Rocket Raccoon
The Demons Will Run You Down
By Jeremy McLaughlin

Prologue

	It was a small square room that smelled of stale air, old coffee, and rusting metal. An overhead light shone down in a conical shape across the chipping gray paint on the walls. The pale light casting dark shadows in all of the corners. His warm paw pads moved across the floor, it was sticky from God only knows what. It had to be one of two things; blood or urine, if not both. At least the janitors were nice enough to mop up the floors, when they were done beating any truth they wanted out of the poor bastard that was in here before him. Rocket cocked an ear to the side as he heard the door open and slid closed behind him.
	“Alright Ringtail, we're going to go over this once again from the top, and so help me God if you lie, leave anything out, or go on a tangent I'm going to just shoot you in the face. Do I make myself clear.” Officer Lax stated before tugging at the blaster at his hip.
	“Yeah yeah, I get you. How about this time make sure you have enough space on your drive to record all of it, cuz I ain't telling you again!” Rocket shifted in his seat trying to get comfortable, it wasn't easy with the laser force belt across his arms.
	Officer Lax let out a long groan before flipping the clip at his holster and pulling out his blaster. “I told you, it was a technical error, an oversight that has been corrected, now tell the damn story!” 
	Officer Lax slammed the blaster down on the metal table. Rocket winced as the noise echoed through the small room. It was much louder than he'd expected. Rocket sneered and looked from Officer Lax, down to the blaster on the table, then back. The two locked eyes and all intentions were known. Officer Lax knew that Rocket was no one to mess with, he also knew that having a blaster so close to the raccoon was a just asking for trouble, but secretly he didn't care. Officer Lax meant what he said, if Rocket crossed him one more time, he was going to shoot Rocket in the face.
	“Alright, I'll play ball. I'm not usually one to go along with this type of crap, but whatever. I'll tell my story again, but before I start, I want a few things...” Rocket was interrupted by Officer Lax jumping up from his seat blaster in hand aimed right between the raccoon's dark brown eyes.
	“Wait, wait! It's two simple things that's all. Hear me out okay?” Rocket's voice piqued at a high tone.
	Officer Lax breathed out heavily once again, before slipping down into his seat. “What do you want?”
	“Man, you need to calm down a bit. I know I was pretty rough on you, got your blood boiling and everything. I was just joking, having a laugh. If you take me too seriously, I'll put you in an early grave.” Rocket said with a mock sympathy in his voice.
	“Listen here Rocket, it's been a very long day. Getting your side of the story is the last thing I have to do tonight. Then I can go home, get mistreated by my wife and kids, but if I take it like a champ and get them out of the house fast enough. I might be able to watch a little of the game and have a beer before I go to sleep and come back here to do all this crap again.” Office Lax sighed heavily, the vein on his forehead was pulsing so hard it could be seen through the skin.
	“Alright, I'll tell you the story. Just let my hands free and give me my pipe. Please!” Rocket leaned against the table, giving him a wide toothy grin.
	Officer Lax nodded slowly as if he were surrendering. “Officer Biggs, please bring Mr. Raccoon his pipe from lock up.”
	The tall female officer standing off to the side of the room nodded sharply and headed out the door. Rocket watched her go, his lips pulled back so far that Officer Lax could see all of his teeth. Once the door closed, Rocket let out a loud whistle. Officer Lax leaned back in his seat from the force of  the loud  whistle.
	“Man, Laxxy! You're so lucky to have a partner that hot. It amazes me that you're able to get anything done with that caboose around.” Rocket's tongue was practically hanging out of his mouth to catch the drool.
	Officer Lax reached out hitting the a small green  button on his remote. The energy beam around Rocket's arms shut down, giving himself free roam once again. 
	Officer Lax purposely picked up his blaster and put it back into his holster for safe keeping. “Well if you must know, Rocket, it's quite easy to look past that, since she is my sister..”
	Rocket winced again, making an uncomfortable 'ick' face. “Oh shit, I'm sorry. I was confused because her last name was Biggs and not Lax.”
	“Yeah, I guess the thought that she was married never crossed your mind.” Officer Lax grumbled under his breath, his lips looked like they were barely moving under his bushy, black mustache.
	Rocket folded his hands in front of him, twiddling his thumbs. “So, what you're really saying is, I have no chance with her, right?”
	Officer Lax smiled a crooked smile. “Maybe you never know, her husband is a little fruity, would you like to meet him?”
	“Yeah, I wanna size that guy up, gotta know what my competition is. You know what I mean?” Rocket started rubbing his hands together playfully.
	Officer Lax looked over at the wall sized mirror. “Chief, please send in Mr. Biggs.”
	Rocket was starting to get the feeling of discomfort about the creepy smile on Officer Lax's face. “Heya, what are you smiling about bud?” He asked nervously.
	Rocket watched the door closely as it slowly opened. Officer Biggs walked in with all of her beauty, in tow was a large dark skinned man. His deep brown eyes were hidden behind large black framed glasses. He was dressed in an expensive suit and carried a rather large, hard backed briefcase. Rocket didn't miss the fact that he was a surprisingly well built man, and no doubt could stomp the unarmed raccoon into paste.
	“Hey Wes, thank you for getting here in such a timely fashion.” Officer Lax smirked as he leaned back in his chair.
	“No problem, Reg! Mr. Raccoon, allow me to introduce myself, I am the Galactic Defender appointed to your case. In addition, I appreciate the fact that you think my wife had a nice 'caboose'. It will help with her self esteem” The man spoke with his deep soothing voice.
	“Uhm...thank you for not holding it against me. I assure you, if I knew you were behind the two way mirror, I wouldn't have talk about your wife's voluptuous ass I such a carefree manor.” Rocket said earnestly looking at ease, despite the giant man in front of him.
	“I'll wave that too.” A smile passed along his lips, his demeanor never changing.
	Officer Biggs gave the large man a kiss on the cheek, before delivering a broken pipe to Rocket.   “I'm sorry Raccoon, your pipe was busted when I found it. You know how those clowns in evidence can be so careless.”
	Officer Lax, and the Biggs shared a laugh at the expense of the Raccoon. Rocket took the pipe in his hands, looking down at it. His lips drew tightly against this teeth forcing his canines to show against the dark flesh of his lips. It was a grim look indeed. The pipe had been a gift from a friend, a dear friend that he had special feeling for. It wasn't just a thing that he could go down to the store and pick another one up.
	“Alright Rocket, I did what you asked more or less. Now start taking.” Officer Lax said tucking his thumbs into his belt.
	“You want me to talk huh? Alright.” Rocket tucked the broken pipe into the pocket of his jail fatigues.
	Rock planted his feet hard against the edge of the table. With all of his strength, he pushed off. The table slammed Officer Lax hard in the stomach, forcing all the air out of his lungs. Rocket's chair tipped back giving him enough speed to roll to his feet. Officer Biggs was already reaching for her blaster while Rocket was darting forward to draw Officer Lax's blaster from it's holster.
	Officer Lax was reaching up to retrieve his blaster, fighting to catch his breath, but was put down with a heavy cuff up side his head from his own blaster. A shot rang out, the blaster sounded loudly in the room. A smooth hiss was coming from Officer Biggs direction, but it was way too late. Rocket was already armed and on her in no time. Mr. Biggs angled himself between the Raccoon and his wife.
	“Get out of my way you giant dumb mother...” The blaster came alive in his hand, firing two precise shots, both bolts hit their mark.
	Mr. Biggs knees exploded, he let out a loud scream and dropped like a sack of potatoes. Rocket planted his feet in the center of the downed Mr. Biggs back and threw himself at Officer Biggs. His free hand gripped her blaster and he used his weight to pull it free from her hand. His other arm wrapped around her neck, pressing his blaster to her throat, it was still warm from the two shots fired. In the same second he spun her blaster around in his hand, before pressing it to her temple. Everything moved so fast that she didn't have time to react with what happened to her husband. It all rushed to her at once as she started to scream.
	“Shut up!” Rocket tightened his grip around her neck squeezing tightly. “I didn't want this to happen, not at all. I've had a shitty past couple of weeks, all I want to do is get back to my friends. Now! You're going to carry me down to the hanger, and hand over your card keys to your vehicle. Move!”
	Officer Biggs nodded slowly, trying to keep her composure as she stepped by her husband trying not too look at him in pain. She opened the door and stepped out into the hall. It was full of officers with their blasters drawn. Rocket tightened his grip on her neck, pushing the blaster against her temple.
	“No no! Please don't interfere. He shot my husband. I think Officer Lax is hurt. Take care of them. He agreed to let me go after I take him downstairs.” Officer Biggs said, her voice choked from tears.
	“That's right pigs! I have two blasters and a hostage and you know my rap sheet, there isn't enough officers in this building to take me on.” Rocket hissed and pushed the blaster tighter to her head.
	“Please!” Officer Biggs screamed.
	Slowly the officers lowered their weapons and backed away, giving the pair some room to move. Officer Biggs hurried on through the crowd, Rocket arched around, making sure no one made any sudden moves as they went. Officer Biggs moved down the stairs at a brisk pace, all around her officers stood by looking on helplessly. They could see the look of fear in her eyes, pleading them to stay back. Soon she ducked into and open elevator and pushed the 'G' key. The two other officers in the elevator pressed there backs tightly against the wall, making sure to give Rocket plenty of space.
	The doors slid open and Officer Biggs filed out with Rocket tightly plastered to her shoulders. Rocket took a moment to look around the large room. There were a few officers stationed around the garage next to their vehicles. A total count of four cameras. Rocket quickly lit them up, four precise shots, blowing them off the ceiling. The three officers pulled their weapons free aiming at them at the pair as they moved further into the garage. A look of hopelessness washed over Officer Biggs face. She was going to die, she just knew it. Rocket shook his head slowly and flexed his finger against the trigger, it depressed ever so slightly. Officer Biggs could hear the hum growing inside the chamber of the blaster.
	“Please put your weapons down and get in the elevator, he's going to kill me!” Officer Biggs screamed frantically.
	The three officers around the garage let their blasters slip to the ground with a loud clatter that echoed through the garage. One by one they filed into the elevator and watched, frustratedly, as the door closed behind them.
	Rocket pulled the blaster away from her head and slipped down to the cold floor. “Goddamn, that was close.” 
	Officer Biggs let out a long soft sigh and rubbed her temple where she was starting to bruise from how hard Rocket pushed the blaster into her. “I know! Why the hell were you so rough?”
	“I needed to make sure we were believable. Nothing like getting discovered right in the middle of an escape. I would hate to have to kill a bunch of pigs. No offense.” Rocket paced around the garage, gathering up the three other blasters from the floor, before dropping them off in the familiar squad speeder that had brought him here.
	“None taken. You know, I think we were very convincing.” Officer Biggs leaned down and picked him up in her arms and balanced his small body on her large breasts.
	“I agree, you played it off nicely.” Rocket leaned close, kissing her lips softly. “Oh and sorry about your hubby's knees, I didn't want him to kick me in my beautiful face.”
	Officer Biggs kissed back teasingly. “No need to apologize. Thanks to you blowing out his knees, he'll be the right height for when he and my brother go out on their 'bonding' excursions.” 
	“Eww man, gross!” Rocket winced and gave a dashing smile. “So is that why you were so easily tempted earlier in my cell?”
	“What can I say. I'm a girl who like exotic things, on and in me.” She whispered hotly against the fur on his face.
	“Oh, behave. If we had more time I might show you a couple more tricks I know. But for now, can I have my real pipe?” Rocket asked, his fingers meandering around her goods playfully.
	“Everything all ready for you, I put all your stuff in your duffel bag in the back seat. My card is in the ignition. Oh my god, I'm just glad to finally be free of this terrible job.” Officer Biggs slowly ran her fingers along his muzzle playfully.
	“Well there is just one thing sweetness, I'm a of course a genetically created killing machine of my word you see. I promised all those people, I'd let you go after we got to the garage.” Rocket could see the devastation forming in her eyes even as he spoke. “No hard feelings I hope?”
	In a quick flash, he smacked her aside the head with the butt of a blaster. Her body fell limply to the ground, bringing him with her. He hopped off right as she hit the floor; out like a light. He looked at her and sighed softly. It didn't seem it, but he was really sorry for the way he treated her, but he knew it was all for the best, that he keep everyone from getting too close to him.
	Just then the elevator doors opened and that was his cue to leave. He climbed into the cockpit of the small speeder ship. Officer Biggs wasn't lying, it was already warmed up for him. He gripped the handle and lurched forward, slamming down on the accelerator. The ship responded gracefully and lifted from the floor. He reached up and hit the button to open up the garage door. Nothing happened. They must have jammed the doors. Rocket was hoping to avoid any unpleasant conflict, but that just wasn't how things worked for him ever.
	The officers that piled out of the elevator were already on him. The garage was full of blaster fire, he could hear the bolts slamming into the speeder. There was no way around it, he was going to have to break through the door without help. He reached behind him, pulling the heavy duffel bag from the back seat, into the seat next to him. He unzipped the duffel bag and felt around. Pipe pouch, clothes, Groot Pick, there it was. He pulled out a hyper sonic grenade, guaranteed to free him from any sticky situation.
	Rocket flew closer to the door, letting the speeder hover. Sliding the carbon steel slider all the way to the right and heard a satisfying beep from the grenade. He pushed the button to pop open the cockpit and smirked as he counted in his head. On two he tossed the round cylinder, closing the cockpit. As his mind reached three, there was a heavy whomp, and a shock wave rolled out. It shook the small speeder, rattling Rocket's head.
	The wave destroyed the other speeders close to it, knocking all the other officers to the ground. Rocket had his opening and started moving for it. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Officer Biggs, standing there looking at him. She was gripping the side of her head, as her long black hair danced around her face. Again a pang of guilt played through him, something he didn't feel that often. Man she was beautiful, he thought as he blew her a kiss on his way out of the garage.
	Officer Biggs swooned a bit and shook her head. “That is one hell of a man.” She whispered under her breath.