A terrifying silence hung inside the floating vessel throughout the night and dawn. The three of them didn’t utter a word except when necessary, such as during meal times or when taking turns at the helm. They had entered the borders of the Regan colony, part of the Tanania Kingdom at last.

  The path they were following across its lands was the most densely populated with ruined villages and cities filled with corpses and bones, and the soldier in charge of the helm was pleased. Geno remained pressed against the window, cursing himself quietly, before starting to eat frivolously. While Dukken stayed in his corner, expressionless, waiting for this nightmare, this torment, to end... He asked the scientist in front of him, disregarding the driver’s threats, despondently: “Mr. Geno... you called us a vile species... and I understand your point of view... but…”

  Geno stopped eating like a mad beast and listened intently.

  “Since we’re like that, why hasn’t the Galactic Union intervened? Isn’t it their duty to maintain peace and security across all the planets?”

  “Because they’re a bunch of corrupt scum, expressing their concern with no real action, just pawns in the hands of the great civilizations in the galaxy”, Geno replied with obvious agitation. Milish added firmly: “Why do you think the fleets of the powerful planets are still blockading us under the pretext of preventing the outbreak of war? They wait for us to exterminate each other, then divide our riches. Perhaps they also know about the stone’s existence”

  The old man nodded in agreement: “For the first time, you say the truth, you massive bully”

  “That’s why we must win and eliminate our enemies, so our species survives and resists this unjust galaxy”

  Geno let out a light, mocking laugh, then resumed eating hungrily. Dukken stared at his feet, lost in a sea of tangled thoughts.

  After this conversation, hours passed like ages, and the scene never changed, charred ruins stretched across a black land beneath a crimson sky... Darkness fell, and everyone stuck to their path, swimming within their own world, until the moment of decision arrived. They had finally reached the end of their journey.

  The three of them disembarked to find a sea of molten lava ahead, with small rocks scattered across it, enough to carry only one person. Milish then asked: “So… where’s the stone?”

  Geno pulled out a device he had specifically created to detect the energy of the desired stone and, after reading the signals, said: “On the opposite shore, yes, yes!”

  “Well then, to the vessel—”

  The old man interrupted the soldier’s excitement, reprimanding him: “Are you crazy?!?! You haven’t even lived two hundred years, and you talk like that??!”

  “What now??”

  “The floating magnetic vehicle only works on solid ground, you smart one! These scattered rocks won’t support it!”

  Before Milish could speak, Geno silenced him with his hand and continued: “You’ll tell me like a fool, ‘Let’s dive in!’, The metal will hold up, true, but it’s not a submarine! It wasn’t made for diving! We’ll sink!”

  Milish sighed, saying: “Over a thousand years, and a so-called genius like you hasn’t made anything of importance”

  Before their argument could escalate, Dukken, with his lifeless voice, interrupted: “Let’s cross on our own and be done with it”

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  They agreed, setting the vehicle to stealth mode and jumping one by one onto the small rocks, their suits shield them from the heat. Each of them carried a gun to protect himself from the dangerous Valva fish (large, vicious creatures that lives in the lava on this planet and had mutated due to radiation from weapons).

  Geno led with the device, followed by Dukken, and then Milish. They hopped from rock to rock cautiously and in an organized manner, always alert for any movement from the fish. The old man was focused more than usual, and the soldier considered what they were going through as light training, nothing compared to the harsh army drills. Meanwhile, the doctor was consumed by one thought, returning safely to his wife. The thought swung back and forth in his mind, overshadowing any other idea. He wanted to escape the situation, finish it. His body was in one world, and his spirit in another.

  “I must survive, I must survive, I must survive, I must survive, I must survive, I must survive…”

  Unconsciously, he turned and fired, holding his breath, frowning. His eyes gleamed, coming back to reality, and his expression changed. He had shot a raggedly dressed woman who had been crossing not far from the team. Her body fell into the lava and burned, and she had been carrying something that quickly turned to ash… At that moment, a string in Duken’s mind snapped, and he almost collapsed, ready to throw himself into the blazing sea, ignoring Milish’s growl urging him to hold steady. But Geno’s voice, pleading with him not to forget his wife and child, stopped him. Dukken gazed at the scientist, lost and teary-eyed, and then the longevous man gestured for him to put the gun down and focus on jumping, which he did… The young doctor never imagined he would kill one day. He had always been, for himself and the people, a life-saver, not a life-taker. What transgressions would he commit next? How many lives would he have to take or contribute to taking, like that child, to return to his family safely? When would his torment end? All these questions ceased when he found himself and his companions on the other shore.

  Milish congratulated him: “Well done, you got rid of that pest, that atones for some of your mistakes, but be harsh and don’t falter like you almost did, understand?”

  These words had no impact on the doctor. Meanwhile, the scientist excitedly said: “Incredible! Fruit-bearing trees! In this place! Amazing, amazing!”

  The soldier returned to chastising the old man for being distracted by the trivial plants, while Dukken talked to himself: “No doubt she was carrying a fruit for someone. What if she had children? Did I orphan them? What have I done?! What sin have I committed?!”

  He stopped thinking as Geno shouted: “Here! Here!”, pointing to the stone’s location. They only had to dig. Milish and Dukken dug while Geno stood by, watching, and they discovered a small, shining white stone. Geno eagerly examined it and said with a nervous smile: “Yes, yes, it’s it! It’s the one!!!”

  Geno grabbed the stone and hurried back, the other two quickly following. When they reached the vehicle, the old man placed the stone next to the rear engine and transmitted a quick, bright charge, ignoring Duken’s questions and Milish’s grumbling. He shouted at them to board quickly in a tone that stunned and subdued them both. He then climbed in and took the helm for the first time. With the press of a button, the vessel pierced the space, cutting through half the planet to reach the entrance of the capital of the Dektaria Empire in mere seconds.

  The three of them entered the palace secretly and were warmly received by the emperor and his entourage. Geno paid no attention to them, rushing to install the stone and ordering preparations for the secret weapon. Before he went to work, he spoke to Dukken privately, saying: “Go back to your wife, don’t leave her, don’t abandon her, do you hear me? I’ve entrusted them with you, you won’t suffer anymore, wars won’t trouble you anymore, all of you, yes, yes!”

  The young doctor smiled, his heart heavy with the past few days, and said: “Thank you… for everything…”

  The old scientist waved his hand nervously but kindly and replied: “No need, no need! And by the way, don’t torment yourself over that incident, it’s in our nature as Kovkonians, violence is our deep instinct, and war… it awakens it in everyone… Just go back, go back to your family, agreed?”

  Dukken was deeply grateful to the scientist, shook his hand, and went on his way. Geno proceeded to do his work. As for Milish, he gathered with his friends from the military and the entourage in a private room, drunkenly babbling, mocking the two men who had accompanied him, spewing insults from his mouth like a flood. When he regained his senses, he joined the preparations for the secret weapon and witnessed what it was and what it would do.