Two weeks have passed since the conclusion of The Goblin War. The gentle morning sun seeps through the window, creating a cozy atmosphere that blankets Navar and his friends as they slumber. A few moments pass until a piercing sound shatters the silence, causing everyone to bolt upright except Navar, who continues to sleep. Miri walks over to Navar and gives him a few light shakes, attempting to rouse him from sleep. "Navar... wake up," Navar remains sound asleep, unaffected by Miri's attempt to wake him. "Navar! Wake up! We have to get up earlier because our vacation is over. They might page us!"
Despite her efforts to wake Navar by raising her voice, Miri's attempts fall short, prompting her to jolt him awake with a punch to the gut. "Ow!" Navar's eyes become ablaze with fury as he directs his attention toward Miri. "Why would you do that?!"
"You wouldn't wake up. I had no choice."
Navar's eyes narrow, and his jaw clenches with fury as he rises to confront Miri. "Let's settle this then! I've been itchin' to fight you since yesterday!"
"You bet. Just another win to add to the record."
Just as Navar and Miri are about to fight, Jax steps in between them. "Woah, guys, relax. It's the mornin', and you're fightin' already."
"Sorry, you know how Miri gets when she runs her mouth," says Navar.
"Whatever, idiot. Next time, check your hearing so I don't have to punch you to wake you up."
Suddenly, a beep sounds from Jax's pager. "Hmm?" Jax glances at his pager to see 499 paged him. "Woah! Hey guys, we got a mission!"
Navar raises his arms in triumph, his face beaming with joy as he lets out a victorious cheer. "Yes! Another mission!"
Navar's exultant shout pierces the stillness of the morning, jolting Juyon awake from his slumber. "Mission…"
"Well, guess we have to get ready," says Astran.
"Jax, what time do we need to be there? And where do we have to go?" asks Miri.
"We have to go to The Ark. We have to be there in eight hours."
"Ok then, let's get dressed," says Miri.
They all go through their usual morning routines: showering, brushing their teeth, and donning their warrior armor. They hurry down the stairs, and the clatter of plates and cutlery fills their ears as they see the table set with steaming breakfast dishes. "Y'all better eat up your food before it gets cold!" says Chikuma.
"Yay, food!" says Jax and Navar.
Miri casts a quick look at the dishes prepared by Tokoyashi and Chikuma, causing her to fold her arms across her chest. "No thanks, I'll pass on breakfast."
"Suit yourself, you ungrateful little shit! Don't be mad if you show up to your mission all hungry!" says Chikuma.
"Well, Mom, we ain't gonna pass up a good meal, unlike our moron of a sister! Jax, let's eat up!" Navar and Jax descend the steps like a pair of stampeding bulls, attacking the breakfast spread like ravenous beasts.
Astran's face scrunches up in disgust as she observes Navar and Jax's abhorrent eating. "You know, you guys sure do eat real sloppy. Were you guys taught how to eat, right?"
Navar turns to Astran, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What?" Flecks of food spray across her face and onto her meal.
Astran, fuming with anger, slams her plate onto the ground, marches over to Navar, and grabs him by the collar. "You idiot! You got your food bits all over my food. Now I-"
Astran attempts to continue her rant, but before any sound can escape, Chikuma's towering silhouette blocks out the light. "First, you waste my food, then shatter the plates my husband and I work hard for, and you put your hands on my son!"
Chikuma's menacing presence makes Astran tremble with fear until Tokoyashi intervenes. "Hey, hun, relax, I think her actions were justified, and besides, Navar needs to learn to swallow his food before he talks to anyone."
"Yeah, I guess you can say that, but still. These plates ain't cheap! Money don't grow on trees!"
"Sorry, ma'am, excuse me for my actions," says Astran.
"Ah, it's alright, little girl. Just don't do that again, and it's ok."
"Yes, Mam, it won't happen again."
Miri glances at her watch, checking the time. "Hey guys, we only got 7 hours left. We outta go right now if we want to avoid space traffic."
Navar reacts to Miri's statement by slamming his plate down and exiting his seat. "Ok, everyone, we don't have time to waste. Let's go."
Everyone scrambles for their belongings and rushes toward the exit. Astran turns to Tokoyashi and Chikuma and gives them a grateful nod. "Thank you for letting me stay here."
Juyon pauses and turns to Chikuma and Tokoyashi, his eyes filled with appreciation. "I appreciate you guys for letting me stay here."
Tokoyashi's face lights up with a radiant smile. "Anything for a friend of our children."
They file out of the door and start heading toward the subway. "I know those little shits did not just," Chikuma leans her head out the window, watching Navar and his friends dash away. "Navar, Miri, Jax! Y'all better get your asses back here and clean up this mess! Y'all hear me?! Quit actin' like you don't! Goddammit!" Chikuma slams a wooden spoon onto the ground, creating a loud thud.
Tokyoashi doubles over with laughter, tears streaming down her face. "Hun, it's alright. We got Lucky to clean up this mess," Tokoyashi's whistle pierces through the air, calling Lucky over. "Lucky! Come lick the stuff off these plates."
Lucky crawls into the room on all fours, but as he rises to his feet, his body begins to contort and shift into his Hybrid form. A look of annoyance settles onto his newly transformed face. "You'll pay for this, I swear…."
The flying bus takes off from the station, and they head toward The Capital City. They arrive and navigate their way through the crowds toward the space transport station. "Has anyone seen the details of the mission?" asks Navar.
"No, all I know is, is that 499 said on the page there are two distress calls, so likely we're goin' to be separated," says Jax.
The space bus doors swoosh open, and they step inside, greeted by the hum of the engines as they fly toward The Ark. Navar sits in his seat, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of space outside the window, while the words of Tokoyashi echo in his mind. "Listen, Son, in a fight between Warriors. It's not the strength of the warrior, their JōKai's power, or how good they are at using it. The ultimate deciding factor In a fight between Warriors is the heart."
Navar clenches his fists with determination, a broad smile breaking across his face. "Alright, Dad, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."