"I think…" Drax tried to say, hesitating.
"Shut up! You don't get a say!" Gamora interrupted, turning to Star-Lord with a serious expression. "Quill, I've lived in the shadow of the enemy, in constant pain. But today, I'm ready to live or die alongside my friends."
Drax didn't seem bothered by the interruption. Rising to his feet, he said solemnly, "Quill, you're a brave and resourceful leader. I'll fight by your side, and if we fail, I'll meet my wife and daughter with a clear conscience."
"I am Groot," said Groot with unwavering resolve, casting a look back at Rocket.
Rocket glanced around, dumbfounded by the sudden resolve. After a few seconds, he stomped his feet and stood up. "I can't stand you idiots! Fine, I'm an idiot too. Let's go die together!"
Star-Lord looked at his teammates, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you all for believing in me. Oh, right, Drax—what were you trying to say?"
"Hmm?" Drax looked startled before remembering, "Oh, right! I was just going to say… maybe we don't have to die!"
"Wait," Quill said, eyeing him skeptically. "Do you have some secret weapon that can kill Ronan?"
Drax rolled his eyes. "No, if I had that, I'd have used it by now."
"Then why did you bother saying anything?" Rocket snapped, annoyed that he'd gotten his hopes up for nothing.
"Well," Drax said, scratching his head, "I met someone once… someone Ronan seemed afraid of. Just seeing this guy was enough to make Ronan back off."
Star-Lord's eyes widened. "You're telling me there's someone out there who can make Ronan turn tail?"
Drax nodded, thinking. "I think he said he was from… uh, the Alaskan family?"
"Asgard?" Star-Lord asked, raising an eyebrow.
Drax clapped his hands. "Yes! That's it!"
"Asgard?" Rocket repeated, intrigued. "I've heard of them. Top-tier warriors, right? Their king supposedly destroyed an entire planet recently."
As an interstellar mercenary, Rocket knew his share of legends. Gamora's expression grew serious. "It's probably the same person. If he agrees to help, our chances will skyrocket."
"Who is this guy?" Star-Lord asked, curious. "And why are you two fangirling over him?"
Gamora glanced around before explaining, "Thor, the heir to Asgard's throne. I wouldn't say we're acquainted, but I met him once. Fifteen years ago, he broke into my father's stronghold alone, and no one could stop him. In the end, my father fought him himself. Thor managed to escape with my sister."
Rocket's ears perked up in disbelief. "Isn't your father Thanos? You're telling me this guy fought Thanos and lived to tell about it?"
Gamora nodded. "Yes, it's true."
At that moment, a heavy voice spoke from the hatch. "She's right." Thor stepped into the room with Nebula and Minerva beside him. "And, for the record, Thanos would have a hard time defeating me now."
With a casual gesture, Thor placed a severed clawed hand on the table. Gamora gasped, her eyes darting to the blue-skinned woman beside Thor. "Nebula… is that really you?"
Nebula's face softened, and she nodded. "Sister!"
The two embraced, reunited after years apart. Rocket, barely containing his curiosity, picked up the claw on the table to inspect it.
Thor spoke nonchalantly. "A short while ago, Thanos made the mistake of attacking Asgard. We had quite the battle, and I sent him packing. This"—he gestured to the claw—"is all that's left of Cull Obsidian, one of his top enforcers."
The room fell silent. Rocket's eyes widened, his mind racing to process this information. Thor's words were sinking in like a slow shockwave. Drax stared at Thor in open-mouthed awe, while the rest of the team looked on with wide eyes.
As everyone took in the scene, Minerva rolled her eyes, familiar with Thor's penchant for dramatics. Subtlety isn't his style, she thought with a smirk. But it works.
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