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     Nothing but adrenaline traveled through Ava's veins, preparing to put her training to the test. Except this time, one mistake meant no redos. It was life or death.

They all watched the creature is it moved it's head in all directions. Ava looked at her colleagues. "What's it doing?" She asked quietly.

The head of the beast snapped towards her voice. Letting out a loud cry that was in between a speech and a roar. Then it charged at the trespassers.

Everyone dispersed and did their best to avoid the long fangs.

"Good job genius!" Nebula's angry voice snapped at Ava.

Ava whipped out her sword. "How am I supposed to know that it would hear me!?"

The monster launched towards the two woman. The claw smashed into the ground between them as they dodged it's clutches.

Ava and Nebula remained on the ground as the monster turned it head. Ava scanned her eyes at the others who held their positions. No one dared to move or make a noise, in fear it would draw the creature to them.

Even Drax who always did things without thinking, was smart enough to not make a peep.

It looked familiar to Ava as she remebered researching different alien species during her first month of living in space.

A Babtherion.

She studied it more as it stood still, waiting for the slightest of sounds to determine it's next attack. The head jerked back and forth.

Ava then realized something she remembered about the species. Something that sent a shiver down her spine. Not only did it have enhanced hearing abilities with the lack of sight.

A few shirt sniffs was enough to confirm Ava's knowledge of the Babtherions strongest weapon.

It's sense of smell.

She eyed the others and waved at them to get their attention. She ignored the confused looks, especially the one from Poe.

Ava pointed to her nose before her finger moved at the Babtherion. The silly gesture got most of everyone to understand.

It approached Rocket first and the raccoon backed away slowly. To his disadvantage, the smell of his fur was stronger than the rest of them. Even more unfortunate, the last time Ava knew Rocket washed himself was the night of the food fight. That being 2 days ago.

Ava watched in horror as the beast crept closer to Rocket and snarled at the rodent. She wrapped her fingers around the handle of her sword, carefully sliding it out of her belt.

The Babtherion was now inches from Rocket who kept his gun close, but trembled.

BLAST

Before Ava could even extend the blade, the Babtherion had a direct hit to the face. It cried out in pain and ran towards the source of the blow. Ava's eyes followed the Babtherion as it charged towards the least expected person.

Poe.

Holding his blaster steady as he pressed the trigger a few more times. The Babtherion chasing after him and he used the arrow ring to levitate above.

Without thinking Ava, she whipped out the blade of her godslayer and ran in the direction of the beast. She slashed the sharp edge on its back leg before it's tail could grab the General. Taking it's focus away from Poe, the Babtherion turned it's snout towards her.

Ava stood her ground ready to face the nasty creature. She posed her sword to over her head like a katanna, ready to stab it into her foe.

Yet her brave stance hid the terror that caused her heart to panic. She has no idea how to take done a giant alien monster.

The Babtherion raised it's tail, the claw opening and closing. She braced herself as it crashed into the ground. Cracks snaking all around in the dirt. The sharp claw left as soon as it came.

"It would be really great if someone could take out that stupid claw!?" Ava shouted, hoping one of her teammates would lend assistance.

"Don't worry Lil Quill!"

Her head snapped to see Drax on her left.

"I will conquer this monster single handed like I did with the tentacle beast on the Sovereign!" He shouted before letting out a victory yell.

The Babtherion growled in his direction.

Ava rolled her eyes knowing his loudness wouldn't help with anything.

He charged with his duel swords before she could stop him as he leaped in the air. Still refusing to wear the arrow rings.

Drax slashed one on the leg of the creature while sliding underneath the stomach. The Babtherion roaring in annoyance at the mad laughter from from The Destroyer. Causing it to get frustrated.

Wait.

Ava thought as she came up with an idea and she knew it could work.

"What are you standing there for, little bear?"

Her brother's voice snapped her head back into reality. She saw Gamora, Rocket, and Mantis beside them as well, while the Babtherion continued to chase the Drax. Nebula trying to keep it from eating him as he continue to laugh like a manaic.

Poe landed himself down and joined the group huddle. "How do we stop this thing?" He asked, wanting answers.

This wasn't the First Order or anything like he had fought before. Ava hadn't fought in a war but this was also her fist time facing a alien monster. She shared a look with Poe before explaining her idea.

"I know how we can defeat it," Ava stated. "I have a plan."

Rocket groaned at that. "First your brother now you? Must run in the family to copy others." He huffed.

Ava rolled her eyes and letting out a frustrated yell. "Will you let go of your stupid complaints for one second Rocket!? We are being attacked and that's what's bothering you?"

Rocket snarled at her and ready to talk back at her. 

"What's your idea Ava?" Gamora said and brought the attention back to focus.

"It's already blind without having eyes, so we can just take out the other senses?" Ava revealed and gestured at the monster. It was currently chasing it's tail because Drax was hanging on and stabbing hit repeatedly.

Mantis nodded with concern in her huge pupils. "But what if it's going to kill all of us before we even have the chance to." 

"Besides it still has that tail that can snatch us away in seconds." Peter added with a panic in his voice and pointed at the claw.

Ava sighed, knowing her idea wasn't going to convince the Guardians. "I don't see any better solutions then." She grabbed her sword ready to help Drax.

"Hold up,"

She turned to see Poe clearing his throat as he studied the Babtherion. "I think your sister is on to something." He agreed as he snuck another wink towards Ava. 

"If we can take out the nose, it can track us through smell. Ears, there goes the hearing. That gives us the advantage right?"

Ava couldn't believe it. Poe was supporting her. Flirty, cocky, self-centered, disrespectful, pilot from another galaxy, Poe was doing something useful for once. 

She noticed all eyes were on her and she scanned the small huddle. Seeing another wink from Gamora with a teasing smile. Ava knew that Gamora wasn't going to let this go later.

Poe looked to her, waiting for an approval.

With a nod, she continued her plan. "Right. It still would have taste, touch and sonar, but it would be enough to weaken it. Rocket and Peter can take out the ears. Gamora and Mantis the nose and-" Ava hesitated for a moment before realizing that Poe and her were the last to be paired up. "And Poe." She said, covering up the split second of silence. 

Poe raised his eyebrows in response, giving her permission to speak. 

"We are going to distract it while they all do that." She finished her sentence. 

He gave her a salute with an amused smile. "Say no more, blondie." 

"Great plan missy," Rocket scoffed. "But what about the tail?"

Ava was about to answer until a crash behind them caught their attention. A loud screech following as the group watched the tail be sliced in half, with Drax landing on the ground. 

"Well hope that answers your question womp rat." Poe jeered as he pulled out his blaster, ignoring Rockets reaction to the nickname. He looked over at Ava. "Ready?"

Ava stared at his brave expression, as if he was giving a speech with his eyes. Telling her to be strong. To fight. To not give up. To not be afraid. To be confident.

With that, she extended the godslayer and her gaze hardened. "Let's go!"

That's when Poe took off with the arrow ring and Ava ran towards the beast. He shot the Babtherion in the face as he growled up at him as it found a new target to replace Drax. "That's it, that's it. Come on!" He shouted at it as he kept moving.

Nebula appear by Ava's side as if to ask what the plan was.

"Distract it!" Ava responded and gestured at Gamora, Rocket, Mantis and her brother.

Her blue friend nodded as the two ran towards the tailess creature. They split up to hit both back legs. Ava on the right side and Nebula on the left.

The Babtherion becoming more frustrated with the group.

"One ear down!" Peter shouted into his ear piece with his Starlord helmet on.

Ava saw Drax next to her and leaping onto the back, and stabbing it into the fatty flesh. The beast failed it body around in attempt to get Drax off.

More shot fired from above and it found Poe in the air. It charged at Poe once more until it suddenly felt limp.

He frowned before landing next to Ava and Nebula.

The monster laid still just outside its cave, yet it was still breathing.

"What the kriff just happened?" Poe asked as he remained confused. "Did I kill it?"

Ava elbowed him and glared at him. He only scoffed and questioned her with his eyes. She rolled hers with annoyance in her voice.

"Don't get your hopes up." Ava snapped.

The three got their answer when they saw Mantis with her antennas glowing. Ava stood there and totally forgot her empath abilities.

She put the Babtherion to sleep.

Everyone else noticed this too as she used all her energy to keep it in this state. Her face focused and determined to keep her hands on its front leg.

Drax let out a laugh. "She did it! I knew she could."

Right as those words left his mouth, Mantis was overpowered by the Babtherion. It kicked her off and Mantis landed a few feet away. She tried to stand but was in no condition to keep fighting.

The Babtherion charged at her as go get revenge. Yet it was cut short when a sharp pain shot from its nose. Gamora had stabbed her sword up one of the nostrils. She yelled as she held her weapon in place. "Someone come get the other side!"

Ava took no hesitation to jump on the snout with her. Stabbing the other nostril and caused the Babtherion to cried in agony.

At the corner of her eye, she saw Rocket blast off the other ear.

It squealed a high pitched scream, almost making Ava deaf, before it flung her and Gamora off. The Babtherion thrashed itself around as it tried to find its opponents.

It banged it's head on the arch of the cave entrance, causing loose rocks to fall.

"Shoot at the rocks!" Poe suggested at the group as he began blasting above the cave. "That's how we kill it."

Rocket, Peter and Gamora heeded it as they all joined him. Ava didn't have a blaster, but she did have some kind of a grenade in her belt pocket. She waited for a few more rocks to trap the Babtherion on the ground. Once it did she let out a yell.

"Everyone get back!"

As soon as it was clear, Ava pressed the button and tossed it right on the Babtherions head. She didn't think she was going to make it since the last time she threw a baseball was in middle school gym class. Guess it came in handy.

Nebula stood off to the side with Mantis and Drax. Gamora, Peter and Rocket landed next to them, while Poe beside Ava.

The bomb finally exploded and created boulders to crash on top. The Guardians were dodging each one themselves as they backed away from the cave. "Watch out!" Peter exclaimed as they all made a fall back from the rock slide.

Ava did as well until she realized something was wrong. Someone was missing. "Where's Poe!?" She panicked and looked back to see him by the entrance.

Peter grabbed her arm before she dashed over. "I'm not loosing my little sister again!" He shouted at her and his grip got tighter.

She understood his concern but she wasn't going to let Poe get smashed. She kicked Peter in the nuts and threw as gravity mine on the ground, making her brother stick to it.

"Sorry Big Bear." Ava said before she rushed towards Poe. A rock had trapped his leg in a large pile of boulders.

Poe shot her a look of anger. "What are you doing!?"

Ava ignored as she pulled out her weapon and slice the rocks keeping him hostage, breaking him free. She grabbed his arm and pulled him up to his feet. However, a bunch rocks crashed in front of them and began to close the entrance.

"No!" She cried.

"Ava!" Her brother screamed before the rest of the entrance was completely blocked off. No sign of daylight or Peter's voice.

She couldn't see anything.

Nothing but the darkness consuming her in from the cave.

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Finally got through writing this. Now I can get to some more exciting bits in the next few chapters.

And now Poe and Ava are alone 😏

-marie