GOTG Vol.1 #1

First off, I'm glad this was accepted. And second off, I'm throwing this in as a scene from the future.

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Earth: Home of Peter Quill

 

Quill landed the ship.

"Ok Groot, Rocket. Time to get off."

"What the hell are we even doing here Quill?" asked Rocket.

"I am Groot?"

"We're here to deliver a message."

Quill took out a photo.

"To be precise, this message."

He handed the photo to Rocket.

"Is that you?"

"Yep. Before I started this whole thing. 5 years ago."

"Shit Quill. Why do you still have this?"

Quill looked at the house.

"That's a good question."

Quill hopped out of the Milano. He walked over to the door, and opened it.

"I am Groot."

"Yes we lock doors on Earth Groot. This one.. doesn't. He doesn't need to."

"And why's that Quill?" asked Rocket in a sarcastic voice.

"He's not a normal man...."

Quill dropped the photo on the ground.

"I am Groot?"

"I'm dropping it on the ground because it will remind him."

"I am Groot?"

"Of us. The Guardians. Remember a few years back when we stopped here? We pretended I was his friend Harry?"

"I am Groot."

"Yeah, great you remember."

"Ya know what else I remember?"

Quill looked at Rocket.

"I thought rodents couldn't remember. It's a disability they have... called, Not Human?"

"Why you......"

Rocket lunged at Quill, but Groot caught him mid air.

"I am Groot."

"Lemme at him! Come on one punch!"

"I... AM....GROOT."

"Yeah. Like the big guy said, no fighting."

"Ya know what I remember Quill?"

Groot put Rocket down.

"I remember you abandoning your crew. People died that day Quill. Don't forget that. The only reason I'm here... is to do good for NOVA Core."

Quill put his hand to his mouth, and then replied, "I know. I know what happened. I knew what was going to happen."

Rocket and Groot looked at each other.

"Then... why the hell did you leave? If you knew you could have helped...."

"Rocket. You don't understand. I can't tell you. If I did... many more would die."

"I am Groot."

"Yeah. We have the right to know." said Rocket.

Quill sat down.

"Alright... don't say I didn't warn you."

 

Nowhere: 5 years ago

 

Quill got into the ship. He walked to the front where he saw Cosmo waiting.

"Yo Quill. You ready?"

"Yeah. I'll go get the team."

He looked at a red, slimy object.

"Just... make sure that doesn't go anywhere."

Cosmo nodded, and went back to playing Tetris on the computer screen.

Quill hopped off the Milano. He was proud of his ride. It had gotten them through 204 missions together. Even stopping Thanos at one point. He walked to a door, and put a key card up to it.

"Quill, Peter. Enter."

Quill entered, and went to the training room. There he saw Drax, Vell, and Victory in there. They all were beating each other up.

He opened the door.

"Drax! Stop fighting with you're sister!"

"I'm sorry?" Drax said confused. "She is not related to me."

Vell just laughed.

"It was a joke."

"Ah... I see."

Major Victory got up and walked with Quill.

"They are learning. And well." Victory said.

"And how about yourself?"

"Fine. We're becoming a team.... just like you said we would."

"Alright. Well, we better go and head to the ship. We just got intell on..."

"Quill." Eric was calling his name.

Quill looked at Victory.

"Head to the ship. I'll be there soon."

Victory nodded, and told Drax and Vell to head to the ship. Quill walked towards Eric. Eric was smiling. For some unknown reason he was smiling. A major threat was coming to destroy Zandar, and he was smiling.

"Quill. I need to talk to you."

"Alright, but make it quick. We gotta go."

"I intend to make it quick."

They walked into the office that was once Eric's fathers. He had retired when Quill became the leader of the Guardians. He had said that he was never more proud.

Eric sat down at the desk.

"Quill, I'm going to make this quick."

"Good."

"But... you won't like it."

"Well I usually never do... if you're involved."

Eric straightened himself up.

"Have you ever heard of... blackmail?"

Quill laughed.

"Yeah. It's called credit card companies."

Eric did not laugh. He only smiled.

"Good. So you'll know what I'm about to do."

Quill ceased to laugh. He looked behind him to notice the door was locked, and the camera was off.

"Eric..."

"Listen Quill."

When Quill turned around he could see Eric holding a gun under his desk.

"I know you and I have had it rough. You're past... my future. It's all going to come into play here."

Quill knew he could take the gun from Eric two weeks ago. But now, since he had the full power of Nova... he could do nothing.

"The Guardians are a fantastic team... really they are. I like what you've done to the program. But... there's a bump in the road."

"What bump?"

"See.... you're the problem Quill. I don't like you. I never will. But you can do me a favor. I mean, you are the leader of the Guardians, and practically the Core."

Quill felt his palms getting sweaty.

"What you're going to do is... well, how to I say this." Eric said laughing.

"Just... just say it."

"You're going to kill your team."

Quill just took in those words. Kill you're team. Eric must have been crazy. Why would he want to do that?

"I'm sure you'll succeed. You were an excellent officer."

Quill wondered why. Why did he want him to do this?

"If I don't?"

"I'll make the officers of Nova Core kill every living thing on Zandar."

Eric could do that. With some convincing, he could command and army. He was the leader of the Core.

"Why do you want to me to kill them?"

"See, I don't like you Quill. And if you assembled you're team, they have to go. Good people, but I can't work with them."

"Why would you work with them?"

"Well, I would be the new leader of the Guardians obviously."

"Why?"

"Well, I would have everything. Power, fame, glory. Everything my father gave to you."

Quill was horrified with Eric. Why would he want this?

"I would assemble my team of Guardians. And then you would go to prison, and tortured to death. As you will kill them."

"No... I won't."

"Well then. Let me just announce that..."

"NO! Wait. I'll do it. I'll... do what you want."

"Excellent. Now when you go out to do your mission, just... kill them there."

Quill nodded. There was nothing he could do. He even thought of letting Eric kill him, but there was no point. Eric would have killed the team anyways. Quill could save them though. He was Star Lord after all.

He went back to the Milano. Everyone was on board. Quill climbed to the cockpit. There, Cosmo was waiting for him.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. I need you to help me with something though."

Quill told Cosmo everything. Cosmo demanded they storm into Eric's office and kill him themselves.

"No, that won't do. He would just get the Core Officers on us. I have an idea though. So just here me out."

Quill explained that he would get everyone off the ship before they reached their destinations. They would not be able to got to Zandar or Nowhere anymore. Quill would fly the Milano into the threat, hence destroying the ship, and killing him in the process. Cosmo tried to talk him out of it, but Quill was certain it was the only way. Eric had put a chip in Quill's suit and the Milano, which could view them doing the crime. Good thing it didn't have sound.

Cosmo finally agreed. He put the ship in drive, and started off. Quill was ready to die. He had to be.

When they got to the point of where Quill was going to tell everyone to get off, Cosmo stopped him.

"Lets take them out in groups.. so they won't be alone."

Quill nodded, as Cosmo set them into groups. Vell, Drax, and Victory all went together. Groot, Rocket, Venom and Cosmo were the other group. Cosmo didn't tell them what Eric had said. It was best left alone. Before anyone could do anything a mist started to appear. Adam Warlock had created it. He went up to Quill. The others in the back were almost asleep.

Adam Warlock approached Quill.

"I can read thoughts Peter."

"Well then. Great to know."

"I know you have no choice Peter."

"Yeah. So get in the back with the others and jump off."

"I have a better idea. You're a good man Quill. They'll understand. You need to stay alive."

"Look, Adam, someone has to die."

"Yes. The team."

Quill was shocked. Adam was with Eric. He was going to kill the team. Adam was the sense of right and wrong! And he thought this was right?

"Adam! What are you talking about! They don't have to die.."

"Quill. Please. Trust me."

With that Adam went to Victory. With one thrust, he drove a whole through his heart.

Quill ran to stop him, but it was no use. Adam pushed him out of the way. Quill still kept trying, and eventually got to the release button. He pressed it, and with that, all the members went flying into space. Adam shouted, and grabbed Vell, and Drax. Quill floated towards Adam, and managed to free Vell. He turned on his jetpack and tried to fly away, but Adam used his powers to return Vell to him. Quill stared in horror as Adam drove his fist through her also. He saw the blood come out of her mouth as he did so. Quill started to tear up. The one love of his life. Gone. Then Adam did the same to Drax. Quill dove at Adam, and pushed him back to the ship. He held off Adam, until he knew the other members could not have been harmed. Then, he kicked Adam through the front of the Milano. Quill flew off thinking of what would happen to Zandar.

 

Earth: Present Day

 

After Quill had finished explaining, Groot and Rocket were fired up. They were angry, sad, and horrified at the same time.

"I AM GROOT!"

"Yeah what he said!"

"Look, guys... Eric might still plan to do this. So just do what he says. Or the fate of Zandar might be altered."

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Very loooooooonng issue to start with. But I wanted to tell the story of what happened to the other members. So there you have it.

Done