"Kid, let's take a stop at Blastous for some weapons.", Gridlock said. Finn replied, "Isn't that the planet with the giant meat market, Mr. James?"
"The meat one's the biggest one but the planet's got all kinds of markets, kid.", Gridlock said. Finn looked excited. "That sounds cool! What market are we going to?", Finn asked.
The Drifters' Spaceship jumped out of hyperspace reaching the orbit of Blastous.
"Look at that big blue beauty!", Gridlock said in awe. "I've been here many times in my years but it never gets old, Finn."
"It does look pretty cool.", Finn replied.
The Drifters' Spaceship headed down into the atmosphere & landed at the Ray Gun market. Finn & Gridlock then got out of the ship.
"This right here is the Ray Gun market, kid. It's owned by the Vectors.", Gridlock said. Finn replied, "The Vectors?" Gridlock said, "Yup! I figured it would be fitting to buy weapons from them since we're joining a war on their planet. Also, their Ray Guns are powerful as hell. We'll need them to get Tin back from Andromedous."
"Yeah... I guess but it's vector technology. Isn't it gonna be really expensive?"
"Don't you worry about that, kiddo. I have an old friend who owns a shop here."
From a tall building above them, 2 shadowy figures glared at Gridlock James.
"That's him, ain't it?"
"Yeah."
15 minutes later
"Eyyy! Buddy! It's been a long time, hasn't it?", Gridlock said.
"I'm not your buddy, Gridlock", A store owner replied. "Come on, Man... Don't say that. We're friends.", Gridlock said.
"Are you here to pay me for the guns you bought years ago or not? And, why the hell is Prince Finn with you?", The store owner said.
"What? You know about me?", Finn said in shock. Gridlock looked concerned too. "How do you know him, Pashu?", Gridlock asked.
Pashu replied, "There were royal soldiers from plain roaming around Blastous a week ago. They were in search of their missing prince. One of them showed me his photo."
"Dad's looking for me?"
"Enough of that!", Gridlock shouted.
Pashu smirked. He said, "You bastard... You kidnapped him, didn't you? You're probably gonna try to use him as leverage to get money from the Plain king."
"That ain't it, Pashu.", Gridlock replied in a cold stern voice. "Oh please... I know what kinda man you are...", Pashu said.
The tension between them grew thicker. "Listen here, Pashu. I ain't the same man no more. I've gone through a metamorphosis. My quest is to save this Galaxy, ya hear me!?"
Pashu laughed condescendingly. "Nice joke, James. What exactly are you gonna save the Galaxy from? Did you start making fantasies in your head to make yourself feel better? Pathetic!"
Gridlock clenched his fists ready to go for a punch.
"Umm... Mr. James? I think you're forgetting why we're here.", Finn said. Gridlock then came to his senses.
"Pashu buddy... The reason I came here today is to ask you for some Ray Guns. I can't pay right now but I promise I'll pay for them when I get some money.", Gridlock said in a calm friendly voice. Pashu rolled his eyes and said," The audacity to say that even though you haven't paid for the last time. Absolutely not! I won't let you scam me again!"
After that, Gridlock and Pashu started arguing and Finn was left there just standing awkwardly.
Suddenly, 2 tiny gas bombs rolled into the scene and released something that was making all three of them faint.
"What the hell....", Finn said as his consciousness slipped away. Gridlock, in an annoyed voice, said, "What now?", & he fainted too. Pashu made an angry face and said, "I knew you brought trouble with you! Damn you, Gridlock! Damn you!"
After they had all fainted, the 2 shadowy figures that were looking at Gridlock minutes before came & picked up Gridlock & Finn. They left Pashu. As they were doing this, the other people in the market just looked at the scene without being able to do anything. They knew who these figures were. Out of the crowd, a small boy who didn't know anything came and said, "Stop this! You can't do this to others! You're both bad people." He was brave but he was stupid.
The other people surrounding the scene were now terrified for the boy. His mom rushed in front of the boy shielding him from the two figures. She said, "Please! Don't do anything to him! He's just a boy! If you're angry, take it out on me! Please!"
The one carrying Gridlock dropped him & took off his mask. It was a haman male. "I'll be glad to.", He said. Just as he was about to burn her, the other one stopped him.
"Why are you wasting time? We need to go back. Carry him.", She said. It was a voice of a human female. "Alright Alright... I get too excited sometimes.", The man replied.
"Thank you...", The mom said to the woman in a sweet voice.
"Just shut up.", The woman replied.
Both of them got to their ship with Finn & Gridlock and headed out into Space.
Finn & Gridlock were kept in the back of the ship in the storage room. All of their limbs were chained to the wall.
A few hours later, Finn started to regain his consciousness. "Huh? Where am I?", He said while confused. Suddenly, the memory of the gas bombs came flooding back in. "Right... That happened." He looked over & saw Gridlock next to him.
"Hey, Mr. James! Wake up!", He said. Gridlock slowly awakened. "Kid? Where are we?", He asked. Finn replied, "I got no idea, Mr. James." Gridlock said, "Damn it! We were probably kidnapped by some of my old enemies. Maybe they were camping out at Blastous waiting for me to come back."
"Hey, Mr. James... I've been thinking."
"We need to figure out how to get out of here."
"Mr. James?"
"We still need to get to Optoh & get back Tin to stop the War. Why did we have to caught up in this? It's so frustrating!"
"Mr. James!"
Gridlock looked surprised & weirded out. "Geez... What is it, kiddo?", Gridlock replied. Finn replied, "We need to talk. Mr. James."
"Let's focus on getting unchained form here first.", Gridlock said. "There's nothing we can do.", Finn replied. Gridlock said, "Come on kid, we gotta at least try. You wanna just let some random people tak-"
"No! I mean that there's nothing we can do on Optoh."
"What?"
"Mr. James, You need to think. Even if we do go to Optoh, we won't be able to do anything. Let's say we do go there, then what? What the hell can the two of us do? It's a War between the greatest forces in The Galaxy."
Gridlock had a disappointed look on his face. "So you just wanna give up? You don't even wanna try? After all the effort Tomo went through to fix the ship and help us track Tin, you don't even wanna go to Optoh?", He asked. Finn replied, "I'm sorry but we just have to trust The Vectors. I think you're forgetting they are the most powerful species in The Galaxy."
"And what if they lose? Andromedous will take over every single plants in The Galaxy including Plain. Think about your family, your father, your mother, your sister!"
"I know... I know! But, you're not listening to me! Let's say The Vectors do lose, how would us being there change that?"
"We could take back control of Tin, infiltrate one of their Spacestations and..."
"And what? What!?"
Gridlock stayed silent.
"Mr. James, I know you're fired up to save The Galaxy. I know you want to prove to yourself and the entire Galaxy that you've changed but you need to face reality. We can't do this."
"Kid... I thought we agreed to team up & take down Andromedous together. You showed such amazing bravery against my father and now you're scared?"
"I haven't forgotten that. We'll still take down Andromedous together but going on Optoh is a dumb move. We'll have to wait to strike. We need to grow stronger."
"Fine I agree...", Gridlock replied in a defeated voice. After their conversation, there was an awkward silence in the storage room.
In the front of the ship, there was also an awkward silence. Both the man & woman had taken off their masks.
"So... When did you learn how to drive?", The man asked.
"Ugh... We don't have to talk, Toe. It's not like we're close or anything.", The woman replied. Toe said, "Wow... Even after all these years, you're still such a bummer."
"..."
"I know this must be hard for you. You've never agreed with your parents & us but I promise that thi-", Toe said.
"I said we don't have to talk."
"Right..."
"Put on your seatbelt. The hyperdrive's all charged up. We're jumping into hyperspace."
"Yeah, sure."
Toe's ship then jumped into hyperspace & travelled 400 lightyears reaching the planet of "Veon 5". It was a planet covered in flames.
Above the hellish flames, a society managed to thrive. Cities were built above the flaming surface in some parts of the planet. The humans living there had adapted to the heat & had even learned to benefit from it.
Toe's ship landed on one of the cities and He & the woman both got out.
"So, how does it feel being back home after so long?", Toe asked.
"I don't know..."
"Umm... Do you feel this amazing heat? I bet you missed it!"
"I didn't."
Toe looked both sad & concerned. He said, "There's not many things I care about in this Galaxy but I do care about you. I mean it. I know you don't believe in our cause but I truly believe it's for the betterment of The Andromeda Galaxy & very soon, I think you will too."
"..."
"Umm... Well... I guess I'll bring the two chumps in the back to the prison. You should go to the palace & greet your father."
The woman's heart started to beat faster and she was suddenly covered in sweat.
"Yeah... My father..."
20 minutes later
After a long shameful walk through the royal palace where she had to handle the judgemental eyes of all who were present, the woman made it into the throne room.
She kneeled & with much fear in her voice said, "I have returned, Father."
On top of an elevated surface, behind tall intimidating flames, there sat a dark powerful figure in his royal throne.
He stood up & began walking through the flames. With each step, the woman's heart beated faster and faster. The fear she felt was indescribable. Through the flames, he emerged revealing his face & tender eyes.
"Welcome home, Arsa."