Everyone here is mean or scary or wants to hurt Cosmo!"
"Well, how would you like to come with us?" Carina asked gently. "We're getting off this rock. Could use a friend like you."
Cosmo's entire body vibrated with excitement, her telepathic joy practically radiating from her. "Yes! Yes! Cosmo wants to go! Cosmo wants friends!"
She was so thrilled at the prospect of companionship that she didn't even bother asking where they were headed. After weeks of isolation and fear, having someone—anyone—who wanted her around felt like a miracle.
Nebula watched the reunion with barely concealed impatience, her mechanical fingers tapping against her arm. "Are we done with this touching reunion? We have places to be."
Carina shot her a warning look before turning back to Cosmo. "Don't mind her. She's just eager to get moving. Right, girl? Ready for an adventure?"
Cosmo barked happily, her psychic abilities already picking up on the complex web of emotions and motivations surrounding her new companions. She sensed Nebula's hostility, Carina's cautious planning, and underlying currents of fear and determination from all of them.
But none of that mattered right now. She had friends again—or at least beings who wanted her company. After everything she'd endured, that was enough.
"Where are we going?" she asked as they began moving toward the salvageable ship Carina had spotted.
"Somewhere better than here," Carina replied diplomatically. "Somewhere we can all start fresh."
Cosmo's tail wagged harder. Fresh starts sounded wonderful to a dog who'd been experimented on, caged, and abandoned. Whatever came next had to be better than the loneliness she was leaving behind.