Chapter Text
The handful of soldiers she had at her command began fanning out and moving down the steps. Kai gazed upon his adversary. It seemed so long ago he had observed her as she resupplied her ship. In the bright light of the base how ever it was not even subtle that she was no longer organic in the slightest. Small lines along her face, matching the contours of a normal face showed where her metallic mask could move and emote. Her body was also something to behold. The legs, that were far too long, had taken the shape of blades. She appeared to mirror Kai in almost every way, the other side of the same coin.
They began to advance starting at a walk before breaking into a jog toward the pair. Lotus looked on with what seemed like a triumphant expression stained with derision. As Rocket brought his sights in line with the nearest enemy the whole place began to shake. Something big had just exploded somewhere else. Oddly enough the group of enemies slowed to a stop. They didn't react in anyway other than this to the rumbling. Kai sharpened his vision on the metallic woman at the top of the stairs and only she was glancing about with concern. He knew in that moment these warriors were directly under her control at least for the moment. Her hesitation had brought them all to a stand still as dust fell from the ceiling.
Her focus quickly shifted back to the task at hand though as she screamed for them to attack. Once again the group lurched forward closing the gap. It was at this precise moment however the ceiling shattered and blew apart. Kai and Rocket rushed back ward to get clear as the rubble buried the first three or four soldiers at her command. As the dust settled a familiar sound could be heard thundering from the pile of rubble. It was Drax's laughter.
'You gotta be kidding me...' Kai was in disbelief.
Briefly after this Gamora came vaulting down from the hole in the ceiling, quickly followed by Quill swooping down. Rocket looked about worried that he couldn't see Groot with them until he appeared with Mantis holding onto him lowering down to the floor with his vines.
'Hey guys! Not too late are we?' Quill chirped as he landed. Rocket moaned and ran a paw through the fur on his head. 'What?' Quill hadn't even noticed the scene in the other direction.
'Right on time I would think.' Kai responded as he pointed the far end of the space.
'Oh holy crap not more of them.' He groaned noticing the augmented ex-Nova Corps soldiers beginning to rise from the rubble and the others just beyond.
'And the the heck is that?!' Quill pointed directly at Project Lotus's oddly proportioned form. He had spoken so loudly she was certain to have heard. Her face crumpled into rage.
'Enough of this, end them!' She cried.
The team formed up and met the enemy. Gamora and Drax lunged into the fray. Each were sporting a few cuts and had clearly been busy. They drew the enemy to them as Quill hovered about looking for an opening. Rocket did the same. Now they had a frontline to hold back the enemy their job was much easier. As it looked like they were close to being over whelmed Groot roared and sent out a stream of vines along the floor. Like cracking a whip he sent a ripple through the vines that left no where for the soldier to go except up. Weapons and shots tore through the enemy. Drax then used their broken bodies to hurl into the few behind.
Lotus suddenly lost her confidence in this fight. She began to back away. Kai saw this and wasn't having any of it. He surged forward and vaulted over the enemy ducking around one more as he made a break for the steps.
'Kai don't!' Rocket yelled seeing him charging off alone. If Kai heard it he didn't listen.
'Go after him we've got this.' Gamora shouted to Rocket.
Keeping a watchful eye out for any opportunists lunging at him Rocket flew over the fight and after Kai. As Kai dashed through the large entry doors to the test chamber however they slammed shut behind him. Rocket landed and skidded to a stop. He didn't have time to fiddle around with wires again. Instead he took out his last few explosives and slapped them on the doors right down the center. He took cover and blew it. They warped and bent but didn't open fully. Cursing he blasted at a small opening trying to make it just large enough to fit through. His mind was racing. He was very conscious of every second that ticked by and each one felt like an eternity. The battle raged on behind him and it took all his courage to stay focused on his task and trust his fellow guardians wouldn't let one of those monsters attack him whilst his back was turned.
At last the metal gave way and he forced himself through the gap. He could smell some of his fur singed as he did so with the heat still in the metal from his barrage of shots. As he entered into the chamber it was not the space he recognised. The floor rose toward the middle and what appeared to be random outcrops of rock scattered about. The material was still the white grey of the floor. At the summit of the small mountain, bathed in the white light from the now fairly close ceiling, were Project Shadow and Lotus. From this distance they looked like a blur. Kai seemed to be giving as good as he got though. Rocket moved onward to join them.
He landed ten meters or so from the pair locked in the intense battle. He dared not venture closer. This woman was moving at blinding speeds and Rocket did not fancy being anywhere she might be able to redirect her aggression. They were dancing around one another so fast there was no way in hell Rocket could get a clean shot in. Rocket started charging his rifle.
Rocket - Kai you need to get clear, I can't take her out like this.
Rocket spoke as quietly as he could through the comm unit so he didn't announce their plan to the world. It was no good though.
'I'm not even going to give him room to breath.' Her voice came through calm and normal. The terrifying reality of the situation dawned on Rocket.
She was completely mechanical but had the speed and reflexes to keep pace with Kai. Kai was biological. He was tiring and breathing hard. Rocket could see the sweat gleaming on his forehead. It seemed Kai was aware of this too as his actions became more desperate and aggressive.
'What's the matter I thought you came here to kill me?' Lotus taunted Kai and laughed her shrill mechanical laugh.
Kai growled and fought harder, pressing his attack and pushing her back. He landed a swift kick to her middle and went to follow it up with a pincer stab with both of his blades. A small spark of triumph went off in his head as he went in for the kill but this was short lived. Her whole top half leaned back at ninety degrees and her neck swivelled to bring her head up the right way. On all fours she swung round. Kai's blades found nothing but empty air and he was forced to throw himself back, landing hard on the floor, so he wasn't cut in half.
Rocket fired a barrage of deadly energy at her giving Kai the chance to get to his feet. With a maddened scream she flipped back up the right way and went for Rocket.
'No!' Kai roared and cut off her path without a moment to catch his breath.
With a couple of wild slashes Kai got her to back up a few paces he then dove back.
'Rocket get ready.' He wheezed. He knew when he was beat in a straight fight and this was one of those times. He had been taught how to deal with these situations. Everyone will find themselves up against unbeatable odds in life. But as his teachers had told him the reality is you just need to sacrifice something to even the odds. By risking nothing he was not able to outmanoeuvre his opponent. Sometimes you have to get a bit bloody.
Kai entered into one of his classic assault routines. The sequence of attacks so well known he could do it with his eyes closed. Lotus blocked and parried the attacks with ease, she had already defended against this sequence and close variations a handful of times by this point and it was pitiful he was even trying it again.
Arrogance has been the down fall of many powerful people and will continue to ruin those that have far too much pride. She anticipated every move and responded with her own. As she waited for their metal to connect and then rotate to defend the next however something strange happened. Kai didn't raise a guard. Instead the large blade down the front of the elongated shin connected and sunk into Kai's side. The armour absorbed some of the impact but still the blade bit deep into bone and flesh. There was fire in his eyes though as his arm clamped down on her leg holding it to himself almost forcing it deeper. His other bladed forearm found it's way deep into her narrow chest. With a grunt Kai swung her around so she was between himself and Rocket.
'Do it now!' Kai yelled.
'But..' Rocket couldn't pull the trigger. Kai was right in the firing line. He had warned of what it could do to him.
'NOW!' Kai bellowed with all his might.
Rocket responded to the yell. He will never be sure if he pulled the trigger or if the sound had simply shocked him to the point where he flinched and squeezed the trigger by accident. With the EMP already charged the short strange sound of the weapon discharging wisped through the air.
Project Lotus began to shriek a protest but this was cut short as the pulse silenced her body permanently. Kai, also in the line of fire seemed to have a slight look of success in his eyes as her body clattered to the floor. Rocket watched frozen as the metal gleam in his eyes faded, his blades retracted only half the way and he collapsed like a tree being felled.
Panic surged through Rocket and he couldn't move. He didn't know what he had just done but he knew it couldn't be undone. Not knowing was all he could handle at that moment with Kai's body hidden behind their slain enemy. There was a hammering sound on the door to the chamber that tore them open. Drax had busted his way in with the others in tow. They saw Rocket drop his weapon to the ground and begin walking forward. They collectively felt the room go cold and their stomachs drop.
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They reached the top of the mound keeping an eye out for any danger but it seemed to have passed. As they crested the hill they saw the broken pieces of the psycho they had been after and then just beyond it Rocket cradling an unresponsive Kai.
'No, come on, please just open your eyes.' Rocket stroked the side of Kai's face and fought back his tears.
'OPEN YOUR FRICKIN EYES DAMN IT!' He yelled as he pushed his muzzle into Kai's neck and sobbed.
'Rocket...' Gamora began to speak.
'No!' Rocket shouted back at her. He didn't even know what he was saying no to, but it was the one word he wanted to keep saying. Like if he said it enough times the situation would turn out differently.
'No, Rocket look!' Peter this time pointing at Kai.
Rocket scrunched his forehead in confusion before turning his attention back to Kai. His eye lids fluttered open briefly and he gave a small groan. Rocket couldn't believe his eyes as relief flooded through him. Slowly but surely Kai came round to the waking world. He reached a hand to his side instinctively where he had been cut into. His eyes seemed to focus up and confusion filled his face seeing the half drawn blade from his forearm stuck in position.
'It's okay we'll get you fixed up.' Rocket tried to sooth him, a grateful smile for the fact he was still breathing on his furry face.
Kai's attention snapped to Rocket like he had just noticed him and fear filled his features. In a panic he pushed Rocket away and scrambled backwards, clutching at his side.
'Who are you?!' He shouted at the group with an odd quiver to his voice. He gasped as his side flared in pain.
'What have you done to me?!' the words were full of accusation and terror. Rocket stood up and held up his paws in a peaceful manner. He slowly stepped toward Kai as he spoke.
'Kai it's me...' Rocket said with a voice of hurt.
'Just think, you know me.' He pleaded.
Kai tried to focus his mind and remember. His other hand grabbed at his forehead and his features scrunched up in discomfort. He pulled off his mask and breathed hard.
'You're... you're Rocket. You're Rocket. God my head hurts.' He seemed to relax a little.
Rocket dove forward and hugged Kai. A little hesitant at first Kai hugged him back with his free arm, his other still placed firmly over his wound.
'I'm all kinds of messed up.' He said with a tired voice as his memories pulled themselves together slowly.
'So what else is new?' Rocket laughed. He was simply overjoyed to have his human back.
'Can you stand?' He asked Kai.
'Yeah I think so.' Awkwardly he got to his feet with Rocket's help as the others came forward and Drax put his arm around Kai's back to support him. Kai glanced at the group and seemed to connect with Gamora who had a smile on her face. There was respect there too. She had been cautious of Kai but in the light of victory those ill feelings were put aside. It was a small step but a positive one toward trusting him.
'We need to get you back to the ship, that looks pretty bad.' Rocket said to Kai with concern on his face.
'It's not over yet and I'm not leaving until this is done.' Kai said trying to stand a bit taller and wincing with the pain searing through his side.
He clenched his teeth and tapped through his interface device, it released a barrage of chemicals to induce clotting and reduce pain. It would be enough to keep him on his feet for the moment, even if he was still a bit shaky.
'She looks pretty dead to me, we can always come back and destroy the base. Sounds like the kind of date Rocket would enjoy anyway.' Quill said with a cheeky grin.
'No you guys don't understand, that was just a shell. That wasn't the real Project Lotus. We need to get into the main lab and control room.' Kai pointed to the far end of the room with a determined glare at the dark stretch of windows just in case there was anyone looking back.
They moved off toward the far end as a group. Still on guard but considerably more relaxed now the present danger had passed. They got to the large door, a mirror image of the one of at the other end. Looking expectantly at Rocket for explosives they were shocked to find out he was out. He grumbled about being expected to do everything but Drax was almost pleased. He began hammering away at the door, slowly the metal gave way, they didn't call him "The Destroyer" for nothing. Once a gap had formed Groot forced his vines through and with Drax it buckled and tore open.
The scene that greeted them was a dark room, dingy lights providing just enough light to see. Tall hardware units lined the walls and consoles with screens, screens that were grey and no longer used. As they moved deeper into the room they rounded the large console that obscured the back half of the room from view. Kai rounded the corner first and was greeted by a low powered pistol shot. The energy striking his shoulder and burning the armoured padding. With his cybernetics offline he didn't even react to the shot until it hit him. With a grimace and pulled himself back and leaned into the tall metal side of the consol.
'Stay back!' A female voice, not too dissimilar to the mechanical one taunting him moments ago in the heat of battle. But this voice was full of fear, the kind of fear you would expect from a cornered animal.
'It's over Alison, lay down your weapon.' Kai called out.
'No one calls me by that name anymore! No one!' She screamed and fired more shots.
'Forget this.' Rocket mumbled and dove round the corner. A few shots fired followed quickly by a scream.
Her small firearm had fallen to the floor with a clatter. As they moved past the center console it was a pitiful sight. A desperately thin woman with an aged face well beyond her natural years. One hand clasping onto the edge of an operating table the other at the wound on her stomach. Her hair was lank and greasy and it didn't look like she had left this room in years. On closer inspection it was almost a certainty. Cables and wires completely obscured her back. Each one wired into her spinal cord and some even coming from her skull. Rocket had lowered his weapon and his mouth was hanging open at the sight.
'What did you do to yourself?' He asked without even meaning to voice the words out loud.
'I am the next stage in evolution for Xandarians.' She lifted her chin in defiance.
'No you are a lost soul that will spend the rest of your life in prison where you can no longer cause harm.' Gamora said in response.
'You won't take me from here alive.' She replied her shrill laugh filling the lab.
'I am tied to this place, to remove me from it would mean death, so if you intend to kill me then do it!' Her cold bitter stare pierced straight through Kai's soul and she wouldn't break her focus on him.
Kai was prepared to do it. He was willing to end this as he had been ordered. No prisoners, no questions, just the final end to a rogue agent. He didn't enjoy it and after all he had fought through his fighting spirit was lagging. Peter and Gamora were eyeing him closely watching for his next move. With a sigh he stepped away from his support and walked toward her.
'I'm not going to kill you like this. Maybe I would have in the past but if Prime wants you dead she is more than capable of dealing with you herself.' Kai walked toward her to see what kind of mess she had made of herself and if it were indeed possible to move her from this place.
She stood still on her weak legs as Kai came closer. Her expression almost blank. As he passed her shoulder to observe the wild arrangement of cables she gave a final cry. A knife hidden in her hand resting on the operating table. Kai pushed her away awkwardly and tried to move but it was Rocket that got there first. Two shots to the chest. The impact was enough to send her back into the machinery that she was connected to. She would have been blown over by a strong breeze in all honesty. It was almost sad seeing her broken form slowly stop moving and the light leave her eyes. Pity quickly left as all of her crimes returned to Kai's mind. He turned and looked at Rocket.
'Guess that makes us even now?' Kai said with as much of a smile as he could muster.
'Nah you still owe me some drinks for lying remember?' He smiled back.
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Together Rocket and Kai made sure all of the data she had collected was destroyed. Her life's work scattered like ash in the wind. The other guardians had found no one to rescue in the detention block. The few souls they did find there that still had their human senses were damaged beyond repair. They released them from their restraints but on return they had taken their own lives. Luckily Groot and Mantis had gone with Kai straight back to the Benatar and were saved from the grim scene. They swept through the base and collected the few guards remaining and brought them with them. Their fate would be decided by Xandar not the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Kai wasn't happy to be leaving the place still intact but they had no other options. Rocket pleaded with Kai not to make him over load the reactor. After everything he had done for Kai, he didn't ask twice. Kai simply gave him a look of understanding, kissed his muzzle and boarded their ship.
Rocket stayed by Kai's side as they flew away from the place. His human was staring out a window as the large rock got further and further away. He knew Kai was feeling a lot of emotions right now, many of which he didn't fully understand. But what struck him the most was how tired his face looked.
'Come on, I wanna get you to the med bay. Patch you up' Rocket said taking Kai's hand.
Rocket watched as Kai turned to look at him. His tired eyes softened as he connected with Rocket. Rocket felt Kai's hand squeeze back gently. Rocket realised he could read behind those eyes. There was warmth and admiration. The face that was looking back at his cast away it's shadows and a small but heartfelt smile crept onto Kai's face. Rocket knew it was a look that was for him and only him.
'You look after me, I look after you?' Kai asked.
Rocket smiled back with all his heart and soul as Kai crouched down and wrapped his free arm around Rocket, nuzzling into him.
'Yeah. That sounds good to me.' Rocket replied.
The walls of the prison of his own making came crashing down, he was finally free. The void within him was now filled with all the promise of the future. No matter what happened from here on out Rocket knew, what ever it was, he would never have to face it alone. The doubtful voices had fallen silent in his head and for the first time in for ever he breathed in with out feeling empty inside. It was a feeling he would hold onto for as long as he lived.
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