As Mike and Heidi slept soundly, recovering from their previous battle, a mysterious spaceship appeared near their hybrid spaceship.
Jim was sitting right beside their sleeping bodies when-
A huge crash was heard as the spaceship came closer to theirs and the screen blacked out.
Jim looked here and there, shocked by the huge crash sound and wondered if anything happened to their ship.
Before he could process anything, a red-haired woman in a violet suit moved swiftly through the ship, her laser-gun gripped tightly.
Jim entered the Pilot room, monitoring the ship's systems when the woman emerged right in front of him, pointing her weapon.
??: "Bring out the Orb Holders. Now."
Jim froze.
His usual calm demeanor wavered as he stared at the woman in front of him.
Jim (narrowing his eyes): "And what exactly do you plan to do with them?"
??(coldly): "Execute them. The orbs must be destroyed. No exceptions."
Jim stood his ground.
Jim: "Not happening. If you want to get to them... you'll have to go through me."
She hesitated for a moment.
Her gun remained steady, but her expression shifted.
??: "You're willing to die for them?"
Jim nodded.
Jim: "I've traveled with them. Fought alongside them even if it's not that long. They are not only my teammates... but they are almost like my younger siblings."
She clicked her tongue, lowering her gun slightly.
??: "Tch... You're in the way. I am warning you, you better move out of the way. It's for your own good. Because-"
Jim was about to respond when she suddenly added something shocking.
??: "I am Naomi. Daughter of Edward, the ex-commander of Celestic Justice. I have to complete my mission."
Jim's eyes widened in shock.
Jim: "Wait... Edward had a daughter?! That means..."
Naomi nodded.
Naomi: "My father was killed by Dark Void's Chief Commander, Goblin The Terrible. But it was not just him. Dark Void's existence as a whole is a threat. And the orbs... they need to be erased as they were once a part of him."
Jim clenched his fists, his mind racing.
Commander Edward had saved his life when he was 5 years old.
He found him alone on an isolated planet, took him in to Celestic Justice for shelter, raised and trained him... and just a year ago died protecting him from Goblin.
Jim (whispering): "I... I owe everything to Edward. I actually won't have been here if not for him."
Naomi studied his face carefully.
Then, she suddenly recognized his features.
Naomi (eyes widening): "Wait... are you by any chance Jim?
Jim nodded.
Naomi: "My father often talked about you and used to show me your photos. Still can't believe it's actually you!"
She slowly lowered her gun completely.
Naomi (softly): "I suppose I should formally greet you, then. My father thought highly of you."
Jim took a deep breath, trying to process everything.
After a few moments of formality, Naomi explained her mission.
She had been secretly tracking the Orbs after finding out that Celestic Justice currently under Jeromy was searching for them.
She had been spying on Celestic Justice after her father's death to see if the new commander Jeromy was capable to lead.
During the spying she found information about the orbs split by God Solarae from Dark Void.
She had been continuously getting more and more information about them and later on found out whoever gets the orbs will become Celestic Warriors.
Gradually, she became interested in them for further research as a scientist. So, she secretly took a sample of energy signature of the orbs from the Celestic Justice.
From the energy signatures, she developed a tracker by herself to follow the places the orbs landed on.
While searching for them, she found out the orbs were gradually coming closer to each other.
That's when she finally managed to locate a hybrid spaceship from afar clearly showing the energy signatures of both orbs. That made her job easier.
She followed the spaceship for sometime, when they were suddenly sucked inside the portal.
She couldn't believe it but according to the readings, the portal was a gateway to the fairy universe.
Having no choice, she sped her way through to finally enter the fairy universe just before the portal closed.
But even after entering, she lost sight of the spaceship.
So, in the spare time, she started researching more about the orbs as she continued her search for their spaceship.
But what she discovered after analysing the energy signatures was disturbing.
Naomi: "The orbs... are cursed."
Jim stiffened.
Naomi: "They don't just give power. They change their users. Slowly. Irreversibly. And if they aren't careful... they'll turn into cold-blooded monsters."
Jim was shocked.
Naomi described. "Just recently, I was able to track the orb holders in the Jack and the Beanstalk planet."
"From a distance, I observed them using Revenge Mode." Naomi's face darkened as she said that.
She continued, her expression serious. "From what I observed according to their energy signatures, it's definitely not a good sign. So, I finally decided to end things without taking any risks."
Jim:"Isn't there any way to save them?"
Naomi continued, her voice firm.
Naomi: "Based on my analysis, the only way to prevent total corruption is through emotional connection. Without it, they'll lose themselves."
Naomi (sharply): "But presently, they are dangerously close to the negative side due to their orbs reacting to their rage."
Her eyes darkened.
Naomi: "Before it's too late... I have to eliminate them."
She raised her gun again and started marching toward the sleeping warriors.
Jim reacted immediately, grabbing her wrist.
Jim (desperate): "No! Please!"
Naomi struggled against him.
Naomi: "Jim, move! If we let them continue like this-"
Jim (shouting): "I'll stop them if it ever comes to that! I'll... I'll activate a self-destructor if I have to. But NOT NOW!"
Tears threatened to form in his eyes.
Jim: "They're showing signs of change. They're starting to care. If you just kill them now... you'll never know if they could have been saved."
Naomi stared at him.
For a long moment, there was silence.
Then, she sighed, lowering her gun again.
Naomi: "Fine. But I'm not leaving. Because-"
Jim blinked.
Naomi(sighing): "My lab ship has somehow merged with yours as I accidentally set it to merge mode near the spaceship. It's a feature which allows it to merge with any spaceship. I will stay and observe them myself. If I see even a hint of irreversible corruption... I will act."
Jim:"So that was what the huge sound was? Yet another spaceship-fused?Seems the spaceship is now getting spacier."
Naomi nodded hesitantly.
Jim then let out a breath of relief.
Jim (smiling weakly): "Anyways, thanks... Naomi for giving us a chance."
She crossed her arms.
Naomi(coldly): "Don't thank me. Just don't make me regret this."
Three hours later...
Mike and Heidi finally woke up.
Heidi (stretching): "Mmm... That was a good nap."
Mike (groaning): "Ugh... What happened? Where are we?"
Heidi(observing her surroundings): "It seems we are back in our spaceship."
Then they noticed Naomi, arms crossed, staring at them.
Mike (blinking): "Uh... Jim? Who's the redhead?"
Jim rubbed the back of his neck.
Jim: "Oh... she's my friend. She's joining us as a scientist to assist us on our journey."
Mike and Heidi smirked.
Mike (grinning): "Ohhh, I see how it is."
Heidi (mocking): "Jim's got a girlfriend~"
Jim's face turned red.
Jim(embarrassed): "W-What?! No, that's not-!"
Naomi rolled her eyes.
Naomi(blushingly): "You brats!"
Mike(in a cool tone): "Well, welcome aboard, 'scientist.' Just don't slow us down."
Naomi narrowed her eyes.
Naomi: "Oh, trust me... I'll be watching you very closely."
Mike and Heidi raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off.
Little did they know-
Naomi's true mission was to monitor them.
Naomi: "My father was killed by Dark Void's Chief Commander, Goblin The Terrible. But it was not just him. Dark Void's existence as a whole is a threat. And the orbs... they need to be erased as they were once a part of him."
Jim clenched his fists, his mind racing.
Commander Edward had saved his life when he was 5 years old.
He found him alone on an isolated planet, took him in to Celestic Justice for shelter, raised and trained him... and just a year ago died protecting him from Goblin.
Jim (whispering): "I... I owe everything to Edward. I actually won't have been here if not for him."
Naomi studied his face carefully.
Then, she suddenly recognized his features.
Naomi (eyes widening): "Wait... are you by any chance Jim?
Jim nodded.
Naomi: "My father often talked about you and used to show me your photos. Still can't believe it's actually you!"
She slowly lowered her gun completely.
Naomi (softly): "I suppose I should formally greet you, then. My father thought highly of you."
Jim took a deep breath, trying to process everything.
After a few moments of formality, Naomi explained her mission.
She had been secretly tracking the Orbs after finding out that Celestic Justice currently under Jeromy was searching for them.
She had been spying on Celestic Justice after her father's death to see if the new commander Jeromy was capable to lead.
During the spying she found information about the orbs split by God Solarae from Dark Void.
She had been continuously getting more and more information about them and later on found out whoever gets the orbs will become Celestic Warriors.
Gradually, she became interested in them for further research as a scientist. So, she secretly took a sample of energy signature of the orbs from the Celestic Justice.
From the energy signatures, she developed a tracker by herself to follow the places the orbs landed on.
While searching for them, she found out the orbs were gradually coming closer to each other.
That's when she finally managed to locate a hybrid spaceship from afar clearly showing the energy signatures of both orbs. That made her job easier.
She followed the spaceship for sometime, when they were suddenly sucked inside the portal.
She couldn't believe it but according to the readings, the portal was a gateway to the fairy universe.
Having no choice, she sped her way through to finally enter the fairy universe just before the portal closed.
But even after entering, she lost sight of the spaceship.
So, in the spare time, she started researching more about the orbs as she continued her search for their spaceship.
But what she discovered after analysing the energy signatures was disturbing.
Naomi: "The orbs... are cursed."
Jim stiffened.
Naomi: "They don't just give power. They change their users. Slowly. Irreversibly. And if they aren't careful... they'll turn into cold-blooded monsters."
Jim was shocked.
Naomi described. "Just recently, I was able to track the orb holders in the Jack and the Beanstalk planet."
"From a distance, I observed them using Revenge Mode." Naomi's face darkened as she said that.
She continued, her expression serious. "From what I observed according to their energy signatures, it's definitely not a good sign. So, I finally decided to end things without taking any risks."
Jim:"Isn't there any way to save them?"
Naomi continued, her voice firm.
Naomi: "Based on my analysis, the only way to prevent total corruption is through emotional connection. Without it, they'll lose themselves."
Naomi (sharply): "But presently, they are dangerously close to the negative side due to their orbs reacting to their rage."
Her eyes darkened.
Naomi: "Before it's too late... I have to eliminate them."
She raised her gun again and started marching toward the sleeping warriors.
Jim reacted immediately, grabbing her wrist.
Jim (desperate): "No! Please!"
Naomi struggled against him.
Naomi: "Jim, move! If we let them continue like this-"
Jim (shouting): "I'll stop them if it ever comes to that! I'll... I'll activate a self-destructor if I have to. But NOT NOW!"
Tears threatened to form in his eyes.
Jim: "They're showing signs of change. They're starting to care. If you just kill them now... you'll never know if they could have been saved."
Naomi stared at him.
For a long moment, there was silence.
Then, she sighed, lowering her gun again.
Naomi: "Fine. But I'm not leaving. Because-"
Jim blinked.
Naomi(sighing): "My lab ship has somehow merged with yours as I accidentally set it to merge mode near the spaceship. It's a feature which allows it to merge with any spaceship. I will stay and observe them myself. If I see even a hint of irreversible corruption... I will act."
Jim:"So that was what the huge sound was? Yet another spaceship-fused?Seems the spaceship is now getting spacier."
Naomi nodded hesitantly.
Jim then let out a breath of relief.
Jim (smiling weakly): "Anyways, thanks... Naomi for giving us a chance."
She crossed her arms.
Naomi(coldly): "Don't thank me. Just don't make me regret this."