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Everyone meets back on Sytis and hope is restored.

"I could never be the right kind of girl for you"

---

Zach gulped. “Are you sure it’s unarmed? What if it’s packed with explosives or something?”
Vaà seemed distracted. “It is not.”
Leph and Zach were looking through the wall of the ship while Serleah floated near Vaà. She was trying to explain the principles of Atriean communication systems, but it didn’t seem possible to hail the gunship. She sighed. “You two be quiet. Yell if it starts glowing ominously or something.”
She turned back to Vaà, who cut her off. “I cannot use your technology. I am sorry.”
Serleah sighed. “Can we stop, then?”
“We are not far enough away.”
“Yeah, I understand…”
She floated over to Leph and Zach. “It makes me nervous.”
The two looked at her with pouty faces. She rolled her eyes. “Grow up you two. You can talk now!”
Leph smiled weakly and looked back out at the crimson shuttle. “It makes me nervous too. Who could be inside?”
Zach scratched his beard. “I’m telling you, it’s a trap of some sort. We should just get rid of it.”
Vaà cut in. “We are safe. Me and Makron have scanned the ship. It is safe.”
Zach crossed his arms. “I still don’t know…”

~~~

“And then there was this weird, soul wrenching sensation and I found myself in the wreckage of my research station. The guy that brought us all here was there too, but I managed to get a gun and hold him off until some pirates showed up, then-”
Leo stopped Nai mid ramble. “Wait! Wait a moment, sir. You are omitting several details. Who brought us here? And how did you end up on that ship?”
Nai growled. “I was getting to that part! Oh, I’m terrible at explaining things over coms. Can’t we speak in person?”
Lenny shook his head. “I don’t know how to raise the Sytis on this equipment…”
Rico was leaning into the cockpit. “One of us could jump out and get their attention.”
Suddenly, the ambient light became a deep purple. Lenny looked around nervously. “Um… what’s that?!”
Leo pulled his console over. “A nebula. Very dense.”
They slowed to a stop. Nai’s nervous voice squeaked over the com. “What’s happening?! I can’t read anything on this ship!”
“We’ve entered a nebula, and now it seems we’ve stopped… ah, here comes Vaà.”
“Who?!”
“Our Sytis friend. We’ll join you shortly, Mr. Mosin. Gunship out.”
Leo switched off the com. “Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir…”
Rico grinned and followed the two out into space.

The group gathered in space near the shuttle. Serleah found an access panel and got the airlock to work. However, when the door opened, it was quite small. Leph chuckled and leaned over to Vaà. “Looks like you guys will have to wait out here. We’ll bring Nai out here and ditch the ship. Sound good?”
Vaà glanced over at Makron. “Yes. We will wait.”
Leph snapped his finger, the effect being muffled by his suit. “We’ll need one of these suits for whoever’s in there.”
Makron reached into her clothing and produced one of the tiny devices. She let it go and Leph caught it as it floated by. “Thanks.”
The two returned to their ships. Leph, Zach and Serleah entered first, but there wasn’t enough room for everyone. Upon realizing this, Zach shook his head. “You guys get him; we’ll just wait out here.”
“Alright, we won’t be long.” Leph said.
After Zach floated back into space, the airlock began to cycle. Serleah crossed her arms. “I hate airlocks…”
There was a loud hiss, and the door opened. Nai was peering around the wall, his paws still on the airlock controls. Serleah cleared her throat. “Ahem. Hello, my name is Serleah…”
She frowned as he reached out to shake her paw. “Good to meet you. My name is Nai Mosin, I’m a-”
“Yes! I knew you looked familiar! Leph, do you know who this is?!” Serleah wheeled on Leph, the biggest grin on her face.
“Not really…”
“He’s the guy that won the war.”
“What? Uh…” Leph smiled cluelessly.
Nai interrupted. “Yes, well… My team invented the plasma shield system that allowed us to gain the upper hand in that conflict… but I would hardly call myself the winner of the war…”
Serleah turned back to Nai. “Well anyway, I’m a bit of a fan… E-especially of some of your gunsmithing.”
Nai raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Most people don’t know I designed small arms… Hm, if we get out of this, I might give you an autograph. Can we leave please?! I have important information for the Sytis!”
Serleah picked at her claws nervously and nodded. “Right. They’re all waiting outside.”
“Oh, Nai, we have a spacesuit for you.”
“What? Where?”
Leph held out the tiny device. “Just put this in your clothing and it’ll act as a personal oxygen field.”
Nai didn’t move for a moment, then reached out and took the suit. He placed it on his sleeve, and it burrowed in a little. “Nifty… you sure this’ll work?”
Leph activated the airlock again. “We’re wearing them and we just floated into the airlock.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
They waited for it to cycle awkwardly. Leph glanced down at Nai. “You’re the scientist that contacted us?”
“Yes, that was me.”
Leph glanced up at Serleah. “So this is the second time you’ve geeked out over him?”
“Shut up.”
Nai laughed. “I’m not used to having fans! There was one, in my youth…”
He frowned at the memory. Serleah was about to question his reaction when the airlock opened and their suits came online. Leph and Serleah kicked off, but Nai wasn’t as used to zero gravity movement. He flailed around, calling out. It took Leph and Serleah a moment to realize Nai was still floundering in the airlock. Serleah returned to lend him a paw, and eventually they made it to one of the ships. Nai shook his head as though the silvery suit had left droplets on his fur. “Whew… what a wonderful technology! And- AHH!”
Nai kicked Serleah in his frantic attempt to escape. Makron floated there, facing him. “Hello…”
Nai clawed at the side of the ship, but he couldn’t get out. “Help! It’s one of them! Watch out you two, they got-”
Leph grabbed Nai. “Calm down! That’s just Makron. She’s a Sytis.”
Nai looked at Makron again. “It looks like the guy that held us…”
Makron placed her claws together. “I believe he means the Evil… or more specifically, the source of all Evil.”
Serleah looked at Nai, who was still shaking. “Wait… The Evil are Sytis?”
Zach entered the ship as Serleah said this. “No way. I thought the Evil were aliens.”
Makron looked around uncomfortably. “It is… taboo to speak openly about this. But I will explain.”
Makron told them the story of the boy and his powers. When she finished, Nai snapped his fingers. “Wait, so only God has telekinetic powers?”
Makron winced. “Please, do not call him that. Yes… only he has these abilities.”
“Oh. Alright. Sorry for being scared.”
“It is understandable.”
Nai nodded. “Well… I need to speak with someone in charge.”
“We will take you to the elders. What is it you wish to tell them?”
“Your world is in danger. Hell, your whole universe is in danger, and it’s no God or Evil that’s behind it.”

~~~

After the incident with Teliko, Fieru rested for a few hours and ate some food, but returned to his work as soon as he could. He had left some batteries charging from a small solar panel he had set up, and now they contained enough charge to jump start the engine. There was plenty of fuel left in the ion engine, so that was not an issue. Fieru grabbed a battery and dragged it through the ship to the engine. Once he had four batteries dragged into position, he sat on one, panting, as he picked up what remained of the scrap wire he was using for his repairs. He hooked the batteries up, stepped back and completed the circuit. Stepping away slowly, he returned to the cockpit. Taking a deep breath, he tried the ignition. With a cough and sputter, the ship slowly powered up. Fieru relaxed in Leo’s chair. “Fuckin’ finally.”
He was about to return to the batteries when a warning light began flashing. “Huh…?”
An Atriean ship was moving into orbit. Fieru scrambled for the com. “A-Atriean vessel, please identify yourself!”
“Hello, Fieru.”
“Leo?! Where the hell did you find an Atriean ship out here?!”
Leo chuckled. “It was among the things Leph found in his cargo bay, remember?”
“So… something survived?”
“A lot of things survived. But… We couldn’t find Feldoh or Teri. Their ships were missing too.”
“Damn. Okay, I’ll go tell the others.”
“Fieru? Did you repair the Rocinante?”
“Is that even a question? ‘Course I did!”
“Good work. We may need it.”
“I’m gonna power her down for now, though. I gotta secure the batteries somehow.”
“Alright. We’ll meet up at the place we’ve been sleeping.”
“Right. Seeya, bud.”
Fieru shut down the engines and dashed off to share the good news.

Leena sat in the grass just outside the main building, meditating. Her concentration was broken by a familiar sound: ion engines. She looked into the sky to see three ships descending. One she recognized as the same type she had discovered in the holds of the Frontier. She stood, walking out to meet the ships as they landed. Dez and Yalogalil were already there. Dez motioned Leena back as she drew near. “Careful!”
The gunship landed first, blowing hot exhaust into the grass. Leena shielded her eyes until the gunship’s engines cooled. When she uncovered her eyes, the two sphere ships had already landed. Leph tumbled out of one. Leena trotted over and hugged him. “Welcome back.”
“Hiya, Peach. Missed you.”
“So?”
“We… didn’t find them.”
“Damn.”
Leph kissed her forehead and stepped back, poking his head back into the ship. When he returned, he was helping Serleah down. “Look on the bright side. We didn’t find their bodies…”
“It’s of little consolation.”
Zach tumbled out of the ship and landed on his head. “Ow! …I think they escaped the vortex. They must be back in our universe.”
Leo, Lenny and Rico walked over from the gunship. Leo glanced around. “Where’s Fieru?”
“I’m here!”
Fieru ran over a nearby hill and stumbled to a stop. He panted, his long head fur covering both his eyes. “I ran over as fast as I could… huff…”
Everyone made room as Vaà exited the ship. It powered down, shrinking slightly and becoming less reflective. Makron stood next to him. Serleah frowned. “We’re missing one.”
Dez scratched his head. “I count everyone…”
“I’m back here!”
Nai stumbled over from the opposite side of the ship. “I fell over. Sorry.”
Serleah gestured to him. “This is Nai Mosin, famous weapon developer. He was the one that tipped us off to the funny cargo.”
Everyone said hi. Fieru was agape. “The Nai Mosin?! This trip is just filled with personal heroes of mine, innit?”
Serleah chuckled. “Tell me about it.”
Nai scratched his head. “Yeah. Anyway, take me to your leader!”
Makron nodded as Zach began chuckling uncontrollably. “Right this way.”

Teliko was having the warmest, most pleasant dream. As much as she didn’t want to wake up, a commotion from the hallway brought her to consciousness. She kept her eyes closed as the door was partially opened. “No, Leph. Let her rest, she’s had a long day.” It was Leena’s voice.
“Oh, alright.”
The door closed, and the voices began to recede. “What happened while I was gone to tire her out?”
“Um… Well…”
Teliko frowned as the voices became inaudible. She hoped Leph wouldn’t be mad. She shifted her head against the furry arm she was using as a pillow. At first, she assumed it was her arm and it was still asleep, but quickly realized both her arms were accounted for. She opened her eyes to see the ugliest face she’d ever seen Cyan make. His tongue lolled out, and he softly snored every few seconds. She slowly got out of the bed, lying on the ground instead, wiping the side of her face. “Ugh… Cyan!”
“Hm! Whuu… What?”
He rolled over and looked down at her. “Stop yelling…”
“My dad is back.”
He jumped up. “Did they find my parents?”
“I don’t know… I was still asleep.”
“Then how do you know they’re back?!”
“I was half asleep! Come on, get up. We’re going after them.”
“Right…”
Cyan sprang up, then fell over. “Headrush…”
Teliko giggled, then stood. She poked him with her foot. “Get up!”
“Okay! I’m getting up!”

As the party was ushered into a large hall, Leph tried to keep his voice in check. “Weren’t you watching her?! She could have been killed!”
“She’s not a kid, Leph-”
“This is an alien planet, peach. You should have watched her!”
“She’s fine!”
He sighed. “Yes, she is. But next time she might not be.”
Leena’s ears were against her skull, and Leph hated to see her like that. He patted her head. “I know it wasn’t your fault. I’m just worried.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Makron stopped. “Dekor will see you. She should be out shortly.”
Nai walked out ahead of everyone else. “Okay. Can’t mess this up…”
The regal looking Sytis emerged. “Ah. So many have gathered. How is the gifted one?”
Nai looked around. “What?”
Leena stepped forward. “She’s resting.”
Nai raised a paw. “I have a matter of life and death to discuss!”
“Who is this? Makron?”
“He was rescued from the Evil, Dekor. He claims to have a very important message for you.”
Dekor fixed her eyes on the wiry man. “Is that so? How is it you escaped with your life?”
“My wits, your honor.”
“Call me Dekor.”
“Of course. Uh, Dekor. Um, your world is in danger. In fact, every world here is in danger.”
“We know of the Evil threat. If they have a new method of killing our people-”
“No! This isn’t the Evil! This is my colleague, Gray Fox. He’s a man of science, like me, but he’s… He’s created something he intends to use to turn this universe into a hot soup of pure energy. Obviously… nothing can live in that. Not Evil, or Sytis. Please! You have to help us stop him!”
Dekor was silent for a long time. Vaà stepped forward slightly, and there was another long silence. Nai was about to ask what was going on when Dekor spoke. “You will explain this to Vaà. He will verify your science.”
Vaà stepped over to Nai as Dekor continued. “Makron and I will step aside and discuss this. Please be patient.”
Nai smiled up at Vaà. “How well versed are you in particle-energy multi-spectral theory?”
“I know one or two things.”
“Great! Is there a computer around here?”
“Yes, come with me.”
They started to leave, but Leph called after them. “Nai! Wait a second!”
“Hm? What?”
“So you weren’t joking when you said the universe is in danger?”
“No. I’m sorry, I’ll give you guys the run down. Um, so you know how you got here?”
The group looked among themselves. No one knew. Yalogalil shrugged. “It was something to be stolen, erm… I believe it was something Cain was to steal. That we were to steal.”
Nai raised an eyebrow at the accent, but continued. “Well, yes. We were working on opening a gate to another universe. It just seems our math was a little off and… well the whole damn thing expanded and swallowed everything up. I’m sorry you all got caught in it…”
Leena gasped. “Really?! T-the technology exists?”
“It does now! and now Grey Fox is going to use it to collapse this universe so he can harvest it using the technology me and him built to get here. We need to escape and stop him from doing so in the process. And we can escape! I’m sure of that! We brought the trans-dimensional beam device with us. We can use it to open another portal back to our world.”
Yalogalil nodded. “Yes. I agree this is what we should be doing.”
The others murmured among themselves. Leph laughed. “Nai… I’ve saved the universe before. What’s one more?”
Nai nodded. “Yes… Well I thank you for your support.”
He turned to Vaà. “Let me show you my equations…”
“Right this way.”
They left. Leph turned to everyone. “Okay… Looks like we have some work to do. But if what Nai says is true… There’s hope.”
He looked around at the group. Smiles were more prevalent than they had been for days. “Leo, you and I should talk about a plan of some sort. You fought the Evil, so I’ll need your insight. The rest of you can join us if you want to help, but… I want you all to rest up. I have a feeling this won’t be easy.”
Serleah, Yalogalil and Fieru stepped up, and Dez a moment later. Serleah grinned. “We’ll help.”
Lenny yawned. “And we’ll rest. I’m about to pass out.”
He turned and walked off. Rico followed him. The rest followed after, heading to their rooms.

Cyan and Teliko crouched behind a pot nearby. “Did you hear?”
“Of course I did, Cyan. We’re going home!”
Cyan glanced up at the ecstatic Teliko. He looked back to the group. Feldoh and teri were nowhere to be seen.

~~~

High in the sky, Czyak was collecting the day’s energy from the starstream. He was thinking about Teliko. Her speech was so fresh and exciting, and her powers so sublime that he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Unlike many of his race, he was curious to learn even more. His ship beeped as he drew too close to the starstream, and he snapped out of his distracted state. He wished she was there with him to pass the time.