Chapter Three:
The New Company

(Same POV as previous chapter)

For once, I think I may have it a jackpot idea! I know if nobody else will, my sister will help us.

I convinced Richard to go first to Hydrolonia, where I approached Chris.

"Do you know where my sister is?"

"No," he replied. "But we do have a number of willing Adepts who would gladly join you. And they aren't just Mercury either. Most of the Vesuvian survivors will join Richard, and a few resident Earth Adepts will join."

"Vesuvian survivors?" asked Richard. "You have Vesuvian survivors?"

"Not many," said Chris.

Just then, Alex walked in.

"I was told you were here," she said to Richard.

"And who may you be?" he replied.

"Richard," I said, "this is my sister, Alex."

"Ah," he remarked. "So you are who she talks about all the time."

Alex laughed, and replied, "Yes, I probably am talked about a lot."

"So, has word of our arrival gotten around this swiftly?" he asked her.

"Yep. You've got about fifty people looking to join you. I'm just the first."

Richard laughed this time. "Just because you had an insider who planted information, you can join us."

Blair rolled her eyes, which made all three laugh.

"And actually, I was going to ask to join you," said Chris, catching them all surprised.

"You, Chris?" asked Alex. "Why?"

"I've always wanted to do something like this… One of those quests that put your name down in history, even if you die trying."

"That's a good point," said Richard. "This is bigger than stopping one person. This is a number of systems we're talking about saving.

"Besides," said Chris, "I know a secret way back to your dock."

"Good. Let's go."

They snuck out into a rock tunnel that led towards the docks. Mekae was waiting with his ship to take them to Grebuldine, on an island near Hesperia.

Grebuldine was the only pure Venus Adept city outside Gondowan and Angara. The company landed outside of the city, pulling up to a well-used dock.

The Adepts stepped off the dock and onto a large platform with many pavilions set up, as if a festival was about to begin.

"You know," whispered Cyrus, "they probably don't like us in their town in the middle of the night."

"And you say that why?" asked Alex.

The five Jupiter Adepts had stopped, and had reached for their weapons. Following their lead, everyone but Ryan reached for their weapons.

"Scott?" he called out into the darkness.

A boy of about 18 stepped out and replied. "Ryan, you're back! I heard about all that crazy stuff you've been doing."

Just then, Richard turned and hit another boy that had been sneaking up on him with the broadside of Altoda's Bane.

"Thomas," said Ryan, "forget it. They're all Jupiter Adepts."

Thomas instead picked up his sword, and charged at Chris.

"Not smart," remarked Chris, picking up his sword. "Hydro Blast!" he yelled, and he shot a wave of water out of his hands.

Richard took the initiative. "Lightning Strike!" he yelled, and Thomas was now writhing on the ground at Ryan's feet.

"Y'all are good," he finally said.

Ryan helped him off the ground.

"Why'd you come back?" asked Scott.

"We need some help," he replied.

"And you came to us?" laughed Thomas.

"Good point," Richard whispered to Andrea and Blair, who both started laughing.

Thomas started to move towards Richard, but apparently the memory was enough pain.

Ryan told then their predicament. Their jaws dropped about five feet into the ground.

"That was my reaction," he said.

"Except yours went six feet into the ground," laughed Allen.

"Oh, man, Moron number One strikes again!" said Thomas.

Allen lashed out at Thomas with a bolt of lightning.

"I think you should shut up now," said Scott.

"Very well," he said. "Where to now?"

A lone figure in a black cloak walked towards them. As Ryan and Cyrus drew their swords, he drew out a lightsaber from the folds of his cloak.

"I thought I would find you here," said the figure.

"Ah, yes, General Falcane," remarked Andrea.

"Andrea, why are you here?"

"Well, this kinda is my home."

"This city?"

"No, I wouldn't live here, but I'm from this planet."

"I see. Well, I think you better come with me."

"Why?" asked Alex.

"Because Council Leader Afrin has requested your presence at Zancron today. He has some news for you."

They walked back through the city to the docks, where they found Falcane's sleek fighter waiting for them. As they stepped in, the noticed it was a lavish shuttle.

"Sweet! This kicks!" yelled Allen, jumping into a couch and turning on the extra large flat screen.

It turned out that Falcane had excellent taste. Inside the shuttle they found many flat screens, computers, and all the Sprite you could drink. That didn't make Ryan happy.

"Sprite? How the hell can you drink that stuff?" he said, while the others laughed.

Within two hours, Ryan had pseudo-hijacked the shuttle and had landed on the nearest planet that had Coke available. Sadly, that was Zancron, where they were headed.

Except for the Sprite incident, the shuttle ride went along smoothly, and they soon arrived at Zancron, the space station that was famous for its pilots. It seemed soon, those pilots, including Falcane, would be needed.