[ He pauses as she puts space between them – and if he waits half of a breath before turning away, he'll blame it on his own distraction.
But turn he does, offering her that bare bit of privacy, before dragging a hand down his face. ]
There's eventually gonna be some giant, evil A.I. that wants to assimilate the universe, and they want me dead. So they zap an agent back through time, who's practically unkillable and unstoppable. And the only way I'm safe from him is if I'm flying through space.
And I've got the Ravagers on my tail. And I've got a planet-destroying artifact in my bag.
But even putting all that aside, let's say we manage to chuck Korath off a cliff, I make peace with Yondu, and manage to offload the Orb. Even if I survive all of this, my reward is, what? My life and a robot-apocalypse in, like, less than a decade.
[ Gamora tugs off her undershirt as she listens to Peter, dropping the practically-shredded bit of fabric to the side. She pulls on the shirt Peter offered her, and even though the fit is a little odd, it still serves its purpose.
She turns back to Peter, gathering her hair and pulling it over her shoulder to deal with the hectic curls – a style courtesy of being thrown through the air. ]
A lot has been dropped on your shoulders.
[ It's an empathetic statement as much as it is agreeing with his assessment of reality. ]
And it's not often people have a window into their future. But—
[ She stops short, frowning as she seems to reevaluate her thoughts. ]
I meant that the Phalanx control of the galaxy isn't guaranteed. We could try to do something about it in this time, instead of only trying to keep you alive.
So you're suggesting we hunt down a bunch of strangers and spout off some shit about thwarting a shit-awful future.
[ He brightens his voice, raising both hands in a sort of disarming gesture, ]
"Hey, sorry, I know you don't know me, and I don't really know you, either. But if it helps, Gamora tells me – this is Gamora, by the way, a decommissioned assassin-bot from the future. Anyway, Gamora tells me that ten years from now, we're gonna be fighting side by side against a rogue A.I. that's gonna try to assimilate the universe. Any interest in getting a head start on that?
"Oh, you shot me. Okay. I'll take that as a 'no.'"
[ She lets him carry on – because this is no different from the Peter she already knows well – but she doesn't look amused by his sarcasm.
(Assuming she can actually be amused, in the first place.) ]
One of them would probably stab you before he shoots you.
[ Is that better? ]
You were willing to believe me. They could be the same.
[ Drax is stuck in prison with nothing to lose; in fact, Gamora knows he's already tangled with the Phalanx.
She's more at risk in that circumstance than Peter.
And with Rocket? She thinks their in would be through Groot; Groot also knows the Phalanx and what they're capable of.
Convincing him to convince Rocket...? That might be more of difficult. But, then again, profit can be a strong motivator, and knowledge and time have the potential to promise Rocket mountains of units in the midst of dealing with the Phalanx.
He is, however, a wild card, and Gamora isn't entirely certain what might sway him; he'd already been working with Peter before she came into the picture. ]
I was willing to believe you 'cause I have a psychotic murderbot tracking me across the galaxy, and as far as I can tell, you're the only one willing to be on my side.
[ A pause, then, ]
I mean that in a nice way, by the way. Not in a "you're my only option" kind of way.
... Although maybe those things aren't mutually exclusive.
Two of them have already encountered the Phalanx. One has lost his people to the assimilation; he is the only known survivor. The other has seen the fallout of their destruction, but not been directly affected by it.
We don't have to deal with them now. Korath is the present threat.
[ And truly, they don't have to deal with the Phalanx in this time, either. Gamora is only here to keep Peter alive; taking down the hive isn't part of the mission. ]
[ Gamora's jaw flexes, and her response doesn't come as quickly or readily. ]
... I can't.
[ A layer of— something sits just beneath her words. ]
Part of what makes the Phalanx so indomitable is that they learn and adapt to every new obstacle. In the same way I am programmed to assimilate responses and grow individually, so do the Phalanx constantly change their code.
Peter looks a little sheepish, wincing a little at that. ]
But I mean, it's still possible, isn't it? Maybe the same trick won't again, but with time and effort, there's probably a different way to get it done.
[ In theory, it could be done. Realistically? Gamora has no way of predicting how they'll accomplish anything like what Peter and Rocket had managed with her.
She was the first to ever break free of the Phalanx. ]
But I can't guarantee we would find a solution before Korath kills you.
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[ He pauses as she puts space between them – and if he waits half of a breath before turning away, he'll blame it on his own distraction.
But turn he does, offering her that bare bit of privacy, before dragging a hand down his face. ]
There's eventually gonna be some giant, evil A.I. that wants to assimilate the universe, and they want me dead. So they zap an agent back through time, who's practically unkillable and unstoppable. And the only way I'm safe from him is if I'm flying through space.
And I've got the Ravagers on my tail. And I've got a planet-destroying artifact in my bag.
But even putting all that aside, let's say we manage to chuck Korath off a cliff, I make peace with Yondu, and manage to offload the Orb. Even if I survive all of this, my reward is, what? My life and a robot-apocalypse in, like, less than a decade.
So maybe I'm starting to freak out.
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She turns back to Peter, gathering her hair and pulling it over her shoulder to deal with the hectic curls – a style courtesy of being thrown through the air. ]
A lot has been dropped on your shoulders.
[ It's an empathetic statement as much as it is agreeing with his assessment of reality. ]
And it's not often people have a window into their future. But—
[ She stops short, frowning as she seems to reevaluate her thoughts. ]
It isn't set in stone.
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[ And the words are cast dryly. ]
I mean, Korath could blast my head off. That'd be a pretty drastic difference.
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[ Be a big damn hero. ]
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You and me against an entire race of cyborgs. I dunno how well that's gonna go.
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We have the advantage of time and information. And there are others, in the future – people you fight alongside.
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So you're suggesting we hunt down a bunch of strangers and spout off some shit about thwarting a shit-awful future.
[ He brightens his voice, raising both hands in a sort of disarming gesture, ]
"Hey, sorry, I know you don't know me, and I don't really know you, either. But if it helps, Gamora tells me – this is Gamora, by the way, a decommissioned assassin-bot from the future. Anyway, Gamora tells me that ten years from now, we're gonna be fighting side by side against a rogue A.I. that's gonna try to assimilate the universe. Any interest in getting a head start on that?
"Oh, you shot me. Okay. I'll take that as a 'no.'"
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(Assuming she can actually be amused, in the first place.) ]
One of them would probably stab you before he shoots you.
[ Is that better? ]
You were willing to believe me. They could be the same.
[ Drax is stuck in prison with nothing to lose; in fact, Gamora knows he's already tangled with the Phalanx.
She's more at risk in that circumstance than Peter.
And with Rocket? She thinks their in would be through Groot; Groot also knows the Phalanx and what they're capable of.
Convincing him to convince Rocket...? That might be more of difficult. But, then again, profit can be a strong motivator, and knowledge and time have the potential to promise Rocket mountains of units in the midst of dealing with the Phalanx.
He is, however, a wild card, and Gamora isn't entirely certain what might sway him; he'd already been working with Peter before she came into the picture. ]
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[ A pause, then, ]
I mean that in a nice way, by the way. Not in a "you're my only option" kind of way.
... Although maybe those things aren't mutually exclusive.
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I am your only option.
[ So it's far from offensive. ]
But just because Korath finishes with you is no guarantee he won't continue to target the others. They could pose a potential threat, still.
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So tell me honestly – what are the odds of any of them believing two random strangers that any of this shit is real?
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The third...
[ Gamora pauses, and then just shrugs.
Who knows with Rocket, truly. ]
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[ He casts the words with more irony than strictly necessary. After a heartbeat, though, he lets out a breath. ]
Next question, then. How likely are they to even want to work with us?
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Gamora's answer isn't immediate, but the purse of her lips probably says plenty. ]
... I don't know. One of them is currently in prison, and the other two are primarily motivated by money.
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Then, in the least enthusiastic voice in the galaxy, ]
Great. This all sounds super doable.
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[ And truly, they don't have to deal with the Phalanx in this time, either. Gamora is only here to keep Peter alive; taking down the hive isn't part of the mission. ]
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[ But he falters as he reaches the end of that sentence, looking at Gamora a little awkwardly. ]
No offense.
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[ It's not inaccurate, if harsh. ]
He and I are the same, but he's still bound to the Hive.
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And you're not interested in, like, disconnecting him, or whatever? Giving him the same freedom you have.
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... I can't.
[ A layer of— something sits just beneath her words. ]
Part of what makes the Phalanx so indomitable is that they learn and adapt to every new obstacle. In the same way I am programmed to assimilate responses and grow individually, so do the Phalanx constantly change their code.
The same break in their control won't work twice.
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Peter looks a little sheepish, wincing a little at that. ]
But I mean, it's still possible, isn't it? Maybe the same trick won't again, but with time and effort, there's probably a different way to get it done.
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[ In theory, it could be done. Realistically? Gamora has no way of predicting how they'll accomplish anything like what Peter and Rocket had managed with her.
She was the first to ever break free of the Phalanx. ]
But I can't guarantee we would find a solution before Korath kills you.
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If the bodyguard thing doesn't work out, I think you have a real future in motivational speaking.
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Was that supposed to be a joke?
[ "Humor" is something Gamora still struggles to grasp, at times.
(Or, at least, that's what she may tell Peter and others when she doesn't find something particularly funny.) ]
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[ He pushes himself up from the bed, pulling a hand back through his hair. ]
How's your side?
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