C79 Earth?! For Real This Time?!

C79 Earth?! For Real This Time?!

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The air on Counter-Earth was filled with the scent of freedom and new beginnings as Peter and his crew prepared to say their goodbyes. The freed inhabitants of the laboratory, once caged and tormented, now gathered in the lab's hangar to see their saviors off, their faces etched with gratitude.

Peter stood at the forefront, his heart heavy yet hopeful, as he addressed the crowd. "You've all got a chance to start over here, to build something great," he said, smiling warmly. "I know you can do it."

Beside him, Groot added his signature, "I am Groot," which everyone understood as a heartfelt farewell.

All at once, the former captives shouted their goodbye, hands waving and saying their thanks. Rocket, Teefs, Lylla, and Floor stood slightly apart from the rest of their people, as they wouldn't be sticking around, their emotions complex—a blend of excitement and anxiety fueling them.

As the time for departure drew near, Lylla approached Peter, her voice tinged with emotion. "Thank you, for everything. We never thought we'd see the sky, much less the stars."

Peter smiled, patting her head. "The stars are just the beginning," he assured her.

The ramp of their ship lowered with a hydraulic hiss, and Peter's crew began to board. Rocket and his friends looked back one last time, their gaze lingering on the people they were leaving behind. With determined nods, they turned and followed their new crew into the ship.

Inside, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. As the ship lifted off and shot out of the hangar, leaving Counter-Earth shrinking below them, Rocket and his friends crowded at the windows, their faces pressed against the glass as they watched the blue sky fade away as the expanse of space unfolded before them.

Peter, with a mischievous grin, connected a pair of bulky speakers, which he took from High Evolutionary's lab, to his Walkman, music filling the ship in an instant.

Play Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf

I like to dream, yes, yes

Right between the sound machine

On a cloud of sound I drift in the night

Any place it goes is right

Goes far, flies near

To the stars away from here

Well, you don't know what we can find

Why don't you come with me, little girl

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Well, you don't know what we can see

Why don't you tell your dreams to me

Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes, girl

Look inside, girl

Let the sound take you away

...

..

.

The melody was foreign to Rocket, Teefs, Lylla, and Floor, as they'd never heard Peter's music before, yet something about it felt welcoming and invigorating.

Teefs, usually reserved, tapped his hands against his wheelchair to the beat, a slight smile playing on his lips. Lylla and Floor swayed gently, their movements tentative but growing in confidence as the song progressed. Rocket allowed a small nod, his demeanor relaxing as he let the music wash over him.

Groot, in his corner, bobbed along, his wooden limbs moving with the rhythm. "I am Groot," he declared, clearly enjoying the familiar tunes.

Howard and Cosmo, already accustomed to Peter's mixtapes, settled down for the journey, their expressions content. Revan, the stoic warrior, gave a slight nod of approval, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slightly in a rare smile.

As the ship hurtled through the cosmos, Peter took a moment to observe his new crew members, a smile blooming on his face. "Welcome aboard, guys..."

Rocket, turning away from the window, faced Peter. "Never thought I'd be here, you know. Space... it's a lot more than I imagined."

Peter absorbed this, his concern deepening. "Understood, Masters. I'll steer clear of Kree space for now," he promised, though his curiosity was still there, burning brightly.

Windu gave him a stern look, as if reading his thoughts. "Be mindful of your actions, Peter."

As the call ended, Peter sat still, staring at the blank screen of his datapad, the weight of the Jedi Masters' warnings echoing in his mind. His thoughts quickly turned to the mysterious and powerful Kree enforcer mentioned by Windu.

The description was vague but unsettling, and suddenly, a name surfaced in his thoughts—Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel.

He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. 'Could Carol be the enforcer they were talking about?'

The thought was troubling. He knew from the MCU movies that she should be with the Kree at this point, but there was just one problem...

He thought, 'Didn't she get her powers from the Tesseract?' He knew that the Tesseract probably didn't exist in this universe since the Infinity Stones don't exist here, and it's the Space Stone that powers the Tesseract. 'So, It can't be her, right?'

Peter rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering the possibilities. 'Maybe something else gave her powers?'

————

A day later, the ship continued hurtling through hyperspace, a sleek streak of light against the backdrop of the cosmos. Peter had spent the past 24 hours deep in thoughtful meditation, mulling over his conversation with his Jedi masters and the troubling information they delivered. But now, as they neared their destination, his focus shifted back to the mission that had started it all—finding Earth, his home.

As the ship's alarms signaled their imminent exit from hyperspace, Peter stood at the helm, his hands steady on the controls. The crew, sensing the significance of the moment, gathered behind him, watching intently. The stars realigned into normal space, and the view in front of them changed dramatically.

There it was—Earth. The planet appeared as a beautiful sphere of blue and green, clouds swirling over land and sea. It was a breathtaking sight, one that sparked a hopeful flame in Peter's chest. But he tempered his excitement with a caution borne of their experience with Counter-Earth.

"Not getting ahead of myself this time," he muttered under his breath as he began to manipulate the controls. He initiated the ship's scanning systems, searching for the telltale signs that would confirm they were in the right place—the satellites orbiting Earth, just as he remembered from images in his past life.

The crew waited in tense silence, their eyes fixed on the screen as the radar began to ping. Blip after blip appeared, and then the visual scanners zoomed in, bringing the images of various satellites into focus. They were unmistakably of Earthly design—sleek, and functional, with the logos of different international space agencies emblazoned on their sides.

Peter's heart leapt in his chest, and a grin spread across his face. "We did it..." he muttered, his voice low before the excitement finally took hold of him. "I'm finally home!"

————

Across the Galaxy...

The air inside Darth Sidious's quarters on Hala was heavy with dark anticipation. Carol Danvers, clad in her sleek battle suit, stood before him, her posture rigid, almost robotic.

Sidious, his face shrouded in shadow, watched her with an intensity that made the very air around him tremble. "Your report," he said, his voice a cold whisper that seemed to crawl along the walls.

Carol straightened, her voice emotionless. "The rebellion has been quelled. The leaders are dead; no survivors."

"A success, then," Sidious remarked, his thin lips curling into a sardonic smile. "You do not disappoint, Captain. With each rebellion you extinguish, my hold on the ruling council tightens. They are beginning to see the... utility of aligning with my vision."

Carol nodded, her expression unreadable. The chip embedded in her skull not only controlled her actions but suppressed her memories, locking away the person she once was. Yet, flashes of that other life sometimes pierced through the fog, leaving her disoriented, if only for a moment.

Sidious rose from his seat, his movements fluid and menacing. "Do you understand why we stir these rebellions only to crush them?"

Carol remained silent, her gaze fixed ahead. "..."

"It is not merely about suppressing dissent," Sidious continued, pacing before the massive window overlooking the city. "It is about demonstrating power. Each victory you deliver convinces the council of their own vulnerability and my indispensability. Power is not just won on the battlefield; it is won in the minds of our adversaries."

The words hung heavy in the room. Carol felt a flicker of something within her—a questioning, a doubt—swiftly smothered by the chip's programming.

"And now," Sidious's voice dropped to a murmur, venomous and victorious, "we prepare for the next phase. Your next target will be more challenging, but I trust you will handle it with your usual... efficiency."

Carol's voice was steady. "Who is the target?"

"A figurehead of the resistance, hiding in the Outer Rim. You will receive the details shortly. For now, rest and prepare." Sidious turned to gaze out the window, his silhouette merging with the darkness of the room.

As Carol turned to leave, the name 'Carol' echoed again in her mind, louder this time. She paused, a hand rising to her head, her face contorting with pain. The memories threatened to surge forward, glimpses of a life she couldn't recognize.

She steadied herself against the wave of disorientation and walked out, her steps measured and precise. Sidious watched her leave, a smile playing on his lips...

A/N: 2600 words :)