In the days following Michael’s visit to the Intergalactic Council, he was permitted to spend time with his friends. He was taken in a secure vehicle to Azav’s ship and was reunited. “Michael,” said Tiki excitedly.
“Great to see you again buddy,” said Ellop.
It was a great feeling to finally be able to see everyone again. “So turns out Ikti Prime has their own version of that show we saw at the Bay of Crooks,” said Ellop.
“What? No way, I have to see this,” said Michael.
Sheerya and Tiki were chuckling. “Oh, it’s so bad,” said Sheerya.
Azav also seemed warm. He wasn’t talking, but he was standing there to allow the other members to have their moment with Michael first. After a few minutes, Azav spoke up. “Pleased to see you here Michael,” said Azav.
“Thank you. I missed you all a lot,” said Michael.
After their brief reunification with Michael, they turned on the Ikti version of the show and all laughed at the show. “Wow, I can’t believe that the version made by criminals was better than anything,” said Michael.
They continued watching until a knock was heard on the outside of Azav’s ship. Azav unlocked the door and Professor Sular was standing outside. “Hey could I have a word with Michael?” asked Professor Sular.
“Certainly. Michael, someone wants to speak with you,” said Azav.
Michael stood up and walked over to the door as the show was still playing. Upon recognizing Professor Sular Michael spoke. “Oh, hey Professor Sular. Did you want something?” asked Michael. “Yes, Michael. The research team is making a journey back to collect more artifacts like your computer and would like you to come with,” said Professor Sular.
“Oh, but I just got back here to see my friends, but how long do you need me for? Just for the day?” asked Michael.
“No, actually we have to travel far out into the galaxy to the secure location where the artifact planet is preserved,” said Professor Sular.
“Oh, I understand. Just a second,” said Michael leaving Professor Sular standing outside.
Michael walked over to Azav who was now sitting down to watch the terrible show. Michael got Azav’s attention by tapping on his shoulder. “Hey Azav, bad news they’re saying I need to go look at some artifacts somewhere far away,” said Michael with a frown.
“We’ll accompany you then,” said Azav.
Professor Sular had stepped on the ship and was walking over to Michael who was talking to Azav. “Professor Sular, could my friends come with?” asked Michael.
“Well, I don’t see why not-” said Professor Sular before being cut off by Ellop.
“Then let’s go,” said Ellop.
The doors shut and everyone got into their seats. “Wait I wasn’t thinking right no-” said Professor Sular before being cut off.
“C’mon, sit down,” said Ellop.
Professor Sular sat down in a seat and buckled himself up. Azav’s ship picked up from off the ground and took off into space. Professor Sular took out his galactoband and made a call. “Hey, I just showed up to get Michael. I am in their ship right now, but they’ve just decided to take off without even getting the directions first, so I’ll be traveling with them and Michael is with me. I’ll meet you guys there,” said Professor Sular.
Professor Sular sent Azav the coordinates. “Wrong direction,” said Azav before turning the other direction.
While on Azav’s ship, Michael received a notification on his galactoband. It had been programmed to alert Michael whenever a new message appeared on his computer. His computer hadn’t been reprogrammed yet, but he could respond to messages using a robot arm connected to his galactoband to type letters back on the keyboard.
Ryan: Ok that makes more sense now why you are typing so fast. We are thinking of trying to trip the circuit breaker again. What do you think?
Michael: No, don’t do that unless I say so
After a few sleep cycles of travel, they arrived at the coordinates through the space gate Michael had arrived near at Point X. They landed on a very small dusty grey planet which had a force field with satellites surrounding and protecting the planet. Azav’s ship landed in an area near several other science ships. They stepped out onto the planet and immediately Michael was walked by Professor Sular over to Head Scientist Omenil. The planet was eerily familiar as Michael walked around the professor and the researcher followed him. He recognized certain objects and items from his room scattered around the surface of the planet. “So is this how you found the computer? Just laying on the ground?” asked Michael.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“No, it was plugged into this wall and producing enough energy it pinged the research ship as it was traveling by. It was investigated for how mysterious it was, and how such a small device could read so big on the ship’s radar,” said Omenil.
Michael took a look at the wall, before it was his desk and his chair with the only thing missing being the computer. Everything else was there down to his calendar which was identical to how his desk was left before he had entered the game. Michael stood there frozen and a little creeped out. “Is there something wrong Michael?” asked Professor Sular.
“No, it’s just, this is my desk it feels weird,” said Michael.
Michael looked around the planet to see if he could recognize anything else. He noticed just a few items and they were picked up by the research team when Michael pointed them out. There was a poster for Nova Galactica and a bag of some of Trey’s zucchini chips. After a few days of searching nothing more came up so they departed from the planet and arrived back at Ikti Prime. On arrival on Ikti Prime Michael was taken with Head Scientist Omenil to speak at the Intergalactic Council which was holding another meeting to discuss research goals and go over resource allocation. Michael sat in quietly when his galactoband chimed and Michael received a notification. It was an attachment sent by Ryan to Michael which contained a timelapse of the Tardigrade progress on the space laser they were constructing on the moon. Michael looked as it appeared to be about a quarter of the way completed and began to feel a sense of panic realizing the race for time to stop the Tardigrades. He had maybe a year in Nova Galactica until the superweapon would be completely annihilating all life on Earth. “May I have a moment?” asked Michael to Omenil excusing himself.
Michael walked over to the bathroom breathing heavily. He looked at himself in the mirror and splashed water on his face. He looked at himself closer as the drops of water rolled down his face and dripped off into the sink. Michael was on the verge of tears but intercepted his thought. Don’t feel bad for yourself. This is all your fault this happened. How about stop being to melodramatic and get back in there so you can find a way to destroy all of those Tardigrades before they ruin your home. Michael continued thinking to himself. When I come back to Earth I need my own ship, I need something massive then I can destroy the Tardigrades on my own. Michael grabbed a towel from the wall, the bathroom was fancy so it didn’t feel like a public restroom. He dried his face with the towel before looking at himself again and dropping the towel into a bin to be washed. Michael exited the bathroom and returned to the desk sitting next to Head Scientist Omenil once again. “You feeling alright?” asked Omenil whispering to Michael.
“Yeah, I’m fine, I just had to use the bathroom,” whispered Michael back.
Following the meeting with the Intergalactic Council, Michael caught up with Hiss who was discussing the economy of Ikti Prime with a lawmaker. Hiss noticed Michael and wrapped up his conversation. “Well, look, thanks a lot, stop by my office later we can finish talking,” said Hiss to the lawmaker.
The lawmaker walked away and Hiss focused his attention on Michael. “Hey, did you need something?” asked Hiss.
“I was wondering if you could put me in contact with whoever leads the army,” said Michael.
“Of course, I sure can. I’m having dinner with the Head Admiral later this week. I’m sure he would be fine with you joining,” said Hiss.
Following the end of the Intergalactic Council meeting, Michael did as he often did and returned to Azav’s ship. He entered the ship and was greeted but immediately walked up to Tiki. “Tiki, I need to practice my aim. Could you help me out?” asked Michael.
“I’d love to,” said Tiki.
Tiki and Michael traveled over to a range to practice shooting, but instead of using any of Tiki’s guns, Michael rented one at the range. The gun he rented was massive, and without warning Michael began aiming and began a full-out assault on the targets with lasers. Within a few seconds, the targets were unrecognizable. “Why did you do that?” asked Tiki.
“Do what?” responded Michael.
“You weren’t even aiming for accuracy, you were just destroying the target. That’s not how I taught you,” said Tiki.
“It’s not, but when I fight the Tardigrades I won’t have time to think I just need to destroy them,” said Michael.
“No Michael, that’s not what I want you to do that’s not why I trained you how to shoot. Let’s go,” said Tiki.
Michael returned the gun to the counter and followed Tiki back to Azav’s ship. She was silent the entire time with a look of disappointment on her face.