Kaito coughed violently, blood splattering all over the cracked ground beneath him. His lungs burned with unbearable pain with every wheeze.
"Shit… I ca… I can't breathe." He thought to himself.
Velzari's voice cut through his panicked thoughts.
"You couldn't just do your damn job Jorak? Seriously! Now look at this mess." He yelled out.
"Me?! I had him exactly where I wanted! You're the one who had to jump in to steal my spotlight, you attention stealing jerk!" Jorak replied while crossing his arms and looking the other way.
"Attention wh–?! If it weren't for me, you'd be blown to bits by that brat's attack, you overgrown showman!"
As the two bickered, Aqua remained silent as she watched Kaito. Her glacier blue eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed him still struggling to push himself upright.
"Still trying…?" She muttered, her voice barely audible over the squabbling behind her.
She walked over and knelt in front of him.
"Why?... Why are you still trying to fight? Look at you. You'll die if you push yourself any further." She asked calmly.
Kaito's body trembled. Yet, despite the pain, he wouldn't quit… that's never been his way. He managed to raise his arm. His bloodied fist, struck Aqua's cheek with a weak tap.
"Because… I just don't know how to quit…not when… there are innocent people who need protecting… from monsters like you." He wheezed out weakly.
As soon as they made physical contact, Aqua's eyes widened a bit. Her stoic mask cracked for a second as she felt her essence inside of her vibrate intensely. Kaito felt his essence vibrate too, his eyes widening slightly, locking onto hers. In that short moment of shock and confusion, they stare at each other. It was as if their essence were communicating to each other. But that wasn't all…
Kaito heard something…
It was a voice—Aqua's, but instead of hearing it aloud… he heard it in his head.
"Help… me…"
Before either could process or question the phenomenon they both experienced, Aqua's instincts flared. She jumped back just in time to avoid an invisible wave of energy that tore through the ground where she had been crouching. The sudden blast sent a cloud of dust in the air, momentarily blinding everyone.
"What now?!" Velzari growled, ceasing his petty arguing with Jorak.
Jorak spun around.
"Hey, what gives? Who's interrupting my moment of glory?"
Through the cloud of dust and dirt, a figure emerged—Talon.
She stood there with her telepathic powers wrapping around Kaito like a cocoon. With a motion of her hand, she pulled him toward her.
"Hands off my rookie." She declared while staring them down.
Velzari snarled, raising his glowing hand, but before he could act, everything went dark. A chilling void began to spread and cover the battlefield, blotting out the sun and plunging everything within it into complete blackness.
"What the—?! Who turned out the lights?!" Jorak shrieked like a scared puppy, stumbling backward.
From somewhere within the darkness came a voice.
"Shadow Veil Jutsu."
It was Kaeline's voice and it seemed to come from all directions.
"You won't be laying a hand on him again." She continued with.
Aqua's eyes darted around, searching for any type of movement, but the darkness was too overwhelming.
"Talon. We need to move. I can't hold this jutsu for long." Kaeline said.
"Viro!" Talon instructed.
"On it!" Came Viro's enthusiastic response.
From somewhere in the void, the whir of a grappling gun zipped through the air. A moment later, all four were pulled up and away from the battlefield.
As the darkness began to fade, the three starbourne troop members stood in stunned silence. Velzari scowled, his hand glowing faintly with yellow essence as he scanned the area.
"They're gone... Great." He said, visibly pissed off.
Jorak ran from behind a tree where he was hiding and stuck his chest out, as if he was ready to go.
"Oh come on! I had him right where I wanted! This is just rude, am I right!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAahahahaha…hahahah..haha..ha."
Aqua's glacier blue eyes glowed, channeling essence to them to enhance her sight.
"Nothing…" She muttered.
She turned to Velzari.
"We need to inform the captain immediately of what just transpired."
Velzari hesitated at first before finally nodding.
"Understood. Let's see what captain Sera has to say about this."
Jorak struck another pose as Aqua's gaze drifted to the horizon, her mind lingering on that moment between her and Kaito. Something about it rattled her and she couldn't understand… not yet at least.
She shook her head, refocusing her thoughts. Her stoic demeanor came back and she addressed the others.
"Let's move."
The trio turned and began their march back to their base.
Enaros and Nix stumbled through the thick forest of red, orange, and yellow trees and exotic plants, finally reaching a colossal tree with dark red leaves that towered over the landscape, its sprawling branches nearly touching clouds. Enaros gestured for Nix to climb, and the two ascended a series of cleverly concealed platforms. They reached a hidden hollow in a part of the enormous trunk.
Enaros closed the door behind them.
"We're safe… for now." He said, letting out a breath of relief.
Nix sat down on the wooden floor, his knees pulled to his chest. His father rummaged through a small compartment, retrieving a long wooden whistle-like device. He brought it to his lips and blew. Moments later, a bird-like creature with shimmering emerald feathers appeared, landing on the ledge.
Enaros instructed it to do something in their native language, tying a note to the creature's leg.
The bird gave a low chirp and took off.
A sudden noise outside startled them both. Enaros stepped in front of Nix, eyes locked on the door. The sound grew louder.
"BOO!" Viro's face plate popped through, his glowing optic eyes flashing.
"AHHHHH!" Nix screamed.
"Haha, relax, kid. I'm not here to eat you—though I've been told I have a biting sense of humor." He said jokingly.
Enaros sighed, lowering his sword.
"You scared us half to death!... Where's the rest of your people?" He asked.
On cue, Talon walked in casually past everyone like it was her own place, her telepathic energy cradling Kaito's limp body in the air. Kaeline followed closely behind, having to duck down slightly entering the doorway. Her eyes scanned the room for threats.
Talon carefully lowered Kaito onto the floor.
"We stopped the bleeding, but his condition is bad. He won't last long without healing. A portion of his lung was destroyed." She said, the stress in her eyes in voice clear as any sunny day despite her pathetic front to hide it.
Enaros knelt beside Kaito. He examined his gaping wound, his expression turning somber.
"I… I'm sorry. I don't know any healing abilities. The only one in our village who could heal was my wife. She passed long ago, when Nix was still crawling around. It's a rare gift among Draconians that only appears a few times a generation."
Nix's head drooped as he listened to his father's words. Talon noticed his change in demeanor and crouched beside him.
"Hey, kid. What's wrong?" She asked softly.
Nix's voice quivered as he looked at Kaito.
"I… I want to help him. But I… I can't do anything…" He said quietly.
Talon smirked a bit before she ruffled his hair gently.
"You care about him, huh?"
Nix nodded, tears beginning to form in his eyes. Talon wiped them away..
"Then be strong for him, alright? He wouldn't want you to give up."
She held out her fist. Nix stared at her hand, confused. Talon chuckled.
"It's something an idiot taught us. It's his way of saying, 'I've got your back.'" She glanced at Kaito.
Nix hesitated before lightly bumping her fist with his own, as he began to smile. Enaros watched the exchange before turning his gaze back to Kaito.
"He… told me… that your crew might be different from the others."
Kaeline looked over to him.
"Where are we? What's the name of this planet?"
Enaros stood and pointed out the window toward the distant horizon.
"This planet is called Draconis Prime."
Kaeline's eyes ever so subtly squinted.
"Draconis Prime… that name, it sounds familiar…" She pondered in her head before speaking.
"Who were those people? Do you know them?"
Before Enaros could answer, Kaito groaned in pain. Talon dropped to her knees beside him.
"We need to help him. Now. He won't last much longer."
Meanwhile, aboard the starborne troupe ship, Sera stood in her command room, twirling her strings idly as she waited. The massive double doors opened.
"You're the one who let them escape!" Velzari snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at Jorak.
"Me?!" Jorak gasped theatrically, clutching his chest as if got wounded.
"I had the kid on the ropes! You're the one who let his friends swoop in!"
Sera raised a hand, silencing them. She looked over to Aqua.
"Bestie, report."
"They escaped. All of them. The human was critically injured but still alive. Though, without proper healing, he won't make it…"
Sera's eyes narrowed, a subtle annoyance flickering across her face. But then she smiled…
"It doesn't matter…"
She waved her hand and a holographic display flickered to life. The image showed Rorik, Finn, Elysia, and Jinx—all unconscious and bound in glowing strings.
"Because the opening act is over and the real show is about to begin."