Episode 18: Sandorius: Planet of Sand

"Oii… I-I'm never going on a warp again…!" Han moaned between unpleasant sounds in the bathroom of the Galaxy Notes.

"Are you planning on living in Sandorius now?" Liberta laughed not minding Han's space sickness.

"So, you're fine, Alsius?" Minaho asked.

Alsius sighed, "Not as bad…"

"Hmm… interesting, even though you're twins, you don't get the same sickness." Minaho noted.

"No time for playing around!" Shindou yelled, "We're landing soon. Get back to your seats."

"Ye-s"." they answered and started heading to the main control room, leaving the sick Han behind.

"Hey, Alsius! Do something about you brother!" Shindou gasped, obviously not wanting to get near him.

"No way!" Alsius sighed leaving the job to Shindou.

"Sandorius, huh…" Minaho sighed.

Liberta grinned, "Don't worry, all the other planets we will travel to won't be as dangerous as Melfelse." He gave the detective boy a slap on the back, "Right?"

Minaho forced a smile and nodded. He took his seat and buckled himself like the rest of them.

"We're no warping, just landing. Toughen up and get to your seat, you're a man!" Tetsukado encouraged Han who was dragged in by Shindou.

"War-ulp!" Han covered his mouth, face going pale.

"Don't throw up just thinking about it!" Shindou screamed, letting go of his teammate.

"…haha…" Narukami laughed nervously in the seat next to Tetsukado. "You're pathetic…"

"You call yourself a man?"

"Well, he does have a feminine face…"

"You don't have the right to say that, Shindou(-kun)!" Narukami and Tetsukado yelled together.

"Could you just sit down…" Mizukawa sighed, "we can't land without everyone seated."

Everyone quickly took their seats.

"Galaxy Notes, initiating landing procedures. Please remain seated until the ship comes to a complete stop." A female computer generated voice spoke. "Planet Sandorius, Planet Sandorius. We have arrived at Planet Sandorius."

When the members of Earth Eleven exited the space train, a female alien with a similar appearance to Ozlock stood waiting for them. Once everyone was outside she spoke.

"I'm Ishigashi Gorham, I'll be you're team's guide for this tournament. Nice to meet you." She bowed.

"So we get to go touring?" Ibuki asked.

Ishigashi nodded in response, "Until the next match, it's up to you how you spend your time."

The members looked at Kuroiwa Coach for approval which he gave to everyone's surprise.

After everyone had left, Mizukawa asked what the coach's intentions were.

"They need to understand the importance these matches. That's all."

"…hot…"

"Huh? Naoto, are you already… finished…?" Tetsukado smiled, sweat dropping down his chin.

"Shin, I was born and lived in a Northern Continent. I lived around snow, 9 of our 10 months in Melfelse. High temperatures are not for me." Narukami wheezed trying to cool himself by fanning himself with his hands, "Shoot, I got sand in my eye…"

Tetsukado just laughed, "What are you doing?"

"Here you go!" a Sandorian man handed Tenma and Komori a strange fruit filled with a sweet liquid. A straw was sticking out of it to drink from it.

Komori took a sip from hers and her face brightened up, "Juice…!" she smiled.

Tenma smiled back, "This is really good isn't it?" he took another sip.

"Sandorius doesn't have much water, so this drinks a substitute for us. It's our people's motto to treat our guests with the best service we can offer." The Sandorian shopkeeper suddenly showed a sad expression, "even if the guests are enemies…"

Tenma's and Komori's smile disappeared at that realization. Yes, they were enemies, fighting for each of their own survival.

"Thank-you…" Tenma bowed and led Komori away.

A Sandorian street performer jumped up high into the air showing off her excellent acrobatic skills. Tsurugi, Shindou and Han watched the performance.

"The people here seem to have a much higher physical ability than us." Tsurugi observed.

Shindou nodded in agreement, "it'll be difficult to play with all this sand blowing in the wind and this high temperature."

"We have to fight and win, no matter what the circumstance." Tsurugi frowned.

"Heh, they're nothing compared to my 'soul'!" Han grinned.

"Says the only person on the team who got space sick…"

"That has nothing to do with soccer!?"

"Sorry, you're wrong! I'm not an Earthling!" Liberta put his arms in an X-shape as the Sandorian boy cocked his head.

"But you look exactly like the two guys eating meat over there." The boy pointed at Ibuki and Minaho who were at some stand in the distance. "And that guy with glasses behind you." Manabe stood behind Liberta.

Liberta laughed, "Our planets are very similar so in result, our appearances are also similar."

"Hm… I don't understand." The boy smiled. The kids gathered, listening as Liberta told them various stories. He befriended the kids very quickly. After they left, Liberta sadly sighed.

"If we win, those kids…" Liberta mumbled.

Manabe fixed his glasses, "Yes, but if we lose…"

"Earth instead is taken…" Liberta looked up at the sky. "Galaxy Federation Council, huh?"

"What?"

"That's the true enemy." Liberta whispered so Manabe couldn't hear and walked ahead to Ibuki and Minaho.

"Hey, Liberta! You want to try some of this meat?" Ibuki handed him a stick with 3 large chuncks of some kind of meat on them.

Liberta laughed and started chewing on the first piece, "You guys are sure brave for eating that creature's meat."

"Creature?" Minaho and Ibuki asked. Liberta pointed, still chewing, at the sign of the store they were at. A large yellow-green lizard like beast was imprinted largely on it.

The two players' faces went pale, "Let's pretend we didn't see that…" Minaho said.

"Yeah…"

"If it tastes good; that's a bonus." Liberta laughed. "As long as it's edible."

"I don't see the point in eating something that doesn't match one's taste." Manabe sighed, "It's unthinkable."

"Hm…" Liberta chomped another chunk of meat.

"I-its cute…" Konoha smiled looking at a cat-armadillo like mammal with antennas on its head.

"Yeah." Kusaka tried to pet it, but suddenly the creature hissed, revealing sharp shark-like teeth. Surprised Kusaka and Konoha let out a scream and the creature ran off.

"T-that surprised m-me…" Konoha gasped.

"Ah, Konoha!" Sakura called, "The clothes here are so cute! You should come see them too."

"U-um…"

"Come one!" Sakura forcefully pulled Konoha away.

Kusaka turned to talk, but then found out that Konoha was no longer there. "M-morimura!? D-did she get lost!?"

"And? Why are you following me?" Matatagi sighed angrily turning to face Alsius who was behind him.

"Alsius smiled, "We're teammates so and does it matter?"

Matatagi sighed again, "Annoying…"

"Don't say that." Alsius grinned.

"Oh yeah, you have good ears." Matatagi continued walking. The two walked in silence for a while. "Are you going to say anything?" Matatagi finally asked.

"Huh? You want me to?"

"No."

"Shun and Yuuta are really cute huh?" Alsius said ignoring Matatagi's previous comment.

Matatagi suddenly turned around at the mention of his brothers' names. "Why are you bringing them up suddenly!?"

"Nothing." Alsius smiled and started walking ahead of Matatagi.

"Alien…" Matatagi growled.

"You're an alien too, here on this planet anyways." Alsius replied casually.

"Hey, you two are earthlings, right?" From behind the two, 5 Sandorians stared them down, arms crossed. The biggest one was at least a head taller than Matatagi.

"Ignore them." Alsius said and started walking away.

"Yeah, don't need to tell me that."

"Running away?" the biggest of the 5 provoked.

However, he was ignored. Alsius and Matatagi kept walking. This annoyed the Sandorians.

One of them dashed towards Alsius. She noticed, quickly side stepping away from the charge. The Sandorian kept running and collided with the wall beyond Alsius causing it to collapse.

"Hey, you have to hit him! What are you doing, missing like that?" His friends chuckled.

"What kind of power is that? You gotta be kidding." Matatagi gasped.

"Don't worry, boss, I won't miss this time!" the Sandorian who ran into the wall sneered.

"These guys are crazy…" Matatagi whispered.

"Hey, hey guys…" Alsius spoke up, "From what I see, you're motive is the elimination of the Earthling players here, right?"

"Heh heh, what if it is, boy?"

Alsius smiled, "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no earthling, I'm Melfen.

"Huh?" Matatagi frowned.

"Ah, but that guy's one." Alsius pointed at Matatagi,

Matatagi grabbed Alsius by her jersey's collar, "What are you doing!?" he growled.

The Sandorians were getting irritated by Alsius' cheery tone, "Huh? Like we'd believe you. Good buds you guys are, selling each other to the enemy."

"Tch, it didn't work,"

"Don't, 'tch' me!" Matatagi yelled.

The same Sandorian from before charged at Alsius and Matatagi.

Alsius pushed Matatagi out of its path and she too avoided it. Instead of running into the wall again, the Sandorian stopped. A sword was put to his throat, held by Alsius.

"Don't move…" Alsius mumbled into his ear.

"Wha-" The Sandorians each took a step away from Alsius. "Where did he keep that sword!?"

"This is just a warning," Alsius released the Sandorian and he ran off with the rest of his comrades.

Alsius unconjured her sword; making it disappear into nothing.

"How…" Matatagi picked himself up.

Alsius thought for a bit, "Magic!" she smiled.

"Narukami-kun, you all right?" Aoi placed a damp towel over the boy's forehead. He apparently fainted while walking around the town.

"He's going to be useless for the game on this planet…" Mizukawa bluntly said.

"Haha…" Aoi laughed nervously.

"He's really pathetic…" Tetsukado sighed. "You two, too." Tetsukado looked at Ibuki and Minaho who were also totally beaten.

"Just because the meat belonged to some alien creature, being disgusted by it…" Liberta sighed.

"…that's not it…" Ibuki groaned.

"Ibuki-kun, you're not very convincing…" Minaho grunted.

"Shut up…"

Aoi turned her attention back to Narukami, "You should take off that eye patch now…" she reached for it, but Narukami quickly grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch it!" he growled sitting upright. He saw the manager's frightened expression and quickly released her hand, "Sorry…." He mumbled.

"No, I'm sorry for not being considerate…" Aoi rubbed the arm Narukami grabbed. It was slightly red from his tight grip.

"Leave Naoto to me" Tetsukado laughed, "Right?"

Aoi nodded and Tetsukado led Narukami to his room.

"Narukami Naoto has scars he does not wish to show to others," Mizukawa informed, "As a manager, you must respect that."

"Yeah…" Aoi sighed.

"Hey, Haku-nee!" Han waved. Alsius was sitting alone on the roof of the Galaxy Notes. Han climbed up joining her.

"What do you want, Han?" Alsius glared.

Han smiled unbothered by his sister's anger, "You used the power, huh? The one only we share."

Alsius nodded sighed tiredly, "It drains all the strength I have…"

"Pathetic."

"Like you can talk, you start to feel nauseous just hearing the word, warp."

Han couldn't return any words aback. He just held his mouth as if remembering the experience.

"There you are, Alsius! Han! It's dinner!" Tenma waved from below them. The twins jumped down to their captain, "How'd you get up there?" Tenma asked.

"We just climbed." Han answered.

"Wow…"

"Anyways, let's go eat, I'm famished!" Alsius ran into the train, Han and Tenma following.

Episode 19 preview

Still time before the next match, Earth Eleven practice to get used to Sandorius' harsh and differing enviorment. With Ibuki injured, Shindou tries to get Han to focus for he's the only other keepr on the team. Some of the members start realizing the pressure of playing in this tournamet, the fight for survival. Episode 19: Sandorius: Weight of Earth Representative.