George Atmell

I must admit I was worried about Kilkaja. I told him about the dangers he might faced when he traveled with Sel and Astha, especially when everyone out there knew that he was a former slave. But then, despite all that, I could see that Kilkaja wanted to help, and his eyes, despite of being completely black and featureless, showed a sense of determination and drive for adventure. I couldn't stop him from that. He made his own choices now, and I could not stop him. I only hoped that we would meet again someday, preferably sooner than I imagined.

Still, I knew the three of them got off rather fine, because we ended up with something more problematic.

The attack on Arkari proved that the Vyrnians were targeted a long time ago, and the threat was never gone. It simply hid for 500 years, waiting for a perfect time to strike. The Vyrnians had made sure that the planet stayed sealed with no key to open it, but I knew that, given time, the Trikelians would find a way to destroy the well-protected generator and resume their ambition. They had influenced the lives and cultures of the space-faring aliens, and they had all the time they needed.

Our encounter with the Trikelians and what they claimed made me think that the mystery out there was far more dangerous than we initially thought, especially for me. Just a month ago, I was wyvern rider whose touch of anything beyond Earth was Arcturus and his spaceship. Now, I became involved in one of the most dangerous crisis this galaxy ever faced, and it would take more than just the crew of the now divided Vyrkaya to tackle.

No. It needed the whole galaxy to fight the invaders, and right now, the galaxy's in a chaotic state. The Saukaurs were fighting among themselves, the Felinians were dealing with overpopulation and territorial problems with the Saukaurs, the Vyrnians were in danger of being taken over by the Trikelians, and many other problems. We also could not consider the Nuoevans and Orians as a whole as allies, knowing what they were notorious for. If the Trikelian struck now, they'd win. We had already lost before we got a chance to fight back. Even worse, one Trikelian caused all the destruction around me in Arkari. A little subterfuge and manipulation was all they need. We needed that kind of strategy, too, and I knew we would do it regardless of anything.

But then there was one thing that the Trikelians did not consider, and that was Andrates and his allies. Andrates proved to be a good strategist, enough to be able to create confusion among the pirates. While he did admit that it would not be as effective without the creature possessing Arcturus's help (which by now I knew they called themselves dragons of Ossogoth or something like that despite of not looking like a dragon that I knew at all), it would not work without his direction. He even got praised by both the people of Arkari and the fleet from Amurlun for his hard work.

Deciding that we could not just sit around while Sel's group search for Sethis, we returned to Lekan to see the full extent of the damage. The colony was in ruins, much like its state when the Nuoevans used it as their base. There were damages everywhere due to energy guns with one section not pressurized. All of the Vyrnians on the base survived and they were still recovering from the damage due to the Trikelian's attack.

Arcturus looked around Lekan for anyone that might needed help. He seemed to be rather...dazed after what he did to Artem. Artem did not die and managed to survive and recovering, but the way he tried to free her...seemed to affect him. The dragon of Ossogoth possessing him seemed to be using some ability that seemed to affect Arcturus mentally. I was rather concerned for him since everything that happened to him could drive him insane. I knew Arcturus was strong, but even he had a limit.

Andrates also noticed this change in Arcturus. He wanted to help, but now, even he had no idea how. The dragon creature was as mysterious as the Trikelian's purpose. All he could do was sigh.

"I thought I have seen everything, but in the end, I'm still oblivious of everything," he said. "Turns out things are far more complicated than I thought."

"You're still fine," I said. "I don't even understand what's going on half of the time. Before this, all I knew was the dragons and wyverns and magic. Now...it's aliens with tentacles, space wyverns, time travel, and..."

"Try to take it one at a time. You can't eat the whole thing in one go," said Andrates. "You can always go home to clear your mind out of things. It helps, you know."

"Thanks," I said. "I might consider it."

At this point, I felt that going home would be the best way to cope with all the insanity I had gone through for the past month. I would even do that, if it wasn't for Andrates stirring my curiosity once more when he said about a 'plan' to complement the Rinki Bird plan, or maybe to make such drastic plan obsolete.

After we cleaned up the station and had a rest for a day, Andrates called me, Arcturus, and Zarya to a meeting room, where the rest of Andrates's allies had gathered. I looked and saw Artem, who was still recovering from the beating caused by both Andrates and Arcturus, along with the Trikelian forcing her body to exceed its limits. She tried to support herself, but was also helped by Areil, who supported her.

"Friends and families," said Andrates after one of the Vyrnians locked the doors. "We all gathered here because we all knew the stake at hand. If any of you have a sliver of doubt, this is the time we throw that out of this room. Let me be clear. We're fighting against an enemy that has influenced the lives of this galaxy, not just us. All the problems the other space-faring races faced could be traced to the Trikelians. Even the Orians, as I checked, became a fragmented civilization due to similar circumstances as us, in which they lost their home planet to the Trikelians a long time ago."

"That still does not make their open slavery acceptable," said one of the Vyrnians. "I say they got what they deserved for it."

"I won't comment on their cultures if I were you, Peleidor," said Andrates. "They need to sort that thing out themselves. But, that is not important. What's important is that we clearly need more than just Vyrnian support for this. We need the other space-faring races of this galaxy to fight a common threat as one. I know it won't be easy, but I've set a plan, one that some of us have known. We won't know if the plan works or not, but we'll make it work, one way or another.

"That is why I gathered all of you here to assign you each a job. Some of you will be ambassadors for each of the space-faring races. Some of you will help bolster the technological and military strength. And finally, some of you will be responsible in finding more Vyrnian allies. As of right now, we are the only ones who knew what we're facing, along with the most vulnerable. The Trikelians considered us their perfect host, and along the way, you'll meet with some. Do not hesitate to strike them down."

Everyone seemed rather tense for this. I would. This was clearly a planning for a war, one that's far greater than the conflicts of a planet. I had never thought I'd be part of someone else's war, especially after surviving one in my childhood. However, that war was the end of an era. This one was the start of it.

The Vyrnian's problems may not be mine. In fact, Earth would just stay in one corner of the galaxy, peaceful and undisturbed. However, after knowing that the Trikelian would rule everything if we did not do anything, I did not just ignore this. If I turn my back, I'd regret that decision for the rest of my life.

As Andrates gave the assignments to several different groups, they each went out of the room with a job to do. Slowly, but surely, everyone either left or discussed their plan of action. We were not given any job...yet.

Andrates then approached us with Orionis, the Vyrnian shipwright. He then said, "Thanks for waiting, you three. I know you're already wondering what your assignment is. Rest assured, it's as important as everyone I called. I want you to find someone to procure yourself a ship."

"Well, we already have one, so...."

"Vyrkaya's far too small," said Andrates, interrupting Zarya. "It is a fine ship, but you need something bigger and more reliable. It won't just be any ship, however. It will be a ship of union, one I expected to be full of a diverse assortment of crew, not just Vyrnians."

"Wait," I said. "Is that even possible?"

"You've showed me yourself with your crew," said Andrates. "That gave me an inspiration for a ship where everyone can use it, regardless of race or size. While I gave the idea, Orionis finally finished a rough design."

He beckoned Orionis to come forward and showed us a blueprint of a spaceship. It had a very prominent saucer section with the rest of the ship being engines and a middle part connecting the two main elements.

"I simply adapted an old pre-Exodus design with some changes," said Orionis. "One of those changes include the use of a universal control scheme via holo-interface. That way, it will reduce the need of any trained pilots to relearn how to pilot a ship. Anyone aside from the Vyrnians can use them."

"Your job, aside from recruiting your crew, would be to find someone to help with the ship," said Andrates. "From there, we can replicate the design and use it. We might not need to fight, but I just want to make this control scheme easy to use and readily available for every races out there."

"We'll do it," said Arcturus. "But where can we start?"

"Talk with Xilna for information. Right now, she's our best ally out there. When you got to her, give her my thanks."

I nodded along with Arcturus, acknowledging the mission given to us. I still wondered how a wyvern rider by chance would end up to be a part of something greater than Earth. There were danger involved, but one thing was certain. These Vyrnians acknowledged me as part of them, and was as important. I was not just a witness of things. I was part of it.

"Oh, and before I forget," said Andrates. "I left something in your room, Arcturus. It's not perfect, but it will remind you of the thing that made me proud of you. You know what I mean."

Andrates made a smile and winked to Arcturus, who seemed to understand what his father meant. They then hugged each other, saying 'good luck' to each other, before Arcturus walked out of the room, with me and Zarya following.

He then turned towards me and Zarya. "Ready?"

"Always," I said.

"Always," said Zarya.

We both smiled. Of course, we would be ready. I grew to regard Arcturus as a family away from home, and Zarya loved him and was ready to support him. Him telling us that was the confirmation of what we would do next.

We then walked towards his room, one that he used when he stayed on Lekan. There, on his bed, was a wrapped gift that looked like a pole. However, it wasn't a pole, but a glaive. This one, however, looked far more advanced than the one Andrates already wielded, given that the tip looked less like a blade and more like a futuristic-looking energy rifle, in addition to being blocky and black-colored.

Arcturus gasped as he looked at it. He then said, "It's my Draconis. It's an almost perfect copy of the Draconis I used years ago."

"Almost perfect?"

"Yeah. The tip's different. Dad must've kept the schematics in the database. This Draconis is custom-made and tailored to suit my style, far more than any Draconis could."

I then noticed a paper fell on the side. I pointed this towards Arcturus who took it and read it.

"Modified to match your partner's blade," he said. "Got inspired by it. Give it a try."

I did not know what it meant, but Arcturus got the idea. With just a simple transfer of electric energy, the whole weapon came to life. However, the tip of the weapon let out a rather bright plasma energy sustained by the energy rifle tips, forming a blade and crackling with pure electricity, along with a signature humming sound when he swung it as a test. The tip was so hot, it somehow increased the room's temperature.

I felt like I did not want to be upstaged, so I simply set my gun-sword so the sword was coated with plasma energy, giving out a similar bright light blade strong enough to cut through steel. We both looked at each other and smiled.

"Now you and I are compatible with each other," he said. "What do you say, rider?"

"Let's get out there and continue this adventure, partner," I said with a smile.

The three of us walked out of that room, only looking back and made a promise to return. We then looked forward, ready to face everything. We then boarded the Vyrkaya with Areil, who was assigned by Andrates to look after Arcturus, before we lifted off and warped towards Orlonel.

It was the dawn of the new hope, and we'd be the catalyst for the future.