CELESTIAL

SMOKE AND sparks flew about and Marco, Star, Mary, Tom and Zarden lay all around the overturned ship groaning in pain. Star pushed herself up and held her shoulder in pain, seeing there was a cut on it. She looked at Marco and hid it from him.

"What just hit us?" She asked.

Zarden stood up and ran toward the cockpit. He looked out and gasped. "Oh my God."

"What is it?" Marco asked as he walked up to him with Star.

Marco's mouth fell agape in shock and saw a giant grey three-headed octopus with glowing scales float before the ship. It moved toward them, parting the asteroid field as it waved its tentacles.

"Oh man, we're so dead!" Marco clutched his head.

"What's an octopus doing out here? Marco, why didn't you tell me earth animals are also in space?" Star asked.

Zarden hastily pressed buttons on the dashboard and sparks shot off a nearby wall, causing him to jerk back. He breathed heavily and looked around, seeing Mary try to calm Tom down as he continued to convulse. He frowned.

"I'm going out there." Zarden said.

"What? You're gonna get yourself killed!" Marco yelled.

Zarden walked past Marco and picked a fallen space suit on the floor near a broken compartment. He started to put it on and Marco grabbed his arm.

"Zarden, stop!" Marco yelled.

"Marco, we don't have time to argue about this." Zarden put the suit on hastily.

"But that thing will kill you - there's no way you can fight it!" He started to panic.

"Then I'll have to think of something."

"Zarden –,"

"Marco, enough!" Zarden yelled, causing Marco to jerk back. He sighed. "I know there isn't much I can do, but I've gotta do something." He looked around. "There's no way to fight that thing, but the ship's down, so we can't run either. But if I can slow that thing down, then you guys can escape."

"Wait, no, no, no, no, you're not gonna sacrifice yourself!" Star moved up to him.

"I have to." Zarden said and put on the suit's helmet.

He drew out his rifle and looked at the kids one last time before opening the emergency latch, causing the door to open and suck him out then close immediately. Star ran up to the window and saw him fly toward the octopus.

"He just left" Marco said and sat on a chair. "It's over."

Star grew worried and she looked at her friends as they recuperated. Mary held Tom's shoulders in a panic and embraced him as his flames continued to burn. Tom convulsed, but suddenly calmed and began to relax, causing the fires to recede and turned back to normal. Mary's hair began to glow white and Star jerked back as her wrist emitted a yellow light.

Mary realised the flames have disappeared and she pulled back from Tom who rested on her shoulder in a weakened state. "What happened?" He asked.

"Oh Tom, you're alright!" Mary hugged him.

"Hey, how'd you do that?" Marco asked and moved up to them. Star watched them and turned back, hearing the roar of the octopus outside. She looked at her arm and frowned. "Well, we have to find a way to get outta here." Marco said when he heard the door slam. "Star."

ZARDEN FIRED rapidly at the octopus and it shot a tentacle at him. He swerved out of the way and hid behind an asteroid that the creature quickly smashed with a swift swing of its tentacle, sending him hurtling back.

He drew out five small bombs and tossed it at the creature, causing an explosion that created a smokescreen that blinded the creature. He turned the dial on his rifle and fired an electric ball at the smoke cloud.

The electricity spread out in the cloud and formed lightning that struck the octopus and created a large explosion. Zarden shielded his eyes from the blast and grinned as he moved his arm and saw the cloud slowly disperse. His grin fell as several miniature octopuses flew toward him.

"Oh man." Zarden said.

He shot at a few of them, creating an explosion that knocked them back, and a chase ensued as he flew toward the asteroid field to avoid them. He fired rapidly at rocks around him, causing them to explode and he flew out of the maze.

The rocks exploded and began to trap the creatures. He grinned and reached for a bomb when an octopus landed on his hand.

"What the –," He tried to pull it off.

The octopuses began to wrap around him and he struggled to break out. They started to eat at his suit and covered his entire body, turning into a ball. The smoke cloud disappeared and the giant octopus swam out, moving up to him and swinging its tentacle. The smaller octopuses covered Zarden's face and he shut his one free eye, waiting for the inevitable when a bright light flashed.

The light spread all around, blinding the octopus and causing it to turn to its source. The guys in the ship looked out and Marco gasped in surprise.

"Whoa ..."

Star floated high above the octopus emitting the bright light with her hand raised up. Purple energy exuded from her arm and the light burned brighter, incinerating the small octopuses on Zarden's body.

"Power of the Multiverse, I Summon Thee: Celestial Whale!" Star yelled.

A booming noise echoed and a portal opened above Star, leading to a starry dimension from which a massive whale swam out. The creature's body was ethereal with a bright aura and stars beneath its skin. The beast roared and flew toward the octopus, swallowed it whole.

The creature flew on, moving past Zarden and the ship and flew off, entering another portal that closed with a sharp sound. Zarden looked on in awe and amazement and he held his side in pain. He removed his hand and saw that the suit is torn.

"Oh no." Zarden said.

Star looked around and saw Zarden begin to fall. She flew down to him and grabbed him. She waved her arm, opening a portal and she flew into it, ending up in the ship and Zarden and Star floated into it. The others moved up to her, Tom walking limply and leaning on Mary.

"Whoa, Star, that was amazing!" Marco said.

"Yeah!" Mary said.

"How'd you do that?" Tom asked.

"Uh, I don't know, it just happened I guess." Star rubbed her neck uneasily, drawing a concerned look from Marco. The ship's lights came on.

"Whoa, the ship's back on." Marco looked around.

"Well, we'd better go and start work on repairs." Zarden said.

"No." Star said hastily and moved up to him. "We're finishing this."

"Wait, are you sure? What if the ship goes off again?" Zarden turned to her.

"We can take them. We have to get my wand back - it's now or never." She said.

Zarden looked at the guys and saw their determination. "Alright," he nodded, "Let's do it."

Zarden went to the cockpit and the others sat down, fastening their seatbelts. Star glanced at Tom and Mary and grew worried as the ship started up and took flight.

Zarden flew the ship up to the tower and Marco, Mary, Tom and Star started gearing up – Tom putting on a space suit while the others grabbed rifles. Rising from his feet, Zarden walked up to them. "I don't think it's smart to come through the front door, but I guess we're doing this." He drew out his sword.

Tom clenched his fists and flames surged out of his arms. "Are you sure you can do this?" Mary asked.

"Yeah." Tom nodded uneasily.

"Okay, remember, we have to be careful, we don't know what might happen in there." Zarden said and opened the door. "You guys ready?"

"Yeah." Mary held Tom's hand.

"Let's go." Zarden cocked his rifle.

A sharp sound drew their attention and they turned to see Valkur appearing behind them. Tom noticed him and frowned. "Valkur!"

"You're coming with me." Valkur said and raised his arm, knocking Tom out instantly.

"Tom!" Mary yelled.

"Move!" Valkur waved his arm, sending out a wave that threw them back.

Picking Tom off the ground, Valkur summoned a portal and jumped through it. "Tom, no!" Mary ran toward the gateway and it exploded, pushing her down. "Tom!"