ᴛᴇᴀsᴇʀ | ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ

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"WE ARE ARRIVING." Mantis informed in a timid voice, her hands held in front of her.

"All right, Guardians, just a reminder that this might be dangerous. Let's put on our mean faces." Peter announced, as he slowed the Milano to a stop.

Everyone's eyes squinted suspiciously. It made absolutely no sense to anyone; the Milano's radar picked up strange activity in a certain quadrant, but when they arrived, all they were floating bits of asteroids.

Mantis looked around, confused. "What happened?"

Gamora tilted her head in confusion. Lexi shook her head, standing back up from leaning on Gamora's chair.

She crossed her arms, already uncomfortable with the strangely tranquil scenery in front of her. "Something doesn't feel right..."

Immediately after, a chill carried over her entire body and caused her to shiver.

Before anyone could do anything else, two bodies slammed into their windshield, scaring everyone. Rocket cried out in disgust, waving his hand around. "Wipers! Wipers! Get it off, get it off!"

Lexi scoffed at him. "Don't be mean, Rocket! They could still be alive! Peter, open the back gate. I'm gonna bring them in."

Peter turned to her, watching her leave the room. "Are you nuts?!"

————

The Guardians crowded around the table, staring down at their two unwanted guests who were currently unconscious.

Both were dirty, having blood, dirt and variously coloured bruises over their face and exposed arms. They saw him have an eyepatch over his right eye. While the man wore black sleeveless armour, the woman had gold plated armour. The man's short hair was widely tasseled and the woman's ponytail seemed to be falling out.

Rocket neared the man's head, sniffing him before flinching away in disgust. Peter looked over at Mantis, who stood at the heads of the two. "Wake 'em up."

Mantis obliged, bending down and gently placed her hand on his forehead. She closed her eyes, with her antennas glowing. "Wake."

The man sprung up from the table, stumbling into the table in front of him. A light shone on him, and he squinted away from it. His breathing was heavily laboured, as he came off frightened. Slowly, he turned around to look at every one.

Peter, Lexi, and Rocket all stood confidently, pointing their weapons at the violent stranger. Gamora's hand gripped on her retractable sword, ready to unsheathe it. Drax squatted slightly, holding the hilts of his daggers in each hand, which still sat snuggly in their holsters. Mantis hid behind them all, cowering away.

The man eyed each cautiously. "Who the hell are you guys?"

They all stared back silently. Peter smirked cockily. Mantis lifted her hand, giving a small wave. The man's eyes shifted down at the girl, narrowing his eyes. "What did you do to her?"

They all remained quiet.

The man stepped forward, an angry look coming over his face. His booming voice filled the ship, "What did you do to her?!"

Peter flinched, stepping back. "We found you two like this! Okay?! Mantis, can you wake her up too?"

Mantis shuffled forward, repeating her previous actions.

The girl sat up quickly, gasping loudly for air. She suddenly broke into a fit of coughing, lurching forward on the table.

The blond man stepped forward, offering a hand. The girl looked up and gave a weak smile, taking his hand and slipping off the table. The two stood side-by-side, looking at the group of strangers. The Guardians looked at the foreigners with suspicion.

"Who are you people?" the girl spoke up with force, clenching her fist.

Peter tilted back his head. "We're the Guardians of the Galaxy. Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Amber." she boasted proudly, but her voice was still dry.

Everyone's eyes shifted to the burly man standing beside Amber.

He swallowed dryly. "I am Thor."