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Month of Earth, Day 29, Year 2175 of the Second Space Era.
"Are you guys ready?", says Xita.
"Affirmative. Code 12 – Forceful War, ready for execution.", says Vega.
Just then, the timer reaches zero. Asparion is still there, in the Driftspace.
Xita presses the button in the Thread, and in Asparion's place, a nuclear bomb, set to explode in "42 seconds".
Asparion quickly puts up a paper.
"You guys are awesome. Vega, I am promoting you to Rank 20. Thank you for your cooperation. Astral Thread, the UHC is your biggest ally. Prepare for Part 2."
The camera shuts off.
In the Driftspace, Asparion looks at the nuke, and exhales. "Saving a planet always means a sacrifice to oneself. This is no different. The Thread is the greatest ally to Almatia. I must leave you."
Just then, the nuclear bomb explodes. The Driftspace – completely ravaged in the cloud, and with several miles of dead monsters laying around. The plan also made all monsters respawn as healthy normal people like before the pandemic in the main stadium of Almatia. Billions of people just spawning there out of nowhere, laying there on top of each other. It feels apocalyptic. Helicopters, flying cars and the entire area just stop working. The people laying there, dying of suffocation. With thousands of health vehicles from the UHC and nearby planets coming to help, it's a real miracle that not all of them died.
"...", Rain drops into tears. Asparion, a guy she didn't really like, sacrificed himself for her and the team. "He... sacrificed himself... for us..."
"He removed the monsters off the Driftspace.", says Vega. "Zarya, please take care of her.". Mailen salutes Asparion.
"I will make sure to... give him the best burial once this is all over.", says Vega. "He deserves it."
Just then, the Driftspace starts to act up. In Asparion's office, the camera turns back on. The Driftspace now looks all destroyed.
"We have cured Almatia, but only temporarily. We need to kill the force quickly. It's getting engulfed now. We won't be able to enter it soon. Ugh...", says Vega.
The crew leaves to take a small break.
"We need a break. What Asparion did was... not just heroic, but awesome.", says Zarya. "And again, Rain. I am deeply sorry for keeping it a secret. Together with Mailen and Aeternum. You'd crash out and cause a ruckus. Again, sorry."
Rain just nods and exhales. "I understand. That was the best choice you could've made. Thank you."
The crew collectively hugs Rain. "We're all sorry. We love your leadership.". Except Aeternum, who just stands there, wondering. Everything happened too fast, yet he is still unaware of what truly happened.
Rain bursts into tears, Asparion's death replaying in her mind. And the love for the Thread and the crew. "I love you guys too. You're the best companions one can have.". Just then, Aeternum joined the hug, but only to comfort Rain.
...
There's just silence. The crew is in their room, not talking. Everything's quiet. It's like a ghost town, but there's alive people there. Aeternum finally understood what truly happened.
"...Mailen?", says Aeternum, taking out his data bank.
"Yes, Aeternum? Anything wrong?", says Mailen, drinking some tea.
"It's about Code 12 earlier today. It just doesn't sit right with me. What exactly happened?", says Aeternum, looking into possibilities of explosions in the Driftspace.
"You won't find it in the data bank. It was the Thread's nuke. We teleported it to Asparion. He sacrificed himself due to his rank vow and Almatian leadership morals.", says Mailen. "Is that all?"
Aeternum nods. "Hmm... Okay. I think I understand now."
Just then, Rain walks in. "Hey, boys. What is on our plan for Almatia now?"
Mailen stands up, puts his tea down, and puts his hands on Rain's shoulder.
"We may have temporarily healed Almatia, but the source is still here. We probably can't go into the Driftspace anymore. We need a major plan. I will talk to Vega about it. We're also going to get a new leader for the mission, from the UHC side. We will hold Asparion's funeral when it's all over, and that's pretty much it. All we need to do is get rid of the source before we can leave.", says Mailen, sitting down afterwards.
"... Got it.", says Rain.
In the UHC building, Vega is having a conversation with the new set leader for the mission.
"Good afternoon, Miss Vega.", says a mysterious lady.
"...You were never this formal.", says Vega. "Who even assigned you as the leader?"
"My husband, of course! You know, the leader of UHC.", says the lady.
"...", Vega is at a loss of words.
"I hope you don't betray the Thread, and the mission. I don't know how your moves didn't go through Mr. Voss, but I do not trust you in the slightest.", says Vega.
"And you won't have to~", says the lady. "I will just have the Thread trust me, and get you out of the mission. Then, I will get all the money from this mission. Hehe."
Vega leaves the room, and thinks: "I can't have her in this mission. She will just run away with all the money. What does Mr. Voss see in her?"