Chapter 28 : Dispatch
"You sure we got all we need?" Ramenman asked.
"Yeah. I think so," Rum replied.
"If there's anything we forgot, we can just buy it," said Axion.
"Allright," said Rum.
They turned to Admiral Maskmana.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Don't forget to keep your daily report. Stay in contact with Astraeus station. Don't even think about raiding on your own," said Admiral Maskmana.
"Yes, yes. We get it. Don't worry," said Axion.
"Your overconfidence is exactly why I'm worried," said Admiral Maskmana.
They chuckled.
"We'll tell you if something happens," said Axion. "Promise," she calmly added.
"Very well. I wish you all good luck," said Admiral Maskmana.
They all ride a black space jet. Axion's bounty hunting ship.
"So, you never told me you have your own cool ride," said Rum as she leaned on Axion's seat.
"Well, you've never really asked," said Axion as she piloted the ship.
"So, what's her personality?"
Axion chuckled. "It's a stealth ship."
Axion put her ship's info on the screen. Rum reads them.
"Wow. She's a shy one isn't she?" said Rum.
The ship has many features to assist in stealth missions. The weapons are not powerful, but they're designed to escape from enemies. Like smoke bombs, flares, and so on.
"This ship might not be big but it's maneuverable," said Axion.
"You're right. It's definitely easier to travel with."
"You should go around the ship. She has plenty of surprises," said Axion.
"I will!" Rum exclaimed. She went out from the cockpit.
Axion pilots the ship in silence until Kaizo comes into the room. He leaned on the wall.
"Well, this is unexpected. Offering your Bounty Hunter ship to help with our mission," said Kaizo.
"It's for safety measures. In case we need to take an emergency escape, the boosters on my ship would give us a high chance of escape," Axion replied.
"You could've offered my ship instead."
"Your ship is bigger than this. It doesn't have a stealth system as good as mine. And it doesn't have the speed I want."
"And your ship is designed for assassins. Perfectly hidden and silent," said Kaizo sarcastically.
Axion silent.
"What are you, exactly?" Kaizo asked.
Axion put her ship on auto pilot. She leaned on her seat and took a deep sigh. Axion spun her thoughts, thinking of something to say, letting silence engulf them.
"What do you want me to be?" she asked back.
"You keep answering my question with question," said Kaizo, slightly pissed
"You're asking a question that even I'm not sure what to answer," Axion replied.
Silence engulfs them again. Kaizo stares at Axion who doesn't even want to look at him. His mind tries to process Axion's words when Lahap suddenly comes in.
"Uh... Hey. Bad timing?" said Lahap, noticing the strange air.
Kaizo coldly looked away and left.
"You need something?" Axion asked.
"I'm curious about your ship control system. So I was wondering if you can share,"
"Sure. Come in," said Axion as she stood up from her seat.
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Ramenman smirked when he saw Kaizo going out from the cockpit. "Trying to fix your failed confession?" Ramenman asked.
"Shut up," said Kaizo indifferently as he walks away.
Ramenman shrugs. "Guess whatever you did there didn't work then."
Soon, they reached Planet Circus. The ship landed quietly at the dark side of Planet Circus.
"Let's have a briefing before we go," said Kaizo. "Do we know each other's aliases?"
A screen shows a list of their fake identities.
Kaizo' alias : Kassim
Rum's alias : Lorelei
Ramenman's alias : Samyang
Axion's alias : Aeosa
Lahap's alias : Gorger
"From now on, this is our name. Don't make mistakes by calling each other with real names," said Kaizo. He turns to Axion. "What about our position?"
"We go in as a newcomer who wants to join a circus. The circus we're hiding in is called Cirque du Stellar. My informant, Phoenix, is one of the talent scouts there. He will give us direction," Axion explained.
"You have plenty of informant," said Kaizo.
"Enough to give me an advantage," said Axion. "The circus will give us a test to see if we have enough talent to join. I'm sure we can pass the audition, but let's try not to draw too much attention. In that regard, I'm proposing a plan."
"What plan?"
"It will be too suspicious if we all show our capabilities and get to be the star on stage. So I want Kaizo to divert people's attention by being the circus star," said Axion.
"What?!" Kaizo exclaimed.
"You have good looks and you have good skills. If you made it to be the Circus star, people would be too busy looking at you. It will reduce suspicion against the rest of us," Axion explained.
"So Kaizo will divert people's attention while the rest of us go investigate," said Rum.
"Correct!" Axion replied.
"You're offering that idea not because you want to keep me away, are you?" Kaizo whispers.
"No. It's purely to give a higher chance of success on this mission," Axion whispered back.
"That actually makes sense. Wait, why him? So you think I'm not hot enough?" Ramenman asked.
"Well, he IS the most handsome cadet in Astra station according to the hottest boys list," said Rum.
"I've never heard about that list,"
"The girls made it. It's only known among girls cadets," said Rum.
"Say, what number am I in?" Ramenman asked.
"Three I guess. The second rank is Red wine," said Rum.
"Dang…." said Ramenman.
"Focus! We don't have time," said Kaizo. He turns to Axion. "I'll consider your plan."
"That's everything i need to say. As for the future plan, we will adjust with the Circus condition," said Axion.