Apparently this mission was different from the other ones he was used to. Instead of stealing, Peter’s job was to distract. Being that he’s a twelve-year-old Terran with a baby face, Peter could see how he could distract a few people. But for how long?
“Just long ‘nough for us to get what we came for,"Yondu told him. "Now tell 'em some dumb kid story or somethin’ you Terrans do on Terra.”
As the ship neared whatever planet they were landing on, Peter felt a hard knot in his stomach. He was terrified. What if he couldn’t keep them distracted?
But it’s not like they never failed a job before. Because they have. A lot of the time because of Peter. But he can’t always help it, and Yondu sometimes knew that, but other times Peter would get harsh punishments for it. Like the time Peter failed to steal a jewel a scary animal was guarding. How was he supposed to get it with that thing guarding it? Yondu wouldn’t listen to him and instead made him scrub the walls over and over and over again.
Biting his lip, Peter prepared himself for whatever lied ahead. He could not fail this one. If they succeeded, it meant a happy Yondu. Yondu made sure to embed that into Peter’s brain.
Slowly the ship landed in a dark part of the planet to keep anyone from seeing them. The crew readied themselves while Peter took a huge long breath.
“ 'Member boy, this one’s important. Don’t screw it up,"Yondu growled at him before turning to his crew and yelling, "Alright, remember the plan. Keep quiet, don’t expose yerselves, and if anyone messes it up, ye be lucky to survive.” Some of the crew’s eyes shifted to Peter. Peter shifted uncomfortably.
Peter had to go out first before the crew to start the distraction. He breathed deeply and marched off the ship onto the soil of the strange planet. All around him were bushes and trees, like Terra.
Feeling a little more confident, Peter clutched his Walkman tighter in his pocket and stumbled on. It took about five minutes of walking and nearly tripping before Peter heard voices and seen light.
“I don’t want none a’ that. I ain’t payin’ for all that,"snarled a deep voice.
"Then you don’t get the gun. It’s a package deal,"snapped a cold, hard voice. "I can’t sell the rest of it without the gun.”
“Damn it. You didn’t mention none of that bullshit,"the first voice sneered. "All you told me was you had a good deal on the gun I wanted.”
“I do! It’s this whole thing, Snavesky. You couldn’t buy this package for this price anywhere. This price would be for the gun, and the gun only in most places!"the second voice replied.
Silence as the men went through the exchange.
"Thanks. But next time tell me shit like this. I wasn’t prepared to buy all of this, Larka. I only needed a gun.”
Peter watched the men go their separate ways before walking through the clearing. He knew not to try to distract those guys. Yondu had told him the people he needed to find were the females. They were the rulers, while the men were the guards. As long as the women were distracted, they couldn’t order the guards to attack the Ravagers.
It was a few more minutes before Peter had found the big white tent Yondu told him about.
“Boy, you find 'em yet? Yer too slow,"Yondu hissed in his ear from the microphone they had placed to communicate.
"Yeah. Just couldn’t move for a few minutes because of two guards in my way,"Peter answered.
"Fine. You go in there and do yer thing, boy. Give us at least fifteen minutes.”
Peter walked up to the entrance. Hopefully he could do this.
“Oh, Clarice, did I ever tell you the story my husband told me?"a woman’s voice rang from inside.
Now or never, thought Peter.
He pushed through the flaps into the tent to find himself stunned.
It looked like a damn castle. A huge long red carpet led up to steps where five women sat. Pews were lined up on either side of the walkway like a church, but no one sat in them. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling of the tent, while two long tables on either side held food and what Peter could only assume alcohol.
The women were gorgeous. All five looked exactly alike. Long, blond hair in a long braid down to their laps. They had white skin like Peter, but their eyes were a bright purple and they wore the most gorgeous jewelry Peter had ever seen.
"Ooh, a guest,"one of the women piped up.
"How can we assist you?"the one second from the left said.
"I’m, uh, lost. I lost my dad,"Peter began.
"Oh, poor boy!"the middle one squeaked. "You must be terrified. What does your daddy look like?”
Peter decided to lie. “White skin, like me. Brown hair, brown eyes. He has muscles and a dark navy shirt on,"he whispered.
Whatever race they were they must have excellent hearing.
"Are you from Terra, sweetie?"the second from the right asked.
He nodded, trembling for effect.
He shook his head. “I got here by myself in a ship. It was my first time flying and I got lost and I found this planet.”
“How old are you, Terran?"the fifth one finally spoke up.
"Oh, Clara, he’s still a child. We can’t just ignore this,"one said. She turned to Peter. "What’s your name, dear?”
“Hello, Peter Jason Quill. My sisters and I are very kind; you are very fortunate to have found us. Do you know your father’s coordinates?”
“Okay, dear. It’s too late to contact our authorities. We hardly get any emergency, so they close early. We will let you stay tonight and then we can find your father tomorrow. Okay?"she asked.
"And our names are Clara, Clarice, Victoria, Serenity, and Maude. We are the queens of Ethyiopia,"she added. "If you need any help, we can assist you at any time. Now, shall I send a guard to show you our guest rooms?”
Internally Peter panicked. “Uh, yes. But I’m not really tired. I’m a bit hungry, actually.”
The one named Clarice, the first from the right, smiled kindly. “You may fill yourself with whatever you wish, Mr. Quill. The food that lies upon these tables are for visitors. Since you are, unintentionally, a visitor, you may help yourself.”
Feeling guilty for robbing these sweet women, Peter smiled back. “T-thank you, ma'am.”
As Peter searched the food table, he heard a communication device near the women start to buzz to alert them about intruders. Panicked, Peter abandoned the table.
“Uh, I also have allergies. Is there any food here with peanuts or gluten?"he asked nervously and a bit loudly to drown out the radio.
Fortunately, they did not seem to hear the radio. "Oh yes, dear. The food on the right -”
As they explained the food contents on the table, the radio buzzed again. The one closest to it looked at it, eyebrow raised. Feeling the overwhelming need to puke, Peter did the only thing he could do at that moment.
“Oh no. I ate one of the cookies. I can’t have peanuts!"Peter exclaimed. He grabbed his throat dramatically, pretending to choke. He made himself tremble and fall to the ground, convulsing.
The queens screeched. "Oh no! We have an emergency!"Clara squealed. "Poor thing! Call a medic!”
The queens rushed to his side while a medic was called on the radio. Peter, trying his best to look like he was dying, closed his eyes and kept choking himself. His face was red, and his hair was sticking up everywhere from the static.
Static? Peter thought. Then he realized. The electricity in his hands were shocking him. Very little amounts of electricity, but he could now feel it running through his veins and his face, making his hair stand on end.
A medic rushed in just then to cower over Peter. Knowing the medic would find him faking, he gasped, took his hands off his throat, and clenched his fists.
Screams echoed the tent as all lighting went out. The electricity in his fists must have caused that to happen. How, Peter did not know.
“Shit!"the medic cried. "I can’t see the boy -”
A guard ran in suddenly, panting, holding a torch. “Your Majesties, we have intruders trying to steal the precious stone!"he shouted.
Peter frowned. Why would Yondu want a stone? Oh yeah, because he’s Yondu.
Maude swelled in anger. "This can’t be! Stop them, Finnigan!”
Peter knew he could no longer stay here. He jumped to his feet, jumped around the medic and ran straight for the tent’s exit.
“He’s with them! He was faking it as a distraction!"shouted Victoria as Peter ran for his life.
He ran so hard everything hurt but he could not stop. He didn’t hear footsteps following him, but he did not care. Panting, Peter continued to run hard until he found the ship.
He leapt through the bushes and onto the ship’s ramp, not stopping until he got to the kitchen.
He dropped to the floor, breathing and sweating and shaking. Did he fail?
Obviously not, because a few seconds later, heavier, multiple feet were heard boarding the ship along with yells of victory.
Peter sighed a breath of relief. He was not getting punished tonight.
"Hurry, get on the ship. Move!"came Yondu’s voice. He was grinning as he walked into view before disappearing to pilot the ship with his first mate, Kraglin.
When they were far enough away from Ethiyopia, Yondu reemerged and clapped Peter on the back.
"Good job, boy. You helped us steal the stone!"he told him.
"What does it do?"he asked, staring at it with distaste. It was grey, like every other stone.
"Oh, don’t you worry 'bout that, Quill.” Yondu grinned down at him. “Now get to bed. You get tomorrow off for this.”
Peter happily obeyed the captain. A day off! He no longer cared about the stone. Putting it to the back of his mind, Peter rushed to his room and collapsed into bed.
A day off. Yes, Peter thought happily. He finally pleased Yondu for once.
Smiling, Peter put his headphones on and pushed play, falling asleep to “Southern Nights.”
