The landing craft sliced through the clouds like a blade, the roar of its engines swallowed by Altea's endless green expanse. Inside the cockpit, the crew huddled close to the glass, eyes scanning the alien terrain below.
"Where are we heading, Captain?" Chris asked, his voice barely rising over the hum of the backup motors.
"To find Halley's team," Oscar said flatly. "Be cautious. If they've made contact with natives, things could be dangerous."
Youri sat by the viewport, a faint smile on his pale face. "I just wanted to see the ground. It's been so long since I've stepped on land."
Oscar glanced at him but said nothing. The man looked fragile, almost ghostly, but stubborn as ever.
The craft trembled as it descended through pockets of turbulence. "We're reaching land," Mario reported.
Oscar's fingers tightened on the rail. "Finally."
Outside, the vegetation loomed — massive ferns and towering, twisted trees blotting out the sky. In the distance, something vast wheeled across the horizon.
"Look!" Chris pointed. "Is that a bird?"
Youri's expression darkened. "That's no bird Chris. It's a pterodactyl — a dinosaur."
Chris blinked. "How do you know that?"
"We studied them in school. Rare life forms. They only survive in these conditions. This planet is stuck in its Mesozoic era."
Before anyone could answer, an alarm flashed red across the console.
"Oscar," Mario said, voice sharp. "We're detecting an unidentified object approaching at high speed."
"Could be a dinosaur?" said Oscar in a loud tone.
"No. It's using brion energy." Mario replied
Oscar's stomach sank. "Evasive maneuvers — now!"
The craft jolted violently as beams of light streaked past, scorching the air.
"They're shooting at us!" Chris shouted.
"Get behind them!" Oscar barked. "Fight fire with fire!"
The pilot swore. "This guy's good. Are they Empire soldiers?"
"Doesn't look like Empire tech," Oscar muttered. "Try hailing them."
Static filled the comms for a moment. Then Oscar leaned toward the mic, his voice iron.
"This is Falcon One. Stop firing. We mean no harm. I repeat — we mean no harm. This is Captain Oscar Meltion of the Tartarusios."
For a moment, only silence. Then the incoming fire ceased.
Chris exhaled. "Well, looks like you have fans even here."
A voice crackled through the speakers. "This is Hawk Four. Follow us."
Oscar's eyes narrowed. "They might know where our people are. We'll go."
Pascal Rebel Base — Altea
A monitor flickered in the dim light. "No record of any Institute of Darma on Morleto," a guard reported.
Halley's heart thudded. "That was before the Empire destroyed it," she snapped. "It was used as an example to take the Leora Nebula."
The interrogator's eyes were cold. "So you know your fate."
He leaned closer. "When the Empire released their gods on Morleto, two billion souls vanished in a blink. And what did you rebels do? You ran. I hate the Empire — but I hate cowards more."
His hand cracked across her face as he pulls his gun. "Get ready to die."
"Stop!" a voice barked from the doorway. He looks at him confused. "Orders from the commander. Release her immediately."
The interrogator hesitated.
Halley straightened, fury trembling in her hands. "Thank you," she said, then struck him across the jaw with the back of her hand. "And don't ever point a gun at me again."
"Where are my companions?" She asked furiously.
"This way, miss." The guard replied.
The doors opened.
"Halley! Are you alright?" Oscar asked worryingly.
"Oscar! How did you—" Halley surprised to see him.
"Your DTI signal. They didn't strip it. Amateurs." Replied Oscar
"They captured us near the forest," Halley said. "They surrounded us."
Oscar's jaw tightened. "You're not going to like this. This is Stefan's base."
Halley's eyes flared. "That idiot… I should've known."
The door swung open again. Stefan strode in, all swagger and grins. "Halley! Sorry for the misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding?" she snapped. "This was kidnapping on a neutral planet. Don't you dare—"
"Cut me some slack," Stefan laughed. "You know how I am."
"Sergei, these are my friends," he said, turning. "Captain Oscar and Miss Halley — we served together back in the Army."
Oscar folded his arms. "Still the same reckless, hot-blooded idiot."
"That's a compliment," Halley muttered.
Stefan grinned wider. "And you haven't changed either. Still the same nagging bitch—"
Halley's voice sharpened. "What did you just call me?"
Oscar raised a hand. "You two—"
But it was too late. Halley launched herself at Stefan. For a heartbeat, the room dissolved into motion — fists, shouts, laughter. It felt, for a flicker of time, like the old days.