Aether Dominion, Arsenal.
Inside the sleeping cabin, Jagged Warriors slept soundly, clad in their armor.
Suddenly, a distorting space opened up in the empty space of the arsenal.
A beautiful black-haired girl appeared in it, as unexpected as a shooting star.
If Rodgraim had been there, he would have known her Seraphina Ur, Moon Lord's sister. She had snuck aboard his Aether Dominion at Moon Star Harbor, slipping passed unrecognized under the optical invisibility cloak.
"Oh, being a secretary in his fleet? No way! My dream is the vastness of the stars!"
Seraphina walked through the corridors of the arsenal, her invisibility cloak wrapped tight about her so that she was invisible to the naked eye.
Outside of Rodgraim , it seemed that nothing else lived on Aether Dominion; not even the dead Marvin robots would give her a second look.
She knew that staying on Aether Dominion was a bad idea.
She'd leave at the first space station.
This time, she'd flee with enough gold to build a massive fleet.
"Snort! My Older brother and Eldest brother will be shocked!" she thought, a wave of pride filling her.
She wouldn't be some mere vase, arranged by them.
Seraphina reached the Predator's dormant cabin.
Through the glass, she saw the sleeping Predator.
"A robot? Why does it look so strange?" she wondered, puzzled by the masked figure with his various attachments.
Immediately, the Predator mask switched on, and a scarlet pair of eyes stared out into Seraphina's face.
Amazed, she took back a step, scanning her frenzied eyes all around the place.
Pods around began activating, and Predators started coming out of their slumber.
Seraphina felt fear.
She activated her invisibility cloak quickly. These ones were not like the Marvin robots. Just one glance would send dread down her spine.
They were genuine killing machines!
"Phut.". The cold air of the shut cabin gushed out, and the hatch swung open. Predators emerged outside, eyeing Seraphina
She felt like a lamb among wolves.
What did they see?
She examined her cloak of invisibility; she knew it was on.
But the Predator masks featured thermal imaging so her cloak didn't do much of anything for her.
One Predator gestured toward her, speaking a language she didn't speak.
Another Predator moved towards her.
Panic coursed through her veins.
Her cloak of invisibility was futile against these Predators.
She was a captive.
A few Predators escorted her to the bridge.
Rodgraim , who had been standing there, looked at the Predators and then at Seraphina
He wasn't surprised to see her.
He'd sensed another presence on the Aether Dominion, but had waited to wake the Predators.
They wouldn't let him down.
"Stowaway, how's life on my Hyperion been?" Rodgraim asked, recognizing her instantly.
He'd seen her reward order, knowing she was the Moon Lord's sister.
He spotted her invisibility cloak. "So that's how you've been hiding.
A high-end item, not easily obtained."
Being caught red-handed, Seraphina shook.
"Sorry, I didn't want to sneak on. I'll pay! My brother is the Moon Lord. Just let me go, and I'll pay you anything."
She was sorry for her actions.
She'd thought the invisibility cloak would let her get away to the next space station.
But she'd underestimated the Predators. Her tricks were useless against them.
"I know you are the sister of the Moon Lord, but who cares? Rodgraim said, his voice cold.
"If I kill you now and throw you on Arcturus, those monsters will eat your corpse. No one will know what happened to you, or that I killed you."
Seraphina's face went white.
She realized that this was not her solar system or even her family's territory.
No one would protect her there.
Her status in this place was nothing but a title.
She looked up at Rodgraim , looking at him as a bandit, a space pirate.
"I. I have money!" she begged. "K!ll me, and all the money is yours."
Rodgraim laughed.
He wouldn't kill her, not out of kinship or because she was of nobility.
He'd catch a bounty on her to the next space station and phone the Moon Lord.
But first, he'd teach this unsuspecting girl a lesson in the dangers of the stars.
She had dared to sneak onto his ship and might do the same to others.
Seraphina bit her lip, tears started to pool in her eyes.
She didn't say a word for such a long time that finally, she looked up. "I know of a ruin's whereabouts. On Arcturus. The things there are worth far more than I!"