Vaneila stepped forward, in front of the group and in front of Mircea.

"We'll surrender." Everybody looked at Vaneila weirdly.

Confused, Slantse muttered. "We will?"

"Good. You guys can't do anything by now anyway." Mircea crossed his arms and smiled.

Vaneila turned around.

"Nobody resist, alright? It'll be fine." Her words should be reassuring, yet... They weren't.

"Trust my sister. Because I do." Disedinel looked back at Kaika and Slantse.

"You're too much... I am going upstairs." Kaika left the room after standing up.

"I... I don't know. I will trust you."

And the ship flew through space.

And flew...

Until it came to the moment of the enemies showing up.

Mircea slowed down the ship and scanned the controls.

He leaned in on the console. "Hello, connection? Mircea's here."

And he received a signal back.

The speakers on the ship started. "Halt! Surrender immediately!"

Mircea cut off the opposite side. "Yeah, yeah. Come in already."

He stopped the ship.

A short minute later, the ship was intruded upon by enemies.

They were all in black outfits, some with different sub-colours.

Their outfit was a full-body outfit with a mask.

Our group had to gather in the living room.

One soldier stood out.

Instead of a mask, this man was bare-headed.

"Sir, this man wishes to talk to you." A regular spoke to what seemed to be their boss.

"They wish... Wait, Mircea? What are you doing here?" It seems like he recognises Mircea.

Mircea sighed, then grinned.

"Yeah. I was dying of boredom in my place, so I took the opportunity to get out of there and return to the main ship, together with these guys." The boss looked around.

He looked back at Mircea. "You got these bunch to submit? Nasty stuff."

Mircea shrugged, "They did it themselves. Feel free to confine them, but know they're mine."

The boss laughed. "Hah, it's not like Fedor will punish you for coming back with empty hands."

Mircea frowned "Yeah, right."

"He's got a plan. You'll find out more when you return." Mircea nodded.

Meanwhile, the group watched; their hands were already in handcuffs.

The handcuffs weren't a pair that'd just lock your arms tightly. It'd also, although not completely, nullify the powers.

A thought crossed Mircea's mind.

If that guy really isn't affected by compulsion, then...

His train of thought was cut, "Let's go.", and with the command, everybody marched outside.

It turns out that, through the door in the kitchen, the enemies have connected their ship and ours with a pipe.

And soon enough, the group was thrown into a dark room...

Or, room might not be the precise word, as there is no door.

After they were left alone in there, a wall appeared.

It was like several lasers made a wall.

Slantse tried to touch it.

"Woah, never seen this kind of thing." He tried to push himself through, but it was like a wall was actually there.

Kaika looked up at Slantse, curious. "You've never? Doesn't Chia also have this kind of technology?"

Slantse gazed back. "Oh, well, there might be in the big cities. Outside of them, you'd think you've went back in time by years." Kaika recalled his time in Chia.

Slantse sighed.

The situation could've been worse. But there is definitely hope. Disedinel stood up with a tall posture. "Everybody, just rest. We need it."

Rest... Their room currently has just two beds. One for two corners. So... "There are two beds, we need to think of something." Slantse's question was well thought out. Or not.

Disedinel sat down on one of the beds. On the same bed, Vaneila was sitting down, too. "We can't do anything about it. The trip will probably not last longer than thirty minutes. Me and Kaika can last that long without sleep. Well, it's not like I am tired, anyway."

"Wait, what?" Kaika's head rose like lightning. "Well... I don't feel tired either." Kaika turned his back against Disedinel after standing up.

"See? No problem." Disedinel chuckled.

The only thing the group could do from now on is wait.

And wait.

After a long hour, our friends sensed that the ship they were on had stopped.

The laser wall went off, followed by several guards surrounding the group.

"Follow us." one said.

The group could only do as they said.

They were led to stairs that went down and down.

Until they were met with a well-lit, spacious garage. The room was filled to the brim with the noise of machinery.

So many ships, Slantse thought.

There really were many.

Outside of the ship, they immediately noticed Mircea and his buddy talking. Until they noticed each other.

Mircea smirked. "Welcome to my home, friends."

Then he sighed. Perhaps sarcastically.

"Alas, I'll be unable to claim my trophy, but... Anyway, boys, leave them to me." Mircea gestured for our group to follow them.

This can't be anything else, Disedinel thought. He deduced it was the main ship of Factor.

But still... They had to obey.

By Mircea, they were led through what seems like an endless series of metallic corridors.

After one turn, the corridor became bigger and bigger... Eventually, the group and Mircea stopped in front of a colossal entrance guarded by... guards. Afterward, the enormous doors slid open, revealing a massive room.

The ceiling was high, so it looked like a hangar rather than a room.

In the distance, there was a huge platform a few metres up.

"Move." The guards hurried them to move, so our group did so. Including Mircea.

The doors closed behind them.

Unlike their cell earlier, this room was well lit by numerous yellow lights.

On the platform was a long cover.

Behind it, anybody from Kaika, Disedinel, Slantse, or Vaneila could sense who was behind those curtains.

As the curtains drew apart, a towering figure emerged behind them.

It was a giant skeleton. It wore a dark cloak, covering its shoulders and back. A somewhat tattered yet ornate robe with strange symbols.

And the skeleton was—Factor. Also called Fedor Trigger.

Mircea grinned, looking at Factor. "Well, well, if it isn't the big boss himself. Long time no see, Trigger."

Factor faced Mircea. "It appears fate has brought you here, Mircea. The reason I brought you here is to share my plans personally with you."

Mircea crossed his arms. "All ears, boss."

Factor nodded. "Toree is close. It's right in my grasp. Within no time, it shall be mine. Mircea, your mission will be to infiltrate Toree."

Mircea looked down, then up, obviously taking that off guard. "Sorry, you want me to do... that?"

Meanwhile, while the two were having a conversation, Slantse tapped on Kaika's shoulder and whispered, "Hey, why is that guy talking alone?"

Kaika whispered back. "Factor talks with his compulsion. So he chooses who hears what."

And now, it makes sense.

After all, you wouldn't want to tell your enemies of your plan, even if they are confined.

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Factor continued. "I understand your worry. I've already prepared a team of elites to execute the plan with you. You'll have to land on Toree and take down, at least partially, its defences. Then... I'll blast a ray through that planet and take its leftovers." Mircea looked back down.

"And what will you do with the leftovers?" Mircea uncrossed his arms.

"I'll build a new planet and claim it mine." Suddenly, laughter echoed throughout the room.

This time, everybody heard it.

"This dude is crazy." Slantse muttered.

The laughter stopped. "Mircea, a colleague outside the gate will meet you. Now go. I have some other business to do."

"Alright, boss." Mircea turned around. The giant doors opened.

Behind the doors was the man Factor was talking about, along with somebody else.

That somebody else walked inside, and the door closed behind him.

Black hair, red eyes... white skin. It was the one and only.

After Disedinel turned around, he shouted, "Zene!"

Zene also had handcuffs. And a dark jumpsuit.

"Hello, everybody. And hello again, mister skeleton."

"Ah, there he is. Hello, mister likes to ignore me." Factor's voice echoed well in the chamber.

Everybody lined up and looked up at Factor.

"Listen to me. Disedinel, your friend, Zene, is ignoring me." Kaika chuckled at Factor after looking down, that is.

Disedinel faced Factor. "I believe that it is because Zene... Well, can't interact with compulsion. So he can't understand you." And his expression went from uncertain to certain.

Factor nodded again. "That's what I thought. I'd like you to convince him to join me." Everybody looked at Factor, taken aback by Factor's request.

Zene looked at everybody. "What's with your faces?"

Disedinel decided to fill in. "Factor wants you to join him, pretty much."

Zene crossed his arms. "Oh, again?" He sighed.

"Now! Kaika, bow down to me. Get on the floor and apologize." Factor's request once again is quite surprising to our group. Especially to Kaika.

"Huh, why should I?" Kaika looked away.

But suddenly, Kaika fell to the floor.

"Because it's your fault for everything!"

Slantse looked at Factor, then back to Kaika. "Kaika, what did you do to upset him?"

"Oh, I'll tell you. It's because of him, Nulkai Empire defeated me three years ago!"

The gravity of the situation was strong, yet...

Slantse looked shocked. "Hold on, you were beaten up by a... Thirteen year old? Kaika, you're fifteen, right?"

The room... Stayed silent.

And silent.

"Huh, if you put it that way, then it is funny..." Zene...

"Anyway, guys, this Factor guy is knowledgeable, rig—"

"Stop." Zene was interrupted by Factor. But wait...

"—ht? He must be." Everybody except Kaika looked at Zene, simply shocked.

Zene rubbed his chin with his arms crossed. "Considering that, though... Perhaps not that much."

Zenes' deadly punches hurt.

Kaika chuckled. "You're immune to gravity, huh? Yeah... I am fifteen."

With a voice of authority, Factor spoke. "Disedinel. Tell Zene that I am willing to forgive him if he joins me."

"Hmm, thing is—" "Zene. Just stop for a moment. Factor says that he'll forgive you if you join him." Disedinel did as he was told and interrupted Zene.

Zene froze.

He looked at Factor with an expression... That, well, doesn't do its job.

"Do you want my honest reaction?"

Factor nodded.

Zene raised his hand in the matter of a moment.

And along with his hand, he raised his middle finger.

Everybody, really, could only watch as Zene continued with the same attitude.

Factor's empty eye sockets seemed to emanate great frustration.

Suddenly, the gates opened.

Subsequent to that, the marching noises of many guards sent noises throughout the corridors and the vast room.

Zene turned to Kaika. "Kaika, can you walk?"

Kaika nodded. "Yeah, but with these handcuffs, I—" Kaika's handcuffs suddenly fell apart. "Now?" Kaika stood up, pretty much answering Zene's question.

The guards had surrounded the group by the time Zene and Kaika were done.

Kaika looked around carefully. "What was that for anyway?"

Zene stomped, and in the aftermath, a platform of ice rose up under our party. Moment later, Zene swung his arm, and a path of ice appeared.

"Let's rush outside.", and everybody of our group followed Zene's say.

The gates were closing, so they hurried. And made it.

However, Zene ended up hitting his head against the closed gates.

One of the guards shouted. "Haha. You're not going anywhere."

Zene was stuck in this place.

All the guards pointed their guns at him, ready to shoot at any time.

One guard took a few steps forward.

"Surrender, and we will spare you."

These guns they held weren't made of just compulsion, so this time, Zene would indeed be affected if...

The same guard exclaimed. "Choose the winning side!"

Zene cast a serious gaze on the guard. "The winning side? Is that so? Let's talk about that during the aftermath, shall we? If you can, that is."

Suddenly, Zene made a wall around him, covering himself.

Following this, he leaned against the wall with his back.

He froze a small part of the gate, enough to then unfreeze it and make it to the other side of it like that.

Immediately, he was greeted by his companions waiting for him, worried.

Disedinel noticed Zene, surprised, but happy. "Zene! I was dead worried for you."

Zene looked stunned. Somewhat, that is. "Oh, okay. Disedinel, take a look at this." He handed Disedinel a watch. "What's this watch for?"

Zene looked up. Perhaps recalling some of his memories. "It's a watch of a ship. I heard you could track it down with your powers." At the same time, Zene froze Disedinel's handcuffs. Afterward, he got them off him.

So now, Disedinel could use compulsion.

Disedinel nodded. Sighing out of relief. "So we have a ship to ourselves? Come on, let's go to it, follow me."

Slantse jumped. "Yeah!"

Before they continued, Zene turned around and touched the gate with his hands; it was actually opening slowly... And in a few moments, the gate was frozen.

Slantse was in awe, but they had to rush.

And they rushed towards the ship.

The group had to take many turns, left and right.

A few calls here and there, but Zenes' powers came in handy.

But behind one door that Zene smashed with his legs was where one of the garages was.

One guard shouted. "Hey, who are those?" And another. "Those are prisoner clothes!"

Slantse faced Kaika. "Hey, Kaika, mind if you get rid of mine and Vaneilas' handcuffs?" Kaika nodded. He touched both handcuffs for a moment.

Slantse took them off. "Ah, thanks!"

And so did Vaneila. "Yeah, it was about time you do that."

Now, the entire group was free of their power-eliminating handcuffs.

Disedinel smiled. He reached for his waist and... "Wha—Wait.. my sword!" And his smile instantly faded.

He sighed. "We have to take our things from the other ship."

Kaika moved to the front and swung his arm. The two guards collapsed to the ground as a result of that.

Slantse shrugged. "Where even is the ship, though?"

Kaika nodded. "I don't think we have time for that. Let's appreciate our chance and get out of here."

Kaika was right.

Disedinel looked down, disappointed. "You're... Not wrong. Let's just go." And they continued.

In the matter of a minute, they reached their new ship, which was in the middle of many others.

The new ship was small—much smaller. It's nothing like their previous ship.

But it is black and cool.

The ship was relatively narrow, having seven seats under a window.

Vaneila tapped on Disedinel's shoulder twice. "We have to. Let's hurry." Disedinel nodded.

"Yeah." He tapped his watch a few times. And the ship's window rose, allowing the crew to get on it. And they did so.

Disedinel sat on the pilot seat, while behind him were three rows of seats—two seats in a row.

The window closed, and he launched the ship.

The ship rose, flying in the air.

Before Disedinel flew through the opening into space in the distance, he noticed somebody.

A guard, perhaps. Or not. That guard waved something.

My sword? Disedinel stared, unsure what to do at that moment.

After a few moments, Kaika launched the ship instead of Disedinel.

"Don't be distracted." And the ship flew fast into space.

As soon as they left the ship, they could see Toree.

A beautiful blue-green planet, a pinnacle of life.

On the other side, they could also see what appeared to be the opposite: Factor's main ship.

Slantse raised his head, scanning Toree. "There it is! I've never seen another planet like mine before! Well, in real life."

"... Yeah. Let's go!" Disedinel made the engines roar strongly, and the ship headed straight to Toree. Well, the ship was actually a quiet one, but that's beside the point.

They steadily approached Toree.

And soon enough, they entered the atmosphere.

However, as they descended, the ship control panel was suddenly blinking.

Disedinel blinked back at it a few times, taken off guard. "Uhh... The ship is..?"

And suddenly, the ship lost all power, leaving the crew in panic.

...

When Disedinel awoke, the first thing was... They noticed that their ship was gone.

The group ended up on a beach. The beach bordered the sea and plains.

He looked around himself. Everybody was lined up. Except Zene.

"Where is Zene?" He asked himself.

"Here." Zene called back. Zene was a few metres behind Disedinel, staring far inside the sea.

Disedinel rubbed his eyes. "Zene, since when are you awake? And where are we?"

Zene moved closer. "Since some time. We're in Toree, aren't we?"

Disedinel gasped. "Oh! Right! Did... Oh, I remember. The ship lost power." Zene nodded.

"And you fell unconscious. The ship is somewhere in the sea." Disedinel looked at his wrist. "Huh? My watch is gone, too. Zene, did you take it?" He searched for it around while waiting for an answer.

Zene shook his head. "It's gone. I don't know where it is. Anyway, since you're fine, wake up the others too." Disedinel looked at everyone lined up.

Disedinel shook each of the group members one by one until they showed signs of wakefulness.

"Hey, Zene, did we, by any chance... Fall into the water?"

Zene nodded while facing Disedinel.

Everybody stood up, slowly making sense of the situation.

Zene clapped twice, urging everybody to gather up. "Alright, now that everybody is ready, let's look for a town."

And so, everybody prepared for their journey to find a town. That surely would go smoothly.

Surely.