Nexeer sat on the floor holding the staff, keeping the blue Astrum activated and one was crouching behind Zeddicus speaking the words that Zeddicus will repeat.

Thinking that enough time has passed One started to say. “All of my soldiers and servants under my control. From this day onward, you will no longer be under my control. You will not remember what I have done to you. You will not remember that I was your master and you will not remember what you did when you were under my control. What little memories you have left of your past selves I give back to you.” One made a pause for the magic from the blue Astrum to take effect.

“You, my loyal servants will help the people I enslaved, by taking them away from their homes and families, help find who they are and where do they come from. This will be your task. The Zeddicus fortress is no more a military base. To all that are listening, the Zeddicus fortress is from now on a sanctuary.” One said and moved away from Zeddicus. “Cut the feed Seven.” He whispered.

One returned to Nexeer and Zeddicus and said. “You, Zeddicus, will not repeat my words anymore.”

They untied Zeddicus, put him on the bed and left the tower. They walked through the security building seeing all the guards confused, not knowing what to do. They just passed the scanners and went up to the plateau where Three was waiting for them.

“You created quite the chaos here.” Three said.

“You should have seen what he did to Zeddicus.” Nexeer said.

“What? What did you do?” Three asked.

“I made him forget who and what he is without the possibility to ever remember and I told him to forget he needs to eat and feel hunger.” One said with a smile.

“Uuuuuu… That’s cruel. You’re gonna starve him to death.” Three said.

“Yup. He deserves even worse.” One said.

As they were talking Two, Four and Seven joined them.

“What chaos.” Seven said.

“Then it’s good that you’re here. You have access to all of the face recognition databases. I’m going to need you to upload the databases here so that they can identify the people that they abducted. For will help you. We just need to find someone who’s in charge.” One said.

“I think I know who’s in charge. However, two may have frightened him to death. Four and I will go look for him.” Seven said.

“What did you do Two?” Three asked.

“They are just dramatizing. I just jumped in, guns out and challenged them to fight a Mehai.” Two said.

“I still have just one unfinished business. Nexeer, come with me.” One looked at something in the distance, grabbed Nexeer and ran as fast as he could. Two and three followed them. He stopped a few paces from a human woman. She saw him, walked over to him and said. “Do I know you?”

One looked at her wide-eyed and hugged her. “Lyala, I finally found you.” He held her tightly and a few tears ran down his face.

“Can you let go of me, please? You obviously know me but I don’t know you.” the woman said.

“Nexeer, can I transfer my memories with the blue Astrum to her?” One asked.

“Yeah. You want to do that?” Nexeer asked.

“Yeah.” One said.

“But you’ll be able to transfer only the memories of the two of you and the memories of you thinking about her.” Nexeer said.

“That’s a start. Are you ok with that?” One asked the woman.

“It beats not knowing anything. So, yeah.”

Nexeer put the blue Astrum between them and said. “Put your foreheads on the Astrum and close your eyes.” They did as he said and the Astrum shined. As the singing stopped, the woman looked around confused.

“Exom, why are we here? What is this place?” She asked.

One hugged her and said. “It’s a long story Lyala. I’m gonna tell you all about it later.”

“What’s wrong with you? You’re acting strange and you have gray hair. When did this happen?” Lyala asked.

“That’s all that worries you?” One asked and laughed. “No wonder I’m the smart one.” He said and Lyala hit him in the ribs.

“I love family reunions.” Nexeer said standing beside them. Nexeer was shapeshifted into One.

Without hesitation, One said. “Two shoot him.”

“With pleasure.” Two took out one of her hidden guns and shot him between the eyes. Nexeer fell down on the floor.

After a few seconds, he got up on his elbows, shook his head and massaged the bullet wound entrance. “Why did you do that? That hurt.” Nexeer said.

“That was just a warning shot because you were shifted as me. If you ever shift as me again, Two will empty a whole mag into your head.” One said.

“You know that won’t kill me.” Nexeer said.

“But it will hurt like hell.” One said.

“Point taken.” Nexeer said and shapeshifted into a random human.

Seven was uploading their entire face recognition database to the fortress computer so the process of finding who the abducted people could start after they leave. As Seven was transferring the data, Two, Three and Four payed a visit to Zeddicus’ treasury to collect some trinkets. It was a waste to leave them there just laying around when they could be put to such better use. After the data transfer was complete, they left the fortress, found Six sleeping in the Dagger, woke him up and looked at him disappointedly.

“Is that how you stay alert during a mission?” One said.

“I was bored. Did the plan work?” Six asked.

“Yeah. Are you questioning my abilities again?” Three said.

“No.” Six said.

“Then start the ship and let’s go home.” One said.

As they were flying to the Vulture, seven asked. “So, who’s our next target?”

“Come on Seven.” Two said.

“Leave it alone, at least for a month.” Three said.

“We are overdue for a vacation anyways.” Two said.

“Who are these people and why are they talking about targets?” Lyala asked.

“I’ll tell you everything when we get home. Just have fun.” One said and kissed her on the cheek.

The whole crew turned against him and One, sitting next to Lyala, just laughed, the first time in more than five years.