Chapter 15
"How about one of you explain what's happening right now?"
"It's a celebration of life and to educate people on why you shouldn't end your life but also on why people might end their lives!" One person explains and I nod, noticing the Defense Officers looking around to find the others.
"Guess I chose a couple of good songs, then! They're both Terran songs, I heard them while traveling there for work," I chuckle softly and take a deep breath before starting to go along with the song, both of them rap songs.
"She's only 17, her whole life's ahead of her.
She hates school because the people there discredit her.
Her boyfriend tries to show her that's not how it seems.
But every day she just gets lowered with her self-esteem.
He lets her know that every night will have a brighter day,
She even tried to overdose and take her life away.
She's feeling hopeless there just sitting down beside her bed,
And then he takes his hand and places it beside her head.
He tries to hold her but with every touch she still resists,
And then he sees the scars that bury deep within her wrists,
She's feeling numb, he tries to beg and plead and ask her, "Why?"
She says this way she has control of pain she feels inside.
He's asking her, "How long it's going since you've felt this way?
Because you got me here, just feeling so damn helpless."
She says, "It's been a while. I guess I needed better luck."
And then he screams at her and tells her, "Baby, never cut!"
Nobody seems to get you, you feel you're on your own,
But listen, pretty lady, you don't have to be alone.
So, baby, don't cut, baby, don't cut.
You can do anything, just promise, baby, you won't cut." Throughout the song, I act out some of the verses to hit it home and the crowd breaks into applause.
"What's the second song?" Someone in the crowd calls and I chuckle softly, getting the second song's audio ready while taking a deep breath.
"Yeah, look
Let me tell you about a kid named Steven
He's slowly running out of things to believe in
Every couple of months his mom leaves him,
For no good reason, his step-dad beats him
Not too many friends, only ever had a few of them,
But recently they don't want anything to do with him
Always eating lunch in the bathroom stall,
He just wants to feel normal and be cool again, yeah
Always feeling like the outcast,
He's been going crazy ever since his dad passed
He needs guidance and advice
But instead, he only has breakdowns and flashbacks of the car crash uh
It's been getting harder every day,
If he was still around everything would be OK
'Cause his dad was always the light at the end of the tunnel,
But now that same damn tunnel is looking dark and grey
He keeps quiet in the back of the class
And when the bell rings Steven hurries home fast
He's scared to death the other kids will kick his ass on the long walk home
'Cause it's happened in the past so
He's getting used to the black eyes and fat lips
But all he's got is a fake smile and cut wrists
Wishin' he could walk right up to them, show them the scars
And say, "Look, you're the reason that I've done this."
And maybe they would finally understand
And go back to how it was before it all began
But he's just a little different so they taunt him and they beat him
Yeah it's all just fun and games, they don't give a damn, yeah
His older brother ain't around,
In and out of jail, hanging with the wrong crowd
He's been doing coke, smoking weed, getting drunk all his life he's a shame
No, he's not too proud
Now his habits are rubbing off on his little bro yeah,
But guess what? Little did he know that every time he did a line,
Every time he lit a joint,
Every time he took a shot he would set the mode,
So Steven's sitting in his room getting high now
Doors locked, music up, with the lights out
He just takes another toke 'til his room fills with smoke
5-6-7 hours 'til he knocks out
Now he started stealing pills from his mom
8-9-10 at a time and now they're gone
And maybe for a moment, all his problems seem to fade,
But the high fades too after not too long
And that's when it really sinks in
And that's when it hits him
That these god damn drugs won't fix him
Curled up on the floor,
Can't take it anymore
Now he's talking to God
'Cause he's the only one that gets him
On his knees, looking up, can't stop crying
"God, I know we haven't talked in a long time
But this time I really need you.
Please, God, help me, say something, just give me a sign,
'Cause now I'm falling apart and I don't think that I can do it.
Please, God, give me the strength to pull through it.
Tell me, should I give up? I could end it all right now.
I just don't know if I'm brave enough to do it.
'Cause, there's gotta be a better way than suicide.
Try to wait it out, give it time, you'll be fine.
But it's been so long and I still haven't been able
To get rid of all the thoughts that I feel inside.
So sick, so angry, so mad
And to top it off no one even knows that."
That's when he stood up, wiped his tears,
Walked over to his desk and got a pen and a notepad
He just couldn't see it getting any better
So on a cold dark night in December,
Steven knew exactly what he had to do
But first, he sat down and wrote a couple letters
One to his step-dad, one to his mother,
Couple to the kids at school, one to his brother
Bringing them the pain that they once brought him
Teardrops on the paper one after another
"Yeah, I hope that you all feel guilty
'Cause I'm broken now and you can't heal me
And now you're all an accomplice in murder
Each and every one of you've chipped in to kill me
So the reason that I'm writing you this evening
Is to say goodbye and tell you that I'm leaving
But don't hold your breath 'cause I ain't never coming back.
—
Sincerely yours, Steven" I did the same with this song as the other one and they cheer again before they all start embracing each other, including the Defense Officers. I smirk slightly and skirt around backstage, moving quickly to meet the others in the shadows. I make sure to duck behind things and between people, ducking into the shadows with them after a minute.
"Are you OK?" Dad asks, concerned, and I roll my eyes, putting my hair in a ponytail. "Seemed like you wiped away actual tears at one point," He mutters and pats my shoulder awkwardly.
"I'm fine. I'm a good actress," I smirk and lead the way through some alleys.
I pause suddenly and put my hand up when Dad is about to say something, making him fall silent. I hear someone walking toward us and pull something out of my pocket as they turn the corner. It's a Defense Officer and I grab them, covering their mouth. "Now, you can either be smart and not struggle meaning I just knock you out... Or you can be stupid and I put this little orb in your mouth, force it down your throat, and you're temporarily paralyzed, unable to do anything except lay here and breathe if you're on your side. If not... You're dead. Your choice, pal," I hiss and he struggles, making me tsk. "Wrong choice." I shove the orb in his mouth and down his throat.
He seizes up and becomes dead weight after a moment. I lower him to the ground and prop him against some garbage, making sure he won't fall over for a second. "Cool, have some fun, pal," I smirk and pat his shoulder lightly, leading the way through the alley.
More Defense Officers were waiting and had blasters leveled at us. "Captain Yondu Udonta, you and your group are wanted for thievery," The head Honcho says to me and I nod slightly, hands in my pockets. "Tell the Centaurian to stand down!" He barks and I look at Yondu, shrugging one shoulder. He narrows his eyes but steps back. "All of you put your weapons on the ground. As well as any devices you have on you," He looks at me and I take my hands out of my pockets, having six small orbs between my fingers.
"Like these?" He nods and I nod slightly before throwing one of them at each Defense Officer, clicking a button on my wrist com. They all seize up at the shocks going through them and fall to the ground, unconscious. "They're technically on the ground... They're just embedded in your skin..." I carefully step over them and get to the end of the alley, the others looking at me.
"Why...? How...? What?" Dad looks at me and I smirk.
"You guys coming?" They follow me and I only now notice Groot on Drax's shoulder, leading the way to a seedy joint.
"Wha' d'ya want?" The guy behind the counter barks and I go over.
"My treat, remember?" I smirk at Yondu and look at the guy behind the counter. "You got any private rooms?"
"Ya want some girls in with ya?"
"Freaky and no."
"Then we got one that ain't got cameras for all of ya's." He drops a key on the counter and slides it away from me when I try to grab it. "Units?"
"Price?"
"Start listing numbers and I'll letcha know when ya reach one I like," He smirks and I smirk back, grabbing him by the collar suddenly.
"Look... I ain't got the time or patience for your bullshit. So, give me a number on your own and make it reasonable or I'll give you the amount it takes to fix a broken face. Clear?" He nods and I let go of him, waiting.
"Hundred units for a private room that ain't got cameras, no girls, and no mics. That reasonable enough?" I respond by giving him the units and snatching the key. "The back and to the right. First blue door. Like that Centaurian," He says and I nod, leading the way there. "What you want to the room for?" I simply flip him off and go to the room.
"What? The seedier joints were closed today?"
"The seedier the joint, the less the owners will want any authority that could ship them off of the planet in the joint. Keeps us covered on that front," I say simply as I open the door and point to a couple of large windows near the ceiling of the room but we'd still be able to reach to climb out. "And they have windows for a quick getaway in case of a raid by said authority."
"You got a way of knowing there's a raid?" I nod toward the holoscreens on the walls that showed the outside of the joint and Dad nods. "Alright. That's fair. What's the plan?" I tap something on the wall and flick my fingers to get rid of whatever was now on them.
"We all go in, dressed to the nines. Kraglin waits on the roof, making sure he's not seen. We waste a bit of time and halfway through, they're going to do a thing to commemorate those who died that day. We use that to our advantage. Rocket and two people of his choice go with him to keep an eye out for guards. I suggest Mantis for one of them because she can probably do magic antenna things or something."
"I've explained what she can do, Rogue," Dad says in an annoyed tone and I shrug.
"When you open your mouth, you sound like the adults in the Charlie Brown movies. Your voice is annoying. Moving on... Groot will be put into the vents while we find a way to the artifact so we can get it without being seen and we give him the artifact to take to Kraglin. When you two meet, you send Groot back down and head back to the Eclector to find a buyer while we stay and keep suspicions off of us."
"So everything rests on Groot?"
"Kinda..."
"I am Groot!"
"You'll be fine, squirt. It's easy," I reply simply and do a slight double-take. "Huh... Well then... That makes it easier."
"Cool. Explain it to him."
"You got holo copies of the layout?" Rocket rolls his eyes and sets a holoscreen holder on the floor, pulling up the layout. "Alright, listen closely, Groot. Your job is easy but you need to not fuck up. OK?" He nods and I give him a thumbs-up, smirking at Rocket. "You made it seem like this would be difficult," I scoff and he smirks.
"Explain his part of the plan."
"You'll be in the vents," I point to a vent opening after getting to the two different stories we'll be on and start to trace the vent to the second floor. "And you'll go through them to get here. Once you're in the vents, you've gotta keep quiet. So, you'll start here," I point to the first-floor vent opening and trace the path he'll take to the second-floor vent opening. "And take this vent to here. Once you're here, we'll be there and have the artifact to give to you. We'll give it to you and you'll go up this vent," I trace it to the roof and he watches closely. "To this vent thing on the roof, giving the artifact to Kraglin and come back once he's gone. Got it?"
"I am Groot."
"Great. Repeat it back to me, then." He points to the first-floor vent opening and traces the same vent.
"I am Groot."
"Yup." He points at the second-floor vent opening and then me.
"I am Groot."
"Uh-huh, you get the artifact from one of us. Then?" He traces up the vent and stops at the roof vent thing, pointing at Kraglin.
"I am Groot."
"Then you give it to Kraglin. Good. Once he's gone?"
"I am Groot!"
"No, you don't go with him."
"I am Groot?"
"No, you don't find Nova Prime."
"I am Groot...?"
"No. You don't find a fountain to drink from it. Where... Where did that even come from?"
"I am Groot!"
"Yes! You come back to us! Good job. Go through it again."
"I am Groot."
"Mhmm."
"I am Groot."
"Yup."
"I am Groot."
"Uh-huh."
"I am Groot!"
"Is there a fountain in this damned building?" I look through it and see that there is. "Huh, guess so... Uh, yeah. We'll meet you at the fountain when Kraglin's gone with the artifact. Your part one more time."
"I am Groot." He points at the first-floor vent opening and I nod. "I am Groot." He points to the second-floor vent opening and I nod again. "I am Groot." He points to the roof vent thing and I nod. "I am Groot."
"Yes. Good. Good job." I pat his head and he smiles. I smile back and take my hair down to run my hands through it, freezing while I look at the holoscreens on the wall. "Is it just me or has that same thing walked across that camera in the same direction three times without passing any of the other cameras?" The others look and notice the creature walk across the holoscreen.
It walks across the same way a minute later, the same thing, and I stand while Rocket gathers the holoscreen holder up. Yondu goes over to the door and grabs the handle. I physically pull him away and put myself between him and the door, hearing beeping coming from the other side.
It explodes toward us and I get numerous pieces of the broken door lodged in my back, grunting. "Got any more of those gadgets, kid?" Rocket asks and Dad braces me while I get some out of my pocket, handing Rocket some darts this time. He throws them and the Defense Officers fall to the floor after three seconds of swaying. "Where did you even get these from?"
"Can we worry about that after we're out of here?"
"Yeah, c'mon, kid," Kraglin says as he wraps my arm around his shoulders, his arm around my waist, and supports me as we head back to the ship. I hold tightly to his duster and walk with some difficulty, my legs not wanting to cooperate while blood slowly pools from my back.
"Her blood will be a direct lead to the ship for the Defense Officers to find us," Drax says and I make Kraglin stop, leaning against the wall of the alley. "Now what are you doing?"
"Shut up, Drax," I mutter while Kraglin holds my shoulder and watches me. I undo the duster and yank it off of my shoulders, sending some of the debris to the ground with a clatter while gritting my teeth against the pain.
"You missed one," Dad helpfully tells me and I reach around, yanking it out of my body. "And now there's a lot of blood."
"Will you shut up?" I growl and take off the long sleeve shirt, ripping it into pieces to use as bandages. I wad a piece up and hand it to Dad.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" I roll my eyes and guide his hand to press it to the one that's bleeding the most. "Oh..."
"Hold it there a second..." I pass him one end of a strip and he helps me wrap it around myself before tying it over the wad.
"Where did you learn to do all of this?" Gamora asks and I use my teeth to rip the shirt into more strips.
"Terra," I say shortly and Dad helps me get strips tied on to keep pressure on the wounds while I subtly look Yondu over for injuries.
"'M fine, girl. Ya got most 'a the crap from tha' door," He tells me and I nod slightly, pulling my duster back on.
"You happy now, Drax? I'm not leaving a trail of blood." Drax just nods and we continue, Kraglin staying by my side while we walk behind the others, Yondu on my other side.
"Ya a'ight, kid?" He asks softly and I barely shrug my shoulder. "Ya want some 'elp?"
"Nah, I'm good." I keep walking and twist my ankle in a hole that I don't notice. Kraglin catches me before I can hit the ground and pulls me back to my feet.
"Yeah, yer good," He scoffs and puts our arms in the spots they were in before Drax started complaining about me bleeding. "Yer gittin' some 'elp," He says simply and supports me as we walk. "Why didja push Cap outta the way 'a tha' door?"
"There was beeping. Beeping usually means a boom is coming." I shrug one shoulder and we continue walking, Yondu watching me. "Can't let the Captain get pieces of a door lodged into his chest and stomach."
"But ya can let 'em git stuck in yer back?" He raises an eyebrow at me and I grin at him.
"I know Terran biology and anatomy. I don't know Centaurian and I doubt anyone else does, other than Doc. It was the smarter route to take. Hurt like Hell, yeah, but I'll be fine. Doc will probably keep me in Med for a while to make sure I don't die. Which I won't," I assure quietly and he looks at me suspiciously.
"Tha's yer reason fer takin' m'spot in front 'a tha' door? Yer only reason?" He looks closely at me and I nod.
"Yes, Captain." He nods and we continue the walk in silence. It wasn't the only reason but I've learned not to admit to those types of things and limp next to Kraglin while he helps me walk.
"Ya a'ight, kid?"
"Yeah. Just twisted my ankle hard. That's all. We're almost at the port where we're docked. I'll be fine." He nods and we board the ship. He helps me to Med and Doc was waiting.
"Put her on that bunk." He helps me onto it and Doc looks me over. "Take your duster off." I slide it off of my shoulders and Yondu and Kraglin leave to let Doc do what they need to do. "You did a good job of treating the injuries in the field. It's always in your best interest to keep your blood in your body." I nod and they patch my back up.
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"Be careful and whatever you do, don't pull your stitches. OK?" I nod and pull a new tank top, shirt, and duster on.
"You got it, Doc. Thanks." I smile at them and head out of Med, going to find something to do, other than work in the hangar.
"Girl!" I pause and turn, seeing Yondu as I give him and Kraglin the Ravager Salute like they've taught me to do when a First Mate, Captain, or a lead wants to talk to me. They return it and I look at them, wondering what's up.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Wha'cha headin' ta do?"
"I'm not heading to any specific place, just anywhere someone might need help. Doc told me to be careful of my stitches so I'm taking that into account, Cap." He nods and carefully shoves me into a storage closet.
"Git," He says to some crewmembers in there and they leave. Yondu and Kraglin both look at me and I look at them, hands at the small of my back for now because I don't know what else to do with them. "Ah need ya ta do somethin' fer us, girl."
"OK. What do you need?" I look at them and Kraglin hands me a holopad with a long list of things to do around the ship, varying on what teams are normally assigned to them. "OK, what things on the list do you want me to do?"
"All 'a tha' list," Yondu tells me and I nod a bit.
"OK... It's a long list... But, I can do that. There's a lot of stuff on here that I'm not sure how to do, but I can learn about it. When do you need the list done?"
"By tha' mission on Xandar."
"A bit under two solar cycles...?"
"Yeah. Tha' a problem?" He raises an eyebrow at me and I scratch the side of my neck slightly, looking at the list before I shake my head.
"No, Captain. When do you want me to start?"
"Now," Kraglin says and they both watch me nod, noticing me chew my lip slightly as I think.
"Yes, Sir." I leave the storage closet and get started on the list, seeing there were also jobs in the hangar.