[i][b]Contrast’s[/b] small area in the [b]Interdimensional Market[/b] was crowded with troops that were all gathered for their next mission. [b]Contrast[/b] stood with [b]Proximity[/b], [b]Repetition[/b], [b]Emphasis[/b] and [b]Dominance[/b] in front of the mass of mercenaries. As the last of the mercs arrived, the order was given.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Alright, listen up! Today is the day we complete our mission. Everything we have done so far has led to this. We will be infiltrating a crashed, high-tech ship that, if left ignored, will become a threat to us all.” “We have scouted the area beforehand and found little in terms of defenses, but prepare for high resistance anyway. What we [i]have[/i] found is a small group of people from a realm that was destroyed long ago, wandering around the wreckage of the ship. We don’t know if they are friend or foe, so be on guard. Any questions?” [i]A hand rises near the front of the group. It is the hand of the latest recruit that went by the name [b]Dragoon[/b]. [/i] [b]Dragoon-647[/b]: “What exactly is my role in all of this? It was never really explained to me.” [b]Contrast[/b]: “Your role is simply to provide extra support. If we are attacked, I expect you to respond with extreme prejudice. Anything else?” [b]Dragoon-647[/b]: “No sir.” [b]Contrast[/b]: “Wonderful. Proximity, open the portal!” [b]Proximity[/b] turns around and opens a massive portal that towers over the large group of mercenaries. The other side of it is not visible. [b]Contrast[/b]: “Fall in, everyone!” [i][b]Contrast[/b], [b]Emphasis[/b], [b]Repetition[/b] and [b]Dominance[/b] enter the portal and the mercenary squadron follow. [b]Proximity[/b] struggles to keep the portal open, but manages to do so long enough for the last person to go through. Before she has the chance to enter the portal as well, she suddenly feels a hand on her shoulder. She turns around and sees a hooded figure standing right behind her. [b]Proximity[/b] recognizes the figure and its presence shocks her to her core. [b]Emphasis’[/b] head pops out of the portal.[/i] [b]Emphasis[/b]: “Hurry up, everyone’s waiting on you. You better not slow us down!” [i][b]Proximity[/b] turns towards [b]Emphasis[/b] as he gave his remark. She looks back to see the hooded figure again, only to be greeted by empty space. She slowly and cautiously goes through her portal towards the rest of the group. On the other side of the portal is a small, grassy hill that lies in front of the debris of a massive space station that covers the horizon. [/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “That is the wreckage of the main ship of the Reckoners. Move cautiously. We don’t know what might await us inside.” [i]The large group moves forward to the wreckage. They approach a gaping hole that leads inside. [b]Dragoon[/b] throws his crimson sword in front of him and it morphs into a dog-like figure with a deeper shade of red. The dog moves ahead of the group and scouts the area. After a while, it sees something inside of the gaping hole and begins to bark, alerting the group.[/i] [b]Emphasis[/b]: “That dog-thing is going to give away our position! Shut it up!” [b]Contrast[/b]: “Calm down. We’ve already been spotted. Allow me to go on ahead.” [i]The red dog returns to [b]Dragoon[/b] and morphs back into a crimson sword while [b]Contrast[/b] enters the hole. The group stays and waits for an order from their leader. The area remains silent until [b]Contrast’s[/b] voice is heard from the inside of the wrecked space station.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Well, we certainly have company, but they don’t seem hostile.” [i]The group enters the ship and finds an old man standing in front of [b]Contrast[/b]. The man wears clothing that looks similar to something a butler would wear. His outfit is as white as his hair with gold lining and gold buttons scattered around his attire. However, his most noticeable feature is a giant blue crystal that takes up the center of his forehead. The man stands in place, barely moving at all and blankly staring at the group. [b]Emphasis[/b] walks towards the man and examines him.[/i] [b]Emphasis[/b]: “This man... he is from Paradisum. I recognize him. He served me while I was still a prince.” [i][b]Dominance[/b] recognizes the man as well. He walks up to him and waves his hand in front of the man’s face. The man barely blinks.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Let’s keep moving.” [b]Emphasis[/b]: “What? Are we just going to leave him here?” [b]Contrast[/b]: “We didn’t come here just for one person. We must keep moving forward. That goes for the rest of you too. Follow me.” [i]The group follows [b]Contrast[/b] onwards. [b]Emphasis[/b] and [b]Dominance[/b] hesitantly leave the man and join in. The inside of the ship has a design that contrasts with the outfit of the man. The walls are black with a carbon fiber texture and it is illuminated by glowing blue linings that extend from the inside of the ship all the way to the outside. As they move forward, they find several other people, each with white and gold clothing and blue crystals on their foreheads, standing to the left and right of the group. They form a pathway forward, where the group finds a faint, blue glow. [b]Dragoon’s[/b] sword softly growls at the light.[/i] [b]Dragoon-647[/b]: “Anything that Crimson doesn’t like, I don’t like.” [b]Contrast[/b]: “Then you’ll just have to suck it up. We aren’t backing out just because your sword is afraid of a little light.” [i]The group keeps moving until they approach a doorway. Past the door is a giant blue sphere in the center of a massive room surrounded by several computer interfaces. The group enters the room and [b]Contrast[/b] moves closer to the sphere.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Long have I waited for this moment. After all of these years, it’s FINALLY happening!” [i][b]Dragoon[/b] looks behind him at the people in white with the blue crystals. They slowly turn towards him and the group. [/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “You there, Dragoon, move a little bit towards me. I need you separated from everyone here.” [i][b]Dragoon[/b] does as he is told. [b]Contrast[/b] places his left hand on the blue sphere.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “This is the power source for the entire ship. If this still exists, then the ship can recover.” [b]Emphasis[/b]: “Then destroy it and end this. That’s what we came here for, isn’t it?” [i][b]Contrast[/b] chuckles softly.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Thank you all for complying with me. It makes this so much easier.” [b]Proximity[/b]: “What do you m—“ [i]The sphere glows with intensity, lighting up the entire room. [b]Contrast’s[/b] arm surges with power. Everyone becomes blinded by the light. All that was seen was a radiant light and all that was heard was [b]Contrast’s[/b] laughter.[/i] [spoiler]Fades Away[/spoiler]