Astro Academy, Arizona, USA
22nd Century
It was 11:00 PM, and the school was silent. Most students had retired to their hostels, but
not all were asleep. The eleven-story girls' hostel was dark, black squares on the school
wall… except for one window on the ninth floor.
Behind the drawn curtains, a girl peered out, scanning the surroundings to ensure the coast
was clear. Her phone beeped. A message from one of the mafia members:
"WE ARE READY!"
She glanced at her two roommates, sleeping like logs, snoring loudly. Irritated, she
strapped on her utility wristwatch and pressed a button. Instantly, her clothes transformed
into the sleek Mafia super suit. She retrieved her hidden hoverboard from under the bed
and vanished into the night.
"It's almost full moon, and the portal to the museum will deactivate any moment," Nolee
warned, glancing at her wristwatch.
Kai and Wulf lounged on the booth of their team jet car, while Hunter paced back and forth.
"She's right. Should we call Roxanne?" Kai asked.
Hunter replied, "I already sent her a text. She should be here any minute."
Wulf pulled a sleeping mask from his utility watch and stretched out on the booth. "Wake
me when she gets here."
Almost immediately, Roxanne arrived on her hoverboard.
"Oh boy!" Wulf groaned, removing his mask.
"Sorry I'm late, guys. Can we still make it?" Roxanne asked.
"Sure, there's still time," Hunter reassured her.
"Okay! Ring of Orion, here we come," Roxanne said with determination.
They slipped into the museum through the back door, torches in hand, moving down a passage toward the hall of magical artifacts. The team of five—Roxanne, Wulf, Kai, Nolee, and Hunter—advanced cautiously.
"What's this?" Kai asked, reaching for a statue, but Nolee swiftly slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch anything! This place could be booby-trapped," she cautioned.
"Actually, it's not," Roxanne said confidently. She pulled a map from her utility watch. "I've studied Oropher's records and found the museum map." "Cool!" Wulf exclaimed.
"We must go through the mystery elevator to reach the Hall of Magical Artifacts," Hunter read aloud.
"That's right! This way!" Roxanne led them down the winding stairs.
Roxanne's POV
I am Roxanne Devin, eighteen, a student at Astro Academy—and the daughter of Don Dax, former head of the ruthless Vikings mafia. Ten years ago, my father, on a mission in Chicago, helped an old lady with her luggage at a train station. She gifted him a ring, claiming it was the Ring of Orion, a powerful object capable of granting extraordinary abilities.
"It's high time you became a good mafia," she had told him—and then vanished.
From that day, my father ceased his criminal activities. But Oropher, one of his followers, betrayed him. With the support of the other members, Oropher overthrew and killed him. All I had left was a letter.
"My darling Roxanne, I may not be alive when you read this, but a quest awaits. Oropher seeks the Ring of Orion. I hid it in one of Arizona's museums. Build your army, trust your instincts, and remember—I will always love you."
—Don Dax
I was eight when my father died, but I vowed to stop Oropher. Following his advice, I formed my own mafia team, the Viteens, and we've been tracking Oropher for ten years. He is not only a dangerous mafia but also a black magic wizard capable of time travel, operating under multiple identities worldwide.
Our search led us here, to the museum he owns. I sensed my father might have hidden the ring where Oropher would least expect it.
"Over there!" Nolee pointed to a lever.
"The mystery elevator!" they chorused.
Kai tried to pull it down, but it was too stiff. "Let me help," Hunter offered, and the elevator door opened easily. The descent was deafening. When the doors opened, they gasped. The hall was filled with magical artifacts.
"What the…!" Wulf exclaimed.
"Holy crap!" Kai added.
They scattered to explore, except Roxanne and Hunter.
"Look!" Nolee shouted, pointing to Excalibur embedded in stone.
"Check this out! The Amulet of Avalor!" Kai called.
"Aladdin's lamp! Do you think a genie would appear if I rubbed it?" Wulf said, about to touch it.
"Don't touch anything, Wulf!" Hunter ordered.
"We're here for the ring, not the trinkets."
"True," Roxanne agreed. "Focus, everyone."
Hunter scanned the hall, from Diana's tiara to Thor's hammer, King Triton's trident, the Arkenstone, Bilbo's ring, and more. Nothing yet.
"There's too much stuff. We'll never find it," Nolee muttered, exhausted.
"We have to try," Hunter insisted. His eyes caught a faint glow in the mouth of a lion statue. He approached, and there lay the Ring of Orion.
"Guys, I found it!" Hunter shouted, holding it aloft.
"Good job, Hunter. You're a hero," Roxanne said, hugging him. He blushed, gently removing her hands, and handed her the ring.
"I believe this belongs to you," he said.
Roxanne slipped the ring onto her middle finger. "Let's go!"
As they approached the elevator, a static force slammed them in different directions.
Hunter steadied himself, catching Roxanne just in time. Wulf crashed into a wall, and Nolee tumbled onto Kai. A dark smoke poured from the elevator, and a figure emerged— Oropher.
"Well, well, well… what have we here?" he smirked.
"A team of indestructibles," Wulf said. Oropher laughed, then turned to Roxanne.
"You've done well to get the ring… now give it to me."
"No!" Hunter hurled teenerangs that pinned Oropher to the wall.
"Run!" Roxanne commanded. They bolted for the back door.
Oropher's eyes glowed red. The teenerangs shattered, and he gave chase, smashing the ground with Thor's hammer. Nolee cut a pillar with her laser sword, creating a bridge to escape.
"He's closing in!" Kai yelled. Hunter stopped and urged the others onward.
"Go on! I'll handle him."
Hunter engaged Oropher, striking with precision, but Oropher overpowered him. "Foolish boy! Did you think you could defeat me?" he growled, lifting Hunter by the neck.
Something struck Oropher's head—Hunter was freed. "Roxanne!" he gasped.
"Hunter!" Roxanne cried, running to support him. Together with Kai, Wulf, and Nolee, they escaped on hoverboards.
"You may have won this time, but the ring will be mine… soon," Oropher snarled.
They finally arrived at Nolee's house.
"We did it, guys!" Wulf cheered.
"High five!" Roxanne said to Hunter.
"You were brave," Kai said sincerely. Hunter managed a small smile.
"Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow, we see what this ring can do," Roxanne said.
"I'm exhausted," Wulf yawned.
"Even before the mission began, Wulf," Kai teased, and they all laughed.
Upstairs, Nolee's room became the group's refuge. With playful banter, beds were claimed, and Roxanne and Hunter walked side by side, their silent tension growing.
Later, Roxanne stared into the mirror.
"Victory is near, Daddy. The ring is mine. All who wronged you will pay… including Oropher." She smiled triumphantly, then washed her face. Climbing into bed beside Hunter, she whispered, "Good night, Hunter."
He pretended to sleep but whispered back, "Good night, Roxanne."
********************************************
Oropher screamed, smashing a massive mirror against the wall. He kept shouting, throwing objects, and raking his hands through his hair in frustration, while his pet eagle, Claws, watched silently from its perch.
"I was so close… so close, Claws! How could I have been so blind?" he growled. Claws squawked in agreement, tilting its head knowingly.
"All this time… the ring was lying right here in my museum, and I never noticed. I need a new plan. Those children have no idea of the ring's powers… I must act fast."
Oropher paused, contemplating while Claws observed every movement with sharp, golden eyes. Then, suddenly, he shouted:
"Put Mickey on the line!"
Claws leapt to a nearby control panel, pressing a green button with precision. The huge screen flickered to life, displaying a list of Oropher's contacts. Oropher took his seat, selected Mickey's number, and donned his headphones.
"Boss!" Mickey's voice crackled through the speakers.
"Gather your men. Track down Dax's daughter and her team. Take no prisoners—but bring Roxanne alive," Oropher commanded, his voice icy.
"It shall be done, Boss," Mickey replied confidently.
Oropher cut the line and leaned back, eyes glinting as he imagined the dark possibilities of wielding the Ring of Orion. A low, sinister laugh escaped him, echoing through the chamber.