As the Guardians approached the massive flesh-like structure of Orgocorp, their reactions ranged from shock to disgust.
"Okay, this is just... something else," Star-Lord muttered, his lips curling in revulsion. "Knowhere and Ego's living planet were shocking enough, but this thing? This takes the cake. Are we seriously going into that?"
"Is it even alive?" Nebula asked, shaking her head in disbelief. "A giant, pulsating blob? Honestly, compared to this, Knowhere and Ego seem downright normal."
"There's a good chance it is alive," Gamora warned. "Don't forget, Orgocorp and the High Evolutionary specialize in bioengineering. This could very well be one of their experiments. If that's the case, we need to be wary of not just their personnel but the organism itself."
"It doesn't have consciousness," Mantis interjected, her antennae glowing faintly as she scanned the structure. "But just because it's not self-aware doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. It could be some sort of biological weapon."
"Well, that's comforting," Rocket said sarcastically, squinting at the grotesque structure. "Honestly, I'd prefer something with a brain. At least then we could try reasoning with it. A mindless bioweapon is way worse."
"Complaining won't get us inside," Star-Lord said, snapping the group's attention back to the task at hand. "This thing's no normal planet. There's bound to be a tricky way to get in. Silverheart, start scanning. I'm pretty good at infiltration, so this blob doesn't stand a chance against me."
"Scanning in progress," replied the ship's AI. After a moment, it reported, "The target is shielded by three high-intensity energy layers. Any intrusion will be detected."
"Three layers? A bit overkill," Star-Lord muttered, rubbing his chin. "But nothing my magnetic disruptor can't handle. By the way, did the scan trigger any alarms?"
"No interference detected, and no signals were intercepted," the AI responded, easing the group's concerns.
Using Star-Lord's magnetic disruptor, the Guardians successfully breached the three energy layers and landed on the surface of the flesh-like structure. Surprisingly, no alarms were raised, and no Orgocorp personnel came to investigate.
"Alright," Star-Lord said as the ship hovered above the surface. "We can't just land and waltz in. This thing doesn't exactly have parking spaces. Time to gear up and go on foot." He glanced at Nebula. "You stay with the ship. Watch over Ash and be ready to blast this thing open if we need a quick exit."
"Understood. Stay in contact," Nebula replied, her face serious as she watched the others don oxygen masks and rappel down to the surface.
As the team worked to cut a small entryway into the flesh-like surface, Nebula felt a wave of unease. She frowned as the Guardians disappeared from sight and into the strange structure.
"This feels too easy," she muttered, her fingers tapping anxiously against the console.
"We're in," Star-Lord's voice crackled through the comms, offering some reassurance.
"Good. Keep me updated. If anything goes wrong, I'm ready to blast you out of there," Nebula replied, her tone sharp.
However, just as Star-Lord began to respond, his voice cut off abruptly.
"Quill? Rocket? Gamora! Can you hear me?" Nebula's voice grew louder, her worry mounting as silence met her calls. Her eyes darted to the external cameras, noting the entry point the Guardians had cut had already sealed itself shut.
Nebula clenched her jaw. Were they unable to respond because they were fighting? Or worse, had Orgocorp already captured them?
Inside the structure, Rocket worked quickly to disable surveillance systems and cover their tracks. Groot sealed the entryway behind them, but unbeknownst to the Guardians, they were already being monitored.
Orgocorp had observed everything from the moment the Guardians used the disruptor to penetrate the energy layers. However, following the High Evolutionary's orders, they made no moves to stop them. Everything was proceeding according to his plan.
"Done," Rocket said, nodding to Star-Lord after disabling the cameras. "Surveillance is blind for now."
"Good," Star-Lord replied, motioning for the team to stay alert. "Let's move carefully. Something about this place feels... off."
As they exited the initial room, the door shut behind them with an ominous click.
"Automated?" Star-Lord muttered, his body tensing as he turned back. Rocket and Gamora exchanged wary glances, their instincts screaming danger.
The corridor stretched ahead, lined with identical doors on either side. Star-Lord decided to investigate one of the rooms.
"Let's open one and see what we're dealing with. If there's someone inside, we'll knock them out and get some intel. If not, we might find disguises or something useful," he said.
Room after room revealed nothing but emptiness. It was as if the entire facility had been abandoned, a stark contrast to the thriving Orgocorp headquarters they had expected. The silence was oppressive.
"Could they all be out chasing us?" Rocket speculated aloud, his voice tinged with unease.
"No," Star-Lord said firmly. "When we first arrived, I heard something. I know my ears aren't wrong. Someone was here."
Gamora's expression darkened. "If there were signs of life and now there aren't, it means they've hidden themselves. Or worse—they're watching us. This has to be a trap."
"Stay sharp," Star-Lord warned, signaling Rocket to prepare Groot for combat. His gaze flicked to Adam, unsure how to best coordinate with the naive warrior.
Finally, they reached the last door. Star-Lord hesitated, then pushed it open.
Inside, a squad of armed enemies stood waiting, flanked by grotesque, heavily mutated creatures. The sight of their grinning faces made Star-Lord's heart sink.
"Oh. Uh. Sorry to bother you," Star-Lord said with a weak chuckle. He pressed a button to shut the door, but it didn't budge. The controls had been overridden.
"89P13," one of the figures, a hulking bear-like cyborg, spoke. "We've been expecting you."
"Great. You knew we'd come. Let me guess—this whole thing was a trap? Where's that bastard, the High Evolutionary?" Rocket growled, his voice laced with fury.
The bear-like cyborg stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the most successful experiment after you. My designation is 103Z17, but you can call me Bruiser Bear. If not for the techniques you inspired, I wouldn't exist in such perfection. Truly, you're our creator's greatest gift."
"Cut the crap," Rocket snapped. His eyes darted to Star-Lord and Gamora, signaling his growing impatience. "Where's your boss?"
"Patience, little raccoon. A fine creation like yourself should be grateful to the one who gave you life," Bruiser Bear said with a twisted smile. "Why oppose him? Submit, and all will be well."
"He's stalling," Star-Lord muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "They're trying to cut off our escape. If they're stalling here, they're probably making a move on Nebula outside!"
"Are you a Sovereign?" Bruiser Bear suddenly asked, his attention shifting to Adam.
"Me? Sovereign?" Adam blinked, confused. He turned to Drax for confirmation, his voice uncertain. "Am I a Sovereign?"
Star-Lord didn't wait for answers. He activated his suit's weapons and charged forward, shouting, "No more waiting! Take them out! If Nebula's in danger, we need to move now!"
The Guardians surged into battle, knowing that their every second counted—not just for themselves but for the teammate they had left behind.
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