Miri's neck tenses as she jerks her head back, bewildered by Navar's statement. "What idea are you talking about, Navar?"
Navar's lips curve into a confident smile as he glances at Jax. "Jax, get a ship ready. We're going to that planet."
"Navar, I say this because I love you. You're out of your mind," says Jax
"Trust me, guys. I got a plan."
"Just what do you mean plan? That doesn't sound within your capabilities. Jax and I will pass on going, and you should, too."
Navar strides toward the exit of the hotel room, the thick red carpet muffling his footsteps. "Fine by me. I'll just go on my own."
Navar continues until Miri lets out a sharp exhale of irritation, causing him to stop. "I can't believe I'm saying this. Maybe Navar is right. The enemy isn't expecting a bunch of rookies to enter the planet. If we go, we can do something by using the element of surprise. Besides, we can't let Navar go alone. He wouldn't get that far, anyway."
Navar casts a triumphant glance at Jax, his eyes alive with jubilation. "Come on, Jax…"
Jax's face lights up with a broad grin, his lips stretched into a smile. "Hell, if you're goin', I don't have a choice."
"Glad you guys are comin' with me!" says Navar.
"We're only coming because you'd get yourself killed if you went alone," says Miri.
Navar lets out a sly, amused chortle. "Alone? Who said I was going alone?"
Jax and Miri scratch their heads in puzzlement, their hands scraping against their scalp. "What do you mean?" asks Jax.
Navar, Miri, and Jax exit the hotel and begin their journey through the bustling city, the sun warming their faces as they search for people to join their expedition. "You think the other entries will join us, Navar?" asks Miri.
"Of course, how can they pass up making a name for themselves by taking down the goblin army!" says Navar.
After glancing around momentarily, Miri notices Denkei perched beneath a large tree. "Look, there's that magician from the exams."
"Leave this to me, guys," Navar strides toward Denkei, his feet rustling the delicate grass beneath him. He crawls toward Denkei and then nuzzles the book downwards, sharing a moment of eye contact.
Denkei glances at Navar before averting his gaze to the pages of his book. "Go away."
"Nah!"
"Why do you come up to the hill and bother me when I'm reading?"
"Because I need a favor from you."
"What would that favor be?"
"Come help me fight Overlord and his henchmen."
"How do you plan on getting there?"
"Well, you see, we found the coordinates for their exact location, and we're getting ready to take a ship there."
"What about their planetary defense system? What about the thousands of soldiers on standby guarding the planet? What are your plans for that?"
"We're going in head-on!"
"Yeah, that plan sounds great. Why don't you go ahead and have our funerals ready while you're at it?"
"Hey, don't you panize me, you jerk!"
"I'm not "patronizing" you; I'm just saying your totally awesome plan is so amazing. You really spent a lot of time thinking it through, didn't you…"
Navar feels his teeth grinding against each other as his face grows hot with anger. "Why you!"
"Now, if you excuse me, I have some totally exhilarating spells to read," Denkei places his book back into his line of vision.
"Fine!" Navar storms off from Denkei, his fists clenched. As Navar walks down the hill to Jax and Miri, they notice his face contorted with rage. "So I take it he didn't want to join?" asks Miri.
"Yeah, we don't need that jerkbutt, anyway!"
"Jerkbutt?" Jax and Miri think to themselves.
"I had a feeling this would happen. I knew some rookies wouldn't be on board flying to the Goblin base. Let's just look for more people," says Jax.
"Whatever! Besides, There's someone twenty times better we can get on our side!"
Navar, Miri, and Jax arrive at the gym, their eyes drawn to the window, where they see Juyon working out. "There he is!" says Navar.
Navar taps Juyon's shoulder, causing him to stop his bench press exercise. "Hey Navar, what do you want?"
"Can we talk in private, Juyon?"
"Sure."
Navar leads Juyon outside to the back of the gym. "Listen, Juyon. We have a plan."
"What would that be?"
"We're going to the Goblin's primary base of operation, and we're going to fight them. We could use someone like you to help us out. Do you want to join?"
Juyon mulls over Navar's proposal, his fingers resting on his chin. "I'll go with you."
"Really?"
"I agreed with you back there. I think it's useless to sit back and relax while other people fight a war."
"Thanks, Juyon. I knew I could count on you."
"When are we leaving?"
"Now."
"Ok, just let me put on my Warrior armor, then I'll meet you by the front. I also have seen someone else who can help us."
"Who would that be?" asks Navar.
Navar, Miri, Jax, and Juyon arrive outside a club and feel the thumping of the techno music vibrating through the air. Miri's eyebrows twitch together in an expression of surprise. "They have a dance club on this planet? How odd."
"Yes, they do, and I saw that moron here on my way to the gym."
As they enter the club, they see Seiju in a booth surrounded by two young girls, their fingers tracing his shoulders. Miri's face contorts in revulsion as she shakes her head. "What a chauvinist."
"Seiju, you're so strong. Tell us more stories about how you fought those bandits alone," says one girl.
"Yeah, I kicked their asses so easily, I fired one shot of my bow and POW! I make them all vanish."
The other girl caresses Seiju's arm. "Seiju, you're so strong and sexy. I wish there were more guys like you."
"You two make my day. Now give me a kiss," Seiju closes his eyes to go in for a kiss, unaware of the hushed whispers of Navar, Miri, Jax, and Juyon as they wave the groupies away. Seiju opens his eyes to see Navar glaring at him. "Hey, Seiju!"
Seiju jumps, startled by Navar's sudden appearance. "Yo, what the hell, dude! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"Is this one of your teammates?" asks one girl.
"Yeah," says Seiju.
"Seiju, 499 summoned us," says Navar
"That's odd. I thought Bushi-" Juyon yanks Seiju from his booth and takes him outside. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!"
Seiju kicks a trashcan, sending it flying into the exterior brick wall with a loud clang. "What the hell, dude? I was with two totally hot babes, and I was about to kiss them. What's wrong with you guys?!"
"Save it Seiju," says Juyon.
"Why are the four of you gathered together?"
"We're going to go to the main goblin base of operations and fight them," says Navar.
"Well, count me out, dude. I'll leave it to you guys. Now, please, let me get back to those gorgeous girls in there," says Seiju.
Seiju tries to return to the club, but Juyon's grip on his shoulder makes him pause. "Oh, no, you don't."
Seiju thrashes his arms around, letting out a loud yell of frustration. "Why, why, why come on, bro! Just let me go, please!"
"Seiju, you should go with them," says the girls.
"Yeah, you're so strong. I bet you could take out the goblins all by yourself," says another girl.
"Yeah, Seiju. You were the one who led the charge on the last mission. Without you, we'd be screwed," says Jax.
"Ok, only because these guys are useless without me!" says Seiju.
Navar bubbles up with joy as he leaps into the air with excitement. "Yes!"
As Seiju sets off with Navar, Miri, Jax, and Juyon, the girls blow him kisses and wave. "You can do it, Seiju. We believe in you!" says the girls.
Seiju sighs, his breath filled with the rage of being taken from the club. "I can't believe you guys dragged me into this!"
"Well, would you rather sit and do nothing, or do you want to fight!!?" asks Navar.
"I'd rather sit down and make out with beautiful chicks, but since you kidnapped me, I have no choice!"
"Oh, you couldn't have gotten those girls without lying to them about how strong you were," says Miri.
"Shut up, Miri. You're just jealous your sweet lips aren't meeting mine," Seiju puckers his lips and blows a kiss in Miri's direction.
Miri rolls her eyes and shakes her head in frustration. "You're grossly overconfident."
"And you're just madly in love with me," Seiju flashes a flirtatious wink at Miri.
Miri swivels her head to face Navar. "Why is he here?"
"Because he's a great shot with that bow!" says Navar.
"Why thank you, Navar. At least you appreciate my skill, unlike a certain someone."
"Just shut up before I cut you apart. You're getting on my last nerve," says Miri.
Navar, Miri, Jax, Juyon, and Seiju continue their search until they see Astran swiveling her sword around. Astran takes a moment, her breath coming out in shallow gasps as she stares at her trembling hands, frustrated at her recent failures. "What the hell is wrong with me? Why can't I get over this?"
Astran's eyebrows furrow when she notices Navar, Miri, Jax, Juyon, and Seiju outside the training suite window. "What are they doing here?" Navar opens the door, and a brief silence ensues as they look into each other's eyes. "What do you want, Navar?"
"All of us plan to go to the Goblin's primary base. Do you want to tag in?"
"That's odd. They're planning to go to the Goblin Base all on their lonesome. But wait, if we accomplish something and I prove myself, I might be able to become an entry," Astran thinks to herself. "Sure, I'll join you guys."
"Sweet, Thanks, Astran!"
"You're welcome, I guess. When are we going?"
"Right this second."
"Ok, let me get my armor. I'll meet you out front."
Navar and the rookies make their way through town until they reach a red-bricked park road. While Nozomi runs along the road, she feels a sudden thud as she bumps into Navar. "S-sorry…"
"It's alright," Navar reaches out his hand to her, offering her a steady grip to help her up.
"Thanks," Nozomi wipes the dirt from her knees, then directs her gaze toward Navar. "Come on, don't be scared... just ask him if you can join," Nozomi thinks to herself.
"Everything ok, Nozomi?" asks Navar.
"Well, yes... I came to you because I s-saw... I mean h-heard you were recruiting people to go to the Goblin base, and you could use a te-le…Telepathy user like me, so I, uh- I was wondering if I could- j-join you?"
"Sure."
"R-really?"
"Yeah, we could use your telewhatever you call it. We were actually looking for you anyway, so you bumpin' into us just made things a hell of a lot easier!"
"Thanks," says Nozomi.
"Ok, now that we got everyone, let's find a ship!" says Navar.
"Wait, hold up," Navar swivels around to see Denkei, and his lips curve downward in a frown. "Oh, look who it is. What do you want?"
"I can't believe you got people to join in on your plan."
"So now you want to join?"
"Yeah, only because you need me more than you realize."
Navar glances at Denkei with a playful smirk on his lips.
Denkei releases an irritated sigh, the breath of it ruffling his hair. "Good grief, what do you want now?"
"Say you're sorry for being a jerkbutt, then I'll let you come along!"
"He can't be serious. Well, I guess I have no choice," Denkei thinks to himself. Denkei groans and releases a disgruntled sigh. "Navar, I'm sorry for calling your plan stupid. It's amazing. It's genius, yadda yadda. I'll join."
"Say it like you mean it."
"Goodness this kid is annoying," Denkei thinks to himself. "Navar, I'm sorry for trashing your plan. Please forgive me and let me join you."
Navar's face lights up with a wide grin, his bright white teeth gleaming. "Much better! Now then, let's get the ship!"
They arrive at the ship bay and stumble upon the sound of engines whirring and the sight of pilots and engineers running around the ships. As Miri scans the area for a ship, she notices Rojo working on a ship from afar, his hammer ringing through the warehouse. "Hey Jax, isn't that your friend from your Cadet exam?"
"Yeah, that is! Navar, can he come!?"
"Of course!"
"Ok, let me get his attention," Jax lobs a pebble at Rojo, the rock gently tapping his head and causing him to glance in their direction. Jax beckons Rojo with a silent wave of his hand.
Rojo tiptoes over, his eyes wide and curious. "What's up?"
"We're going to the goblin base."
"How did you get those coordinates?"
"Admiral Bartholomew dropped them. Do you want to come?"
"Of course! I have to return the favor for you helping me during the Cadet Exam!"
"Good, now for the hard task," says Miri.
"What do you mean?" asks Navar.
"We have to steal a ship."
"That's easier said than done. How do you suggest we'll get by those guards?" asks Rojo.
"Leave it to me," Denkei extracts ten rubber bodies from his robe, then presses his mage stick into the concrete warehouse floor. "Sorry for this. Just know that I'm not what this spell implies."
"Whatever, bro, just do it," says Seiju.
"Mage Spell Alchemy: Great Harem!" The rubber bodies morph into an ensemble of voluptuous women, their striking features inciting nosebleeds and other aroused actions throughout the area.
As they dash through the warehouse, a large travel spacecraft comes into view, its red and deep black colors glistening in the light. Rojo pulls a remote from his pocket, and the sound of a motor fills the air as he presses the red button, releasing the ramp.
"Let's get in!" says Navar. The rookies board the ship, and at the press of a button from Rojo and Jax, the ship's engine roars to life.
As Juyon approaches the rear window of the ship, he hears the guards shouting orders to each other as they clamber into their vessels. "That's going to be a problem."
"Already got a plan for that, don't worry!" says Rojo.
"Ok, guys, get strapped in. I'm goin' to get this thing to fly!" says Jax.
With everyone in their seats and the straps fastened, Jax hits the start button, and the spaceship judders and rumbles as it leaves the warehouse and flies up into the sky. Juyon peeks over his shoulder and sees the shimmering spaceships tailing them. "Rojo, whatever you are doing, you should do it now."
Rojo reaches out and presses a blue button on a square device with multiple buttons, causing an E.M.P. to activate and disable the ships below.
"What did you do?" asks Miri.
"I set an EMP off to disable their ships. Now we aint gotta worry about them following us," says Rojo.
Navar's grin widens as they exit the Evac-12 atmosphere and enter space, the stars glimmering around them. "Hell, yeah, guys! Let's do this!"
We enter the POV of 499 and the other soldiers below repairing the damage from Rojo's EMP. A soldier approaches 499, who's in the garage. "Captain, what should we do about those kids?"
"I and another legion of men will pursue them. For now, get multiple soldiers to place their faces all over the walls of this planet. They are now fugitives."