Chapter Ten:
The Wrap Up
Two Tone Bar on planet Rylex was in all essence a hole in the wall. It was the only bar in the backwater town of Peat Tree; population 17. The bar was a great place to come if you didn't want to be found. An even better place to meet someone without being disturbed. The small room was filled with noise. No not the noise of people talking, laughing, or partying, but of music; from a jukebox.
“Baby baby baby, I'm said, I'm gonna leave you...I'm gonna leave you in the summer time...” The song played through Rocket's mind as he looked down into his glass and smirked.
The interior of the bar was mostly low quality metal. What wasn't metal was torn and faded. From foam upholstery to splintering wood. Plenty of empty booths lined two of the four walls and plenty of empty seats made up the middle area. There was a stage set on the back wall for open mic night, it was a shame that the equipment never worked properly.
“...I'm gonna leave you the summer comes a'rollin'.” Rocket's ears perked up slightly at the sound of his voice.
Thank goodness there was the jukebox at least. It sat nestled between the restroom doors. Unfortunately it had be salvaged from an old Earth freighter. All the songs were old and played out. Mostly fifties, sixties, and seventies, doo-whop, touchy feeling, and rock music. It was nothing people would seek out to hear, but it did it's job of covering up the loneliness with noise. Rocket had sacrificed more then a few credits to have Led Zepplin chase away the deep thoughts brewing on the horizon of his mind.
“Baby, baby, baby, I wanna leave you, I ain't jokin' woman I got to ramble.” Robert Plant was laying down volumes of heartache that Rocket was sure everyone knew.
Smoke filled the air, making the old bar smell slightly better than the normal putrid mildew smell that lingered underneath. Rust rings covered the metal bar top, there must have been thousands of them. All caused by the low quality swill the bartender was passing off as drinks. Drinks much like the one Rocket was “enjoying” at the bar right now.
“Oh yeah, baby, baby, baby, I'm believin', we really got to ramble.” The band played on.
Rocket quietly sat nursing his drink. He still didn't have a lot of credits left, so he had to make sure they counted for something. It had been two days since he arrived at the bar. Two days since he'd finished his story. Four days since he'd left Silas. It was hard for him to not think about her. She'd filled a void in his heart that had been there for a long time. She helped him come to terms with a terrible thing that haunted him. She told him that she loved him. Such a priceless gift to bestow upon his worthless hide. Unfortunately In the end she did disappoint him by not being the one to grab his stuff from the evidence locker. It didn't matter though, it didn't matter to him at all. He got his stuff back anyway and that's what was important. Or did it matter? He thought to himself, maybe what really mattered was that he wanted to see her again.
“I can hear it calling me the way it use to do, I can hear it calling me back home.” The rift moved through him.
“Oh booze and music, why do you go so well together.” Rocket thought aloud.
Thankfully there were only a few other people in the bar at this time of night. Oddly enough they were two Quazi sitting in a booth waiting for something or someone. Rocket had thoroughly made an ass out of himself by asking if either of them knew a Silas. The male Quazi assumed Rocket was being crazy or a racist inferring that all Quazi looked alike. After some profuse apologies, Rocket returned to his seat without so much as another peep. Out of desperation Rocket sighed deeply and shook his head.
“...I said don't you hear it callin' me the way it used to do? Ooooh...” The drums and guitar threatening to push Rocket to tears.
“Where are you Silas?” Rocket said quietly before downing the terrible tasting booze before him.
“Ya huntin' that Silas feller?” The automaton behind the counter said, in his programed Southern drawl.
Rocket tensed up and cocked his head at the bartender. “What the hell did you say?”
The robot moved down the bar on his rusty track to pick up a News Tablet before returning to set it down in front of Rocket. “Check out page four, it seems they caught that sonovabitch.” The robot turned his head and mock spit.
A thick squirt of grease shot from the place where his mouth should have been. Obviously the folks that programed this automaton had a great sense of humor, or tons of time on their hands. Rocket hit the power button that brought up the LCD monitor on the small flat tablet. He swiped his finger along the glass screen until he saw the headline.
Mass Murdering Monster Manhunt, Comes to a Critical Conclusion!
Silas Tern 43; A known convicted murderer was cornered on Planet X yesterday. An unknown source called a tip to the authorities that revealed his location. Silas was masterfully apprehended by First Stripe Yungon-Siha of the Galaxy Patrol. After a lengthy stand off Silas was subdued and taken to the nearest Star Port for questioning and booking. A list of charges for Silas Tern can be found on our Interweb Network Site. After a brief search and seizure, Police were able to determine that he had been hiding out on Planet X since his escape from Turock prison, 2 years prior.
Rocket skimmed the article a few more times always stopping on the booking picture of Silas. The music's drumming rhythm was moving in time with his heartbeat. His head was swimming once again. It was the same man he'd shared a cell with, but with all this information. It just couldn't be possible. At first Rocket thought he'd been given a old News Tablet, but when he looked at the date of the News Tablet, it was accurate, it synced up with his wrist comm. It seemed as if he stepped through a portal into an alternate existence.
A rage was welling up inside Rocket, a dangerous rage. It was usually followed up with someone's property getting wreck, or worse someone's life being exterminated. What made matters worse, was the loud music thumping in his head. The alcohol induced heat in his face, making his vision watery. He needed to calm down, quickly.
“Barkeep, will you turn on the vid screen for me. I wanna watch some TV.” Rocket's words were starting to slur, the alcohol was starting to take it's toll on him.
The automaton flipped a switch under the bar, turning the view screen on adding a few notches to the volume. The news was on. Rocket had hoped to catch up with what was going on with the rest of the Galaxy. The sleek looking reporter could almost pass for human. The only exceptions were his large black eyes and sharp yellow teeth. It was soothing in a way to hear the reporters forced modesty and enthusiasm. Most of the time Rocket liked to turn the news on and fall asleep to it.
The sport announcer seemed to be on point tonight as much as they usually were, even Rocket found himself paying attention to something he really didn't care much for. “...and as you can see. The Mantaric Mandrakes really took it to the Farley Fahilabas with the final score being 112 to 23, back to you Glema.”
“Thank you Blandy McClaw. Too bad those Fahilabas handle the ball like they handle their their drug charges. Out of hand.” Even Rocket had to laugh along with the pretty robot. “Now for the latest report. Human Officer Mehitabel Biggs, stationed with the Ar'Leir Police Force was found today. She'd been bound, gagged, and left naked in an oil well of the hanger at the Convogue Penal Colony for several days. Even though her partner Officer Lax had reported that Officer Biggs had been showing up to work. She was forced to take sick leave, after having a physical altercation with an inmate that left her wounded. A few days later, Officer Lax notified his commanding officer, that she'd disappeared from her apartment three days before. Biggs was in fair health when they found her and ready to return to duty. When we asked her what had happened she had this to say.” Glema flashed to a picture of Officer Biggs.
Rocket jumped off his stool to get a closer look at the picture, he couldn't believe it was her. “Officer Lax and I were informed to go to the Penal Colony to check on an inmate that we'd brought in earlier that week. When we got the hanger an unknown Quazi assailant dropped a flash bomb and blinded my partner. I was fortunate enough to cover my eyes in time, but when I moved my arm away to get a look at my attacker I was amazed at what I saw. The assailant had changed for an instant I thought I saw myself. I know that sounds crazy. It might have just been a reflective surface or the flash grenade had an adverse effect on me. But the next thing I knew there was a bag over my head and a pain in the back of my head. Whoever the assailant is, she was Quazi, but she also looked a lot like me. I will not rest until I found out who she is.”
The screen went back to Glema. “When we reached out for further comment from her partner Officer Lax, he said he had no comment and that he was going to take an extended vacation. Good for him, I hope he has fun. Coming up next on Lateline, how safe are your children really? We analyze laser weapon in the home, for safety precautions with leading gun aficionado Terrilas Merm. When we come back.”
Rocket slumped down in his seat and shook his head, more to clear the alcohol induced cobwebs. What the hell was going on? First Silas turns out to be an escaped killer, then Officer Biggs was not who she was at the precinct. Obviously the shape shifter he'd met in prison was behind it all. It was a strange feeling for Rocket, thinking back that he'd had sex with Officer Biggs in his cell at the precinct. But who was that person really? The only other shape shifter Rocket knew about was Mystique and she wouldn't waste her time on such a trivial game. Besides Rocket had never done anything to her before. Rocket was starting to believe that once he found the young Silas girl, he'd get his answers he deserved.
The bartender rolled over and put another drink on the bar in front of Rocket, this time he didn't hold back. Rocket down the whole drink and slammed the glass on the counter hard enough to shatter it. The automaton politely rolled back over and cleaned up the glass. In the same token he replaced the drink as quickly as it could be done. Rocket rested his head in his hands and looked down at the amber liquid in the glass.
“Come on Pete, why don't you get you ass here soon. I'm tired of being alone.” Rocket slurred, a bit of drool falling from his bottom lip to the bar top.
Suddenly the door opened and through it stepped a Quazi girl. Rocket could tell that much even through the smoke in the air. At the sight of her, his vision cleared. It was Silas, or at least the Silas he knew. Quickly he got up from his seat at the bar and walked over to her. She was shivering and scared. Around her eyes were stained with running mascara and she looked as if she hadn't slept in days. Even in her terrified state she was still so beautiful. Rocket reached her side and held his arms out to her, waiting for a hug. It was all he could do to keep from snatching her up in a warm embrace. Upon seeing the raccoon she recoiled and backed away. Rocket's eyes opened wide at this, and then he saw a flash of stars.
There was a heavy punch coming from the side of him. A punch he hadn't see coming and was unprepared for. The strong knuckles nearly breaking his muzzle. The force of the punch pushed him into the counter, which he used to support his weight and keep from falling over. He snatched around angrily and came nose to chest with the Quazi male he'd met earlier. The look on his face showed that he was none too happy. Rocket looked from the male to the female, and then to the Silas he thought he knew. The male Quazi was rocking back into another punch, but this time Rocket was ready for him. He reached up and grabbed the large Quazi's arm and directed the punch into the metal counter with a crunch of the Quazi's middle knuckle.
Rocket wrapped his arm tightly are the large arm, and pushed his blaster into the face of the Quazi, growling out through gritted teeth. “What the fuck is going on?”
The female Quazi wrapped her arms around the Quazi formally known as Silas and hugged her closely. The male froze in terror, it wasn't until then that Rocket realized that the male had been crying as well. His eyes carried dark rings of sleeplessness, and depression. Then he looked to the female Quazi who was crying and protecting Silas; no, not Silas. Just another Quazi girl.
“I'm sorry for the misunderstand. Please just tell me what's going on? I've been out in space for a long time and I think I'm losing my mind.” Rocket said through a shaky voice.
The male Quazi nodded slowly and relaxed his fighting stance while Rocket loosened his grip. “You really don't know what's going on?” His voice was deep and threatening.
Rocket thought for a moment about telling the truth of what happened to him, but then thought against it.
Changing everything except what he felt was important. “I was on a ship with someone who looked just like your daughter, but answered to the name Silas. Not too long ago I found out Silas was a murderer who was arrested yesterday. Then the girl I thought was Silas turns out to not be her at all. Who is she?”
Not Silas was still clinging to her mother, but she turned her head to talk to raccoon that must had most certainly stricken with space madness. “About a month ago a group of people in black came to my school and took me away without saying anything. They kept me in an off planet lab. They weren't mean to me or anything, in fact most of them were quite nice. They told me to cooperate with them and then I could go home. I guess they were running some tests on me, but they never even touched me once. When they were done they dropped me here and left.”
“These same people sent us a summons, for us to come here and wait for her.” The female Quazi said, her tears had subsided a little.
Rocket swallowed hard and nodded slowly, he was on the verge of tears himself, but did his best to maintain. “I'm sorry I bothered you. I'm sorry I put a blaster in your face. I'm happy you're home again. Please take care of yourself and excuse me.”
Rocket slipped his blaster back into his holster and paced back to the stool he'd been sitting on. The bartender handed Rocket a napkin to wipe the blood from his nose. The male Quazi stepped up and lay a few multicolored dollars on the bar and looked at the bartender.
“This man's had a rough few days. I know a thing or two about having a rough day. Keep this guy well oiled until he starts to feel better.” His voice curled out of his mouth much the way his tongue did.
“Thank you, the name is Rocket Raccoon. If you ever need anything you let me know, okay?” Rocket said, putting his hand on the Quazi's large shoulder.
“Did you say Rocket Raccoon?” Not Silas asked stepping forward.
“Yeah, that's me.” Rocket leaned forward to look at her while dabbing his nose.
“Then this is for you.” The young Quazi girl passed him a familiar looking holographic recorder.
Rocket was too stunned to speak for a moment.“Where did you get this?”
“A woman in black armor gave it to me. She told me to give it to you when I get here.” Not Silas said quietly, before returning to her mother's side.
“Good luck to you Rocket.” The Quazi male patted him hard on the back before rejoining his wife and daughter.
Rocket watched as the three of them walked out of the bar, leaving Rocket alone with his thoughts. He flipped the recorder over and looked at the back of it. There was a piece of silver tape across the back. Written in red marker it stated. “Just Play Me” The handwriting was very effeminate and smelled of Ar'Leir tobacco. Just as the girl he knew as Silas had smelled of. There was nothing left for him to do, but press play on the device. A blue light cast over his face once again. A figure dressed in all in black armor stood there. Her face covered with a black helmet. The helmet had two large red eyes, that glowed. It didn't look unlike a insect would look. Rocket raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Whoever this person was it seemed like they may be the next danger to the entire galaxy. It didn't matter, the Guardians could hand anyone.
“My friend Rocket, I'm sorry that we had to part under such mysterious circumstances. I hope that you were able to find all the evidence of my existence or in this case nonexistence that my society has laid out. You must have, because if you're seeing this. Then the final piece has been delivered to you. Our involvement, yours and mine was forbidden from the start, by my superiors, but I had to see you. I had to rescue you from Du'Vok. When I received intel of what Artemis Dagon Jr. had planned for you. I found that I could not decline to intervene, Du'Vok may seem incompetent, but his boss is not. My organization has removed the price from your head so you'll not be detained again. We will have dealings again you and I will. I assure you.” The figure stopped talking and just stood there for a second before she started talking again. “Computer set mode to Off the Record, Agent 19 verify.” The once blue hologram turned red now. “I'm sorry Rocket for deceiving you. I'm very sorry for setting up such an elaborate rouse, but I can't jeopardize myself or my society. Even though it may be hard for you to believe, but I do love you and the time we spent together was very special to me, even when I couldn't be myself. I want nothing more than to be able to say these things to you in person. Now is not the time, I'm not sure when the time will come, but it will happen. I will be watching you and keeping you safe. I love you Rocket.” The hologram ended.
The device grew exceedingly hot in Rocket's hand causing him to drop it on the counter. No doubt it was a security measure. The intense heat burning up any evidence of his mystery love. If it were true that they were going to meet again, he was damn sure going to get some answers. Rocket tipped up his last glass, down the last drink before standing up from the bar. Rocket graciously left the money that the Quazi had given him, next to the empty glass. Peter Quill had still not shown up yet, but it was time to go. They were just going to have to rendezvous somewhere else. Rocket walked out of the bar and into the gray dirt of the streets. He had a new mission now, and wasn't about to drag his feet on it.
