Ero was thankful the Odian armour blocked out the flashes. It also seemed Galko's quick thinking had spared him as well.

  Now was the time to begin their performance, as Salkon stood with his body slightly turned, chest, shoulders and even head raised. This inspired command and faith. It signalled he was unbreakable, the peak of Osirin greatness.

  'How is it I always feel much smaller than you when you do that, Salkon?' Galko asked, his voice hushed as he leaned in towards them. He obviously didn't want anyone else to hear. 'When I stand a good few inches taller than you and Ero.'

  'That would be because of the cape, Galko,' Salkon responded. 'It always adds to my majesty.'

  Galko stifled a chuckle. He probably had an amusing retort, but he kept it to himself, thankfully. Instead, figuring that to be the end of their brief exchange, Salkon looked beyond the journalists, towards the gold-adorned staircase which reached the top of the Kryon Tower. It was the tallest tower in all Osiris, but was also the home of the Chamber of the Council, as well as the Supreme Leader's quarters. It stood over nine hundred metres in height, and today it reached towards a warm yet calm light blue sky.

  And it gave the greatest view of the entire planet, a view of an Osiris who would now watch his every step.

  I'm ready, Ero said to Salkon, as he switched places with his Odian once again, striding forward towards the staircase, aided by his Odian to maintain his perfect posture. The journalists went wild as he approached them.

  'Ero, are you going to address Gorkas?'

  'Ero, can you confirm your intentions regarding the threat of invasion?'

  'Ero, is it true you're secretly dating singing sensation, Ilir Galaxia?'

  Is that your concern? Ero wondered, thankful he had Salkon's steady aid in his steps as he walked along the plush red carpet, which led to the staircase. At the top waited a microphone, which awaited his address. At the summit of the Kryon Tower, metal frames and platforms provided a view of the city. They expected a banquet to be held there following this, which was normal protocol. Ero hadn't informed them there would be no refreshments today.

  He half expected to become an outcast for what he was about to say. He sighed, which seemed to urge Salkon to grow his presence through Ero's body, filling him with courage.

  Remember your Virtue, Ero, his Odian reminded him. Remember what you stand for, and what bound us all those years ago.

  Ero nodded as he took to the steps and climbed, hearing Galko climb alongside him. He noticed the journalists had all fallen into silence. The video cameras were now recording, transmitting to Osiris and to the other worlds. There was a pleasant breeze in the air, though it carried no scents Ero could sense. It was likely Salkon was blocking them out, wishing for him to remain focused.

  As he reached the top of the staircase, turning while positioning himself behind the microphone, Ero regarded the journalists below, alongside the view of the metropolis beyond the tower. Now, there was only one thing left to do. They had organised everything for this moment.

  You are ready, Ero, Salkon assured him, filling him with boldness and courage. Speak in accordance with your Virtue. Tell them what we must do. Tell our fellow Guardians why we exist.

  Yes, Ero responded, nodding before looking towards the microphone.

  'My dear Osiris,' he began. 'I have called this press conference, not to speak as the Supreme Leader of Osiris but as one of Odia's Guardians, an Odian…'

  Ero paused, knowing that those last few words would grab everyone's attention. That was the effect he wanted. Everyone would know this speech would be different.

  'When I ran to become Supreme Leader all those years ago, I saw what I knew Osiris could become. Alongside having become an Odian, I knew much needed to be done to safeguard the future of my kind and Osiris. However, the problem with holding any vision, regardless of intention, is that you assume that such a vision is correct. That your judgement is justified. You believe you hold all the answers, and that everything will work out…

  'Yet, I'm sure we can all see how blinded and misguided this is. By becoming a Guardian, and indeed Supreme Leader, it is easy to exclude yourself from critique, to believe that through your wisdom alone your decisions are correct. By becoming a Guardian, everyone else then fuels this sense of self-righteousness. These past few months, I feel as though I have become more aware of the pitfalls that come with the role of Supreme Leader. So, I have been asking myself some tough questions – such as why am I doing what I'm doing? What influences my actions?

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  'And what do I hope to achieve by the end? What is all of this for?'

  Ero paused again for a second time, allowing precious seconds to allow all who were bearing witness to this event to consider the meaning in his words.

  'Salkon chose me, because he believed I could perform a duty, an obligation towards not just my world, but also the entire Odia Universe. To protect those who cannot protect themselves. Yet, in this duty, within this responsibility we Guardians were chosen to uphold, we have failed you. We have failed this galaxy and the universe…'

  An audible gasp rang through his audience. Even Galko alongside him seemed to stifle a breath. Ero didn't doubt his best friend was frowning at him now, wondering what in Odia he was thinking by saying these things. Ero allowed his friend the briefest of glances, asking for forgiveness, before he turned his gaze back towards his fellow Osirins.

  'As an Odian, my priority is to uphold that which defines my being, and to a certain extent, I have fulfilled that obligation. Yet I have only done this with Osiris, not the other worlds around us. Like the others, I have only concerned myself with my world. We've become reclusive, self-centred, fixated only on our own matters, and the matters of our kind. Because of this, we've ignored instances in which we should've come together and stopped certain events from taking place. When we should've performed our duty, we've instead chosen to focus on ourselves…

  'I now turn my attention to what many of you were expecting was my focus for today's conference. Of Gorkas's slow yet blatant intention to subjugate and control the other worlds of Vegeta. What began as a congregation of fractured asteroids has become something more, growing in boldness and military prowess. When they moved to take their first world, Aphron, we stood aside and did nothing. Then, when Revyr was next to fall, we remained silent. Now, both Gungin and Gaiu stand next on their path, and only now we care, recognising that they're drawing ever closer to being able to strike at ourselves.

  'All of this extenuates our failure as Guardians. We have ignored what is happening before our eyes, and the actions we should've taken. No more…

  'Today, I send a message, not as the Supreme Leader of Osiris, but as an Odian. To the Gorkas Federation: If you continue, we will have no choice. We will act. We will intervene. However, I will not do so by dragging my world into another war, but as the protector we and the other Odians are supposed to be. I will stand beside my brothers and sisters, and we will stand for Odia once again…'

  Inside, Ero sensed his Virtue beaming with pride, agreeing with every word he said. Even if he could not tell his kind of that Virtue. Even if he couldn't share that which defined who he was. His example would show that Virtue. His stance would show them what he was supposed to represent.

  The Virtue of Order.

  With that, Ero fell into silence, satisfied that he had made his point. Now, he hoped his message would spread to the others, so that they understood what they needed to do. If not, it made no difference, for he had already decided on his next task.

  He would travel to every world in the Vegeta Galaxy to gain the support of his fellow Guardians, to join them together in a single coalition. Then together, they would stand against the Gorkan threat, alongside any other. Salkon filled Ero with pride, knowing he was probably about to face widespread condemnation and scorn from his kind. That didn't matter to Ero. As long as he had Salkon, he would carry out his mission. He would honour his Virtue.

  I am so proud of you, Ero, Salkon said. Now, we can become the Guardians we are supposed to be.

  Thank you, Salkon, Ero said within. Thank you for giving me the chance to be who I'm supposed to be.

  Then, somewhere in the city beyond, an explosion erupted from one of the surrounding towers.