It was just starting to get light out as I slipped my jacket back on and eyeballed the holder for the batteries. I noticed that Peter was having trouble getting the aero-rig off, so I strode over and pressed the button on his back, then extended my hand out to offer it to him. He offered a smile and nodded a 'thanks,' then picked up his own jacket and started to attempt and yank it on.
"What are they called again?" Drax inquired as he wiped the guts off of his chest.
"Anulax batteries."
"Harbulary batteries..."
I shot Drax a confused look. Based on his tone, he clearly believed he had repeated exactly what Peter had said, but almost none of the letters within that word were even close.
"That's nothing like what I just said." I picked one that had fallen from the unit up and spun it back and forth in my fingers. "But they're worth thousands of units apiece, which is why the Sovereign hired us to protect them."
Upon hearing that, I quickly clicked it back into place, not wanting to take the chance of breaking it.
"Careful what you say around these folks, they're easily offended. The cost of transgression is death."
I cast a stern glance down at Rocket to warn him against opening his mouth in general. If any one of us was at risk of killing the others with their fat mouth, it was him.
The home of the Sovereign was a large, golden dome, really just digging it in how wealthy this society was. I was going to have to bite my tongue, at this rate. These people seemed unapologetic, and if this High Priestess talked down to us, I was going to have to exercise restraint.
People with faces of gold lined the inside of the dome, all the way to a large throne with the High Priestess Ayesha sitting tall. Following Peter's lead, we all bowed before her and waited for her to speak.
"We thank you, Guardians, for putting your lives on the line." Her voice was grand and commanding, filling every space in the sphere. "We 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."
"I guess I prefer to make people the old-fashioned way," Peter chimed in, as though he thought that his input was really necessary.
"Perhaps someday, you could give me a history lesson... in the archaic ways of our ancestors. For academic purposes."
I probably should have been angry, or hurt, at the High Priestess' suggestion, but instead, I was just shocked. She was certainly bold, much bolder than I. My blood slightly boiled, but I really was just too busy being stunned and put into my place by her proposition.
"I would be honored, yes. In the name of research, I think it could be pretty..." He trailed off as soon as he got a look at my face. "...repulsive. I'm not into that kind of casual..." I rolled my eyes. There was no digging himself out of this hole.
"Oh, please," I scoffed at him. "Your people promised something in exchange for our services. Bring it, and we shall gladly be on our way."
She nodded her head to the side ever-so-slightly, and from the direction she had looked in, a Sovereign pushed out a struggling figure covered in a ripped and baggy cloak. I scrunched my eyebrow as they were pushed onto the ground, but it became clear once their hood was thrown aside, revealing a girl with a shaven, blue and purple head. She and Gamora glared at each other with anger and resentment in their eyes.
"Family reunion. Yay." I lightly smacked Peter, finally indicating the moment wasn't appropriate.
"I understand she is your sister." It was almost like the High Priestess was trying to explain.
"She's worth no more to me than the bounty due for her on Xandar," Gamora stated calmly, contrasting the rough way she yanked her sister up to her feet.
"Our soldiers apprehended her attempting to steal the batteries. Do with her as you please."
Gamora whirled her sister around and shoved her out of the sphere.
"We thank you, High Priestess Ayesha." Peter turned to walk out, but the High Priestess had other ideas.
"What is your heritage, Mr. Quill?" I tried to get him to look at me, to tell him he didn't have to answer. His family was a sensitive topic, one he really didn't like to talk about.
"My mother is from Earth." He answered in the most vague way possible.
"And your father?"
I grimaced. I had seen the question coming, but there was a part of me hoping she would have just let it slide.
"He ain't from Missouri. That's all I know."
"I see it within you. An unorthodox genealogy. A hybrid that seems particularly... reckless."
That was enough for me. The way she said it and the look on her face as she did... it was all signs she meant it to be an insult. Peter's expression soured, and I reached out to grab his elbow and try to pull him out of there before he got snappy.
"You know, they told me you people were conceited douchebags, but that isn't true at all."
My eyes went wide and my jaw tightened as Rocket did that same obvious wink he had done before. We had to get out of here, now. The Sovereign gasped, and I started to usher everyone away.
"Oh, shit. I'm using my wrong eye again, aren't I? I'm sorry, that was meant to be behind your back."
As we walked away, I set a hand on Peter's upper arm. Drax laughed at something Rocket said, but I chose to not let my curiosity get the better of me and make the stupid mistake of asking.
"Rocket, you fly the ship when we get back on it."
He said nothing, but I knew he was going to do it, rather than risk facing my wrath. All I could think of was how desperately I needed a shower after all of this. But I didn't want to leave Peter alone to deal with the High Priestess' words.
"You gonna be okay if I go take a quick shower?" He tried his best to offer a sincere smile.
"Yeah, you go ahead."
Even as I headed into the bathroom and let the warm water relax my muscles, I couldn't keep my mind off of what the High Priestess had said. Peter had never known his dad, and now that there was even more mystery and intrigue surrounding him, I knew Peter couldn't keep his thoughts away from his mystery parent.
Maybe, hopefully, we'd be able to find him if he was still alive and get the answers Peter needed.