Sarudei PoV
Lia led us to what looked like a large hut hidden by a cliff. The structure was well-camouflaged, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. It was a clever hideout, perfect for regrouping and planning our next move.
Arare chuckled as we approached the entrance. "Woah, it's like a hidden base! I always wanted one!"
"Uh, we live in one," Hiesno said, sighing.
"Oh, right," Arare replied, scratching his head sheepishly.
Lia pushed aside some foliage, revealing a sturdy wooden door. She knocked in a specific rhythm, and the door creaked open to reveal a dimly lit interior. We all filed inside, grateful for the temporary respite from the chaos outside.
The interior of the hut was surprisingly spacious, with enough room for all of us to sit and rest. There were makeshift beds, a small table, and some supplies stacked neatly in the corner. It felt safe, at least for now.
I turned to the group, my expression serious. "We need to regroup and come up with a plan. Yusan won't stop until he's achieved his goals."
Aiden nodded in agreement. "We need to figure out our next move. We can't let him win."
Prince Huitlo, still holding the unconscious Tira, gently laid her down on one of the makeshift beds. "Tira needs rest. She's pushed herself too hard."
Ret crossed his arms, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. "We need more than just rest. We need a strategy. Yusan has taken the armada to Retra, but he won't stop there. He'll come back for us."
Lia handed out water canteens to everyone, her expression concerned. "We can't stay here for long. This place is well-hidden, but it's not invincible."
Vyran took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling in. "So, what is Yusan plotting?" he asked, glancing at Zairus.
His Titanos counterpart sat down on the floor, cross-legged. "I am not sure. He made it out to seem like he was just going to help Commander Zolstein out, but that was obviously just an excuse."
"His real goal has to Retra's tech," Varia said, sighing. "With it, even the rest of Titanos would be hard press to defeat him."
"Granted, we did lose to Zolstein," Vyran pointed out.
She sighed. "True. Although Zolstein relied not only on his mecha, but also his ki techniques and his brain."
Ret sighed. "Yusan is no slouch in those areas either. He is a commander after all. He even tricked me into coming to this planet."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He wanted assistance in wiping out the rebel resistance on this planet. At least, that's what he claimed. So, I came her to do such that."
I frowned, his words a reminder that despite his current cooperation, Ret was still fundamentally aligned with the Titanos' objectives. Trusting him fully would be dangerous.
"So, Yusan's already reached Retra," I said, my voice heavy with concern. "We need to act fast if we want to stop him from getting his hands on that technology."
Lia nodded, her face set with determination. "We can't let him gain control of Retra's tech. It would tip the scales too far in his favor."
Aiden stepped forward, his expression resolute. "We need to divide our efforts. Some of us will need to head to Retra and try to thwart Yusan directly. The rest should stay here."
Vyran glanced at me, his cosmic energy flickering faintly. "I'll go to Retra. My abilities might give us an edge in dealing with whatever technology Yusan is after."
"Think we rebels should stay," Hiesno said, eyeing Zane, Kaeii, Aiden, his brother, and me.
Zane nodded. "I was planning on staying."
"Same," Kaeii said. "Edesia is my home planet. I will stay here until it is free."
Ret nodded. "That's fine. I didn't expect you rebels to accompany us. At the end of the day, we are on opposite sides. The Retra trio will be enough."
Vyran hummed. "Wonder what Deros will think."
Varia gasped. "Deros. I almost forgot that I sent a call to him to bring the mechas over."
Huitlo scoffed. "So, you were prepared for a mecha show down, huh?"
Ret smiled. "That's fine. We will need them still."
Vyran nodded. "Yeah."
"We Titanos lieutenants will accompany you, Ret," Huitlo said, a hand on his chestÂ
"Thank you, your highness."
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of determination and apprehension. "Can I go with you?" I asked, stepping forward.
Vyran frowned. "Do you still want revenge for what Yusan did to your family and Syran?"
I nodded, but there was more to it than that. "Yes, I do. But it's not just about revenge," I said, my voice steady. "I want to make sure that Yusan doesn't get to use Retra's technology to hurt anyone else. I want to stop him from causing more pain and suffering."
Vyran studied me for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Sarudei. You can come with us. But we need to stay focused on the mission. We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment."
"I understand," I replied, my resolve unwavering. "I'll do whatever it takes to stop Yusan."
Ret nodded approvingly. "Good. We'll need all the help we can get."
"Then it's settled," I said, turning to the rest of the group. "I will accompany the Retran trio and you Titanos."
Aiden placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. "Be careful out there, Sarudei. Yusan is dangerous."
"I will," I promised. "We'll stop him, no matter what."
Together, we would fight to bring Yusan to justice and prevent him from gaining the power he sought. The battle was far from over, but with our combined strength and resolve, we would prevail. Or die trying.