Daisy and Carter traveled up the colossal tower through the elevator. Daisy could tell that her beloved was still a bit nervous as she saw the anxiety on his face. But as she gently took his hand, it cleared up, replaced by a smile feeling her familiar touch. However, the elevator soon stopped, forcing her to release him as the door opened, revealing Gancelot in his armor, still concealing his face.

“Greetings, Damara, General Carter!”

“Good to see you again, vice-commander Gancelot,” Daisy said.

“And the same to you! Please follow me to the meeting room!”

The couple followed behind Gancelot, allowing him to guide them through the corridors. They soon arrived in the meeting room, joining their new colleagues, the other three United Planets generals, sitting around a large table.

Orion stood at the head of the table with Gancelot beside him.

Daisy quickly took note of their three new comrades. Each of the generals was a different species native to the varying corners of the United Planets. Immediately, Orion’s words about his and Everton’s friendship echoed through her mind. With Carter from Earth, a planet on the Northern end of the territory, they had representation from all four cardinal directions. She quickly surmised that it must have been a symbolic and practical gesture. Orion wanted the best fighters, drawing from all their people to show that everyone was equal and worthy of protection, promoting unity in the face of a malefic threat.

Lev, twenty-four, hailing from the southern planets, was a female flora with pink skin and a slender, curvy body. She flapped her giant butterfly wings on her back excitedly, seeing them!

"Good, you’re both here! General Carter, how was the trip? I know how space travel still doesn't agree with you humans!"

Carter drew a seat around the table for Daisy, and Lev watched, curious about his actions as she sat on it.

"You kidding? It was the best trip of my life," Carter said.

Lev cracked a smile as she saw them."I see!"

Favian, twenty-four, hailing from the western planets, was a male aquis with blue skin and a muscular body. Favian Jumped out of his seat, enraged! And his blue diamond-shaped bug eyes glared at Carter.

"Enough with the pleasantries! Last time I checked, we're at war! Am I the only one who takes the future of his kind seriously?"

Carter and Lev gave Favian scowls, and Carter prepared a tirade! But Daisy stopped him with a single glare as the words readied to leave his mouth.

Orion prepared to say something to quell the fight. But he stopped as the remaining general, Róngyù, stepped into the situation.

Róngyù, twenty-seven, hailing from the eastern planets, was a male Huǒ with red fur and a muscular body. He hurried to Favian, gently sitting his comrade back down. And even as Favian shared glares with Carter, Róngyù's friendly, smiling cat face sent a ceasefire he couldn't ignore.

"I apologize for losing my temper!” Favian took a deep breath. “Thanks for stopping me before I made a fool of myself, Róngyù!"

"Fear not, friend! We're all under the same pressure. I venture to say it would be odd if it didn’t get to one of us!"

"Indeed, now let us proceed with the meeting," Orion said.

Róngyù hurried back to his seat, and as Orion saw him seated, he pressed a button on the table. A giant holographic map of the galaxy appeared in front of them. Purple covered a massive portion of it.

"This is a map of the known parts of our galaxy. And the purple segments are everything the enemy controls," Orion said.

"Good god," Daisy said.

"The combination of Zola's technology and Mavor's dark powers have proven devastating over the centuries. And the shadow hand, of course!”

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“Shadow hand?”

“Mavor’s top five subordinates! Morana, Cymbeline, Zola, Nobunaga, and the youngest member, Evelyn,” Róngyù said.

“But with you, Damara, we finally have a lead. If only a narrow one! So we must decide what to do!"

Favian raised his hand, and as Orion saw him, he signaled for him to speak.

"Orion, we currently control several vital strategic positions. I propose we use Damara's power to fortify defenses and slowly move into the enemy territory!"

"Favian, you can't be serious," Lev said.

"And why not?"

"We've discussed this before! We'll never win this war playing defense. We should take Damara's powers and assault the strategic positions the enemy already possesses. We can retake the map far quicker that way!"

"Do you not understand the number of casualties that would come from a move like that?"

"Of course I do! But wars are won by making tough choices!"

"Enough!" Orion turned his gaze to Róngyù, looking at his comrades with concern. "Róngyù, you haven't voiced your opinion yet!"

"I honestly don't know what to say, Orion. But I think I favor Lev's plan better. As much as I loathe heavy casualties, ending this war as swiftly as possible must take precedence!"

"Let us vote. Those in favor of Favian, please raise your left hand. But those in favor of Lev, please raise your right hand!"

The generals swiftly raised their hands in the air. Lev and Róngyù raised their right hands. But Favian and Carter raised their left hands. And Favian looked at Carter in shock as he saw him supporting his strategy!

Róngyù let out a deep sigh."We have a tie. But if there is one thing we all agree on, we need Damara for our plans. So what does she say?"

All the eyes in the room went to Daisy, waiting for her answer. As she saw them, the gears of her consciousness went into overdrive. Again, being a farmer by birth and a seamstress by trade, she had only the barest knowledge of the delicate matter. But the image of Everton's dead body flashed in her mind, and her answer came with it as grief swept her face.

"All of you know far more about war than I ever can. But I think what would be worse than defeat is a Cadmean victory. So I support General Carter and General Favian!"

As Orion heard Daisy, he turned his gaze to Lev, waiting for her response. But she gave him a nod of acceptance.

"It seems we have reached an agreement. Now, let us move on to other important matters," Orion said.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Lucas hopped off a hover bus and quickly entered Lucas's village, Yasai. It was an idyllic and fruitful land straight from a fairytale. The scent of fruits and vegetables wrapped around Lucas like a hug from an old friend he hadn’t seen in years. They had farms of varying sizes on every corner but weren’t industrialized. A small utopia, resistant to the ravages of modernity, captivating in its rustic splendor.

The Hachiko dashed left and right until they spotted Lucas. As he and Sarah walked through the village, the many inhabitants hurried to their old friend. Giving him a hero's welcome as joyous cheers filled the air, celebrating his contributions to the war against the nemesis empire. Never before had someone from their region, let alone village, made it so far in wider galactic society!

Sarah grew a smile."Enjoying this, hometown hero?"

"Well, I certainly don't mind!"

The cheering swiftly stopped as a beautiful Hachiko woman approached Lucas.

"Welcome home, Lucas Fortis. Everyone in the region was abuzz when word came out that you were returning!” The woman gave Lucas a sealed envelope. “Not every day our kind produces a war hero!"

"Thanks! But I'm just a good pilot!"

"And modest! It's such an honor to give you that gift certificate. Business in the pleasure district will boom with you as a patron. Plus, our women are bound to be overjoyed meeting you!"

Sarah and Lucas shared a look of shock as they heard her.

"P-pleasure district? You mean the place where they-"

Sarah grabbed Lucas by his shirt collar, forcing him to look her in the eye as she glared. "If you dare accept this lady's offer, I will rip off your ability to enjoy yourself. If you catch my drift!"

"Sarah, let go of me! I'm not that type of man. And frankly, I don't know what to say since you think I am!"

A look of shame swept Sarah's face, and she quickly released Lucas. As he was free, Lucas returned the envelope to the woman.

"Thanks, but no thanks!"

Lucas swiftly walked away from the crowd, but Sarah followed close behind.

"Lucas, I'm so sorry. I honestly don't know why I'm always so angry!” Sarah took a deep breath. “It's like someone else controls my body!"

"Apology accepted!"

Sarah grew a large smile as she heard Lucas. But the two quickly reached his old house and saw his mother, Lucy. And Lucas stiffened like a board as he saw her, filling with anxiety. It had been two years since they last met, and the war kept him from calling her often.

Lucy tilled the land of their home alone until she saw her son. She dropped her hoe and hurried over to Lucas. As she reached him, Lucy hugged her son with an iron grip, and he swiftly reciprocated. They only had each other with no other living family, and now, after what felt like an eternity, they were reunited!

Sarah broke down crying, seeing the display of love from a mother and her child.

Lucy looked at Sarah, drawn over by the sound of her crying, surprised."Hello there! Sorry, I didn't notice you!"

"Mother, this is a friend from the army, Sarah Fortitudo!"

"Glory to the lawgiver. Lucas, your friend, is quite pretty. Good boy!" Lucy playfully winked her eye at Lucas.

"Mother!" Lucas said, embarrassed.