The black figure was dressed in all black and was wearing a smooth black mask that concealed his face. Physically, he wasn’t much larger than Michael, and his mannerisms were very human. Mr. Kolar took the lead approaching the man with Michael and Gorad trailing behind. “Greetings,” said the man turning towards Michael. “You’re Michael I presume,” said the masked figure.

“Y…yes I am,” said Michael nervously.

The masked figure reached his hand out to Michael, “my name is Azav,” he said looking at Michael through his mask.

“Nice to meet you,” Michael said nervously.

The mask on Azav’s face made it impossible to discern any emotion combined with the lack of expression in his voice made it hard to tell what he was thinking.

“Well, we were just going to stick around to help Michael find the place, but he’s in your hands now,” said Mr. Kolar to Azav. Mr. Kolar reminded Michael of the station before he and Gorad turned the opposite direction and went to return home. Michael turned his head to watch Gorad and Mr. Kolar leaving, and turned back to see Azav had already began walking off. Michael ran to catch up to Azav running past homeless people and beggars heating their hands up over the steel grates.

“So, what kind of work will I be doing? I see lots of factories, will I be working in one of those?” asked Michael.

Azav continued walking without acknowledgment to Michael’s question. “So, where do you work at?” Michael asked. Again, Azav was unresponsive to Michael.

Michael walked past another group of homeless people. “So, what kind of hours will I be working?” asked Michael.

Azav sighed giving Michael the attention he had been trying to get the whole time.

“If you had been perceptive you would’ve realized your inquiries answered themselves” said Azav.

“What do you mean?” asked Michael.

“How naive are you? Do you not see destitute in your surroundings?” asked Azav condescendingly.

“Are you saying there’s no jobs?” asked Michael.

“Negative, there’s work that needs to be done elsewhere,” said Azav.

Michael followed Azav further from the station, and at a certain point the steel heating grates disappeared. The snow thickened and the wind howled louder. The rising smoke from further back was now hidden behind the blanket of falling snow. Even Azav not more than a few feet of Michael was hard to follow down the street. Azav offered out his hand and Michael grabbed on as to not lose him. Michael held Azav’s hand tight, both of them wearing gloves. The buildings vanished from Michael’s peripheral vision as Michael felt the crunch of snow beneath his shoes, they had now walked beyond the outskirts of town. Azav looked to the left then to the right in the blizzard before looking at his Galactobracelet which displayed a map with a red circle pinging. They approached the red circle on the map, and approached a silver ship. The ship was smaller than the others Michael had rode so far as it was a civilian ship, and intended for a smaller crew no greater than ten. Azav pressed a button to open the door and a staircase folded out illuminated by bright white lights. Azav let go of Michael’s hand and entered the ship with Michael following closely behind.

“Michael, you’re seeking work, why here?” asked Azav.

“Well, I’m only in Sevani to get work, but I’m really trying to go to Ikti Prime. I need some money so I can make it to Ikti Prime,” said Michael.

“Ikti Prime you say? What could possibly motivate you to travel all that way across the galaxy to Ikti Prime?” asked Azav.

“Well, it sounds crazy, but I am from the real world and the Tardigrades have left the game and are now in the real world. I tried to put them back here in the game and now I’m here,” Michael paused for a second realizing he hadn’t paid attention to how long it had been since he entered the game, and he felt sick inside.

“Interesting, so it was you who ended up the link between our realities,” said Azav. Azav looked at Michael who was now still in place. “Michael, is something the matter?” asked Azav showing concern for a first time to him.

“I just realized, I have been here for how long. Maybe a few days in my time. It might be late already, there’s nothing left up there to save,” said Michael.

“I see. Michael, I assure you that your friends are fine,” said Azav.

“How do you know that?” asked Michael.

“If the theory that our reality is within another is true that would mean if your world were to be destroyed so would this one,” said Azav calmly. “My favorite professors from Ikti Prime always talked about this Theory of a Contained Reality as they called it. They speculate this reality is within another, which would be yours Michael, of course assuming what you say is true and not some kind of coincidence,” said Azav.

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“Do you know how I could get to Ikti Prime? I really need to talk to someone who knows more about this so I can stop the Tardigrades,” said Michael.

“I can assist you in your goal of reaching Ikti Prime. Also, please, kindly refer to them as the Sovereign Imperium next time and not the Tardigrades,” requested Azav.

“Sure thing, when can we go to Ikti Prime?” asked Michael.

“Not yet, you have to do something for me first,” said Azav.

“But what about saving my planet?” asked Michael.

“There’s no need to worry, we will have plenty of time to focus on saving your planet,” said Azav.

“No, the Tardi- Sovereign Imperium arrived just a few days ago, so that means we only have a few days until they destroy the planet,” said Michael.

“Unlikely, Michael, you need to calm down,” said Azav.

“Do you realize how close they might be though? It might just be a few more days or hours,” said Michael.

“First, I don’t know how long a day is, it varies by planet to planet. Second, time isn’t uniform at each point in the galaxy. When passing from one point to another conditions may vary and time passes slower and faster at different points,” said Azav.

“So what you’re saying is we have more time than I think because time is slower here?” asked Michael.

“I cannot say for certain and am not the most qualified, but perhaps it is the case. Assuming it’s a matter of days until your planet is destroyed, and those day are standard intergalactic days we couldn’t even reach Ikti Prime in time, so I would suggest you calm yourself and make preparations in the meantime,” said Azav.

Michael took a deep breath and took a moment to calm down. “I’m sorry Azav, I was just worried that my world might be in trouble,” said Michael.

“I understand your concern. The possibility is frightening, but we are not in immediate danger. At least not to our knowledge,” said Azav.

Azav motioned for Michael to follow him as he walked up to the control panel in the front of the ship. “The first thing you need to get is a Galactobracelet,” said Azav.

“Well, actually I have one already, but it says I need to put my password in and I don’t know it,” said Michael.

“That is rather peculiar, have you tried guessing?” asked Azav.

“Not really, I can’t read any of the letters,” said Michael.

“Hold out your arm, let me take a look,” said Azav.

Michael held his arm for Azav to look at his Galactobracelet. “Please enter your password,” said the bracelet. Azav tinkered with the Galactobracelet.

“How about, try writing your password out. Using your finger as a pen you can write out the letters,” said Azav.

“Well, that’s great, but I still literally don’t know what the password is,” said Michael.

“You do, you have to know it. Think to yourself what it is,” said Azav.

Michael thought to himself the possibilities of what his password could be. He tried writing his name. “Incorrect password,” said the Galactoband. “I… I don’t know,” said Michael.

“What would you normally make your password?” asked Azav.

“Um, I’d rather not say it outloud,” said Michael.

“Understandable, might as well try inputting in,” said Azav.

Michael typed in his go to password, the one for his computer and the Galactobracelet unlocked. “Wow, how did you know that it’d be my normal password?” asked Michael.

“Couldn’t be anything else,” said Azav.

“So, I have the Galactoband, what else?” asked Michael.

“Well, we have everything here. We’re ready to leave” said Azav.

“Wait, but I just got here, and we didn’t even talk about pay,” said Michael

“We can discuss compensation later,” said Azav.

“But what about the Kolars? I never told them I would be leaving. They think I’m coming back later tonight,” said Michael.

“They won’t be worried, if they are I’ll let them know you’re safe with me. Now, please take a seat Michael,” said Azav.

There were five seats, and Michael took one to sit down in removing his warm clothes. Azav sat in the center most seat and took hold of the controls as Michael buckled up. Azav started the engine on the ship and suddenly took off from the ground. The blizzard still made everything in front of the ship invisible. The ship took off from the sky and into the atmosphere.