"Akagi, should we make a move now?" Atago asked from the side.
Akagi shook her head. "Xandar's defenses are not weak. Their Nova Corps has considerable fighting power. Even if we wanted to invade, it would be difficult. Unless we destroy the planet completely, but that is impossible. The population here is no less than Earth's. If we can bring our Master's glory to this world and build a temple for Him here, He will surely be pleased."
Hearing this, the other ship girls all nodded in agreement.
Kaga added, "You're right, Akagi. Xandar is a highly advanced world. Its intelligent beings are a valuable resource for our Master. Destroying it would benefit us nothing, nor does it match the teachings of the Church of Life. Turning it into a world of faith is the best option."
Akagi chuckled. "Kaga, it's rare for you to agree with me. You've grown quite a bit."
"Tch, I only care about our Master. He is everything to me. As long as it makes Him happy, I will do it," Kaga shot back with a glare.
"Don't act like you're the only one. Aren't we all doing this for Him?" Akagi pouted.
"Alright, stop bickering. Building a temple on Xandar won't be easy. We'll need a plan," Atago interrupted.
"What we need is an opportunity," Monica suddenly spoke up.
"What kind of opportunity?" the others asked, looking at her curiously.
"When Xandar falls into danger. If we appear as our Master's emissaries and save them, then we can spread His glory naturally," Monica replied with a sly grin.
"Why does that sound so familiar?" muttered Nymph, the electronic warfare angel piloting the starship, with a laugh.
Akagi smirked. "How about splitting into two sides? One group pretends to be heroes, and the other plays villains."
"No need to pretend. Ronan is already after the Orb. He'll show up soon enough," Atago reasoned.
"That guy serves Thanos, just like the Chitauri who invaded Earth. None of them are good," Nymph added.
Akagi nodded. "Perfect. We'll wait for him to appear. When the time comes, we can seize the Orb and get rid of him in one move. Two birds with one stone."
...
"Hey, isn't that Star Prince?" a Nova officer teased when he saw Quill.
Quill's face darkened. "Star-Lord! I'm Star-Lord!"
"Oh, right. Not surprising for a thief to have a nickname." The officer chuckled.
"Thief? My name has the aura of a legendary outlaw. Can't you tell?" Quill grumbled.
"Not really. But it doesn't matter. You're under arrest, so come with us." The officer shrugged.
At the Nova Corps headquarters, an officer read through the prisoners' profiles.
"Gamora, cybernetic enhancements, trained into an assassin, adopted daughter of the Mad Titan Thanos. Sent with Nebula to assist Ronan, suggesting collusion between Ronan and Thanos.
Subject 89P13, calling himself Rocket. Result of illegal genetic and cybernetic experiments.
Groot, humanoid plant, companion and muscle for 89P13.
Peter Quill, from Terra. Abducted as a child and raised by Yondu Udonta's Ravagers. Essentially one of them."
Another officer shook his head. "What a bunch of criminals."
"Exactly. Send them all to Kyln Prison."
...
Inside the maximum-security Kyln Prison, Rocket bragged as he was escorted in chains. "Doesn't matter where you lock me up. I've broken out of 22 prisons already, and this won't be different."
He turned to Quill. "Be grateful for that woman. Without her, I'd have cashed in your bounty, and Yondu's Ravagers would have torn you to pieces."
Quill smirked. "Plenty have tried to kill me, and none succeeded. Like I'd get caught by a tree and a talking raccoon."
"Raccoon? What's that?" Rocket scowled.
"You are one, idiot." Quill snickered.
"Shut it. I'm one of a kind!" Rocket snapped.
Quill ignored him and turned to Gamora. "So, why'd you try to steal the Orb from me? What is it really?"
"I don't waste words on petty thieves," Gamora shot back coldly.
"Hah, look at you. Thanos's little lapdog, talking like you're righteous," Rocket mocked.
Gamora retorted, "I told you, I betrayed Ronan. I was going to sell it to a third party."
"I am Groot," the tree said suddenly.
Quill rolled his eyes. "Wow, that was refreshing. Same line for the 89th time."
"He can only say those three words, in that exact order. Nothing else," Rocket explained.
"I'm at my limit. If he keeps saying that, I'll hit him," Quill muttered.
"Try it, and see if he doesn't beat you down," Rocket laughed.
Their banter ended when the guards shoved them into the prison block.
Almost immediately, prisoners began pelting Gamora with trash. "Murderer! You worthless piece of trash!"
Quill looked at her in surprise, not understanding why everyone seemed to know her.
Rocket explained, "Many here lost family to Ronan and his lackeys. They won't forgive her. She won't last a day."
Just then, a huge, tattooed alien approached Quill. "Hey, you're a pretty one. Tonight, you're mine." He reached out and caressed Quill's cheek with a lewd smile.
Quill's face darkened. He had no weapons, and he wasn't strong enough to fight back. But before he could think further, Groot stepped forward. His vine-like arm wrapped around the alien and lifted him off the ground.
"I am Groot!"
With a slam, Groot smashed him into the floor, knocking him out cold. He raised his arms like a champion, though the pose looked ridiculous.
Rocket barked, "Listen up! This guy's with us. If you want to get to him, you'll have to go through us first!"
The other prisoners froze, intimidated by Groot's show of strength.
Quill, now emboldened, puffed up his chest. "Yeah, I'm with them! So back off!" He quickly followed behind Groot, wearing a smug expression.
Gamora sighed at his shamelessness and followed as well.
Thus, their unlikely group began to form.
...
That night, while they slept, a group of prisoners dragged Gamora out of her cell.
"You lapdog! Ronan killed our families. Now you'll pay! You're sentenced to death!" one prisoner shouted, raising a knife.
But before he could strike, a massive figure covered in tattoos appeared. The others immediately froze.
"It should be me," he said coldly. "Ronan murdered my wife and daughter. No one has more right to kill her than I do."
The man was Drax the Destroyer.
He grabbed Gamora by the throat and lifted her up. "Ronan's dog, die!"
Before he could stab her, Quill jumped up. "Wait! She betrayed Ronan. He's hunting her right now. If you kill her, you'll never get your revenge."
Drax paused. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. If you stay with her, Ronan will come. Then you'll have your chance," Quill reasoned.
"Really? Ronan will come here?" Drax asked, trembling with anticipation.
"Of course! I'm Star-Lord. I never lie," Quill declared shamelessly.
"Star-Lord? What's that, something edible?" Drax asked blankly.
Quill's face twitched. "Forget it. You people are hopeless."
...
Later, during mealtime, Rocket laid out his escape plan. "I need three things. First, a guard's wristband to open the doors. Second, that big yellow power battery from the watchtower. Third, that guy's prosthetic leg." He pointed at a one-legged prisoner.
Quill blinked. "The first two I get, but what's with the leg?"
"None of your business. Just get it. That's your job!" Rocket barked.
"As soon as we have the battery, the escape begins."
Before they could plan further, alarms blared. Everyone turned, dumbfounded, to see Groot had already ripped the giant battery out of the wall.
"..." The group fell silent.
"Is he always this brainless?" Quill muttered.
"Plan's started early. Let's go!" Rocket shouted.
The guards' robots surrounded Groot. "Put it down now, or we'll open fire!"
"I am Groot!" he roared, lashing out with vine-whips and smashing the robots apart.
"Great. Here we go." Quill sighed, kicking one robot away as chaos erupted.
1309 Words Count
***
Hey everyone! hope you enjoy this chapter. I also updated the cover, hope you like it too! I put an effort on it. My laptop is now broken, so I'm glued with my phone. Please support me with Power Stone to make this book visible to more readers, and join in my Patreon for 40+ advance chapters ahead of the Webnovel.
Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations