The Traitor of Planet Krin
"Zana's old man—Haw Senior—wasn't a soldier. Not officially. He was a supply pilot. A damn good one. He flew through war zones no sane man would cross, dropping rations, weapons, medical kits—whatever the G.O.R.E. needed to keep its war machine running.
But then came the Krin Incident.
You see, Krin was a rogue planet. One of the first to refuse submission to the Galactic Order of Regulations and Enforcement. They weren't just rebels. They were a plague—a lawless civilization that defied everything the Order stood for.
G.O.R.E. had finally decided to wipe them out. The war on the planet was costing lives. G. O. R. E needed to make a statement.
And Haw Senior? He was supposed to deliver the payload to the boys on ground.
Not food.
Not medical supplies.
A city-killer.
One weapon. One drop. Millions dead. Resistance Crushed.
Haw was given one simple order—deliver the bomb and return to base.
But what did he do?
He went off the grid. Can you believe that? "
The He brought the weapon home DAYS, instead of deploying it. Told command he 'couldn't be responsible for that many deaths.'
Thunam shook his head. "As if he got to decide. As if we don't make the rules. As if he knew better than the people keeping order in the damn galaxy."
The two officers listened in stunned silence.
"You know what happened next," Thunam continued, his voice dipping into a low growl. "That one decision cost us the war. The rebels took Krin, turned it into a fortress, and killed thousands of our people in the counterattack."
He turned to them, his lip curling.
"And who do you think the families of the dead blamed?"
"Haw," Mirk muttered.
"Exactly."
The Death of a Traitor
Thunam exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "G.O.R.E. stripped him of his titles. Branded him a traitor. Kicked him out of the fleet and made sure no respectable organization would hire him, He became a commercial pilot." He spat the word out like it was filth.
Lars frowned. "But… wasn't his ship hijacked?"
Thunam let out a short, humorless laugh. "That's the official story. A hijacking. A tragic accident.
He straightened up, rolling his shoulders. "But we all know the truth. G.O.R.E. wanted him gone. Loose ends tied up nice and clean."
Mirk hesitated. "So… do you think his daughter knows?"
Thunam glanced back at the Meridian, eyes narrowing.
"Oh, she knows. She hates G. O. R. E and everything it stands for."
Then he smirked. "And just like her old man, she'll never do the right thing. That's why we're still tracking her."
He turned to his men.
"When she screws up, we'll be there."
Meanwhile In the dimly lit confines of his quarters, Commander Zaon paced with deliberate steps, the weight of unspoken plans pressing against his mind. The air in the room was thick with tension, his thoughts sharp as the hum of the holographic star map flickering before him.
A soft chime signaled the entrance of Lieutenant Merik, his second-in-command. The officer stepped in briskly, standing at attention. "Everything is in place, Commander. We are ready, we will commander. The operation is set."
Zaon barely glanced at him. "And the other?"
Merik hesitated for only a second before responding. "The bounty has been placed. Quietly. Every hunter worth their name in Zusk will be waiting and watching."
Zaon exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "Good."
He stopped pacing, his fingers tapping lightly against the steel edge of his desk. "I knew the twins would make reckless decisions but not stupid ones." His voice was low, measured. "Now everything is perfect."
Merik remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt.
Zaon turned, his gaze piercing. "The Elders of Plurah have given their word. If these triplets never return, there will be no war. Their presence is the only thing holding their grip over Plurah together. If they fall—The elders will take over, and Skaya will never need to worry about invasion again."
Merik shifted slightly. "But... they are the rulers of Plurah. What makes the Elders willing to betray them?"
Zaon let out a short, humorless chuckle. "Because the triplets were never meant to rule. King Reybah of Plurah was obsessed with conquest and power through tyranny and war, but when he failed, his legacy died with him. He had no heir. So, desperate, he cloned himself—three times."
He narrowed his eyes. "But something went wrong. Only two of them inherited his ruthlessness, his lust for war. The third, Prince Dhomian, was... different. A defect, perhaps. The twins killed their own father and took the throne, forcing Dhomian to stand with them. But the Elders never wanted them to rule. They tolerated them because they were necessary evil. Until now."
Merik frowned. "And now they want them gone?"
Zaon nodded. "All three. Not just the twins. Dhomian, too. The Elders won't risk the chance of him one day reclaiming his father's legacy. They see a future without them—a future without war."
Merik swallowed. "And in exchange, they've promised us—"
"A planet-wide defense shield for Skaya," Zaon finished. His voice hardened. "You know as well as I do—Skaya has always been vulnerable. Our planet core has long prevented us from building our own planetary defense system. We've always been reliant on others—mercenaries, allies, outsiders. But this? This changes everything."
Merik's lips pressed into a firm line. "So the twins—and Dhomian—must never return."
Zaon met his gaze with cold certainty. "This is not a rescue mission. I don't care about the princess, or the king and queen who believe a wedding would forestall peace. All three princes must die."
A sharp silence followed his words. The air felt heavier.
Merik took a slow breath. "Understood, Commander. I'll make the necessary arrangements."
Zaon nodded. "Make sure you do."
As Merik exited, Zaon turned back to the star map. His fingers hovered over the flickering outline of Zusk, where the triplets were now heading.
Everything was falling into place.
He had no love for the politics of Plurah or the elders who schemed behind the throne—but if eliminating these three secured Skaya's safety, then so be it.
No mercy. No hesitation.
The princes would not return. No matter the cost.
The tension in the ship's cabin was thick enough to be sliced with a plasma blade. Princess Leoyorah, no longer hidden behind her holographic shell camouflage, sat in the middle of the crew—every single one of them armed and aiming at her.
Onions loomed over her, gripping what looked like a reinforced baton, Holden held a spatula—though in his hands, it was as threatening as a war hammer or so he thought.
Geiren, on the other hand, had no such subtlety; a large plasma gun was already charged and pointed straight at the glowing, crystalline woman.
Zana, however, remained calm. Too calm. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair before finally stepping forward.
"Alright," she said, her voice even. "Some princess better start talking before my crew makes a very expensive mistake."
Leoyorah glanced around at the crew, her radiant crystalline form shimmering under the ship's lights. Her glow was soft, warm—almost hypnotic, if not for the clear fear and desperation in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I know I deceived you, but I had no choice. Please, let me explain."
Zana crossed her arms. "Then start talking."
Leoyorah took a shaky breath. "I am Princess Leoyorah of Planet Skaya. I am on the run—not just for love, but for something far bigger than that."
The crew didn't lower their weapons. Geiren scoffed. "Oh, fantastic. A royal runaway with a sob story. You do know we don't specialize in fairy-tale endings, right?"
Leoyorah pressed on. "You don't understand—my planet is in danger. My people are in danger."
She looked directly at Zana. "The rulers of Plurah, the Triplet Princes, are not just after Skaya because of me. They want it because Skaya's core produces something far rare than what we are made of - Osmin Crystal—one of the rarest and most powerful metals in the galaxy."
That got everyone's attention.
Zana narrowed her eyes. "Osmin Crystal? Your planet's core produces osmin crystals?—"
"They found out." Leoyorah cut in, her voice urgent. "And now, marriage is no longer an option for conquest. They want the planet's core."
A heavy silence fell.
Leoyorah clenched her fists. "My lover, Prince Dhomian, is not like his brothers. He has been warning me for weeks. His brothers want Skaya. They want full control over the Osmin Crystal. And they are willing to burn my world to the ground to get it."
Onions finally lowered the spatula, though he still looked skeptical. "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"
Leoyorah hesitated for only a moment before reaching into her cargo case—slowly, carefully, as not to startle the already trigger-happy crew.
Then, she pulled it out.
A ring.
Not just any ring—one of the Three Rings of Plurah. It gleamed under the lights, its surface inscribed with markings that pulsed faintly. A piece of the Crown of Plurah itself.
The crew stared. Even Geiren looked impressed.
"I have seen this, somewhere," Vernon said.
Leoyorah explained.
"When the triplets killed their father, they melted the Crown of Plurah ad forged three rings out of it. As long as all three of them possess their rings, they remain rulers. But if even one is lost, they can be legally dethroned under Plurah law—and the Elders will have full authority to strip them of power."
A slow, dawning realization spread across Zana's face.
"You plan to destroy it," she said.
Leoyorah nodded. "Yes. Dhomian and I planned my escape. He left me with his ring—this ring—to ensure his brothers could never regain full control. He is in Zusk, He plans to find a someone to deal with it once I have arrive." She looked up at them, pleading. "We're meeting in Zusk because it is the only place in the galaxy with the technology capable of melting it down completely. If we succeed, the Princes lose their claim to Plurah. They'll be powerless."
Zana inhaled deeply. "And you really think that's going to be enough? That they'll just roll over and give up their power?"
Leoyorah's face hardened. "No. That's why we need to act fast. They will stop at nothing to retrieve this ring And if they catch me before we destroy it, everything will be lost."
For the first time, the room felt truly silent.
Then—a slow, ominous clap.
The sound of Vernon Troppo, lounging against the far end of the cabin, smirking in amusement.
"Well, well," he mused. "Looks like we are really doomed, we're right in the middle of a good old-fashioned royal conspiracy, I should have taken out that Life insurance when I had the chance, I guess we know who the corpses are on my card, onions, isn't that right?"
"Oh no, the curse!" Onions produced the card.
Geiren sighed, lowering her gun at last. "This is a damn mess."
Zana, however, wasn't smiling. Her mind was already racing, calculating risks, weighing possibilities.
The Captain's Decision
Zana pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled sharply. She hated this.
The princess had lied to them. Deception, especially on a spacefaring contract, meant their agreement was null and void. According to flight regulations, they were under no obligation to keep her aboard.
Leoyorah could leave if she wanted to.
Zana narrowed her eyes at the princess, her voice cutting through the lingering tension.
"You do realize that lying to your pilot—especially one as good as me—is a dumb idea, right?"
Leoyorah flinched but held her ground. "I had no choice—"
"Yeah? Well, now I have one." Zana stepped closer, arms crossed. "And I choose not to get involved in some royal drama over space crowns, planet cores, and who gets to rule what rock." Her voice dropped into something dangerously cold. "You lied to me. You endangered my crew. You could have gotten us all killed."
Leoyorah opened her mouth, but no words came out.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Zana turned to Onions, her voice sharp. "Watch her. Make sure she doesn't pull any more surprises while I figure out how to clean up this mess."
Onions gave a curt nod. "Got it, Captain."
Zana stalked out, leaving the rest of the crew still somewhat stunned.
But while their captain was fuming, not everyone seemed upset.
Holden was practically melting where he stood. His jaw had gone slack, eyes glued to the radiant princess like he had just seen the most beautiful thing in existence.
"You are… so… shiny," he murmured, practically drooling.
Geiren rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of—wipe your damn face, Holden!"
Leoyorah shifted uncomfortably under the crew's mixed reactions—Zana's anger, Onions' stoic demeanor, and Holden's hopeless infatuation.
Onions finally sighed and turned to her. "Don't take it too personally," he said. "The captain just doesn't like being lied to. She's only pissed because she's worried about our safety. That's all."
Leoyorah hesitated. "Then… do you think she'll forgive me?"
Onions scratched his chin. "I dunno. But I do know one thing—" He smirked. "You might have to pay extra."
Leoyorah blinked. "Extra?"
Onions nodded, serious. "You're a princess, right? You can afford it."
Before Leoyorah could respond, Onions stood up. "I'll go talk to Zana. Just sit tight and don't pull anything weird."
As he left, the princess sighed and slumped back into her seat. This wasn't going how she planned at all.
Meanwhile, in the Captain's Quarters…
Zana was pacing.
Fast.
Back and forth, hands on her hips, frustration radiating off her in waves.
This was bad. This was so bad.
They were officially neck-deep in royal business, and that never ended well.
Her ship, her crew—this could be their undoing.
And yet, somehow, she had to find a way to make this work.
A knock at the door.
"Come in," she snapped.
Onions walked in casually, hands in his pockets, looking far too relaxed for the situation.
Zana shot him a glare. "Tell me you have good news."
He grinned. "Oh yeah. We got her good."
Zana raised an eyebrow. "She bought it?"
"Hook, line, and sinker." Onions smirked. "She thinks we're mad, so now we have leverage. We can ask her for a bigger payout, let's go for an extra 250,000 units."
Zana crossed her arms, considering. "That would cover a lot,"
It was a risky move—but a logical one. Leoyorah was royalty. If she wanted their help that badly, she could pay more.
Still, Onions frowned. "Thing is… I'm not sure it's gonna be that easy."
Zana let out a dry laugh. "Since when has anything ever been easy?"
She exhaled, rubbing her temples.
"Fine," she said. "We'll take her to Zusk. But once we drop her off—we're out. No more royal business. No more politics. No more crowns."
Onions nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
At least, that's what they thought.
Because as The Meridian continued its course, Space Marshal Thunam Koreth watched from his invisible cloaked ship—stalking.
The tension in the ship's cabin was thick enough to be sliced with a plasma blade. Princess Leoyorah, no longer hidden behind her holographic shell camouflage, sat in the middle of the crew—every single one of them armed and aiming at her.
Onions loomed over her, gripping what looked like a reinforced baton, Holden held a spatula—though in his hands, it was as threatening as a war hammer or so he thought.
Geiren, on the other hand, had no such subtlety; a large plasma gun was already charged and pointed straight at the glowing, crystalline woman.
Zana, however, remained calm. Too calm. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair before finally stepping forward.
"Alright," she said, her voice even. "Some one better start talking before my crew makes a very expensive mistake."
Leoyorah glanced around at the crew, her radiant crystalline form shimmering under the ship's lights. Her glow was soft, warm—almost hypnotic, if not for the clear fear and desperation in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I know I deceived you, but I had no choice. Please, let me explain."
Zana crossed her arms. "Then start talking."
Leoyorah took a shaky breath. "I am Princess Leorah of Planet Skaya. I am on the run—not just for love, but for something far bigger than that."
The crew didn't lower their weapons. Geiren scoffed. "Oh, fantastic. A royal runaway with a sob story. You do know we don't specialize in fairy-tale endings, right?"
Leoyorah pressed on. "You don't understand—my planet is in danger. My people are in danger."
She looked directly at Zana. "The rulers of Plurah, the Twin Princes, are not just after Skaya because of me. They want it because Skaya's core produces something far rare than what we are made of - Osmin Crystal—one of the rarest and most powerful metals in the galaxy."
That got everyone's attention.
Zana narrowed her eyes. "Osmin Crystal? Your planet's core produces osmin crystals?—"
"They found out." Leoyorah cut in, her voice urgent. "And now, marriage is no longer an option. They want the planet's core."
A heavy silence fell.
Leoyorah clenched her fists. "My lover, Prince Dhomian, is not like his brothers. He has been warning me for weeks. His brothers want Skaya. They want full control over the Osmin Crystal. And they are willing to burn my world to the ground to get it."
Onions finally lowered the spatula, though he still looked skeptical. "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"
Leorah hesitated for only a moment before reaching into her cargo case—slowly, carefully, as not to startle the already trigger-happy crew.
Then, she pulled it out.
A ring.
Not just any ring—one of the Three Rings of Plurah. It gleamed under the lights, its surface inscribed with markings that pulsed faintly. A piece of the Crown of Plurah itself.
The crew stared. Even Geiren looked impressed.
"I have seen this, somewhere," Vernon said.
Leorah explained.
"When the triplets killed their father, they melted the Crown of Plurah and forged three rings out of it. As long as all three of them possess their rings, they remain rulers. But if even one is lost, they can be legally dethroned under Plurah law—and the Elders will have full authority to strip them of power."
A slow, dawning realization spread across Zana's face.
"You plan to destroy it," she said.
Leoyorah nodded. "Yes. Dhomian and I made plans but he was scared of his brothers and what they could do to him or worse, me if they found out. He left me with his ring—this ring—to ensure his brothers could never regain full control. He is in Zusk, Where we are to find a forge master to melt and save my planet." She looked up at them, pleading.
"Zusk is the only place in the galaxy with the possibility of forge technology capable of melting it down completely. If we succeed, the Princes lose their claim to Plurah. They'll be powerless."
Zana inhaled deeply. "And you really think that's going to be enough? That they'll just roll over and give up their power?"
Leoyorah's face hardened. "No. That's why we need to act fast. They will stop at nothing to retrieve this ring And if they catch me before we destroy it, everything will be lost."
For the first time, the room felt truly silent.
Then—a slow, ominous clap.
The sound of Vernon Troppo, lounging against the far end of the cabin, smirking in amusement.
"Well, well," he mused. "Looks like we are really doomed, we're right in the middle of a good old-fashioned royal conspiracy, I should have taken out that life insurance when I had the chance, I guess we know who the corpses are on my card, onions, isn't that right?"
"Oh no, the curse!" Onions produced the card.
Geiren sighed, lowering her gun at last. "This is a damn mess."
Zana, however, wasn't smiling. Her mind was already racing, calculating risks, weighing possibilities.
The Captain's Decision
Zana pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled sharply. She hated this.
The princess had lied to them. Deception, especially on a spacefaring contract, meant their agreement was null and void. According to flight regulations, they were under no obligation to keep her aboard.
Leorah could leave if she wanted to.
Zana narrowed her eyes at the princess, her voice cutting through the lingering tension.
"You do realize that lying to your pilot—especially one as good as me—is a dumb idea, right?"
Leorah flinched but held her ground. "I had no choice—"
"Yeah? Well, now I have one." Zana stepped closer, arms crossed. "And I choose not to get involved in some royal drama over space crowns, planet cores, and who gets to rule what rock." Her voice dropped into something dangerously cold. "You lied to me. You endangered my crew. You could have gotten us all killed - could still get us killed."
Leorah opened her mouth, but no words came out.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Zana turned to Onions, her voice sharp. "Watch her. Make sure she doesn't pull any more surprises while I figure out how to clean up this mess."
Onions gave a curt nod. "Got it, Captain."
Zana stalked out, leaving the rest of the crew still somewhat stunned.
But while their captain was fuming, not everyone seemed upset.
Holden was practically melting where he stood. His jaw had gone slack, eyes glued to the radiant princess like he had just seen the most beautiful thing in existence.
"You are… so… shiny," he murmured, practically drooling.
Geiren rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of—wipe your damn face, Holden!"
Leorah shifted uncomfortably under the crew's mixed reactions—Zana's anger, Onions' stoic demeanor, and Holden's hopeless infatuation.
Onions finally sighed and turned to her. "Don't take it too personally," he said. "The captain just doesn't like being lied to. She's only pissed because she's worried about our safety. That's all."
Leoyorah hesitated. "Then… do you think she'll forgive me?"
Onions scratched his chin. "I dunno. But I do know one thing—" He smirked. "You might have to pay extra."
Leoyorah blinked. "Extra?"
Onions nodded, serious. "You're a princess, right? You can afford it."
Before Leoyorah could respond, Onions stood up. "I'll go talk to Zana. Just sit tight and don't pull anything weird."
As he left, the princess sighed and slumped back into her seat. This wasn't going how she planned at all.
Meanwhile, in the Captain's Quarters…
Zana was pacing.
Fast.
Back and forth, hands on her hips, frustration radiating off her in waves.
This was bad. This was so bad.
They were officially neck-deep in royal business, and that never ended well.
Her ship, her crew—this could be their undoing.
And yet, somehow, she had to find a way to make this work.
A knock at the door.
"Come in," she snapped.
Onions walked in casually, hands in his pockets, looking far too relaxed for the situation.
Zana shot him a glare. "How was my performance?"
He grinned. "Awesome, Oh yeah. We got her good."
Zana raised an eyebrow. "She bought it?"
"Hook, line, and sinker." Onions smirked. "She thinks we're mad, so now we have leverage. We can ask her for a bigger payout, 50% sounds about right,"
Zana crossed her arms, considering. "That would cover a lot,"
"I bet that screw bot knew what he was putting us up for when he took 70% on job, I am going to have a word with him when next I see his shiny bling face," Zana said.
It was a risky move—but a logical one. Leorah was royalty. If she wanted their help that badly, she could pay more.
Still, Onions frowned. "Thing is… I'm not sure it's gonna be that easy."
Zana let out a dry laugh. "Since when has anything ever been easy?"
She exhaled, rubbing her temples.
"Fine," she said. "We'll take her to Zusk. But once we drop her off—we're out. No more royal business. No more politics. No more crowns."
Onions nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
At least, that's what they thought.
Because as The Meridian continued its course, Space Marshal Thunam Koreth watched from his invisible cloaked ship—stalking.
Meanwhile
As Zaon's fleet cruised through deep space toward Zusk, the twins made a spectacle of the heavily armed soldiers sitting with them.
Their eyes gleamed with childlike fascination, studying the warriors as if they were exotic creatures rather than trained killers.
One of the twins leaned forward, pointing at a particularly nervous-looking soldier.
"Brother, look at that one," he said, lips curling into a grin. "He looks so sad… and scared. What can we do to make him feel better?"
The other twin tilted his head, inspecting the soldier like a scientist observing a new species.
The Twins' Song: "What Do Scared Little Soldiers Like?"
One of the twins tilted his head, fingers tapping rhythmically against his knee.
"Hmm… I wonder… What do scared little soldiers like? Perhaps a game? A song?"
His brother grinned, stretching languidly as he tapped his fingers in time with the beat.
Then, without warning, they began to sing.
"The Song of the Twins"
(A slow, eerie hum begins, building into a melody both hypnotic and unsettling.)
Twin 1:
"Oh, we were born from a king, not from a womb,
Pulled from the dark, shaped in a tomb."
Twin 2:
"He wanted a throne, he wanted control,
But he made three halves, a body, a soul and Something in between."
(The twins chuckle softly, their voices weaving together in perfect harmony.)
Twin 1:
"We dance in fire, we drink from pain,
Our games are cruel, our pleasures insane."
Twin 2:
"The taste of war, the thrill of screams,
Other creatures live, but never dream."
(They tap their fingers against the walls of the ship, the rhythm mimicking a heartbeat—slow and steady, then faster, then slower again.)
Twin 1:
"What do you fear? The dark, the deep?
The things that slither while you sleep?"
Twin 2:
"We fear nothing, not death, not fate,
We carve our names with blood and hate."
(The soldiers shift uncomfortably, their hands gripping their weapons as the melody takes on a haunting, almost ritualistic cadence.)
Twin 1:
"We take, we burn, we laugh, we kill,
A blade, a kiss, the same sweet thrill."
Twin 2:
"Your worlds are dull, your hearts are weak,
You cower, crawl, while we— "SEEK! SEEK! SEEK!" (They chant the last word in a rising, feverish cry.)
(Silence. The song ends as suddenly as it began.)
The soldiers sat frozen, their faces pale.
The twins grinned.
"Ah, but we ramble," one said, stretching.
"Yes, yes," the other murmured, eyes gleaming. "Too much singing. Not enough fun."
They laughed softly, their eerie mirth echoing through the ship.
The first twin sighed dramatically and leaned back. "Brother, what should we get when we arrive in Zusk? I hear it's a wonderful planet, full of exotic… pleasures."
The second twin smirked. "That depends… are we looking for entertainment or chaos?"
Their laughter was low and eerie, making the soldiers shift uncomfortably.
Moments later, one of them sighed again, stretching his arms lazily.
"Brother, I'm bored. These clowns bore me,such good song we sang and not even an applause. I should murder them all."
"Oh no, Dear brother. remember—good things come to those who wait."
Their eyes sparkled with amusement, as if they were the only ones in on a secret joke.
Zaon, sitting further up the ship, watched them from the corner of his eye.
Zaon's second-in-command shifted uneasily.
"Do they have any idea what they're walking into?" he muttered.
Zaon leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I doubt it. But it doesn't matter."
His second hesitated. "Why not just kill them now? It'd be easier."
Zaon's lips curled into a smirk. "No, no. Zusk is better. What happens in Zusk stays in Zusk. That place will swallow them whole."
With the bounty already placed, all they needed to do was distract the twins long enough for someone else to do the dirty work.
"Besides," Zaon added, "we don't even need to fight them. Just… send them to their grave."
Still, he couldn't shake the warning from the Elders.
"Be careful with those two. They may look docile but they are unpredictable. Dangerous. Perhaps even mad."
Zaon scoffed at the memory. He had yet to see anything remotely threatening from them.
His second-in-command was about to reply when the door suddenly slid open.
One of the twins strolled in, looking as casual as if he were in a palace, not a warship.
He smiled brightly.
"Ah, Commander Zaon, yes?"
Zaon said nothing. He just stared.
The twin clasped his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels.
"Tell me, Commander," he mused, "is there any rich, expensive food aboard this ship? I'm in the mood for something luxurious."
Zaon's second-in-command blinked. "We don't have anything like that," he muttered.
The twin sighed, placing a thoughtful finger to his lips.
"Ah… a pity," he murmured. "I suppose I shall have to try the local food when we arrive. It will be… fascinating, yes?"
He flashed them a slow, knowing smile, then turned and walked out without another word.
Zaon and his second exchanged looks.
"Did he hear us?" his second-in-command whispered.
Zaon narrowed his eyes.
"No," he said after a moment. "He didn't."
But something didn't sit right.
Still, he shoved the thought aside.
"Keep an eye on them," Zaon ordered. "No more risks. Make sure they're monitored at all times."
His second nodded and hurried out.
Zaon exhaled and turned back toward the viewport.
For a brief second, he thought he saw the twins smiling at him mischievously.
But when he blinked, they were already gone.
He shook his head. No matter.
"Get us to Zusk," he muttered.
The Meridian's New Mission
Zana and the crew stared at the tiny piece of glowing crystal.
"That's… her hair?" Holden muttered, eyes wide.
Onions inspected it with a keen eye, rubbing his fingers over its shimmering surface. "This little thing is worth more than fifty percent on the black market." He whistled low. "We could retire right now."
Zana ignored him, rolling her shoulders. "Alright, people. Listen up. This job just got a whole lot messier." She glanced at Leoyorah. "You're paying us well, and we don't cheat our clients—too much, of course. But now, you're asking for a whole new mission."
Leorah nodded. "I need help finding Dhomian. My navigation locator was damaged when Vernon warped into my room earlier. It was Oryn tech—it can't be repaired."
The crew exchanged glances. Zana pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Oh, great. Another problem."
"I can offer another crystal," Leoyorah said, reaching for her hair again.
Zana waved her off. "No. You've given us more than enough. We'll do it. New mission: Get to Zusk. Find Dhomian. Get out."
She turned to her crew. "Alright, what's our watchword?"
A beat of silence.
"…Captain, we don't have a watchword," Onions said flatly.
"I thought we were still figuring it out," Zana grumbled.
Before anyone could continue, Leoyorah shifted back into her Xhin disguise, and suddenly—
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Zana's suit started blaring alarms again.
Zana's stomach dropped. She had figured it out.
The suit had been detecting Leoyorah's camouflage this entire time. If her suit could pick up Xhin tech… then something or someone on Zusk could too.
Zana turned to Leoyorah, eyes narrowed. "You're not just any Skayan. You're a Skayan princess. You're basically a walking amusement park for bandits, mercenaries, kidnappers, and every scumbag on Zusk."
She sighed. "We need to get you a better disguise. Luckily, we have just the right person for that."
The entire crew turned to Vernon.
Vernon blinked. "…Oh. Oh. I didn't see that coming. Of course, it's me."
He clapped his hands together. "Give me a second, let me grab my potions."
He marched over to the freezer.
Holden squinted. "Uh. Vernon? Why are your magic potions in the freezer?"
Vernon waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. It keeps them fresh besides who would eat my portion?"
Holden took a slow step back. "…Wait. Have we been eating—"
A blood-curdling scream.
The crew turned just in time to see Vernon holding an empty container of what used to be his disguise potion.
His eyes bulged. "WHO ATE MY POTION?!"
They didn't have time to answer.
Because Leorah had already started transforming.
Not into a Xhin.
Not into a Skayan.
But into something else.
Something horrible.
The crew froze in horror as the princess's body twisted, warped, and expanded in unnatural ways.
Zana clenched her jaw. "Vernon. I'm taking this out of your pay."
"Wait, WHAT?! I don't even GET paid!" Vernon shouted.
In the heart of Zusk—the dirt-pile planet of lawlessness, crime, and unchecked chaos—the most dangerous place to be was the Unofficial I.G.C.B.
It wasn't just a bar. It wasn't just a gambling den. It was a pit of warlords, syndicates, bounty hunters, and the kind of people whose names were only spoken in whispers.
And yet, in the midst of all this violence, deception, and vice…
A lone singer stood on the stage.
He was Prince Dhomian of Plurah.
And his disguise?
A small mustache.
Somehow, miraculously, stupidly, inexplicably—it was working.
"For Love, No Price Too High" (A Song by Prince Dhomian)
Smooth, velvety, and utterly captivating—Dhomian sanh, eyes closed, lost in the melody. The room hushes, weapons lower, deals pause. Even the toughest criminals were entranced.
"Oh, my love, the stars would dim
If they dared to match your light.
Planets crumble, kings may fall,
But I'd burn for you tonight."
"For love, no price too high,
No walls too strong, no fate too tight.
If blood must spill, then let it pour,
For you, I'd fight a thousand wars."
"Oh, my love, they call me fool,
They say my heart is weak and wild.
But what is steel, what is might,
Against the beauty of your smile?"
The crowd was enchanted.
Hardened killers wiped away tears. A seven-foot bounty hunter held his heart. A cyborg warlord swayed in his chair.
Somewhere, a bar fight stopped mid-punch as a bruised man turned and whispered, "…Damn."
By the time Dhomian bowed, the entire room roared in applause. Flowers, credits, and possibly stolen treasures were thrown at his feet.
The Ping of Doom
But just as he stepped off the stage—
PING.
Then again.
PING. PING. PING.
Dhomian turned.
Across every bounty hunter's comm device, a new bounty had just gone live.
The entire bar went silent.
People pulled up their screens, muttering. Eyes flickered with interest. Some grinned.
Dhomian glanced at a nearby display.
TARGETS: THREE PRINCES OF PLURAH
CURRENT LOCATION: ZUSK
BOUNTY: 3,000,000 Units
ISSUED BY: UNKNOWN
Dhomian's blood ran cold.
His brothers were here.
And someone wanted them dead too, his own bounty had caused a stir but to put a bounty on all three of them.
He exhaled sharply, adjusting his mustache. Leorah might already be here, there was no time to spare.
Time to move.
He turned to slip away—but suddenly, a hulking bounty hunter blocked his path.
Dhomian's heart slammed against his ribs.
Had he been recognized?
Was his disguise finally failing?
The bounty hunter grinned, leaned in close, and stuck out his tongue.
"Autograph?"
Dhomian blinked.
A long, tense beat.
Then, he let out a breathless laugh and signed the hunter's tongue.
His disguise was foolproof.
The Expedian's Descent into Chaos
The Expedian 1.0 hovered just outside Zusk's chaotic atmosphere, its engines humming with anticipation. But inside the ship? Pure, unfiltered horror.
Holden was frozen. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, his eyes locked onto the abomination before him.
Zana, arms crossed, tried and failed to process the monstrosity standing in their midst. "How is this NOT worse?"
Vernon scratched the back of his head, forcing a nervous chuckle. "Well… it could have been worse."
"Worse than THIS?!" Zana gestured wildly at the tentacled horror that had once been Princess Leorah.
The princess, however, was absolutely thrilled. Her new form—a sinewy, pulsating mass of humanoid limbs interwoven with slick, bioluminescent tentacles—was perfect in her eyes.
"Oh, this is WONDERFUL!" she chirped, flexing her new appendages. "For the first time in my life, I feel… safe."
The crew exchanged wary glances.
Leorah turned to them, her many, many eyes glistening. "No one will recognize me now. No bandits, no mercenaries, no hunters. I can walk freely as a nobody. I am finally free!"
Zana pinched the bridge of her nose. "So… just to be clear… you're totally fine with this? You're not gonna sue us or anything?"
Leorah nodded, grinning with too many teeth. "We are cool. And I am grateful. Thank you so much!"
The crew was at a loss for words.
Zana grabbed Vernon by the collar, dragging him aside. "Tell me this is temporary."
Vernon gulped. "Well… funny story… I have no idea what that potion actually was."
Zana stared. "You WHAT?!"
Vernon shrugged. "I have no idea what majority of my portions really do,you know that! uh…Thought it was an emergency disguise potions?"
Zana's eye twitched. "So we didn't just disguise a princess… we transformed her into something cringe."
Vernon sighed. "Yeah, pretty much."
The Expedian shuddered.
Onions' voice cut in over comms. "Uh… Cap? We got something weird."
Zana turned, grateful for a distraction. "Define 'weird,' Onions."
"We're being tracked.""
Zana stiffened. "By who?"
Onions adjusted the scanner, frowning. "That's the thing. I can't tell. The signal keeps shifting."
Zana cursed under her breath. "Of course it does."
As the Expedian 1.0 dived into Zusk's smog-choked atmosphere, one thing was clear: this mission had just gotten a hell of a lot more complicated.
Zana paced back and forth in her cramped captain's cabinet, her boots making rhythmic thuds against the metal floor. Outside, the Expedian 1.0 autopiloted smoothly into Zusk's upper atmosphere, descending into the lawless, crime-ridden pit of a planet.
Trouble. Big trouble.
Onions had just reported in. That signal was a Space Marshal Cruiser. Thunam was here.
Zana groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why do I do this to myself?"
Thunam was here for them— his presence meant they were walking a razor's edge.
Zusk itself wasn't illegal to enter, but 99% of the time, anyone going there was doing something illegal. And if the Thunam got the idea that they were smuggling, aiding fugitives, or worse…
Yeah. They were neck-deep in this one.
Onions placed Leorah's broken tracking gadget on her desk. It blinked uselessly, a cracked display flickering weakly.
"Cap, another problem, she has no idea how to track her prince charming anymore, It's Gomethine standard tech," Onions said. "We can't fix it on our own."
Zana scowled. Of course it was. Gomethine tech was notoriously difficult to repair.
Leorah needed them. If she was going to find Dhomian, she'd need their help to navigate Zusk's twisted underbelly.
"Cap?" Onions prompted.
Zana held up a hand. "Give me a minute."
She needed to think.
She wanted to cut and run.
If Thunam caught wind of this, they'd be slapped with a hefty charge, minimum. Worse if he found out exactly who they were escorting.
But…
Onions crossed his arms. "She needs help, Zusk would swallow her up without us. When was the last time we ignored that?"
Zana exhaled sharply.
They always deliver.
She opened her mouth to remind him that they didn't have a catchphrase—
But Onions was already grinning.
Zana groaned, rubbing her face. "Fine. Let's figure this out."
The Bellaratador
Prince Dhomian found the store tucked in a crooked alley, the neon sign half-broken and indecipherable. It looked like a grungy, forgotten relic, the kind of place where shady deals thrived in the dark.
He stepped inside.
The air was thick with an unnatural musk, tinged with something chemical, metallic… wrong.
Behind the counter, the shopkeeper—a frog-like alien with bulging amber eyes and slick, rubbery skin—watched him closely. Beside him, another alien loomed—tall, suspicious, its form barely discernible in the dim glow of the shop's lighting.
Dhomian pulled out a small holo-chip and slid it across the counter. "I need what's on this list."
The frog-like alien skimmed it, then let out a low, guttural croak that sounded disturbingly amused.
"You want something good enough to start a forge? That won't do the job," he rasped. "But I know something that will. Expensive, though."
Dhomian raised a brow. "I'm interested."
The alien gave a sharp, deliberate click on his wrist console.
The shelves in the store shifted instantly, twisting and folding like a mechanical mirage—revealing something far worse beneath.
Rows of cages.
Caged exotic alien creatures, some whimpering, others silent, their eyes hollow with fear or rage. The scent of unwashed fur, damp scales, and fear clung to the air.
Dhomian's stomach tightened.
Some of these creatures had been tortured, maltreated—he could feel it.
But he masked his disdain behind a perfect, passive smile.
The alien shopkeeper waddled forward. "Just got in a new cargo," he said. "Rare. Sought after by many."
Dhomian followed as they weaved through the cages. Even the other creatures shrank away from what lay ahead.
The alien stopped at a reinforced energy cage and gestured.
Inside, a small, feline-like creature sat curled in the corner, its body covered in glass-like scales that shimmered faintly like a dying ember.
The Bellaratador.
From planet Nemsk—a world too close to its sun.
Dhomian instantly felt a pull toward it.
The creature's luminous blue eyes flicked toward him, wide and trembling. Around its frail-looking neck, a distinctive energy-absorbing collar pulsed—draining its power, keeping it weak, subdued.
The alien tapped the cage. "Don't let it fool you, This one? Body produces temperatures close to the surface of a star. Without the collar, it could turn a city block to ash in seconds. It's one of a kind"
Dhomian knelt. "Poor thing."
The Bellaratador flinched at his voice.
The prince reached out, placing his palm flat against the cage. The creature hesitated… then, slowly, pressed its tiny paw against the bars in return.
Bond formed.
Dhomian smiled. "Perfect. I'll take everything."
The Hunt Begins
Thunam watched from the cockpit of his cruiser, eyes narrowing as he spotted the three escape pods descending from the Expedian 1.0.
Clever. Zana must have figured out he was on her tail.
As long as the Expedian didn't physically touch down on Zusk's surface, there was no charge that would stick. Technically, they hadn't broken any laws. Yet.
But she wasn't that clever.
Now all he had to do was catch her in an illegal act.
Thunam tapped the holo-panel on his arm. His men shifted uncomfortably behind him, their helmets reflecting the ghostly blue light from the screens.
"Commander," one of them hesitated, "we're really descending into Zusk?"
Thunam didn't answer immediately. Zusk wasn't just lawless—it was G.O.R.E-classified as a high-risk planet. It didn't take kindly to officials, Marshals, or anything remotely legal.
If his team landed, they could be marked, hunted, even sold.
A risk he wasn't willing to take.
"I'm going alone."
The squad stiffened. "Sir, that's—"
"Final decision."
A query. A demotion. A court-martial.
Thunam didn't care.
As long as he could nail something on Zana. Once she was caught, her crew would scatter. The ship would be his to seize.
He strapped on his G.O.R.E. combat gear, the sleek plating adjusting to his frame, then pulled a protective hood over his head, hiding his identity.
"Monitor from here."
The pod doors sealed shut behind him. A violent burst of propulsion sent him plummeting toward Zusk.
Meanwhile, on Zusk...
The three escape pods hissed open upon landing, steam venting into the dry, polluted air.
Princess Leorah, Zana, and Lady Geiren stepped onto the rust-colored ground. The planet smelled of metallic dust and engine grease, and the distant sounds of gunfire and roaring laughter painted the picture of a world without rules.
Onions' voice crackled through Zana's comm.
"Thunam just launched a pod. He's coming after you."
Zana clicked her tongue. "Perfect. That just means we don't have to worry about him up there."
Lady Geiren scowled. "So what's the plan?"
Zana adjusted her jacket. "Simple. We don't get caught by Thunam. Find the prince and get out."
Leorah, still adjusting to her monstrous new form, flexed one of her tentacle-like appendages, watching it coil and uncoil. "We need to find Dhomian."
Zana smirked. "I know a place Space Entry Board among other things, Best place for info."
Onions chimed in again. "You mean the Unofficial I.G.B.C?"
Zana rolled her eyes. "Obviously. That's literally the only place worth checking."
Onions huffed. "Good luck not getting stabbed or sold."
Holden's voice popped in. "Bring me back a snack. Something weird."
Zana ignored him. to Vernon. "Keep working on an antidote for the princess."
Onions' voice was firm. "We're on it."
Zana took a deep breath, scanning the chaotic streets ahead.
They had a prince to find and a Marshal to avoid.
Zusk wasn't going to make either of those things easy.
The Hunt Tightens
The twin princes lounged in their gravity-adjusted seats, watching the flickering screens on their wrist-techs.
"Oh, look at this." One of them nudged the other. "Someone's blowing through a fortune."
The numbers kept climbing—5.2 million units and rising.
They exchanged knowing glances before breaking into laughter.
"That's definitely Dhomian."
The other prince grinned. "What do you think he's doing? Rescuing something? Buying something just to set it free again?"
"Oh, probably. Remember that time he bought that horrid monster just so he could 'release' it?"
"The one that ended up killing, what, ten people?"
"Twelve."
They laughed harder.
Still chuckling, one of them tapped a few buttons, activating a location trace.
The tech responded instantly.
"Got it. This is where the transaction took place."
Zaon entered just as the coordinates pinged on-screen.
The twins turned to him, still grinning.
"We know where our dear brother is, if he is there your princess should certainly be there,"
They sent the location to Zaon, who examined it with interest.
Perfect.
All he had to do was send this to the bounty hunters once they landed.
That would make things much, much easier.
Turning to his men, Zaon gave a sharp, commanding speech, preparing them for Zusk's notorious chaos.
The squad activated their Xhin-styled camouflage, their forms shifting into pseudo-Averyan disguises.
The twins burst into laughter.
"Oh, come on! You really think this works?"
"It's ridiculous! You look nothing like Averyans."
Zaon's soldiers shifted uncomfortably, their disguises flickering slightly as if they, too, doubted their effectiveness.
Still snickering, the twins pulled off their outer robes.
Underneath, they revealed sleek, high-tech bodysuits, the material shimmering with an unknown energy.
Zaon's brows furrowed.
"What kind of tech is that?"
The princes didn't answer.
They simply smirked.
Zaon wasn't sure if they were taunting him or just playing games.
Didn't matter.
They were descending into Zusk.
And once they landed, this game would finally come to an end.
The Unofficial I.G.B.C. - Chaos in Motion
"Alright, listen up." Zana turned to Leorah as they neared the entrance. "Quick survival tips for Zusk."
Leorah perked up. "Oh? Do tell."
Zana ticked the points off on her fingers.
"One—don't stare too much. That gets you challenged. Two—don't talk too long. That gets you scammed. Three—don't drink too much. That gets you sold. Four—don't get involved with any alien. That gets you married."
Leorah frowned. "…Married?"
"Or eaten. Depends on who."
Leorah's face twisted in horror. "That is not reassuring!"
"Five—if anyone is staring at you, change positions. That gets you… well, it gets you alive."
Leorah blinked rapidly. "These are terrible survival tips!"
"No, they're fantastic." Zana grinned. "If you're still breathing by tomorrow, thank me later."
With that, the crew stepped into the Unofficial I.G.B.C.
Welcome to the Pit
The moment they walked in, all eyes turned to them.
The noise died.
For a second, the weight of dozens of criminals, bounty hunters, and smugglers pressed down on them like a pack of hungry predators assessing their next meal.
Then, just as suddenly, the crowd lost interest, and everything returned to normal.
Zana led them to an empty booth. "Stay here."
She didn't wait for a reply before slipping into the crowd.
The Informant - Como
Across the room, Como, a trafficker of all things illegal, sat with his usual group of goons.
Zana slid into the seat across from him, her fingers casually shuffling a deck of cards as she grinned. "Deal me in."
Como's three bulbous eyes glinted with amusement. "Zana Haw Jr. What brings you to my humble table?"
They played. They talked.
She dropped the real question between bets. "Looking for a certain prince charming, seen anyone lately?"
Como didn't even hesitate.
"Prince Dhomian and his brothers?"
Zana's expression didn't change, but internally, she was shocked. How does he already know?
Como chuckled. "Easy. Open bounty."
Zana blinked. "What?"
Como slid a holo-display across the table. The bounty on the three princes flashed on-screen—millions in rewards.
Her stomach dropped. Oh, that's bad. That's very bad.
Como smirked, watching her reaction with growing suspicion. "You look uneasy, Zana. Something you're not telling me?"
Zana forced a laugh, standing up. "Hah! I was just thinking—what's the point of looking for him when everyone already is, I thought it was easy bounty?"
Como narrowed his eyes. "Mmm-hmm."
Zana excused herself quickly.
Como tilted his head toward one of his men. "Watch her, she knows something"
Meanwhile
Back at the booth, Geiren casually pointed at various bounty hunters across the room.
"See that group over there? That's the Spyda Gang. Their blades can carve through ship hulls like butter."
Leorah, now slightly concerned, nodded slowly. "…Noted."
"And those guys? Crow Hunters. They specialize in assassinations quiet, quick, and messy."
Leorah shifted in her seat. "You enjoy talking about this, don't you?"
Geiren grinned. "Oh, immensely. Great satisfaction"
Leorah sighed.
Meanwhile, across the booth—
Whilst on the Expedian.
"Absolutely not." Onions crossed his arms.
Vernon pouted. "But you'd be a great test subject, you always are"
"No, wait, what?"
"Just a tiny little potion." Vernon grinned, holding up a vial. "Leorah changed into a tentacle monster, so I have to figure an antidote, you know how the captain is, I need to find the antidote —come on, Let's test some more!"
Holden threw his hands up in horror. "No way! I like being handsome! And beautiful! I don't want to turn into a cringe creature! Who would love me, how would I make my comeback to space Acting?"
Vernon shrugged. "You'll probably be fine."
"Probably, you see it's words like that, that turn space princesses into space monsters, I refuse, I am so outta off here,"
Vernon turned to onions.
Onions stood up. "Don't even think about it, I am the vice captain, either Lolo or Holden do it."
Lolo bolted, spewing musical notes s, one after the other. They understood her meaning.
Vernon sighed dramatically. "No volunteers? Not even a little mutagen test, Holden, if the captain finds out you haven't been assisting our great course, you could get in trouble! Come on, say yes."
Holden glared. "I hate you so much right now."
Vernon smirked. "That's okay. You'll love me when you see how cool my potions are, I mean I have been secretly feeding you the rabomin portion for a while and it has been great, your reproductive organs still work, right?"
Holden prayed for his dear life.
Chaos was brewing.
Dhomian's Chaos – The Aftermath
The twin princes stood side by side, unamused.
Before them, the burnt remains of a shop smoldered under the toxic Zusk air, its once-grungy structure now reduced to charred debris.
Wild alien creatures rampaged freely, tearing through the streets. A six-legged, fire-breathing rodent shrieked past, while a jelly-like beast with too many eyes oozed across the wreckage.
The princes grinned at each other.
"Definitely Dhomian."
A shaken shop owner was brought forward, completely unscathed despite the destruction.
"Explain," one of the twins commanded lazily.
The owner trembled. "S-someone bought everything. A-all the creatures. Then… then he set them free!"
The princes nodded. Classic Dhomian.
"Did he look like us?"
The owner shook his head violently. "No! Different. He—he had a moustache!"
The twins frowned.
"…A moustache?" one of them echoed.
The owner nodded frantically.
The twins exchanged glances. "That's his disguise?"
Zaon and his men stood nearby. Zaon sighed.
"This doesn't help us track him. We need a way to lure him out."
The princes dismissed him instantly. "No need."
Zaon raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
One twin smirked. "Dhomian loves attention. He never got all the love Father had for us. Poor child, he was,"
The other nodded. "So where would he go?"
Together, they answered. "The I.G.B.C."
Zaon was bemused. "Really? That predictable?"
The princes just smiled knowingly.
Zaon sighed. Fine. If Dhomian was heading there, so were they.
Unraveling the Mystery
Meanwhile, Zana and Leorah huddled in a corner of the Unofficial I.G.B.C., whispering urgently.
"A bounty on all three princes?" Zana muttered. "That doesn't make sense. What does this mean?"
Leorah, looking increasingly worried, glanced around. "I don't understand it, who would do such a thing? Are the brothers here on Zusk too?"
"Possible." Zana frowned. "But this kind of bounty means something big is going down."
Geiren joined the conversation, flipping a small knife between her fingers. "Lots of reasons someone would put a price on royalty. Maybe it's political. Maybe someone wants to frame them. Maybe they pissed off the wrong people."
Zana rubbed her chin. "Or maybe they know something they're not supposed to."
Leorah's stomach twisted. "If Dhomian is here, we need to find him fast."
Not far away, a hooded figure sat, eavesdropping.
Thunam.
He leaned forward slightly, listening intently.
He still couldn't tell who the alien sitting with Zana was—or why she was so concerned about the Princes of Plurah.
But now he was certain of one thing—
Whatever was happening on Zusk was far bigger than just catching Zana Haw Jr, for now.
Showtime at the I.G.B.C.
The Unofficial I.G.B.C. erupted in flashing neon lights.
A voice boomed over the speakers.
"And now, for your entertainment, our number one maestro! The voice of heartbreak, the poet of passion—"
The crowd roared in excitement.
"Give it up for… the Singing Maestro!"
A spotlight illuminated the stage, revealing a figure with an exaggerated moustache, draped in an over-the-top velvet coat.
Dhomian.
As the first chords of his song played, he clutched the microphone dramatically.
""Dust in the Wind"
[Verse 1]
Love… a cruel, fleeting thing,
Torn from my grasp like dust in the wind.
Once, I held a promise so dear,
Now I wander, abandoned by those I called near.
[Chorus]
Oh, love—how you break and bind,
A bitter taste left behind.
In the shadows of forsaken hearts,
I found my peace in your shattered parts.
[Verse 2]
They turned their backs, left me alone,
Discriminated by blood I'd once known.
Family bonds turned cold and untrue,
In a world of lies, I only trusted you.
[Chorus]
Oh, love—how you break and bind,
A bitter taste left behind.
In the echoes of betrayal and pain,
Your gentle touch washed it all away.
[Bridge]
Through storms of sorrow, through endless night,
Your light—a beacon—gave me sight.
In your arms, the chaos calmed,
A haven found, where my heart was warmed.
[Verse 3]
Now with you, a beautiful dream unfolds,
A love that heals, a story untold.
No more shall I drift in despair,
For in your eyes, I find solace there.
[Chorus/Outro]
Oh, love—no longer cruel and blind,
In you, I've discovered the peace I find.
Though scars remain from battles lost,
Your love redeems me, no matter the cost.
The audience was captivated.
Until—
A scream.
"Dhomian!"
From the crowd, Princess Leorah shot up, eyes wide.
She didn't recognize him at first—damn that ridiculous moustache. But the song? It was unmistakable.
She rushed forward in pure excitement.
"Dhomian!?"
The entire room froze.
Zana swiveled.
The crew stared.
The bounty hunters? Their heads snapped toward the stage, faces lighting up in realization.
That was no ordinary singer with an incredibly good moustache for a disguise.
That was a prince of Plurah - and Prince Dhomian!"
And—most importantly—there was a bounty on his head.
Dhomian faltered. "Princess?" His eyes darted over her, momentarily confused by her transformed form.
Zana's stomach dropped. "Oh, hell, you have got to be kidding me!"
Geiren noticed it first. The bounty hunters moved. Hands gripped weapons.
Zana opened her mouth to yell a warning—
But before she could—
BAM!
The doors burst open.
A voice rang through the stunned silence.
"Hello, brother!"
The twin princes.
Standing in the entrance, grinning.
For a moment, dead silence.
Zana cursed. "Are you double kidding me!?—"
The twin princes strode into the chaos without a trace of distress—unperturbed by the imminent eruption of mayhem. Their eyes, however, were fixed on their long-lost brother.
"Ah, dear brother, you look so scrawny—has Zusk finally worn you thin?" one teased, his tone light despite the situation.
"We missed you! We were beginning to think you'd run away from us. Imagine that!"
"How have you been, brother? What mischief have you been up to?" they chorused in playful unison.
Their attention soon shifted to Princess Leoyorah, now transformed into a surreal, tentacle-laden creature. Just as they were about to question her unusual form, their gazes fell upon the distinctive ring encircling her neck.
"Could it be? Is that truly you, Leorah?" one prince whispered, reaching out to gently touch her shimmering, transformed skin. The texture, alien yet undeniably real, confirmed their suspicions. A ripple of laughter and giggles passed between them as they marveled at the absurdity of it all.
"She looks as ugly as a real Averyan"
"We should put her in a cage and study her, what sort of science or sorcery made this - who is responsible for this monstrosity!?" another giggled.
They both turned their attention to Zana and Geiren.
"Hah, you two, we are going to murder you two, but slowly,"
Amid the revelry, Commander Zaon—ever the wild card—stood perplexed. His brow furrowed in confusion as he observed the impromptu reunion. With a reluctant bow, he stepped forward and addressed the princes.
"I apologize for the intrusion," Zaon began, his voice heavy with resignation. "There is, in fact, a bounty on all three of you. I had no choice but to place it to save my planet, I can not allow an invasion by you two, your elders have promised to help us if you all were eliminated-" He paused, then added, "I also apologize to Princess Leorah, I cannot allow your return."
Before his words could settle, a bounty hunter suddenly lunged forward to interject—but one of the princes, with a flash of anger, emitted a searing beam of laser from his gloves.
The burst of energy turned the interloper into a burnt, crumpled heap before anyone could react.
"You should not interfere—that's simply rude," the prince remarked coolly.
"As you were saying, commander, no doubt those simpletons - elders put you up to this,"
They wheezed and giggled.
"you really thought we are the bad guys - okay, in hindsight, We look like the bad guys but I can assure you the one you should be worried about is our brother, Prince Dhomian!"
The Reveal
The twin princes grinned, their sharp, glimmering eyes locked onto their brother. "Dhomian, Dhomian, Dhomian..." One shook his head in mock disappointment. "You really had them fooled, didn't you?"
The other twin chuckled. "Commander Zaon, you see, we aren't the ones you should be worried about. We're merely trying to stop him from dragging innocent people into his tantrums."
Zaon narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"
One of the twins leaned in slightly, his expression both amused and dangerous. "You think we're reckless. Destructive. Maybe even cruel." He glanced at the burnt corpse on the ground and shrugged. "Fair."
"But our dear brother? He's something else entirely," the other continued, his grin widening. "He's not some poor, abandoned prince. He's a schemer. He's the one plurah's precious elders answer to. And let's not forget why we're really here."
The crowd stirred uneasily. The bounty hunters lowered their weapons ever so slightly, sensing a shift in the air.
"Skaya's core," one twin said, snapping his fingers. "You know, the one rich with ultra-rare solid minerals? Yeah, he wants it. He wants it all."
Dhomian tilted his head, his smile still in place.
"But our dear father never loved him," the other twin whispered, his voice almost mocking. "Not enough, anyway. So he's spent his entire life taking."
Leorah stiffened. "What?"
Dhomian let out a cackle, slow and drawn-out, before grinning from ear to ear.
"You're catching on, Princess," he purred.
The twins took a step closer, eyes gleaming with amusement. "He brought us here to be killed. He wanted you, with that pretty little ring around your neck, to be caught red-handed, think about it, dumb-dumb, commander zaon as his men and the supposed princess to be married in zusk, by the Planetary Ruling Body that's all the evidence. It'd be your fault. Your planet would pay the price. And, of course, he'd paint our deaths as a crime committed by Skaya, giving him every excuse to wage war against it."
Zaon's jaw clenched. Leorah's fingers curled into fists.
"And you all bozoos here, your precious Zusk?" one of the twins added with a lazy wave of his hand. "A lawless planet. No one would mourn it. No one would object if it burned,"
The room buzzed with hushed murmurs. Even the most hardened bounty hunters looked uncertain now.
Dhomian only smirked. "Not bad, brothers. You got most of it right." He spread his arms. "I do want Plurah. I do want Skaya. And I will have them. My rule is rightful. After all..." His voice softened. "I was the first. The first clone. The first son."
His eyes darkened. "But I was never enough for him, was I?"
The twins clapped slowly, grinning. "A tragic story, really," one sighed. "We'd almost feel bad."
"But here's the problem, Dhomian." The other tilted his head. "You're not the violent type. You never had the stomach for it, we do."
"You don't have the stomach for it," his twin added. "So tell us, brother—how exactly were you planning to murder us?"
Dhomian's smirk curled into something far more sinister. "Oh, you think I'd get my hands dirty?"
He reached down, fingers unclasping the small collar around Bella's neck. The tiny, fluffy creature at his feet trembled for a moment—then its body convulsed.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the hall.
Then it grew.
Flesh stretched, bones snapped, muscles expanded grotesquely. Fangs jutted from its maw, rows upon rows of jagged teeth gleaming in the flashing club lights. Its once-soft fur darkened, coiling into spiked tendrils.
A monstrous roar tore through the Unofficial I.G.B.C.
The club erupted.
Bounty hunters leapt for cover as Bella—now a towering thermal absorbing nightmare of gnashing teeth and razor limbs—swiped at the nearest unfortunate soul. Blood sprayed across the walls as chaos consumed the room.
The twins?
They just laughed.
"Oh, this is fun," one of them giggled.
"Brother," the other chimed in, grinning ear to ear, "you should have led with this!"
Total Chaos
The Unofficial I.G.B.C. was engulfed in madness.
Bella—no longer a small, fluffy creature but a towering nightmare—rampaged through the bounty hunters, its jagged limbs slicing through anything in its path. The beast let out a monstrous roar, absorbing the heat from its surroundings, causing explosive bursts of energy to detonate in rapid succession.
Zaon gritted his teeth as he dodged a collapsing balcony. His fists clenched as he prepared for the worst.
Zana, now fully suited up in her battle gear, dashed through the mayhem, gloved and armed. She vaulted over wreckage, firing rapid bursts at the monster while cursing under her breath.
Geiren was already unloading everything she had into the beast, her guns blazing without a moment's pause. "Will this damn thing just die already?!" she snarled, sending a grenade right into Bella's hide.
The explosion sent a shockwave through the room, knocking bodies across tables and shattering the already unstable club infrastructure—but Bella barely flinched.
Atop the beast, riding it like a twisted warlord, was Dhomian.
His expression was unreadable, but his gaze was locked onto one person—Leorah.
She was his priority.
"I'm sorry, Princess," he called out, his voice cutting through the pandemonium. "I didn't want to trick you. But look at you now." His grin widened. "You're a monster—just like me."
His voice softened into something almost sympathetic. "It would be better if you were dead."
Leorah froze. Her chest tightened.
This wasn't just betrayal.
This was execution.
The twins, meanwhile, were having the time of their lives.
Their laughter rang out like a pair of demented bells as they tore through everything in their way—bounty hunters, mercenaries, and anyone foolish enough to still be standing.
At one point, one of them casually turned to the other and smirked.
"Should we stop Dhomian?"
The other tilted his head, thoughtfully watching the carnage unfold. "Eh. Let them thin out the crowd first. Let's enjoy ourselves, brother."
Another round of massacre ensued.
Zana and Geiren were now fighting off hordes of bounty hunters, too, stuck in an endless loop of shoot, dodge, survive. There was no pause in the madness.
Fists. Blades. Bullets. Screams.
This wasn't a fight.
This was a warzone.
And somewhere beneath all the chaos, trembling under a table, was Thunam.
He pressed his hands to his ears, shivering uncontrollably.
This was not what he signed up for.
Meanwhile—far above, aboard the Expedian 1.0…
Onions, Holden, and Vernon were lounging around, watching the mess unfold through a holo-feed.
They could hear every explosion.
See every body drop.
And Vernon, arms crossed, chuckled to himself. "Man. Can you imagine how much fun the Captain is having down there?"
Holden shook his head. "Ironically."
Onions just sighed.
The Chase Through Chaos
Leorah ran, barely staying ahead of the molten carnage Bella unleashed.
The monstrous creature—now fully transformed—spewed lava from its gaping maw, coughing up searing beams of red-hot energy that blasted apart the club's remaining walls.
Zana and Geiren flanked Leorah, guiding her through the madness as debris and bodies rained around them.
Behind them, the twins ripped through everything in their path—bounty hunters, rogue fighters, even terrified civilians who had nowhere to escape. Their battle suits amplified their movements, each punch and kick sending foes shattering into walls or the floor.
It was a losing battle.
Bella was unstoppable.
Then—BOOM!
A sudden EMP rocket exploded against the beast's massive form, sending crackling waves of blue energy through its body. For a brief moment, Bella staggered, its movements sluggish, its monstrous eyes flickering—
—but then it snapped back with a vengeance.
Como—the one who had fired the EMP—had no chance.
Bella lunged, its massive jaws closing around him in a split second.
His headless body collapsed before the rest of him was incinerated in a molten blast.
Zana cursed. "EMP rounds! Now!"
Geiren didn't hesitate. She switched her weapons to high-impact EMP shells and started unloading shot after shot at the beast. The rounds disrupted Bella's energy flow, causing it to jerk and spasm, but not stop.
Atop the monster, Dhomian was still talking.
He sighed, almost regretfully.
"Princess… please." His voice carried through the battlefield, somehow calm despite the chaos. "Accept your death. Accept your people's fate. I swear to you—it will be painless."
His expression was unreadable, but his words dripped with warped sincerity.
"I'll destroy it all. Plurah, Skaya—every wretched place that has ever wronged us. I won't let them hunt you. I won't let them sell you."
A slow, twisted smile.
"I'm saving you."
Zana saw red.
She surged forward—but before she could reach him, something slammed into her.
One of the princes.
Zana crashed hard into a shattered booth, barely stopping herself from tumbling further.
The prince loomed over her, tilting his head.
"Ah, yes. You." His voice was light, amused. "We're still going to murder you for what you did to the princess."
Leorah and Geiren engaged—Leorah using her newly honed tentacles, Geiren providing cover fire.
The fight was brutal.
Leorah was adapting fast. Her tentacles whipped out with precision, striking at the prince with enough force to send him skidding back.
For a moment—it looked like she might win.
She was pushing him back—
—until her body suddenly shook.
Something was changing.
Her form started glowing.
The Skayan essence within her was reactivating.
The transformation was reversing.
The potion was wearing off.
A Battle Beyond Madness
The battlefield had been reduced to pure chaos.
Zana versus the twins.
Geiren versus Bella.
Leorah versus Dhomian.
There was no more strategy—no more control—only raw destruction.
Zana vs. The Twin Prince
The twin prince lunged, his battle suit amplifying every movement, sending him across the distance in an instant. Zana barely had time to throw herself into a roll as his fist obliterated the wall behind her.
She came up gloved and ready, her own suit adjusting to the fight.
The prince smirked. "Oh, good, you're going to make this fun."
Zana didn't answer—she just launched herself forward, throwing a rapid series of strikes—but he was fast. Every hit she landed felt like punching steel, and his counterattacks were like being hit by a starship engine.
He grabbed her arm and flung her through a neon-lit pillar. She barely stabilized mid-air, twisting her body and blasting off the ground to retaliate with a devastating kick to his chest.
BOOM.
The prince crashed through three tables before coming to a stop. He wiped his mouth, grinning.
"Oh, you're really gonna die for that."
Geiren vs. Bella
Bella had become a raging, chaotic beast.
Geiren kept firing EMP rounds, each one sending shocks of energy disruption through Bella's monstrous body.
But it wasn't enough.
The creature was adapting. Each EMP round slowed it down less and less.
And then—Bella roared.
A massive shockwave of heat and force exploded outward.
Geiren barely had time to dive behind cover before the molten blast disintegrated everything in front of it.
The floor melted into lava, and Bella charged through it like it was nothing.
Geiren switched tactics, grabbing a grappling hook from her belt and swinging upward, firing plasma shots from above.
But Bella was already tracking her.
A laser beam shot from its mouth, barely missing Geiren as she flipped mid-air.
"Okay," she muttered. "That's new."
She landed, reloading her weapons, watching Bella snarl and charge again.
Leorah vs. Dhomian
Dhomian watched her.
He wasn't fighting.
Just… watching.
"You're pathetic," he said. "Weak. Helpless. Pitiful."
Leorah glared at him, but he continued, voice smooth, cutting deep.
"You've probably lived your whole life in fear and doubt. You think you're special? No one will ever truly love you. You're insignificant."
His voice softened, almost mocking.
"But I understand. We are the same, aren't we?"
Leorah's body trembled, her Skayan energy fluctuating.
And then—she exhaled.
Something clicked inside her.
She looked up, her form fully stabilizing into her Skayan self.
"No," she said softly. "I am not weak."
She stepped forward, her body radiating power.
"Yes, I've lived in fear. I've been hunted. I've been treated like an object instead of a person."
She clenched her fists.
"But I am still Skayan."
She took another step.
"And maybe it's time I accepted it."
Her entire body ignited with Skayan brilliance.
A burst of pure, luminous energy surged outward—
—growing—
—expanding—
—until it became impossible to contain.
"ZANA, GEIREN—CLOSE YOUR EYES!" she shouted.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOM.
A radiant white explosion engulfed everything.
For a moment—there was nothing but colorless oblivion.
The Aftermath
When the light finally faded, the battlefield was unrecognizable.
Bella lay unconscious, its monstrous body dormant for the first time.
The twins were temporarily blinded, their suits struggling to recalibrate their vision.
Everyone's skin—even their clothing—had been drained of color, their bodies left pale, ghostly white.
Zana and Geiren, despite their shields, had felt it too—disoriented, momentarily colorless.
And Dhomian…
Dhomian had suffered the most.
He stood frozen, his body completely drained of color.
Not moving.
Not breathing.
Even his shadow had been burned into the floor, smeared in pieces.
He was gone.
Four Days Later
Zana woke up in her cabin, color slowly returning to her body.
She groaned, rubbing her head, before stumbling out toward the cockpit.
The crew was already there—Geiren, Onions, Vernon—waiting.
Onions glanced at her.
"Welcome back, Captain," he said.
Zana frowned. "How long was I out?"
"Four days."
She blinked.
"…Damn."
Geiren sighed. "You missed a lot."
Zana looked around. "So… what happened?"
Onions smirked.
"Well, the twin princes got arrested by thunam—for a moment."
Zana raised an eyebrow. "For a moment?"
"Thunam was given some not so professionally friendly orders and they were set free… they went back and murdered all their elders."
Zana snorted. "Of course, they did."
"And Dhomian?"
Onions shrugged. "Didn't survive."
Zana leaned against her chair. "And Leorah?"
"She returned to her planet. The CCTT and GORE have offered to provide planetary defenses for them."
Zana exhaled. "Good for her."
Then she frowned. "Wait—what about us? What did we get out of all this?"
Onions grinned.
"Oh, yeah. We got 3.5 million units."
Zana's eyes lit up. "HELL YEAH!"
Onions continued.
"And. We used every penny to repay the damages in Zusk."
Zana's face fell.
"…Oh, come on."
Geiren chuckled.
"But," Onions added, "Leorah left us this."
He held up a tiny piece of crystal—a shimmering fragment, still glowing with Skayan energy.
"At least it's worth something."
"We got this," Holden produced Bella, she was coiled up sleeping. It gave zana start.
"We are not keeping that thing,"
"Oh come, on, it is adorable and she loves me," Holden said.
"Oh hell no, we aren't!"
Zana stared at it for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"…That was a pretty good adventure."
She dropped herself into the captain's chair, stretching.
"Alright, crew. Enough moping."
She grinned.
"Time to get back to work. Let's find our next job."
The Expedian 1.0 hummed to life.
And with that—
—they were off.