The Milano was in chaos! The hole grew bigger and bigger as more things went crashing toward the vast emptiness of space. Cargo, supplies, and weapons were being rapidly sucked closer to the gaping hole. "I am Groot!" shouted the young sapling, swept up in a current of air. "Hold on, buddy!" Peter switched on his Star-Lord mask and frantically reached out toward Groot, who put a branch in turn, continuing  to extend it several inches until both branch and arm clasped. Star-Lord gave a tug and pulled Groot back to safety.

"I am Groot," he said, relieved. "Yeah, yeah you are," Star-Lord replied, "but we're not out of this yet." He spotted a flashing button above him. Looking back down at Groot, he said, "Think I can get a lift?" Groot smiled. Wrapping his branches around Star-Lord's boots, he helped lift him almost a foot in the air. 

Now face-to-face with the blinking button, Star-Lord slammed his hand against it. Suddenly, a blue energy shield appeared at the back of the ship, extending to cover the hole. Nebula fell back to the floor with a thud.

Star-Lord turned to the other Guardians and slid off his mask. "See? Backup shields," he siad with swagger. Gamora glared at him. From the back of the ship, a thawing Nebula's voice yelled, "Idiots!" "Well, that's what you get when Quill flys" Rocket muttered. Peter scowls at him. Gamora grabs a random item and throws it at Rocket. "Ow!" Rocket yelled and turned to glare Gamora. Looking out the window, Gamora opened her mouth in alarm. "Look-there's another one!" "Another what?" Quill asked, already back in the cockpit. "Abilisk? Asteroid? Hole in the ship? I need specifics."

"Sovereign ship. And it's closing in fast," Gamora said grimly. "A fine warrior, indeed. I would like to meet the pod pilot," Drax said, nodding, impressed. 

"Meet him? He's trying to kill us," Rocket explained. 

"A small matter. Once that is settled, we shall meet," Drax said, crossing his arms, ending any further conversation.

 Suddenly, a blast from the Sovereign ship grazed the Milano, and all the lights flickered before going completely darl. Gamora punched a series of codes into the console before slamming her fist on the metal. "Our weapons are down!" she exclaimed. "Now we shall see what this pod pilot can do," Drax said, disappearing toward the back of the ship with an excited look.

"Gamora, how far off did our detour take us?" Peter asked. "We're twenty clicks away from the jump point," she replied. Another blast rocked the ship, this one taking out the left wing. Rocket and Peter looked at each other, both thinking the same thing: Okay, hotshot, get us out of this one! But neither had any idea what to do next

Out of the corner of his eye, Peter saw Drax descending into the hull of the ship. "Oh great, We have our first deserter...." he muttered. "He's gaining on us," Rocket reported, "What do we do without weapons? Should I just start throwing yaro root and Drax poop at him?" "I'm thinking!" Quill said, running rapidly out of options. "Oh. Quill's thinking. We're dead for sure," Rocket quipped.

In the back of the ship, Nebula watched Drax approach. "I'm fine, thanks. Glad someone finally came to check on me," she said bitterly. "Nebula, I did not know you were here," Drax replied, just remembering the prisoner they had on board. "I am glad to see you alive." He brushed past her before she could say another word, her jaw hanging open in disbelief that no one had thought to see if she'd been sucked into space.

She watched Drax grab a cable from the wall and hooks it to a loop on his belt. "Where are you going?" she demanded. Drax smiled and said, "To meet a worthy foe."

Over in the Sovereign pilot bay, some of the defeated Sovereign had gathered next to the lone pilot left chasing the Milano, cheering him on. Above, on the observation deck, High Priestess Ayesha motioned to the admiral. "That pilot," she said, pointing down to where everyone was gathered. "Tell me more about him."

"H-his name is Zylak," the admiral stuttered. "Top of his class. Laser focus. Killer instinct. Had to be disciplined once for being too aggressive." Ayesha smiled. "Unleash him," she commanded. Zylax heard the admiral's command in his comm unit, and his lips curled into a vicious sneer. "Roger that," he replied. "Tell Her Highness I live to serve her pleasure." He leaned forward and banked his Sovereign pod to the right, unleashing a barrage of laser blasts on the weaponless Milano. He had been impressed by the skills of the pilot in the asteriod field, even though his evasion tactics had seemed erratic. Whoever was flying was gifted; there was no denying that. 

It was a shame he had to destroy the ship, but its passengers had to pay for their crimes against the Sovereign.

Another stream of lasers hurtled toward the Milano. One found its mark on the left wing. blowing it apart on the impact. Inside, each Guardian grabbed on to the closet secure thing they could find as the Milano went spinning into a brief spiral. "Wingless and weaponless. Anyone got any ideas?" Rocket asked. "I am Groot?" The little tree suggested. Rocket grinned at Groot's suggestion. "Sorry, pal," he said, "I don't think even Drax-" In the back of the ship, Drax found a slot in the wall labeled SPACE SUITS FRO EMERGENCY. Under that, in Rocket's scribbled writing, were the words "OR FOR FUN." He reached into the slot and pulled out a disc, which he slapped on the middle of his chest. Immediately, his entire body was covered by a shimmering gel-like sheath. His eyes lit up, and he grinned widely.

In the Sovereign pilot bay, Zylak had a similar glint in his eye as he readied himself for another pass. He unleashed a targeted blast, clipping the topside of the Milano. At this point, he was toying with them. Over his comm unit, he could hear his fellow pilots cheering him on. Okay, he thought, enough fun: Time to execute the thieves. He directed his Sovereign pod up and around, positioning for his final approach.

On the flight deck of the Milano, Gamora eyed the radar display nervously. "Fifteen clicks," she said. "Looks like he's coming around again," Rocket replied. "Hey, Drax, maybe you could throw your blades-" He stopped short and looked. "Has anyone seen Drax?" he asked. 

Meanwhile, wearing his shimmering space suit, Drax reached into another box bolted to the wall of the ship. Inside was large, lethal-looking rifle. "Do not even think of stealing. I do not like thieves," Drax said bluntly. "Umm, have you looked at the people you hang out with, and the children that were here a year ago?" Neubla asked, pointing toward the flight deck.

Drax paused, then grunted. "Them and the children are exceptions," he said. "Now, good-bye." "'Good-bye'?" Nebula repeated before watching in shock as Drax exited through the backup shield, his own space suit momentarily merging with it before he floated out into space with his rifle. On the flight deck, Gamora's eyes widened as she saw an image on her console. "I think I found Drax," she said, pointing out the side window at the huge warrior, who had his rifle aimed squarely at the approaching Sovereign.

Peter slowly banged his head against the wall. "This cannot end well," he groaned. "Do other people have to deal with this level of crazy?"

On his screen, Zylak was shocked to see a small gray object floating behind his target, connected by some kind of cable. As he got a closer look, he saw it had arms and legs. Scanning his data files, he realized it was one of the perpetrators: the Guardian they called Drax. Zylak chuckled. What a great opportunity for some target practice.

 Destroying the ship could wait a few more moments.

 He narrowed his targeting lasers on Drax and pulled the trigger, but from the corner of his eye, a flash of purple light was seen and a laser blast was seen heading straight for him.

The Milano suddenly jerked to the side, pulling the big warrior behind it. He barely seemed to notice how close he had come to being blown to pieces. Lifting his rifle, he took aim at the Sovereign ship and pulled the trigger.

He smiled.

The laser from Drax's rifle and the other laser found their mark. Back in the Sovereign pilot bay, Zylak screamed as his ship blew up. He threw down his controls in defeat, and saw High Priestess Ayesha watching from above. Her face was not happy. Zylak knelt before her, but when he looked up again, she was gone.

"Five clicks!" Gamora exclaimed. "But first, who fired that other laser blast!" Rocket yelled. Then a phone ring was heard throughout the ship. "I am Groot" said Groot. Peter pushes the recieve button. "Can we get back to you, we are in the middle of something" Peter said glaring at Rocket. " Is that really what you would to say to somebody that saved Drax's butt." said the voice, Peter recognized the voice. "Eden, is that you, bro?" Peter said.

"Yo, Pete, Long time no see." Eden said through the call."Soo, what the hell happend?" Eden asked. "Oh, Rocket stole some batteries from the Sovereign." Gamora told him. Eden places his hand on his face. "What the heck, Rocket, we talked about this." Iris said. "Hmph" Rocket huffed

"I am Groot" Groot said happily to see her again. "I hear you, Groot." Iris said. "Perfect timing." Drax's voice boomed as he reappeared on the flight deck. "Once again, I have single-handedly destroyed our foe!" "Yeah, with my help" Eden mumbled.

 Quill considered correcting Drax, then thought better of it. "Nice shot, big guy. All right, now it's time to...Oh no!" "What, What?!" said Eden as a black and purple starship flew next to the Milano.

Looking ahead out the window, Peter and Eden felt their excitement immediately turn to despair. Dozens of Sovereign ships flew into formation between the Milano and Omega and the jump point.

On the Sovereign flight deck, Ayesha smiled faintly at the admiral. "You have redeemed yourself," she said flatly. "Nicely done, Admiral."

Back on the Omega, Iris looked at the Sovereign ships in awe. "How did they even do that?" she asked, pulling out her combat knives. She was ready to go down fighting. "They must have flown around the asteroid field," Eden answered. "Kind of like the tortoise and the hare thing."

Drax was confused. "Is Rocket the hare?" he asked through the call.

"I'd teach you all about parables if we weren't about to die, Drax," Quill said. "I am Groot." The other Guardians watched as Groot reached past them and tapped on a side widow, directing their view to the space between the Milano, Omega, and the Sovereign fleet: A sleet, ovalshaped floating ship had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"Yeah." Rocket nodded. "I've never seen a ship like that before, either. Guys, you gotta see-" Suddenly, a blinding burst light cut off what Rocket was about to say. When the Guardians could see again, the entire Sovereign fleet was gone, apparently vaporized by the white light that appeared to have emanated from the strange floating vessel.

On the Sovereign flight deck, all was slient as the admiral delivered to Ayesha the news of the fleet's destruction. She merely stood in place for several moments. The admiral gulped. After a long pause, Ayesha turned to the admiral. "Who did this?" she asked, her voice growing louder with every word. The admiral bowed his head helplessly. Ayesha looked at the hundreds of now-useless pilots standing below her, their heads also hung in shame. Without acknowledging them any further, she turned and marched off the flight deck.

"Whoa-who did that?" Rocket whispered, not knowing he echoed Ayesha's own question. Peter Quill and Eden Quill didn't have the time to speculate. "Don't know, doesn't matter," Peter replied urgently. "There's the jump point. Go! Go!" Eden yelled. The Milano and Omega's engines opened up and powered the newly fixed ship and battered ship as fast as they could toward the jump point that would send them to some semblance of haven.

"Hey, Quill!, Kid!" Rocket called, still staring at the mysterious ship outside. "I think you two are gonna want to come take a look at this." There, standing on the edge of the oval-shaped ship, was the outline of a man. He seemed... relaxed yet powerful, as if the obliteration of an entire fleet was something he saw every day. Quill caught a glimpse of the man as the Milano and Omega rapidly approached the jump point. He couldn't be entirely sure, but it seemed as though the man was staring right back at them, raising his hand in a casual wave just as the Milano and Omega disappeared into the space jump.