BERHERT
M20 22A4834126+306CA12

Finally landing, Elara lets go as of the rope and Gamora's hand and rolls her shoulder back, feeling them heal. She hears the ship groan then a crashing noise as one of the ship's wings fall off. Drax laughs hysterically as he gets up. "That was awesome! Yes!"

"You and I have very different definitions of 'awesome'!" Elara shouts back.

🌌🌌

"Look at this! Where is the other half of our ship?" Gamora shouts at Rocket and Peter as they all stand in a circle.

"My ship."

"Either one of you could have gotten us through that field, had you flown with what's between you ears instead of what's between your legs!" She walks away from the two.

"If what's between my legs had a hand on it, I guarantee I could have landed this ship with it." Elara ignores Peter's comment, letting out a sigh of relief that her book was in one piece. This is why she kept on her, because of idiots. Feeling a tap on her leg, she sees Groot looking curiously at the book. She places it on the floor, allowing him to look through it. He manages to turn the pages, his face lighting up when he sees the drawings.

"Peter, we almost died because of your arrogance." Gamora states the obvious, hands on her hips. 

"More like because he..." He points at Rocket, "stole the Anulax batteries!"

"They're called Harbulary batteries." Drax states. Elara chuckles quietly. 

"No, they're not!" Peter's pitch raises. 

"Do you know why I did it, Star-Munch? Hmm?"

"I'm not going to answer to Star-Munch."

"I did it because I wanted to!"

"Dick."

"What are wen even talking about this for? We just had a little man save us by blowing up 50 ships!" Elara picks her sketchbook up from the floor and looks at Rocket, she definitely didn't see a little man. 

"How little?" Drax asks.

"Well, I don't know, like this?" Rocket uses two fingers to show how little.

"A little one-inch man saved us?" Gamora asks.

"Well, if he got closer, I'm sure he would be much larger."

"That's how eyesight works, you stupid raccoon." Peter says.

"Don't call me a raccoon!"

"I'm sorry. I took it too far... I meant trash panda."

Rocket looks between everyone. "Is that better?" Elara shrugs, knowing Peter it wasn't better.

"I don't know." Drax answers.

"It's worse. It's so much worse." Peter says with glee in his voice. 

"You son of a..." Rocket leaps for him. They start bickering causing Elara to groan and flop her head back, allowing her to see the ship in the sky. Nebula notices too.

"Someone followed you through the jump point." Weapons at the ready, the gang stand in a tighter circle, backs together. "Set me free, you'll need my help."

"I'm not a fool, Nebula."

"You are a fool if you deprive yourself a hand in combat."

"You'll attack me the moment I let you go."

"No, I won't."

"Please, shut up." Elara says, causing the two to look at her, which she ignores.

"You know, you'd think an evil supervillain would learn how to properly lie." Peter points out.

"I bet it's the one-inch man." Drax says.

The ship floats gracefully down, destroying the surrounding trees. Elara frowns at sight as if they hadn't just crash landed and caused way more damage. They move into a line, Groot in between Elara and Peter. The weird, jelly looking door opens allowing two figures to exit. Elara immediately noticed that the one on the left looked timid, maybe even scared, repeatedly looking at the other. 

"After all these years, I've found you."

"And who the hell are you?" Peter asks.

"I figured my rugged good looks would make that obvious. My name is Ego and I'm your dad, Peter." Elara's bottom jaw drops as far as it could, gaping like a goldfish. 

🌌🌌

It was dark by now, and everyone, including the newbies, were gathered around the campfire. 

"I hired Yondu to pick you up when your mother passed away. But instead of returning you, Yondu kept you. I have no clue as to why." Ego starts. Elara honestly just wanted to leave, or sleep, she didn't trust him one bit. She sat next to Gamora, well more like on her as she leant against her, eyes slowly closing and reopening. She never allowed her self to fall asleep with people she didn't know, as it let her guard down, but she was exhausted.

"Well, I'll tell you why. Because I was a skinny little kid who could squeeze into places adults couldn't. It made it easier for thievin'." 

"Well, I've been trying to track you down ever since."

"I thought Yondu was your father." Drax states.

"What? We've been together this whole time and you thought Yondu was my actual blood relative?"

"You look exactly alike." He says between mouthfuls.

"One's blue!"

"No, he's not my father! Yondu was the guy who abducted me, kicked the crap out of me so I could learn to fight, and kept me in terror by threatening to eat me."

"Eat you?" Ego repeats.

"Yeah."

"Oh, that son of a bitch."

"How'd you locate us now?" Gamora asks, discreetly wrapping her arm around Elara so she'd feel safer to sleep. 

"Well, even where I reside, out past the edge of what's known, we've heard tell about the man they call Star-Lord. What say we head out there right now?" He stands. "Your associates are welcome. Even that triangle-faced monkey there. I promise you it's unlike any other place you've ever seen. And there, I can explain your very special heritage. Finally get to be the father I've always wanted to be. Excuse me, I've gotta take a whiz." Her walks off.

"I'm not buying it." He tells Gamora. 

"Let's go take a walk." She carefully stands, guiding Elara to lay down on the uncomfortable log. They both leave, causing Elara to rise rubbing her eyes on the palm of her hands. She can hear robe dude whistling a very high pitched tune. 

"I am Mantis." She says to Drax, who looks up from his food. She smiles at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Smiling. I hear it is the thing to do to make people like you."

"Not if you do it like that." Elara picks a rock from the ground and throws it at him. He puts his arms up in offense.

"Don't be rude."

"It's true."

"Oh, I was raise alone on Ego's planet. I do not understand the intricacies of social interaction." She spots Rocket. "Can I pet your puppy? It is adorable." 

"Yes." She pets his head, causing him to jump and bite her. Mantis yelps as Drax laughs. "That is called a practical joke!" She joins in laughing, both having very distinct laughs. 

"I liked it very much!"

"I just made it up!"

They continue to laugh, causing Elara and Nebula to look at each other. She puts her hands on her, this was going to be a very long night. 

🌌🌌

It was morning now, and Elara had not slept a wink. Even though she was trained to be awake for long periods of time, it didn't mean she wanted to. She valued sleep over most, especially the nights that were nightmare free. And because she trusted Nebula more with Rocket and Groot, than the others going with the strange man, Elara was currently packing the little things she owns in a bag.

"You're leaving me with that fox?" Nebula exclaims.

"He's not a fox. Shoot her if she does anything suspicious."

Elara crouches down to Groot's height, as he sits. "You're in charge okay buddy, don't let them tell you anything differently. Make sure they stay out of trouble." She kisses the tip of her finger, then touches Groot's cheek before leaving. Gamora takes her place. They wait for Drax and Peter, who finally depart. The first thing Elara notices is the amount of bags Drax had. 'How does he even have that much stuff?'

"Why do you have so much luggage?" Gamora asks.

"I don't want Groot playing with my things."

They head into Ego's ship and they take off for his planet. 

🌌🌌

Sitting on the weird seats, Elara does more sketches to pass the time. She decided to draw Mantis, smiling at the progress. 

"Hey, can I ask you a personal question?" Peter asks Mantis.

"No one has ever asked me a personal question."

"Your antennae, what are they for?"

"Their purpose?" Gamora enters the room, standing near Elara.

"Yes. Quill and I have a bet. Elara's boring and didn't want to join." She sticks her tongue out at him.

"Dude. You're not supposed to say that!"

"I say, that if you are about to go through a doorway that is too low, your antennae will feel this, and keep you from being decapitated." Elara laughs quietly at his suggestion.

"Right. And if it's anything other than you specifically not being decapitated by a doorway, I win."

"They are not for feeling 'doorways'." She mocks Drax. He sighs in defeat as Peter chuckles. "I think, they have something to do with my empathic abilities."

"What are those?" Gamora asks intrigued, Elara fully pays attention.

"If I can touch someone, I can feel their feelings."

"You read minds?"

"No. Telepaths know thoughts. Empaths feel feelings. Emotions. May I?" She asks Peter. 

"All right." Mantis touches his hand, and the ends of her antennae glow.

"You feel love." Mantis says delicately. 

"Yeah. I guess I feel a general, unselfish love for just about anybody." Now that was definitely a lie.

"No! Romantic, sexual love." Elara sinks further into her seat, she knew she didn't want to hear the rest of this. 

"No, no, I don't." He denies quickly.

"For her!" The empath points to Gamora. 

"No!" He pulls away. Elara notices Drax take a very deep breath. 'Oh, God!' He lets out the loudest, and longest laugh she'd heard from him.

"She just told everyone your deepest, darkest secret!" He continues to laugh, pointing at Quill. 

"Dude, I think you're overreacting a little bit!"

"You must be so embarrassed!" He shouts, still howling with laughter. "Do me! Do me!" He bounces slightly in his seat. Mantis stands to touch his shoulder, and suddenly snorts. 

"I have never felt such humour!" She collapses on the seat next to him, both laughing and pointing at Peter. 

"So unbelievably cool." He grumbles. Elara practically sticks her head into her book, mainly so they don't see her smirking. She felt bad for Gamora, but Drax's laughter alone is contagious, but adding Mantis into the mix too? Mantis stands to do Gamora, who grabs her wrist before she gets a chance.

"Touch me, and the only thing you're going to feel is a broken jaw." Mantis looks down and Gamora releases her from her grasp.

"I can also alter emotions to some extent." She says in the now awkward atmosphere.

"Yeah, like what?"

"If I tough someone who is sad, I can ease them into contentment for a short while. I can make a stubborn person compliant. But I mostly use it to help my master sleep. He lies awake at night thinking about his progeny."

"You should use it on Elara, she barely sleeps." Elara stares at Drax, deadpan. "Fine, do one of those on me." 

She places her hand on his forehead. "Sleep." Immediately, he slumps back in his seat, snoring. Elara smirks. "Finally peaceful."

🌌🌌

EGO'S PLANET
G52 22C848T12F+E16UC22

The side of the ship momentarily disappears as the platform they stand on flies out of the it. Elara's eyes widen at the sight of the planet. "Wow." She says under her breath.

"Impressive, huh?" Ego hears her. Elara masks her emotion. She didn't like him. And the name 100% fitted him. "Welcome, everyone, to my world." 'His world?' 

"Wow. You have your own planet?"

"Come on. No larger than your Earth's moon." 

"Humility. I like it. I, too, am extraordinarily humble." Drax states. Weird looking bubbles float by and he pokes one, causing it to burst into smaller ones like a chain reaction. Elara smiles at the sight. 'Damn it.' She knew what she was drawing next. 'Groot would love this.'

They make it to their destination. Elara spots a fountain with fish, maybe. She couldn't tell if they were fake or not. "You own a planet and can destroy two dozen spaceships without a suit. What are you exactly?" Gamora questions. 

"I'm what's called a Celestial, sweetheart."

They stop in place. "A Celestial, like a god?"

"Mmm, small 'g', son. At least on the days I'm feeling humble as Drax." 'Humble, my arse.' He chuckles as he walks up the steps. 

They enter the building. "Holy shit!" Elara couldn't help herself.

"Whoa!"

"I don't know where I came from exactly. First thing I remember is flickering, adrift in the cosmos utterly... and entirely alone." They watch the hologram brain as he explains. "Over millions of years, I learned to control the molecules around me. I grew smarter and stronger." He walks off, the others following like lost puppies. Well, that's what Elara felt like. A confused, lost puppy. "And I continued building from there, layer by layer, the very planet you walk on now. But I wanted more." Elara subtly rolls her eyes, 'they always do.' "I desired meaning. 'There must be some life out there in the universe, besides just me,' I thought. And so, I set myself the task of finding it."

They look at another screen. "I created what I thought biological life to be like, down to the most minute detail."

"Does this mean Peter's half planet?" She asks.

They all turn to her. "Are you serious?" Peter questions.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Have you been listening? If he's a planet, then you must be half. That's how it works, dingus."

"I guess, if you want to think of it like that, then yes."

"Cool."

"Did you make a penis?" Drax asks. Elara snickers. 

"Dude!" 

"What is wrong with you?"

"If he's a planet, how could he make a baby with your mother? He would smush her!"

Peter groans. "I don't need to hear how my parents..." 

"Why? My father would tell the story of impregnating my mother every winter solstice."

"That's disgusting!" Peter declares.

"Every?" Elara asks.

"Yes. Every. It was beautiful. You Earthers have hang-ups."

"Yes, Drax, I got a penis." Ego confirms.

"Ha! Thank you!"

"It's not half bad." Elara's face was the definition of disgust. "I've also got pain receptors, and a digestive system, and all the accompanying junk. I wanted to experience what it truly meant to be human, as I set out amongst the stars until I found what I sought. Life. I was not alone in the universe after all."

"When did you meet my mother?"

"Not long after. It was with Meredith that I first experienced love. I called her my river lily. And from that love, Peter... you. I have searched for you for so long. And when I heard of a man from earth who held an Infinity Stone in his hand without dying, I knew you must be the son of the woman I loved."

"If you loved her, why'd you leave her?"

He doesn't answer.