Batch 89 was a group of experiments created by High Evolutionary in the hopes of advancing the intelligence of Earth's animals to populate Counter-Earth. All of the members were eventually terminated by High Evolutionary, with the exception of Rocket who escaped and later became a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
History[]
Creation[]
89Q12, 89A95, 89L06 and 89P13 were a batch of experiments created by High Evolutionary to enhance the intelligence of Earth's animals, in the hopes of creating an intelligent and perfect race to inhabit Counter-Earth. Batch 89 was kept within two cage-like cells that bordered each other; one containing 89Q12 and 89A95 and the other containing 89L06 and 89P13.
P13 was the last to be introduced to Batch 89 after being experimented on. He quickly met his fellow cellmates upon waking up, who comforted him and helped cover his bleeding. The four quickly became friends, and P13 began to develop a particularly close relationship with Q12.[1]
Names[]
Understanding High Evolutionary's plan, 89Q12 decided that the group would need to come up with proper names for themselves in preparation for their arrival in the new world. 89Q12 presented her name to the others: Lylla, inspiring 89A95 to name himself Teefs after his tusks, and 89L06 to name herself Floor, after the floor they were laying on. 89P13 claimed he would one day fly into the sky alongside his friends, naming himself after the machines he planned to one day build: a rocket.[1]
Failed Escape[]
High Evolutionary would frequently take Rocket out of containment and explain to him that Batch 89 was his first successful batch and would one day inhabit the new world. However, the High Evolutionary eventually showcased to Rocket his creation of the next batch and demonstrated that the specimens he created for it, while otherwise perfect, expressed inexplainable aggression. Rocket quickly realized what the issue was and explained that the chemicals present within the cell were what caused the specimens to act more aggressive, leaving the High Evolutionary shocked that his own creation was more knowledgeable than he was. Going back on his initial word, the High Evolutionary told Rocket that Batch 89 was now inferior to his newer creations and was no longer suitable for the new world, but expressed his interest in continuing to study Rocket himself regardless. He then gave the order to have the rest of Batch 89 incinerated, leaving Rocket in shock.
Rocket was returned to his cell, and quickly used bits of equipment he had stolen during his time outside of containment to make a key that could unlock both of Batch 89's cells and allow them to escape before they could be terminated. He opened his and Floor's cell first, and swiftly unlocked Lylla and Teefs' cell as well. Lylla quickly exited her cell and hugged Rocket for the first time, and the two embraced each other for a moment before the High Evolutionary suddenly arrived and shot Lylla in the back. Lylla fell to the floor as the High Evolutionary stated that he'd anticipated Rocket's escape. Staring down at Lylla's now lifeless body, Rocket screamed in despair as Floor begged him to escape with her and Teefs. The High Evolutionary mocked Rocket's cries of sorrow and began to approach him. Rocket quickly jumped toward him in anger and clung to his face, ruthlessly tearing it to shreds with his claws before stealing the gun he had dropped. He then used the gun to shoot and kill the guards that had arrived to protect the High Evolutionary, but not before they had shot and killed both Teefs and Floor as well.
Rocket, devastated and enraged at the sudden death of his friends, made a break for the ship dock down the hall from his former cell while dodging gunfire from all directions. He eventually managed to steal a ship and escape with his life.[1]
Rocket's Freedom[]
Rocket would eventually travel the galaxy on his own, never telling anyone of the horrors he had experienced in his early life. He eventually befriended Groot and later became a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.[2]
Legacy[]
Rocket eventually faced a near death experience at the hands of Adam Warlock. The other Guardians of the Galaxy attempted to save his life but were prevented from doing so due to the presence of a kill switch that had been embedded within his heart, which was programmed to kill him immediately if any attempt was made to operate on his body. As Rocket was on the verge of death, he had a vision of himself within a white space where Lylla, Teefs and Floor all reunited with him from the afterlife. They told him that by joining them, he would fly into the sky with them like he had always wanted, but Lylla told him that it was not the time for that yet. Rocket protested that the hands that built him made him for no greater reason, but Lylla claimed that was irrelevant, stating that it was the hands that guided him and what he eventually became that truly gave him value. Rocket, now knowing that he was still needed in life, pulled through and survived, much to the other Guardians' relief. Inspired by his vision, Rocket decided that he finally needed to confront the High Evolutionary himself.
After helping the other Guardians rescue OrgoCorp's creations, Rocket released the remaining baby raccoons from the cell he himself had once been trapped within. Shortly after, he was confronted by the High Evolutionary for the first time since his escape, who quickly tried to kill him. Rocket eventually blasted the High Evolutionary in the chest with his gun, and the other Guardians quickly arrived to help incapacitate him. After sufficiently weakening him, Gamora removed the High Evolutionary's mask, revealing how much damage Rocket had actually done to his true face. However, despite all he had been forced to endure, Rocket refused to kill the High Evolutionary himself, in the name of the Guardians of the Galaxy.[1]
Trivia[]
- Lylla and Rocket are the only two members of Batch 89 to be directly from the comics. Teefs and Floor are MCU original characters and are not present in the comics.
Gallery[]
