Sean sat within the entertainment complex that combined a casino and bar, watching as Star-Lord and his crew swaggered in.
Now that they were on Knowhere, they didn't have to worry about Nova Corps warrants; most people here carried at least half a dozen illegal charges on their records.
Without the permission of the Tivan Group, the Nova Corps had no law enforcement authority here. This was a testament to the elevated status of Taneleer, one of the Elders of the Universe.
However, the Kree Empire's Accuser, Ronan, was a notoriously bold and ruthless warlord who never cared for rules. To conceal his search for the Orb, that Kree warmonger had not hesitated to slaughter the entire population of the Kyln, showcasing his unrestrained cruelty...
"A familiar aura." Sean's gaze discreetly shifted to the backpack on Star-Lord's shoulder.
Inside was a sealed silver sphere, its metallic surface etched with intricate patterns. That was the Orb, one of the Infinity Stones.
In truth, the silvery spherical shell acted as a safeguard, perfectly sealing the Power Stone within to prevent its terrifying energy from leaking out and causing catastrophic consequences.
'What on earth had the Morag civilization done to so thoroughly doom themselves and destroy their own planet?' The thought flashed through Sean's mind.
...
Moving past the clamorous crowd, Star-Lord and Gamora entered a slightly quieter viewing platform, while Rocket, Groot, and Drax stayed outside to participate in the Orloni games.
Having experienced a thrilling high-stakes prison break and evaded Nova Corps pursuit, and now on the cusp of claiming a four-billion-unit bounty, it was only natural they wanted to vent their pent-up elation. Since the Collector's representative hadn't arrived yet, they had to wait here anyway.
As for Star-Lord himself, he was busy playing the rogue, secretly scheming to flirt with the physically striking Gamora.
Raised by a band of Ravagers, Peter Quill was hardly a good man by any standard definition; he more often acted like a scoundrel or a punk. Especially in his private life, he was notoriously indiscriminate, having had 'in-depth cultural exchanges' with females of multiple species.
Of course, these relationships were strictly one-night stands. He was the classic, 'all tenderness' before, and 'who are you?' after, kind of scumbag...
"Hey big guy, you see that? There's actually an Earth-man sitting over there!" Rocket, who was perched on Groot's shoulder and swigging a potent drink, mumbled indistinctly, "Peter ain't even gonna say hi to his fellow Terran?"
"Show some respect, little creature. Call me Drax," the Destroyer corrected unhappily.
"We crossed half a galaxy not to kill Ronan, but to drink and play games here!" Drax drained his glass of strong liquor, then crushed his glass into shards.
His primary reason for joining this crew was simply to find allies to kill the Kree Accuser, Ronan, and avenge his dead wife and daughter.
"Then stop staring at me like I'm some kinda freak! That's disrespectful to me too, big guy!" the drunken Rocket shot back defiantly.
He was a highly cybernetically enhanced animal, designation 89P13, with a resemblance to an Earth raccoon, and he stuck close to his found companion, Groot.
Skilled in piloting, mechanics, and weapon modification, Rocket was a bounty hunter who used biting sarcasm and a prickly exterior to mask a painful past.
"I am Groot..." his Flora Colossus companion said weakly.
"Don't try to calm me down! Today I'm gonna teach this big guy a lesson!" Rocket stamped his little feet on Groot's shoulders and launched himself at the furious Drax, landing a flurry of ineffectual punches that, to the hulking Destroyer, felt like mild itching.
*Whap!*
Drax backhanded him casually.
Rocket flew like a bug and splatted against the wall, sliding down slowly in a spreadeagle position.
Groot, standing nearby, cried out. His arms extended into long vines, lashing towards Drax. The two immediately grappled, throwing the lower-level casino into chaos.
The enthusiastic gamblers instantly shifted their attention. This was far more thrilling than the Orloni fights.
They cheered loudly from the sidelines, egging them on. Some even started betting pools, wagering on whether the tree person or the burly guy would win.
Rocket scrambled back up to rejoin the fray, "You big guy–!"
*Smack!*
But he was once again flung aside by Drax, flying towards a wall close to the bar.
Sean, who had been quietly spectating, conveniently caught Rocket before he could hit the wall. A gentle smile touched his lips as he casually smoothed the creature's ruffled fur.
The enraged Rocket, who had been about to pull his blaster and turn Drax to paste, found his body going slack under Sean's petting, "You… hey… easy there… keep going…"
This raccoon-like creature retained some of its inherent traits, and having the top of its head gently rubbed was a particular weakness.
The fight between Groot and Drax didn't last long. Star-Lord arrived in time to pull them apart. For now, this crew had come together for the massive bounty and their individual goals; so they naturally lacked any deep camaraderie.
Rocket, wriggling free from Sean's hold and suppressing a lingering sense of comfort, hopped over to Groot's side, drawing his blaster and glaring at Drax.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" Star-Lord rubbed his temples, looking at them in exasperation. He lowered his voice to Rocket, "We're about to split four billion! Can't you hold it together for that kind of money? That's four billion! Enough for you to buy a luxury ship!"
'Soon you could be the richest raccoon in the galaxy...' though Star-Lord wisely kept that last part to himself.
The best way to provoke Rocket was to call him a raccoon or a rodent. That never ended well. Star-Lord knew from experience.
"All you see is money! I didn't break out of prison to enjoy life, but to kill Ronan!" Drax's chest heaved with anger.
He glared at the group before turning and storming into the crowd, leaving the team on his own.
Seeing the growing crowd of onlookers and the casino manager giving him a dark look, Star-Lord had no choice. He grabbed Gamora and made a hasty exit.
Rocket followed, but not before glancing back at Sean, who remained seated.
"Peter, there's one of your people here," Rocket yelled before scurrying after the group.
As they stepped outside, a long, sleek silver hover-car descended, its flowing metallic lines exuding a sense of technological elegance.
"My master has sent me to invite you," a servant of unusual skin tone emerged from the vehicle, extending the invitation to Star-Lord and the others.
The Collector was famous across the cosmos for his passion for collecting rare and unique items: live specimens of prehistoric creatures, lifeforms of scarce species, and objects of all kinds... his collection vast and varied.
Star-Lord had the Orb, Gamora had the selling contacts, Rocket piloted the ship, and the remaining members; Groot and Drax, provided considerable combat prowess. That's how they had come together, escaped the heavily fortified Kyln, crossed half a galaxy, and arrived at Knowhere.
Star-Lord led the way into the car. He could almost see the four billion bounty waving at him.
From within the crowd, Drax watched the scene, frustration boiling inside him. He was here for vengeance against Ronan, yet his companions only had riches on their minds.
'I'll have to find another way. The others are unreliable.'
So thought the muscle-bound man, weighed down by a blood-deep vendetta...