Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ------------ "**Doesn't matter. We kick the door down, we deal with whatever's there,**" Falco said, the tentacles retracting into his body as he approached the massive door. --- ### **The Commander's Room: A Scandalous Scene** With a powerful **kick**, the heavy door burst open, revealing a sprawling **luxurious room**. Unlike the rest of the ship, the commander's quarters were decadently adorned. Silken drapes in shades of crimson and gold hung from the walls, and the air was thick with the musky scent of burning incense. A massive circular bed sat in the center of the room, its silken sheets in disarray. On the bed, the **Commander**, a towering reptilian humanoid with dark green scales and glowing yellow eyes, was entangled with **two females** of different species. One was a humanoid with soft, pink skin and pointed ears, while the other was an alien with shimmering, blue translucent skin and gills along her neck. Both were **naked**, their startled expressions frozen as they turned to face the intruders. "**What in the—?!**" the commander roared, his voice a deep, guttural growl. He scrambled to grab a weapon from the bedside table, his movements clumsy in his panic. Falco stepped into the room, his dark hair falling over his face as he smirked. "**Well, this is awkward. Didn't mean to interrupt your little... session.**" "**Who are you lots?! GUARDS!!**" the commander bellowed, his scales flaring as he reached for his communicator. --- ### **The Confrontation** Before the commander could call for reinforcements, **Elevora's third eye** flared brightly, emitting a beam of purple energy that struck the communicator, shrinking it to the size of a pebble. It fell uselessly from his hand. "**No guards are coming,**" Elevora said coldly, stepping forward. "**They're all dead. Just like you'll be if you don't cooperate.**" The two females scrambled off the bed, grabbing sheets to cover themselves as they huddled in the corner. The commander rose to his full height, towering over the intruders. His yellow eyes glowed with rage as he flexed his claws. "**You think you can barge into my quarters and threaten me? Do you know who I am? I'm Commander Gralix of the Gustavo Alliance! I've destroyed entire civilizations!**" Aildris, standing calmly in the center of the room, raised his hand. **Swirls of color** began to manifest around him, shimmering hues that danced and shifted like liquid light. "**Gralix, was it? You're about to add 'loser to us' to your impressive list,**" Aildris said, his voice even and calm. "**Now sit down and answer our questions, or I'll paint this room with a new palette—one you won't enjoy.**" --- ### **The Fight** Gralix roared, lunging at Aildris with surprising speed. His claws slashed through the air, but just before they connected, Aildris's colors surged forward, forming a shimmering **barrier of light** that absorbed the impact. "**Too slow, big guy,**" Falco said, his dark tentacles shooting forward to wrap around Gralix's legs. He yanked hard, sending the commander crashing to the floor. Gralix snarled, his claws glowing with a fiery red energy as he slashed at the tentacles. They recoiled briefly, but Falco grinned. "**Oh, you've got tricks. So do I.**" The tentacles surged back, wrapping around Gralix's arms and pinning him down. Elevora stepped forward, her third eye glowing with intensity. "**This could have been simple, Gralix. Now you've just made it painful.**" She unleashed another beam of energy, this time striking Gralix's legs. They **shrank** to half their size, rendering him unable to stand. "**Release me! You have no idea what you're doing! The Gustavo Alliance will hunt you to the ends of the galaxy!**" Gralix roared, struggling against his restraints. Aildris walked closer, his multicolored barrier shimmering around him. "**We're not interested in your threats, Commander. We want information. Where is your base of operations? Where are the two leaders hiding?**" Gralix spat on the floor, his yellow eyes glaring defiantly. "**I'll tell you nothing! Kill me if you want, but I won't betray the Alliance!**" Falco sighed dramatically, his tentacles tightening around Gralix's throat. "**You say that like you've got a choice. Let's see how long you can hold out.**" Elevora turned to Aildris. "**He's too arrogant to talk willingly. Let me shrink something important. Maybe then he'll reconsider.**" Gralix's defiance faltered, a flicker of fear crossing his face. "**You wouldn't dare—**" "**Try me,**" Elevora interrupted, her third eye glowing ominously. --- ### **The Interrogation** After a few more moments of threats and pressure, Gralix finally relented. "**Fine! I'll tell you what you want to know! Just… call off your freaks!**" Aildris leaned closer, his expression neutral but his multicolored eyes piercing. "**Start talking, Commander. And don't leave anything out.**" Gralix growled, his voice bitter. "**The main base is in the **Nebulon Expanse**, hidden within an asteroid field. The two leaders you're looking for… I don't know their exact locations. They keep themselves hidden, even from us.**" Falco tightened the tentacles slightly. "**You're holding back, Commander. I can feel it. What else?**" Gralix hissed in frustration. "**There's… there's a relay beacon in this ship's databanks. It contains encrypted coordinates for one of the leaders. But you'll never crack it.**" Elevora smirked. "**We'll see about that.**" --- ### **The Aftermath** As Gralix slumped in defeat, the team began accessing the ship's systems, using the commander's biometric data to unlock restricted files. With the location of the relay beacon in hand, their mission was far from over. But they had taken the first step in dismantling the Gustavo Alliance. ---ss As the alarms finally fell silent, Aildris, Elevora, and Falco reached a massive reinforced door deep within the vessel. Aildris placed his hand on the door, feeling the faint energy signature behind it. "**The commander is in there,**" he said, his voice resolute. "**Then let's finish this,**" Falco said, his energy blade glowing brightly. Elevora nodded, her third eye glowing as she prepared for the final confrontation. They knew the hardest part of their mission was yet to come. --- **To be continued…** ---sss ### **The Showdown with Commander Gralix** The spacious bedroom, once a place of indulgence and decadence, now crackled with destructive energy as **Aildris**, **Elevora**, and **Falco** faced off against **Gralix**, the towering reptilian commander of the Gustavo Alliance. The luxurious furnishings lay in shambles, shredded by beams of energy and the force of relentless attacks. Shattered glass and burning silken drapes added to the chaos, while the faint hum of the ship's energy systems remained a constant reminder of the looming danger. Gralix stood in the center, his massive frame radiating raw power. His **glowing yellow eyes** locked onto his opponents, and faint **dark tendrils** flickered across his body, confirming Falco's suspicion: the commander had tapped into **Nocturnis's power**. "**You dare to challenge me in my own quarters?**" Gralix roared, his voice deep and guttural, reverberating through the room. His claws crackled with fiery red energy, and his scaled body gleamed under the flickering light. "**You'll regret this. All of you.**" --- ### **Aildris and Elevora's Synchronized Assault** Aildris and Elevora exchanged a brief nod, their silent understanding leading to a perfectly synchronized attack. "**Let's clip his claws, Elevora,**" Aildris said, his voice calm yet commanding. He raised his hands, and the air around him shimmered as he began to **draw colors from the environment**. The glowing palette of hues materialized before him, swirling like a living spectrum. It pulsed with power, creating a **suction force** that pulled at everything in the room matching its hues. Gralix staggered as sections of his body glowed and flickered, drawn toward the swirling palette. The suction force gripped him, causing his **glowing tattoos** to flicker erratically. "**What is this trickery?!**" Gralix bellowed, struggling against the pull. "**Focus on that, why don't you?**" Elevora's voice rang out as her **third eye** flared. A concentrated **purple beam** shot forth, streaking toward the commander with devastating speed. Gralix growled, raising his clawed hand to meet the attack. His claws slashed through the air, slapping the beam away with a burst of energy. But the deflected beam **doubled in size**, twisting and morphing into a volatile sphere of energy. "**Incoming!**" Elevora yelled, diving for cover as the energy sphere **exploded** with a deafening roar. The explosion **tore through the bedroom**, blowing out one of the walls. The vacuum of space briefly threatened to engulf them before emergency barriers activated, sealing the breach. A thick cloud of smoke and debris filled the room. --- ### **Falco Takes Center Stage** As the smoke cleared, **Falco** stood unscathed amidst the destruction. His dark hair hung over his forehead, and his piercing gaze locked onto Gralix, who stood panting, his scales charred in places but still exuding defiance. Behind Falco, Aildris and Elevora lay sprawled on the floor, bruised and slightly bloodied. Elevora clutched her side, wincing, while Aildris pushed himself up with a grimace. "**You two rest,**" Falco said coldly, not turning to look at them. "**He's mine.**" "**Falco—**" Aildris started, but Falco raised a hand to silence him. "**No. I can feel it, Aildris,**" Falco growled, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. **Dark tendrils** began to phase out of his body, writhing ominously. "**That foul presence in him… it's my father's. He borrowed power from Nocturnis.**" Elevora's third eye flickered weakly as she looked up at him. "**Falco, don't—**" But Falco was already moving. His dark tendrils surged forward, slicing through the debris as he lunged at Gralix. --- ### **Falco's Rage Unleashed** Gralix barely had time to raise his claws before Falco's tendrils wrapped around his arms and legs, slamming him into the floor with a thunderous crash. The sheer force left cracks in the metallic surface. "**You think you're powerful because of Nocturnis? You're nothing,**" Falco snarled, his tendrils tightening around the commander like constricting serpents. Gralix roared, his tattoos glowing as he unleashed a pulse of red energy. The blast shattered Falco's tendrils, sending him skidding back. The commander rose to his feet, his scales glowing ominously as dark tendrils of his own began to emerge. "**You underestimate me, boy. Nocturnis's power flows through me!**" Gralix charged, his claws slashing toward Falco with blinding speed. Falco met the attack head-on, his **dark powers** manifesting as a shadowy shield that absorbed the brunt of the impact. The two clashed violently, their strikes creating shockwaves that shook the entire vessel. Falco's rage fueled his strength. He drove his knee into Gralix's midsection, sending the reptilian commander stumbling back. With a roar, he unleashed a wave of dark energy that engulfed Gralix, slamming him into the far wall. --- ### **The Turning Point** Gralix staggered to his feet, his breathing labored. His tattoos flickered, their glow dimming as his connection to Nocturnis's power waned. "**You can't win,**" Falco said, advancing slowly. His tendrils writhed around him, ready to strike. "**Your borrowed power is nothing compared to mine.**" Gralix snarled, lunging forward in a desperate attempt to turn the tide. But Falco was ready. He sidestepped the attack and drove his fist into Gralix's chest, sending the commander crashing into the floor. Before Gralix could rise, Falco's tendrils pinned him down, wrapping around his arms, legs, and throat. The commander thrashed and roared, but he was no match for Falco's relentless assault. Falco's dark eyes glinted with fury as he raised a tendril, poised to deliver the killing blow. "**You don't deserve to live,**" he growled. --- ### **Aildris Intervenes** "**Falco, stop!**" Aildris's voice rang out, firm and commanding. Falco hesitated, his tendrils trembling as he turned to look at Aildris. "**Why? He's a servant of Nocturnis. He deserves to die.**" "**We need him alive,**" Aildris said, stepping forward. His multicolored eyes glowed faintly as he spoke. "**He has information we need. Killing him now would be reckless.**" Falco's grip tightened around Gralix, his jaw clenched in frustration. "**He's a monster, Aildris. You didn't feel it like I did—Nocturnis's presence. He's dangerous.**" "**And that's exactly why we need him alive,**" Aildris replied calmly. "**If he's connected to Nocturnis, he might know more than we realize. Killing him won't solve anything.**" Falco growled low in his throat, but after a tense moment, he released the tendrils, letting them retract back into his body. Gralix lay on the floor, battered and gasping for breath. --- ### **The Aftermath** Elevora limped forward, her third eye glowing faintly as she scanned Gralix. "**He's weak now. He won't be a problem.**" Falco crossed his arms, glaring down at the commander. "**He'd better start talking. Otherwise, I'm finishing what I started.**" Aildris crouched beside Gralix, his expression neutral. "**You're going to tell us everything, Commander. Where are the leaders of the Gustavo Alliance? What's their connection to Nocturnis? And what's their endgame?**" Gralix coughed, his yellow eyes flickering with fear and defiance. "**You… think you've won? You have no idea… what's coming.**" "**Then enlighten us,**" Aildris said, his voice cold. "**Or I'll let my friend here finish what he started.**" Gralix hesitated, his gaze shifting between Aildris and Falco. Finally, he sighed, defeated. "**Fine. I'll talk.**" The team exchanged glances, knowing this was only the beginning of uncovering the Gustavo Alliance's secrets. ---sss Uncle Bila watched in amazement as Gustav interacted with the newly revived NID. The artefact, long dormant and silent within the depths of the Vertigon vaults, now pulsed with a vibrant, mystical energy. "Mr Crimson, to use the—" "Don't worry, I understand how it works," Gustav cut Uncle Bila off. He placed his palm flat against the NID, and the device responded immediately, its surface shimmering with an ethereal glow. The rhythmic pulsing seemed to sync with Gustav's energy, creating a resonance that filled the room with a palpable sense of anticipation. Gustav's thoughts were singular, 'I need to find a way to get to the remnants of planet Humbad.' He held onto this intention, willing the NID to provide a path forward. After a few tense moments, the artefact responded. A projection of shimmering letters floated in the air before them: "Planet AGON." Gustav stepped back, his surprise evident. "AGON? That's... that's the name Miss Aimee calls her planet." The room fell silent as the NID powered down, its task seemingly complete. Uncle Bila, breaking the silence, confirmed what the machine had implied. "It seems that whatever you need, Gustav is tied to Planet AGON. According to our ancestors, the NID has never been wrong." Gustav, puzzled, murmured to himself, "But why there? What could be on Miss Aimee's planet that relates to Humbad or the Warp Demolator?" Miss Aimee's planet was still very new so it didn't make any sense to him. Stark chimed in, "Remember, Miss Aimee isn't just your former master. She's a creator of worlds, a manipulator of cosmic scales. There is every possibility that she has foresight of the current predicament." The idea resonated with Gustav but he was still skeptical about it. "You might be right. I guess the only way to find out is by heading there." "I'll arrange for transport," Stark voiced in response. "And I'll gather some supplies for your journey," Uncle Bila added. "I need to find a way to send a message... An intergalactic message," Gustav requested. ... ... ... Days had passed since the Warp Demolator's appearance and subsequent disappearance, leaving Aildris, Endric, Falco, and Ria adrift in uncertainty. They had been scouring the coordinates and searching for any trace of Gustav, their efforts fruitless and their morale dwindling. As they prepared to set a course for a nearby planet in hopes of finding assistance, the console beeped loudly, signalling an incoming transmission that immediately drew their attention. Falco who was closest to the console, quickly tapped to accept the transmission. The familiar face of Gustav appeared in full vibrancy. "Hey, guys." The group exchanged looks of relief mixed with confusion upon his appearance. "Rival! We've searched everywhere, where did you vanish to?" Ria was the first to yell out. "I'm on earth," Gustav revealed. "You're on Earth?! How did you end up there?" Falco voiced in shock. -"It's Stark's doing. It's a long story—I'll fill you in later. But I'm alright." "We thought we lost you... How are you going to get back?" Aildris inquired. "I'm not coming back just yet. I'm actually about to head to Miss Aimee's planet, AGON." His revelation prompted a round of surprised murmurs among the group. "Miss Aimee's planet? Why?" Endric voiced in bafflement. "It's related to something called the NID—an artefact pointed me to AGON. I think it's crucial for what comes next. Since I missed the Warp demolator's appearance, this might be the only way I get to planet Humbad." The group listened intently as Gustav briefly explained his encounter with the NID and its mysterious guidance. "So, what do you need us to do now? Head to the Milky Way to join you?" Aildris inquired. -"No, that won't be necessary. You're over a month away, and I can't have you trailing behind that long. Instead, I need you to fix up my ship. I believe by the time you're heading back, I will have gotten what I need." "Okay, we could help with other things while you do what needs to be done," Endric answered with a nod. -"Thanks. I'll keep you posted on my progress and what I find out on AGON." As the transmission faded, the crew sat back, processing the flurry of information. Gustav was safe, but he would have to tread alone on the journey ahead of him. They turned their attention to the task at hand—repairing Gustav's spacecraft and finding their way back without mishaps. "We are gonna head for Earth afterwards right?" Ria asked. "You bet we are." ... ... ... Gustav and Stark stood in the dimly lit hangar, their spacecraft prepped and ready for departure. The air thrummed with the low rumble of the engines warming up, a subtle vibration underfoot that spoke of the power at their disposal. Beside them, two bodyguards in silver robes, their features obscured by the high collars and hoods, stood silent and alert. Gustav, checking over his disguise—a similar silver robe that masked his identity—nodded towards Stark. "It's time to go." Although Gustav didn't shapeshift due to the numbers seeing Stark off, he knew he wouldn't shy away from it when the time came. Stark adjusting his gear, looked at Gustav with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "What should I expect out there, Gustav? It's not every day one travels to a planet crafted by a goddess." "Honestly... it's hard to say what we'll find. Miss Aimee is... unpredictable. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that she's continued creating life. She aims to craft a world far different from Earth's—full of diversity and harmony," Gustav responded with a reminiscent look. As they boarded the spacecraft, the bodyguards took their positions at the controls, and Gustav settled next to Stark. The bay doors slowly retracted. With a smooth surge of power, the spacecraft lifted off, leaving Earth's atmosphere in a streak of light. As they ascended, Gustav's mind drifted to his past interactions with Miss Aimee. He remembered the lush landscapes she had shown him, teeming with life—creatures of her design, each species more fascinating than the last. --------------------- Miss Aimee stood before a sprawling vista, her hand sweeping over a field dotted with two-headed creatures grazing under a colourful sky. "Here..." she had said, "I will create a sanctuary where all the life forms I create can coexist in balance. A model of what any world could be, free from strife and inequality." ---------------------- Gustav felt a pang of nostalgia and a deep-seated curiosity about how much her world had evolved since his last visit. He pulled himself back to the present as their ship broke free from Earth's gravitational pull and entered the open cosmos. "Space travel still amazes me every time," Stark mumbled while peering forward. He started intently at every nook and cranny of the exterior of the spacecraft. "How far until we reach AGON?" Gustav questioned. "We're looking at just over a day's journey with the current hyperdrive settings since AGON is situated at the edge of the Milky Way," Stark answered informatively. The journey through space was smooth, with the vast starlit void offering a display of serene beauty. Stark occasionally attempted to draw out more stories from Gustav, who remained somewhat reticent, lost in his thoughts. "You respect her, don't you? Miss Aimee, I mean." "More than respect, Stark. I owe her my life. I was hoping I wouldn't need her help anymore until all this was over but I guess, there is no other way," Gustav voiced with a look of admiration and perturbation. As they neared AGON, the planet's image began to fill the viewport—a colossal world, its surface swirling with vibrant colours and cloud patterns that hinted at its dynamic atmosphere. "There it is. AGON," Gustav announced. "Wow, it truly is four times the size of Earth... Very breathtaking. To think one being could create all this... it's beyond what I thought possible," Stark couldn't imagine just how powerful Miss Aimee was. Although he had very much witnessed her might at IYSOP, it was an entirely different scenario to physically be in the presence of an orbital body she created. The spacecraft's approach was carefully calculated, as they prepared for descent. As their spacecraft approached the vibrant, swirling atmosphere of AGON, Gustav and Stark were suddenly jolted by an unexpected resistance. A shimmering barrier, invisible until now, materialized just as their ship was about to enter the planet's orbit. Stark startled by the sudden halt, looked over at Gustav with concern. "What's happening? Why can't we move forward?" Gustav brow furrowed in confusion and surprise as he responded, "This... this wasn't here before. Miss Aimee must have later put this in place to prevent external entry." "But she should be aware of my presence by now. Why isn't she taking the barrier down?" Gustav wondered out loud. It was impossible for anything to pass by Miss Aimee since she became a goddess so Gustav had expected her to have sensed their spacecraft long before it got to that point. Trying to understand the situation, Gustav instructed the ship's AI to attempt a gentle push forward, but the barrier remained impassive, its surface repelling every advance with increasing force. "Let's not force it. We might damage the ship—or worse, trigger a countermeasure we're not prepared for."