Observer POV:
After they both finished playing with Wanda's new suit and she retracted the aero jet into the container, which now rested on her chest, they redirected their attention to Tenno.
In the meantime, he dissipated his astral projection and had begun to set the Lisets' direction toward a new target.
"Ok, Magic-man, what is our next destination?" Thor asked, squinting at the stars in front of him, trying to find what they were heading towards.
"It's a space station where the ones we are looking for are currently residing in. You shouldn't be able to see it from here, it will take a few Minutes of sublight travel till we reach it." Tenno responded as he reappeared next to Rhino.
Meanwhile, Wanda had wandered over to the front view and gazed at the Stars, „It's pretty sobering to know that we are not alone in this Universe. I think if humanity knew about this, we would maybe, finally get our heads out of the Sand and work together."
Thor looked at her sadly and slowly shook his head, „At least after New York, Humanity should already know that they are not alone in the Universe. Their response was the Avengers initiative, but the smallfolk didn't really change their mindset in any meaningful way. The masses put the responsibility of all humankind on the backs of a few gifted individuals. In the long run, that kind of avoidance tactic is inevitably destined to fail."
Wanda sadly looked down at the floor in response. Everything about the last couple of weeks had overwhelmed her. Not only did she enlist in Kamar Taj after the whole Ultron debacle and Tenno took her in as his personal disciple, because he was the only one who somehow understood Chaos magic in the slightest, but she now also traveled with him among the Stars, accompanied by the Literal God of Thunder.
Thor looked at her with sympathy, „Don't worry, little one, I, Thor, Prince of Asgard, swear to you that as long as I live, I will protect the Nine Realms. As your Prince and future King, it's my duty to protect my vassals with my very life after all."
Wanda was completely awestruck, not because of the speech, but by its content. She never thought about what being part of the nine realms really meant. For example, such things as being subordinate to Asgard, and Thor literally being part of the royal Family who ruled over them.
As a person who grew up in a repressive regime, it really rubbed her the wrong way that she was essentially a commoner of a Cosmic feudal Empire with a ruling class and no political influence of their own whatsoever. At the same time, she was glad that Thor and Asgard did have them under their wing, as only the name Odin, Alfather, King of the Nine Realms, already struck fear in many powerful beings across the Universe, keeping them from ransacking Earth. A completely normal occurrence in the Universe, or at least that was what she read in the books from Kamar Taj.
„There we go, nearly there," Tenno said, pointing out the window at a little silver dot in the distance, growing with each second.
„Operator, we are reaching our destination, get ready to PURGE, I mean greet your fellow friends," Ordis spoke over the ship coms, making Thor chuckle and Wanda look in worry.
„He has a few bugs and glitches here and there, but only when he speaks. Otherwise, he is a completely functional cephalon, and I would entrust my life to him," Tenno said to Wanda in a soothing tone, somewhat clearing her worries.
As she looked out of the Window again, her eyes grew wider as she witnessed what Tenno referred to as a Space station, but which looked more like a Megacity in space, in a circular shape. And it was gigantic. It felt like it would never stop growing the further they headed its way, and without a reference in the background, her mind began to panic a bit.
Tenno and Thor smiled as they saw her state, before Tenno slipped into Rhino and gently touched her on the shoulder.
„It's ok, Wanda, the first time in space is the first time for many things. You will get used to how it works out here real fast, don't worry."
Rhino spoke, while turning her away from the Window.
„We've got clearance for a Parking deck Operator, get ready for embarking," Ordis reported, as they headed for their assigned spot.
The ramp slid open, and they stepped into the hangar. It was a private one, and the elegance with which the place was designed spoke tales about how underdeveloped the earth truly was in comparison.
Wanda's gaze flew from one incredible piece of machinery she didn't understand to the next, completely overwhelmed by all the new, before realisation struck her, turning towards Rhino before speaking up.
„Don't we have to get some kind of vaccine or something, so we don't get some kind of Space disease?" she questioned, while slowly walking backwards towards the ship.
Thor smiled, and Rhino shook his head in astonishment at her naivety, before responding, „Diseases or other kinds of sicknesses take millions of years of evolution to fit the perfect host. Most of the species in the Universe are as fundamentally different from Humans as they could be. If something were compatible, the immune system wouldn't mistake it for anything other than pathogens, as it wouldn't even remotely resemble anything you have in your system normally. It would recognize the threat and destroy it immediately."
Wanda didn't seem to be convinced, so he tried a new approach, "And just so you know, nothing of that kind can get past that shield of yours anyway, so no reason to worry, I'm looking after you. So come on now, they are probably already waiting for us."
Wanda eventually smiled nervously and stepped up to their side before slipping back into her old, overwhelmed self from a few seconds ago, heading towards the elevator.
As they stepped in, the doors closed, and Rhino pressed a button with something written on it that Wanda couldn't decipher, after which she felt a slight tingle in her stomach, as they began to accelerate.
After a few seconds of that feeling and listening to the strange but surprisingly calming elevator music, the doors opened up again, and they headed out into what seemed to be an incredibly luxurious Private apartment.
Thor looked at Rhino and smiled before heading towards the bar. "You truly have good taste, my friend. I will help myself if you don't mind," he stated, pouring himself a substance into his glass that Tenno didn't recognize, before sitting down on a high stool.
Meanwhile Wanda walked around the room and analyzed the alien furniture, while letting her hand glide over every surface and structure, pressing every button she could find while speaking up, „Is this suites furnishing the standard all around the Universe, or is it the unnecessary Luxury I think it is," she questioned while fidgeting around with what seems to be a remote for a holo table.
While Rhino stood at the door, Tenno appeared on the Sofa next to Wanda and looked over at her with a fond smile, watching her switch through the settings, „I have some money and don't need it that much, so whenever I find a way to buy myself some comfort, I'm doing it."
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a humanoid creature came flying at Rhino's form and collided with it before anyone could react.
Thor and Wanda looked over in shock, while on Tennos' face a fond smile formed before he disappeared to repossess Rhino.
„Hey there, Mantis, how are you?" Rhino asked while patting her head, looking down into her happy eyes.
„Very good, you're finally back, we all missed you," she answered while letting go of him and jumping to the side, nearly dodging the pack of Kubrows that came dashing towards him, tackling him to the ground.
„I'm Groot," the young treelord said from atop one of the Kubrows' backs, sitting in a little saddle, clad in wooden plate armor.
„Yes, you are a mighty Knight Groot," Rhino managed to say from within the bundle of fur, while the rest of the Guardians came through the door.
„Hello there, big Guy," Quill said, smiling, while leaning against the doorframe, before analyzing his friend's new companions.
„And who might you be?" Gamora asked, interested, while intently analyzing Thor.
„Well met, I'm Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard and the nine realms, and who might you be, fair lady?" he responded proudly, while sizing her up and down.
Gamora's eyes grew wide in astonishment,„ An Asgardian? I know of your kind, my father talked about yours quite often, probably the only Being he truly respected as an equal throughout the Galaxy," she stated in amazement, a fact which Peter begrudgingly noticed, while fixing his Posture.
He subsequently tried to get over to Thor to introduce himself properly, but was cut off by Drax, who squared up in front of Thor while pointing a finger at his nose. „I never heard of your kind, but I'm the second greatest Warrior of this Group, right after our fancy silver friend over there, and I'm all about backing up my words with actions, so let's fight," he proposed, with the usual battle-hungry smile on his face.
The Guardians all collectively turned their eyes in annoyance, already accustomed to their friend's stormy nature. The next thing surprised them, though, as Thor grinned back at him with the same kind maniacal grin, while sparks began to form between his fingers.
„I will let you know, I'm way stronger than our mighty friend, so I bet you wouldn't even be able to hold a candle to my grandeur, not even talking about defeating me, but I'm always open to a fair fight, if that's what you truly want," Thor stated, not backing down.
Drax's grin grew wider as he swung an arm around Thor's shoulder, and faced Rhino, „I like him, should have come sooner, it was starting to get boring with all these weaklings," he stated before Thor retaliated the gesture and they again headed for the bar.
„Well, if that ain't a match, " Gamora commented, earning a giggle from Wanda, who in turn decided to introduce herself.
„I'm Wanda, by the way. I'm nothing special, just a human from Earth, nothing in comparison to you guys, if you can keep up with Tenno," she timidly said, while receiving a scrutinizing look from the little knight at her feet.
„I am Groot, " he stated, which only led to confusion at her side before Rhino intervened, „That is Groot, his language is a bit different from what you're used to, but you will get it real fast, and he's right, by the way, don't downplay yourself too much. He can feel that you're strong, and that's no surprise, you are my pupil after all," he proudly proclaimed, receiving a round of gasps in response.
Gamora approached and took her hand, inspecting it for something she didn't seem to find in the end, before turning to face Rhino, while leaving the confused Wanda standing beside her, still holding her hand.
„How can she be your pupil? She is nothing like you?" she questioned, „I am Groot, " receiving support from Groot in her inquiry, as he steered his kubrow between him and Wanda, pointing his wooden sword towards Rhino's face.
Rhino was stunned. Not only did his friends clearly take an immediate liking to Wanda, seemingly more than to him, and that only during their first meeting, but they also directly challenged his judgment as a teacher.
Luckily, in the next moment, Wanda came to his aid with reassuring words, "You guys don't have to worry about me, he is teaching me Magic, not anything that has something to do with turning me into whatever he is, right Tenno?"
She questioned, sadly with a somewhat uncertain tone, which Gamora immediately picked up, now standing in front of her protectively, now more than ever.
Rhino sighed while massaging what would usually be his temples, then let his shoulders hang in resignation and began to explain, "I met her on Earth while battling a rogue AI. I sensed she had great potential in the mystic arts, and if left untrained, she would inevitably take a path that would lead her to ruin. After we won, she would have to face a life in shackles, so I gave her the opportunity to work out her quirks and use them for good, while traveling alongside me, as I was the only one on that planet who truly understood what she would be going through."
At the mention of a rogue AI, Rocket listened up directly, before his ears slumped down again in boredom as he heard that it was defeated, while Gamora was throwing a bunch of skeptical looks his way.
As they didn't say anything, even after he explained everything, he chuckled once before sighing again and giving in, "And yes, she's not going to turn into something like me and have the same problems I have. That has nothing to do with magic, and is not in any way possible whatsoever,"
That seemed to do the trick, as the mood around him finally lightened and Gamora's grip on Wanda's hands began to soften.
"And hey there, I'm Rocket, just so you know, I'm the technician around here, so if you have any questions about the tech around here, don't fret to ask," he proudly stated, while puffing out his chest.
"The walking raccoon can talk," Wanda unintentionally spouted out, leading to his ego deflating just as his posture did the second he heard these words.
Meanwhile, Peter broke out into an incredible fit of laughter, witnessing the face Rocket made at the mention of the nickname he had given him all that time ago.
"He definitely looks like a raccoon, doesn't he?" he managed to get out between his fit of laughter, before receiving an elbow from Gamora into his stomach, making him crumble to the ground.
Gamora then pulled Wanda towards a sofa in the corner, who in turn only managed to say, "Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive, I just really thought you were a raccoon," before losing all strength to resist her, as Mantis also began to push her from behind.
Rocket looked up towards Rhino, who, in turn, just shrugged with his shoulders and spoke apologetically, "I'm sorry for my pupil, but she's right, you really look like a raccoon," he stated, while Quill excused himself and headed towards the bar.
Rocket only waved his hand in annoyance, and changed the subject, "I've gone qa long way with the blueprints you gave me, but I've faced a bottleneck, regarding the energy output. You've got anything on that" he questioned, while pulling up a bunch of holographic projections of the projects he was working on, covered in danger and high voltage warnings.
"Sorry, pal, can't help you there, completely different way of generating usable energy between our two systems. How I see it, that's the rate of synergy we can get at the moment, before stepping into dangerous terrain,"
Groot looked at the Warnings on Rockets display and couldn't comprehend how this wasn't supposed to be dangerous already, but decided not to worry about it anymore, before heading off with his new companion, chasing the pack that was heading out the door.