『Chapter Fifteen』
『the half-breeds and a new ship』

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"Why would you even know this?" Peter asked. Both Peter and Jace were stood within the main building for the Nova Corps. Gamora was stood between Nova Prime and Peter, while Jace was on the other side of Nova Prime.

They had told the pair that they had wanted to speak to them about something important about what they had found in their data base from when the Nova Corps arrested them. It was something that confused Jace the most. He thought that they'd be able to rest more after everything happened with Ronan. Granted they had two days to rest and regroup after everything with Ronan, but Jace still felt sore after everything that happened.

For the past two days, the group had gotten some medical care, which was nice enough given that they'd all taken quite bad hits from Ronan as a whole. Although Jace's body was still sore from Ronan, there was still some aches in his body that played up still. He supposed that he'd need some rest to allow everything to pass over.

Jace currently found himself playing with his hands as everyone spoke about the difference in both Jace and Peter's DNA. It was something that was confusing Jace the most, not that he didn't understand, but it was something that he couldn't fully wrap his head around. There was something different about him, deep inside, he knew that there was something else to him, but to hear about it was something else entirely.

"When we arrested you, we noticed an anomaly in your nervous system, so we had it checked out." Dey explained to Peter.

On the holographic screen in front of them was two projections of both Jace's and Peter's body scans. It was an odd sight to see, Jace never thought that he'd see a projection of their bodies in front of them with this weird glow inside of them, but he guessed that it was something that he'd have to get used to.

Peter and Jace shared a look with one another. "So, we're not Terran?"

Nova Prime shook her head. "You are half Terran. Peter, your mother was of Earth, your father, well, he's something very ancient we've never seen here before. Jace, your father was of Earth, your mother was from a place where Gods exist."

Jace given Nova Prime a look, one of which brought up more questions. "Where Gods exist? What does that mean?" Jace was never truly one to believe that Gods existed, but to be told that there was a place—a planet—where gods existed was something that he couldn't wrap his head around.

"We only know of one place, though we rarely see them, unless there's business. All I am aware of is that they are one of the Nine Realms." Nova Prime responded.

Jace simply nodded. He'd have to do his best to research into it all. He knew that he might not be able to get any more information out of the Nova Prime about who he is, so he'll have to look into it. And maybe he'll finally be able to rest with the amount of questions of which continually flow through his mind.

There was a small part of Jace that just wanted to question everything that Nova Prime said to him, he wanted to know more. Would the people on this God planet come after him? Was this the planet where they had the king that killed his mother? Would the king come after him despite the pleading that his mother done to save his life? There was a lot that went through his head that overwhelmed him more than he'd care to admit. Why didn't his mother tell him this when she could? Why did he have to find it out like this? He wondered what his mother would say to him now that he knew he was different.

Of course, Jace knew that he was always different, it was just weird for him to be told that he was different. He wondered whether or not his mother would've ever told him about where she came from, he wondered whether or not his mother would've ever told him about the sibling that he had that was from that place. For a moment, Jace cursed at the king that killed his mother, wishing that she was here with him right now just so he could ask her all of these questions.

"It's probably why you could hold the stone for as long as you did." Gamora spoke to Peter.

"Do you think wherever my mother was from is the reason as to why I have powers?" Jace asked. "Does this make me a demi-god or something?"

"We believe that there's a chance that whatever your mother was, it gave you the gifts that you have." Dey responded. "So, yes, you're a demi-god."

Jace looked at Peter then with a small smile. "I'm a god." He found himself laughing a little. The thought that he was half-god was something that confused him the most. How was he—of all people—a demi-god? He didn't even believe in gods before and now he was meant to believe that he was one.

What snapped him out of his thoughts was the sound of a beep that echoed through the room. It was something that he'd gotten used to, knowing that the meaning meant that a door had opened. Jace was somewhat thankful that the door opened, though at the same time, there was a part of Jace that wanted to stay here and press for more answers. He had a feeling that Nova Prime knew something more. He had a feeling that there was something else being hidden from him.

"Your friends have arrived." Nova Prime informed the three. She moved round. "On behalf of the Nova Corps, we'd like to express our profound gratitude for your help in saving Xandar." A small smile was on her face. "If you will follow Denarian Dey, he has something to show you."

Jace and Gamora had somewhat bowed their heads as a way to say thank you.

"Thank you, Nova Prime." Peter spoke.

It was then that the Guardians followed Dey out of the building, Jace and Peter were walking side-by-side with Dey just a few feet in front of them. There was this odd feeling in Jace as he walked behind Dey, there was this small part of him which thought that they would go back into the Kyln for their previous crimes and even escaping in the first place.

However, his mind kept going back over to him being a half-breed, a demi-god. He knew that there wasn't something right about him at all, after all, throughout him being with Yondu there was one thing of which he was always told: that everything about him seemed superhuman. From the way that he was able to move quick, his stamina, his strength, his speed, and that his healing was somewhat quicker than anyone else on the Ravager ship.

Jace tried to shake off the thought of it, though he knew that either way the thought of it would never leave his mind until he found out more. He'd have to look more into the Nine Realms in order to know more and finally find out where his mother came from. It was like his mind craved for the answers. He thought of the word that Korath called him, he tried to remember the actual word, but failed. It was like Korath knew what Jace was before he knew himself. He knew that it was something that was going to bug him until he remembered what it was or until he read it.

It was then that Jace felt a small nudge in his side, which had made him look over to Peter—who looked concerned and probably thinking of what they had been told. At least Jace wasn't the only half-breed on the ship, that was an oddly comforting thing for him to think about.

"You good?" Peter mumbled.

Jace hadn't said anything, he simply nodded. In a way he'd hoped that maybe Peter would believe that he was okay and not try and question him more about it. Jace wouldn't even know where the hell to begin. And yet, Jace knew that Peter knew him better than that. Peter was always able to read Jace better than anyone else.

The group had all walked outside as Dey spoke. "We tried to keep it as close to the original as possible. We salvaged as much as we could."

Jace stared at the orange and blue ship in front of them with wide eyes. A new ship, maybe even new consuls, either way it was something which he could make small bombs out of. He really wanted to run to it, but he knew that he couldn't, so he held himself back.

"Wow." Peter spoke. "Thank you."

"It's beautiful!" Jace blurted out, still staring at it with shock and amazement.

After a small moment of silence, Dey began to speak. "I have a family. They're alive because of you."

A small smile grew on all of their faces as they all shared a small look with one another. At least there were some families which wasn't torn apart from the fight. To think that they saved people instead of causing chaos. It made Jace happy to realise that he'd done something good despite everything bad that he's ever done.

"Your criminal records have also been expunged," Dey continued. "However, I have to warn you against breaking any laws in the future."

Jace somewhat frowned at that. As stupid as it might have sounded, his records were the only thing of which made him remember what exactly he did—even if he didn't remember doing it. Plus, realising that his record was clean made him realise that he wouldn't be allowed to do something illegal once again, he probably wouldn't be allowed to blow up a moon or something. That was something that Jace really wanted to do with Rocket.

"Question," Rocket said. "What if I see something that I want to take, and it belongs to someone else?"

Jace stared at the raccoon and shook his head. Dey responded. "You will be arrested."

"But what if I want it more than the person who has it?" Rocket asked.

"It's still illegal." Dey responded.

"That doesn't follow." Rocket spoke. "No, I want it more, sir. Do you understand?" Rocket then noticed Gamora's laugh. "What are you laughing at?"

It was then that Gamora moved to take Rocket out of the conversation, knowing that he would continue arguing with Dey. She took him to their new ship.

"Why? I can't have a discussion with this gentleman?" Rocket asked as the two went off.

Drax took a few steps forward. "What if someone does something irksome and I decide to remove his spine?"

Dey, Peter, and Jace then shared a look with one another. "That's. . .that's actually murder. It's one of the worst crimes of all. So, also illegal."

"Hmm," was all of which Drax seemed to say before he went off following after Gamora and Rocket.

Jace found himself looking at Dey. Dey just looked at him as if he knew what Jace was going to say. "No, you're not allowed to blow up a moon."

"Oh, come on!" Jace said. Peter just nudged his side. Jace stood there for a moment, frowning, he would follow the others to their new ship but stayed by Peter's side.

"They'll be fine, Dey," Peter informed. "I'm gonna keep an eye on 'em."

"You?" Dey questioned.

Peter looked towards Jace, despite the question that Jace wanted to ask, Jace knew that Peter trusted him more than anything. "Us."

Jace found himself too much in his own head when it came to the ship. "I cannot wait to fly this! The weaponry!" Jace broke into a run, heading towards a ship.

Peter looked towards Dey—who had given him a look. "Him, I'm going to have to try to make sure he's fine."

With that Peter followed after his friends, the others were starting to get onto the ship, Jace on the other hand was hugging the side of the ship. Jace didn't care what the others thought of him, the fact that they had a new ship was something that he loved more than anything. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the ship, he couldn't wait to see what the ship could do and whether it was any different than the old one. What ended up dragging Jace away from the hug was Peter, who dragged Jace by the collar into the ship.

It wasn't hard, exactly, as soon as Jace saw that they were able to go into the ship, he basically ran. He must've gotten a little too excited given how he tripping over his own feet in the process which resulted in Drax and Rocket laughing at him. Jace pouted at them which resulted with Peter dragging him out of the way. There was a clear smile on Peter's face which was followed with a light laugh.

Once they were all settled within the ship, Peter went to sit by himself, getting out an old letter which he had put off reading for years. The rest had let him have some time to himself, thinking that it might be best if they left him to do as such. Jace knew that the letter was from someone that he cared about and as much as Jace would want to be beside Peter to offer him comfort, Jace knew better and knew that it was best to leave Peter to it.

That left Jace to go up the stairs in order to familiarise himself with the controls of the ship. As much as he knew that the likelihood of Peter letting him fly this ship was thin, it was something that he didn't truly care much about, given that he knew there would be a heated debate on who gets to fly it between him, Peter, and Rocket. That and the fact that he'd at least want to pull a one over on the other two just so he could call himself the superior pilot.

Jace wasn't sure how much time had passed, but what snapped him out of his thoughts was a familiar song that he hadn't heard in so long. 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' by Diana Ross play throughout the ship. Jace assumed that it was a song that Peter was playing, the thought of it made him smile more than anything.

At least throughout what had happened, they still had music to listen to, and each other. If Jace had to be honest, he half expected them to all disband from each other once this was all over. Though he was glad to gain three friends. And Groot, though Groot was currently a stick in a pot.

"Move, I'm flying this," Peter mumbled.

Jace looked at him with a dramatic glare, before looking to the other ship to see how Rocket was there already. "Alight, I see where I stand," Jace crossing his arms, standing up to sit in the middle seat, though Drax was already sat there, giving him an amused laugh. "Wow."

"Ha!" Drax laughed. Jace gave him a narrowed look though he couldn't help the smile on his face.

Jace shook his head slightly, this was going to be something that he was going to hate. Jace moved to stand behind the chair where Rocket sat.

Rocket looked towards him, shaking his head. "Don't think about it, Taylor."

"I'm just going to lean against it!" Jace argued, light-heartedly, shaking his head.

When Rocket didn't say anything in response, Jace leaned against the back of the chair with his arms basically hugging it. Jace knew that it would end up as some form of battle between the three of them in order to pilot the ship. He was going to make it his mission to pilot at least once, and then never move. He knew that at least one of them would yell at him to move, but he didn't care, he knew that he was going to pilot.

Gamora came up and stood next to Peter—who sat ready to take off. A small sample of Groot was sat within a pot started to come alive which gained both Rocket and Jace's attention, making them smile. The smaller Groot was stretching and Jace tilted his head slightly as he watched with a grin on his face.

"So, what should we do next?" Peter asked. "Something good? Something bad? A bit of both?"

Jace's head perked up at the sound of doing something which was both, his head snapped to look at Peter. He wanted to blow something up, though after being told no, it only made Jace want to do such a thing more. He was sure if he managed to convince them to do it on a deserted moon far away from Nova, then they wouldn't know.

"We'll follow your lead, Star-Lord," Gamora told.

"Bit of both." Peter stated.

"Yay!" Jace cheered.

The ship rumbled under their feet and Jace found himself more excited than ever, their ship hovered off the ground for a moment before shooting out of Xandar's atmosphere. Jace didn't know what the future entailed for the pair of them but whatever was to follow, he looked forward to. He couldn't wait to get back out there into the galaxy, knowing that the adventure was something that he craved more than anything. At least for this adventure he'll have his friends by his side to experience it with. He hoped that whatever was next was memorable. They deserved something relaxing after what they did.