Demand, Request, Or Prophecy?
Just Outside the Nova Corps Building
He was exhausted and needed some sleep, but now that he knew what was wrong with him, he was also afraid. The answer to his question had actually created even more questions! And seriously? Of all the fucking dead people he knew, why was it Ronan the Accuser making contact with him? Why couldn’t it be his mother or even Yondu? God he’d take Tullk or his grandfather at this point. Anyone but Ronan.
And why? Why was that psychopath preventing Gamora from touching him? Sure he’d been annoyed internally but he wasn’t normally like that! Quite the opposite in fact. Peter had always been a very ‘touchy-feely’ kind of guy. It drove the Ravagers crazy as well as the Guardians at first, but they all got used to it.
So yeah. He was definitely going to blame Ronan for his newfound hatred of being touched.
While he was at it, he might as well just blame Ronan for the mood swings, the restless sleep, the moments of confusion and especially the claustrophobia! The last being something that had actually contributed greatly to his poor moods as of late. What kind of Ravager hated being in a smallish ship out in space?
Someone connected to a being trapped in a little rock, apparently.
The Kree Fantatic’s words started to run through his head. “That wasn’t a request. Nor was it a demand.” What the Hell did that mean? He wasn’t asking or demanding, so then what did he think he was doing? What did that mean? Not a request or a demand…and then he smiled…cruelly. Like he knew something they didn’t. Something he didn’t.
This would all be a lot easier if he could just talk to the blue bastard. Maybe if he were face to face with the ghost and alone Ronan would be more forth-coming about what he knew of their situation. Too bad the others and the Nova Corps would never allow him anywhere near the vault by himself.
Then again…Wait! Was that what Ronan meant? Was he predicting that Peter would release him? Well how the fuck would that even happen? He’d probably have to get his hands on the infinity stone again and there was no way that was possible. Not in this lifetime.
But what if someone else did? What if Ronan had a contact? No. Nobody even knew he survived. They all thought themselves safe from the likes of the former Accuser. What the Hell was an Accuser anyhow? Was that a position or a title? He did say that Xandar stood accused. It probably was a job. Either that or the guy was just…weird.
“Says the guy obsessing over him.” Peter rebuked himself. “Fuck! What is with me? Why do I care?” He growled with frustration. “Why are you in my head, Ronan?” He demanded and wasn’t at all surprised when he didn’t receive an answer.
“Forget this. I’m gonna talk to him.” He decided and headed back inside and toward the vault. He wanted answers and there was no way he’d be able to get into the vault itself so there was nothing to worry about. He couldn’t get to the stone and therefore, Ronan couldn’t get away. Not that Ronan could really do much if released. He was a ghost, right? He might as well get some answers while the Kree was vulnerable…ish.
On his way toward the vault, Peter felt that angry boredom that rested in the back of his mind shift into something else. Something…bad. It was predatory, determined and even a bit…gleeful? How the fuck did someone trapped in a stone become gleeful and why was he using that word describe Ronan? Ronan wasn’t gleeful unless he was killing or trapping or…Oh God…Peter’s stomach dropped…
Somehow, someway, Ronan had done something! He’d captured someone or taken a hostage! How did a ghost take a fucking hostage? Was that even possible? He didn’t know, but he did run as fast as he could to the vault.
“Peter?” He heard Drax say his name as he got to the right floor but ignored him and the others as he ran past. They followed of course, which he really didn’t mind at the moment because it wasn’t like he stood a chance against Ronan alone. Not without a damned Infinity Stone.
When he skidded to a stop inside the vault room, he saw a guard on the ground, unconscious. His partner on the other hand was standing still and holding the- “Oh fuck, you have the orb; why do you have the orb?”
She gasped and faced him, tears streaming down her pastel pink cheeks. “It can’t remain! It has to be destroyed! It has to!” She sobbed maniacally. “If I don’t destroy the stone, he’ll get free! He’ll get free and he’ll kill everyone! And even if he’s not free…I can’t…I can’t face him anymore!”
Peter’s green eyes widened as he took in the distressed and clearly disturbed woman. He opened his mouth to assure her that everything would be alright, but he caught sight of Ronan standing just behind her with a knowing smile on his face. The black toothed smile was fanatical and at once, Peter understood because he’d seen that same grin once before. Just as Ronan had expected of Peter when he first grabbed ahold of the stone, Ronan knew the woman would drop the stone and upon her death, potentially destroy Xandar and everything on it when it struck the floor.
“No! Don’t open it! He’s tricking you!” Peter tried to warn, but the woman was already sliding the orb open and the moment her fingers touched the stone, Ronan’s image vanished.
Peter grabbed her hands as she pried the stone from its seat in the silver case. She of course screamed in pain, a pain he was all too familiar with, but he had to ignore it as he tried to get the stone away from her before it killed her and everyone else in the room.
She loosened her grip just enough for Peter to take the stone into his own grasp. He clenched his teeth as the power burned through his body, lighting him up just the same as it had before. With his free hand he grabbed hold of the orb and as fast as he could, slammed the stone back in its spherical sheath. All in all, it lasted about four and half seconds.
He dropped to the ground on his hands and knees, the orb rolling toward his friends. Rocket stepped back with toddler Groot in his arms. Gamora frowned while Peter panted for breath as he tried to fight against the spasms of power and pain shuddering through his body. Drax reached down and hesitantly picked up the orb.
No one moved for another ten seconds as they all waited; the idea that any moment now the orb would burst and release Ronan from the stone. But that was silly and of course it didn’t happen.
“What were you thinking?” Nova Prime demanded in a stern tone. “Do you realize what you could have done? To us all?”
With a cringe, the woman trembled and shook her head before nodding it. Peter knew how badly she was hurting, how every muscle in her body must be twitching and burning. Her throat was likely raw from the screaming and she was definitely feeling weak and dizzy from the sheer power that had coursed through her. But more than that, he got the feeling she was ashamed and embarrassed of her what her actions had nearly caused.
“I-I c-can’t de-de-describe it.” The woman’s teeth chattered as she attempted to explain herself past her stuttering. She took a few breaths and tried again. “There was this….int-t-t-tense f-fear. I was so sure, Nova Prime.” She sobbed again and looked to her leader, begging for sympathy in her pitiful eyes. “There was no thought, just fear. I had to destroy the stone! He was smiling at me! Smiling so wide…” She paused again to take a deep breath. “It was like he’d just figured out how to kill us all!”
“Foolish woman.” Drax admonished. “You did exactly as he wanted.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Gamora interrupted, placing a calming hand on Drax’s shoulder. “Ronan was probably trying to scare her, but whatever else he wanted, he failed at achieving.”
And yet, Peter found that he felt Ronan stronger than ever. Possibly more so. And worse than feeling him so clearly defined was feeling how very pleased with himself the Kree was. Had he succeeded, or was he just that easily satisfied by traumatizing Xandarians?
He shivered as he swore he felt a huff of breath at his right ear. It was like a scoffing laugh.
Of course, no one was behind him when he checked, which made his stomach flip. Had she somehow set him free or…Oh NO! He stared down at his hand in horror. You will release me very soon. That’s what Ronan had said. Oh God! Had just touching the stone been enough to release him?
The others were going to kill him!
“Let’s go, Peter. You have an appointment and I am sure the Nova Corps can take care of their own problems.” Gamora insisted as she began to usher the others out of the vault room.
“I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor. We found out what was wrong.” Peter argued. “Let’s just get the Hell off Xandar.” He really didn’t mean to sneer when he said the planet’s name, which just confirmed for him that Ronan was definitely close by.
“Peter, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Gamora started.
“Oh, but staying here is?” Rocket countered. “If something’s wrong with Quill and that stone, staying here’s the last thing we need. The Xandarians, too.”
“I concur.” Drax stated. “It would be wisest to separate Quill from the stone before something catastrophic happens.”
Even toddler Groot looked up at Gamora with a pleading expression as he squawked the only phrase he knew. The green alien sighed heavily and raised her hands in defeat. “Fine, let’s go. After what we saw earlier I think Nova Prime would agree that our presence might be…antagonizing to the ghost.”
“I just can’t believe Ronan’s a ghost! I think there’s something wrong with that frickin’ stone and the sooner we leave it behind, the better.” Rocket added.
“I am Groot.” The little Groot trembled and climbed up Drax to cuddle into the big alien’s arms.
“Like he could protect you from Ronan.” Peter smirked and immediately frowned as he saw Groot’s frightened expression and the hurt look on Drax’s face.
“Yeah, we’re leaving. Now.” Gamora glared as she took hold of Drax’s free hand. She wasn’t looking at Peter but rather in the direction of the vault, making it very clear where she was resting the blame for his cruelty.