After gaining Groot's healing factor, Eli was healed in seconds.
He left Groot and the group of children who had started to surround him—asking about his white hair, how he could fly, how he could make ice from just air with no water. Groot handled it with surprising patience, producing small flowers for each child and posing for pictures.
Eli smiled and slipped away.
---
When he reached the other Guardians, he found them exactly where he'd left them.
Which meant they were arguing.
Rocket stood on a crate, paws gesturing wildly at a Nova Corps officer. "—and I'm telling you, the salvage rights are ours! We brought that ship down! We should get first pick!"
Peter stood between them, hands raised in what was supposed to be a calming gesture but was actually just making things worse. "Rocket, they're not saying we can't have anything, they're just saying we need to wait—"
"Wait for WHAT?! For them to take all the good stuff for their little 'investigations'?!"
Gamora stood off to the side, arms crossed, muttering something under her breath about idiots and incompetence.
When Rocket noticed Eli approaching, he spun around. "Tell them, Whitey! Tell them this is ours! They can't just take everything!"
Eli chuckled, about to respond—
Peter jumped in first. "Come on, Rocket, he's not trying to take it. They just want to investigate first and—"
"That's what they always say!" Rocket interrupted. "That's what they ALWAYS say before taking all the good stuff! 'Oh, we're just investigating, we'll give it back'—and then suddenly it's gone forever! I will NOT let it happen!"
He puffed his chest out, tail flicking with indignation. "And now with Eli here? Let them TRY taking it now!"
Eli opened his mouth—
Peter talked over him again. "No, they're NOT taking it, okay? Just let them do their job and you'll get what you want—"
"No, I'll get what I WANT when I HAVE IT!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!"
"THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS!"
Eli gave up and looked at the Nova Corps officer, who immediately snapped to attention and saluted.
Eli blinked. "You don't have to do that."
"No, sir," the officer said, voice crisp and formal, "this is what I should do to show my respect for you saving this city."
Eli looked at the man's face. Saw the genuine gratitude there. The earnestness.
"…Okay," Eli said. "Do whatever you want."
He pointed at the arguing Rocket and Peter. "What's he talking about?"
The officer straightened. "He wants the ship, sir. But at the moment, we need it to investigate and see if there are any surviving Kree inside. After that, he can do whatever he wants with the wreckage."
Eli nodded. He made a small dismissive gesture. "You can go. I'll take care of it."
The officer saluted again and left.
Eli turned and shouted over the chaos: "STOP ARGUING!"
Rocket and Peter froze.
"They'll give you the ship, Rocket."
Rocket squinted. "But what if they DON'T?"
"Then I'll take it for you myself."
Rocket's ears perked up. He considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "…Fine. But I'm holding you to that, Whitey."
"It's Eli."
"Whatever."
Gamora watched the exchange from the side, her expression caught somewhere between exasperation and something softer. "I'm surrounded by idiots," she muttered.
Drax, who had been silent until now, said, "I am not an idiot. I am a destroyer."
"That's not what I—" Gamora stopped. Pinched the bridge of her nose. "Never mind."
Drax opened his mouth to respond, clearly about to say something that would make everything worse—
A Nova officer approached, cutting through the tension. "Hello. Nova Prime would like to thank you all for saving the city. If you would please follow me, I'll lead you to her."
The Guardians exchanged looks.
Then, as one, they followed.
---
The Nova Corps headquarters was a tower of glass and light, rising above the city like a beacon. Inside, the halls were quiet, the staff moving with purpose. They were led to a large chamber at the top, where Nova Prime herself waited.
She was a woman of measured calm, her expression unreadable as the Guardians filed in.
"You have my gratitude," she said simply. "All of you."
She went around the room, thanking each Guardian individually. Rocket got a commendation for tactical brilliance. Gamora was recognized for her strategic insight. Drax was acknowledged for his combat prowess. Groot was given a small medal, which he immediately tried to eat.
When she reached Eli, she paused.
"And you," she said, "I have no words. Without you, this city would be gone."
Eli shifted uncomfortably. "I just did what anyone would do."
"No," she said. "You did what no one else could do."
She moved on to Peter, who was grinning like he'd already won something.
"Peter Quill," Nova Prime said, "you are not fully human."
Peter's grin faltered. "…What?"
"Your DNA shows traces of something older. Something we don't fully understand. You are half-human. The other half… is something else."
Peter stared at her. "I'm sorry, what?"
Nova Prime turned to Eli. "When you first arrived on Xandar, we scanned you. Your cells and genes appeared… Earthling. Mostly. But the energy your cells could store was concerning. At full release, it could have destroyed a ten-kilometer radius."
She paused, consulting a datapad.
"Now, with a new scan, the readings are so different it's like scanning two different people." She looked up at him. "Currently, you could destroy an entire city in minutes. A planet… in an hour."
The room went silent.
Eli felt everyone's eyes on him.
Peter broke the silence first. "Wait—wait wait wait. You're from EARTH?!"
Eli nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Peter's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "NO WAY! I'm from Earth too! Well, Missouri. Which is basically Earth. Did you know that? Have you been to Missouri? Do they still have—okay, okay, have you heard of Kevin Bacon?!"
Eli blinked. "Kevin Bacon? The actor?"
"YES! Oh my god, he's still acting?! Is he still doing Footloose?!"
"Peter," Eli said carefully, "Kevin Bacon is… I don't know how old he is, but he's older than my parents."
Peter's face fell slightly. "Wait. How old are you?"
"Nineteen."
Peter did the math. His face fell further. "…I'm gonna be quiet now."
"Please do."
But Peter couldn't help himself. "Okay, one more question—what about—"
"Later," Eli said. "I'll tell you everything later. There's a lot."
Drax stepped forward. "I also wish to hear these stories. This 'Earth' sounds like a place of great warriors."
Eli looked at Drax. Then at Peter. Then at the rest of them.
"Later," he repeated. "I promise."
---
When they finally left the Nova Corps headquarters, the Milano had been repaired. It sat on a landing platform, gleaming in the afternoon sun, waiting for them.
But between them and the ship—
The streets were filled with people.
Thousands of them. Xandarins lined the roads, cheering, waving, throwing flowers. Children sat on their parents' shoulders, pointing at the Guardians. Signs were held aloft, hand-painted and heartfelt.
Most shouted "GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY!"
Others shouted Eli's name.
Peter walked beside Eli, his expression caught somewhere between pride and jealousy. "Why are you getting most of the attention? I did most of the work!"
From the side, Rocket said in a syrupy sarcastic tone, "Of course you did."
Drax, who understood nothing about sarcasm, said, "No he didn't. Look at him. What can he possibly accomplish?"
Peter winced. "Ouch. You don't have to be rude about it."
Gamora sighed. "At least he tried. Give him some slack. It's not like he chooses to be weak and almost useless."
"Thank you—" Peter stopped. "Wait. You didn't have to say the last part."
"I am Groot," said Groot.
"Thank you, Groot," Peter muttered. "At least someone believes in me."
Eli walked behind them, watching. Listening.
They argued constantly. They insulted each other freely. They were loud and messy and impossible.
But they were family.
He smiled.
---
When they reached the Milano, Peter climbed the ramp first, turning back to face the others.
"So," he said, spreading his arms wide, "where to, crew?"
They all looked at Eli.
Eli met their eyes. Then looked up at the sky. At the stars. At the distant point where he knew Knowhere waited.
"Knowhere," he said.
Peter nodded. "Knowhere it is."
The engines hummed to life.
The Milano lifted off.
And the Guardians—plus one—headed for the stars.
______________
For those who know the Marvel time lines I'll be twiking it a bit so instead of Guardians of the Galaxy v2 happening 3 months after the first one and age of Ultron happening 8 months later it will be the other way around so Ultron vest then Guinness of the galaxy V2