In the Ima cavea, the only thing that Morana and Cymbeline could make out was the screams of terror from the spectators. But quickly, they saw a vague figure, and as the smoke dissipated around it, they shared a look of shock at a spaceship right in front of them!

"A United Planets ship!"

"What the c-"

In a flash, Lucas, the pilot, fired a missile in their faces! As the projectile flew at them, Cymbeline ran before Morana and summoned a firewall to protect her. But the explosion still sent them flying into the wall behind them, burying them under a pile of rubble!

On the Colosseum field, Daisy looked at what the spaceship did with shock and disbelief.

"Everton, what in god's name is this?"

"I believe, old friends, making good on a promise!"

Quickly, the spaceship went to the Colosseum field and hovered just above it. As its doors opened, Sarah came out in a hurry.

"What are you waiting on? Get in this ship now!" Sarah shouted.

Daisy and Everton dashed for the spaceship, but Morana burst out of the rubble, enraged! And as she saw them escaping, she unleashed her icy death beam, a wave of pure coldness, at them with a furious roar! Daisy and Everton narrowly dodged the attack as it left an iceberg in its wake. Everton saw Daisy shiver on the ground from the cold, but fearing another strike, he tossed her at the spaceship. Daisy screamed as she flew through the air, crashing into the ship as Everton followed in.

"I have so many booboos," Daisy said.

The spaceship took off, and Morana fired more shots at it. However, thanks to Lucas's skillful flying, the spaceship dodged them and cleared a path for escape, unloading a salvo of plasma bolts at Morana with its guns. As she evaded, the ship was home-free! But as they escaped the Colosseum, Morana let out a roar of pure fury. And a pair of demonic black wings sprouted from her back as she took flight after it!

Daisy and Sarah spotted Morana through a window as the ship flew away.

"By the lord, in heaven!"

"Lucas, turbo boosters now!"

Lucas continued to fly at his speed. Morana closed the distance as she shot death beams. They narrowly dodged each attack, but Morana got inches away from murdering them, preparing to fire one that eclipsed the sun’s light! However, Lucas finally activated the turbo boosters. And the fire from the spaceship's rockets hit Morana in the face as it booked through the air!

Morana quickly used her ice, extinguishing the flames burning her face. She searched through the skies frantically for the spaceship. But she hastily lost them as the trail in the clouds blew away from the wind. Enraged nearly to madness, Morana released her loudest roar, starting an early winter! With colossal ice blasts, she altered the weather of that area as mountains of snow and jagged hail rained from the sky!

Later, in the void of space, the ship approached a planet of vast jungles and began entering its atmosphere. It quickly flew toward a titanic tree. Inside, Daisy watched its approach toward the tree through a window as it entered its hollow. Her eyes widened with amazement as she saw that hidden inside a massive military base occupied its space!

“Everton, where are we?”

“It’s a United Planets base hidden somewhere close to Placentia off Nemesis territory!”

“United Planets?”

As the ship did final landing checks, Everton took the time to explain what the United Planets were to Daisy. They were a coalition of worlds formed sometime after the first galactic war. Their goal was to ensure such a conflict never happened again by giving members equal say in economic matters. In the beginning, their numbers totaled about ten. However, faced with the shared doom of Mavor’s war, it now stood well over four hundred!

Soon, the ship landed, and everyone exited from it.

"Oh, lawgiver!” Lucas began a psychotic laughing fit, dropping to the ground.”I guess it's not our time to die yet!"

"It appears so, boy! May I ask your name?"

"Of course, sir! I'm Lucas Fortis! I’m one of the United Planets' newer pilots!”

"Thank you so much! You were so brave," Daisy said.

As Lucas saw Daisy's beautiful smiling face, his cheeks blushed red. "I-it was nothing! A-all in a day's work for a U-"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Sarah hit Lucas on the head. "Fortis, you almost got us killed! Why didn't you turn on the turbo boosters when I told you?"

"Because I wanted to catch Morana in the backdraft. She would have followed us if I didn't! Sarah, I'm so sick of you! Ten successful aerial drops and ten successful attacks, but all I get from you is criticism!"

"Cause you're cocky, sloppy, and sure to get yourself killed!"

"Okay, look-"

Without warning, Lucas and Sarah stopped their battle, standing at attention, and shock washed over Daisy, wondering how they could change so swiftly. But her answer came as Orion Maximus approached them. Daisy's eyes widened with amazement as she saw him. A figure of honor that towered over even Sarah and Everton. A metal man of crimson red and pure white, a living machine with a soul and blue eyes overflowing with humanity!

"Enough! You two sound no different than an old married couple! ”Orion quickly spotted Daisy staring at him. "Hello there!"

"H-hi!"

"Daisy, this is one of the old friends I mentioned. Orion Maximus, the leader of the United Planets' army!"

"It's an honor to meet you, sir!"

"I feel honored to help such a brave girl! You remained strong through so much, so how about we send you back to earth as quickly as possible?"

As Daisy heard Orion, she cried, nodding yes.

A few minutes later, they made their way across the base. They walked across a busy room, and Daisy looked at Everton and Orion, having a friendly chat. Seeing them together, she had a thousand questions. She worried many of them were highly inappropriate, but as curiosity got the best of her, she took the chance.

Daisy took a deep breath."Excuse me, Orion, you and Everton have been friends for a long time?"

"Why, yes! I can't tell you how many emotions I went through when we received the intel he was alive!"

"I know how this is going to sound, but-"

"How did I become friends with a nemesis? In a time when most of the galaxy sees them as the ultimate enemy!" Orion interrupted.

Shame swept across Daisy's face, but she nodded yes to his question.

"It was many years ago when he came to us. He said he saw through the lies Mavor was spreading among his people. However, he couldn't beat that tyrant alone, so I gave him a chance. And from that chance, I learned an invaluable lesson. For freedom to prevail, all people must stand with, not against each other!"

The group stopped moving, and Orion directed Daisy to a spaceship nearby.

"Daisy, please enter that ship and follow the pilot's instructions, and you'll be home in no time!"

"Thank you all so much! And it was such a pleasure meeting you!"

"The pleasure was ours," Orion said.

"Yeah, goodbye," Lucas said.

"See ya, human," Sarah said.

The three walked off, leaving Everton with Daisy. Daisy looked at the spaceship with a happy smile, but as she turned her gaze to Everton, she hugged him.

"Come with me back to earth!"

"What?"

"Carter and I would love to host you! You would feel right at home!"

"The offer is tempting, but I have to stay here!” Everton took a deep breath. “You made me see that regardless of my prior misfortunes, there is still work for me to do in this army!"

"But-"

"But nothing! Live your life the best you can, and it will grant me the peace of mind to fight at my best!" Everton interrupted.

Daisy kissed Everton on the cheek. "But still, please find time to visit soon. Goodbye, Everton!"

Daisy waved Everton goodbye, and he reciprocated. And as he did she hurried over to the spaceship, preparing to enter, opening its door.

"Oh, no," Orion said.

As Daisy heard Orion, she stopped trying to enter the spaceship and turned her gaze to him.

"Boss, what's wrong?" Sarah asked.

"I just received an emergency message from General Róngyù. He won't be able to help us on the mission! He and his forces are currently in combat against a nemesis ambush!"

"By the lawgiver!"

"What about the other two?"

"They are both overrun with other assignments. I can't ask them to spare even one soldier right now!"

As she heard them, Daisy started to walk over but stopped. Whatever their trouble, it wasn’t her problem. She had endured enough pain. She had been away from her loved ones long enough! Daisy forced herself back to the spaceship, preparing to enter. Her hand trembled like a leaf, moving toward the ship's door. But as she tried to open it, her arm gained a life of its own, refusing her commands.

Daisy was a woman at war with herself. She wanted to stay and help the United Planets. She wanted to contribute to defeating the Nemesis empire and liberating their victims. But her second mind wanted to be with Carter and the others far away from the battle. If only she were still weak. If only she could forget the martial arts Everton taught her. Daisy could excuse her selfish desires!

However, in desperation, Daisy repeatedly punched her arm to make it obey! But her selflessness won the war within her. Daisy slowly stopped punching herself, slamming her head on the door. She cried a river of tears, but she released the door. And as she wiped away her tears, she hurried over to Orion and the others.

"Excuse me, Orion, firstly I would like to thank you for your kind offer, but I changed my mind. Please let me enlist in the United Planets' army and help you on your mission!"

A look of horror swept across Everton's face as he heard Daisy."No! I forbid it!"

"Daisy-"

"Orion, Everton taught me how to fight when we were in the Colosseum!" Daisy interrupted.

"I was going to ask, what about the earth? You surely have loved ones to attend to there!"

"I do, but this is important! For the greater good, I can be patient a bit longer!"

"Orion, I will not allow this,” Everton said.

"I don't need you to allow anything! I'm a grown woman, and you're not my Pa!"

The horror on Everton's face was replaced by pain and rage as he heard Daisy.

Orion gazed at Everton and Daisy as they shared angry faces at one another. But he soon covered his face with his hand from his rising stress as he realized he was low on options for the mission.

"Daisy, are you certain?" Orion asked.

"I... am!"

"Very well then, Sarah, please prepare Daisy for the mission!"

Sarah hurried over to Daisy. But as she was about to drag her away, Daisy stopped her.

Daisy reached her hand out to Everton. "Everton, I apologize if I came off-"

As Daisy's hand was about to touch Everton's, he dragged it away. "Foolish, child!"

Everton marched off from everyone in a rage. As he went by a trolley, he kicked it over! Shock covered Daisy's face as she saw him. But Sarah swiftly dragged Daisy away. As they left, Daisy glanced back at the spaceship with a depressed expression. However, using immense willpower, she kept her gaze away from the ship. Whatever lay in wait for her, life or death, she wouldn’t hinder the mission with second thoughts!