6024/Lost Branch World

Lost Branch World
Date of Scene:	23 April 2021
Location:	Lost Branch World, Space
Synopsis:	The Milano stops at a long lost world of Groot's people. They find a spy from Planet X that must be stopped at all cost else an armada come and kill the Branch Republic.
Cast of Characters:	Groot, Gamora, Nebula, Peter Quill, Rocket

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Groot has posed:
Groot has convinced the Milano to investigate a series of coordinates that he got from Oa and the Maze of Klabaru. It is a legend of his people of a Branch world that was stolen by a powerful alien race and moved far away from the rest of the Branch worlds. Rumor has long said that they were out there, contact from traders etc, and as the Milano approaches the system Groot is clearly nervous.

Long range scans do indicate some technological presence in the system, 4 worlds, one Earth type, 2 gas giants and a hell world. There are two orbital energy platforms and a very small trading station. There are no broadcasts like entertainment or business traffic that are typical of such a world. If asked what to expect, Groot will say he has no idea. They've been cut off from his people for two centuries so he is expecting nearly anything.

Gamora has posed:
    "This is strange." Gamora notes with a troubled tone, seated in her normal position in the cockpit. "I don't think I've ever been to a viable system that was this quiet. Even Earth was trying to sell vehicle insurance to the stars."

Nebula has posed:
    It's a contrast, moving from the lower decks where the temperature is lower and the lights are dimmer in to the upper decks and common areas where the temperature is set roughly to what Peter likes and the lights are set to roughly what Peter likes. May be other species prefer it that way too but Nebula likes the gloom. May be it's a personal preference.

    Stepping in to the cockpit Nebula peers out at the otherwise seemingly quiet planet and folds her arms. Space is a lonely place and even for loners like Nebula you sometimes need contact with other people. A trading port is a welcome sight. Likely one where she has no reputation. A chance to screw it all up on her own.

    Botany isn't exactly her strong suit nor an interest of hers. Talking and walking trees - she's only recently gained an appreciation for Groot. Ever the perplexingly mysterious creature and strangely loyal to Rocket. A begrudging respect for Groot had formed in her mind - so when he proposed this trip she figured: why not.

Peter Quill has posed:
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szm_SbNmK6s

Peter's playing a track from his Kryprton Road Trip mix hoping this time what they find at the end of their journey will be a whole lot happier for all involved. Plus, 'Shambala' was just a fun travelling song, so there was that if nothing else.

He's at his usual station, checking out the sensor readings as they close in on the system. "Well, I'm not seeing much in the way of signals from the worlds buuut, there's definitely a station and some satellites in orbit so I'll take that as a good sign. You want to try hailing them Groot?" he asks handing back an old CB radio mic he'd rigged into the comms system on the panel for moments like this.

He does look back at Gamora's words. "Yeah, pretty proud of my people for that," he says of the insurance ads. "But who knows what sort of tech they might have maybe they're talking their heads off and we're not tuned in to their message."

Rocket has posed:
Rocket runs a variety of scans from the pilot's seat he's in. For most of the last few days, he's been quieter than normal. It's almost a blessing in disguise for some on the crew, if not most, if not all. He merely answers Gamora with a shrug, verifying, "I ain't seein' much." Peter's song of choice barely gets an ear-twitch out of him, as he looks rather sullen. Whether he's flying or Quill is, he remains focused on what's ahead - and what's not.

Groot has posed:
Groot gives Rocket his space while still checking in on him periodically. He knows that the nightmares are troubling to him and is concerned, but also knows Rocket will share when he's good and ready. He doesnt hover, but he is obviously worried. When asked to hail them, he considers this. Given the scent element of his language, a lot of radio communication is lost, but who knows?

He opens hailing frequencies and says, "I am Groot."

There is a silence and then there is an audio static and finally says, "I am Qaru."

"I am Groot."

"I am Qaru!" There is an audible excitement to the voice but it is hard to tell if it is positive or negative.

Gamora has posed:
    Gamora arches an eyebrow at Peter. "That's..." Gamora suddenly looks puzzled, "... oddly astute. Hmm." Gamora fiddles with a knob or button or two to open communications, and links her fingers together while Groot calls out, and actually gets a response. "Oh. That's good. Is that good?"

    Nebula's arrival earns a wary but relatively welcoming look from Gamora; which is to say, she doesn't punch her or grimace.

Nebula has posed:
    Arms fold tighter as Nebula hears the response. So the trip wasn't a waste after all. That's good, she supposes. But it does mean Groot is going to get all excited.. "How does that.. nevermind," she says wondering how they could possibly be communicating like that over the comms.

    "Are we landing on the trading station or on the planet?," she asks pondering just how committed to this she needs to prepare her mind. Doing good things for Thanos's minions was never a 'thing'.. they curried his favour, not him currying theirs. Doing something for others.. she's only ever done that for Thanos and Gamora. Everyone else was immaterial. This giving of her time and skills is still a new and challenging concept.

Peter Quill has posed:
Peter looks to Rocket when Groot gets a reply. "You understand what the other guy said?" he asks not sure if Rocket's skills were focused on understanding Groot or all of Groot's people. "And thanks," he says glancing back to smile at Gamora. "I have my moments."

As to where to land he leaves that in the hands of Groot and Rocket. "Kinda hoping the trading post, could definitely use a drink right now." Not that they didn't have stuff on the ship but drinking at a bar was just /better/, he was pretty sure it was science or something.

Rocket has posed:
"The station," Rocket conveys, gesturing toward Groot. "He was askin'. Got a couple of..ones like him down there, sounds like." No, he doesn't elaborate. Chances are if he caught anything potentially dangerous in what he was able to make of the conversation back and forth, he would have shared it. "One's Qaru. The other's Thoote. Yeah, I know it sounds a lot like Groot. I got most of it, Quill." As such, he takes the Milano in toward their destination, still staring straight ahead.

Groot has posed:
The ship is able to approach and dock with the station. A few more quick exchanges with Qaru gives them what they need. Groot is both excited and a little nervous but it seems self exlplantory (or at least approaching it). A docking port slides out to the Milano and they are approaching. He whispers to Rocket as the door is sliding open, "I am Groot" and then a short while later, Qaru, who looks..KIND OF like Groot but is much shorter and has flowering berries and is surrounded by what looks like a dozen tiny beaver like creatures, small and furry that chitter enthusiastically at everyone.

"I am Qaru" and he gestures for them to follow into a wide area that looks like a food court with some aliens of various species, a tall plant like individual who who looks at Groot very...judgementally, and lots and lots of the small fuzzy creatures. There is clearly a 'bar' of some kind and two over the counter restaurants.

Gamora has posed:
    Gamora isn't the most emotionally intelligent person in the world, having grown up in a world of both hiding and shaming weakness, and some accompanying back stabbing, but Rocket's lack of energy or rudeness is starting to catch her notice finally, though for now the Zen-Whoberian can only give him a quizzical look without distracting from their purpose with a tangent.

    She eyes Qaru wearily at the docking port, and softly notes, in earshot of her crewmates, "... I suspect we will not be driving the conversation today."

Nebula has posed:
    Nebula can't stop staring at the beaver creature.. creatures. There's so many of them. So many fuzzy creatures. She peers at Rocket and then back to the beaver, then back to Rocket, then back to the beaver. Yep. Rocket is totally a pet. She smirks just a touch at her own thoughts, amusing herself.

    She walks deeper in to the station and observes the creatures going about their business, then looks over to Gamora and shrugs a little. It's a sisterly thing, it means she has no idea what she's meant to be doing. Usually by now she's plotting, shooting, or stabbing something.

    With a motion to the one giving Groot a disapproving look she says, "This must be Thoote then." There's a raised eyebrow. But also a slightly confused look as she realises this wasn't just a process of elimination.

Peter Quill has posed:
Star Lord looks around the station with an amused expression. He loved finding new places like this full of strange new aliens. "Right on," he says mostly to himself.

Then seeing the beaver creatures surrounding Quaru, he can't help but aside to Gamora. "Weird, isn't that like having a school of piranha following someone?" he asks without thinking if she knew what piranha were or well pretty much any of what he was talking about.

Rocket has posed:
Rocket shares that, at least, there is a concern on Groot's part about how trustworthy Thoote may be, but he's eyeing Qaru and his..beaver attendants, doing so with a distasteful expression on his face as his ears draw back briefly. Probably a good thing he doesn't know what Nebula is thinking right now. Shaking his head, he starts off toward the nearest bar, whether others decide to join him or not.

Gamora has posed:
    Gamora only shakes her head and asides to Peter, "I have never been to Piranha, or its schools."

Groot has posed:
Those looking at the area would find that one of the restaurants has food that smells very VERY good, one smells like a garden and flower shop. The beavers and aliens frequent the first, the plant based folks the other; both frequent the bar. Thoote has a small ring of the locals around him and is stink eyeing groot but the more observant folks would ALSO know he is looking judgementally at the other plant folk NOT around him since they are chattering quite amicably and equitiably with the beaver folk who chitter in a super fast local dialect though the translators can actually make SOME sense of it and understanding them might be possible in time.

There is a conversation between Groot and Qaru. It is, of course, quite boring to those who can't understand it since it is an ongoing series of greetings. More interesting, is the minstril that starts to sing in the corner with a band full of the beaver things and the shorter plant people that is theramins and bagpipes. "I am Bloom! I am Bloom!" It's clearly a balad but the words are ...only three.

Nebula has posed:
    Nebula pinches the bridge of her nose and and glances down at the ground with a sigh. "This...." she begins to say but seems lost for words. Then Rocket walks past toward the bar and she realises the usually loudest of the crew has the right idea.

    Turning, Nebula follows after him with slightly defeated slumped shoulders too. There's a distinct desire in her blood to burn this place to the ground and she's not quite sure why. At least father seemed to have a rhyme and reason about his massacres. She sits down at the bar and gets a cup of.. something orange. It tastes good and has alcohol in it so she's fine with this.

    A look is given to Rocket. On the one hand he seems to be in some kind of emotional distress.. on the other hand if she asks and he actually tells her, she might be compelled to listen. Then again, he is great in the field when he's on his game and he's clearly not on his game. But, also, she doesn't want to give the impression she cares... and she doesn't care.. does she? A look of confusion sweeps over her face again and she yanks up her hood to hide it.

Peter Quill has posed:
"It's not a planet-" Peter begins before shaking his head. "Sure, it's well known for it's schools," he remarks just going with it. "Still this may be a much weirder place," he says looking around before spotting Rocket and Nebula heading for the bar. "Want to come with?" he asks offering Gamora an arm as he turns in that direction.

Rocket has posed:
Rocket may look like he's off, but that doesn't mean he is. He's still got weaponry on him, and his eyes, ears, and nose continue to take close note of what's around. In fact, he may be even more focused on their surroundings than usual. Something about this leaves him suspicious, and through snippets of Branch creature conversation he watches Thoote the most. "Yeah, so those things are Elori and that one," he indicates Thoote, "thinks they shouldn't be treated as equals. I say fuck that guy, but I'm also thirsty."

Groot has posed:
Groot seems...unusually cheerful. The crew would notice something off about him though. He immediately says, "I am Groot" and excuses himself to join the group. As he looks around, he mutters low enough for the group to hear (mainly rocket) obviously, "I am Groot." The look on his face is...complex, to say the least. It is pleasant, but inwardly suffering, more than they have ever seen but there is also a murderous gleam in his eye.

Gamora has posed:
    Gamora's eyes follow the departure of their two most (outwardly) troubled crew mates with some concern, before she notices Peter's offered arm with some surprise.

    Such gestures are *also* a bit rare in her life.

    "Oh. I..." Gamora seems to struggle to find a 'Gamora' way to convey her answer, so for possibly just the second time her demeanor cracks a bit and she simply says, "... sssssSure." before taking Peter's arm.

    Inside, Gamora arches an eyebrow, "I would have thought *trees* to be above class division." Gamora gives a small 'hmph" and shakes her head. Perhaps a culling would do this civilization some good.

    Huh. Where did that come from?

    "Perhaps our martial prowess will be called for after all." She notes, trying not to sound too eager, and then squints at the bar. "... Would their spirits be... compatable?" she asks with some concern. What even IS tree booze?!

Nebula has posed:
    Nebula looks up somewhat suddenly and peers at Groot. Her eyes slide past him to Thoote once more and then back to Groot. "What in the Hel," she says and smirks. "You only have to ask..." she says with dark conspiratorial eyes as she looks at Groot levelly, then tips back some of the orange drink in to her mouth. A new found respect for Groot is growing within her. Gamora is yet to learn just how right she is.

    What does she care if she is considered a monster on yet another world in yet another star system. At least this'd be in her wheel house. Gamora's too. She pulls back her hood and gives Groot a very 'put me in coach' look that Gamora has no doubt only ever seen before when Nebula's desires had aligned with fathers.

Peter Quill has posed:
Peter grins as Gamora agrees to take his arm and join him for a drink. "Not terribly surprised, people all over the galaxy find reasons to be jerks to each other, why should tree people be any different?"

As for their booze? Peter's willing to try. "I'll have whatever she's having," he says to the bartender nodding to the orange drink Nebula is currently imbibing.

Seeing the look in Groot's eyes he leans over to Rocket. "Is Groot okay?" he asks before really taking a moment to notice how Rocket seems. "And you too, buddy. What's going on?"

Rocket has posed:
Rocket frowns openly at Groot, but as he looks over the woody face of his..friend..his ears lay back again and a scowl sets in. "Is that so? Want me to do somethin' about it? I already got an idea or two formin' in the ol' head." He does not provide the rest of the Guardians with a translation to what Groot had said. It may be for the best. That's about the time he raises a brow in Nebula's direction. Thoughts of a drink fade. "Nothin' you gotta concern yourself with, Quill. You just sit here and enjoy yourself."

Groot has posed:
"I am Groot." It is deadly, it is final, and it is ....odd in tone coming from him. He looks at Thoote, who is talking with the plants around him in a series of declarives. "I am Berry." "I am Thoote." "I am Spatula" (laughter)

Gamora has posed:
    "Rocket." Gamora begins to speak in a firm tone, "Though I do not often wish to mirror my sister's... enthusiasm... I believe we are well beyond protecting each others... 'rap sheets' from growing." Is Gamora just itching to kill something? Maybe a little. Being the responsible one has been a vexing experience, her tendancy to cling to composure aside. "I only urge discretion." She ponders for a moment, and adds, "... if that is something we are capable of." Signs point to 'no' so far in their adventures.

Nebula has posed:
    Nebula warns Peter, "It's disgusting and probably toxic." It seems from the expressions and tones that everybody is on board now. Everybody, perhaps except Peter, is down for some tree murder. Her eyes slide back over to Thoote and she says, "I expect someone has a plan I won't like."

Peter Quill has posed:
Despite the warning Peter does take a sip of the orange stuff when delivered. "Oookay, you might be right Nebula," he says. Rocket's words though get a frown. "Sure," he says of sitting there and having a good time. "And I'm with Gamora if we need to back Groot up, he can count on us." Shifts his coat a little to make sure he's got a clear line to draw his blasters. "But let's hope we can just sit here and," he glances at the orange stuff in his glass. "Enjoy our drinks instead."