Diwen smiled gently. "Don't worry, we're really just traveling. This time, we simply invited you to have a meal. Once your companions recover, you're free to leave anytime."
Quill stepped forward with a smile. "Don't mind us—we're just a bit cautious. And… thanks again for saving our lives!"
Diwen nodded. "Go call your companions. Karl should have the food ready soon."
"Alright, just a moment!"
Quill led a few people off to inform the others.
Nebula spoke quietly, "Are you sure they didn't poison the food? Maybe they want to kill us without effort."
Quill gave her a reassuring look. "Don't assume the worst about everyone. Maybe they really just want to invite us to dinner."
"I'm just reminding you—everyone in this universe needs to stay alert," Nebula said, quickening her pace and walking ahead.
Gamora asked, "So what are you going to do?"
Quill thought for a moment. "Let's go and see. We don't know their intentions—maybe we'll find out this time."
"Mm…" Rocket couldn't speak, so he waved his arms instead.
Seeing this, Quill took Groot out of his pocket and placed him in Rocket's arms. "Take care of him. You're at your best when you can't talk."
Rocket glared fiercely at Quill, unable to respond. Quill grinned. "You actually look kind of cute."
Drax added, "He does look like a pet—much more docile."
Rocket stepped forward and kicked him, making Drax burst into laughter.
Gamora went to Kraglin's room and saw him just finishing a call. "Who were you contacting?"
Kraglin panicked. "N-no… I was just telling my friends we're safe!"
Quill frowned. "You contacted the Ravagers?"
Kraglin hesitated, then admitted, "I… already told them. They're on their way."
Quill was furious. "Are you insane?! If they come, they'll attack this ship! We were already safe!"
"I just… saw you captured and wanted to find someone to save you. They're the only ones I know!"
"This is our fault to begin with—they didn't harm us!" Quill turned and walked out. "I need to tell Karl!"
Gamora frowned. "Let's wake Yondu first and see what he can do."
They went to Yondu's room, which they had chosen for him earlier. The door opened automatically as they approached. Inside, Yondu was repairing his arrow.
"The Ravagers are coming. Any way to make them behave?" Gamora asked.
Yondu didn't seem concerned. "They won't hurt us. They probably just want to see if I'm dead."
"The problem is Kraglin told them we were captured!" she added.
Yondu picked up his repaired arrow and headed out. As they reached the doorway, they saw Diwen and Quill waiting.
"Let's go eat first!" Quill said quickly.
Diwen opened a portal, and everyone followed her through.
When they arrived, they saw Karl wearing an apron and cooking. Everyone except Diwen looked surprised.
"He's… a chef?!"
Karl glanced at them briefly and continued cooking. "Since you're here, keep quiet. No arguing—or I'll throw you out."
Yondu looked at Karl, then at Diwen, then around the room. "Who is he? Where's the rest of your crew?"
Diwen smiled. "It's just the two of us. He's my boyfriend. We're traveling."
At the front of the ship, a honeycomb-like structure lit up, and ship after ship flew out. Everyone except Karl moved to the window to watch.
Karl placed the last dish on the table. Quill said anxiously, "Can't you think of something? They're pirates—they'll kill us!"
"Let me go!" Drax growled, pulling out his daggers.
Gamora stopped him. "Don't act recklessly! This isn't the time. We need a plan—their ships are weaker than this one."
Diwen asked calmly, "Are they here to kill you? If so, you can pilot this ship and deal with them. Karl and I only know how to fly—we don't use its weapons."
She clearly didn't care much about alien lives—there was no sense of attachment.
"What?" Quill said with a strange look. "You don't even use this ship's weapons—and you dare travel the universe? Are you crazy?"
"Hey, just let them focus on eating," Karl said, calling Diwen over, completely unconcerned about the situation outside.
He knew it would take a long time for them to break through the ship's energy shield—if they even could.
Gamora stared at Diwen in disbelief as she turned toward the table. "Can't you be a little concerned? They could destroy your ship!"
Diwen pulled her along with a smile. "Let's eat first. The ship runs on Karl's energy—they'll need a long time to break the shield."
The others stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to resist the approaching Ravagers or just follow along.
"I'm starting to think they completely don't understand us," Quill said helplessly.
Gamora nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Yondu contacted the Ravagers. "Stakar, don't attack. We're safe—we were rescued by the ship's owners."
"Zzz… Yondu… they're our prey. Ravagers don't leave empty-handed…"
Yondu shouted, "Stakar, don't do this! They saved my life!"
"Then let us board. Kree don't save people for no reason."
"They're not Kree—they're…" Yondu glanced at Quill.
Quill whispered, "Like me. From Earth."
"…They're Earthlings. They killed the Kree and took the ship."
"…Fine. We'll come aboard and take a look."
Yondu looked at Karl and Diwen—neither showed any concern. He pressed a few buttons, and a beam of light pulled one of the ships in.
Minutes later, Stakar arrived with a crystal-like man and a woman in a cloak.
At a glance, they saw Karl and Diwen calmly eating, while Gamora and Nebula had been dragged into joining them.
"What's going on here?" Stakar asked, confused.
"Did you hijack this ship?" he demanded.
Yondu stepped forward. "I know I broke the code before, but I also killed a criminal—"
"I killed him!" Quill interrupted.
Yondu closed his eyes, frustrated. "Let me finish!"
Rocket gestured wildly, trying to claim credit as well.
"Enough! Stop arguing!" Quill pointed at Rocket, then turned to Stakar. "This ship belongs to my friends. You should leave—or you might end up stuck here for a day."
Yondu shook his head. "I regret raising you. You're impossible."
Stakar glanced at Quill. "Your crew lacks discipline."
Yondu nodded. "I'll deal with him. As you can see—we're not in danger."
He pointed at Karl and Diwen. "They own this ship. They saved me."
Karl handed a dish to Diwen. "Eat this—you've been eating too much meat lately. Your arms are getting thicker."
Diwen glanced at him blankly but said nothing in front of others.
Nebula was already starving, eating quickly. Gamora, too, began eating faster after taking some food.
At some point, Groot had climbed out of Rocket's arms and started eating as well.
The five of them seemed to form their own little world, completely ignoring everything else.
Seeing this, Quill shouted, "Gamora! Save some for me—I want some too!"
With everything seemingly normal, the tension eased, and people began discussing their next move.
Meanwhile, the newly arrived group stood there, confused—especially the hooded woman, who frowned as she looked around.
What… were these people even doing?
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