Inside the spaceship, the atmosphere was lively as always. Jen was busy in the kitchen, whipping up snacks while Zack peeked over her shoulder, eagerly awaiting a taste.
Ian, perched on a chair, replayed footage from their last battle, dramatically narrating every moment. His exaggerated commentary earned a few amused eye rolls from Olive, who was busy fine-tuning her gun.
Safari, seated in the captain's chair, kept an eye on the tracker. The screen blinked with coordinates for the next location, though no red signal had appeared just yet. Despite the calm, he remained on edge, knowing their next challenge could come at any moment.
At one point, Zack brought a plate of cookies to Safari.
Zack:
"You should eat, big bro! Jen says these are 'Victory Cookies!'"
Safari chuckled, ruffling Zack's hair before taking a bite.
Safari:
"Not bad, kid. Maybe next time we'll get a 'Battle Cake.'"
Ian:
"And I'll document the glorious feast of champions!"
Olive:
"Or maybe just enjoy the meal without the commentary for once."
Laughter filled the ship. Despite the battles they'd faced, moments like these reminded them why they fought — not just for victory, but for the bonds they had built.
Next Day...
The Family was en route to their next destination. Olive studied the tracker, giving Safari precise directions.
Olive:
"Adjust 12 degrees east, then head straight. That's our target."
While Safari followed her directions, Ian strolled toward Olive, holding a freshly plucked bouquet of roses from picked from the previous planet. He dramatically knelt before her, presenting them as if proposing.
Ian:
"For the most radiant protector of the Safari Family!"
Olive rolled her eyes and, without a word, snatched the roses and tossed them back at his face. The petals scattered everywhere as Ian blinked in disbelief.
Just then, Jen called out from the ship's small kitchen.
Jen:
"Dinner's ready! Come and get it before Ian tries to document it like a 'Masterpiece of Galactic Cuisine.'"
The crew gathered around the dining table. Zack launched into a series of jokes, his youthful laughter contagious. Even Olive cracked a small smile. Safari watched them, something stirring in his chest.
He again felt a strange warmth — a sense of belonging. Memories of his sister flickered in his mind, but this crew had become something he never thought he'd have again — a family. He hated to admit it, but a part of him silently thanked Angeleva for this, though he'd never say it out loud.
After dinner, the ship descended, landing on the planet's eerie surface. A thick mist loomed, and gravestones stretched as far as the eye could see. The air was cold and unsettling.
The crew hesitated at the ship's entrance, eyes wide.
Olive:
"This... doesn't look like a friendly welcome."
Ian:
"Looks like the set of a horror movie. Perfect for a new documentary!"
Safari stepped forward, unfazed, his instincts on high alert. As soon as his feet touched the ground, the earth shifted. From the graves, twisted bodies crawled out — rotting zombies with lifeless eyes.
Ian, oblivious to the danger, eagerly snapped photos.
Ian:
"Big bro, look over here! The lighting is perfect for a heroic shot!"
Before Ian could blink, a zombie lunged toward him. His confidence shattered.
Ian:
"I-I'm too young to die! And I haven't even married Olive yet!"
But before the creature could strike, a gunshot echoed. The zombie collapsed, and Olive lowered her gun, standing in front of Ian.
Olive:
"Stay behind me, idiot. I'm trying to protect the crew."
Ian, relieved and love-struck, threw his arms wide, attempting to hug her. Before Olive could push him away, zombies swarmed from all directions, trapping them.
Olive fired shot after shot, but the undead kept getting up.
Meanwhile, Ian hid behind her, clutching his camera tightly.
Ian:
"At least if I die, I'll have the most dramatic footage!"
Back at the spaceship, more zombies emerged, shambling toward Jen and Zack. Fear froze them in place as the creatures grew closer. Safari's eyes burned with fury.
With a monstrous roar, Safari transformed and swung his hammer, sending corpses flying. He slashed through the horde relentlessly, the air thick with the stench of death.
His strength was terrifying — a force of nature.
Upon seeing the zombies approaching his family, Safari's expression darkened.
Safari:
"No one touches my family."
He stormed toward the ship, cutting through the undead like a raging storm. Reaching Jen and Zack, he swiftly destroyed the remaining zombies. Blood dripped from his hammer, and his eyes gleamed with a terrifying glow.
The two children trembled but were quickly reassured when Safari knelt, his voice softer now.
Safari:
"I am a devil. If anyone threatens my family, I'll become the demon who reaps their lives. But as long as you're with me, you're safe."
Zack and Jen nodded, clinging to his arms. Safari rose, his protectiveness unwavering.
Spotting Olive and Ian still surrounded, he roared and charged through the horde. His hammer swung wildly, splintering corpses apart.
Olive continued firing, and even though Ian cowered, he still managed to capture photos mid-battle.
With every step, the crew fought together. Safari cleared the path, Olive picked off any stragglers, Jen and Zack stuck close, and Ian — in his own awkward way — documented their struggle.
Despite the terror, an unspoken understanding bound them. They weren't just surviving. They were facing the impossible as one.
And if they died, they'd die together.
Ian's Commentary (Nervously Documenting)
"Alright, alright! This is Ian on the scene, broadcasting straight from the universe's worst vacation spot — a literal zombie-infested nightmare! We're trudging through the haunted streets, and I must say, I'm not sure whether to be amazed or terrified. Safari big bro's taking on the zombies like a wrecking ball with horns, but let me tell you, there's nothing comforting about an endless wave of rotten flesh coming your way!"
The camera shook as Ian followed closely behind Safari and the crew. The fog that clung to the long road seemed almost alive, writhing as more and more zombies emerged from the grave-lined streets. Olive fired her gun with precise shots, covering their flanks. Zack and Jen clung to Safari's side, struggling to keep up. But even the unstoppable Safari was starting to falter.
"Now, you'd think having a devil warrior on your side would solve all your problems. And it does... until he's outnumbered a hundred to one! Safari's swinging that massive hammer like a cosmic baseball bat, but even he can't keep this up forever!"
The camera zoomed in on Safari. Sweat dripped from his face, his breathing ragged. For every zombie he crushed, two more emerged. Yet his gaze remained determined.
"I swear, it's like these zombies don't know when to quit! Our fearless leader is clearly struggling, but you won't hear him admit it. His pride's thicker than his horns!"
But Ian's attempts at light-hearted commentary were losing their edge. Even he couldn't ignore the exhaustion that swept over the crew.
Every movement became sluggish. Jen stumbled, clutching at her aching legs. Zack's glowing hands flickered as his healing energy ran dry. Olive kept her gun up, but the tremble in her arms gave away her fatigue.
"Okay, okay, things are looking pretty bleak right now! Not gonna lie, folks, I'm starting to wonder if this is how our heroic tale ends. But wait — what's that?"
A blur of golden light flashed from the opposite end of the street. Like a gust of wind, Angeleva(transformed) appeared, spinning through the horde with swift, elegant beams. Her wand sent a fairy beam through the zombies, reducing them to ashes.
"Oh-ho! It's the fairy queen herself! Our competitor-turned-occasional-ally, Angeleva! And dare I say it — she's actually helping us this time!"
Angeleva's sharp eyes locked onto Safari, noticing his dire situation. Without a word, she darted toward the crew, effortlessly dodging the undead. She grabbed Zack first, then Jen, and finally Ian — though he let out a surprised yelp, his camera jostling in the process.
Ian:
"W-Wait! My heroic footage! Be careful with the camera! Angeleva! I swear if you drop—"
Angeleva ignored his protests. One by one, she lifted them to the safety of a tall tree with a large treehouse nestled at its peak. The makeshift shelter seemed to have been abandoned long ago, but it provided enough cover for them to hide.
Angeleva:
"Stay put. And stop whining, Ian."
"Yes, ma'am." Ian muttered, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And thank you for the... express delivery."
The camera caught one last glimpse of Safari through the branches, his hands tightening around his hammer. Now free of the burden of protecting his crew, his devilish grin returned.
"Well, well, folks. It seems the devil's off his leash!"
Ian's Commentary (Still Nervous but Slightly Relieved)
"With the crew safely out of the way, Safari big bro and Angeleva are now storming the Zombie Castle like two cosmic forces of nature! And, uh, they're ignoring each other. Classic."
The castle loomed, its decaying towers twisted and broken. Safari smashed through the entrance, sending rubble flying. Angeleva, using her invisibility, swiftly scaled the walls.
"They're racing to the top! It's devil versus fairy, and it's neck-and-neck! Who will face the big bad first?"