The following morning, Gravik arrived at the base, holding little Edward in his arms. The baby giggled, clearly comfortable around the hulking beast despite his intimidating appearance.
"You're lucky, Tim," Gravik rumbled with a grin. "This little one doesn't cry around me. Maybe it's my charm."
Tim chuckled, ruffling his son's soft hair. "Or maybe he thinks you're a big teddy bear."
Rei smiled, though a flicker of concern crossed her face. "Gravik, take good care of him. We’ll be back soon."
"I’ve got this," Gravik reassured her. "And if anything happens, Soluna will know about it. You focus on the mission."
With that settled, the group gathered around the main strategy table. Holographic maps of Arcis flickered in the air, displaying various outlaw strongholds. Naomi pointed toward one of the largest compounds.
"This is likely where my friends are," she explained. "The main hideout. It’s heavily guarded, but they enjoy keeping prisoners alive — it’s part of their twisted nature. They torture for sport rather than kill outright."
Jim's fists clenched at her words. The thought of innocent people enduring such suffering made his resolve harden.
Jeromy nodded. "We’ll split into teams. Naomi, you'll lead us with the knowledge you have. Jim and I will infiltrate from the east, while Tim and Rei create a distraction on the west side. Heatsun and Moonsalt will monitor from above, ready to intervene if necessary."
Naomi nodded in agreement.
Jim turned to her, his expression both determined and concerned. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Naomi?"
She met his gaze, her voice unwavering. "I have to be. For my friends, and for my father’s legacy."
Jim gave a firm nod. "Then we’ll bring them back. No matter what."
As the team finalized their plan, a sense of unity settled over them. Despite the grim task ahead, there was a shared determination — one that reminded Jim of the very reason he fought in the first place.
"Justice never dies," he whispered to himself, echoing the words Edward once told him.
And with that, they prepared to depart for Arcis.
_ _ _
The next day, Jeromy’s spaceship, the Justice Vanguard, loomed over the Soluna skyline, its sleek metallic body glowing with blue energy.
It was a powerful vessel, equipped for both combat and transport, bearing the insignia of the Celestic Justice. Inside, Jim, Naomi, Tim, Rei, Heatsun, and Moonsalt boarded the ship, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.
A squad of Celestic Justice members saluted Jeromy as he entered the command room. They were battle-hardened individuals, each wearing the signature blue and silver combat suits representing justice and peace.
"All systems ready, Commander," one of the officers reported.
Jeromy nodded. "We're heading straight to Arcis. Prepare for infiltration. Expect hostile encounters."
Jim, standing at the window, watched Soluna disappear as the spaceship accelerated through the cosmos. Naomi stood beside him, visibly anxious but resolute.
"It’s been an year since I left Arcis," Naomi murmured. "But I can still feel the weight of that place. So many people suffer because of the outlaws."
Jim gave her a reassuring nod. "Not for much longer."
The ship continued its swift journey, breaking through hyperspace.
Hours passed as they prepared for the battle ahead. The atmosphere on the bridge was tense, but a sense of unity prevailed.
Tim approached Jim, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"You alright, Jim?"
Jim hesitated. "I will be. I just... I know this won't be easy. Especially for Naomi."
Rei joined them, her voice gentle. "But we’ll be there with her. All of us."
Soon, Arcis came into view.
The planet was a harsh, desolate place, its sky tinged with a murky purple haze.
From above, massive industrial structures and fortified compounds dominated the landscape. Fires burned in the distance, illuminating the chaotic state of the planet.
"This place is worse than I imagined," Moonsalt said, her voice filled with pity.
Naomi clenched her fists. "That’s the world I grew up in."
Jeromy's voice echoed through the speakers.
"Prepare for descent. Landing point is one of the lesser-patrolled zones. From there, we move carefully. Everyone, stay sharp."
The Justice Vanguard lowered into Arcis's atmosphere, its engines rumbling as it neared the surface. The moment the ship landed, a wave of heat and foul air greeted them.
The ground was cracked and scorched, with remnants of old battles scattered like forgotten memories.
Jeromy led the way, his commanding presence exuding confidence. The Celestic Justice members spread out, their weapons at the ready. Jim and Naomi walked side by side, both determined to see this mission through.
"The stronghold’s west entrance is the most heavily guarded," Naomi explained, her eyes scanning the ruined cityscape. "But if we create a diversion, we can get through."
Tim grinned, cracking his knuckles. "A diversion? Leave that to me and Rei."
Rei smirked. "We’ll make enough noise to wake the entire planet."
With the plan in motion, the team split up, each step taking them closer to the heart of Arcis — and the long-awaited confrontation with the ruthless outlaws.
_ _ _
As the battle commenced, explosions erupted across the west entrance of the outlaw stronghold. Tim and Rei, charged headfirst into the fray.
"Solar Saber!" Tim roared as a transformed, his blazing saber slashing through the reinforced metal gates. Fiery sparks scattered as the heat from his Solar energy seared the air.
His combat style was swift and destructive, overwhelming the outlaws with bursts of radiant light.
Rei transformed into Black Lunar Warrior and fought with a deadly precision. "Lunar Crescent Hatchets!" She spun her dual crescent-shaped weapons, emitting sharp waves of shadow like Lunar energy that sliced through the incoming enemies.
Her movements were graceful and calculated, her calm presence a stark contrast to Tim's fiery power.
The outlaws, though powerful, struggled to withstand the relentless assault. Tim and Rei worked in perfect harmony, their energies complementing each other.
Meanwhile, at the eastern side of the compound, Heatsun and Moonsalt led a secondary assault. Moonsalt's Lunar waves froze their foes in place, while Heatsun’s Solar barrage shattered them. "Feel The Wrath Of Soluna!" Heatsun declared, his mighty presence striking fear into the hearts of the outlaws.
Jeromy, commanding the Celestic Justice squad, coordinated the strike with ruthless efficiency. "No one gets past us. Hold your positions!" His determination was unwavering.
Inside the stronghold, Naomi and Jim moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors. Naomi gripped her tablet tightly, the soft glow of the screen illuminating their path. She had pinpointed her friends’ energy signatures using the device’s scanning system.
"They're deeper inside," Naomi whispered, her voice filled with urgency.
Jim nodded, his expression resolute. "Stay close. I'll handle any threats."
With a flash of light, Jim transformed into the Grey Warrior. His grey armor radiated a balanced energy of Solar and Lunar might. The Solun Lance materialized in his hands, its long, elegant form glowing with a faint silver hue.
As they navigated further, a squad of heavily armed outlaws appeared, blocking their path.
"Look who we have here," one of the outlaws sneered, aiming a plasma powered rifle at them. "Edward's daughter and his so-called student. Think you'll get out alive?"
Jim's eyes burned with resolve. "I’m not here to waste words."
With lightning speed, he dashed forward, his lance striking with immense force.
The outlaws retaliated, but Jim's combat prowess was unmatched. He spun the Solun Lance with expert precision, deflecting bullets and striking down his enemies. Each attack released a burst of balanced Solar-Lunar energy, shattering armor and weapons alike.
Naomi, though unarmed, stayed composed. Her sharp intellect guided her through the chaos, quickly analyzing their surroundings for any threats.
"Jim!" she called, her eyes fixed on a control panel ahead. "That console might unlock the cells!"
Jim nodded. "Cover me!"
Naomi sprinted towards the console, her fingers flying over the screen. The encrypted system was complex, but her scientific expertise allowed her to bypass the security measures. Alarms blared as the lockdown started to lift.
"Come on, come on," she muttered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Jim held the line, fending off the last wave of outlaws with a powerful energy blast from his lance. "Solun Wave!" The silver energy wave surged forward, sending the enemies crashing against the walls.
Finally, Naomi's screen displayed the message: "Lockdown Disengaged. Cells Unlocked."
She turned to Jim, her eyes glowing with hope. "They’re free!"
Jim gave a rare smile, though the tension remained. "Let's go get them."
With their path clear, Jim and Naomi raced deeper into the stronghold, determined to rescue Naomi's friends and end the outlaws’ reign of terror once and for all.