"We won't run! Never again!"
The surviving Ravagers kowtowed furiously, their heads thudding against the floor over and over.
Hermione's face remained expressionless. "Enough. I know you're all loyal. That'll do."
Only then did they rise gingerly, as if granted a pardon, their eyes lowered and barely daring to breathe. Every one of them secretly thanked their lucky stars that they hadn't run off with those idiots.
Hermione paid them no further attention. She waved open a Portal and walked straight through.
"Everyone, get up!"
Yondu looked at Kraglin and the others. His expression was still grim, but his tone softened a little. "Get things in order. We're leaving."
Kraglin froze for a moment. "Boss, where are we going?"
"Xandar," Yondu said gravely.
"What?!" Kraglin and the other Ravagers were stunned. "Boss, you're joking, right? Won't the Nova Corps blow us to bits the moment our ship gets close?"
"Hmph." Yondu snorted, mixed feelings welling up as he recalled Hermione's earlier conversation with Nova Prime. "The Witch has already spoken to Nova Prime. We've been granted an exemption."
"An exemption?!"
"We can go into Xandar openly now?!"
At first, the Ravagers couldn't believe it. Then they erupted in delighted cheers.
This was Xandar, the capital of the Nova Empire, one of the most prosperous planets in the universe!
Before, never mind going there to have fun-they'd been terrified just getting close. Now they could actually sail right in without a care?
For a moment, everyone looked at Yondu with newfound admiration.
The boss was fucking awesome!
He'd found such a powerful backer that they could even enter Xandar whenever they wanted!
Seeing his crew's excitement, Yondu hurriedly warned them:
"Listen up, all of you! Once we get to Xandar, you'd better fucking behave. No causing trouble! The Witch swallowed her