"Shit," Vriska hissed, tapping away at various keys and bringing forward and a diagnostics page.

"They've shot us," Sollux said, his voice shaking. He was trying to maintain his composure, his collected calmness for which he was known, but it was proving difficult. He was staring death in its ugly face and there was still so much in life he had yet to achieve. He never told Karkat he loved their brotherhood more than anything, he never told his brother he was proud of him, he never got the chance to let Aradia go…

"They took down a thruster," Equius commented, pointing at the screen. "And they skimmed a sail."

"They're firing again!" Vriska said, watching the arms charge a massive, purple ball of seething energy. Before she had a chance to react, it was launched. It moved far faster than the ones from the prisoner's ship, and she barely had a chance to swerve before it collided with the ship.

"That's an engine down," Equius said. "Vriska, running is ineffectual. They will fire at us until they have us in pieces. We have to surrender."

"No!" Vriska cried out, leaning harder into the accelerator. "We'll get out of here. We can do this!" her voice was frantic as she placed her hand over the warp button.

"Vriska," Sollux said softly, his hand over hers, stopping her.

Her eyes lifted and met his, visible behind his red and blue glasses, and she could see something in those eyes. Above hope and friendship and all that other crap, she saw power. She saw energy pulsating, charged and potent, in the depths of those red and blue eyes; she saw mind powers, even stronger than her own. Psionics, just like his father. An option.

She slowed the ship, her hand moving reluctantly from beneath Sollux's, to a touch pad, on which she sent out a white flag signal. The Bludgeoner was quick to respond, and slowed behind them, but did not retract the firing arms.

"We need a plan," Equius said. "Seeing as how we just released a lot of their fleet into space, I'm sure they are none too happy with us. They will probably not board us easily. Some kind of tactic would be advisable. Some kind of distraction, or false evidence, or-"

"How about leverage?" came the eldest Serket's voice, entering the room with her girlfriend, Kanaya, Karkat, Kankri, Porrim and

"The prisoner!" Vriska said, standing quickly and taking a step back.

"Relax, sister," Aranea said. "Don't you recognize our mind control when you see it?"

"We managed to obtain some rather interesting information from him," Kanaya informed them. "I think it could come to our advantage."

The Subs sent forth one more cruiser, with far less people within, boarded their ship, and passed safely through the airlock. They met the crew of The Spinneret in the large main hall, where the Serkets, and all their recently-gained companions stood before the massive blue-burning fireplace. The Subs and their painted faces, cautiously entered the room and eyed the youngest Serket, who stood there with a white dishrag tied to a rolling pin, waving it about vaguely.

"Yes, yes, come in," Vriska said as the Subs slowly entered the room. "We surrender. Or do we?" she added, causing the Subs to pause in their places, which only made Vriska erupt into laughter.

"What my sister is trying to say is, welcome to The Spinneret!" Aranea offered.

"Our master wants to speak to you," a Sub informed them in the most non-formal way, truly a testament to the extent of disciplinary training these people have had. "Come quietly."

"Your master, eh?" Aranea narrowed her eyes and scratched her chin. "You mean the All Subjuggulator himself? He's on that ship? Right now?"

"Miss, if you would just-"

"See, the reason I ask," Aranea continued, completely disregarding the Sub's response. "Is because I know something I'm sure he would love to know."

"If you would like to speak with him, I would strongly suggest you come with us-"

"Is he a family man, your Subjuggulator?" Vriska interrupted him. "He's got kids or anything?"

"We are not at liberty to-"

"I'm sure he at least has a son, right?" Aranea stopped him. "Someone to carry on the Subjuggulator name? He tall? Long, shaggy hair? A bit of a stoner? Big scars down his face? Cause I've got someone here who claims that he's the son of the Grand Highblood."

As she said this, Equius brought forth the prisoner, who was still heavily under the mind control and swayed as he stood there, face void of any expression other than internal bliss. The Subs immediately stirred and began speaking amongst each other.

"If you would just hand him over to us," one of the Subs said, stepping forward.

"Ah-ah!" Vriska stopped them, clearly amusing herself with this. "See that's the weird thing about this whole surrendering thing… I'm not that good at it. I've got a thing for hostages, so. I think we may keep him with us a bit longer."

"But don't worry!" Aranea finished for her sister, having just as much fun as the other, but hiding it much better. "We'll still come with you, and we will come quietly. As long as you promise not to harm us, any of our crew, or cause any further damage to this ship."

A few of the Subs laughed. "Lady, you don't have a clue who you're dealing with, do you?"

"Perhaps not," Aranea shrugged. "But your boy is currently under my mind control. And at any moment, I can blink and turn his feeble little brain into scrambled eggs and I really don't think your 'master' would like an acephalous son, so if I were you, I'd respect my demands."

The Bludgeoner was cold and dark and seemingly void of life. They were taken to a room down several sets of narrow stairs, where they were lined up and identified. Afterwards, they were left in the dark room, knowing that regardless of the loneliness they felt, eyes were still on them, and conversations about what to do with them were happening behind closed doors. Everyone showed their uneasiness in different ways. Vriska paced, for example. Sollux sat at the floor, his head in his hands, and Kankri spoke incessantly, but inaudibly, to Porrim, who simply sat in silence, staring forward. Aranea was the only one not with them, which caused the younger Serket immense apprehension. Meenah constantly assured Vriska that her sister was strong and would be well, but it seemed as though perhaps the tyrian-blood was attempting to convince herself of these things, rather than Vriska. The eldest Serket had been taken away to be quarantined with the brainwashed Gamzee.

"It's all my fault," Karkat mumbled to himself.

"Stop that now," Kanaya hushed him.

"If I hadn't have fallen for that fucking endless pit of ridiculous nonsense.."

"Then we would most likely still be in the same place as we are now," Kanaya stopped him. "None of this has any blame upon you."

"I thought he was real," he said, his voice much quieter. "I thought-"

"I know," Kanaya rubbed her brother's shoulders.

Suddenly, a trio of Subs entered the room.

"Orphaner Dualscar will see each of you individually," one said, causing each of them to slip into horrified silence. "You will be questioned, and your usefulness will be weighed. If you are not deemed necessary, you will be executed for your crimes of Subjuggulator evasion, conspiracy to commit treason, and treason. Will you comply?"

"Go fuck yourself," Vriska hissed.

"We'll start with you," said the Sub, with a glare. "Come on, on your feet."

One by one, each of them were taken out of the room. They were returned later, but not in the same state. They reported having been interrogated to the point where they felt as though their mentalities were cracking beneath a vast weight, a heavy stare, and a sinister mouth. Dualscar was a violet-blood, and known for being the Condesce's lover. He was cruel, calculative, and snide, with an expression of entitlement, and the voice of vindictiveness itself. He broke each of them down enough to extract what was possible.

The same repeated questions: who are you? Where are you from? What is your purpose here? Why did you leave Alternia? Are you, with malicious intent, betraying your leader The Grand Highblood and thereby the Empress herself, Her Imperious Condescension?

Though there were some more tailored questions: Do you or have you ever owned a mechanic shop in Alternia? Is your Trading Company licenced under the Subjuggulated Trading Act? Are you aware that your non-biological brothers' lowblood statuses are illegal in Alternia?

Eventually, Karkat and Kankri were the final individuals remaining in the room who hadn't been drilled. They sat in silence beside each other, waiting with great uneasiness for their names to be called, hoping that they weren't merely going to be killed on sight for being red-bloods. Eventually, the Subs came for them, and called them both in at once, something which, until then, hadn't been done; everyone had gone in individually. They were glad of each other's company, but terribly worried.

They were brought into a smaller room, with a two-way mirror expanding the length of one wall, and a table sitting before it, with two chairs facing the mirror, and one facing the other two. They were seated in the two chairs, and remained close to each other, both still not uttering a sound. The wait for Dualscar to make his arrival was excruciatingly long, and although it was only about half an hour, it felt like half a day. The entire time, neither spoke a word.

Eventually, the door opened, yet nothing entered for a while. They knew Dualscar to be a fairly flamboyant individual, and often donned excessive jewelry or high-end fashion, and considered entrances to be as important as the time spent in the room.

However, it was not Dualscar that entered.

An enormous presence slowly filled the room. Massive, black, and as malevolent a presence as the actual devil entering the room. His horns extended far too high for the ceiling, so his head remained bent, his back hunched, making him appear even more enormous. His steps were heavy, and seemed to call thunder from the skies. His eyes were invisible behind his mane of thick, black hair, but the malicious yellow glow from them was prevalent against the rest of his face. His lips were in a seemingly permanent frown; although though his laugh lines were thick, neither Vantas thought the troll could laugh in actual humour. Beneath his lips, a set of long, pointed teeth extended, giving him the appearance of a constant snarl. His jaw was set and thick, and his face was chiselled, but weathered, and wrinkled with the expression of madness. He clenched his gargantuan fists and stood behind the chair that was meant for him, but before him, looked as though it might as well be in a dollhouse. He placed one heavy hand on the chair, and sighed heavily, his breath like a cyclone ripping through an evergreen forest.

"Thought I done got rid of you mutant mother fuckers," the booming voice spoke, and Karkat and Kankri suddenly felt cold. "Seems you keep poppin up. Like termites, you mother fuckers be. Fuckin up my plans, spoilin all my shit, eatin away at all I done worked hard to build. Can't be havin that. Gotta be gettin some mother fuckin exterminatin all up in this mother fucker."

"Your time is ending, Highblood," Karkat said, his voice betraying his brave intent. "A new age is rising. We aren't the only ones who are ever going to rise up against you. If you kill us, more will come."

The Grand Highblood laughed. "Petty. Got demands of you termites."

"Who says we'll do anything you ask us to?" Kankri exclaimed.

"Don't, and one by one I be paintin the floor multi-coloured, you feel me? Startin with jade." The Vantas's both clammed up.

"Couple of your mid-blood females been mind-lockin my offspring, and he's of major use to me. Get them to release him."

"Couldn't you just kill them yourself and be done with it?" Karkat dared.

"Ain't been my first dealins with a Serket. Kill them before they release you, and mother fucker's brains be stainin here to Alternia. Needs to be a willing liberation, which you gon' be all up and acquirin."

"We haven't known the Serkets long," Karkat quickly said. "I don't know what it'll take to get them to give him up."

"And what makes you think they even will?" Kankri followed his younger brother. "They do not know my brother's and my family, nor do they care quite frankly. They'll see us all dead and consider it collateral damage, a shame at maximum."

"Seems there been facts that y'all ain't done none considerin," the Grand Highblood raised an eyebrow. "Only reason you mother fuckers are sitting in front of me and we done be havin these conversins is cause my offspring is bein of great use to me and I'd like some mother fucking autonomy up in his cognitions. You," the glow of yellow flickered towards Kankri, and then to Karkat. "And you, be the offspring of my enemy, and the blood of my enemy is also my enemy. When I all up and got all use I need of you, you will be shipped off to endure the remainder your pathetic lives in the rock mountains and beneath the earth, workin on my constructs, growin my empire. I'll personally assure you mother fuckers be workin till your shedding what makes you mutant. I'll relish in the sight of red upon my walls. Enough prolonging your fate. Release my offspring and face your existence, or watch your family's blood pour before you."

Suddenly, there came a great shuddering throughout the ship. The Grand Highblood straightened, looking about the room. For the first time, his face upturned towards the ceiling, and his strong, sharp, powerful jaw was mostly in view, with a glimpse at his neck. His skin was zebra-striped with scars and appeared aged, but tight. From beneath the shadow of his hair, the yellow glow was shimmering through. His face tilted slightly, and his eyes became visible, and they flicked in the direction of the Vantas's, and both their blood felt as though it was replaced with ice. Menacing was too weak a word for such a gaze. His eyes were purple-rimmed, like Gamzee's, but full of hate and, above all, rage. Consistent seething anger towards everything.

And also now, in his gaze, bewilderment. There came another shudder shortly after the first, and a voice instantly rang over the PA system.

"Alert, alert, Orphaner Dualscar and The Grand Highblood, please come to the cockpit at once."

The Highblood gave them a long glance, eyes narrow, and was then suddenly no longer in the room, leaving it empty as quickly as he filled it. Kankri and Karkat said nothing to each other for a long moment, before simply exchanging glances. There came another shudder, and the door suddenly swung open, as though off its hinges. The lights flickered, and went out. Another shudder.

Kankri and Karkat were out of the room in an instant, navigating the dark corridors and hallways, pressing against the wall when Subs rushed passed them. Eventually, they found a staircase, and scuttled up it, slinking through the darkness. Karkat led his brother through hallway, at the end of which was a large room, presumably an entrance of sorts. The sound of Subs rushing about was deafening with echo upon the metal constructing everything. Suddenly, the sound became impending, and Karkat and Kankri immobilised. Kankri looked back to see if they could backtrack but, he froze when he saw a large group of Subs running in their direction. There was no way to turn.

Karkat faced forward and elected to bolt, the fight or flight instinct siding unwarily with the latter. There seemed to be less people ahead, and perhaps they could break through the smaller mass. He tucked his head down and closed his eyes, bolting as fast as possible. When he felt collision, it was with something much unexpected: soft, about his size, and fell backwards against the rest of the figures with a familiar cry. His eyes flashed open and he quickly backed away in awe.

"Jesus what the fuck?" the body said. "Someone tell me what that was!"

"Terezi?!" Karkat exclaimed.

Suddenly arms were around him and his brother. They struggled against them, but whoever was with Terezi was quick to respond. With a barrage of various attacks including, an arrow released from a crossbow, and a slash of swords, the band of Subs was quickly subdued. Karkat and Terezi were quickly in each other's arms once the ordeal settled. With her, was Horrus and Latula.

"What the fuck is going on?" Karkat asked, his arms lingering on Terezi.

"Mituna, Aradia, and this guy Cronus are looking for the others," Terezi hastily said, before leaning in and taking a deep whiff of the boy before her. "Ahhh! Dat sweet scent."

"We need to find them," Karkat confirmed. "They have the Serket sisters hostage and they won't let them go until they release the Grand Highblood's son from their mind control."

"Holy shit what kind of fucked up adventure are you kids on anyway?" Latula exclaimed.

"We've not the time!" Horrus exclaimed. "We must return to Cronus's ship as soon as possible, before the detonation occurs!"

"Detonation?!" Karkat exclaimed, his voice cracking. "You're gonna blow up the ship? Have your fucking brains taken a vacation to the Land of Fucked Tactics?"

"It was how we got in," Horrus informed him. "With various scraps I managed to uncover within the bowels of the freighter, I renovated a cannon to fire rounds of ignited explosives."

"You just whipped that up on the way, did you?" Karkat questioned, though not surprised.

"We've fired a timed explosion beneath a wing, behind an engine, and if we are not out of this ship in," he glanced down to a clunky watch at his arm. "Seven minutes, I'm afraid we will be brought down with all the subs on this ship."

Another shudder rang out through the craft.

"The alert fire," Latula commented. "Cronus is at the ship. C'mon!"

They ran through the hallway, up the winding stairs, to a large main room, in which a massive hole had been burst into the hull, the anti-gravity being the only thing keeping their feet on the floor. A Rowboat (a small TSTV deployed by larger ships, such as freighters or battleships, to transport small loads of passengers or cargo) was at the other end of the large room, and one could assume it entered through the hole made by an explosion. Latula and Horrus quickly pulled the doors open, and Karkat, Kankri, and Terezi piled into the small ship, which lifted into the air, and warped towards the familiar freighter. Within seconds, they were inside the larger ship, and the doors unlocked the moment the doors sealed and the airlock filled the room with oxygen. Cronus was running towards the docking area, Kanaya, Meenah, and Equius at his toes, Aradia closely behind the latter, Sollux occupied by the over-excited Mituna ranting at him.

"Where's Vriska?" Karkat asked.

"She was taken away by subs," Meenah said quickly. "My guess is she was probably taken to wherever Aranea is. I keep telling these jerk-offs to let me back on board, but they won't."

"We haven't the time-"

"We owe it to them to try!" Karkat stopped Horrus. "It's the least we can do."

"He's right," Kanaya nodded eagerly. "Besides, we cannot get to Mindfang without them, and I will not allow this entire expedition to have been for naught."

There was reluctance among the recently-joined, but Kanaya and Karkat were allowed to return to the ship with Meenah. Sollux pried himself away from Mituna, as he swore he would not allow Karkat out of his sight for the duration of this venture, and Mituna was quick at his heels, as he swore not to allow his brother out of his sight ever again. The five of them rushed back to the dungeon, where they searched for any indication of where the Serkets may be kept.

"Man, fuck this!" Meenah exclaimed, before slamming a Sub, who had been rushing past them, against the wall. With her hands at his neck, she leaned in close, her expression full of rage and desperation. "Where the fuck are the Serkets being kept?"

"I don't know!" the Sub exclaimed in panic.

"You'd better start fucking knowing!" using her sheer tyrian-blooded strength, she pulled him back, and slammed him into the wall again, bending metal beneath the weight, and Karkat could tell that she could easily throw him through the wall, if necessary. The man shouted in pain.

"Down the hall! The holding cell, you can't miss it!"

She dropped him and sprinted forward. Once she reached the door marked accordingly, she pressed her weight against it, and the metal door began groaning beneath the force, before breaking at the hinges, exposing those within.

Inside, The Grand Highblood stood with his enormous hand out, Vriska's limp body laying against it. The Highblood's wide mouth was stretched into a sneer as he watched Kanaya and Meenah run to the body, while it slid out of his grip, onto the floor.

"Where's Aranea?!" Karkat demanded.

"Bitch who done hold my offspring, got held," the Highblood said, sending chills over those who had not yet heard his voice. "Unfortunately for you mother fuckers, y'all gon' meet m'boy a little straight-panned. Ain't quite the same that way."

There came a hysterical laughter from behind them, and each of them paused, their eyes wide. Karkat uttered a single curse, and exchanged horrified glances with Kanaya, who did the same with Meenah. Meenah confirmed Vriska's current status as still living, so she urged Kanaya to help her carry the body away from the Highblood, the deep, dark shadow looming over them like night itself. If they could sneakily get away, perhaps they could hide or find safety before whatever was coming, got to them.

The laughing sounded erratic, panicked, frantic. It grew in intensity and volume, impending, laughing breathlessly, harder and harder, faster and faster, with more and more malice until suddenly, it stopped. The only sound was their heartbeats pounding, and, after what felt like ages, a single chuckle from the Highblood.

With that, Gamzee came exploding into the room, his face smeared with hastily-applied face paint, and stained with cobalt. His eyes were wild and bright, and his lips were stretched back over his thick, sharp teeth. Everyone in the room scattered, and the Highblood was suddenly not there, as though his shadow swallowed him, leaving behind not even his presence. Within the younger troll's white-knuckled grasp, was a pair of large, incredibly heavy juggling clubs, which he swung with mad expertise towards the group. Meenah, carrying Vriska, ran out of the room, and waited for Kanaya, who was tightly behind her.

"Take her," she said, handing Vriska's limp body to the jade-blood.

"What about you?"

"I need to find Aranea."

Kanaya's eyes lingered on Meenah's disappearing figure for a long moment, before Karkat came rushing out of the room, and grabbed her as he ran past, a glimpse of the insane troll's hand gripping the door, and his face pulling out from the room and looking down the hallway with the most mal-intent that could be read from a visage was the only thing Kanaya saw before turning her head away.