Chapter 29
We dock next to the Shadowblade and we all disembark it, my crew and the kids going toward the ship to get checked out. "Nebula, get the kids who snuck off started on work after they've been checked over and Tex okayed it. The ones who stayed, get someone to escort them to the town square."
"Aye, Captain." Indri looks at me, annoyed, and I look down at him.
"That isn't fair, Rogue."
"Oh really? How?"
"Haven't we had enough happen to us today?"
"Would any of it had happened if you had snuck off?"
"Maybe."
"No worries. The other kids will be helping you soon enough. All the ones who snuck off are going to be making sure Stark and Leta do shit right."
"So we're babysitting and working? That definitely isn't fair!"
"Too damned bad. Get going, kid." He glares at me but does follow the others and I look at Irani.
"You do not have to escort me to my station, Rogue."
"Oh, I know. I would like to and I don't want to be around when the kids learn what they're going to be doing." We start walking, with the Captains and First Mates of my family, and she looks at me.
"What would that be?"
"The hangar needs a deep cleaning, first off. So does the entire ship. And Orlonis... Yeah, enough said there. Fucking creepy ass things," I mutter under my breath with a slight shudder and put my hands in my pockets as we walk, noticing people stopping to stare.
"Is she finally getting what she deserves?"
"No, we don't do executions. A freak like her? We should make an exception." I snort softly and continue walking next to Irani. "Why isn't she wearing any cuffs?" Someone steps in front of us and I look at them, seeing Horuz and Oblo in them. Their parents, maybe?
"Nova Prime, Ma'am... I don't mean to be rude, but why is she here and without cuffs?"
"She is here because she has the right to be and she has no cuffs because she is not under arrest, Miss." The woman looks at me and I look back at her.
"My boys were killed while helping you... And I knew Jay's mother... He was too good of a person for you," She says simply before leaving and I shrug one shoulder slightly, agreeing with that. We continue walking while people continue to talk shit about me and I maintain an aura of indifference.
We get to her station and I bow my head slightly to her with the others. "Good day, Captains."
"Good day, Nova Prime, Ma'am." She heads inside and we head back to the docks.
I notice something come flying at my head a moment too late and get beamed in the skull with an empty bottle that was thick. It shatters on impact, though, and I lose my footing slightly, stumbling for a short moment before I regain it. "Get the Hell out of here, you murdering freak!" Someone yells from my opposite side and I get beamed in the other side of my skull with a rock, feeling blood starting to trickle down.
I wipe the blood away and undo my duster as I whistle sharply. My arrow soars out and circles over the heads of the crowd, making most of them gasp while the rest of them duck away from us. I glance at the crowd and wipe the blood away again. "Ya a'ight, Kid?" I nod shortly and Yondu glares around the crowd.
"Who the 'Ell threw tha'?" He barks and no one steps forward.
"She deserved it! FREAK!"
"She should be in jail! FELON!"
"CRIMINAL!"
"FREAK!" They start chanting that and I keep a blank face as I glance at them while the Captains and First Mates watch me.
"Girl?" Yondu prompts carefully and I whistle sharply, arrow circling above the heads of the crowd once more before soaring back into its holster.
"Yeah! Get out of here!" They cheer and I go toward a group of them. The group shrinks back and I stop a few steps away from them.
"You're in my way. Move." They stand taller and I look at them. "You want me out of here soon? Move."
"Never," They sneer and one of them spits in my face. I wipe it away and look down at them. "So just leave!"
"I need to get in there and you want me to leave. You move now and I'll leave sooner. You don't move, I'm going to wait. I have a while."
"So do we." They link arms and I shrug slightly, seamlessly sitting on the ground. "What are you doing?"
"Waiting." I take out my fighting staff and unfold it easily, resting it across my lap. "As I said, I have a while." They glare at me and I smirk. "Unless you'd like to move now?" They don't move and I shrug, folding my hands on top of the staff while keeping a decent posture.
"Mom! Behind you!" Gamora yells and I move my body quickly to be on one knee with my staff pointed at someone sneaking up on me with a bottle.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." I shake my head slightly and keep the staff pointed at him as I stand. Gamora runs over and glares at him. "Thanks for the heads up, kid," I whisper and she barely nods.
"What the Hell are you trying to do?"
"You're still recruiting children?" Someone yells from behind me and I pull Gamora to be in front of me when someone tries to grab her.
"I'm her daughter, you asshole!" I notice Tony and Pepper had the rest of the kids and see someone grab Stark and Leta, pulling out a blaster seamlessly. I shoot over her shoulder and she looks at me along with everyone else.
"That was a warning shot. I'm done being nice. Put my kids down or I'll blow your fucking brains out, asshat," I snarl and she scoffs.
"Your aim isn't good enough to hit me from here with that tiny blaster," She sneers and I hand Gamora the staff, charging up my blaster.
"I'll give you until three to put them down. One," She holds them closer and they were trying hard to get away. "Two." I adjust where I'm pointing it slightly and she has to set them down when they bite her but holds onto their dusters. "Three." I blast her in the shoulder and she lets go of Stark.
"AAH!" He screeches and kicks her in the shin before he and Leta go over to Tony and Pepper.
"You shot me!" The lady screams and I feel my lip curl back into a snarl.
"I warned you." I turn the charge of the blaster off and put it back, looking at the kids then the group in my way. "You get two seconds to move or I'm moving you myself."
"What happened to you having a while?"
"Your cunt friend over there made me lose my patience. Move." They don't move an inch so I step forward to follow through with what I said and they scatter. "That's what I fucking thought. Come on." The kids come over with Tony and Pepper and we all go into the store.
"Did you remember the list?" Petey asks and I dig through my pockets, coming up with nothing.
"I got it," Gamora pulls out a holopad and I give her a short quirk of the corner of my mouth, looking at my wrist com.
"Alright. Go get the stuff on it. Hurry up." They nod and converse quickly before going to get the stuff while Stark and Leta stay by us, holding onto my duster tightly. I crouch and check them over quickly, brushing their hair out of their face gently.
"Mama..." Leta hugs me and Stark does too.
"It's OK. You're OK." I gently pat their backs, still awkward with hugs sometimes, and they lean against me a bit. I shift so I'm on one knee and look at them. "Hey, guys," They look at me. "Who's idea was it to go to Contraxia?"
"In-In," Leta says with a yawn and Stark rubs his eyes.
"Indri? Anyone else's?" They shake their head and I smile gently at them. "Thanks, kiddos." I gently ruffle their hair and they smile tiredly at me.
"Mom, we need units," Petey calls and I lead the two of them to the counter.
"How much is it?" The Krylorian gulps at me and stumbles over his words while I look over the supplies, adding it up myself. "About two hundred, right?" He nods slowly and I hand him a unit card. "Here."
"I... I can add a discount...?" He offers and I shrug one shoulder, looking at my wrist com again.
"Whatever, man. Could you just hurry up? Cuz I've got somewhere else to be..."
"Of course. My apologies..." He swipes the unit card and I take it when he hands it back to me. "Good day..."
"Yeah, you too. Come on." The kids, minus Morgan, grab the bags and I lift the younger kids, noticing Quill wasn't here while the other Captains and First Mates were watching me as I head out the door, having Stark get on my back while I hold Leta on my opposite hip so I can grab my blaster if I need to.
The crowd was still there and looks at me when I come out with the rest of them. I walk toward the docks calmly with the others and my kids stay close. Stark gently nuzzles into my neck while Leta nuzzles into the side of my chest and they both fall asleep, Stark starting to slide off of my back. "Petey, help me out, here." He carefully takes Stark and I take some of his bags, holding them in my hand that was also holding Leta. I pat his shoulder gently, slightly awkwardly too, and he grins slightly at me, knowing I'm awkward when it comes to showing affection and gratitude.
"No problem, Mom." I nod slightly and drop my arm, continuing to the docks.
"Wow. You're still insanely awkward," Martinex scoffs and I flip him off easily as we board the ship. I unlock the door to my Quarters and the kids drop the bags just inside at my instruction.
"Your bunk or his?"
"His, Petey." Gamora takes Leta from me and the two of them lay them down in their small bunks for their nap.
Quill screeches from upstairs and I hear Loki shushing her gently, humming softly. "Come now, Quill... You are exhausted," He says softly, sound exhausted himself, and I smile slightly, quietly ascending the stairs.
"Having issues?" He jumps and spins to look at me, upsetting Quill. I chuckle softly and go over to them. "Hey, kiddo. You giving your Daddy a hard time about going down for a nap?" She giggles at me and I look at Loki. "Want me to try?"
"No. I can handle this just fine." He pouts slightly and I chuckle softly.
"If you say so. I'm gonna put the stuff we got up. Let me know if you need help."
"I will not."
"OK." I go back downstairs and start to put stuff up.
"What are you doing?"
"You know how little kids like to try to kill themselves because they don't know any better? I'm making sure that doesn't happen, Charlie." I put stuff in its designated spot and hear Loki come downstairs while Quill was giggling. "Hi, Loki."
"Hello, Rogue."
"How's getting Quill to take a nap going?"
"It is going wonderfully, thank you for asking," He scoffs and I snort, finishing up what I'm doing. "Where is-"
"Fridge, top shelf, on the right."
"Thank you..." He gets in it and grabs a small bottle, truly struggling to get Quill to fall asleep. I lean against my desk and watch, crossing my arms.
"Still going great?" He glares at me slightly and I hold my hand up slightly. "Alright, alright. You need no help. Got it." I lower it and chuckle softly, watching him struggle.
"Rogue. Would you mind?"
"But I thought you didn't need help?"
"Yes, well... Are you going to help me or not?" I chuckle and push myself off of my desk, walking over. She sees me and leans over to me. I take her gently and toss her slightly before settling her in my arms carefully. She giggles loudly and I smile slightly. "Here." He hands me the bottle, kind of pouting still, and I feed it to her easily. "How?"
"You make it seem lame."
"Because she needs to relax to be able to nap."
"But she won't want to drink the bottle if you make it boring. Just be a little more fun and she drinks it easily. And she'll go to sleep quickly."
She was asleep by the time she was done with the bottle and I look at Loki with a slight smirk. "See?" He gives me a mock glare and I chuckle softly, going to lay her down in her crib. We all leave my Quarters and the rest of my family leaves to do other things while I get the kids to work, giving Indri a bit extra for being the one that talked Tex into doing the stupid shit.