Ken stands in his dimly lit study observing the crew from a shadowy corner. The room itself had papers scattered across the floor they were rolled up maps that Ken had developed on his journey. On the shelves of the study were documents and books detailing centuries of knowledge from different parts of the galaxy dating back as far as earth’s earliest days.

As Ken stared at Hamund with cold eyes and a wicked smile as he thought about how he could use someone like him in his conquest.

He watched as Hamund begged his god’s for Admadra’s safe return, but he felt no sympathy for her. To Ken she was merely a pawn in his game, a piece to be thrown away if necessary.

Ken found himself thinking of how weak Admadra must have been, but still he seen gold in her weakness. A crack in Hamund’s armor, he wondered just how far was Hamund willing to go to ensure her safety.

Ken’s excitement grew as he thought of the opportunities her fragile mind could open for him. While in thought Ken shouted with excitement “Yggdrasil’s Reach!” his exclamation echoed off the walls. Ken darted across the study his movements filled with urgency as he scrambled through his maps he had scattered along the ground.

Among the scattered maps, He found one that had a depiction of a large tree illustrated on it. Ken rushed the map to his desk, he shoved the documents and artifacts on the desk to the ground. As he opened and unrolled the map onto the table his excitement grew.

“Hamund” ken called out, his voice was rich with enthusiasm with a menacing undertone

Hamund, Initially Hesitant, approached Ken cautiously. His steps were heavy, each one filled with a mix of Suspicion blended with intrigue. Hamund felt as if he was walking a thin thread, each movement threatened to snap the trust between him and Ken. Ken’s excitement drew him closer to him, as Hamund thought to himself “Ken was a man of ambition same as him.”

As Hamund neared, Ken’s smile widened and his movement displayed his dark ambition masked by his eager excitement.

Ken imagined the levels of power he could reach if he could only control the man who approached.

“Come Closer” Ken urged, his tone was commanding yet enticing. Hamund, However, couldn’t shake the nagging curiosity about what was so urgent to provoke such a reaction from Ken’s usual calm demeanor.

As Hamund stood over the desk he noticed a map drew on parchment. The map depicted the stars and galaxies all connected by roots or branches of a tree.

Written on the map were symbols that even Hamund’s helmet couldn’t decipher.

“You called me over here to look at your drawing?” Hamund’s was voice rung out, echoing his growing irritation.

Ken calmed his voice knowing any stray from his serious tone would not help sway Hamund. “I have traveled to many world’s and even more galaxies. Their beliefs tended to sway between the names of gods but one thing remained true.”

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Ken pointed to the tree that was depicted on the map “Every world I had encountered depicts what we would call Yggdrasil, the connecting tree.”

Hamund nods his head in confusion as he asks “What does any of this have to do with Yggdrasil or even with our current situation.”

Ken’s wicked smile broke free as he realized he had Hamund’s hesitant attention. “Yggdrasil is far more than a myth! It is my belief that should we find the tree we could cure Admadra of her condition, for good.”

Hamund cautiously listens and ask Ken “What is in it for you?”

“Knowledge beyond human imagination.” Ken says as he looks around the room pointing to the scattered artifacts and books.

Ken looks at Hamund’s helmet and how his helmet covered his left eye and said “Like Woden himself we can have the knowledge of all.”

Hamund found himself snarling at Ken as he asked “What does any of that have to do with curing Admadra?”

Ken laughs as he explains “Imagine knowing the cure to all illnesses just by pure thought. The ability to see your death coming and how to prevent it. No man could fool you and nothing would prevent your ambitions. You would always have the solution before the problem!”

As Hamund watched Ken ramble he thought of the story of Woden and asked “Do you remember how that story ended?”

Ken shrugged off Hamund’s warning, his attention was absorbed by the details of the map. Ken appeared mesmerized, lost in thought as he admired the delicate depiction of Yggdrasil.

Hamund slammed his hand onto the parchment breaking Ken’s trance. Kens face contorted with frustration and a flicker of anguish while Hamund’s palm pressed into the map. Hamund stared into Ken’s now attentive eyes, as neither of them said anything.

Hamund, noticing he had Ken’s unyielding attention reminded him “You can’t prevent fate, no matter how hard you try!”

Ken’s normal calm facade shattered as he retorted “I Have to!”

Ken began to pace back and forth he mumbled to himself. He clenched his fist as his eyes began to rapidly wonder, surveying the room.

Hamund watched Ken with a mix of confusion and concern, he found himself struggling to understand the man he was talking to.

Ken came to an abrupt halt as his wicked smile returned to him. As he placed himself back at the desk he pointed to a galaxy that was near the base of the roots and offered “I can offer far more than knowledge and a cure, what about a new home?”

Hamund tried to hide his intrigue but Ken sense the glimmer in his eyes. He knew that he was back in control.

“We have a home” Hamund knew he was lying but he hoped this rapid switch in Ken’s confidence would be partially quenched.

Ken leaned towards Hamund and pointed to his crew “How would they feel if they knew you had chance to give them what they lost, and you said no?”

“Don’t fail them, like I did mine” Ken continued with sorrow in his voice as he reached into his pocket and removes a cloth bag. Hamund could hear the sound of metal clanging against metal from inside the bag.

Ken placed the bag on the table and gave Hamund a nod as he said “Take a look.”

As Hamund opened the back he found several shard of flat metal inscribed with names. “What is this? Hamund asked as he pulled out one and examined it.

Ken’s smile fades as he avoids looking at the bag “One hundred members on my ship, that is what I left earth with. I dug a grave for each one within my first year, women, children and all died to this damned planet.”

Hamund glanced back at Admadra, still incapacitated on the ground and his crews worried stares and responds “So what is your offer?”

Ken snatches the bag and secures it back into his pocket before stating “Get me to the tree and I can offer you everything they lost.”