The factions had set their conditions: Null and Infy’s ship had to remain on the orbital station with its lockdown removed—otherwise, they would be detained indefinitely.

Lisa knew exactly what was happening. The factions were flexing their power, using their perceived leverage to bully the twins into compliance, hoping to extract valuable information.

She had relayed the conditions to the boys, hoping they would accept them—but knowing they wouldn’t.

Infy’s response was immediate.

"While we are happy to meet the other competitors and fulfil the other requirements, the ship's lockdown must remain. We won’t accept this deal."

Lisa wasn’t surprised. Infy had reached his limit. He had been held back too long, and now, he was resolving to take action.

She didn’t disagree with the twins' stance, but she lacked the authority to challenge the decision. She had tried to make the representatives see reason, to treat the twins better, but they were only interested in what they could gain.

After a month with them, Lisa felt she had a solid understanding of their personalities and how they reacted to situations, what made them tick.

But when she looked at Null, his expression was one she had never seen before.

She had assumed that he and Infy were having their usual silent debate, but instead of the excitement she had expected at meeting new people or the anger at being controlled. She saw sadness. A young child whose heart had been broken, she had seen that seem look on her son face before.

His melancholic voice rang softly in Lisa’s mind.

"Sorry Lisa, but we have to go now. Please come with us."

Lisa frowned. Go? Go where? They were locked up, their ship was inaccessible, and there was nowhere to escape to.

"I would love to, honey, but that’s just not possible."

She hoped her motherly tone might settle him.

That, however, only encouraged him. He took her words literally.

"Great! Then let’s go to Mars!" His voice brightened, suddenly filled with excitement in her head.

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The next twenty minutes were a blur.

Null and Infy walked through the orbital base as if its defences didn’t exist. Security lockdowns, reinforced doors, armed guards but nothing stopped them. They walked and the door opened or other doors locked keeping the guards out.

Lisa tried to keep up, heart pounding. How are they doing this?

Infy’s voice entered her mind, as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

"Our Mentor is angry. Lessons will be learnt today"

As if that explained everything.

Another squad of soldiers rushed toward them, weapons drawn, prepared to subdue the twins.

Null barely acknowledged them, flicking his wrist.

In an instant, the soldiers vanished.

Lisa froze, eyes wide.

"Don’t worry, they aren’t dead. You’ll see." His voice buzzed with amusement, as though this was some grand adventure.

Lisa, however, was reeling. What is happening? Had they always had this ability? What exactly are they?

Then, they reached their ship the one that was supposedly locked down and under guard. The guards were waved away like all the others.

Null stared at the ship for a bit, before shaking his head and he waved his hand, and just like the soldiers, the ship disappeared.

Lisa stared.

Null’s smile was growing stranger by the second. It was almost manic like he had been forced to do something he hadn’t wanted to.

He waved at the empty space where the ship had been, as if saying goodbye.

Then, without another word, they vanished, only for them to reappear in the supply town beneath the orbital base.

Infy had run the numbers—everyone was here.

Null waved his hand and the crowd was now disarmed. They just looked at him stunned into silence.

Over the past weeks, the twins had been busy. They had built their own miniature QEC, contacting Zero the moment they regained access to their ship. It had been Zero’s idea to change the power dynamics.

"In the old days," Zero had said, "Angels had to put on a show before humans would listen."

Since that day, they had hacked into the security feeds, monitored everyone's movements on the ship, and devised a plan to place energy trackers on every individual.

It had all led to this—a show of force, a calculated attempt to win their freedom without sacrificing their own goals. The only hitch had been Lisa. Null and Infy didn’t want to leave her behind but Zero had told them they needed her permission. Which they now had.

Zero was breaking the rules, but he wasn’t concerned. They had used teleportation technology, but not field manipulation—just good old-fashioned science. And with it, they had removed everyone from the orbital ship using the trackers Infy had placed on them.

Now, it was time for the final show.

Null emerged before the entire population of the orbital station, Infy merging with him, his body glowing with an ethereal aura. He had set his communication device to maximum volume, ensuring that every single person could hear him.

"We came to meet you, but you didn’t want to meet us—you just wanted to use us. You believed you had power. But you didn’t. You pushed, and you pushed. Now, it’s time for you to learn your lesson. Everyone has a limit"

Raising his hand, Null made a single motion, and behind him, the orbital ship exploded.

Gasps and screams rippled through the stunned crowd as debris scattered across the void. He let the shock settle before the communication device spoke again.

"We are going to the Youth Soldier Competition we are going to meet other humans. Do not interfere. Or there will be consequences." The last comment was directed at the leadership team.

With that, Null and Lisa disappeared.