Signals wafted through the air.

“This is…a Root Portal?” Sasha asked.

Xan nodded. “Yep. That’s a Root, alright.”

The small hole in the atmosphere hovered in front of them. It was barely the size of a baseball. So small, in fact, Sasha wondered if GT could even fit. This is where all the trouble comes from? One small gate and a planet...Her thoughts trailed off as she realized what was once a baseball had grown into the size of a soccer ball. And it kept going.

"Might wanna hurry it up, Panther."

She raised her staff. The last thing she wanted was for it to get big enough to start spitting monsters out at her.

She jammed GT into the crevice, feeling a slight tingle leagues gentler than the near-death experience the Stem had hit her with. The air shook with signals. When Sasha pulled away, the substance turned from dripping purple to that all too familiar smokey black. Almost instantly, the air around her seemed to lift.

“Looks like it’s working,” Mr. Xan said. “Check it out.”

He turned over his commpad, the radar showing dots vanishing one after the other.

She didn’t quite understand how to read the thing, but she figured it must have been a good sign. With the Stem and Root both closed, all the portals on Torpha would dissolve into smoke. Sasha stepped outside the cave, a hand raising as she was greeted by the bright light of the sun peeking through the canopy above.

"Yep," she said. "Looks like it worked, Mr. Xan."

The panda stepped out only to immediately growl, ducking back into the safety of the cave. Sasha giggled. For such a large man, he seemed to fear the most mundane things. She made a mental note to use that knowledge for later.

“We probably should go check on Mr. Erin and the Captain," she said. "Should I get a big leaf or..."

The panda looked from her to the sunlight before finally nodding. Sasha rolled her eyes, moving to find a leaf shady enough to protect her giant fluffball companion.

***

Without legionnaires to worry about, the trek back to the cliffs was somewhat peaceful. There was an instance where they ran into another giant serpent, but Sasha managed to spot the creature before it was too late, both hiding while the thing passed them harmlessly by. With as much energy as they'd expended, neither of them was cut out for an alien brawl.

They dropped down on the hill, Sasha sighing when she found Mr. Erin resting in the same spot she'd left him. But it was only Mr. Erin.

“I thought you said the Captain was here."

“He was. I didn’t think he’d really move." Sasha looked at the tree stained with dried blood. Her eyes grew. "Crap. That idiot didn't try and pull it out did-"

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A loud whistle blew through the air. One that came from the lips of a man they found leaning against a nearby tree, one hand over his stomach while the other waved his broken sword in greeting. Sasha's fur relaxed, Mr. Xan moving to meet him.

“Captain, you're hurt.”

“Just a flesh wound, Xan.” Mercury narrowed at her. “I take it your friend didn't tell you about how she left me to bleed out."

Sasha’s relief turned back into annoyance. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad to keep him waiting a little longer. Like he said, they were all expendable.

"What happened?"

"Just got caught off guard, is all," Mercury said, his smirk returning. "You outta see the other guy. Sent him flying like a babe. Isn't that right, Panther?"

There was a gleam in his eye as he said that. Sasha was still debating the merits of pinning him back to a tree, but she gave a silent nod anyhow. The mission was over and- She blinked at the thought. It hadn't even hit her until then. She looked to the canopy, the sun shining through to all the foliage of the jungle. The mission's over. I did it. A purr rose in her throat. She raced to the edge of the cliff, looking down at the villagers below.

The buildings were all crumpled and dented. Several of her clones were scattered about, clawing away at the wreckage. Sasha's smile faded. People were still yelling and panicking. Just without the monsters to take advantage.

"For the record, I take full responsibility for the success of this mission," Mercury said. "The rest of you will get references. That should be more than sufficient, right?"

She could only look at the man. He continued to smile and boast despite everything happening within the villages. Despite everyone they could hear below. Mr. Xan was the only one whose expression mirrored her own. They both looked to Mr. Erin, who had been bandaged up slightly while they were gone, a service Captain Mercury was quick to take credit for.

"He'll still need medical attention, but I got him stable. You're welcome, Ms. Leave A Guy To Die In The Woods."

Neither she nor her liaison responded. They both simply stooped down to collect their fallen friend. Though he was breathing, he made no indication of waking up anytime soon. Mr. Xan slung him over his back, Sasha giving the weasel a kiss on the forehead. He'd be back with them soon. She knew that. But seeing everything with the mistifians, she really hoped that time would come faster.

She cast a last glance at the villagers. As she did, her eyes narrowed. Weapons. There weren't a lot, but she could see a small group of villagers carrying distinctive weapons with them. A spear made of scales. A shield resembling a leaf. A disk one used to cut through a wooden plank, freeing the mistifian trapped underneath. Not one of them was like the other, but they all carried with them a similar signal Sasha could feel from afar.

A signal just like the one she knew GT gave off. Graduates?

“Sasha. We have to go.”

She turned from her clones, Mr. Xan and Captain Mercury both making their way toward the ship.

"Y-yeah. Ok."

The graduates moved further within the village, combing the place for survivors.

But there weren't any there before. And...No. I would have sensed another ship coming down. Especially if it had all these grads. Her stomach churned. So then...Are they all...new? She looked to the spot in the clearing, the image of the human replaying in her mind. As did the sight of the man she saw moments before getting sent away to Tuptree.

Humans and legionnaires...She followed after the others, apprehension rising as she tried to rationalize what she saw. But no matter how hard she thought, nothing seemed to ease her mind.

Crap. Why do I feel like I'm stepping into something bad?

She groaned. Cici wasn't with her to make some grand conspiracy theory out of it all. And Iris wasn't there to help her find the truth. Where did that leave her? As she pondered more and more, she could only come to a single conclusion.

I really need to talk to Mr. Erin.