"Who shouted 'God' just now?"
James's question was relayed through the language translators implanted beneath the Ravager mercenaries' skin, simultaneously converted into the languages of more than a hundred civilizations.
Yet young Peter Quill realized that what he heard was not the translated syllables he had long grown accustomed to, but the unmistakably familiar language of his homeland.
Peter suddenly understood that when he had seen the figure wreathed in golden flames descend and blurted out "God," he had not meant a generic deity. He had meant "Jesus."
The Ravagers noisily looked around in every direction, gradually turning their eyes toward Peter Quill. They instinctively backed away a few steps, their strange gazes shifting between their boss Yondu's unpopular adopted son and the unfamiliar intruder.
James's eyes lit up when he spotted the brown-haired young man standing there in a daze. He had only taken two steps toward Peter when a clear whistle rang out.
"Whoever you are, stay away from him."
A small dark-gold arrow floated before Ravager leader Yondu Udonta. A red streak of light trailed from its tail, bobbing as though in rhythm with Yondu's breathing, filled with an uncanny life of its own.
"What are you all standing around for? Raise your guns!"
Their leader's shout made the clumsy Ravagers raise their weapons again, aiming them at the bare-chested intruder. Clusters of energy halos lit up as their guns finished charging.
James gave the motley crew aboard the starship an uninterested glance and continued toward Peter. The moment he took a step, Yondu's rapid, sharp whistles sent the arrow shooting out. The naked eye could only catch a long red streak flashing past; the whistling arrow had already spiraled several times as it stabbed straight for James's throat.
"Whoo—whoo!"
Clang!
Two long, powerful fingers steadily caught