The machines were falling to the ground one by one as they were being defeated and destroyed. The crew, completely exhausted, decided to hide for a bit to recover. Rain called Xita.
"Xita… I'm alive. Thank you. I didn't even know that was part of the Thread.", says Rain, breathing heavily and covering a small wound she got on her body.
"No problem! I was studying the Thread from top to bottom. I'm genuinely surprised you didn't know that was there – didn't you mention that you were involved in creating it?", says Xita.
"Yes, but I was only working on controlling the Thread and travelling. Nothing with defeating machines capable of destroying an entire star system!", says Rain.
"Alright. Please, take care for the rest of the trip, spend some time together with the new companions, and come back to the Thread as soon as you're all done with relaxing!", says Xita excitedly.
A mysterious person with the UHC logo shows up to the crew. It was the UHC representative for Altair, Max "74" Reichmann.
"I hope I'm not stopping any of your work right now, but I just wanted to say 'thank you' for helping us deal with Leinata's business. This was a long thousand years, and with your help to bring the truth out finally helped us end the Kepharian issues. If you want, you can join us on the continuation of the annual event, the '1093rd Kepharian Beauty Festival'.", says the representative.
Right then, Kael comes up. "Hello there, Thread crew. In the name of all Kepharian nations, and especially the Leinatan people, you have been granted the power to fully control Leinata. Is there anyone you'd want to represent for Leinata?"
"How about we all slow down first. Firstly, we'll be glad to attend the festival, Mr. Reichmann.Secondly, give us some time before we choose a representative for Leinata.", says Rain.
"Also, speaking of your crew, One of my friends would love to join you, if that's fine with you all.", says Kael. "He is one of the smartest people in the star cluster. From Proxima to Kephar. We all attended the 'Thirteenth Cosmic University', and he sided with the belief of the upcoming Thread. Now that you guys are here – and when he heard the news, he flew all the way to Kephar to see you guys. If you guys want to check him out, and see if he's viable for the team.", says Kael, not even stopping to grab a breath.
"Well, Zarya and Mailen here joined me with not much hesitation. It was surprisingly easy. But we'll be stricter from now on, and we'll see if your guy is capable. Where is he?", says Rain.
"Hello there.", says a mysterious man – suddenly showing up behind Kael. "I am Aeternum, the 3,456th member of the Intelligence Network, the most prestigious nation a man can be a part of. I am here to join you guys on the Thread to spread the word of knowledge and to help improve other worlds' states."
"Hello there, Aeternum. I am Rain, and this is Mailen, and the girl that's now playing with some toy over there is Zarya.", says Rain as she points at Zarya on the other side of the room, playing with what looks like a fidgeting toy. "We are glad to hear that you want to join us, but I'd personally like to know you more. Come join us on this post-war vacation to learn more about you, and then you'll be able to join us. Alright?"
"Sure. Why not. I've been waiting for the Thread since I was little. When I learned about Proxima's studies on the Solar System due to it being its direct neighbor, I saw that the Thread was supposed to save the universe of its issues to eventually resolve the crises forever, and wanted to join it so badly.", says Aeternum, with his eyes sparkling. His 'weaker, non-intelligent soft spot' was showing.
Finally, after some time, everyone goes their own way, and the crew, now accompanied by Aeternum, are gone to the hotel in Sanydra. They spend some time together, learning about each other, with Rain also finally finishing up Mailen's thread membership things. The crew learns that Aeternum knows a lot about machines and AI, and also a lot about science and technology.
"ID: Mailen-Kurp created. Commencing permission obtaining command.", spews out the waypoint phone.
The crew are fascinated by his ability to also do magic, as Aeternum shows how to create a small wormhole with just his palm. It was actually Aeternum's power.
The thread had 8 days left until the booking ended for this hotel. For the first time in Thread history, the crew came together to all do fun time! Rain called up Xita to come down to Kephar, and to come do a karaoke session with the crew.
Xita teleported using the waypoint system that he made on Titan when he was young. He also told Rain something quite useful.
"Rain, do you remember when I gave you that waypoint device? I have 10 of them in total, and 4 of them are used. I guess this young man here also needs one, I presume, right?", says Xita as he points at Aeternum.
"We'll see about him soon. He is likely to join us. He wants to. He also seems fit for it.", says Rain, kneeling down at Xita.
"Well, I have never told you that I have the waypoint set everywhere across the Solar System. I always knew that the Solar System was under time dilation. My fame and my net worth have let me be a part of funding the education of Proxima. Just yesterday I was reading about Proxima, and have found out about this guy. Trust me, he is very useful for you guys.", says Xita, looking at all of the crew members.
"We know already. He told us he can abuse the wormhole system by himself. He can also provide us with a good cosmic reputation due to his fame in the cosmos, and also the support of the Intelligence Network for our future missions.", says Mailen, looking at Xita. He never really saw Xita before, and thought he was just another Solarian human, not a robot.
Later, they all went to karaoke. The beautiful city of Sanydra, filled with a breeze that makes the flags on the main square go wild, is celebrating victory and the resume of the Beauty Festival. The crew enters a building that says "Karaoke" in Kepharian script, accompanied by Kael. Afterwards, they all have a talk and talk about their goals for the future.
"My goal is to keep Kephar beautiful and peaceful, and to get rid of Volkarod once and for all. We won't need the Thread's help – we can do this alone.", says Kael.
"My goal is to bring knowledge and help those in need to the cosmos", says Aeternum.
"My goal is to bring peace to the cosmos", says Mailen.
"My goal is to bring positivity, happiness and joy to the cosmos!", says Zarya.
"…and my goal is to make the universe be as it should be. United.", says Rain.
"Well, there we go. Isn't that a good way to relax for today?", says Kael. "There's also a massage center if you want to visit tomorrow. It's getting quite late now. We should all go to sleep."
"Good idea. Good night.", says Rain.
"Good night, Thread crew! Thank you again for helping Kephar and Altair!", says Kael before walking away to the presidential area.
Xita said his goodbyes and went back on the Thread to sleep there. The Beauty Festival is happening in 3 days, and they all need to prepare for it.
The next day, the crew discusses their participation in the festival.
"Kael told me that all we need for the festival is to dress up well, and to sit on the VIP chairs on stage. We'll have the best views for the concert, and other events in the festival!", says Zarya excitedly, showing the 5 VIP tickets for the crew, on the names of Rain Usen, Zarya Lunova, Mailen and Aeternum.
The crew decided to spend the 3 days until the festival to finally approve of Aeternum, and to get him accommodated to the Thread. The rest of the members go and buy stuff for their rooms, with Aeternum just taking Mailen's data bank and adding every known cosmic planet info in it. All the registered languages, planets, factions, nations, leaders etc. The data bank crashed 7 times during import, with Aeternum having to rewrite its code 3 times just to get it working. Then, Aeternum upgraded the data bank, so that it can hold a total of 5,000 Yottabytes – with the data bank already using up 94% of that.
Zarya filled her room with green-based items. Green table, green bed, even new green clothes. Rain walks in while she's setting up the room and just sighs.
"I knew you loved the green color, but not this much, Zarya…", says Rain, laughing a bit but also concerned for Zarya.
"Don't worry about it. It's like an aesthetic kind of thing!", says Zarya, making sure to show Rain that she's all fine.
Mailen, however, made his room look gamer styled. Nobody would ever assume Mailen loved video games, but you learn every day, right? He put up posters for 'Lebensark', 'Yellow Road', and his favorite game: 'Counter-Attack 2100'. Rain walked in, and noticed his room was missing something, and handed him his weapon rack. He put it next to his large table with a large computer on it, and used it to display his weapon.
Finally, the time comes for the Beauty Festival. A huge concert, followed by an art contest, as well as a large meal option table.
"Today's date: Month of Peace, Day 15, Year 2175 of the Second Space Era. Welcome to the 1093rd Kepharian Beauty Festival!", crackles through the speakers of Sanydra.
The crew – now enjoying themselves on the concert, listening to the beautiful music of the Altair star system, start speaking to each other.
"For a first mission, this was something I genuinely did not expect.", says Rain.
"I joined late, so I do not know what exactly happened in detail. However, I am proud of your achievements, and I hope that I'll be able to gaze thousands of stars with you all.", says Aeternum.
"Of course you will! The Thread isn't even a month old in the terms of travel.", says Rain happily, while also shaking herself a bit (because she is dancing whilst sitting.)
The crew enjoy themselves at the concert, and decide to take a small break. Just then, Kael decides to start a speech:
Good evening, Kephar! This is the first time we have had a Beauty Festival since the Month of Peace, 879 2nd Space Era. 1296 years ago. We have had the Beauty Festival since the year 7787 of the 1st Space Era. We have missed out on a thousand years of beauty, love and prosperity. Next year, at the 1094th Festival, we will host an extremely huge movement to move Kephar to the cosmic level of technology. The war made us stay behind hundreds of years in technology, and with the help of the rest of the Altair system, and the cosmos, we will go back to prosperity and open up to the public by the end of the year! Now, go out there and enjoy yourselves!
Kael's speech touched Rain's heart, and she started to tear up. She contributed lots to the planet, mostly with Mailen's help, and with Kael's strategic thinking. Xita, and the Thread helped out to deal the final blow from the skies.
Xita teleports to Rain just in time for the fireworks to start the post-concert part of the festival, the art contest. That wasn't too important for the crew, but they stayed anyway. Rain even got the winner's painting copy for her own room.
"Well. The festival was awesome. We are going to leave tomorrow, and leave Kephar to rebuild itself and join the cosmos. The UHC also just announced that they will spread the news of Kephar to the cosmos.", says Rain while scrolling on her phone on a café the following morning. Zarya, sipping on a drink just staring at Mailen trying to tease him, decides to say: "I am really excited for what's coming afterwards. I love space and travelling, so mixing the two really is beautiful. And the fact we have members from different planets that just so ended up meeting each other on Kephar…"
"Well, you're the only native here, no?", says Aeternum.
"Yep!", says Zarya.
"Yeah. I am from Mayik, Mailen is from Astoria, and Rain is from Earth. Can't have a better combo than that.", says Aeternum.
"Do you guys have any plans for the next trip?", says Rain. "I've only been told to go to Kephar."
"That's a discussion for later. There's still some small thing we have got to do. And that's to finally kill Volkarod. Remember when the large machines dropped pieces of this weird glowing material?", says Mailen
"Yeah. What was that?", asks Rain, now curious for the last task on the planet.
"Aeternum researched it, and told me that it's 'Porane', a nuclear element that can destroy cities if used incorrectly. The gods of Kephar basically live on these elements by the story. And Volkarod is just so conveniently running on Porane.", says Mailen.
"Well, what do we do with that?", asks Rain, with her fists on her face, making a 'cat-shaped' face.
"Kael dug into it and found that the churches in Bolmor host each gods' elemental shape. His team carved the shape into the melted Porane, and is about to get it to the church to kill Volkarod.", says Mailen. "By the Kepharian prophecy, the sky will have a ring wave going through the planet if it was successful. We will see it in about…. now."
Just as Mailen said that, a sound boom was heard. The sky saw a ring wave, and Xita noticed that the planet was covered in the ring from north to south. The ring went away, and Volkarod finally died.
On that restaurant on Leinata's main square – the statue of Volkarod has erupted and destroyed into multiple pieces.
Kephar is finally at peace.