The interior of the Ship was functional and cramped. At least there was no noise. Victor sat in the copilot's seat, spinning the chair and holding the star map with his eyes fixed on it, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Melissa was leaning back in her seat, headphones on, but the way her eyes were tightly shut showed she wasn't relaxing. Zugiy, as always, sat near the window, watching the vastness of space blur past.
Ling looked from one to the other. That silence was a ticking time bomb. They were heading to a rescue mission, a test of character, as Kira had said. And they could barely stand each other in the same room. That had to change.
"Alright," Ling said, his voice breaking the silence and making Melissa remove one of her headphones. "Since we're going to risk our necks together, I think it's more than time to skip the silent hostility part."
Victor scoffed. "I've got nothing to say."
"Exactly," Ling agreed with a calm smile. "No one here has really said anything. We introduced ourselves to Grux, not to each other. I'll start."
He adjusted himself in his seat, drawing everyone's attention, including Zugiy, who turned slightly.
"My name is Ling. My main abilities are super strength and agility, and I specialize in blade combat. Firearms are just a complement," he explained in a serious tone. "I'm here because I want to become stronger. I want to test my skills against the best swordsmen in the galaxy, no matter the species. It's a personal goal."
There was a moment of silence. His honesty was disarming.
Ling then turned to Melissa. "Your turn."
She put her headphone back on. "Pass."
"Oh no, you don't," Ling insisted, in a playful and slightly provocative tone. "You can't leave me talking to myself," he said, pointing with his chin toward Victor. "Come on, just a little effort."
Melissa rolled her eyes, but a faint smile appeared on her face. She sighed, defeated. "Fine, whatever." She took off her headphones. "Melissa. My parents really pushed me to come here. I was born with these powers to control earth and metal—or, in short, solid materials—and they thought it was a 'divine gift' that I had to use for 'something great.' I just wanted to study geology in college. I even started, but... in the end, it turned into this." She shrugged, as if the whole story was just a big inconvenience. "For me, that's already enough."
The revelation that she didn't want to be there hung in the air.
Victor, however, didn't miss the opportunity. "I knew it! You look like someone who didn't want to be here!"
"And you look like someone who failed kindergarten, but I don't go throwing that in your face!" Melissa shot back.
"My turn!" Victor announced, ignoring her. "It's simple: I joined because I wanted to explore the galaxy, find strong people, and fight. That's it. No family drama, no search for enlightenment. Just action."
Melissa scoffed. "Wow, how deep. Big deal."
"It's more honest than being here out of obligation!" Victor fired back.
Before the argument could escalate, the three of them looked at Zugiy. He was the last one.
He seemed to think for a moment before speaking, his voice low but clear. "I was also born with my powers. And... I always saw on TV, on the internet... people with powers doing great things, living adventures. I wanted to know what that felt like." He looked out the window, at the stars. "I've always stayed home more. I wanted to know what it's like... to go out."
The silence that followed was different. It wasn't tense. It was a silence of understanding. Four people, four completely different reasons, all stuck in the same small ship.
Ling clapped softly once. "There we go. See? That wasn't so hard." He smiled, a genuine smile this time. "Now that we know each other a bit better, maybe we can focus on the mission without getting in each other's way."
Zugiy nodded in agreement. Melissa and Victor exchanged glances, and although they said nothing, it seemed like a silent truce had been accepted. They would tolerate each other. For now.
"Alert. Approaching planet Kheris," announced the ship's synthesized voice.
Everyone turned to the main screen. The image that appeared was breathtaking. Kheris was a planet of turquoise-blue oceans and continents covered in vibrant, glowing green vegetation. Thin white clouds drifted slowly across its atmosphere. It was, without a doubt, a very beautiful place.
"Initiating atmospheric entry," the ship's voice continued.
As the ship plunged into Kheris's clouds, the planet's beauty stood in stark contrast to the dangerous mission awaiting them on the surface. The chapter of introductions was over. The chapter of action was about to begin.