[In the Blood Eagle, Rocket and Yondu were thrown into a cell. The metal walls hummed with energy, creating an oppressive atmosphere that seemed to press down on the two captives.]
[Electric Face stood outside the cell, his scarred features twisted into a gloating expression. The cybernetic implants along his jaw sparked occasionally as he spoke, "We'll send you to the Kree tomorrow morning! After that, neither of you will live long!" His voice carried the satisfaction of someone who had finally caught his prey after a long hunt.]
["Okay! Shockface! Hey! Say hello to the others for us! Shockface!" Rocket called out mockingly, his small hands gripping the energy bars of their prison. His tone was deliberately cheerful, as if he were talking to an old friend rather than his captor.]
[Rocket was not afraid at all. Instead, he kept mocking Electric Face with a sarcastic tone, his whiskers twitching with barely contained amusement. "Tell them we said hi! And maybe get that face fixed while you're at it!"]
[Electric Face listened to Rocket's ridicule and couldn't help but take a deep breath, his fists clenching at his sides. The electrical components in his face sparked more violently as his anger rose. He was suppressing every urge to kill the insolent raccoon right then and there, but he knew the Kree wanted them alive. Without another word, he turned and left, his heavy boots echoing through the corridor.]
[A Ravager came over carrying a small birdcage, and inside was Baby Groot, looking confused and frightened. The little tree's eyes were wide with bewilderment as he tried to understand what was happening to him.]
["Oh! Hey! Can I smash this little plant with a rock?" the Ravager asked eagerly, already reaching for a nearby stone. His eyes gleamed with cruel anticipation.]
[Electric Face rejected his request without hesitation, waving his hand dismissively. "No! Jeff! How can you kill such a cute creature? Send it to the tailor!" He wanted to play with this little thing himself, to see how long it would take to break its spirit.]
[Rocket turned around and looked at Yondu, who was still sitting on the ground without any reaction, staring blankly at the wall. "Don't mind me, but your crew are all villains!" His voice carried both frustration and genuine concern.]
[Yondu sat on the ground in silence for a moment before suddenly speaking, his voice heavy with regret. "I was a war slave of the Kree for twenty years. It was Stakar who saved me!" The memories seemed to weigh on him like physical chains.]
["He invited me to join the Ravagers. He said I just had to follow the code, but I was young... greedy and stupid! Just like you, stealing those batteries!" His blue skin seemed to pale as he recalled his past mistakes.]
[Rocket, sitting across from him, shrugged dismissively. "That's more like Drax's doing!" He wasn't particularly interested in Yondu's sob story, but he could see the pain in the older man's eyes.]
[Yondu ignored him and continued, lost in his memories. "Stakar, me, and the other captains – we were very similar to you and your friends! That was my only home!" His voice cracked slightly, revealing the depth of his loss.]
["After I broke the code, they exiled me. I deserved it!" The self-loathing in his voice was palpable, and even Rocket could feel the weight of his regret.]
[Yondu looked so self-pitying that Rocket couldn't stand it anymore. He stood up and walked over to him, his small frame casting a shadow across Yondu's hunched form.]
["Slow down there, drama queen! You may deserve it, but I don't! We have to escape!" Rocket's voice was sharp, cutting through Yondu's self-pity like a blade.]
[Yondu looked up at him with hollow eyes. "Where is Quill?"]
["He left with his father!" Rocket replied matter-of-factly, not understanding the significance of what he was saying.]
[Hearing this, Yondu couldn't help but raise his head sharply, his eyes widening in alarm. "Ego?" The name fell from his lips like a curse.]
[Yondu's heart sank to the bottom in an instant. He knew very well what would happen to Star-Lord when he was in Ego's presence. Just moments ago, he hadn't wanted to live anymore, didn't want to struggle anymore. But the moment he heard that Star-Lord had been taken away by Ego, every fiber of his being screamed for escape. He had to get out of this cell.]
[He knew very well how powerful Ego was, and he also knew that going after him would probably be like a moth flying into a flame. But now he had nothing left but Star-Lord. For so many years, he had always treated Peter as his son, and he would never allow anything to happen to him. Not while there was still breath in his body.]
[Rocket nodded casually, oblivious to Yondu's internal turmoil. "Yeah! Today's names are all stupid!" He had no idea of the cosmic threat that name represented.]
[The name Ego symbolized pure self-interest, meaning that Ego would do anything to achieve his goals, no matter who got hurt in the process. Most people didn't understand this connection, but Yondu knew. He had spent years learning about the Celestials and their ways, and Ego was perhaps the most dangerous of them all.]
[Yondu couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh when he heard Rocket's innocent comment. "Hahaha!" The sound was hollow, but it masked his determination. He had made up his mind – he would stop Ego at any cost. He would not let that monster succeed in whatever plan he had for Peter.]
[He suppressed his inner turmoil and began to think strategically about how to escape. Every second they wasted here was another second that Peter was in mortal danger.]
[Rocket looked at Yondu suspiciously. "You smiled! Just for that moment, I thought I felt something warm and fuzzy! But then your rotten teeth ruined the whole effect!" His nose wrinkled in disgust.]
[Yondu was still smiling when he heard what he thought was a compliment, but his expression immediately soured after hearing Rocket's follow-up comment. His jaw clenched, and his hand twitched toward where his fin would normally be.]
[He resisted the urge to stand up and throttle the sarcastic rodent. "What's your deal? Are you a professional asshole or something?" His voice was strained with the effort of maintaining his composure.]
[Rocket didn't seem bothered by the insult at all. "I'm professional at everything!" He replied with mock pride, straightening his small shoulders.]
[Then his expression grew more serious, and he asked the question that had been bothering him. "Why didn't you bring Quill to Ego as agreed? What's the real reason?"]
[Yondu's eyes shifted slightly, and he gave what was obviously a rehearsed answer. "He's small and skinny, can get into places we can't reach. Very useful for thievery!" His voice lacked conviction, and his eyes didn't meet Rocket's gaze.]
[Rocket narrowed his eyes, his enhanced senses picking up on the deception immediately. "Uh-huh?" His intuition told him that Yondu wasn't telling the truth, but he decided not to press the issue for now.]
[Yondu didn't seem to care whether Rocket believed him or not. He curled his lips into what might have been a smirk and said, "I know how we can get out of here! But I need your little friend!" His voice carried a new sense of purpose and determination.]
[The scene shifted to the main deck of the ship, where many Ravagers had surrounded Baby Groot. They formed a circle around the tiny tree, shouting in unison like spectators at a gladiatorial match: "Mascot! Mascot! Mascot!" Their voices echoed through the metal corridors, creating a cacophony of cruel excitement.]
[Baby Groot had been dressed in a miniature piece of Ravager clothing by the ship's tailor. The outfit was a perfect replica of their uniforms, complete with tiny boots and a belt that was far too big for his small frame. He was clearly uncomfortable and kept trying to tear the clothing off, his tiny fingers pulling frantically at the fabric. However, the material was reinforced and tough, designed to withstand the rigors of space piracy, and he couldn't tear it no matter how hard he tried.]
[The traitorous Ravagers became even more excited when they saw the little tree's futile struggles. Their laughter grew louder and more mocking with each failed attempt.]
["Look at this little guy getting all worked up! I think it's time to give him a drink!" one of the Ravagers called out, holding up a bottle of their strongest liquor. The amber liquid sloshed dangerously close to the rim.]
[Without waiting for a response, the Ravager poured the entire contents of the bottle over Baby Groot, soaking him completely. The alcohol ran down his bark-like skin and pooled around his tiny feet, creating a puddle that reflected the ship's harsh lighting.]
["Ahahahahahaha!" The sight of the drenched and miserable little creature sent the crowd into fits of laughter. They slapped each other on the backs and pointed at Groot's pathetic form.]
[Baby Groot immediately began stamping his feet in frustration and anger, his tiny fists clenched at his sides. His usual cheerful demeanor had been replaced by pure indignation.]
["Look how cute he is when he's angry!" one Ravager called out, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.]
["He's absolutely adorable! Hahahaha!" another added, doubling over with mirth.]
[Groot, driven by righteous fury, rushed toward one of his tormentors with all the speed his little legs could muster. However, the Ravager simply lifted his boot and kicked the tiny tree backward, sending him tumbling across the deck like a discarded toy.]
"Rocket really isn't afraid of death! His tongue is even more venomous than Tony Stark's!" 1st Generation Spider-Man found it difficult to comment on Rocket's character. He couldn't understand why this raccoon's mouth was so caustic.
No wonder when he had argued with Drax before, Star-Lord had scolded him for having no friends. With his personality, how many people could possibly want to be friends with him?
"Yondu is lying! The reason he kept Quill is definitely not what he said!" 1st Generation Gwen saw through Yondu's deception immediately. Even though Yondu had given Peter that same explanation many times over the years, Gwen could sense another layer of truth hidden beneath his words.
"Although Yondu isn't exactly a good person, he doesn't seem like someone who would intentionally keep a child around just for convenience. He must have other reasons for doing this!" 1st Generation Spider-Man shared the same suspicion as Gwen. He had always felt that there was something fundamentally wrong with Ego, something that set off every one of his spider-senses.
"Oh! Poor little Groot! This is so heartbreaking!" Rose watched the scene of Groot being tormented with visible distress, her hands pressed to her heart.
Otto had always been obsessed with his research and had never had children with her. Now, seeing Groot being bullied, her maternal instincts suddenly erupted with protective fury.
1st Generation Spider-Man felt genuine sympathy for the little tree. "Rocket is right about one thing – these guys are all complete villains. If I ever encounter them, I'll definitely make sure they end up behind bars where they belong."
[Baby Groot, now exhausted both physically and emotionally, seemed to be abandoned by the entire world. He was soaked from head to toe, as if he had just been pulled from a swimming pool. Not only was he drenched, but he also reeked of cheap alcohol, the smell so strong it would make anyone want to cover their nose.]
[Little Groot's steps seemed unusually heavy and labored, each movement a struggle against both gravity and despair. His small head drooped forward, as if he had lost all vitality and energy. He looked like a delicate flower that had been destroyed by a violent storm, wilting lifelessly under the harsh lights of the ship.]
[At that moment, Yondu in the cell used his whistle – a soft, melodic sound that cut through the noise of the ship – to attract Groot's attention. "Hey there, little branch! Come here!" His voice was gentler than it had been all day, carrying a warmth that surprised even Rocket.]
[Baby Groot heard the familiar sound and began walking toward the cell with heavy, trudging steps. Each footfall echoed his exhaustion and misery.]
[Rocket immediately noticed something was terribly wrong when he saw Groot's bedraggled appearance. His usual sarcastic demeanor vanished, replaced by genuine concern and barely controlled rage.]
["Oh, man... What the hell did they do to you?" Rocket's voice was low and dangerous, his small hands gripping the energy bars of their cell so tightly that his knuckles turned white beneath his fur.]
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