Back on earth, there was no news or development of the search for the missing humans. The afternoon sun gleamed from a nearby window. Don Wei was at home watching the news. His hand wrapped on the remote as if it was the only lifeline to the outside world. He would glance at the windows and doors every ten seconds.

Ever since that strange doctor showed up, Don couldn't help but feel uneasy about the man. He may not be a Crog but his demeanor has been getting sinister by the day. There were times Don joined the President for discussions and Dr. Nongon was by his side. The President is starting to become uneasy with the radio silence that's been going over a month now. The doctor even suggested to even consider taking on an offense among some of the neighbors and forgo diplomacy all together.

"What madness have we gotten into," he muttered. He looked at the most recent photo of his daughter. The two were standing side by side under a tree. Both smiles on their faces. Eva held up her diploma as she wore her cape and gown proudly. "Eva…Please be safe…"

"We just have breaking development in the latest story!"

Don Wei snapped out of his thoughts. He turned his startled gaze at the television. He grimaced as he saw the President stand on the podium with Doctor Nongon by his side. The lower captions read: One of the missing colonists found in a laboratory on Norrix 8.

Norrix 8 was considered one of the Krog planets. It wasn't explored well. Some people believed it was a place where the Krogs tortured their victims or stored the remains of the former inhabitants there. These were mere theories of course, but the mere idea that there was a laboratory could only mean that most of them must be true.

Don Wei paled at the screen. This can't be good, he thought.

The news anchor's voice sounded frightened as he was as they began to speak. "Just this evening a lone escape pod was found just a few miles from Racers City." It flashed to a scene where a human man crawled out of a pod. "The pod opened up to reveal one of scientists of colony AB135 and is being taken to a hospital for treatment. One official had said this."

The screen soon transitioned to a man that was no doubt a forest ranger. He wore a brown suit with a hat that bore a simple golden buckle. His expression was just as grave as Don's. "When that man came out, his body was covered in scars. There were so many that I'm amazed that he's able to move. I heard him scream out, 'Black creature! It was a black creature!' I've never seen anything like this since the attack from the Crogs several years ago."

Don bit his lip. His hand clenched tightly to the remote. His eyes stared at the screen despite wanting to pull away. He's seen Saggitarius, but he isn't sure that the Crogs could be trusted. But if the President tries to contact them…and Sagittarius is in view… His brain didn't even finish that thought. Because he knew the answer would destroy him. His heart hammers loudly in his chest as he watches the news shift back to the President and Doctor Nongon.

The President shut his eyes as if the light from the flashing cameras were starting to blind him. "We only have some small information about the situation, but so far there was only a record log recovered along with a broken helmet. As for their destination, it seems that our resourceful crew are now heading to the recreational planet, Songbrix. However, if the Crogs are behind these attacks, we'll fight back using a top secret weapon that we've been producing."

Don Wei jumped off the couch. "What?!" The President really has gone mad! If we attack the Crogs again, it may result in an all-out war! He turned off the T.V. "I have to warn Eva!"

At those words, there was a faint tumbling coming from upstairs. Don Wei looked up. A part of him wanted to go check it out. However, he remembered that Lydia's mother disappeared from the hospital with no warning. A nurse was found knocked out but that was it. There was also poison found on Eva's, Lydia's and Aikka's suits and they didn't activate. He couldn't explain it, but Don Wei had a nagging feeling this is all connected. Only one word came to his head: Run!

Don Wei moved away as quietly as he could. The thuds began to get louder and louder as they made their way to the staircase. Don slowly grabbed his phone and keys. His hand went for the knob. He turned it, hoping it wouldn't click. He opened it slightly. To his horror, it jerked open.

—-(Back in space)-

Lydia woke up with a yawn. She felt a bit better than she was last night. Her familiars were still curled up beside her, but she felt a strange source of heat on her stomach. Lydia looked down. To her surprise, she saw that it was Blazing Stars asleep on top of her. Her fox ears picked up a soft moan.

"Lydia," the voice whispered. A soft purr filled the vast room. She felt a firm tug on one of her tails.

Lydia slowly moved Blazing Stars off her stomach. She lifted herself up to see Prince Scorpio asleep by the foot of the bed. Her foxtails draped over him like a giant gray blanket. He snuggled against them. His strong arms hugged one of them, taking great care not to break them. Lydia blushed at this. A smile placed on her face. What a gentleman.

She found herself thinking back to when those two were in bed together. Being pressed to his chest. Hearing his heart beating. The warmth of his arms enveloping her. It made her wish that they could've-No! She mentally screamed. Not appropriate! He's a prince and you're a human that somehow saved his life! She soon realized that Blazing Stars was on her stomach once more. The heat calmed her nerves. She found herself soon being dragged back to sleep.

Lydia didn't know how long she's slept but sometime laid she heard someone scream in pure fury. Then, a loud slam that made her jolt and tumble out of the bed. She got up. The familiars scrambled to get up and out of the sheets. Prince Scorpio bolted onto his feet as the tails released him, ears raised high.

"What's going on?!" Prince Scorpio yelled.

"What time is it?" Ishtar mumbled. Her eyes were still unfocused despite being on her hooves. She let out a yawn. "I don't see a clock nearby."

Alon picked up the device on the desk. "9 a.m…."

Blazing Stars groaned. "So hungry…Are we gonna eat now?"

"Gaaaaahhhh!" The scream started to become easier to identify. It was Eva.

Lydia sighed. "We better go check." Lydia got up from her bed. Her tails settled behind her neatly. She was about to go over to the dresser to have a fresh set of clothes but soon remembered that she barely had any except the one garment she had been given back in Nourasia. Not only that, but getting dressed with Prince Scorpio. The mere thought made her blush. Her fur stood on end as she shuffled over to the door. She was only halfway to the brig when Spirit stopped her.

Lydia tilted her head, confused. "Spirit? What is it?"

Spirit gestured. The President of the Earth Coalition is on the line. He's demanding more details of progress. He pointed at Lydia's ears.

Lydia gave a nervous laugh. "Oh…right…But Don Wei relayed our last progress right?"

Spirit nodded. His eyes were filled with concern. Last night he did, but we just got word that her father was kidnapped.

Lydia bit her lip. Her fur stood on end. "Kidnapped?"

Spirit nodded. The president already knows about your ears and tails, but I don't think he's ready to see…how you look now…

Lydia was a bit puzzled when he said this. She touched her ears and soon realized that there was something hard pressed against them. Lydia slowly lowered her hands to see that they were now claws at the end of her hands. She also felt for her mouth. Sharp fangs were protruding out. She also noticed that her once human feet were now fox-like as well. Lydia gulped hard. "D-does anyone have a mirror?"

A loud slam sounded farther down. Eva's sniffling filled the room. "No…You can't be serious. My dad can't be taken."

Lydia tried craning her neck to see what was going on. Even Spirit turned his head toward the brig. Concerned eyes peering at their distraught captain.

"I'm sorry, Eva." The President's voice floated into the room. Somehow, this put Lydia on edge. "However, we can't ignore this mission. Head to Songbrix, refuel and head to another planet. Find another human and bring it here for questioning. Return Lydia as well. The police want to question her." A heavy sigh filled the room. "We can't let the Crogs take anything else from us. We must do something." With that, the transmission ended.

Eva slammed the communications once more. A soft sobbing filled the room. Lydia, Symphony and Alon made their way over as she slouched on the controls.

Lydia gently placed her hands, or claws, on Eva's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Eva." She hugged him. "Let's find him once we get back to Earth."

"Ha!" General Leo's voice cut through the already pained atmosphere. "That's a laugh." He was leaning against a wall. His eyes set in a way to show that he was smirking. "As if we can let you-" His other words were cut short as Sagittarius punched him.

Sagittarius glared at his former general. "Things are bad enough as it is! If you wish to be tossed out of this ship, I'll gladly do so."

General Leo glared back. "You've gotten pretty bold lately traitor. Why the backbone all the sudden? Your Byrian girlfriend handed you hers before she died."

At those words, Sagittarius grabbed him and thrusted him against a wall. "Leave her out of this! She almost died because of you!" He flung his superior into a seat, breaking it in two upon impact.

General Leo growled. He threw a punch at Sagittarius which made a clean impact on Sagittarius' face. He was about to deliver another blow when Sagittarius blocked it with all his strength. He cried out in shock as his arm was twisted with a loud snap. He headbutted Sagittarius hard, causing his opponent to fall to the floor. His foot stomped on Sagittarius' abdomen. He repeated at least twice before Prince Scorpio stepped in.

Prince Scorpio grabbed both of them by the arm. "Stop it both of you! Have you forgotten what we need to do as of right now." He stared down General Leo. "For now, we're having a temporary truce on this ship. So, it would be wise not to make the situation any worse than it is."

The two Crogs glared at each other for one last time. Ears were twitching furiously. Then, they broke apart. The two went back to staring at Eva. It seems one thing was resolved. But it seems another pile of problems still glared at them.

Eva took a deep breath. On her shoulder was Symphony. The hummingbird rubbed her head against Eva's cheek. A purple glow surrounded them both. Eva smiled slightly, her finger caressing the tiny head. "Thanks Symphony."

Lydia picked up Alon and sat down. "How are we on fuel?" She giggled as Ishtar and Blazing Stars crawled up her tails. The little creatures rested on her lap.

Sagittarius sunk into his own chair. "To put it mildly, we have enough fuel to get the location." He leaned forward. His ears began to twitch. Eyes narrowed. "Hmm…."

Before Lydia could ask Sagittarius, her stomach growled. Her ears drooped. Uhh…I need to eat now…With great reluctance, she got up from her spot and carried her familiars into the kitchen. Her tails dragged behind her as if to emphasize her hunger. I better see if I can cook for everyone. She flinched at the thought. I hope I don't burn anything.

Everyone simply watched her go. A heavy silence filled the room once more. Prince Scorpio let out a huge sigh that reflected everyone's frustration. "Let's head to the planet and see if we can get Lydia to control her powers."

Spirit gave a thumb's up. A gesture that he was thankful Lydia and Eva taught him. It relieved him as Eva giggled.

General Leo stared up at him. "You're majesty…You can't be serious." He groaned at Prince Scorpio stared back at him. He went over to his chair. He sunk deeper into the cushion. The metal creaked under his weight. "The Emperor is going to have my head for this."

—-(The Ship's Kitchen, a few minutes later)-

After burning at least four pancakes, Lydia had managed to make at least 6 stacks of pancakes for everyone to enjoy. She also took the time to eat her own stack. Including the burnt pancakes among the bunch. Lydia purred as she enjoyed the fluffy texture. Wish I had some Maple Syrup to go with this, she thought.

A sad sigh made Lydia flinch. She turned her head to see Argen walking in. The fierce alien had no spark in his eyes. His head hung low. The bags under his eyes were less appealing to see as well.

Lydia bit her lip. Guilt crawled under her skin. The memory of Cuppunio's death hung on her mind. She wasn't sure how to approach this child. No doubt broken and homeless as much as she was. Well, I have to try something. She went over with a plate of pancakes.

"Um…Good morning." Lydia felt like cringing at her own voice. It was so soft and raspy that it could be barely heard. Why am I so creepy?! I'm so bad with kids! She remembered the few times that kids passed her by and called her creepy or boring. Of course she was able to have Aikka's little sister like her, but she's a baby. Argen must be at least ten by human years. "I've made some breakfast for everyone." She presented her pancakes.

Argen stared at the food blankly. He didn't seem the least bit interested in what was in front of him. "I'm not hungry."

Lydia sighed. Her ears drooped. "Argen…I know this won't help, but I know how you feel." She set the plate down. She took a seat in her chair. Her arms began to feel heavy as she began to pick up the utensils. "My mother vanished back on my homeworld. She was sick the last time I saw her…" Tears stung her eyes. "Like Eva's dad, she was kidnapped." She sniffed. Her tails made a frantic effort to wipe them away. She looked at Argen again. This time, her tears just flowed out in rivers. "I'm so sorry about your grandfather…If…If I…." Her words died in her throat. Her body made a frantic effort to balance her. "If I was a bit stronger…I would've been able to keep everyone alive." She soon sobbed.

Argen stared at her. His dark orbs looked back at her. Then, he lightly touched her with his mole-like claws. "It's…not your fault…" His claws curled inward. "Grandpa was one of the few who hated The Monarch and his schemes. He tried his best to hide it. I helped out. It was only a matter of time."

Lydia pulled him in for a hug. This time, he didn't resist. For a while, they cried in the silence of the room for a few minutes until the last of their tears dried away. Lydia helped him into a chair and gave him a plate.

Argen raised a brow at his food. "What is this?" He poked at it with his fork.

"They're called pancakes. It's a common breakfast food on earth. In all honesty, I'm surprised we were able to find any mix after our fiasco back on the ship." Lydia rubbed the back of her head. A slight blush on her face. "It's ok if you don't like it."

Argen sliced some pancakes with his fork. He stabbed it. Then, he delicately took it into his mouth. He chewed for a moment. His eyes instantly sparkled. "This is amazing!" He began shoveling more of it into his mouth.

Lydia laughed. "Hey careful! You'll choke." She soon went back to her pancakes. The weight on her shoulders slowly melted away.

Heavy footsteps entered the room. Rush popped his head into the doorway. His eyes flashed with joy. A wide grin flashed out of his beard. He adjusted his goggles. Behind him was a tired Prince Aikka. The Nourasian Prince tried his best to smile.

Lydia handed Aikka a plate. "Were you able to get in touch with your parents? They didn't take any of your belongings?"

Aikka shook his head. "Actually, I was able to find them in a small pile. They must've begun emptying the ship before we got to the treasure chambers." He gave a heavy sigh as he sat down. "As for my parents, they're still on edge. Some of those creatures we saw back in Noursia were spotted several times. A few even attempted to kidnap several Nourasians."

Lydia could feel her fur stand on end. Missing humans was one thing. But now there have been kidnap attempts on different alien races? She wrapped her fingers around her fork. Ears lowered down. She felt something nestle on top of her head.

Ishtar settled on Lydia's head. Her little legs spread out, draping over Lydia's head. She lightly tapped her head. "Don't worry, mistress. We'll find some answers at the next planet." She glanced at Eva. "Right?"

Eva's eyes were a bit distant but she still nodded. She took a forkful of pancakes. Her expression brightened up a bit. "Mmmm…Good."

Lydia gave a small smile. However, the nagging sensation of the looming danger was hanging at the pit of her stomach. Not even a stack of pancakes makes it easier.

—-(Melodalia, a random hotel)-

A lone alien sat in her room. It was cozy. Though the pinks and pale greens made her want to claw her eyes out. Innas were more into reds and blacks. However, she did like the idea of wearing gold or gray even if it made her so weird with her pale skin.

The alien let out a sigh. "Wish there was a guy worth dating…" She mumbled to no one in particular. Her fingers rubbed against her black studded earrings that lined her pointy ears. She leaned back into her plush sofa. "Most of these guys around here just sing until they're blue in the face." She picked up a canned drink sitting on a table next to her.

A ring interrupts her thoughts. She picks up a small, flat square that sat in the middle of the table. Her thumb lightly pressed the center. A screen roared to life in front of her. The alien stared blankly at the screen.

In front of her was a tall figure. His face was obscured in darkness. From the lighting, he was a bit on the scrawny side. "Hello? Is this the mercenary, Hemlock?" There was something about this voice that was almost menacing to say the least.

Hemlock sighed. "Yeah. It's me." She let out an annoyed sight. I'm getting tired of this. Who do you want dead?" She picked up her weapon. Her fingers twirled around her ninja star.

The figure laughed. "Someone who cuts to the chase!" A sharp grin flashed. "I like it." Something in those last words sent chills down Hemlock's spine. A camera showed a strange ship landing on the starship docks. It zoomed in as the doors began to open. "I want you to go over to this motley crew and see what they know. I have some…sensitive information that can't be passed along to anyone else. I'll give you a list."

Hemlock rolled her eyes. She raised up her hands. "No need. I have a million and one ideas of what you mean by 'sensitive information'." Then, she noticed something coming out. She crossed her arms as she observed them. Hemlock raised a brow at the strange crew. One was a human. One was a Nourasian. The two tall aliens walked out. Her brow cocked when she saw a fox-like alien come out. Never seen something like that before.

Hemlock stared at the screen longer. Intrigued by this strange crew. All organisms from different planets and systems. They were working together. But why? Hemlock took a swig of her drink. Just as she did so, three more large aliens walked out. She spat out her drink upon the last species to walk out of the ship. She put down her star and went into a coughing fit. "Crogs?!"

"Oh…" The figure's image popped up at the corner of the screen. "That got your attention, didn't it?" He laughed. "I supposed so considered those prideful beasts would never want to be around lowly scum."

Hemlock scowled. "You better not lump in that category." Her mind went back to the snickers and stares she'd witnessed as a child. Her kind were seen as mere mercenaries. Creatures that wander from place to place with nothing to call home. A culture dwindling by the day.

"Forgive me," the figure said. However, his voice didn't take on an apologetic tone. "My sense of humor isn't very agreeable at times."

Hemlock was skeptical about it. But…taking on three Crogs…Maybe this could change how our people are viewed. She leaned forward. I have to admit, the one with that long scar on his right shoulder is kinda cute. A smile played on her lips. "Where do I start?"