"Supreme Ruler? The High Evolutionary?" Star-Lord raised an eyebrow at Aishan's words, smirking disdainfully. "Sounds familiar. The Kree had their Supreme Intelligence, and look how that turned out—completely obliterated. Now we've got a High Evolutionary claiming to be the ultimate life form? Is he your god or something?"
"A god? No, not at all. Gods are merely powerful higher beings," Aishan sneered, feigning anger. "Compared to His Majesty, those so-called gods aren't even worthy to shine his shoes!" Yet deep down, Aishan wasn't genuinely upset. Instead, he deliberately played up his indignation to buy more time.
"He's not angry," Mantis suddenly interjected, her antennae glowing faintly as she raised a timid hand to alert her teammates.
While Mantis couldn't read Aishan's precise thoughts, she could sense emotions. It was clear to her that his outward rage was a performance, and underneath it, he felt smug.
"Thud!" Rocket didn't wait for further confirmation. He smashed Aishan with the butt of his rifle. While the blow didn't cause real harm to someone who could withstand energy blasts, it triggered Groot's vines to resume their relentless assault.
In moments, the sentient vines pierced through Aishan's body like roots burrowing into soil. His eyes widened in terror as he tried to speak, but no sound emerged. Moments later, his lifeless body slumped forward.
"Wasn't he worth interrogating further?" Star-Lord asked, frowning as he turned to Rocket.
Rocket's demeanor had shifted ever since Aishan mentioned terms like "High Evolutionary" and "Supreme Ruler." His body trembled faintly, though the shaking subsided as he struck Aishan.
"I don't need more," Rocket replied, his voice low and steady, though his eyes gleamed with cold resolve. "We've got his name. That's all I needed. Besides, if he said they've already sent out a signal, we need to move. Now."
"Fair point," Star-Lord nodded, exchanging a glance with Gamora and Nebula. The Guardians quickly gathered their gear and retreated from the settlement.
As the Guardians' ship departed the scene, a fleet of ships descended on the outpost. Orgocorp drones surrounded the area, effectively locking it down.
"No sign of 89P13 detected. Aishan's squad is unresponsive," one of the Orgocorp operatives reported grimly as they scanned the area. Realizing the implications of their failure, the team leader's expression darkened.
Orgocorp wasn't particularly concerned about Aishan's fate. His failure to capture Rocket or even delay him was a grievous offense. Whether he survived or not, the High Evolutionary would not spare him.
Ironically, Aishan's efforts to concentrate forces at this location had created a gap in Orgocorp's net, allowing the Guardians to escape. With the universe's vastness and their knowledge of Orgocorp's tactics, tracking them again would be no small feat.
In the High Evolutionary's command chamber, the news of Rocket's escape sparked a fiery response.
"So, after all the resources I poured into this operation, you tell me that 89P13 slipped through your fingers? Not only did you fail to capture him, but you also exposed my plans to him?" His voice seethed with fury, and his glowing eyes narrowed at the trembling subordinates before him. "You're all incompetent. If you were here, I'd crush you myself!"
"Report. What happened at the outpost?" he demanded sharply, his tone brooking no excuses. "Don't tell me you're clueless about that too. If so, you might as well return now and face judgment."
"From the remains of the tavern's data logs," a nervous Orgocorp officer began, "it appears that 89P13 and his companions eliminated Aishan's team. They also interrogated Aishan, but we're unsure how much information he revealed."
The High Evolutionary closed his eyes, exhaling slowly as he processed the report. "89P13 is more restrained than I anticipated. I thought the playback of his failures—the screams of his old comrades—would provoke him into attacking the drones, exposing his position. But he resisted."
His voice grew softer, almost thoughtful. "Even with a second layer of contingency at the outpost, my so-called subordinates proved utterly useless. But 89P13… You can't suppress your nature forever. I know you, little raccoon. I created you."
A hint of a smile curled his lips. "I predicted your every move back when you tried to free your companions, only to witness their deaths. That's how well I know you."
But behind his calm facade lay seething rage. He had never forgotten the scars Rocket had left on his face, nor the humiliation of being outwitted by what he considered an inferior experiment. His voice turned icy. "Soon, 89P13. I will take back what doesn't belong to you—your unnatural brain—and I will end this anomaly once and for all."
Turning to his remaining officers, the High Evolutionary issued new orders. "Secure both Orgocorp and our anti-Earth defenses. Deploy biological warriors and mutant creatures. I don't care what it takes—when 89P13 comes, he will face the full force of my creations."
"Your Majesty," one of his aides ventured cautiously, "the mutant creatures are still unstable. Deploying them now risks losing significant assets, and our funds—"
"Do you think I cannot control my own creations?" the High Evolutionary snapped, his eyes boring into the aide. "Those defective experiments mean nothing. Once I dissect 89P13 and uncover his secrets, we won't need those failures. Nor will we lack funds."
"89P13 may be a unique case…" the aide muttered nervously. "Since his creation, we haven't had another successful ultra-intelligent specimen…"
"Enough!" With a flick of his hand, the High Evolutionary sent the aide flying. His plea for mercy was cut short as the High Evolutionary clenched his fist, causing the aide's body to explode in a gruesome spray of blood.
"Does anyone else have objections?" he asked coldly, surveying the room.
Silence. None dared speak.
"Good. Begin immediately," he ordered, turning to leave. His remaining subordinates scrambled to carry out his directives.
Meanwhile, the Guardians, unaware of the chaos behind them, adjusted their plans. With fewer Orgocorp drones in the area, their reconnaissance efforts had stalled.
"Maybe they all went to that outpost to catch us," Nebula suggested, pointing to the lack of new signals on the ship's scanner.
"Seems likely," Star-Lord agreed. "Aishan did say he called for reinforcements. Looks like we gave them the slip."
"What now?" Gamora asked, her brow furrowed. She looked to Rocket, knowing this mission revolved around him.
Rocket was silent for a moment before responding. "We go to Orgocorp. If their forces are thinned out, their base defenses should be lighter. But this time, we don't leave Ash alone on the ship."
He glanced at the unconscious Ash. "We underestimated the risk back at the outpost. If someone had found him, he'd be either a hostage or dead. We can't let that happen again."
"So, we split up?" Star-Lord guessed.
"Exactly," Rocket nodded. "Someone stays behind to guard Ash and the ship. It has to be someone who can pilot in a pinch. That means either you, me, or Nebula."
The group quickly ruled out Drax, Mantis, Groot, and Adam for the task. None of them had the necessary skill—or temperament—for such responsibility.
"I'll stay," Nebula volunteered without hesitation. "You're stronger with your suit, so you're better suited for the field." She glanced at Star-Lord. "Besides, I know my limits."
Star-Lord gave a small nod. While he didn't relish leaving Ash, his adventurous spirit made him eager to confront Orgocorp directly.
With their new plan in place, the Guardians set course for Orgocorp's headquarters—a massive fleshy structure in the far reaches of the sector.
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