Space Chase

- - - - -

A crack ripped through the skies above them with a loud clap before closing again. It happened more than once ever since they arrived. It was like the section in space glitched. Ana could feel it. It was another dimension trying to open. And something was causing the cracks.

"Show time a-holes!" Peter announced, as he observed their surroundings. Ana had been with the Guardians of the Galaxy for about two weeks now. She had gotten used to their weirdness and considered them all as friends. She was very appreciative of their help they gave ever since she met them, and frankly she thought it was fun being around them. It was going to be hard saying goodbye.

They were all on a floating platform with large spheres containing energy situated around the edges. There were many platforms and orbs circling the whole group of planets. They were hired by the Sovereign to guard their batteries from an inter-dimensional beast that kept feeding on the energy.

"This is all so... awesome."

Peter Quill glanced sideways to the brunette beside him, before looking back to the device in his hands chuckling. It was a modified video game console he had from his childhood. "You'll get used to it." He commented.

Ana stood in black pants with a red bomber jacket — a gift from the Guardians — over a white long sleeve shirt, carrying her sword over one shoulder while her eyes darted across the floating golden platform they were on. Groot stood right next to her, resting a tiny hand on her shoelace. He spotted a couple of Orlonis in front of him, and he charged at them, getting the wrong idea.

Ana watched him scurry off before she could call him back, and turned to Rocket. The creature was busy putting together a series of speakers using parts and wires from the Milano. Ana noticed and pulled a nervous face, quickly glancing at Peter to check if he noticed half of his ship was being mixed and stitched. He wasn't aware yet.

"Rocket, is that my tablet?" Ana asked, recognising the device in his hands. He looked up at her, right after he removed the monitor and ripped a few wires out of it.

"No."

Ana rolled her eyes at his cheeky tone. "Please put it back together when we're done." She exhaled heavily.

He gave her a thumbs up prior to sticking a few sparky wires in his mouth. Ana frowned, before turning and walking closer to Gamora. She was checking her blaster and fiddling around with the components. They all wore matching aero-rigs, apart from Drax and Groot.

"It'll be here any minute." Peter told the group, looking at the red dot on his device.

"Which will be its loss." Gamora said.

"I thought your thing was a sword." He responded.

Gamora gave Peter a look. "We've been hired to stop an inter-dimensional beast from feeding on those batteries' energy, and I'm going to stop it with a sword?"

Ana squinted at her sword.

"I- It's just swords were your thing and guns were mine. But I guess we're both doing guns now. I just didn't know that." Peter mumbled.

Ana rocked on her feet. "I'll stick with my sword. Shake it up a bit." She shook her hands for effect, smiling when Gamora chuckled at her.

"Drax, why aren't you wearing one of Rocket's aero-rigs?" Gamora asked, shaking her head disapprovingly. The Destroyer was standing off to the side in silence, holding his two blades by his sides.

"It hurts." Drax said quietly, turning his head.

"Hurts?" Gamora and Ana repeated, while the latter snickered.

"I have sensitive nipples." He said lowly, hoping one person in particular wouldn't hear.

Rocket heard. And he burst out laughing.

"My nipples hurt, oh goodness me!" He mocked, feigning being in pain. Ana wouldn't laugh at Drax in front of his face so she had to suppress the sounds bubbling up inside.

"What about him? What's he doing?" Drax questioned roughly, pointing an accusing finger at the raccoon.

Ana pursed her lips. "Taking Quill's ship apart as usual." She voiced, glancing at the PA system.

"I'm finishing this so we can listen to tunes while we work." Rocket added, holding a cord.

"How is that a priority?" Drax wondered incredulously.

"Blame Quill!" Rocket shrieked, motioning to their captain. "He's the one who loves music so much!"

"Nah, I actually agree with Drax on this one, that's hardly important right now." Peter said.

"Oh, okay. Sure, Quill." Rocket began winking with his left eye in front of everyone. Ana face palmed.

"No, seriously. I side with Drax." Peter insisted.

"No, I understand that you're being very serious right now." Rocket retorted, continuing to wink.

"I can clearly see you winking." Drax pointed out.

"Just stop it." Ana held her hand out. "You're using the wrong eye anyways."

"Damn, I'm using my left eye?" Rocket stopped. Groot roared and pushed an Orloni over, before swinging his fist into the face of another one. He pivoted and pumped his fists, clearly ready to punch something else.

"I am Groot." He grunted.

"They were not looking at you funny." Rocket told him dismissively.

Ana sneaked her way over to Rocket and crouched to his level. "Play 'Mr. Blue Sky' first, okay?" She whispered.

Rocket winked in response.

Just then, another crack sounded and this time the inter-dimensional beast flew out — the Abilisk. Its tentacles were fluttering around while its massive jaw with countless rows of teeth chomped and snarled their way. The pink flesh was wrinkled and Ana could spot a cut on its neck.

She made a mental note to aim for that weakness.

"That's intense." Rocket commented.

Drax roared at the Abilisk, drawing his blades and leading the Guardians to the fight. Ana half walked half jogged toward the massive beast. Her focus was on Groot as he tried and failed to plug in the cords for the PA system. He tried once more and dropped it when it connected.

Ana smiled when the music played and activated her aero-rig, blasting towards the Abilisk to help her friends fight it. The Guardians ducked, weaved and dodged the alien's tentacles while trying to shoot and cut their way into the powerful creature. Groot was dancing in the meantime. Peter was knocked to the side when the tail bashed into him and he ungraciously face planted into a row of stairs near Groot while the treelike creature swayed.

Ana did her best to get underneath the creature to pierce the cut it already had with her sword. It was difficult because of the amount of times she would have to concentrate to get out of its grip when it tried to grab her. Drax was thrown and he crashed onto the speakers, making Groot yell at him and attack his shoulder.

Ana whimpered nervously when the Abilisk almost chomped her head off. She ducked underneath its neck and aimed to send her sword into the cut. The tip of her blade inched towards it, but before she could cut into it, the Abilisk jumped up high and ate Drax.

Ana rolled out before she was squashed under it and yelled unexpectedly when a tentacle grabbed her. Her sword slipped out of her grip and it fell to the floor with a clank. She reached for it but was too far away. Ana then used the Eldritch Bands to grab it off the ground and just before the Abilisk could throw her into its mouth, she clutched the sword and brought it down hard, chopping part of its tentacle off.

She quickly activated the aero-rigs before she could plummet and zoomed away, shivering. "Gross!" She exclaimed, watching the tentacle she cut off wriggle around.

Rocket joined her and shot his blaster at it. He stopped for a few seconds to give Ana a look. "Drax, the idiot, jumped inside that thing! You got any suggestions on how to get him out?"

Ana shrugged. "Wait till it goes?" She whistled, hinting at the beast excreting with a cheeky grin.

Rocket threw his head back, roaring with laughter. "I wanna see that!"

A limb was coming straight for them and Ana quickly spelled a Mystic shield. The yellow circles whirred around, pushing the alien's tentacle away. Rocket gave her a thumbs up, before flying around the shield and shooting at the pink limb.

Behind her, Ana heard Peter yell. "Guys! Get it to look up!"

"Got it!" Ana replied and zoomed higher until she was above it. She spelled numerous mystic mandalas and launched each one at the Abilisk. It roared at her, emitting a rainbow gas from its mouth. It worked though, as Rocket and Ana continued to distract it from up above.

Gamora dropped her weapon and grabbed her sword. Peter was taken by one of its tentacles and he cried out. Ana drew her sword and severed it, backing away when the fluid spluttered out. She looked to Quill who whined, covered in the goo.

Ana laughed.

Gamora leaped forward and plunged her sword into the wound, descending as it opened. The Abilisk screamed as it dropped, dead. The wound opened as the rest of the Guardians and Ana landed next to Gamora. Drax tumbled out and he laughed, standing with his knives up high.

"Yes! I have single handedly vanquished the beast!"

Groot picked up a piece of debris and threw at him. Drax glanced at him, confused. "What?"

Ana removed the aero-rig from her back and smiled at Gamora. "Nice one."

Gamora nodded. "Thank you."

They all went to clean up before meeting with the Sovereign. Drax patted his chest with a cloth, staring at the large hubs of energy. "What are they called again?"

"Anulax batteries." Peter answered, putting on his jacket.

Ana gathered her hair and placed it in a ponytail. Drax surveyed the battery. "Harbulary batteries." He tried to repeat.

Ana looked in-between Quill and Drax, before pointing at her ears. "I think his ears a full of goo."

Drax looked at her. "I do not eat poo."

Peter rubbed his forehead, sighing heavily.

"That's nothing like what I just said." Peter told Drax, referring to the batteries. "But they're worth thousands of units a piece which is why the Sovereign hired us to protect them." He said as he lead them to the gold temple.

"I wonder what they're like." Ana said as she clasped her hands in front of her.

Peter glanced at her, then the rest of his team. "Trust me, when you see them, you'll be disappointed. Careful what you say around these folks, they're easily offended. The cost of transgression is death."

The Guardians entered the temple and stood in front of Ayesha, the High Priestess. Ana had to keep her eyes from widening. They were all gold. From head to toe. Even their eyes were yellow. They all wore the finest clothing. Not even a hair was out of place.

Ayesha sat in her throne that was seemed to be built around her figure. "We thank you Guardians for putting your lives on the line. I could not risk the lives of our own Sovereign citizens. Every citizen is born exactly as designed by the community. Impeccable, both physically and mentally. We control the DNA of our progeny, germinating them in birthing pods."

Ana blinked, mouthing a wow.

"I guess I prefer to make people the old fashion way." Peter stated, smiling suggestively.

"Well," Ayesha smirked. "Perhaps someday you could give me a history lesson in the archaic ways of our ancestors. For academic purposes."

"I would be honoured, yes, in the name of research. I think that could be, uh, pretty-" One look at Gamora and Peter stopped in the middle of his sentence, "Repulsive. I'm not into that kinda casual-"

"Oh, please." Gamora sighed exasperatedly, stepping closer to Ayesha. "You people promised something in exchange for our services. Bring it and we shall gladly be on our way."

Ayesha merely lifted her index finger and that made two soldiers come in with a hooded figure in their grip. Ana froze, remembering the alien she met on Sanctuary, the one who gave her the nasty scar on the side of her face. The size of the figure relaxed her and she watched as it kneeled along with the Guardians.

One of the soldiers ripped the hood from her head and revealed the woman they came here for. Gamora's sister Nebula.

"Family reunion. Yaaaay." Peter mumbled.

"I understand she is your sister." Ayesha stated.

Ana inched closer to Drax, leaning toward him to whisper. "Gamora's sister looks dangerous."

"She is. I suggest keeping away from her. Especially when you're alone." He replied, making her frown.

Gamora grabbed Nebula, roughly standing her up. "She is worth no more to me than the bounty due for her on Xandar." She sneered, forcing Nebula to walk.

"Our soldiers apprehended her attempting to steal the batteries. Do with her as you please."

They passed Ana on their way out, who tried to go along with them. Peter grabbed her before she could leave, shooting her a look to not leave them just yet.

The attempt to flee didn't go unnoticed.

"And who are you?"

Ana didn't know that the High Priestess was talking directly to her and was startled when Drax nudged her elbow. The man have her a pointed look and directed his irises to the throne. Ana cleared her throat before smoothing down her red jacket.

"Ana Michaels of Earth." Another nudge. "High Priestess."

Ayesha brought a gold hand to her chin as she hummed in thought. Her piercing eyes made Ana fidget uncomfortably on the spot. It was like she saw right through her. Ana quickly glanced at the Guardians for any idea on what to do and they all shrugged. She never dealt with people like the Sovereign. She was a rookie in this type of field.

"Interesting. Why aren't you on Earth?" Ayesha pressed.

Before she could hold her tongue, Ana replied. "I don't think it's any of your business."

"Give it to her." Rocket encouraged.

Gamora walked forward and wove her hand around Ana's elbow, tugging on it as a sign to stop talking and start moving. Ana happily complied and turned on her heels, joining Gamora at the door. They waited there, away from Ayesha.

"We thank you, High Priestess." Peter began to bow.

"What is your heritage, Mr. Quill?" Ayesha' voice stopped them from leaving.

Peter was surprised by the sudden question. "My mother is from Earth."

"And your father?" Ayesha prodded.

Peter paused for a moment, before replying. "He ain't from Missouri. That's all I know." He said, smiling uncomfortably. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to go.

Ayesha was staring at him intently. "I see it within you. An unorthodox genealogy. A hybrid that seems particularly... reckless." She said, somewhat out of disapproval.

Rocket spoke up. "You know, they told me you people were conceded douchebags." He started, "But that isn't true at all."

Ana groaned when he chose the wrong eye to wink. Again.

Ana could hear every Sovereign citizen gasp in offence. She smirked to herself and rubbed it in by nodding along with Rocket. A few of them glared at her. She chuckled in response, flashing her sword as a warning. Gamora elbowed her in response.

"Oh shit, I'm using my wrong eye again, aren't I?" Rocket questioned. He turned to Ayesha as the others began filing out. "I'm sorry. That was meant to be behind your back." Drax grabbed him and pulled him along.

"Count yourself blessed they didn't kill you." Drax whispered.

"You're telling me." Rocket snickered as Ana joined him. He looked up at the warriors, showing them the glowing batteries in his pack. "You wanna buy some batteries?"

Drax threw his head back and laughed while Ana smiled. Rocket shushed Drax even though he was struggling to keep the laughter inside himself.

"Come on, Rocket." Ana hauled the raccoon on her shoulder and he chuckled.

"What a bunch of jerks."

- - -

Ana packed away her weapons and was sitting with Peter just when he apologised to Gamora for flirting with Ayesha.

"You're a complete idiot, Quill." She stated once Gamora and Nebula were out of view.

Peter glanced at her, offended. "What?"

"Flirting with the priestess in front of Gamora? If your plan is to ruin anything good between the two of you, it's working." Ana remarked.

Peter rested his arm on the overhead threshold, sighing. "I didn't mean to. Me and my big mouth." He mumbled.

"Gamora is not the one for you, Quill."

Drax stood behind Peter, startling him. Ana knew he was there the entire time but didn't think to let Peter know about it.

"There are two types of beings in the universe," Drax continued, "Those who dance and those who do not. I first met my beloved at a war rally. Everyone in the village flailed about dancing except for one woman. My Ovette. I knew immediately she was the one for me."

Ana awed, crossing her legs as she sat on a metal box.