They had gotten to one of the main rooms, where Wanda sat down and stared into space a bit. At first Steve had been a little freaked out and shook her shoulder, but she explained that she was okay, just trying to make sense of what she saw. After a while, she seemed ready to talk.

"It was weird. Things flew by, the environment was constantly shifting. At first, there was a bright light. Then there was some blue guy holding out a long jacket, an orb, a man with a metal leg, a green-skinned alien freezing in space. And when the scenes finally stopped, it was just Star Lord, standing in the middle of a hurricane of purple, slowly being torn apart as he held something of extreme power in his hand. The green alien was there again, screaming something I could not understand. And then the purple became too much and I was forced out of his head."

"So basically we still have nothing." Tony summarized.

"Well, we do know that there's at least this green alien working with him, so we know that he has things that are going to be coming to get him." Steve pointed out and, okay, Tony supposed that was better than nothing. But the broken scene that Wanda had collected didn't do much to tell them about what he was after. Perhaps they could get her to try again in a bit. Musing over this, Tony turned to the screen that showed Peter's cell and-

"Oh shit, he's touching the back of his neck." Tony slammed on some button. Steve and Wanda looked over his shoulder as Star Lord started to sway and then promptly fell forward as the knock-out gas worked its magic. "Looks like we caught it in time. The sensors say there's no unknown substance in the air, so nothing was released. Okay, Cap, drag that guy out of there."

"Why?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"To figure out more about his alien neck bomb. Bring him up here and I'll take a crack at it. Oh, and check it out, looks like one of our other extraterrestrial visitors is waking up."

The screen monitoring the other cell grew larger so they could better see what was happening. The alien had a far weirder appearance than Peter, with scales and short pointed ears. It sat up, carefully stretching and taking in its new surroundings. It muttered something in Alienish and checked itself over for probably weapons.

"Hello," Tony spoke into a speaker and the alien looked around the cell warily. "I know you probably can't understand what I'm saying, but-"

"You sure 'bout that?" The alien snapped back hotly and the Avengers fell silent.

"Cap, Cap after you get Star Man up here, go and interrogate the English-speaking lizard." Steve rolled his eyes.

"Alright, just make you're careful. If it really is a bomb, we don't want it going off while you mess with it."

"Don't you trust me?"

"I'm not going to answer that."

The sleeping alien was lugged onto a table, placed some-what ungracefully on his stomach and Steve went down to English-alien cell while Tony brought up a 3D diagram of the object. Upon further inspection, it didn't actually resemble a bomb too much. It looked more like a chip, molding fairly well to the curve of his neck. There was a hairline fracture across the middle. If Tony had to guess, he'd say it was powered by the alien itself. While the chip itself didn't really look like a bomb, but, again, alien. Perhaps it was for suicides when caught, but since it was broken that was no longer an option.

"Is this the extraterrestrial that has been awake the longest? The one you looked into?" Tony looked up as Vision came into the room addressing Wanda. He still found it strange. That was JARVIS' voice, but it wasn't his beloved AI. It was like the AI had died, really, as Vision never seemed to acknowledge what he came from or used to be or however that had worked.

"Yes, though I didn't get much out of him." Wanda replied as Vision came closer, looking at Star Lord.

"Yeah, well I'm about to get something out of him." Tony added to the conversation as he picked up a small knife. "Specifically this chip. I'll be able to look at it easier out of his body."

oOo

Terra was actually a fairly beautiful planet. While diversity was something common to find throughout solar systems and the norm of the galaxy, the amount on Terra was abnormal. From space, the colors swirling across it were a sight to behold.

Of course, the Guardians didn't spend much time admiring it as they pierced through the atmosphere like a bullet. Drax had been found in the middle of a bar fight while Rocket had slipped into an area brimming with electronics and had been working on something that didn't look safe or legal. Both had been quick to abandon their activities when they heard that Peter had gotten himself into a predicament. They were both concerned, though Rocket covered it up with excessive swearing and ranting. Cloaking activated, they landed in an open plain as close to where the other aircraft was as possible.

The plan – which could barely be called a plan – was to make as little of a fuss on here as possible. Get in, find out where Peter was, and if he had been captured and experimented by some evil government group. If so, get him out. Wreck havoc as is necessary. For the first part, Rocket was fundamental.

"You want me to do what?!"

That didn't really mean that he had to like it.

Peter had often talked about the strange 'raccoon' creatures from Terra. Things that resembled Rocket and had similar markings, but walked on four legs. And couldn't talk. And were stupid. And nothing like me Quill oh my God will you stop calling me one. So basically, if they didn't want to cause a stir there was only one of them that could run around and even then only if he stuck to the shadows and went naked. Rocket had objected at first, because, yeah, he wanted Quill back, but he wasn't exactly the sneaky type, more of a blow-it-up-and-hope-he-lives type. Not that the others game him much of choice. They basically shoved a communicator at him, stripped him, and tossed him outside of the ship before locking the door and telling him that they'd unlock it once he went out and found some info.

Rocket ran down alleyways – distinctly not scurried – jumping over piles of junk and occasionally being chased by Terran creatures that were defending their territory. The place was absolutely filthy, and to Rocket it was now clear that Peter's habit of not cleaning must've been learned here, or maybe simply just a part of what Terrans do.

It didn't take Rocket too long to find the ship Quill had been on, as there was still a bit of smoke rising from it. While he wouldn't admit it to the others, he was relieved to see that the crash hadn't been too bad, definitely survivable. The ship itself was surrounded by heavily-armed men trying to keep the public at bay. Then surrounding them was basically a wall of curious civilians and news reporters desperate for information and what had just happened. Most of them were, surprisingly, not panicked at the fact that something had crashed, but rather exited. Rocket slipped between people's legs, unnoticed in all the excitement and noise, and got close enough to one of the reporters to pick up what she was saying.

" – there is still yet to be an official statement from the Avengers on the crash, but an eyewitness has decided to come forward with some information. Ma'am, what's your name?"

"Cindy, Cindy Crawford."

"Now Cindy, what is it you said you saw?"

"Oh man, it was, like, the coolest thing ever. So I was in one of the evacuated buildings 'cause I was listening to my music was too loud and didn't hear that we were possibly going to die. Anyway, I looked out my window and there was a spaceship and the Avengers. And oh my God you have not lived until you've seen Captain America's muscles with your own two eyes. Anyway, this metal-faced alien with glowing red eyes came out and was standing there all menacingly. The Avengers really had no choice but to take it down. In fact, I bet it's in their tower fight now and they're running test on it. Don't want to be surprised again. Oh, they're so brave keeping us safe life this. I just adore them."

"Thank you Cindy." The reporter motioned for her camera man to turn towards a towering building with a symbol on it. "Viewers, now for your input. Do you think we had a right to engage unknown aliens in combat without giving them a chance to explain themselves? Is it right to pull apart sentient creatures just to protect ourselves from others like it? Use the #rwethealiens and put in your opinions."

Information collected, the very-much-not-a-raccoon returned to the privacy of trash and darkness.

"You guys get that?" Rocket whispered into the communicator.

"Loud and clear. Any idea where this tower is?" Gamora's voice replied.

"Yeah, I think I know, but first I'm coming back."

"Good idea, we need to get a bit of a more solid plan seeing as all the civilians are undoubtedly watching the tower."

"No, because I am not going to keep running around out here naked! It's embarrassing!" Rocket snarled back.

"Okay. By the time you have returned we will hopefully have a few of the details."

"Whatever."

By even alien standards, the cloaking for the Milano was pretty top of the line. At least, it had been after Nova Corps were done with it, Rocket couldn't really speak about how it'd been before. The open door looked like a hole is reality of something. Usually when visiting pre-space-age planets, it was highly suggested, almost required, that you use a cloaking setting that made your ship look like a rock or a cave or house, as the not-hole often led to people thinking of the visitors as gods of demons. But it had been unanimously accepted that the Terrans would probably would find a giant rock stranger than possible gaping hole.

"So, what we got so far?" Rocket demanded, pulling on his jumpsuit.

"Well, we searched for these 'Avengers' on the local wireless system. It seems that they refer to themselves as 'The Earth's Mightiest Heroes'. It appears they have saved a few cities from harm and have dedicated themselves to protecting this world. They are the ones that are responsible for Terra not falling from the Chitauri attack a while ago. Their current base is a large tower with the first symbol to their title on it."

"Saw it. I'm a good 50% sure that's where he is." Rocket picked up one of his guns. "Okay, let's go bust Star Dork out."

"That does not seem like much of a plan." Drax commented, but his hands were resting n his knives.

"We cannot just burst in guns blazing, Rocket." Gamora objected. "All eyes are going to be on that tower. Whether you like it or not, we're outnumbered – badly. I am not simply talking about these Avengers, but also military of these Terrans. They may be far behind technologically, but they have fought hard to keep their planet. I do not doubt that they are prepared to do so again." Which was true.

"groot" Rocket's head whipped to the small tree, who was currently in his pot and looking rather eager.

"No, no way, that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard, and I've hear a lot of Quill's plans." Rocket stated, but Groot continued grinning.

"groot"

oOo

Peter was really getting tired of the color purple.

He was floating in a vast expanse of nothingness that, if he focused hard enough, was also the infinity on a much weaker level. He was carried through the everythingnothing in a purple cloud that felt like it was corroding his skin away and revealing his bare skeleton to be forgotten in the void. It was all suddenly pierced by a sharp golden light that was even more over whelming than the purple, equal only to that of the time that he held the stone. It was that which pushed him back to the waking world.

Peter found himself lying on a cold table, which at first glance was equal parts good and bad. Bad, because it meant that he had been dragged away from the safety(?) of his cell and into some other room where they were probably getting another look at his vitals or whatever since he was an 'alien'. Good, because it meant that his flesh was still a thing that existed on his body. Honestly, this was more than a little rude, but Quill was willing to wait it out. Despite the Chitauri attack, Terrans were still new to the whole 'life outside of the atmosphere' thing, and so Quill would do his best to let them see that not all extraterrestrials had it out for-

A sharp blade slid carefully and precisely across the back of Peter's neck.

-and that was where he drew the line. He could take people looking at the fine specimen that he presented, but when they started to try taking him apart he was the out. The drunken ramblings of Rocket and sleepy murmurings of Gamora came to mind. Both tales spoke of being cut open and having parts of them taken out and examined and put back in, usually with something extra in tow, the skin seamlessly grafted back over so not even scars showed the pain they had gone through.

Peter rolled off the table, falling onto the ground. There was movement all around him and people were talking but he didn't really care. He stumbled to his feet, one hand on the back of his neck, blood pooling between his fingers. Scientist Guy was closest to the table, hands up non-threateningly but he was still holding the knife and one hand was twitching, ready for action. Red Mist Girl was also there, and she seemed to be saying something that Quill didn't even try to understand. The third person he recognized from when he first crashed, but it had a panicked time so he hadn't thought much of the red and green guy. On his forehead sat a perfect little yellow gem, glowing gently and sending shivers down Peter's spine.

Scientist-Guy took a step forward, and Peter flipped the table he had just been on, making it a debatably better shield between them. He proceeded to knock over anything else within reach. Red mist spread to a few objects and Scientist-Guy put some sort of metal glove on. Red/Green went right through all the fallen things as they were lifted into the air and put to their pre-fallen positions. Red/Green was talking, voice smooth and precise and creepy. So he swung open the door and bolted down the hallway.

Aaaand now there were red flashing lights.