The mechanical clacks and clicks of the engineering technicians working on the vessel behind them fill a moment of silence. Miya gazes to the side in thought, then blinks back over to her.

"Okay, I understand your concern. The Federation aren't your most favorite people right now, and I cannot blame you for what they've put your homeworld through. However, you all became my responsibility as soon as I found you on 4056-E… I mean, Earth. So please just bear with me, and I promise that we can talk about next steps thoroughly once everyone is situated."

Koko, Maxim, and Adalae exchange glances.

"Spoken like a true Patroller." Loliel nods her head with a smile.

Kyamyo lowers her hand, adjusting the red-diamond-shaped mask on her face with two brisk nods. "O-Okay…! Thank you!"

Miya twirls her finger toward the blue-haired droid, making her rally the four young adults as she backs up toward the blue-warded area near the elevator.

"Finally, we can get situated as well." Miya turns around to Vivi, Ashihei, and Loliel, still lingering.

She then points to the last Seco-droid, her blonde hair bouncing as she looks at the tip of Miya's finger.

"Yes ma'am."

"Take us to Gala Fol's province. I need to speak with Coordinant Emelia immediately."

"As you wish, we'll be on our way…."

. . .

"… Now transferring to Gala Ring, Please Standby…."

Miya stands on one side of the rising elevator while Ashihei and Vivi lean on the other. The blonde-hair Seco-droid sat at the front of the space, her amber eyes gleaming with passing light as the slit between the double doors continued to pass multiple levels.

The elevator thrums as it ascends through the shaft. The floor was a gray-fir wood that clacked ever so often; While the surrounding walls were a bright white, its metallic surface giving off a vivid gleam.

The back of the elevator was illuminated by a faint gray light that crept along an elaborate emblem. It consisted of a dark-gray A and P with the name Aestero Pol cutting between the middle. Six dark-gray stars surround the branded logo on adjacent sides, becoming lighter as they go further down.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The Aestero Pol symbol fades, leaving only two stars at the top. A 'G' curls onto the board, followed by an F forming from the former letter's cleft. Two circles of narrow line-marks ring around the initials, the top half gray and the bottom half golden.

"… Now arriving Gala Ring, High Executive Tract…."

The doors break open, allowing the Seco-droid to hover through with Miya close to her backside.

The leading hallway was narrow yet becoming broad the more you walked in. Its walls were outlined in white marble, comparable to a receptionist room. At the same time, the inners were huge hexagonal windows that looked out at the vast darkness of space with twinkling white and distant blue stars.

The floor was white marble, though actually a responsive metal that became a darker tint with each step taken onto it. The few chairs separated inches apart at the sides of the walk space were like white and black eggs with openings for someone to sit in. They also had a blue holographic screen with the word 'Welcome' displayed in several languages and an extended leg-rester.

At the front of the room was a blue-glass receptionist desk that hovered mid-air with no legs or support. A Ya'valtian man wearing a Federation uniform, consisting of a slender white jacket with golden outlines and blue pants with a texture similar to jeans but also having a silky gold helm.

The Galactic Federation symbol was also tattooed along his left breast pocket, with the name 'Corp Ushagov' on a holographic nametag to its right.

The Seco-droid turns around and bows in front of Miya, her blonde curl shifting below her eyes.

"I've escorted you to your destination. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, that will be all."

"I will be off then. Good day."

The droid then hovers back over to the elevator, its door closes as she starts to descend back down.

The receptionist looks up from a set of orange hovering screens and then swipes them away with a smile.

"Good day, you may call me Corp Ushagov, though Ushagov is fine. You must be the new personnel, Patroller—"

His nose wrinkles with a sniff as if a putrid stench consumed his nostrils.

"Ah yes, I've heard of you. The Patroller girl who disgraced some higher ranks back at Tavaus III, most notably Maj Apelio. You've made quite the fuss… For being such a disgrace to our entire Federation's pride."

Miya nods her head. "Yes, it was a unfortunate event to have occurred."

"Unfortunate…? Unfortunate my ass you lying Yak'sha!"

Ushagov lunges from his chair and grabs Miya by the top of her hair; Her face winces as she grips his arm, with her feet slowly dragged off the floor.

"H-hey, wait-"Vivi extends a hand outward, but Ashihei grabs it with a nod.

Loliel's eyes widen, and she steps forward, but Miya extends her hand out behind her.

"Mnh… Yes, I understand… Could you please just.. Get us a meeting with Coordinant Emelia... It's very urgent."

Ushagov lets go of her hair with a forceful thrust, making Miya stumble back.

"Ah, yes!" His voice, once abjecting, becomes higher pitched and cheerful. "She already notified me ahead of time. Take the left door and you'll be admitted into her admin hub."

Miya rubs the side of her hair, brushing down some strands sticking up. Her lips then curled into a smile, though the sides of her lips trembled as if not wanting to.

"Thank you so much!"

Miya then turns down the leftmost hallway past the receptionist's desk. Vivi and Loliel stop and give him a menacing scowl, to which he responds with a content smirk.

"Is there perhaps anything else I can help you with?"

They both then stride down the path, Ashihei tilting his glasses and following hurriedly after them.