The first lost

Static radio frequencies blared across the intercom; Dietrich struggled at the hands of Balin, meanwhile, there was a notable confrontation taking place just outside the Cedar Infirmary doors. Dietrich reached for Tyrfing and the cedar sword shot across the room before crashing into the floor beneath them, there were several noticeable holes in the room.

"Relinquish Dietrich or the hostages will die." declared an unidentified voice just outside the door.

"You wouldn't dare. I'll kill the Faye if you touch them." Balin belted amidst the looming chaos, moments later the wall and its pane windows doors ripped apart and Balin fears came to life. Now both boys paused and gazed at the A.I. They were tall and humanoid-looking with short white hair and a flawless pale complexion, in one hand they held the unconscious body of Lia. She was bruised and beaten badly, the A.I. set Lia on her knees and kept their hands around her neck. Yuma was holding a vividly squirming Earendil in her arms and both Luthien and Malian were dangling upside down from the barbarians grasps.

"No" Balin watched as Lia shut her eyes tightly.

'Avenge the fallen and tear- and tear the Alliance...apart' Lia said through her link. Balin watched as his commanding guard fell lifelessly to the ground, he let Dietrich go. He'd just lost the very best Elf he had ever met in his life. Her olive-toned skin dulled and her neon blue hair turned black.

Lia was dead.

"10010129 restore shields, drop arc," Dietrich said as he slipped out of the Balin's grasps. With only one hand still on Dietrich, he sent a healing pulse like a wave that would be enough for her to awaken. Dietrich accepted the brunt of the blow, unbeknownst to Balin the pulse rejuvenated the Cedar Sapling within Dietrich. The Blast knocked everyone down, Dietrich slipped from Balin's grasp and caught Balin by the neck forcing him onto his knees.

"Ahh, so that's why we wanted to establish peace between the Elven clan and the Alliance.' Dietrich spoke aloud, Balin squirmed in his grasp but he was quickly overwhelmed by Dietrich's strength. 'Too bad I don't tolerate disrespect. Throw them in the airlock."

Dietrich's crew scrambled off the metallic ground, Yuma held Earendil upside down for a moment.

"All the Elf's, Yuma. Even the kid." Dietrich said with a disgusted face before sticking a magic tranquillizer into Balin's neck. Balin hissed from the pain of the metal syringe slicing into his skin, the pain shadowed him and he fell into it once it encased his veins. He looked up at the Faye; whose emotionless and barren eyes reflected Balin's worst fears, Dietrich was the last and most devious of all the Faye, and Balin knew soon he'd die just like his father. Dietrich watched as Balin slowly shut his eyes and slipped onto the floor; he wished there could be peace more than all the creatures in the universe but trying to kill Dietrich meant the end for any being. It was out of his hands.

As he passed Yuma, Earendil reached out to Dietrich but he stepped aside and followed the AI back to the bridge. He watched as 10010129 laid back into their pod and touch the screen before closing their eyes. He looked down the hallway and caught sight of the destruction the Elven rebels created. Everything laid waste like long-forgotten ruins.

Dietrich took his usual post at the helm of the bridge; 10010129 laid in their chamber lifeless as they charged in their port, he didn't want to be in the presence of Yuma as she discarded of the rebels. It'd been an hour since he'd given her that order, something dark and sinister in him wanted to split Balin's skull open, Dietrich hated the idea of anyone taking advantage of him. He kept reliving his bout with Balin, he took notice of every move the Elf made, recalling his flexed biceps as he swung his sword at Dietrich. For a moment he considered training the warrior, but assassination was a crime not easily forgiven.

'Yuma, have you gotten rid of the rebels yet?' Dietrich asked over the intercom. He was already putting in coordinates for Nepxus for a rendezvous with his father, Emperor Sargon.

'We're almost at the Airlock. What are your orders?' Yuma retorted as she rounded the corner, Earendil squirming to escape from her sheer strength.

'You can keep them in the holding cells' Dietrich paused hoping he would not regret his next words. 'Don't dispose of the rebels just yet. I may have use of them yet.' He put his face in his hands, still exhausted from battling Gallerian Elves for sixteen days straight.

His father was quick to order planetary raids, and Dietrich always honoured them with a heavy heart. He never wanted death, skulls, and so-called peace between planets, but Sargon saw it as necessary. In the first couple of hundred years, Dietrich had been excited about claiming worlds for the greater good even in the event of rebellious leaders and chaotic beings working against him and the Alliance. He didn't enjoy being known across planets as the King Crusader of Justice and Peace rather than the emperor's son.

He knew things could never be the same after the Red Giant so very long ago, but that didn't kill his hope for things to change. Taking Galleria meant that there wouldn't be a crusade for a few decades, enough time to Root the Deodar Cedar and carry about business as usual. The idea captured Dietrich's hopes as well as his fears together and gave them room to grow, combining them in a maelstrom only to spit them out as fantastical nightmares and euphoric death sentences established from the dawn of time.

'So now we're taking hostages?' Yuma spoke flatly over the line. He could tell in her voice there was some disbelief. 'Sargon would never allow rebels to live. There should be blood spilt down every corridor. You've gone too soft Faye.' She huffed.

Yuma was that sort of horrid creature that thrilled off respect and lived for War that brought peace. Dietrich had changed but he was still uncertain of the outcome it would have on the future.

'That was an order, Yuma! If you have complaints, they'll be dealt with by combat.' Dietrich answered over the line. Yuma's line went silent and Dietrich stilled himself to calm his heart as it pounded in his ears.

'Honored, Your Royal Highness.' Yuma spoke with an edge to her voice. They had battled long ago when Sargon had accepted Yuma into court, she wanted to be the best but found herself a close second to the Faye.

Only now she'd seen how he'd grown.

She would never be a match for Dietrich.

< Planetary unit 06: Valor Halls, Rena >

"Oh what dew that blessed the sun doth vapor

bring springs of passions and honest neighbour

My lover shall rise when the sun in labor." Amoeba sang as she jumped through the waterfalls shimmering in her silks as the sunlight splashed against her skin, then breathed bubbles in the Fountains of Gander. Her nymphs' sang hymns at the waters' edge as they watched her and fled to the shadows when her mother caught sight of her.

"You vile little lily,

painted through the sleeves,

where young hearts would be,

dry yourself in the shambles of sunshine sweetie,

bare yourself clean as you should be." Lunaria held a dry Petal out to her daughter but Amoeba frowned and instead she twirled to expel the excess water, splashing her mother in the process.

"Oh, you vile little lily,

much too immature are you,

the things a princess should hast to,

you could never do." Her mother sang unamused by Amoeba's shenanigans. This time she dried Amoeba off herself.

Shells sounded down the halls; Amoeba turned excitedly before her mother caught her arm, she pulled her to the side and draped her in silks, and tossed perfumed oils around her.

'Amoeba?' Dietrich called over their line. He was now in the same galaxy as her.

'My friend, my love, my laughter you,

back from where your father sent you?' She echoed the line, sending trimmers that relaxed Dietrich instantly.

'I'm almost to Nepxus, I've brought you a gift but I also need a favour.' he called to her, she pushed her mother away with a kiss and headed down the halls.

'Better you know when you need me,

as fickle friends can be. Favors come with lusty tolls.' She sang to Dietrich.

'With love. I can pay for a lover.' Dietrich finished her song and with it, they both felt the warmth tug in their chests.