Clarification

As Terra sat down he could not help but feel the full glare of a girl within his proximity. She never took her eyes off of him as he sat down to eat.

"Are you going to keep staring at me?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hmph!" she let out a small sound as she focused her attention on what was on her plate.

"She can be a handful, Terra. Don't let it get to you," Vito said as he sat near Alex.

Edith simply disregarded this fact. She didn't want to argue and she didn't want to speak to any of them. Not until she composed herself. She was also worried about doing or saying something that might scare them away.

"So explain to me how, no. Why you are here? Shouldn't you be off fighting or something?" Vito finally asked as it was the major question that needed to be answered.

Cyrus and Ariel had not yet arrived in the room but Alex decided to answer their question anyway. Otherwise, they might get agitated or worried seeing that their so-called representative, is not attending to his duties.

"Firstly I would like to say that everything is fine. Terra is here right in front of you, yes, but that does not mean he has been disqualified or removed from his position as our representative. He just hasn't left yet." Alex spoke.

"Alright then," Vito interrupted, "But why hasn't he? Isn't the two-month period that was given to us over already? It makes no sense that he wouldn't go already. Besides, him being here might mean he won't be able to arrive there on time. We don't even know how far this place is or where it is." Vito retorted.

"Vito, your worries are justified but you can put them aside. We have already taken all of this into consideration. There is a reason as to why Terra has not left the earth yet. So to answer you, let me ask you a question, do you think time moves the same everywhere in space?" Alex asked as he grabbed a slice of pizza and put it on a plate. He then proceeded to pass this plate on to Edith.

Edith took the plate happily.

Vito was quiet as he thought about it. Then he responded in a way that felt like a question more than an answer. "It doesn't?"

"Yes Vito, it doesn't. Many factors play into the role of how time will move for a planet. The most common factor is how close a planet is to the sun. If we were to use that as our way to measure time, then to some planets only 2 days have passed others, 2 years." Alex was now pouring out drinks of orange juice into cups on the table.

He had begun to dress himself into an apron before doing so, even though he was only serving drinks. It was something he felt comfortable in as he has lived to serve.

"Then, how are we supposed to know how much longer we have if we all have different time zones?" Edith had finally asked as she took a break from munching on a slice of pizza. She had cute little crumbs on her face. Vito almost wanted to wipe them off with a napkin but he didn't want to risk getting hit so he pushed that thought away.

"Well everyone, here comes the neat part. Do you know of the Goldilocks zone?" Alex asked with a smile as he put a plate on Terra and Vito's seat. He also put a plate on the seats of Cyrus and Ariel and was wondering what was taking them so long to get to this room.

'Are they lost? Did I make the interior design for this place perhaps a little too big?' he asked himself. He was now sincerely considering placing signs in this building as an issue like this had happened once before with a new recruit.

"The Goldilocks zone, I've heard of it. It is the zone where water is able to remain a liquid on a planet. And since most life relies on water, it is also the habitable zone for all life to exist on a planet. Earth and Mars are both a part of the Goldilocks zone." Vito had given this explanation. He had spent numerous times admiring the similarities between Earth and Mars.

"You are well aware Vito. That answer is correct." Alex said.

Edith was quite impressed. She didn't take Vito for the knowledgeable type. Well it's not that she didn't think he was smart, it is more to say that after spending time with Cyrus and seeing the difference between herself and him, her standards for intelligence increased.

Little did she know he was just obsessed with the planet Mars.

"I would like to take this time to make it known to you that not all life that exists in this world relies on water. So some planets like Venus for example would not reside in the Goldilocks zone." Alex said.

"Wait!" Edith interrupted, "There's life on Venus!?" she asked.

"There's life everywhere in the world," Alex answered, "You just need to know where to look."

"Now because the Goldilocks zone is usually the one that produces the most life, it is special amongst the planets." Alex now turned to look at Terra, "You will also need to be careful. Other representatives might not like feeling inferior to you Terra. They would kill you on sight."

Terra nodded as his mouth was full of pizza. He was listening very attentively to what Alex was saying, it was almost like a dog obeying its master. At least that's how Vito saw the scene. Edith thought it was adorable and that he was a good listener, but then she remembered that she was supposed to be mad at him and tried to get angry at him, but it was hard.

"This zone is so special that the measurement of time being used for this tournament is equal to the amount of time that it takes the furthest planet in the Goldilocks zone to complete its 2 months. So until then, we have a few days left with us, seeing how their time is not too far off from ours." Alex had now concluded his explanation and sat down to take a bite of pizza.

"But what about the travel!? How is Terra going to get there?" Edith had asked as she put aside her selfish desires to think about Terra's well-being. "Not like I care much right now, but won't he need a safe way to get to the tournament location, which we don't know where it is."

"Oh that is right, remember that beam of light that was there earlier this morning?" Alex had asked.

"I thought that beam was just for show, seeing as how he didn't exactly leave after he entered it," she spoke.

"Well that one was for show, but it was merely there as a way to add dramatic effect and allow for our dear Terra to leave the scene with flair. I'm sure he enjoyed the feeling very much." Alex said with a smile as he took a sip of orange juice.

Meanwhile, Terra was feeling embarrassed that Alex would just say that in front of these guys. It felt uncool.

"It was also there so that everyone can experience something out of this world for the first time in their lives. The real one will come soon. It won't be different, it will be the exact same thing. So it probably won't be as cool the second time. Too bad, isn't it Terra?" Alex chuckled as Terra said, "STOP!!"

"Wow Terra, that is so uncool, what, were you hiding behind a tree or something after the light went?" Vito teased as he laughed as well.

Terra had now gotten a pillow that was on a chair, he tucked his feet under his legs on the chair and positioned the pillow on his lap. He then pressed his face hard into the pillow and had now become a rock on a chair. Unalive and nonexistent.

Edith seeing this had felt bad and decided to stop being mad at him for being here. "Guys will you stop laughing at him!? There isn't much of him left!!" they began to bring down their laughing to a chuckle and then it faded away.

"Thank you, Edith," Terra said with his face still in the pillow. She smiled at him though he couldn't see it. He did not want to look up just yet.

"Alright as fun as this was, it is time to bring the matter to a close. There is little time left. Many other planets are using this time to get acquainted with each other and strategize on tactics that they will use when the tournament starts. Others are out there trying to make teams with planets in other solar systems."

"We on the other hand will be training."

"Training?" Terra asked to make sure he heard correctly, "I don't think there is much time."

"There isn't," Alex replied, "Which is why I ask you guys, Edith and Vito, to train with Terra. The best environment that someone can grow in is in an environment where other people not too different from him are trying to grow too. So not just for you, but for Terra and the Earth. Please, will you join this organization?"

Alex had stood up and bowed lowly. It was something unusual for them to see. From the moment they had met him until now, he had always been in a higher position than them and more powerful for that matter of fact. Yet he bows as if he is lower than them instead.

This was because, Alex, never wanted to feel superior toward others. That type of mindset leads to destruction.

Before any of them could speak or make up their minds, they heard a voice speak from a slight distance away, "I'll join." 

They had all turned to see Cyrus enter the room with Ariel by his side. 

'They are finally here. But what took them so long?' Alex thought to himself, he decided he would ask Ariel herself later.

As he thought this Ariel said, "Sorry we are late, I had asked Cyrus to wait for me as I took my things, You know how much I enjoy company~"

"Your things? Are you leaving now, Ariel?" Alex asked.

"Unfortunately I must. Business calls and you know that I always make time for it. I'll be seeing you soon Alex to discuss certain matters. Till then, I bid you Adieu." She walked passed the table and took a slice of pizza from a plate on the kitchen counter.

She then walked out the door and with that, she had disappeared.

Cyrus sat down to have a slice of pizza that was already placed there by Alex. He noticed that there was one chair empty and figured it must have been placed for Ariel who just left.

"Thank you for the food," he said as he took a bite of pizza.

Hearing this, everyone else felt bad for not giving proper table etiquette.

"Thank you for the food!" they all said in unison.

This action put a smile on his face. Alex was now glad that Cyrus had come to join them.

Meanwhile, Cyrus was sick of himself for even entertaining the thought of betraying Terra. He wouldn't, right?

"Our time together is not guaranteed. Yes, we all want to live our own lives but if those lives can end at any second then it would be more beneficial for us to do something worth our time. I'll be joining Alex and you guys should join too. Let's not waste this opportunity given to us." Cyrus said and then took a sip of the orange juice that was laid out for them.

"This tastes organic, freshly made?" he asked.

"Why yes, you have Sasha to thank for that, she was insistent on making your meals for today and she was stubborn about it too," Alex smiled as he mentioned this.

"Now, we have had Cyrus speak his intentions, but what are yours Vito, Edith? Will you join us?" he asked as he turned to face them.

Everyone was waiting for their reply. Terra especially.