The 5th Gate

After the battle, they made some great distance between them and the falling Zentaris ship. Jerry Silent most of the time, still can't imagine how was he able to summon a dragon in the middle of the battle, for him what burst out of his chest does not even look like the conventional dragon that he is familiar of at all.

"Where are we going next?" Jerry said to the others. Looking outside their craft, he saw that they are now traversing the countryside of Japan, all around them are varieties of beautiful trees, Green grasses fill the hillside. From here on there, he can houses packed together, along the roads and a few was built heading to the top of the hill. It was nighttime, Street lights and inside each house lights also turned on, one by one as it illuminated the windows and insides of each house below, He can now see people are getting home on their bikes, motorbikes and other vehicles, as the sun falls slowly on the horizon, their craft flying unnoticed above Japan's skies.

a few more minutes Jerrys looked ahead, it seems that they are heading outside of the country again, "We are going west, to the country of China. Somewhere, hidden in one of their provinces is the 5th Gate." Braddock finally replied to Jerry's question earlier.

"We need to get you off this planet, immediately Damian. More Zents may arrive, and if that happens we can't assure the safety of each civilian here on earth if they get caught in the crossfire." Braddock explained.

"You mean we're leaving the planet?" Jerry said to Braddock, "where are we headed off then? What planet is beyond this 5th Gate, that we are headed to?" At the back of jerry's mind, he is not yet ready to leave his planet just after a couple of days, after the shocking revelations that were said to him, about his past.

Emma noticed Jerry's uneasiness, went closer to him placed a hand on his shoulder, "Let me explain Mr Jerry... This Gates function is for people to travel each planet conveniently." Emma said, her hands forming some imaginary figures in the air for Jerry to imagine what she is describing. "However, after entering each gate, we can't just enter any planet that we want. The Gates are connected numerically. Since Earth's gate is the 5th Gate, we can only enter the 6th and the 4th." She said.

Jerry tried to envision what Emma has explained to her, "so which gate are we going to next?" he asked.

Braddock looking annoyed and impatient as usual intervenes in their conversation, "We need to reach a Gallaxian named Faylis on planet Zenmonth at the 7th gate, she will know what to do next." He said Smiling, "By the way Damian. Not that you remember but... She is your ex-girlfriend." Braddock Chuckled in amusement, as jerry felt the heat on his head, knowing his face is turning red.

"Can't we just go to your Arkhon headquarters or head base or something?" Jerry asked Braddock.

"That's not how it works Mr. Jerry." Emma answered beside him, still her hand on Jerry's shoulder, "You see Arkhadia 6 our home-base (in your terms,) is not connected to any Gates. It's hidden in far reaches of the Galaxy. to go there we will need to have a different ship than this one."

"Why don't we have any support from other Arkhons? Isn't this a rescue mission? If I am such a big deal hero, then why didn't they sent a whole army perhaps." Jerry looked at Emma to proceed.

"It's easier said than done Mr. Jerry. As we have mentioned before, some planets like your earth need to be kept in secret of this Galactic war. We can't just barge in on Earth's atmosphere with an army and tons of space ships trying to rescue you. an army cannot be hidden from view, you know. And it will be very hard to explain to regular civilians how such an army appears in their doorsteps suddenly." Emma replied.

"Just relax Damian, were gonna be alright. Look at what you did earlier. You summoned one of your dragons Rhaikay. Old man Miromoto is saying the truth, your memory and powers and coming back, little by little," Braddock said with a smile on his lips this time, like earlier when he Hugged and shake Jerry to his delight. "So we just need to get you back home safely, then just wait for you to remember everything."

"I don't even know how I did that. And where is it right now? how does it work? does it just simply disappear after a set period of time?" Jerry said, looking back of the direction of their battle imagining the dragon might come back any time like it was some kind of pet.

"It depends on your command, Jerry. We can't answer you on that one since only you can explain how your skills work." Answered Emma.

Jerry remained silent, pondering Emma's words. Again his thoughts were on the Dragon, thinking that somehow the dragon that he summoned should have been following them right now. Unfortunately, there is no sign of the said Dragon since after they left the battle.

The rest of their journey was uneventful, Most of the time Jerry just asked for Emma to describe the other planets that they have travelled to. Emma describing some of it to him, as simple for him to understand. Generally, She described other culture as well as the technology of other races as much as she can. And she said finally that other planets are just easier for Jerry to travel to first and see with his own eyes, rather than telling it to him in stories.

Afterwards they all went quiet just content on looking outside the scenery, then finally they exited the country and left Japan. They are now again flying across the open see in the middle of the night.

It may have been already 1 am when Jerry was startled by Emma shaking him. He must have dozed earlier. Braddock was now standing, Stint shouting over the driver seat looking at him, "We're here Mr. Jerry!" Their craft slowing down a bit and turn to cruise speed. Below them seems to be the mountainside of china, to jerry's guess. Looking around the craft, it appears that no other house or building was in sight, they must be pretty far in the mountains, if that is the case, he guessed again.

The craft slowed down until it suddenly stopped at a flat surface somewhere in the middle of the mountains. Jerry tried to survey the environment as Stint landed their craft slowly. "Here we are Finally! the 5th Gate Mr Jerry." Stint said his head pointing at the side of the mountain, Were Jerry looked But saw nothing but trees and solid rocks.

As soon as they landed, Emma Jumped off of their craft shouting to Jerry "Let's go Jerry, you would see it after we cross the cloaking field." She said after she landed on her feet, walked away heading to the side of the mountain.

"Say goodbye to your idol, Kid! You won't see each other in a while," Braddock said to Stint shaking his head in Jerry's direction, then jumped after Emma.

Stint unbuckled from his sit stood up and approached Jerry, "Well then. It's fun while it lasted Mr Jerry... I mean Mr Damian Powers, sir!" Jerry can hear Stints voice shaking a bit and saw a tear in his eyes, that the kid is trying hard to hold, "this is as far as I go Mr Powers. I'm not an Arkhon yet, I'm just a Gallaxian here on our earth. Because of that I'm not yet allowed to join you guys further." Jerry stood silently looking at him. He does not know exactly the words that he needs to say to the boy, if what Braddock said is true, that the Stint Idolized him, well the past him.

"I was only assigned by the Gallaxians to escort you guys until you finally reach the 5th Gate," Stint continued on, his hands scratching the back of his neck, obviously trying not to cry in front of Jerry.

Somehow Jerry Smiled, somehow thinking that he knows exactly what to say to the boy. "It's alright Stint. Did you say before that you already have an application to sign up as a Gallaxian as well, right? then I'll be seeing you until then, alright! I know you will do good, and I will be waiting for you, ok?!" Jerry said, with a friendly slap on Stints shoulders. Stint just looked at him with awe, the boy's eyes filled with admiration on what Jerry has said.

"Will do Mr Powers! Sir," Stint said, standing straight and raising his hand to his forehead to salute Jerry.

"I'll be going. See you around stint, ok." Jerry turned then jump off the craft then head straight to Emma and Braddock who is standing a few feet ahead waiting for him.

"Let's go inside Mr Jerry," Emma said as she walked further ahead. Then to Jerry's surprise, Emma suddenly disappeared in plain sight, followed by Braddock who hulks behind her. He stopped for a bit, looked back and with a final wave to Stint, who still standing at the hover pod looking at them. then he walked through the cloaking field, after his companions.