Deros PoV
My eyes went up the the tower in front of us. So, this was where Zepheria put his occupational government.
The sleek, metallic design of the building clashed with the natural beauty of the planet, an eyesore and a symbol of oppression.
As we stood at the entrance, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and determination. This was my home, and one day, we would take it back. For now, though, our mission was to gather information and not to engage directly.
"This place is kinda cute," Lia said, looking around.
"Cute?" Roan asked, chuckling.
"Yeah, it has a certain aesthetic to it."
I looked down. "It was better before."
Sarudei put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. She knew better than I did how it felt to have one's world occupied by Titanos. If anything, I needed to consider myself lucky that Zepheria was no Yusan.
With a nod from Commander Wilneth, we entered the tower. The sterile, metallic corridors of the building felt cold and unwelcoming. Commander Wilneth led the way, she walked with such confidence, as if she was familiar with this place. Maybe Titanos enjoyed similar layouts despite their vast empire.
Walking beside her were Prince Huitlo, Ret, and Zairus, each of them exuding their own unique presence.
As we reached the lobby, a man who looked strikingly similar to me stepped forward. Zepheria, the one who had taken control of Orginal, greeted us with a warm smile. His resemblance to me was uncanny, but there was a certain coldness in his eyes that set us apart.
"Welcome," Zepheria said, his voice smooth and welcoming. "Commander Wilneth, Prince Huitlo, Ret, Zairus. It's good to see you all."
Wilneth nodded in acknowledgment. "Zepheria, thank you for meeting with us."
He laughed. "We could've talked over the phone." His face warmed up. "Uh, not that I don't like seeing you in person."
Prince Huitlo chuckled. "Come on, Zeph, you two are dating. No need to act all flustered."
"Eh? So the rumors of Commander Wilneth having a boyfriend are true?"
Wilneth blushed as well. "Uh..."
Zepheria's gaze shifted to Lia and Arare, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. "And who might these two be? I must say, their appearance is quite unexpected."
Arare raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his expression. "Unexpected? Why's that?"
Zepheria smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "You two resemble my grandparents. It's quite uncanny, really."
Lia's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and she fidgeted nervously. "Oh, um, that's...interesting."
Arare seemed to be processing Zepheria's words, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Your grandparents? How is that possible? We're not from your universe."
Zepheria chuckled softly. "The multiverse works in mysterious ways. There are often echoes of people and places across different realities. It's fascinating, really."
Commander Wilneth cleared her throat, bringing the focus back to the matter at hand. "We're here to discuss Yusan's whereabouts."
Zepheria nodded, his expression turning serious. "Of course. He went to Quadra."
Vyran's eyes widened. "What?" He approached him. "What did you say."
"He went to your planet. I found the tech you and Varia had to be interesting, so I brought it up. Although I saw warned him about how dangerous your technology can be. But he still insisted."
Vyran lurched at him but Ref intercepted him and slammed him to the ground.
"Unhand me!" Vyran yelled, struggling against Ret's grip.
Ret stared at him with a cold intensity. "Why should I? You just tried to attack Zepheria."
Varia sighed, stepping forward. "Vyran, control yourself. We need to focus on getting to Yusan. Let's return to the ship and head out."
My heart sank. I was back home, but I was already leaving. I wanted to see my family at least. But it would've been selfish of me to put my personal desires above our mission.
Vyran sighed as he stopped struggling.
Retas slowly let go of him and backed away.
Wilneth sighed and glanced at Zepheria. "Apologies. Maybe talking about this over the phone would've been better. Although our lines of communication in this universe aren't well established yet."
He smiled. "It's fine, it was nice seeing you again."
Arare chuckled. "Seems that in every universe, Zane likes my sis."
Zepheria and Wilneth blushed. Varia and I blushed as well.
Varia coughed. "Uh, let's head back."
Tessa giggled. "Aww, young love."
Mirasa chuckled. "You sound like an old lady, Tess."
She chuckled.
Goerld and Roan laughed. I could tell they were close.
As we walked back out of the tower, my steps felt heavier with every stride. The streets were bustling with activity like before the war, a stark contrast to the sterile environment inside the tower. I felt a pang of longing as I looked around, memories flooding back.
Suddenly, I gasped, my eyes locking onto a familiar figure in the distance. It was my mother, carrying a bag of groceries. Without thinking, I broke into a run, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Mom!" I called out, my voice cracking with emotion.
She turned, her eyes widening in surprise as she recognized me. "Deros? Is that you?"
I reached her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Mom, it's me. I'm home."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged me back. "Oh, Deros, I can't believe it. I've missed you so much."
I held her close, savoring the moment. "I've missed you too, Mom. So much has happened."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "Are you okay? What's going on?"
I glanced back at the team, who were watching us with understanding expressions. "I can't stay long. We're on an important mission. But I had to see you, even if just for a moment."
She nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of pride and worry. "I understand. Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I will," I assured her. "And when this is all over, I'll come back. We'll be together again."
She smiled through her tears, cupping my face in her hands. "I believe in you, Deros. You're stronger than you know."
With a final hug, I reluctantly pulled away, my heart heavy but determined. I rejoined the team, who had given me the space I needed for this brief reunion.
"Ready?" Varia asked gently.
I nodded, my resolve steeled. "Let's go. We've got an evil commander to stop."
As we made our way back to the ship, I cast one last glance at my mother, who stood watching me with a look of unwavering support. I knew that no matter what lay ahead, I had to succeed. For my family, for Orginal, and for the future we all deserved.
With renewed determination, I boarded the ship, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us. Together, we would fight for a brighter future, and one day, I would return to Orginal, not as a visitor, but as a liberator.