[Contraxia]
[This is a famous entertainment venue in the universe, famous for its pleasure androids. Many people choose to come here to relax, without worrying about the consequences, and the price is moderate.]
[Yondu's crew members are here at this moment, each holding a yellow-skinned android in their arms, dancing excitedly.]
[Howard the Duck is here too, holding a glass of wine and making a woman laugh.]
["You know what they say... Stick with me and you'll never go wrong! Heh heh heh!"]
[Yondu is in a room, he has just finished his business and is shirtless. After fastening his belt, he glances at the android that just served him.]
[The female android raised her hand and pressed the switch on her temple, then tilted her head and shut down, entering sleep mode.]
[Yondu nodded silently, satisfied with the service.]
["Come on! Get down here!" One of his crew called from below, holding a bottle of wine and gesturing for Yondu to join them.]
[After a while, Yondu put on his clothes and walked out of the room. As soon as he turned the corner, he saw someone who surprised him.]
["After all these years with that crazy woman I married, I told Aleta, 'I love you! But you're insane!' Then again, she's always been like that! I could never figure her out! You know what I mean?"]
[A tall, powerfully built man was laughing with his companions. Yondu looked at the man and walked toward him.]
[Stakar turned around and saw Yondu, and the smile on his face disappeared instantly.]
[Yondu struck his chest with his right fist and bowed his head in respect. "It's been a long time."]
[Stakar turned to face Yondu fully, his voice cold and flat: "Seems like this place has really hit rock bottom."]
[He pointed at Yondu with disgust, then turned and walked away.]
[The bar owner panicked and chased after him, "Sir! Please wait!"]
[Yondu called out desperately: "Stakar!"]
[Stakar ignored Yondu and shouted at the owner: "There are a hundred Ravager factions. You just lost the other ninety-nine to cater to this one!"]
["Please! Sir! Don't leave! Please!" the bar owner begged, trying to block his path.]
[But Stakar was determined to leave, shoving past the owner's pleas, "Don't touch me!"]
[Yondu watched Stakar's retreating back, fury building until he slammed his fist on the table and roared: "Go to hell! I don't care what you think of me!"]
[Hearing this, Stakar whirled around and glared at Yondu fiercely before storming back, "Then why are you following us around?"]
["Because you need to hear me out!" Yondu stepped forward aggressively.]
[Stakar yelled back: "I don't need to hear anything! You betrayed the code! Ravagers don't deal in kids!"]
["I told you, I don't know what happened!"]
["You don't know because you don't want to know! Because it made you rich!" Stakar's voice dripped with contempt.]
["I've earned my place! I wear the flames same as you!" Yondu grabbed his coat, showing Stakar the Ravager insignia.]
["You may dress like us... but you'll never hear the Ravager horn at your funeral, Yondu! The colors of Ogord... will never fly over your grave!"]
[His words left Yondu speechless.]
[Stakar grabbed Yondu's collar and whispered harshly: "If you think... that exiling you was easy for me, you're wrong. You broke all our hearts."]
[After saying this, Stakar turned and left, leaving Yondu standing there in stunned silence. Being cast out from the Ravagers was the deepest wound in Yondu's life.]
"Yondu..." Star-Lord murmured to himself, still crouched beside the strange flower. Something about what Yondu had said—about not knowing what happened—nagged at him.
His gut told him this was connected to his own story. Why had Yondu kidnapped him but never delivered him? What had really happened all those years ago?
His brooding was interrupted by the golden sparks of a portal opening nearby. Strange stepped through, followed by Christine Palmer.
"Huh? Why are you two here? Where's Wanda?" Tony looked confused as the pair emerged from the magical gateway.
"Wanda's handling another crisis. She sent us to assess the situation first." Strange's expression was already weary. "So what kind of trouble have you gotten yourselves into this time?"
Every encounter with Tony seemed to involve some new disaster, and Strange had a feeling this wouldn't be any different.
"Oh! Is this the flower you mentioned on the phone?" Christine knelt down, studying the anomalous plant with a physician's careful attention.
Steve nodded grimly. "Yeah. Its root system goes incredibly deep—we have no idea what we're dealing with here."
"Right then. Let me take a look." Strange wasted no time getting to work. He had a dozen other mystical emergencies waiting for his attention back at the Sanctum.
[Yondu stood there, rage burning in his chest but with nowhere to direct it. He looked around aimlessly.]
[One of his crew members pointed a bottle at Yondu and sneered, "How pathetic! First Quill betrays us, and then Yondu lets him walk away without consequence!"]
["We followed him because he was ruthless enough to do what needed doing. Looks like he's gone soft!"]
[Kraglin said quietly: "If he's so soft, why are you whispering?"]
[Taserface glared at Kraglin with his beady eyes, "You know I'm right, Kraglin!"]
[Yondu's loyal crew member Tullk immediately warned: "Watch your mouth! That's still our captain you're talking about!"]
["What do we have here?" Suddenly, a voice interrupted their argument, and everyone turned to look.]
[A group of Sovereigns were carefully laying down a golden carpet for High Priestess Ayesha. She walked regally along the path while two rows of Sovereign guards flanked her with gleaming weapons. The procession stretched impressively long.]
[Yondu watched the approaching Sovereigns with confusion, though he could tell they were coming specifically for him.]
[As Ayesha walked gracefully forward, the carpet dispenser beneath her feet suddenly jammed. A servant tugged frantically but couldn't get it moving.]
[Ayesha took a deep breath, maintaining her composure with visible effort. Seeing her distress, the servant quickly smoothed out the wrinkled section and continued laying carpet. Finally, Ayesha could resume her dignified approach.]
[Watching the Sovereigns suffer for the sake of appearances, Yondu shifted uncomfortably.]
[The carpet ended precisely at Yondu's feet. Ayesha stood regally before him and nodded in acknowledgment.]
["Yondu Udonta! I have a proposition for you!"]
[Yondu pursed his lips and squinted at Ayesha, already suspicious of whatever she was about to offer...]
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