[In a spaceship somewhere in space]
„What is the situation on your front, junior officer?"
Asked a solemn-looking older man with slicked-back hair, on a projected screen.
„The neighboring planets seem to be in a peaceful state, Commander Grant. We have not seen any abnormalities in our energy readings since the incident on Planet Daich-"
Said a pink-haired girl with blue eyes, before a boisterous voice from the side interrupted her.
„Yes, Jeena is right. We haven't seen those Krawl either, otherwise I would've shown them my sick moves with my sword."
Said a young man boastfully, next to Jeena.
The teenager wore a black suit with white combat gloves and shoes. His eyes sparkled in a bright light as his orange hair slightly covered his forehead from both sides.
„Rallen, don't interrupt my report to the commander...or else"
Implied Jeena, flashing an intimidating look with her cat-slitted blue eyes.
„...s-sorry"
Exclaimed Rallen as he abruptly shifted in his seat, deciding that flying the spaceship was more important than getting an hour-long reprimand, later on.
„*cough* I'm sorry, commander. Where did we stop?"
„The report on your recent activities"
Said the now sighing man in the hologram.
„Ah- yes. Since the incident where we found Aldous and the subsequent attacks by the Krawl, we haven't encountered any attacks on Daichi or Genshi. Right now, we are on the look-out for potential next targets of the Krawl."
Explained Jeena as she readjusted her sitting position and slightly adjusted the blue dress and white short-sleeved jacket she was wearing. She didn't forget to give one last warning glare towards her partner, before she continued listening to the Commander before her.
„Good. In the future, I want you to send frequent reports directly to me. You can use this network link for future updates to upload your reports."
Said Commander Grant, as he glanced towards the old man, behind the pair of young officers.
The bearded old man stood there, looking solemn, in his old gray garments with his hands crossed.
„„understood""
Said, Rallen and Jeena, before Grant continued.
„Aldous, i hope you'll forgive me for not letting you rest. After all, you had just recently learned of your star-systems end-"
But before Commander Grant could continue his apology, the old man, Aldous, stopped him with a wave of his hand.
„There is no need, commander. I have chosen this myself...it's what the people of Giorna would've wanted, as well. This plight upon the galaxies has to be fought, and for that we have to train new generations of spectrobe masters. If it's just the sacrifice of a bit of my peaceful life, then I'd gladly give it."
Said old Aldous in his deep voice, his resolve set in stone. However, if one were to look closer, they would see a deep grief hidden behind the sparks that lurked in his amber eyes.
Jeena and Rallen looked slightly uncomfortable, as this scene unfolded before them. They both felt deep sympathy for the old battle-hardened warrior behind them.
If it weren't for him, Rallen, who found Aldous' prizmod, would've died on Daichi to the Krawl and Jeena wouldn't have been able to help, effectively, navigate Rallen in his fights, later on.
Aldous had quickly become a vital part of their crew, like a grandfather looking after them and offering advice in bad situations. The only problem was that they didn't know how to help the man who seemed to still drown in his grief.
As the sad mood seemed to be contagious, silence started enveloping the spaceship's cockpit, before Commander Grant continued with the contents of the transmission.
„… Let's stop delving into these...topics. Rallen, Jeena! I have a mission for you two. Exactly 1 system hour ago, we got a message from a treasure hunter (collector) named Cyrus. He reported to us that dark vortexes had started invading Planet Nessa. He reported that, on his trip to unearth treasures in an ancient ruin, his team got attacked by the Krawl. I want you to head out and defeat the Krawl. It seems that there is something special going on, since the Krawl is concentrated on that specific location. While you're at it, you might as well try to find out why the Krawl would even begin with invading the desert planet."
„„ Yes, Sir!""
Responded both Rallen and Jeena at the same time, their arms raised high in a salute.
„OK, I will hear from you after you land on Nessa."
Concluded Commander Grant before he turned around with a slightly more exhausted face, thus ending their video call across space.
Rallen, who seemed to still be thinking about the earlier mission report from the commander, couldn't help himself and suddenly ask Aldous a question.
„Aldous, do you perhaps know why the Krawl would suddenly appear on that desert planet?"
Asked Rallen with an incredulous look.
„Rallen, if I knew, I wouldn't have started my search for the Nanairo system. Krawl are ancient beings, so ancient that even the purpose of their existence is something shrouded in mystery. Back when…. Giorna was still there, their attacks seemed sporadic. However, they always seemed to twist the battles in their favor. The only thing I can assume is that there definitely is a hidden agenda; something that we must uncover."
Explained Aldous, as he scratched his beard with his left hand. His thoughts seemed to wander to a time far into the past, as he started to dazedly look at the stars outside the cockpit window.
Jeena, who looked from the sidelines, also seemed to ponder Rallen's question, before she shook her head and interrupted the conversation.
„Rallen, before we uselessly waste time, let's head to Nessa. Don't forget that they are currently being invaded."
This comment dragged Rallen immediately out of his daze and caused him to slightly panic, worry for the people of nessa evident on his face.
„Oh, shoot! OK, everybody, hold on tight!"
Replied Rallen almost immediately, before he took the steering wheel before him, pressing a few buttons, and pulling it towards him.
Jeena and Aldous, who seemed to realize what Rallen was planning, could only yell, before they got pushed back to their seats and watch in horror as the Nanairo speed devil reawakened again.
„Hyperdrive initiated"
„„Wait, Ralle-""
„IKU ZE!"
Yelled the excited Rallen, as the stars surrounding them seemed to turn into blurry lines.