Cylion and Darju sat impatiently waiting for Mylico to extract himself from the nightclub or wherever he had been to contact Persmia. One of the problems with distant communication was that there was always a significant delay in transmissions.

"This may take some time," Mylico said as he closed the door to a quieter room and sat down.

"How long?" Cylion asked.

"Using our transmission boosters, I hope to get a reply in a yhuse. That is if the packet gets there with no issues."

"A yhuse?" Darju asked.

"Yes. Sector transmissions take time. They are not instant feeds, unfortunately,"

Mylico responded. "If you tell me what the problem is, I can relay it."

"I have already said this is not being repeated over the network. Even our Catlop Secure System can be infiltrated. We know that from our past," Cylion replied.

"Security protocols are much better than they ever used to be. I am using the RN link, so it should be fine. It uses 12 separate AI cypher generators. You know me, sis, I don't chance anything." Mylico replied, smiling.

"This is more serious than you can ever imagine, Mylico, and maybe what we have been looking for all this time," Cylion replied.

Darju looked at Cylion with a confused expression. "Sorry? What do you mean may be what you have been looking for all this time? And what is the RN Link?" Darju asked.

"Long story, which I do not have time to go into now," Cylion said.

"What do you mean we do not have time to go into it now? Mylico said we have a yhuse to wait," Darju replied.

Cylion looked at Darju, considering her options. "Mylico. I am going to drop the call. Call me back as soon as you have the link established."

"Will do," Mylico replied as she cut the feed.

"Okay. Your questions. RN is the Royal Network; it can only be accessed by members of the Royal Family of Catlopia,"

"So does that mean you are Royal Family?" Darju asked, shocked at the sudden information.

"Yes. Mylico and I are cousins of Persmia. We were brought up together, and then when we had issues on Catlopia, Mylico and I left to keep the Royal Line's identity hidden. Persmia is due to take over from her mother as Queen of Catlopia in the next 2PT. When she does, we will be able to return to Catlopia again."

Darju sat with her mouth open, not quite sure how to respond. "So why are you working in a cantina?" was the only thought that entered her mind. "If you are royalty, you don't need to work there, do you?"

"No. We do not need to work where we work. If we wanted to, we could survive without the need. We work because we enjoy it, and we want to make sure we fit into society."

"But why?"

"Mylico is next in line to the throne after Persmia. I am third in line. Several PTs ago, there was an uprising on Catlopia, and both myself and Mylico were targetted. All our intelligence then led to the fact that the Gods had initiated it. We were never seen in public, having spent our entire lives in the palace, so no one knew who we were, so it was safer for the pair of us to leave, and where better to go than a remote Juty planet in one of the furthest sectors."

Darju stared in amazement at Cylion.

"Why would the Gods target you?"

"Catlopian technology is nearly as good or better in some areas than God's technology. They rule because of technological superiority, nothing else. By targetting members of the Royal family, they would be able to weaken Catlopia's hold on some hazardous information."

Darju's head was spinning. How could her friend be Royalty? "Does that mean you are a Princess?"

"Yes. Our late mother was the sister to Queen Soohia."

"Mylico said she died in a carate duel?"

"She did. She was the stray of the family. She always chased the nip and would not listen to her sister or accept her responsibilities. Queen Soohia brought us up."

"What about your father?"

"No idea. Mum was a little wayward and met up with several toms."

"I have been working with a Princess this whole time, and you never told me?"

"We have never told anyone. You are the first outside Queen Soohia, Persmia and the Royal Council. Catlopian's know we exist, but our identities have always been kept secret."

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"So why tell me now?"

"Because of what you told me about the God and the Sunstar."

"I have no idea what a Sunstar is, though?"

"It was rumoured to be a powerful alien artefact designed by the Universal Maker. It has the power to affect those of wrongdoing. Historical data states that they were created to keep balance in the Universe, but your vision and comments are the first sign of one in thousands of PT. Our data said that there had originally been three, and we knew that two had been destroyed, and until today, no one had ever been able to locate the third. I would need to access the Royal Archives for more details."

"So the Sunstar is a wrongdoing artefact?"

"Not exactly. No one knows factually as one has not been seen or heard of in thousands of PT. The only people who may know are the Gods and they have never shared the information."

"But Dralcor said I was it; how can I be it, and if so, why would it attack Dralcor?"

"That is the bit that concerns me. Why did it choose you, and what has it done to you?"

Darju was feeling panicky again with the revelation of the Sunstar. She had no idea even if she was it, but if so, why? She was just a lowly Lyzord who worked in a cantina.

Cylion poured Darju another drink, and they sat silently, waiting for Mylico to respond. Just before the yhuse was up, Cylion's holo screen flashed.

"Mylico," Cylion said, answering the call.

"I have had a response from Permisa. Talking over this range is not viable, so she asked if it is that urgent we return to the Palace."

"It will take a few cinteps to travel back."

"She was adamant that if we needed to speak to her, it had to be in person. Her message was very direct. You know what she is like."

"Damn. It looks like we may have to travel home sooner than we expected."

"Is it really that urgent?" Mylico asked.

"This could be the most urgent need in our history," Cylion replied in a serious tone.

Darju had never seen Cylion act like this; she was usually carefree and charismatic, and the way she spoke now was from a position of authority.

"Travel? What about Flurew and the cantina.?" Darju said.

"It will have to manage. If you are what I think you are, you may have just become the primary target of the whole universe." Cylion said.

Darju stared open-mouthed, unable to comprehend the situation.

"Mylico. I will jump in Scout and be there in a couple of yhuse. You better go and get her ready." Cylion said.

Mylico's tone had changed with the serious tone of his sister. "It will be ready to leave as soon as you land."

"Okay. We will be there shortly." Cylion cut the link.

"Be where?" Darju asked.

"The capital. Follow me."

Darju stood in a daze and followed Cylion out to the rear of the property. There was a small garage, and she keyed in a code for the door to open. Cylion walked in and pulled the sheet off a craft stored there. It was a speeder. Speeders were low-orbit craft for travel on the planet only, and this one was stunning—pure silver with two seats.

Cylion jumped in once the cockpit slid open and keyed the engines. They purred to life instantly, and she drew it forward by Darju. "Get in."

"But Flurew and my things?"

"You can message Flurew later for now, though you need to come with me," Cylion said.

"But..."

Cylion cut her off. "Now, Darju, we do need to hurry. Especially with more Gods still here."

Darju turned, looking across the starport towards Flurew's, then circled back and climbed into the speedster's seat. As soon as she was inside, Cylion closed the cockpit hatch, and it slid over, clicking into place.

Darju had seen speedsters before, but this one was top range. Everything inside looked pristine, and Cylion quickly hit a few keys, and it started to climb. As soon as it was higher than the starport's outer wall, she keyed the engine. It sounded like a purring sound as it shot into the night sky. Its speed was phenomenal. Darju had never been in one before, and looking out of the cockpit at the land hurtling below them made her feel sick.

"I think I am going to be sick," Darju said.

Cylion glanced at her. "Under the seat."

Darju reached under her seat and grabbed a strange device.

"Attach it to your mouth."

Darju turned the item over before noticing the strap. She then managed to pull the device over her head and secure it.

"What does it do?" She mumbled.

"It neutralises travel sickness. Give it a minute."

Darju sat breathing deeply, fighting the sickness until it dissipated.

"Feel better?" Cylion asked.

"Yes and no. I don't know what we are doing?"

"Hopefully, keeping you safe and restoring some normality into this universe."

"I do not understand though, what I am doing. What is all this about? I know what you said, but I am so confused."

"Wait until we are off the planet, then I will explain everything to you fully, and Mylico will be able to help. He has a deeper knowledge of the Sunstar and its history than I do. I only know so much; it was never my favourite topic." Cylion replied with a hint of embarrassment.

"When can I message Flurew?"

"Not until we are out of orbit. The other Gods will wonder where Dralcor is and start searching, and they know you were staying with Flurew."

"But we need to let her know?"

"You can't for her safety as much as your own. A God disappearing is not something that has happened for millennia."

"You know so much about all this."

"The Gods have always been one of our main rivals. It dates back thousands of PT when Placetius, the God of Gods, dated one of the Princesses. Ever since that time, there has been uncertainty and at times animosity between our species."

"Why? Because she disappeared, the historical reels in the Palace still hold the details. Our history is as vivid as the Gods. We work differently."

"I had no idea about the history of Catlop's."

"Not many do. Many of my kind are all over the Universe. We have integrated into society on most planets due to our high charisma. We are sought after for negotiating as Mylico has been doing. It is a racial trait."

"There is so much I don't know."

Darju looked out of the cockpit window again. She had no idea how far up they were, but it was high, and her stomach did a somersault. "Is all space travel like this?" Darju asked.

"This is not space travel. This is just flying," Cylion laughed.

They sat in silence for the remainder of the flight. Darju questioned everything that had happened to her since she had left the pod. She felt her stomach suddenly lift and realised they had started to descend. Looking out of the cockpit window, the ground appeared to be rushing to meet them, and it was only at the last moment that the speeder levelled out and sped towards the city skyline. The city was huge, with massive buildings stretching high into the sky. Darju had never seen anything so big or buildings so tall. She was in awe of the view.

The speeder navigated the busy city with ease. Everywhere she looked, there were craft coming and going. The city must have millions of citizens.

"Nearly there," Cylion said.

The speeder confidently dipped again and headed towards an open landing pad on the side of a tall building. The speedster came to land gently and stopped.

The building had a large shuttered entrance stretching across a broad section. Cylion keyed something into her communicator on her wrist, and the shutters rolled upwards.

What met Darju's gaze took her breath away.