The rocket that contains Garret and friends.
About to be launched!
"5!"
That sound rang out.
The people looking on.
With their heartbeat.
But not Garret and his friends.
Their heart almost dropped.
"4!"
The number on the red clock.
That's the pressure.
"Oyyy, not ready yet!!"
Exclaimed leon.
"3!"
Rang out again.
"Ahhh, Garret-kun, help meeee"
Cubie-chan shouted.
"2!"
All person stared.
No way, will I be alright?
The sound of thought in Asami's mind.
"1!"
"0!"
"Start launching!!!"
――✧ Rocket of the Authority ✧――
The rocket carrying Garret and his friends. Already soared beyond the Earth's atmosphere.
Then, it deployed.
A large spacecraft, with red and grey markings and two wings, detached and flew onward.
Inside – Garret and his friends were sitting in a comfortable living area.
"Garret, Leon, Asami, smile!" Cubis-chan chirped, before her central core flashed, taking a picture.
"Wow, Leon, you look so cool! And Asami, you're really beautiful," Garret complimented with a small smile.
But then, a ringtone came from everyone's phones.
"Hello, this is Professor Murphy speaking. I'd like you to check if this information is correct," the voice on the other end said.
The information displayed was:
Rank : lieutenant
Age : 12>
Rank : lieutenant
Age : 15>
Rank : lieutenant
Age : 15>
"If it's correct, please text me 'Confirmed'," Professor Murphy instructed.
After Garret typed to confirm, an image from his personal system floated beside him:
He did as the system said and indeed saw similar images floating next to Leon and Asami.
The only exception was Cubie-chan, who was physically floating along beside Asami.
Garret nodded in understanding and began walking across the white floor of the spacecraft.
They had arrived. The conference room was vast, illuminated by soft lighting.
Weary from their journey, the three of them sat down on a sofa.
Garret reached for the remote on the table, to turn on the large TV to pass the time:
A video of spinning fish played endlessly.
"This clip... is idiotic," Asami stated bluntly.
"Turn it off, please. Before my brain rots," Leon added before switching off the TV.
"Hey, by the way, where is this ship going?" Garret asked his personal system.
The blue box of Garret's system appeared in front of everyone.
"Yeah, that sounds good. We're all really tired," Garret replied.
Everyone agreed with him, and they headed off to get some sleep.
Garret lay down onto the bed, scrolling through his phone feed.
"Hey, Garret-kun, you've come so far, you know," Cubie-chan said with a cheerful tone.
"Yeah, just the other day I almost got killed by Ralph," Garret replied, a hint of the past danger in his voice.
"No way! You fought really well back then too.
And you're even stronger now!" Cubie-chan said, winking as she floated closer to Garret.
"Thanks," Garret said, offering her a small smile
"But you know, why did Ralph want my Authority so badly?"
"That's what I was thinking! It's not like other people don't have Authority too," Cubie-chan pulsed her core.
"I guess... mine must be something special," Garret murmured to himself.
"Yaaawn... let's sleep, Cubie. I'm really sleepy too," Garret said.
Before his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.
As for Cubie-chan, she moved her central core onto her charging pad.
Waiting for Garret to wake up.
Being a sentient being must be so exciting... I wish I could try it too...
The thought flickered through her processing system.
――✧ Chamber of the Authority ✧――
Garret's spacecraft had now landed smoothly on the landing pad of the Cosmic Ranger Station. Garret's personal system displayed a notification:
Seeing the blue text, Garret went to freshen up.
The shower room was dome-shaped and operated by an automated system.
Once he was ready, he pressed the call button to wake up his friends.
"Morning, Garret. Sleep well last night, buddy?" Leon asked.
"Yeah, I was fine. Why?" Garret replied.
"But I couldn't sleep. Someone was playing music loudly, likes his dad is a heavy metal fan" Asami said, glancing pointedly at Leon.
But he was making a hasty retreat towards the bathroom.
"Sigh... he knows he's in trouble, doesn't he, Garret?" Asami said with a cool tone.
"That's just Leon. If he's not arguing, he's running away," said Garret
Asami nodded in understanding before going to get ready herself.
"It seems Asami doesn't really like Leon, does she?" Cubie-chan observed.
"Can't answer this time."
A few minutes later, they had arrived at the office of the President of the Cosmic Ranger Association.
The three of them knelt on the red carpeted floor with respect.
"The new lieutenants from Greensvelle?" President Volodymyr said before swiveling his chair around to face them.
He was a young adult with piercing eyes, black hair.
And a scar across his face.
He exuded an aura of power.
As if newborns stop crying upon hearing his name.
"At ease!"
At his command, the three of them followed suit, except for Cubie-chan, who remained floating.
"Recite the Cosmic Ranger Code in unison!"
"Yes sir. Article 1: We are servants of this universe. If we fail in our duty, we will accept the punishment we deserve." The three of them recited together.
Before the President raised his hand to chest level.
"You, girl, your voice wasn't loud enough. Again!"
Upon hearing this, Leon couldn't help but interject.
"Sir, Asami is a woman. You should probably be more..."
His words were cut short by Volodymyr's sharp reprimand.
"Who told you to speak?! Again!"
" Article 1: We are servants of this universe. If we fail in our duty, we will accept the punishment we deserve.
Article 2: We will strictly adhere to the organization's rules.
And if we commit any wrongdoings, we will take collective responsibility.
Article 3: We will sacrifice everything for the universe, even our own lives."
"Hands down."
Garret sighed softly before Volodymyr continued.
"Lieutenants, today you have a mission to undertake. It's an Authority Apprentice level mission. You will be escorting electricians traveling to the planet Reinst. Understood?"
"Understood!" everyone replied loudly and clearly.
"Good. That electrician is waiting for you on the landing pad."
After President Volodymyr spoke, everyone dispersed towards the landing pad.
"Ah, Lieutenant Garret, I have something I need to discuss with you for a moment," President Volodymyr said.
Garret, hearing his name, stopped and walked back to the President.
"What is it, sir?"
"Just a reminder that you must be extra careful. A priceless gem attracts many who seek to seize it. Your path is strewn with nails and thorns. That is all."
Garret saluted the President before following his friends.
Soon, they saw a middle-aged man wearing a blue uniform and hat.
His hand holding a briefcase.
"Are you the electrician that President Volodymyr mentioned?"
Cubie-chan asked.
"That's me. You must be Lieutenants Leon, Asami, and Garret, right? And what's this floating cube?" the electrician asked, pointing at Cubie-chan.
"Oh, this is Cubie-chan, my friend. Since I was about eight,"
Garret replied.
"I see. My name is Mark. I need to ask for your assistance. The planet Reinst I'm going to passes through a pirate stronghold," Mark explained.
Hearing this, Leon quipped with a teasing tone, "If there are space pirates, we can use my friend Asami as bait. They probably can't stand her darkness."
"Ooooh, savage!" Cubie-chan exclaimed.
Upon hearing this, Asami sighed before retorting, "Good thing. If they sent a brainless goblin, he'd probably be dead already."
"Ooooooh, that's even harsher!" Cubie-chan leaned towards Asami.
"Alright, alright, no need to fight. No one's going to be used as bait," Mark interjected.
Soon after, they brought Mark onto their spacecraft.
"You guys can use my ship, you know. I don't want to trouble you," Mark offered kindly.
"Oh, sorry, but technically, the ship... it already started," Cubie-chan said with a friendly tone.
"Ah, no worries at all. Well then, I'll be in your care," Mark said with a slight, forced smile.
No way! I left my soccer player cards in my own spaceship! Ughhh...
Mark thought to himself in dismay.