Twenty years go by, and the newly formed militia grows in number every day. The men leading this militia, the three men of the original expedition, divided the forces into separate branches. Duke Exeter leads the Sentinel branch, training knights in the same way that he had been trained, front-line warriors that take the fight head on, soldiers to protect their fellow man. Doctor Overbuild leads the Assembly branch, focusing on utilizing the newly found Imagination to fuel inventions, building constructs to aid in battle, and paving the way with their work. Hael Storm leads the Venture League branch, a band of adventurers and explorers to search for new lands, scouts and navigators to lead expeditions through enemy territories, hunters and gatherers to retrieve resources for the cause. The three branches, for the first couple of years of its founding, struggled to get a foot-hold in the fight against the enemies that are born from the dark chaotic energy, now known as the Maelstrom. About fifteen years after the founding of the militia, it was later revealed that the former Baron Typhonus had an apprentice, a young woman named Vanda Darkflame, who was left in charge of Baron's research in his absence during his original expedition. Vanda approached the leaders, offering aid with what she knew of Baron's research and the research she had on the side. She believed that the best way to fight the enemy was to understand the enemy. The leaders were not sure if they could trust her, having worked so closely with Baron before, but saw no other choice as they were on the losing side of the war. Vanda now leads the Paradox branch, a team whose purpose is to study the Maelstrom, and use their powers against them. All four branches, unified as one, call themselves the Nexus Force.

A ship, named the Venture Explorer, travels back and forth between home planets and the planet Nimbus Station, a place where new Nexus Force recruits go to complete their training and join a branch to enter into the fight against the Maelstrom. The journey takes a month to complete, and its current location is one week from reaching its destination. The Venture Explorer carries two hundred new recruits, young men and women who will pledge themselves to the cause. The ship has various rooms and sections to keep its inhabitants entertained during their long journey, and barracks with bunk-beds to provide rest.

I lay on one of the beds, my name scribbled on the board at the foot of the bed to denote that it is mine. 'Jesika' it says. With a history book in hand, I study about the founding of the Nexus Force, who our leaders are, and how the Maelstrom came to be. The concept of Imagination is still foreign for most of us, having been raised on planets where Imagination has all dried up during the generation before, and the last source of Imagination is provided to the new planets formed after the destruction of Crux. We had to learn how to create on our own rather than a power-source lending aid in the creation. New Nexus Force members, once completed their training, will be granted with Imagination. I find it hard to believe since these are stories told by my parents, who had to experience the Imagination Drought on their homeworlds. The Imagination Drought started during my grandparents' time, and fully dried up when my parents were young children. They had very little memories of what Imagination felt like, or what it did for them. My parents always spoke highly of it, creating a sense of longing. As soon as my 18th birthday occurred, I went to the Nexus Force Recruitment site on my home planet, and I signed up. New recruits get picked up to travel once a month, and I had to wait my turn. When I boarded the Venture Explorer, I was given a bed, and I have rested in this bed for three weeks now, with one week to go.

I have tried to make small talk with my fellow peers, but I found that I have nothing of similar interests to them. Although we were all roughly the same age, I did not find entertainment in games, music, or sports. I get lost in reading and academics, delving into history and fantasy alike. There are a few other readers, like me, but they did not seem too keen on socializing, so I am either reading in bed or in the ship's small library. With the Nexus Force being newly formed, there is not much recorded on the organization as a whole, only bits and pieces that have made their way into the literature.

I finish the history book I was reading, the foundation of the Nexus Force and how it all started, and I get up from my bed. I make my way out of the barracks and down the hall, passing by others who chat at a stand-still. I keep my eyes to the ground, watching my step and avoiding eye contact. No one speaks to me, and I speak to no one. I enter the small library, which looks more like a closet with shelves and a small table with four chairs. Three of the walls are lined with books while the fourth wall holds the door to the entrance. The room is dark, illuminated by a single table lamp, and empty of people yet populated with books. I place the history book into its proper place, and gaze around at all the other books. I have read most of them, either here on the ship or in the past at home. The books are mostly uniform in shape and color, only differencing in titles and sizes. As I glance around more, looking upward and down, I spot a new book at the top most right corner on the wall parallel to the entrance. The book is larger than most of the others, and the coloring is a dusty dark purple. The title cannot be seen, being so far away from the only light source in the room. The top shelf is about four feet above me, just out of reach. With no stool around, I grab one of the chairs from the table to act like a stool. Climbing the chair and reaching for the book, I easily grasp it and pull it closer to examine it more. The front cover is the same purple color, but the title is worn away. I can somewhat see a shimmering golden outline of what used to be there, but still illegible. I open the cover to the front page, and in faded black writing, words that say "Property Of: Baron Typhonus".

There was not enough time to react, as the ship experiences a large tremor, causing me to fall backwards off of the chair. I land on my back on the floor, several books falling off of the shelves to envelope me. Alarms sound off, and I hear the commotion of crowds running. Low tremors are felt in between waves of stronger tremors, the sound of explosions accompanying the waves. I make myself stand, my whole body sore, and I look for the purple book. As people run past the room, one of them stops short at the entryway. "We're under attack! Get to the helm, now!" They shout, and run off. I find the book under a pile, and I quickly make my exit out of the library. The hallways are filled with steam from punctured pipes, the lights are red with warning, and the alarm blares louder with echo. I follow the direction that others go, toward the helm, and find all the new recruits huddled in a group at the main platform of the helm. I joined the huddle, my book held close to my chest, gripping tight. I scan around my surroundings as quickly as I can, observing every bit of information available. Maintenance crews scramble to make repairs on various ship parts, Nexus Force Officers ready themselves at launchpads located at the very end of the helm. One of the Officers stands at the head of the group, facing towards the crowd.

"Maelstrom has attacked the Venture Explorer," the Officer says in a calm yet firm tone, "Training starts now. You will acquire your Imagination, and then you will escape through the launchpads. Bob, the Imagination Lead, will guide you on how to unlock your Imagination."

The Officer points over to a man in a bright red shirt, standing at the ship's computer systems. The man types as quickly as he can on the system, frequently looking between its screens and the damage that the ship has sustained. The group as a whole migrated to him, stopping a few feet behind him, watching expectantly. He pauses his work and turns to meet us. "Due to our current circumstances, you will acquire Imagination on this ship rather than at the Nexus Force headquarters. I have opened up the pipes that carry Imagination, so it flows out into this main area. Go absorb some, and you'll know when you have enough."

From both the left and right side of the ship's computer, a shimmering light blue orb falls out of a pipe that had been punctured. More starts spilling out, like water but wispy and translucent. The crowd gathers around the pipe, grasping at what they can, while I hang back and watch. They all reach their hand out, and the slightest touch to the orbs causes it to dissipate. Despite the grave situation we are in, the more Imagination they gather, the more content and happier they seem. A sense of joy washes over their faces, confidence rising. As the number of people walk away from the pipes, having been satisfied, I approach. With the book still clutched to my chest, I reach one hand out to the small blue wisp. As it dissipates, it feels as though it envelopes my hand and up my arm with a warm feeling before it fades. I absorb more, the warm feeling lasting longer than before, until I take my last orb, and the warm feeling lingers and stays. I return to Bob, the Imagination Lead, and he faces me. "Not one to join the crowd, huh?" He asks. I only shake my head, not saying much. "You now have the ability to utilize Imagination, a source of power when it comes to creations and tools. Go find Sky Lane, now. She will show you how to use your new Imagination to build your own ship." Bob points to another platform, a woman in green instructing the crowd, showing pieces of debris that are scattered around.

I slightly jog to join the rest of the people, catching the last bit of what Sky Lane is saying. "If you Imagine it, it will come true. Look at the ship pieces around, and make a mini-ship of your own. Fly to the nearest planet, and notify the first Nexus Force Officer that you see. The nearest planet should be Avant Gardens. Good luck."

I observe what the others do, as they pick up broken pieces of debris and contemplate. I look around at the destruction, trying to imagine how a ship for one could be built. Like a vision playing in front of me, a faint blue glow surrounds specific parts, and starts moving to form together, completing the project. As I blink away the vision, a small model of a rocketship appears on the ground in front of me. I reach down to pick it up, fitting precisely in the palm of my hand. I examine the model, looking similar to a toy. It is all white in color, and it has a cockpit meant for a singular individual. I look up at Sky Lane, who nods her head in approval. "See what Imagination can do? Take that little model to one of the launchpads, and get to Avant Gardens."

I glance between the model and the launchpad, quizzically. I am unsure how I can fit into a cockpit that is about a square inch. Regardless, I do not ask questions. I watch the others run up to the launchpads, with their own models in hand, and witness the small ships transform into a real large scale version of itself, fully operational. Is this… the power of Imagination? I also approached a launchpad, my own model in hand, and felt a warmth emanate from the model. I underhand-toss the ship toward the pad, and watch, in awe, at the transformation happen. The rocketship is large enough for a single individual, and it is prepped to be in motion. I board my ship, and I place my book at my feet. The windowed hatch of the cockpit closes, encapsulating me inside, and I take a moment to learn the controls. It seems to be simplified with a steering wheel, a few buttons, and pedals on the floor. There are three buttons, colored green, red, and blue. There are two pedals on the floor, similar to the pedals of a car. I reach out and press the green button, and the ship starts with a low tremor. The red button seems to turn off the engine, and the blue button did not respond when I pressed it.

With the ship on and functional, I grasp the steering wheel, and I position my right foot over the pedal that is most like the gas pedal of a car. The ship builds in acceleration, and launches off of the pad and into the vast space, away from the Venture Explorer. The planet Avant Gardens can be seen in the distance, growing in size as I approach and get closer. I turn my head and look back at the Venture Explorer, punctured and damaged by chaotic purple energy swirling around the damage it caused. The main ship hovers in spot, non-moving and still. Several more personal ships launch from the Venture Explorer, Nexus Force Recruits just like me. We all head to the nearest planet, to Avant Gardens. Its lush green environment can be seen from the atmosphere. Spots of dark purple dot the planet, like a disease.

As my ship enters the stratosphere, I see a landing where everyone else is headed. I set my course to follow along, but a red blinking light appears with the sound of an alarm. I am unsure as to what it is trying to tell me, but I decide not to take any chances. I make a landing at the precise location that I am, a few miles further south than everyone else. I find a clearing just large enough for my ship to land without crashing into any trees or foliage. As my ship makes contact with the ground, it disables and shuts off. I had to kick and pry open the windowed hatch to be let out, cracking the glass. Taking the book with me, I exit the ship, feet on the ground, breathing in crisp fresh air. I turn to face the ship, but I am only met with the small model that I had created before. I pick up the ship model, fitting in the palm of my hand, and I place it in between the book and my chest, holding it all with one arm.

I observe my surroundings, the bright green grass, sparse trees, and the sight of purple creatures further up ahead. They patrol the area, scanning and searching. Closer to where I am, there is a structure with grates and pipes, a facility of some sort. Hiding behind a barricade is a man slumped on the ground, obscured from the creatures' vision yet in full view of mine. The man holds a firm hand on the side of his torso, a purple vapor seeps from his hand. I crouch down as well, and make my way to the man. He seems injured, his breathing staggared and sporatic, sweat dripping down his head, and pain expressions flash on his face. He does not seem to notice when I approach, but startles when I speak. "Are you okay?" I ask him.

"Huh? Oh, you're not one of them…" He says, still tense.

"One of what? Those things?"

"Maelstrom…"

I observe the creatures more intensely. They did not look anything like the Maelstrom in the books I have read in the past. "I haven't seen that kind before…" I say, still watching.

"They're… they're new… weak… but new…" He says, his breaths shallow.

"Hey, do you need help? I know basic first aid…" I say.

He lifts his hand from his side, exposing a dark purple energy emanating from his wound. "I'm infected. No amount of patching will help…"

"What… what do I do?"

"You're a… new recruit… yeah?"

"Yes… how did you know?"

"A mass of ships flying overhead… something happened to the Venture Explorer… They really got us good this time…" His expressions show more pain with every word spoken.

"Hey, you should… rest…" I say, not knowing what will happen or what to do next.

"Take… take my bag… there is a base nearby… they need… they need my research…"

"You need help, sir."

He pauses for a moment, eyes closed, then looks ahead past me. "No one called me sir…"

I take a look ahead again, observing potential escape routes through the Maelstrom enemies. I see a small outpost, manned by a single individual and a radio beacon. The individual has blasters attached to his back, shooting at enemies when they get too close while he is working on the radio beacon. I see a path we can possible take. "I will get you to safety, and you will be helped," I say, stern yet calm, "What is your name?"

" …They call me Wisp…"

There does not seem to be much time to continue a lengthy conversation. I take the bag he was trying to give me, slinging it onto my back. I grab his left arm to put it around my shoulders to lift him upward onto his feet. His right arm is across his torso, his hand firm against his wound. My right arm is around his waist, keeping him up and steady. My left arm and hand is holding firmly to my book and model ship. We stand, looking beyond the barricade, looking at the Maelstrom that patrol and wander. "This is suicide…" Wisp says, hopelessly.

"Staying here like sitting ducks is suicide," I say, "We can try to do something, or we can give up."

Wisp sighs a bit before letting out a muffled pained grunt. "Spoken like a true soldier… Let's go…"