Sai didn't really sleep. Not in any meaningful way. As his shell sat with its arms crossed, ready to spring into action should it need to, he was working with Tai to clean up the clutter in his mind. Normally, one would try to figure out what should be kept, but he and Tai agreed. There was far too much. It needed to be cleaned out entirely. If he wanted to give this his best, he needed a clean slate. As they did, Tai would ask questions about the universe as Sai had come to know it.

"What are Time Chasms? I mean, I see what they are but what causes them?"

Sai shrugged, "I don't have a clean answer but usually it seems like either someone pulled too hard on the fabric of reality or somehow time missed a stitch and created a little loop all on its own that it needs to resolve while we follow the thread."

"If one is turned into a bowl of fruit, what happens if a part of that is eaten before you are returned to normal?"

"Honestly, its dependent on the powers used. Most of the time, you feel the pain as the fruit, but your body will be whole when you change back. Sometimes you just have to hope they didn't eat anything important." He shivered from the inherited sensations.

Eventually the morning came. He watched everyone waking up, Anisa still distant and lost, but transforming into her armor to hide her face. Putting up a strong front for what is to come. Gavin, while concerned for her still carried a distant haunted look himself. Katsi practically sprang from the bed, but an odd edge to it. Happy, but focused. Probably the healthiest one next to Pine, who seemed to wake as he always did. His armor may hide his face, but his morning exercise and stretching routine were almost encouraging. Narine woke slowly, as if deep in thought herself, but when she glanced over at him and saw him wave at her, she smiled and went over to Pine to join in the stretches.

The Emperor whistled through his helmet loud enough to echo off the hanger they had all spent the night in. As they all walked up to him, Zwei was holding cue cards that Sai assumed was a part of the presentation. Another piece of the puzzle. And if that was true... The Emperor began, "Welcome all. I know we have all tried to kill each other, but given my knowledge of the future-"

Sai snapped at him, "There is no such thing!" everyone turned in surprise, but the Emperor just paused. "You and I both know that future sight isn't a thing."

The Emperor took a moment before nodding, "You are right. But why don't you explain it for the class, puppet. Make like a good machine and do my work for me... and waste all the time I spent on making this lovely presentation." He walked into the crowd and motioned Sai to step up.

This was clearly some kind of ploy or trap, but Sai couldn't restrain himself. Stepping up, he began his frustrated speech, "There is no psychic powers or mystic ability to see the future. Just those with enough information to recognize the larger patterns around them. For example, I know that Pine would never commit mass murder unprompted. I know he is a kind soul who lives in unity with nature. But I also know that because of that unity with nature, death is just a fact of life for him, so if something came his way that gave him reason to kill in large numbers, he would. Therefore if I can see a threat coming his way that may make him act in that manner in response, I can predict that he will do exactly that. And if I can see something happen that would put that problem in his path, it would be in my nature to try and take care of it for him before that came to pass. Therefore, anyone with the ability to bring that possibility to my attention would know exactly what I would do. That's the essence of prediction."

Tai was listening to him with rapt attention but half his current audience seemed to be otherwise distracted. Still, Narine, Pine, and Katsi seemed to be giving him their focus so her persisted.

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"We are going to a planet within the Falos borders. There we will find an ancient dueling ground last used by Emperor Visto the First when he took power from the previous ruler. This is where Douglas' strongest emotions were formed and the only place he can be brought back to the world." He had to be vague. The Prince of the Falos was quietly listening from the back of the hanger and he would rather not field his questions right now. "We can't bring the Ziegfried because Visto the Third would absolutely glass the planet before we can even arrive if he knew where we were going. That or something far worse. Still, we need to be prepared in case he sends people to eliminate us. Every second will count because nothing he sends will matter once Douglas is back. Mr. Visagi is the fastest warrior to ever live and can clean up any event that is currently going on when he arrives. So our goal once we are there is to get to that dueling ground with the Dragon Gem as fast as possible. The problem is that it is another place of high emotional energy like the cave the Phoenixian Crystal was kept in. According to Falos myth, it is so that those who come to duel there can be sure to do so with clear and pure hearts, no shadows of doubt in their mind or purpose."

The Emperor began to slowly applaud, but there was a clear smirk behind the helm. The man was mocking him openly. He must know something more. This was unacceptable. He had to piece this together. 'Father, do you think that he prepared the planet in advance? All records from mother show he has been active for over fifty years in the Falos Military.'

Fifty years? That doesn't seem right. A couple of decades but not.... Sai continued, "Our friend here has arranged for some kind of allies to be waiting for us on the planet. I would say we need to be careful of potential civilian casualties and be adaptive to local culture. I certainly hope that they aren't what I fear they are." The applause stopped suddenly, confirming Sai's theory, "You see, while the Despoda were-"

The Emperor cut him off, "That's enough for now. We can elaborate during the trip. But your summary is correct. There are more aspects of the plan, but that's the broad strokes. That said, there isn't enough room in any one craft for our full cadre. So I've been allowing the Ziegfried crew to make whatever modifications they see fit to each craft we will be taking. And the benefit is each will be of a size that the Ziegfried hangers can comfortably contain." His voice grew cold and scathing towards Sai, "And before you ask, the CR-System is unmodified. As a precaution in an emergency."

Tai asked, 'CR-System? Why is there a module for Cross Resonance in these machines?'

'It's mostly theory and we made it happen once. So that makes it fact.' Tai was confused and so he stated again to his inexperienced son, 'That's the problem. Eliminating the impossible is ignorance in this world. Everything is possible, and the improbable happens every day. The most we can do is watch the fragments of the world and see the pattern they form, no matter how mind bending. For example, our friend interfered with the extinction of the Despoda.'

'So he is a hero?'

Sai had a hard time explaining but ended up just shaking his head, 'I'm not going to celebrate Visto the Third or the glassing of a planet, but these aren't the Vitticepta. Not some nomadic race reduced to piracy and mercenary work. For now, I can't change it though. We have a trip to prepare for.'

The groups funneled into their various ships, Pandina staying behind, continuing her duties as a liaison. A Dragon, Bear, and Phoenix model starfighter each left in turn and the Prince asked, "Why did Master Phoenix ask me to remain silent? I was hoping to communicate my condolences to Zora and her crew."

Pandina spoke coldly, "He doesn't always tell us everything, but I trust him. If he wants us to keep secrets, then it is important. I just wish he let us come with."

The Prince shook his head before removing his helm, a harsh look on his face, "No. If what the green one said is true, that I understand. Though finding out this way is horrid. No Despoda would trust the son of their destroyer."