Another Side Of The Universe

Chapter 78 : Sveratis Border

Astrum spaceship landed in a forest, southeast of Sveratis kingdom. The cloaking system Axion's design completely turned the ship invisible. Protecting it from radars. They walk out of the ship and look around their surroundings.

"Based on our data, the battle area where Prince Stravenkov fights the terrorist is supposed to be 15 km southwest from here," said Axion.

"Our radars caught a campsite not far from there," said Ramenman.

"Let's split," Axion suggests. "One team checked the campsite. The other team checks the battle area."

"Right. Ramenman and Rum, check the campsite. Axion and I will check the battlefield. Lahap, you're in charge of the ship," said Kaizo.

They all nod and begin to go their separate ways.

Cutting through the bush, Kaizo and Axion roamed the forest. They check their GPS from time to time to make sure they don't get lost. Birds chirp in trees and animals make sounds as they pass through vines and go under branches.

"Your hand's ok?" Kaizo asked. Breaking the silence.

"It'll be fine," Axion replied. "Don't worry about it."

Kaio peeked at her as he swung his sword to cut bushes on his path. "You didn't have the chance to get full recovery before getting dispatched into this mission."

"You know? For someone who is obsessed with power and likes to belittle a weak person, you nag too much on my health," said Axion.

Kaizo stopped. He looked at Axion and sighed. "It's a captain's duty to keep in check of his crew."

He takes Axion's hand and gently holds it.

"Looks like you removed the bandages," said Kaizo.

"You noticed."

He looked at Axion in the eyes. "When we were dancing back at the station, I noticed your glove is bulging. Like you stuffed something under your gloves. It was like holding a pillow," said Kaizo.

Axion gazed into his eyes. His red eyes glitter under the curtains of rays seeping through the trees.

"What is he thinking?" Axion thought to herself. "What is he trying to see in me?"

Before she drowns deeper in his gaze, she suddenly pulls her hand. "Well, I'm sorry to make you hold a pillow during our dance," said Axion as she walked ahead.

"On the contrary, it was quite enjoyable," said Kaizo. "It was rather warm."

"Ah, that must be the glove. The glove I wear during our dance is designed to emit heat," she explains.

"Is it just me or you DO have a lot of uncommon high-tech stuff?"

Axion looked at him in confusion. She shrugs. "What?"

"You have a spaceship, you have equipment that I've never seen before, and now you have a specifically designed glove. And even your spacesuit isn't a common factory-made," said Kaizo.

"Well, what can I say?" she lightly shrugs. "I like to tamper with things."

Kaizo stared at her. Demanding more explanation.

Axion sighed. "I like to make things. Things for my convenience. Things designed just for me."

"So you made all these?"

"Yes!" she abruptly answered. "And I don't like to share," she adds as she glances at Kaizo. "So stop asking."

"Why? Is this one of your secrets? Why do you have to keep secrets?"

"Everyone has secrets. There's a thing called "privacy" and you should respect it," said Axion.

"Part of our job list is spying. There's no such thing as "privacy" in our work field," Kaizo denied.

Axion turned and looked sharp at Kaizo. Her eyes are cold and her gaze is intimidating.

"First of all, they're my private property. I do whatever I want with my equipment and whatever I do is not your business. Two, you want to spy on me? Do better than asking me questions. You want to know why I keep most of my equipment a secret? It's because I can't afford to have my stuff fall into the hands of the people who can use it against me."

"Are you saying you don't trust me?"

"No." she firmly replied. She walks closer to Kaizo. "Sometimes, being the best isn't enough, Kaizo. Sometimes, everyone else has to fall."

Kaizo looked into her eyes in silence.

"My equipment has kept me one step ahead of anyone in the station, including you. I can't afford to have you know how my equipment works and use them to surpass me," said Axion.

"Is that how you get a high rank in the cadet ranking?"

Axion gasp. She looked at him in disbelief. "No. I get that ranking purely with my skills. I never use my equipment for my studies. I only use them for missions like we're in now. So jokes on you. I'm actually a skilled cadet," she said as she pushed Kaizo with her pointer finger.

"And for the record, I can still break your neck bare hand," she adds before she turns away.

Suddenly, a group of people jumps out with their guns held up.

"PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" yelled a man.

"PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN!!"

Axion and Kaizo raise their hands.

"On the ground! NOW!" said another man.

Two men poke them with their rifles and yell, "MOVE!"

They're surrounded.

Axion and Kaizo looked at each other as they kneeled on the ground.