Meanwhile, Vecto and Chais conversed about the universe as they walked through an abandoned factory site. They were bored, as they had traveled late hours in the night, and Vecto wanted to know more about Zendora, while Chais was curious about Earth.

"So you're telling me that Earth used to have forests, oceans, and mountains like Zendora?" Chais asked as he lugged a bag full of Vecto's weapons over his shoulder.

"If that is what Zendora looks like," Vecto said, "then yes, old Earth has resemblances-like various parts of Acaterra."

"And so the planet got destroyed?"

"Not completely," Vecto corrected, shining a light from his chest so they could see. "Although the surface is scorched, the oceans desiccated, and the gravity overbearing, there are still people who reside there called Nagorians. They are a formidable ninja clan and use zero point energy for their survival. I had a teammate, Shadow, who was one of them."

"What's that zero thing?" Chais asked.

"Zero point energy is the fundamental energy source that powers everyday technology and is used offensively in weapons such as these," Vecto said, lifting his Blaster 3,000. It exists everywhere, is the absence of matter, and can be subtracted from its dimension for use." To demonstrate, Vecto formed energy inside his gun and fired a blast at a nearby crate, blowing it up.

"And so you're from Acaterra?"

"Negative. I originate from Planet Cubix, Icon System 532, Parallel Universe Geom," Vecto stated.

"Parallel universe? What's that? Another dimension?"

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Vecto fell silent and lowered his head.

"Come on, man, I've lived isolated on Zendora my whole life. What do you expect?" Chais reminded him as they walked alongside a molecularly charged fence.

Vecto resumed. "It is another massive plane of space other than the Central Universe we are in. The Dinishmen were the first to discover the existence of these planes and originally considered them as other dimensions. In addition to this universe, there are seven universes known to man rotating around it in a similar manner to a solar system. The void space between the Central Universe and parallel universes is called the innerverse, and beyond that is the outerverse. They comprise the omniverse, roughly 253 teraparsecs in diameter."

"Whoa, really? The universe is that big?"

"You mean this does not bore you?" Vecto questioned.

"Nah, not at all, man," Chais said. He adjusted the sack over his back as they walked across an empty parking lot. "So . . . who are these Dinishmen people you mentioned?"

"They are a genetically altered race of people who live on Cubix. They are known for their acute intelligence and innovative inventions. I was created by a Dinishmen named Vic. They are only this tall." Vecto stopped and floated his hand to three feet from the ground.

It caused Chais to crack a smile. "Man, that's awesome." He yanked the bag of weapons over his shoulder some more to prevent it from sliding. "You know, when I came to this planet, I was shocked being on this whole new world, and to think there are even others out there with people living on 'em. But you know what gets me the most? That humans could create a planet of their own like this."

"Not quite," Vecto corrected him. "As uncanny as it sounds, a telekinetic race of blue humanoids called Asterites were instrumental in Acaterra's construction-which consisted of asteroids from the main belt; dwarf planets Ceres, Pluto, and Eris; several planetary satellites, and the Trojan asteroid belt-lured by a massive gravity well. Thus their name, Asterites."

"You mean these guys are blue?"

"Indeed, by skin pigment alone. They are one of the most noble and respected races in the omniverse, and are even guardians of the Gateway."

"The Gateway?"

"Yes, the portal of time," Vecto said, lowering his head as they walked. "Perhaps I have told you too much."

* * *

Not far off, an assassin clad in chameleon military armor-currently camouflaged black-peered through a sniper rifle scope at Vecto from one of the dilapidated buildings.