The group finally reached the spaceship, its metallic hull gleaming under the remnants of the shattered night sky. As the ship's doors slid open, Safari stretched, relieved to be back. But the real question now wasâ
Angeleva:
"So, Olive... where will you go from here?"
The exhausted Celestic Cop shifted uncomfortably, her gaze falling to the cracked ground.
Olive:
"I've been stuck on that cursed planet for so long. The Celestic Police probably think I'm dead by now."
Safari:
"So we don't need to worry about them showing up looking for you?"
Olive:
"No. I can manage something on my own."
Her tone was firm, though her weakened state said otherwise.
But before anyone could respond, Ian dramatically stepped forward, his usual flair in full force.
Ian:
"Ah, Olive! Even as a member of the Celestic Police, you've committed the most grievous crime!"
Olive blinked, confused.
Olive:
"...What?"
Ian placed a hand on his chest, feigning heartbreak.
Ian:
"You stole my heart! A crime of passion! And as a law-abiding citizen, I must take you in... as my prisoner of love!"
Everyone stared at him.
Safari:
"Seriously?"
Olive, completely ignoring Ian, turned around and began walking away.
Olive:
"I'll be fine on my own."
But Ian wasn't about to give up.
Ian:
"No way! I'll follow you wherever you go! Because with you by my side, I can do anything!"
His determination was met with exasperation. Safari, however, seemed more than happy to see Ian occupied.
Safari (smirking):
"Good riddance."
Ian's grin only widened, his heart still set on wooing Olive.
But thenâ
Angeleva:
"She's coming with us."
Everyone turned in surprise. Safari, in particular, raised a skeptical brow.
Safari:
"Wait, hold on â since when do I just take in every random person we meet?"
Angeleva didn't even flinch.
Angeleva (firmly):
"She has nowhere else to go. She's coming with us."
Safari:
"This isn't a rescue shelter. It's my spaceship."
Angeleva's eyes narrowed.
Angeleva:
"And? She's still coming with us."
Realizing he wasn't going to win this argument, Safari groaned, rubbing his temples.
Safari:
"Fine... but this ship is getting crowded."
Ian, seizing the opportunity, leaned toward Olive once again.
Ian (grinning):
*"Speaking of crowded â Olive, would you considerâ"
Olive (deadpan):
"No."
Ian dramatically clutched his chest as if struck by an arrow.
Ian:
"I shall win your heart one day!"
Safari rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.
Safari:
"This isn't a restaurant... this is my spaceship."
Olive stood by the ship's entrance, her gaze uncertain as she watched Safari grumble under his breath.
Olive:
"Is it really fine for me to join? You don't look too satisfied with it."
Safari shot her a tired look.
Safari:
"I don't exactly have a way out here."
Her voice lowered, hesitant.
Olive:
"I'll just be a bother."
Before Safari could respond, Angeleva stepped forward, her arms crossed.
Angeleva:
"No, you won't. You're coming with us, and that's that."
Ian, of course, was quick to jump in, dramatically pleading Safari's case.
Ian:
"Come on, big bro! Just force her in! It's too dangerous to leave her alone. Plus, I'd be devastated if anything happened to my dearest Olive!"
Safari gave him a side-eye.
Safari:
"Ian, stop helping."
With a deep sigh, Safari ran a hand through his hair, visibly annoyed.
Safari:
"Listen, if I take someone in, they become my responsibility, even if I hate it."
Ian (grinning):
"Plus, she'll be safe under Safari' big bro's protection! The mighty warrior!"
Safari ignored him, though he noticed Olive was still hesitant. Looking at Angeleva's stern and clearly irritated face, and the pleading eyes of Zack and Jen, Safari knew he had no choice.
He crossed his arms and scowled.
Safari:
"I don't care if you live or die. But if you stay with us, you at least have a choice. A choice to live and survive. If you go alone, I can't say if you'll survive or not. And with your current state, you'll be an easy target for not just the Demon Generals, but also for... weirdos."
He side-eyed Angeleva, who immediately stiffened, recalling memories she didn't want to relive â the humanoid creatures she once encountered. She said nothing, but the bitterness in her expression was evident.
Safari:
"It's your choice."
Ian immediately seized the moment, dramatically stepping closer.
Ian:
"But Olive! Think of the adventure! The thrill! And most importantly, think of me!"
Before Olive could react, Zack and Jen rushed forward, clutching her hands.
Zack:
"Stay with us, big sister!"
Jen:
"Yeah! We'll protect you too!"
The warmth of their words caught Olive off guard. For the first time, people genuinely wanted her around â not for her abilities, not because she was useful, but simply because they wanted her.
Angeleva stepped closer, her voice stern but caring.
Angeleva:
"Stop acting like a burden. If you don't want to be alone, then don't be. It's not weakness to accept help. And besides, someone has to keep Ian in check."
Ian beamed.
Ian:
"I'd love that!"
Olive lowered her head. The memories of her life before flooded back. Adopted only for convenience after her real parents died, her adoptive family saw her as a tool. The Celestic Police only valued her because of her combat skills. And when she failed to return from Lack's grasp, they abandoned her without a second thought. Not even a rescue attempt. She had been discarded.
But now, things were different.
With a trembling voice, she finally spoke.
Olive:
"Can I really come?"
Safari groaned.
Safari:
"Everyone does whatever they want on this ship. I have no right to protest."
Before Olive could hesitate further, Ian clasped her hand dramatically.
Ian:
"Then it's settled! Welcome aboard, my lovely damsel!"
Startled, Olive immediately yanked her hand away.
Olive:
"Don't touch me."
Ian sulked, though the sparkle in his eyes remained.
Ian:
"She's already so charming!"
Safari rolled his eyes.
Safari:
"Great. Another headache."
Despite his grumbling, Safari noticed Olive's expression lighten, just a little. The spark of uncertainty was still there, but for once, she wasn't alone.
Angeleva soared away from the planet, after seeing everything settled.
Safari gathered everyone in his spaceship, including their newest ally, Olive. Meanwhile, Angeleva flew off gracefully toward her next destination, not needing a spaceship to travel.
As Safari sat in the pilot's seat, he attempted to start the engineâonly to be met with an ominous dead silence.
Safari (gritting his teeth): "Tch. What now?"
Jen: "Um... ? The spaceship isn't moving."
Zack: "Why won't it start?"
Safari (annoyed): " I think it's probably due to the crash that the ship is not working."
Zack and Jen looked tensed with Ian still annoyingly taking photos oblivious to everything not wanting to miss a single moment whenâ
Olive (crossing her arms, serious as always): "Move aside. I might be able to fix it."
Ian's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Ian (grinning flirtatiously): "Olive, you're amazing! So smart, so skilledâI can tell we have a deep connection. Perhaps destiny brought us togethâ"
Before he could finish, Olive shoved him aside.
Olive (deadpan): "Out of my way."
Ian comically tumbled backward, clutching his chest in exaggerated heartbreak.
Ian (dramatically): "Rejection... so soon?!"
Ignoring him, Olive inspected the damaged control panel.
Olive (analyzing): "The ship's internal circuits were fried from the crash. We need to rewire the core engine, reset the power supply, and reprogram the thrusters."
Safari (raising an eyebrow): "Uh... so what do we do?"
Olive (firmly): "Everyone helps me. Now."
The entire crew (especially Ian, desperate to impress her) quickly followed her instructions.
Safari and Zack handled the heavy lifting.
Jen managed the wiring with Olive's guidance.
Ian... tried his best while sneakily stealing glances at Olive.
After an hour of effort, the repairs were complete.
Safari turned the ignition.
The ship roared to life, engines humming smoothly as the vessel began to rise.
Safari (grinning, impressed): "It's working! Olive, that was incredible."
Zack (cheering): "That was fast!"
Jen: "You're amazing, Olive!"
Safari, rarely one to compliment, was so impressed that he made an announcement.
Safari (crossing his arms, smirking): "From now on, Olive, you're one of us. You can even call me 'big brother.'"
Everyone paused, shocked.
Zack: "Wait... big bro never lets anyone call him that."
Jen: "This is historic."
Ian (teary-eyed): "Even I haven't gotten that privilege... Olive, you're so lucky!"
Olive nodded, her expression unreadable.
Olive (calmly): "Then, big brother... I'll rely on you when needed."
Safari gave a firm nod, welcoming her into the family.
As they drifted through space, Zack finally asked the question on everyone's mind.
Zack: "How did you fix the ship so easily?"
Olive (reintroducing herself): "I'm Olive. I used to be a Celestic cop. But aside from law enforcement, I enjoyed repairing weapons, machines, and communication devices. It was my hobby."
She then pulled out her police-issued firearm, a sleek, futuristic pistol.
Ian (amazed): "A woman of both beauty and talent... incredible!"
Safari ignored Ian's antics and focused on her words.
Jen (curious): "If you were a Celestic cop, won't your superiors be looking for you?"
Olive (shaking her head, bitterly): "No. The law is cruel. I've been missing for three months. They would've filled my position already."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Olive (clenching her fists): "No reinforcements ever came. My entire squad was slaughtered, and I was left behind."
Her voice wavered as she recalled her humiliation, the torture, the torment.
Olive (her tone dark, trembling slightly): "They kept me as a prisoner... just because I was... 'beautiful.'"
A tense silence filled the ship.
Ian, for once, wasn't joking. He reached out to comfort her, butâ
Olive (pushing him aside, regaining composure): "I'm a strong policewoman. I don't need comfort."
Ian dramatically collapsed.
Ian (wailing): "But I just wanted to be supportive!"
Zack patted Ian's back.
Zack (smiling): "Don't worry. One day, she'll warm up to you."
Ian (determined): "I won't give up!"
Despite her cold demeanor, Olive felt... a small sense of warmth from the group.
Now fully operational, the ship soared through space, leaving the war-torn planet behind.
Safari, looking at his eclectic crew, sighed.
Safari: "Alright... since we're apparently a full crew now, we need a name."
Zack (raising a hand eagerly): "How about... the Zack Crew?"
Everyone (unanimously): "NO."
Ian (grinning proudly): "Then I have the perfect name! 'Ian-Olive Cute Family Living Together Blessed by Safari Big Brother' Crew!"
A stunned silence.
Thenâ
Olive (furious, punching Ian in the face): "SHUT. UP."
Ian (dazed, stars spinning around his head): "I love strong women... so cool... so serious... so hard to get along with..."
Ignoring Ian's delusions, the crew began arguing over names.
Safari (gripping his head, frustrated): "ENOUGH!!"
Everyone froze in fear.
Safari then smirked.
Safari: "We're going with 'Safari Family.'"
This time, no one objected.
Zack, Jen, Olive, and even Ian nodded in agreement.
Safari glanced at his crew.
Safari (thinking): "I never thought I'd be leading a group like this. I never imagined anyone calling me 'big bro.' But... maybe this isn't so bad."
He then stood up and faced them.
Safari (grinning, confidently): "Safari Family... we're heading to our next destination!"
And with that, their journey continued.