Rocket slowly walked down a dark hallway as the sound of crying children could be heard. He swallowed the thump in his throat. It was cold down there as his boots echoed with every step on the concrete floor His tail hung low his hands clinging to his blaster like a life line his heart beating hard in his chest.
This mission had turned way more personal than he could have ever imagined. His eyes scanned the hallway heavily locked cell doors on either side of him there must have been 60 cells.
He stopped at a cell as he couldn't see in it but he could hear the sound soft sob. slipping his gun on his back he Quickly plugged himself into the keypad that seemed to be locking the door. It took nothing to get through the code he watched a green light flash on the keypad as a soft click could be heard from the door.
Reaching shaky paw for the metal handle he had to really put his back into thrusting the heavy door open as he wasn't prepared for what was behind the door. There lay a small figure shivering in the dark.
Rocket could smell the heavy scent of human feces letting out a hard cough trying not to puke. He slips into the cell he turns on a flashlight as his night vision isn't what it should be from his own traumatic past. The light from the torch zoomed on what looked like a small child. Rocket felt his heart sink.
The child was naked and was curled up with a ratty old blanket around them pressed hard up against the right corner of the cell. Rocket cursed at himself This was worse than they could have ever thought.
" Pete.." Rocket spoke into his comm unit " I found the kids…" His voice was thick with emotion as tried to clear it.
" We have your signal, we will be down in a moment!!" Peter said through Rocket thought he could hear the sound of blaster fire.
The raccoon cocked his head to one side " Everything ok on your end he asked with concern.
" Everything fine just might have had more people In our area than the intell told us." The raccoon cursed at that new information.
Rocket sighed Hearing the comms go dead for now he needed to focus on these children that was his priority right now.
" Hey." He kneeled down on all fours as he could feel something wet against his gloved hand quickly wiping it on his pants. He had a feeling he knew what it was but in the moment he didn't care he wanted this kid out of here.
" Who…are…you." The little child sniffed out.
Rocket smiled down at the malnourished child. " I'm Rocket I work with the Guardian we are here to help." Trying to keep his voice soft not a lot of people got to see this side of him. He could feel his mind slip for a moment Lylla's voice echoed in his subconscious his mouth felt dry.
" You're going to be ok." He mumbled.
Reaching out a paw to the little one. " You can trust me."
The child wrapped the blanket tight around their body.
" What's your name," Rocket asked
The little child cocked their head. " 574K8," they answered back and something snapped in Rocket the little child inside him was screaming in his head and for a moment he was back in that cage.
" 89P13 look at me!!" A dark demon stood above him.
" Rocket Rock…" He felt a hand rest against his shoulder letting out a growl before snapping at whoever dared touch him.
" Jeez!!!" Peter screeched quickly pulling his hand away from the sharp teeth from the Cybernetic Raccoon. He found Rocket standing unmoved staring down at a small child his eyes glazed over like he was locked in his own memory.
Rocket shook his head as he felt dizzy he felt like his head wasn't connected to the rest of his body. He caught himself against the cold concrete wall of the cell letting out shaky breath. His hands were shaking horribly.
" Hey, you ok." Peter crouches down to meet his best friend. Rocket just nodded, not saying anything else. The child ID number as well as his own rang in his ear like a loop the nightmare he thought he had left long ago was never too far. The child in him was screaming telling him to leave and never look back.
He wasn't that child anymore but…at the same time deep down that child still resided in him crying for help.
" Let's get these kids out of here." Rocket breathed out slowly. His eyes met Peter's who nodded silently not saying anything else not questioning for an answer from him. Which he was thankful for.
The sound of alarms sounded around them as the panicked children screamed in fear.
" What's going on." Rocket slid his large blaster off his back quickly stepping back into the hallway adrenaline now flowing through him, his past forgotten.
"there coming…we need to move." Mansits frantically said she and Drax were dealing with getting the rest of the kids out of the cages. Her eyes glowed light green in the darkness of the room. Rocket snarled he could see enemies running towards them.
Rocket took notice that Nebula wasn't with them looking up at Peter with concern " Where is Nebula?" Readying his blaster. His finger hovered over the trigger. His eyes narrowed as he was ready to take the shot.
" She took a different route from us." Peter quickly said as he began to fire at the 20-plus guards with his own dual blasters. " I told Groot he needed to start the Bowie pronto."
Rocket was also trying to gun down the guards but they were in a tight space and trying not to get shot was higher on his list right now. He ducked into one of the open cells so he could really load his fusion gun.
" All these Bastar can suck my…." His comment was short-lived when he was knocked to the floor by the sound of an explosion going off way too close for his comfort. Rocket saw a nice-sized hole in the floor where he was moments ago. Looking up to see Peter had also ducked into the cell the look of surprise was on his face.
" We need to end this now." Rocket mumbled throwing his own grenade and peeking around the corner to see where it landed. Watch the metal Sphere bounce in the middle of the group of ten as he counted down from five giving Peter a signal to duck back inside the cell.
He threw himself to the ground as he covered his ear as the blast went off.
" Woah Rocket, that's a little brutal." Peter stuttered out. seeing the coronage that was left behind he was thankful Drax and Mantis had left the scene with the children as no one was left alive as body parts and shrapnel were everywhere.
Rocket got off the floor grunting at the comment " They don't deserve to live." As he stepped back into the hallway his ear twitched trying to hear any more enemies but for now, it was quiet. " Come we need to find Nebs and get these Kids out of here now." Rocket began to run ahead.
" Ok but…" Peter argued back running beside the Raccoon. " We don't kill."
Rocket rolled his eyes " You don't kill Pete…." Correcting his leader. Flipping his large gun back on his back he slipped on all four to make himself faster. He could hear more footsteps starting to come up behind them.
His mind slipped to a child in that cell as the ID number wouldn't stop ringing in his ear. He could feel his own scars on his chest start to itch 89P13 echoed in his mind. He wasn't going to allow anyone of these pricks to live through this. He wasn't going to allow anyone to be a victim like him.
" Nebula you might want to tell us where you are," Peter spoke into their comm system.
" I'm right on top of you." She said breaking out of the vent system and landing in front of them. Her metallic eyebrow looked down at Rocket " I did what you asked."
Rocket nodded in understanding as the silence was thick. As more sirens could be heard around them.
" Ok that's awesome whatever you did but we need to get out now," Peter yelled over the noise All he got was a grunt from both cybernetic beings. As they ran through the long concrete corridor.
Rocket skidded to a halt slipping something out of his pocket. Nebula stops " Not yet." She quickly explained, " We need to be on the ship before we can even think about detonation."
The raccoon sighed Flipping the control back in his pocket of his uniform. They were able to make it outside as it took a lot of shooting and fighting and a whole lot of blood was spilled from Nebula and Rocket to get out into the sunshine.
" Groot get us out of here," Peter called out from the cargo hold. As he watched Rocket launch himself into the air. Kneeling down to catch his teammate's hand brings him safely into the ship.
Nebula quickly shut the entry doors as the ship shook flying up into the sky. Rocket stood in front of the bay windows. His tail swished behind him as he let out a sneer his lips parted slightly. Watching the ground become farther and farther.
Looking at Nebula who nodded at him.
" I'm sorry Pete." He said as he slipped the detonator out of his pocket and pressed down on the red button.
Peter quickly made a move to stop him as realization hit him but it was too late. watching in horror as the left part of the compound exploded and then a chain reaction started as Shrapnel flew and smoke bellowed in the sky.
Rocket huffed at Nebula's work as the smoke cleared all that was left was rubble there was no way anyone could have survived it and at the moment he didn't regret any of it.
" You both went off Script." Peter was basically yelling looking between the two in shock and anger. " We don't kill people!!"
" You don't kill," Rocket muttered once more. Slipping the control in his pocket once more. " I on the other hand don't give two flarks whether these asses live or not." Walking out to of cargo hold without saying another word to his leader.
Slipping around a corner and leaning against the wall adrenaline was quickly leaving his blood stream leaving him shaking. He looked down at his gloved hand to see blood and human feces caked them. That's what he got for running on all four. He could hear his once-abuser yelling in his mind.
" I didn't do all those surgeries on you for all my hard work to be undone stand up and walk normally P13." Sire's voice rang in his ear like a bad dream making his stomach twist as he took a slow breath trying to calm himself.
Quickly moving to the change room to change out of Guardian's uniform and clean himself up. He was going to be useless if he had a panic attack in the middle of the ship. Slipping his uniform off as he washed off his paws watching the blood swirling around the drain he could feel his head spin for a moment gripping the sink as the feeling drifted away as fast as it came.
Slipping on one of his flight suits for now just in case they need to engage anyone who might want to come after the kids. But he didn't think anyone would come not after that explosion. Sliding back into the main hallways his ears picked up a soft cry. He walked towards the sound his nails clicking on the metal floor. He found a small child alone in their spare rooms on the Bowie.
Their back was turned away from Rocket they were wearing a sweater that was two sizes too big and baggy pants that someone had rolled up so they wouldn't trip on them. He could feel his mouth go dry he wasn't sure what he was going to say but he knew he had to say something.
" Hey, kid." His voice came out softer than normal.
As the little one turned around and looked down at him tears rolling down their face their body was shaking with fear.
" I'm not going to hurt you," Rocket whispered, raising his paws but not daring to come closer.
The child sniffed but didn't speak and hit him in the moment that maybe some of the children might have not been able to gain the development verbal communication. His heart clenched with sympathy how was he the one in the moment that was able to speak? This was some fucked up reality he was living right now.
Reaching out his paw to the child " Come on I won't hurt you." Swallowing down the heaviness that Settled his throat. He watches the little ones take their hand in his. He walked to a room where they tended to look after large groups of people on missions like this.
They reached the room and there were about 60 plus kids all around the floor, cots and sleeping bags the child let go of his paw and ran to a group of older kids. Who seems to recognize them?
" We are bringing them to Nova Corps in a couple of hours." Peter walked next to the Raccoon leaning against the wall his voice didn't seem to hide a hint of anger from before. " I….forget that my story is a lot like theirs."
Rocket looked up in confusion and then hit him. Peter like these children would be classified as being a child trafficking case.
" You doing okay." Rocket asked
" I'll be ok." Peter sighed. " I'm going to help Mantis with some food." Patting the raccoon on the shoulder before leaving the way he came.
Rocket walked to the storage unit opened the door and began to pull out toys. Toys that used to be his adopted sons. But was now a young adult not needing the comfort of them anymore. But that didn't mean these children didn't deserve them. He placed toy ships and dolls and stuffed creatures from different planets on the floor.
He watched a young boy reach out for a puzzle, their eyes looking up at him. Rocket felt himself slip onto his knees. He felt metal scrap against bone but in the moment he didn't care.
" Here all show you have to play." He said gently as his hand flew across the handheld puzzle finishing it without a second thought As he heard the sound of awes and clamping rang around the room. He blushed at the attention as he allowed the boy to try.
He heard scoff behind him his head turned toward the noise as there was a group of older teens that didn't seem impressed with his ability.
" What?" Rocket scoffed back.
" Your little tricks aren't going to work on us." A female voice said. Rocket eyes landed on the girl who was sitting on the cot her hair was blonde and she was wearing spare clothing that looked too big for her just like the first child. Malnourished and angry.
Rocket walked to the three teens " Wasn't a trick." His rough voice was back in full force. He knew he couldn't baby them. He needed to be honest and true to what they deserved and that is what he was going to give them the full and honest truth.
" How can we trust you." A boy asked they were a good foot taller than the raccoon. He was trying to look brave and strong Rocket knew the act.
Rocket sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. His cybernetic was starting to bug him. " You can' he said slowly before continuing. "I know my words will likely fall on deaf ears." He said crossing his arms and his eyes looking at the teens who seemed surprised by his comment
" What you all went through is not something that anyone should have to go through." Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Pausing for a moment before continuing.
"You are likely scared and feeling numb but don't let the darkness cloud who you truly are but that doesn't mean you allow anyone to walk over you." Stay with each other be there for each other and the pain might not be as bad. In a couple of years, the pain might not even hurt as much."
He got nods from the group. He knew that was likely all they were going to be able to process for now. He felt a tap on his shoulder he turned his head to see a kid smiling down at him.
" Sir…"
" Rocket the name Rocket." He said clearing his throat his tail shifted.
" Mr Rocket do you have any fun game we could play with a group." Rocket for a moment was about to shoe them away then he thought of the game Lylla had made up in their cages.
The game helped Rocket and his Sister gain confidence in their verbal communication and If played with few rules then it could turn into a hilarious mess. he pulled himself onto a table as the kids and teen sat down looking up at him.
" Yes, I have a game we can all play." His brown eyes looked around the room. Clearing his throat. "There were 3 friends named Lylla Teefs and Floor." He could hear some giggle at the names and scoff from the teens as he gave them a wink.
He pointed to a teen who scoffed at his name choices " What are Lylla Teefs and Floor doing?" he asked. As the teen began to tell a short blurb about how they were all eating around a table A little girl shouted what they were eating. The story began to take shape as there were giggles even the teen started to loosen up.
Rocket could feel the energy change in the room from despair to joy even allowing himself to smile. Yes, they were kids and they went through hell but that doesn't mean there can't be joy in the simple things. He thought to himself. In that moment he felt like that little child inside of him began to slip out.
His eyes caught the window across from him. He built a ship and he was going to take these kids across the blue and beautiful sky that was his mission even if his Original family didn't get that. But that didn't mean he couldn't do that for others.
His name was Rocket and he had family and friends he was a part of the Guardians he wouldn't change his life for anything.