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A New Stage

"Breaking out of FTL and...we've arrived. Ryu, welcome to the home of the Scyllas, Adonis I."

Dairyu moved towards the seat beside Capisa where he could see the overall planet called Adonis I. Known by Terrans as the Blood Sand Planet, Adonis I was home to many dangerous alien creatures easily domesticated by the Scyllas for doing their jobs. As Let once said to him, Scyllan civilizations were still feudal, but 15 years had passed, so it might've adopted a new policy, or stayed the same.

"So how's Let? You called him often?" asked Dairyu when he was watching the red planet and other starships going to the planet.

"You'll be surprised of what he'd done for 15 years, if you aren't updated to current news. He finally became a Kaf'rak again and continued the Kaamoreta bloodline. He led a campaign to return his people back from slavery and petitioning the freedom to Endragas like himself. Problem is, he hasn't got anywhere on trying to find a good term with other Kaf'raks."

"Oh...guess that's a shame, though. Last I know the planet is mostly an irradiated wasteland."

"Irradiated for us. For them, it's like nutrition. It's a wasteland because it's a red desert. Ah...it's not the time to talk about this world's current news. In the whole galaxy this is the main hub on upgrading your ship and restoring it. And before you want to say anything about it, no, they cannot restore a 50 years old cruiser."

"Why are you bringing that up again? This is the new Azure. I've moved on."

"Well I'm glad you did. Let's get a drink after we land."

15 minutes later, they landed on the designated hangar and went out into the city. Despite of visiting the place often, Capisa was still in awe with the city the Scyllas had made. From the once devastated civil war-torn city, there was a big city built from its ruins. Though it wasn't very urbanized, it was notable for being made partially inside a mountain, excavated by the Scyllas on direction by Let. The downtown was inside the mountain, while the suburb they were in was full of Scyllas trading with them, with a big street and flying Scyllas. On closer inspection, though, despite of their notoriety for being pirates and bodyguards, Scyllas were good alien race with knowledge on technology, yet still possess brute strength. They were all born warriors, too, and the possession of melee weapons depended on the license given by the government.

Yet, as much as they were in awe with the mountain city, they still needed to find someone to repair and restore their ship. Capisa tried to find nearby workshops, but most of them said that they were still having a job, as restoring needed more credits and time. After the fifth workshop, Capisa sighed and said, "Well, we really don't have anything to do, so might as well wait."

While walking, Dairyu started to say "So, how's your work? You're an As'karan now, right?"

"Yeah, I'm an As'karan now, but it's not as special as what you did long time ago, Ryu," said Capisa. "I'm an agent, but representing the S'hor trading company as my cover."

"Oh, so you're a spy?"

"Nah, spy is a negative connotation. I don't do corporate or government espionage. I'm just an agent, monitoring Aqura's official activities and investigating many things beyond Atlantis."

"So an intergalactic fed?"

"Yeah, I'm an As'karan agent. I was just in that planet because that Aquros was wanted for multiple homicides. Now, aliens all around the galaxy will sleep well now."

He could only say that much, though. Black As'karan had unorthodox methods in trying to find their victims. He knew something far more in Ardelk than he knew, which might be a bigger conspiracy. Sadly, that was over his level of clearance, despite of having a level one As'karan clearance, or to put simply, a skeleton key for all facilities used by As'karans throughout the galaxy, and the highest possible clearance to use gadgets forbidden to use by normal squads.

Yet, despite of his inner monologue detailing the lie, Dairyu wasn't easily convinced. He eyed his companion for a moment before saying, "I hope whatever explanation you're thinking inside your head can explain the readers about your job. I'm not buying it, though."

"But, Ryu, there's a reason why I don't open up. You're no longer a Warrior-I mean, not an official Neo-Warrior. This is a domestic secret and not to be leaked that easily, for the good of all the Aqura in the galaxy."

"I'm just kidding, Capisa. I know you're a hard-working shark guy from another planet, and it's not my rights to try to pry it open. Like I said, whatever you say in your mind stays in your mind."

"Thanks. I'm glad you're okay with this. How about if we find a place to drink while asking someone about a nice vacant workshop?"

"A workshop for the Azure? Now that's a privilege I've never found for 15 years."

The voice was a familiar one for both of them. They both turn around to find a dark green-scaled Scylla standing behind them smiling to them. Unlike the rest of the humble-clothed Scyllas, this one wore a lavish and decorative armor that wasn't very revealing, which wasn't a Scyllan fashion style that usually show their scales. It was also red with a dark red cape made of silk draping behind him. They would mistake him for someone else if not for his forest green eyes and a big scar running down one of his eyes.

"Well, if it's not the best Scylla I've ever known," said Dairyu with a smile. "Got your revenge and cover yourself with red? Never thought you're with the trending fashion."

"Always the mouthful bas, are you?"

They stared each other for a while before Dairyu said, "Come here, Let." And proceeded to hug each other as friends.

After they broke off from each other, Let called his aide and talk to him with local Scyllan language. He was clearly awe-struck by what he said when he took a glance to Dairyu, and stormed off. The Scylla let out a chuckle.

"He adores you as a legend, Dairyu," said Let. "I ask him to take your ship to my personal workshop and to make sure it returns to its former glory, with the same upgrades." Let then turned to Capisa. "And updated navigational system."

"Oh, you read my mind," said Capisa. "Is that what an Edragas can do?"

"No, we can only do telekinesis. I know you far more than your Fathrak do. I heard you want a drink, yes. How about I suggest you a good Qu'tan Brsh?"

"Qu'tan Brsh?"

"It's a pub in your language," said Let with a sigh. "Let's just talk, for old time's sake."

Along the way to the pub, Dairyu noticed that many of the younger Scyllas who saw Dairyu's features were awe-struck and talked to their parents in their own language. Not only that, some Scylla who saw them walking with each other stopped and stare at them, but moved away immediately, awe-struck.

They finally reached a bar where Let quickly walked towards the bartender and asked for a round. They talked in a fast-paced language that both aliens couldn't understand. Let then took them upstairs, where they sat near the balcony facing the street.

After a while of seeing awe-struck patrons and a young Scylla approaching them asking for a signature, Capisa finally said, "What did you tell them to make us look like celebrities?"

"Hey, we got subspace news here, too, you know," said Let. "But they are more surprised to see the three of us together, and might be even more surprised if Rose, Atho, or Amhyr can come. Anyway, what about them? Got any news?"

"Rose and Amhyr got married and is living in Terra."

This news surprised both Dairyu and Let. Dairyu even said, "Wow, that strict drake finally got his unrequited love, huh?"

"Unrequited?"

"He opened up to me when we split up back in the mothership, and when Rose wasn't looking. Guess love is a wild thing, huh?"

"Anyway, about Atho, he's trying to help the Rendloks rebuilding their lost colonies and petitioning their membership to the Federation. I'm not sure if it's possible given the way they communicate, but last I heard he's succeeding."

"Well, good for him, then. Being a Kaf'rak can make me miss some news between friends."

"So you're a Kaf'rak now? Never thought you'll be drinking with us outside your castle."

"Nah, the castle is too strict and not original. I want to see what my people do in the street so I can govern them well. I also want to make sure the tax is used extensively to rebuild our city. That mountain city there is the main trade hub in this planet, and we are maintaining a good relationship with the neighboring Kaf'rak. I'm still thinking on how we can bring peace to the world. There's so much war going on outside of our two chiefdoms and it makes negative publicity to the rest of the sectors. They don't agree of an Endragas and a former slave being a kaf'rak."

"Well, how about saying that you're one of the six crews that went to win the war?"

"I don't deserve that honor." Let then turn to Dairyu. "We all know who the real heroes are."

"So you've known," said Dairyu.

"This is not a Terran action movie, Dairyu. There's no way you would survive rushing into the core and get out unscathed. Also, I saw a glimpse of an unknown black ship destroyed in it. For 15 years, I thought you felt guilty for leaving your comrades instead of you saving yourself."

"Look, Let, whatever you think of me right now..."

"I'm not saying that you're a coward, bas," said Let with a sigh. "I'm just telling you not to feel guilty on losing your comrades. It's their choice, and you know it."

"It just feels the same with what happened to Seiryu. I don't want to become a broken draconian because of it."

"Then try to move on like you did to Seiryu. Stop staying in the past. Just be the new Dairyu."

"I'm not sure if it's easy for me to..."

At almost the same time the three of them were surprised by something ringing within Capisa. The Aquros knew that was the subspace connection call from somewhere in the galaxy. He opened the line and said, "Hello, who is this?"

"Capisa," said a female voice the shark alien knew. "Where the bloody hell are you? It took a minute to come through you!"

"I'm in Adonis I. What happened, Rose?"

"Is Let with you?"

Capisa turned on the speaker from his suit so both of his companions could hear what Rose was going to say.

"Capisa, Let, this is horrible! An Aquran space station was hit by a freak cosmic storm and it disintegrated!" There was an uncomfortable silence. "Everyone's dead, Capisa! Everyone!"

"W-what? Wait a sec, what do you mean a space station disintegrated in orbit? Which station?!"

Just as he asked that, the nearby hologram bulletin changed from its syndicate TV show to a breaking news by a Scylla Federation Council. Let could see that he was trying not to show any sadness, but as a Kaf'rak, he knew the first time a Scylla was depressed.

"A terrible news to the Kaamoreta chiefdom. Recently, at 1400 galactic time, an Aquran space station is hit by a supernova wave that killed...one million people currently in it. There's no new update coming on right now, but...the space station is designated Zeta station by the Aqura. As of now, we don't know how many Scyllas were currently in that station when it went down. That is all, and live under the Kaf'rak's protection."

The whole bar was in abrupt silence, including the three of them. The Scyllas couldn't imagine what happened and some even stared at Let, trying to ask if the Kaf'rak knew of a solution. The only thing that broke the silence was the roar of a female Scylla, full of despair, followed by some panicked Scyllas running out of the bar. Some even approached Let, asking him of a solution. The dark green Scylla would be otherwise overwhelmed if not for Capisa and Dairyu holding them back.

"Capisa, let them be. I'm supposed to be giving them hope, not becoming a coward behind my friend's back!" said Let.

"Stay calm, Let, you're not thinking straight, too. I lost my colleagues in that station, too, so you're not the only one to blame."

Let took a deep breath before standing up and talked towards the bar patrons in Scyllan language. They became calm and gave a respectful gesture to Let before they slowly dispersed to the street.

Let slowly turn towards Capisa and said, "Capisa...how did Rose found out about it before the news even here?"

"Terra is closer to the Federation Media Network that Adonis I, so of course they get the news first."

"But why does she call you? Is your speaker online?"

Capisa did so. Let then said, "Rose, why are you calling Capisa instead of an official Federation hotline?"

"Capisa is the only Aquros I can trust who has a clearance level like Vitania's King's Secret Service. The Federation is focused on helping those who need the confirmation of dead ones, but a question came to me, and I must someone who knew many classified things."

"But, Rose, it is classified with a reason. You can't just ask me like this."

"Just one question, Capisa. What is the Zeta Station actually does? The scientific community knows it as a research center on young nebulas, and it cannot got hit by a supernova if the nearest star system is five light years away! Just tell me, Capisa, it won't hurt your race's credibility nor our friendship."

Capisa was clearly overwhelmed by the questions. He was trying hard to not giving out classified information, but nevertheless, Rose had a reason to talk to him and ask him about it. Thus, he said, "The Crab Key Nebula that Zeta station researched...was rumored to be a stable wormhole."

"Stable wormhole inside a nebula?! Are your scientists out of their minds? It's scientifically impossible to have a nebula forming natural wormhole without the Relay gates. The combinations of matters that formed it make it virtually impossible to have a stable wormhole opening inside a nebula."

"Well, Rose, you can save the science-y stuffs to the scientists because we don't know any of it either," said Dairyu.

Dairyu's unexpected voice surprised Rose that she gasped through the subspace connection. There was a brief pause before she said, "You bloody bastard! Where have you been these 15 years?"

"We can talk about it later. I suppose you want to talk about it with Capisa with a private talk? We can fly to Terra with Azure and snatch you away from a shuttle. You just need to use a shuttle to a space..."

"Capisa, he doesn't know, does he?" said Rose slowly. Capisa then said, "The new Terran world government pardoned your war 'crimes' and so you're able to go back home."

"Oh...that's quite a change of situation I never hoped would happen. You're in Vitania, right? We'll meet up there and talk about this. You really have a very bad way in keeping secrets, Rose."

After the connection was abruptly closed by Dairyu himself, Capisa said, "What did you mean by that?"

"What will both of you do if she suddenly say that she's guided by a spirit so she call you? There's no way she can call us if there's no embassy, and it can't be a coincidence if she's just there, with no reason at all. Capisa, the way she talk to you is clearly trying to keep out any mystical thing that ever happen. Your technological-based race wouldn't be able to comprehend the role of spirits, or even magic. For Let, it's still okay, with your shamanic influence."

"Let, how much longer until we can get Azure for optimal space travel?" asked Capisa.

"By now, I think it's down to polishing and software update."

This surprised Capisa. "Wow, and we barely even in this bar for an hour!"

"Don't underestimate the Royal Engineering Team, Capisa S'hor. I'm one of them, too. Let me do something back home and I'll join you."

"Wait, but..."

"Before you say more, I am telling them I have an emergency official meeting, so don't talk as if I'm some rigid royal family member. Now, if you excuse me, I have things to do."

As Let walked pass them and down the stairs, Dairyu said, "This is the first time I met and respected a royal family member."

Capisa just smiled to him and started moving to the stairs. Amidst the chaos around them, they were eager to know what happened to the Federation council with the sudden turn of event. He also tried not to expose the fact that he was a Black As'karan or it would cost him his career.

Right now, the best thing they could do was to meet the rest of the crew, including Atho, even if he was busy with the hotline problem and his own race's problems.