A new dawned on Planet Nemesis. Grey metal fortresses covered the surface like a suit of armor. They were the cities that the natives inhabited, made especially for deterring invasion. The zenith of the union of scientific advancement and military might, but an eerie chill ran through the land. As if the world’s spirit went cold, grieving, seeing its protective shell as a prison forged from a Faustian bargain!

A Titanic castle stood at the center of the fortress cities, Dark Colossus. Mavor's stronghold cast a long shadow over the land for miles. It stood as an extension of him, a symbol of power, a constant reminder of his dominance!

Inside, Morana and Cymbeline hurried through the halls to meet their master. As they entered Mavor’s throne room, they saw him sitting on his throne, judging them with his gaze as Evelyn stood beside him. Quickly bowing down on their knees.

"I hope you both realize the severity of this matter. Planet Aqua would have made a valuable strategic asset," Mavor said.

"We understand, sir!"

"Emperor, please be lenient with Morana. It was my poor tactical decisions that cost us the victory!"

Mavor took a deep breath, rising from his throne, and walked to Morana and Cymbeline.

"Rise, both of you!"

The two quickly stood up.

"W-what is our punishment, Emperor?"

"No punishment!"

"Really?"

"Yes! But you, Morana, are to go on leave until informed otherwise!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And Cymbeline, resume your post over the colony worlds. The war grows more costly each day. But the resources from the lesser beings should aid us!"

"Of course, emperor!"

"Now begone!"

Morana and Cymbeline quickly left the room.

"This Damara is proving to be a mightier challenge than I expected. I was certain Cymbeline and Morana, working together, would conquer her!"

"Emperor Mavor, sir! Please let me handle Damara! Focus on the wider war effort," Evelyn said.

"No! I have a different task for you. And with our plans in motion, I suspect you don't have long to prepare!"

On Earth, Belle jogged toward the Lily Boutique. She took her keys from her purse, readying to open for work. But as she inched towards the door, her face turned pale, seeing the reflection of a monstrous being in the glass.

"My god!"

Belle swiftly turned to see the creature walking through the street on all fours. But to her horror, more unearthly beasts soon flooded the streets. They came in many shapes and sizes, walking on fours, twos, or flapping on wings!

Belle's heart pounded harder and harder, seeing each one. Terror swallowed her mind, and she quickly opened the door, diving into the boutique. She hid in a corner, taking sewing shears as a weapon, trembling in fear.

"Heavenly Father, please protect me!"

Belle stopped trembling as fear stiffened her body, hearing footsteps at the door. The steps grew louder as they approached her, and she readied her weapon. Seeing a shadow bare down on her, Belle sprung from the corner, stabbing at her adversary. However, she caught it as the shears neared her heart, revealing Belle's enemy was her sister!

"Daisy!"

"Big sister, what are you doing? Why did you try to stab me?"

"Sissy, something terrible has happened! An army of unholy demons has invaded the city!"

"Demons? D-do you mean all the creatures walking outside?"

Belle anxiously nodded yes.

"Belle, those aren't demons! They're refugees!"

"What?"

"Don't you remember? We were expecting our first batch around this time!"

"No! Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"We thought you knew! It's been all over the news!"

Belle hastily hugged Daisy for dear life, bursting into a crying fit.

Later, Belle fearfully gazed out a window, watching the off-worlders traverse the streets. But sharing a worried look, Daisy and Aisha went to their sister, pulling her away.

"Chief, are you going to be okay?"

"I honestly don't know!"

"Big sister, just remember! They're ordinary people like you and me! Husbands, wives, and children trying to lead happy lives!"

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"But half of them could kill me if they sneeze the wrong way!"

"Belle, many of them came here because this was the first planet Damara saved. They want to feel safe for once in their lives," Daisy said.

"Let go of me!" Belle broke away from her sisters, dropping into a chair, exasperated.

"Daisy, have any humans gone off-world yet?" Clive asked.

"Some of our neighbors are journeying to Ulew. The world of vast tropical islands!"

"Really? Maybe I and a special someone should take a visit there!"

Carter walked over to a window, gazing out it curiously."Speaking of traveling, it looks like we have new neighbors. Someone's moving into the Simonson place!"

Daisy and the others hurried to the window, seeing a moving truck stop by the building across the street. Their eyes widened with shock, looking at the workers unloading glowing plants and other objects.

"I-I can't believe it! Mr. and Mrs Simonson sold their property to an off-worlder," Aisha said.

"God help us," Belle said.

"Belle, stop it!" Daisy walked to the door, opening it with a smile. "I'm going to welcome our new neighbors! Who wants in?"

Everyone came to Daisy except Belle.

"You're not coming, big sister?"

"I'm getting started on work. Have fun!"

Belle left the others, walking to her sewing machine. Daisy bellowed a deep sigh of disappointment but still hurried out. She and the others entered the old Simonson building, a repository of dust and items from generations past. But navigating through the maze of cobwebs flying across the mementos, they scanned the room for the new neighbors.

"Anybody home?" Carter shouted.

A tumbling sound flashed through the air, and a dust cloud followed. It assaulted the group’s senses, but the new neighbor emerged, clumsily tripping over her legs. She was a reptilian humanoid species of pale blue scaly skin, a Drake. Makiway was a female of thirty with a slender, curvy body, a long tail, and blonde hair in pigtails.

"G-greetings! My name is Makiway Mulvana!"

"It's such a pleasure! My name is Daisy David! These are Carter Buchanan Barnes, Clive Rogers, and Aisha Robinson! We came here to welcome you to the neighborhood!"

"Thank you! You have to meet my daughter!"

"You have a daughter?"

"I'm happy to say I do! Rohan, please come here!"

Rohan hurried from around a corner, a girl of seven, to her mother. "Yes, mama!"

Aisha lunged forward at Rohan with her arms outstretched for a hug."You are so cute!"

Rohan swiftly dived behind Makiway, hiding.

"I don't want to come off a certain way, but please keep your distance from my daughter! She's still adjusting to the new planet!"

"I understand! Sorry!"

Daisy giggled."Makiway, may I ask if you’ll start a business here?"

"It's a restaurant! I dare say I was a rather skilled cook on Dragos!"

"Off-worlder food! You think you can make a living selling here?" Carter asked.

"Isn't it the American way that hard work prevails?"

Daisy scanned the room."But where's the rest of your staff?"

"For now, it's just me. I'll endure it until I have enough money to pay for employees!"

Without warning, a crashing sound raced through the air! The group hurried to its source, seeing a piece of the ceiling collapse with their shocked eyes!

"Makiway, I think old man Simonson conned you," Clive said.

Makiway dropped to her knees, exasperated. But Daisy ran to her aid, helping her stand.

"Makiway, let us help you! We'll be your staff until you're more stable," Daisy said.

"B-but I can't pay you!"

"We'll work for free!"

"That's far too generous! Besides, I want to succeed through hard work!"

"Take this from someone born and raised in Kansas! Helping each other is also a part of the American way!"

Hearing Daisy, Makiway gazed at Rohan, taking a deep breath."Fine! For my daughter!"

The group spent the next few hours restoring the old building. The women cleaned while the men repaired the ceiling and removed the heavy mementos. They worked tirelessly on their project until nightfall. In the two weeks that followed, they continued the process. As they labored, gradually, they added tasks like securing ingredients and building a proper kitchen. But finally, the restaurant was ready at last. Again, in no small part due to generous loans from Carter.

Hours later, the customers crowded into the Lily boutique. Linus rushed to the front of the line, meeting Daisy behind the cash register.

"Good morning, Linus!"

"Morning, Daisy! I came to pay for the jacket!"

"Great! But may I interest you in a delicious meal at a fair price?"

"You serve food here now?"

"Not exactly! Let me refer you to our new business partner across the street!"

Daisy pointed to a window, directing Linus to the Mulvana restaurant. His eyes widened with bewilderment, seeing the crowd gathered around the building!

Outside, Carter stood in front of Makiway's restaurant in a fancy black suit, capturing the attention of every female, young and old, and of every color and creed.

"Welcome to the Mulvana restaurant! I'll be a waiter serving today, and the owner is a friend of mine! Who's interested in a table?"

Hearing Carter, the women swiftly flooded into the restaurant.

At sunset, Daisy and the others celebrated a good day's work in the Mulvana restaurant. The adults toasted glasses of fine champagne, but young Rohan enjoyed orange juice.

"Thank you all so much! Without your customers, I would be nothing!"

"It was a team effort, Makiway! I lost track of the times someone thanked me for recommending your food," Daisy said.

Carter took a bite of Makiway's food off his plate, growing a smile."I don't know what to call it, but your food's got it!"

Without warning, Makiway unleashed a river of tears in a crying fit!

"Mama, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Nothing, my love! These are tears of joy!"

"You can cry when you're happy?"

"Rohan, it's rare, but it happens," Daisy said.

"Wow!"

Clive raised his glass in the air."Toast?" And the others swiftly followed suit, lightly knocking their glasses together.

"Rohan? Rohan?" Aisha looked at the girl inquisitively.

"Yes, Aisha?" Makiway asked.

"Well, I don't want to sound rude, but there's something off about her name. It sounds a lot like a boy's to me!"

Makiway giggled."That's not surprising! Rohan is a gender-neutral name on Dragos! We named her after her father, my husband!"

"Oh! But where's he?"

Hearing Aisha, Makiway stopped crying. She wiped her tears of joy, making way for a symbol of her true sadness beyond that of mere crying. She sent shivers through the room as she grew a frown pulsing with the greatest sorrow!

"The truth is my husband died a long time ago!"

"I'm so sorry! How did it happen?"

"It was before Dragos joined the United Planets! The Nemesis attacked our land, and my Rohan was among the casualties!"

Hearing of Makiway's injustice, a fiery rage rivaling that of the one she felt after Everton's death consumed Daisy. Learning of Mavor’s atrocities in the war always did something to Daisy that none before, not even Morana, could. He engendered within her genuine, passionate hatred. She wanted to shout and scream, cursing his name. But concealing her fury for the sake of her dual identity, she settled for taking a pencil from her purse, snapping it behind her back!

"I ache for your plight!” Daisy stooped down, looking the young girl in the eye. “Rohan, I know what it's like losing a father, but I promise it gets better!"

"B-but I don't even remember what Papa looks like!"

"What?"

"It all happened when she was freshly hatched, barely a few months old!"

Carter took a deep breath."Red, why don't we invite these two to dinner?"

"That's a wonderful idea! Won't you, Makiway?"

"I don't know what to say! You've already given us so much!"

"Please, we insist!"

"Well, okay! But I treat you to dinner next time!" Makiway forced a smile.

"It's a deal! Thank you!"