Miri's stomach drops as she surveys the blaster rifles surrounding her and her comrades, and a droplet of sweat falls from her temple. "Oh damn, this isn't good."
Shin's gaze shifts to a shadowy corner of the room. "Hey, Iko, come over here. These are brats that were snooping around for your invention."
"Thank you for telling me that," Iko materializes from the shadows, his blaster rumbling in its holster. "Who should be the first one to kill Shin? There's a ton of options to pick from?"
Shin extends his arm and points at Rojo. "Try that ugly-looking mite over there."
"Hey, you know I can hear you, right…" says Rojo. Iko takes the bag from his face and, upon seeing Rojo, he bursts into laughter. "Ok, I know I'm not the cutest thing ever. At least have some respect before you go on and kill me."
"You're Jo's kid, aren't you?"
"Wait, how do you know that?"
"Are you kidding me? You look like a carbon copy of him. And your father and I built the device you're looking for!"
"Are you serious!?"
"Yeah, you know what? We'll give you a better version of the cloaking device. How does that sound?"
"That's great, thanks!" Everyone exhales, the tension in the air dissipating with their sighs.
"Hey, Shin, tell those guys to take those bags off those kids' faces," says Iko.
"Ok," Shin gestures for his guards to remove the bags obstructing everyone's vision.
"What planet are you guys trying to bypass?"
Navar's eyes sparkle with determination, and his lips curve into a confident smile. "We're goin' to planet Molorx to defeat the Goblins."
"The Goblins? I heard they're pretty tough. Are you sure you guys can handle them on your own? "
"Of course we can."
"I wouldn't take them too lightly, kiddo. I heard Overlord's strength is comparable to an Ozanian Captain."
"Who cares? If they attack our home, we'll attack their home back. They want to pick a fight with us. We'll fight them back."
A pause lingers in the air, and then Iko's lips curl up, a smile of joy beaming towards Navar. "Kids like you are few and far between."
Iko meanders to a different part of the cabin and returns with the Cloaking Device, its buttons glowing as he proffers it to Rojo. "Here you go, and here are the schematics for its installation," Iko hands Rojo a booklet, each page filled with precise instructions.
"Thanks."
"No problem. How has Jo been doing? It's been ten years since he visited these parts."
"Oh, he died four years ago."
"No, he didn't..." Iko gives Rojo a knowing smirk, the corners of his mouth curling in satisfaction.
"Ok, whatever you say..." Rojo walks away from Iko, his shoes dragging through the dirt. "Fuckin' Weirdo."
After the entries leave, Shin lets out an audible scoff in disbelief. "That blonde-haired kid is a fool. Does he think he has a shot at defeating the Goblins with just nine people?!"
"He's a special kind of fool, Shin. Fools like that are a dime a dozen," says Iko.
Navar brushes his hand across his forehead, leaving a damp streak where the sweat was. "Phew, I thought we were screwed for a moment!"
"Let's forget about that and install this cloaking device," says Rojo.
"Wait, we didn't even have to spend a dime on that cloaking device, and we have 800,000 Royal left over. Don't you think we should go around the planet and get various modifications on the ship?" asks Astran.
"Good idea. I know a few parts and equipment I can use," says Rojo.
The rookies scour the black markets for components and modifications to upgrade their ship then they return to their ship. Once Juyon hears the muted footsteps in the sand outside the ship, he lowers the ramp. "How did things go?"
"Things were rough, but we made it out," says Navar.
"That's nice to know. It's good to know you guys are alive."
Rojo takes the cloaking device toward the ship. "Hey, Jax, I'm going to need help to install this device on the ship."
"Alright, I'm comin' over!" Jax grabs the booklet, and they get to work on the installation, the clicks of the tools echoing in the air.
While Jax and Rojo continue their work, Navar perches on a rock, lost in thought about their current situation. Miri walks over to Navar and lowers herself next to him. "What's wrong? You look on edge."
"Overlord, if he is strong as they say he is... Do you think we have a chance at beating him?"
"We got this far now, Navar; I don't think we should be second-guessing ourselves."
"Yeah, but..."
"But What? Don't tell me you're scared now?"
"S-shut up. I'm not scared. I'm just worried about everyone's safety!"
She places a reassuring hand on Navar's shoulder and pats him. "Don't worry, Navar. I think we're all experiencing a lot of emotions now. Just keep a level head. If we're even the slightest bit unfocused, we'll lose."
Navar beams a broad, genuine smile at Miri, his lips forming a pleasant arc. "Thanks, Miri, that was all I needed."
Miri departs from the rock, and Navar stares at the sky, his eyes twinkling with determination. "Just wait, Overlord. We're coming to Molorx to wipe the floor with you!" Navar thinks to himself.
Rojo emerges from under the ship, his face beaming with satisfaction as oil permeates from his body. "Hey guys, we're done. Go on ahead and board the ship!" Rojo and Jax enter the Pilot Bay, the buttons on the control panel glowing in the dim light. "Ok, guys, we're getting ready to start this bad boy up; get strapped in!" says Rojo through the P. A
Rojo turns to Jax, his face creasing into a broad, beaming smile. "Ok, Jax, fly this thing."
"Right on!" Jax presses the start button, causing the spaceship to rumble and rocket off Lotanos. Rojo and Jax place the ship into a JumpSpace, which takes them back to the Ozanian Region of the Universe. Jax pushes a red button on the ship's control board. "Commence auto-pilot and set coordinates for Molorx."
"Coordinates set to Molorx, estimated time of arrival 9 hours," says a computerized voice.
"Oh man, nine hours. That's a long-ass ride!"
After four hours of travel, Miri makes her way to the spaceship's fridge in search of blueberries. Jax walks to the other door of the refrigerator and takes a cold soda from it. He pauses for a moment, the sound of the soda can's contents fizzing, before shifting his gaze to Miri. "Can't sleep?"
"Yeah... Want some blueberries?"
"Sure," Miri places the bag of blueberries over Jax's hands, letting a few of the berries roll into his palms.
"Thanks."
Jax glances at Navar, his chest rising and falling with each snore. "Do you wonder how Navar was able to convince all of us to come with him?"
"I don't know how to tell you the truth, Jax. Maybe it's because we all didn't want him to do something stupid."
"Look at us. We're joinin' him. I guess that makes us as stupid as him."
Jax and Miri share a lighthearted chuckle, their faces lit up in a contagious smile. "Yeah, you're right, Jax."
"Do you wonder what Mom and Dad are doin' at home?"
"Arguing. What else do you think they're doing?"
"Yeah, you're right..."
"Ok, Miri, I'm going to sleep."
"Goodnight," Jax and Miri snuggle into their beds, the blankets soft and warm as they drift off to sleep.
Juyon gazes off into the star-filled space expanse, his eyes unfocused as he drifts into his thoughts. "As it stands, I am the strongest fighter on this ship. I have to step up and protect everyone here. Dammit, why in the hell am I even here? How did he drag me into this..." Juyon looks back at Navar, his lips curling into a casual smile. "Once this mission ends, I'll kick your ass."
After three more hours of flight, Navar wakes up and gazes out the window to see a verdant world ahead. "Hey, guys, I see a planet!"
Denkei wakes up, his face twisted in a scowl, as he stares at Navar with narrowed eyes. "Could you be anymore louder?"
Rojo strides toward the Pilot Deck of the spaceship, his footsteps echoing off the metal walls. "Now that we're awake, let's put this ship in cloaking mode."
Rojo and Jax press the control board button, and the ship becomes invisible. "Let's hope this works," says Jax.
The ship passes through Molorx's planetary defense grid with ease. "Yes, we made it!" says Jax.
The ship descends into the atmosphere of Molorx, and the passengers step off the ramp onto the unfamiliar terrain. As they exit, they find themselves immersed in the stillness of the heavily forested area and the coarse texture of the dirt terrain.
Navar whirls around, his eyes glinting with confidence as he grins at his comrades. "Let's go."