The moment Soren and Freyja vanished from the ship's scanners, the entire bridge exploded into chaos.
Consoles flickered and Ravagers shouted over one another as they frantically cycled through surveillance feeds.
"Where'd they go?!"
"Run a thermal sweep!"
"No trace, they just blinked out! That's impossible!"
"Looking for me?" An amused voice cut through the bridge.
Every Ravager's head snapped toward the center of the room, where Soren and Freyja now stood.
The captain's hand flew to his weapon out of instinct, but terror slowed the movement.
"H-How did you get on my ship?" He demanded, his voice betraying the tremor he tried to hide.
For all his years raiding star systems, nothing had prepared him for strangers appearing aboard his vessel so suddenly.
All around them, Ravagers raised their weapons. The hum of charging blasters filled the bridge.
Soren's expression remained soft and friendly. "Relax. I'm only here to ask a few questions."
"Give me the answers, and we'll be gone."
That gentle tone calmed the captain just enough to regain a sliver of composure. He tried to straighten up and tried to look like a leader again…
And with a subtle tightening of his brow, Soren unleashed the power of space.
A silent ripple spread across the bridge.
In an instant, every Ravager stiffened and their fingers froze inches from their triggers.
"…" The captain's eyes bulged as he realized he couldn't even turn his head.
"Now we can speak properly." Soren stepped forward slowly, his voice even.
"I ask. You answer. Understood?"
The captain swallowed hard. He wanted to nod, but his body wouldn't respond.
"Please… don't kill us. Whatever you want to know, we'll tell you. I swear!"
Around them, Ravagers abandoned all thoughts of resistance. If their captain was helpless, they didn't stand a chance.
Then, from the back of the group, a thin, sharp-eyed Ravager gasped…
"Soren… you're Soren… the Earthling!"
A wave of dread swept across the bridge.
Several Ravagers actually whimpered. Weapons dimmed as hope drained from their faces. Soren's reputation clearly traveled faster than lightwaves.
Soren raised an eyebrow. They know me?
What puzzled him even more was the look in their eyes… horror and outright despair. Every saboteur stared at him as if he were some blood-drenched demon from their childhood nightmares.
Even Freyja, standing at his side, turned to stare at him with silent accusation, her expression saying plainly… What did you do?
Soren could only give her an awkward shrug before turning back to the trembling group.
"How do you know who I am?" Soren fixed his gaze on the skinny saboteur who had shouted his name.
The man looked as though his bones might rattle out of his skin at any moment. "L-Lord Soren, have mercy! I, I know nothing!"
"Please don't kill me!"
Around him, the others seemed to collapse into even deeper despair, as if his words had confirmed their worst nightmare.
Soren's confusion only grew. "Why are you all so afraid of me? Speak clearly!"
He wasn't angry, at least not at first but their terror was so exaggerated it almost felt insulting.
I live on Earth. I don't even come to this side of the galaxy that often, how in the world…?
Seeing the flicker of irritation in Soren's eyes, the skinny saboteur instantly broke. Terrified beyond reason, he babbled everything he knew, his words spilling out like pouring beans on a drum.
The explanation was messy and barely coherent but Soren eventually managed to piece together the truth.
He had been to the Realm of Knowhere.
There, Soren had slain the Red Devil, the realm's strongest tyrant and shortly after, the Flame Titan. Their deaths had shaken the entire region.
Then Ronan of the Kree Empire had arrived with an Accuser fleet, intent on seizing the Orb.
Unfortunately for him, he had crossed paths with the Doctor. Ronan had died by Soren's hands, and the mighty Accuser fleet was reduced to drifting ash.
Someone had recorded the aftermath and uploaded it to the cosmic network.
And from there… the universe did what the universe always did… exaggerated.
Stories twisted and warped. Soren became a legend… no, a nightmare.
A universe-slaying devil who murdered all criminals on sight. A being who destroyed entire fleets with a flick of his wrist.
A man who, if angered, would wipe out not just individuals but their families, pets, planets, and possibly houseplants.
The Ravagers, of course, were 'the bad guys' in the universe.
And now they had come face-to-face with that Soren.
No wonder they were terrified.
As Soren listened, he felt a sudden urge to cry. Not out of sadness… out of sheer, utter exasperation.
He could feel Freyja's gaze drilling into him again.
Her expression said… Really? You? A murderous devil?
Soren rubbed his temples. He had no idea how to begin explaining this disaster.