Suddenly, everyone below stopped firing simultaneously.
These old hands weren't foolish enough to think they could fight against hundreds of ships with just their small guns.
At that moment, Star-Lord was filled with regret. He clearly had a chance to run earlier, so why had he stayed here foolishly?
What did this have to do with him?
Now, he was truly doomed!
The next moment, hundreds of tractor beams firmly restrained the four of them.
With dozens of tractor beams combined, Rocket couldn't even blink, let alone call for help from Zane and the others.
Skynet wasn't monitoring Xandar comprehensively, so it had no idea about Rocket's predicament.
Zane was still in his chamber, enduring the baptism of the Power Stone's energy.
Rocket was truly isolated and without support now!
Rocket suddenly realized, with embarrassment, that he might have messed up badly...
Then, the group was suspended in mid-air as their equipment was removed, including the communicator Rocket used to contact the Ark.
The card Zane had given Rocket, which allowed unlimited spending on Xandar, also went unrecognized by the Nova Corps.
This card was specially made for Zane by the Xandar government, directly linked to the planet's bank, essentially with unlimited credit.
However, it was only for spending and couldn't be used for transfers.
The Xandar government hadn't publicized this matter, as it was somewhat embarrassing, and only a fool would spread the news.
So, the soldiers of Xandar had no idea about the precious card.
Rocket and Groot, despite having significant backgrounds, were treated as ordinary thugs.
During this, Rocket mentioned Zane's existence.
He wasn't stupid; why suffer if you had connections?
However, the Nova Corps dismissed it as an attempt to escape punishment through lies.
After all, Rocket and Groot didn't look like the companions of the Ark's owner.
They seemed too mismatched!
Then, just like in the original story, they were taken to prison, awaiting final judgment.
Unless something unexpected happened, everyone except Gamora was doomed to die.
It wouldn't take long, just a few days, for the Xandar government to announce their crimes to the public and calm the unrest.
Then they would be executed immediately.
In prison, unlike the anxious and despairing Star-Lord and the expressionless Gamora, Rocket and Groot seemed surprisingly at ease. To Rocket, prison might feel more like home.
Everyone in prison was talented, spoke well, and he loved the atmosphere there!
With Groot's powerful presence beside him, Rocket was the boss of the prison.
As for the impending death sentence, Rocket wasn't worried at all.
Even if he couldn't contact Zane and the others now, Rocket, with his 22 jailbreaks under his belt, was confident he could escape with Groot before the execution.
After all, this prison wasn't like Zane's perverted Ark!
In the prison, Rocket and the others were walking down the hallway toward their cells, carrying their luggage.
Filled with fear of death, Star-Lord subconsciously wanted to vent his emotions.
Since he had some feelings for Gamora, he could only complain to Rocket and Groot.
"It's all because of you, you little monster! Otherwise, we would've escaped already!" Star-Lord angrily accused.
Rocket instantly stopped in his tracks, then turned to look at Star-Lord expressionlessly.
"Groot, give this whiner a good beating!"
"I am Groot." Groot nodded, swinging his fist at the stunned Star-Lord.
The next moment, before Star-Lord could react, he was sent flying, crashing into the wall with a thud and collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath.
The guards nearby didn't intervene. Instead, they stood by with electric batons, smiling and making way for Rocket, eager to watch the show.
In the monotonous prison life, their only entertainment was watching these lawless inmates fight each other to death.
Rocket then walked over to the prone, groaning Star-Lord.
He roughly grabbed Star-Lord's hair, forcing his pain-twisted face to look at him.
"Coward, if you call me a monster again, it won't be this easy. People disappearing in prison is normal, got it?"
Seeing Groot ready to attack at any moment, Star-Lord, despite his frustration, had no choice but to nod submissively.
"I understand."
"Hmph!"
Rocket snorted and released Star-Lord's hair, continuing to walk forward, with Groot following closely behind.
Rocket was no longer the same. If someone had called him a monster before meeting Zane, he might have endured it.
But not now. Never again!
Seeing Star-Lord's fate, Gamora wisely swallowed her questions and chose silence.
The guards, disappointed that the show ended so quickly, shook their heads regretfully.
They had hoped Rocket would kill Star-Lord so they could execute Rocket on the spot according to the rules.
It wasn't for any reason other than seeking entertainment.
In prison, neither inmates nor guards were good people.
In fact, compared to the inmates, the guards, who stayed in such a depressing environment long-term, were even more twisted.
Their job was just to prevent escapes; they didn't care if inmates killed each other. They actually preferred it.
At least it added some excitement to their dull lives!
After passing through narrow corridors and reaching the most secure cells in the deepest part of the prison, the escorting guards closed the gate and left.
The arrival of new inmates, especially Gamora, caused an uproar in the prison.
"Gamora, you bitch!"
"You're dead!"
"I'm going to tear you to pieces!"
"You butcher, scum!"
Countless curses and trash were hurled at Gamora.
Many inmates here had deep grudges against Ronan's radical faction from Kree.
And in the outside world, Gamora was seen as Ronan's subordinate, his accomplice.
So naturally, she incited public anger.
*************************************
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