"Do you know anything about our next location?" I asked the pilot of the vessel not long after we took off.

"No, lord sentinel. Coordinates are south, at the bottom of our defensive line, but that is all the knowledge I have."

"Fair enough" I replied to the woman before returning to my seat, strapping as I did so.

"Why are you doing that?" Rhapso asked curiously to which I replied.

"The last time I had the option to strap in during a flight and didn’t... I had a really annoying day. Well mostly annoying, the end of the day was alright." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Ooh sounds like a tale worth telling. Tell me!"

...

After a while of regaling Rhapso with my time in the deep south of euc 4, Rhapso finally spoke up.

"Wow. That Talos sounds like a real piece of work. Good thing he is dead now."

I nodded my head. "Mmmh, I was surprised the war lasted as long as it did. I still cannot believe the government just lets an entire half of a planet in its capital star system act like that. Was it always like that?"

Nerissa nodded her head. "Actually yes. Though not to the extent it is now. It used to be controlled chaos compared to the current chaos it is now. Humans enjoy distraction and a way to escape from the droll of their mortality. Places like the south of ecumenopolis 4 and Atlantis are needed for that reason."

I nodded along and muttered out. "The lesser of all evils I suppose? Still though, it’s kind of rough seeing how millions of humans can live like that."

Rhapso nodded her head. "Yeah, I-"

The sound of metal rattling suddenly engulfed the entirety of the vessel. Bullet holes began to shine light into the vessel.

Suddenly the pilot yelled. "Drakoshi have pushed the front! I’m seeing a full assault down below! We need to- gaaahh!!"

Another round of bullets pierced the ship and the pilot was not spared this time. As she slumped over dead I lunged into action.

Ripping off my safety straps, I ran ahead to the cockpit and pulled her out of the pilot seat before taking her place.

The dash in front of me was damaged, but I spotted the panel for manual flight and activated it as I proceeded to take full control.

"Apollo, perhaps I should-" Nerissa began before I nosedived the already falling ship in an evasive manoeuvre.

The sky around the ship turned yellow with tracer fire, but I ignored it and began firing the ships weapons down at the Drakoshi below.

I then rolled the ship to the side as I avoided a hail of rockets. Before adjusting for another run against the direction of those heavy weapons!

"Apollo, get us out of here. Do not risk further damage to the ship." Nerissa stated

"Haha Apollo! You fly so well! Go faster!" Rhapso declared watching from the side with audible enjoyment.

"Hmm hmm hmmm~ Woah! That was close. Hmm hmm hmm~"

’This is so much easier than dodging wing rippers’ I couldn’t help but think as another round of fire came my way. I dropped a wing on my left and performed a horizontal loop before counterfiring with a burst from the main gun towards the Drakoshi front line weapons.

Luck seemed to be with me as the weapons ignited and engulfed in flame.

I then proceeded to engage evasive manoeuvres and dumped as much ammunition as I flew the ship away from the front lines and towards friendly lines.

"Ness, can you give me a system diagnostic? I need to know whether I need to crash the ship somewhere safe before it goes kaboom or if it’s safe for further travel." I asked as I continued to fly the ship steady and low.

"Of course, Apollo- I’ll-"

"Ship integrity 76% life support offline alongside navigation and several other critical system functions. Rhapso responded first. "However, engines are untouched, fuel is not leaking and wings have taken only cosmetic damage thanks to your quick piloting. I’ve rerouted the coordinates to my armour, so as long as you can continue to fly, I can guide us where we need to go."

I smiled hearing that. "Great work Rhapso. I’ll let you act as our eyes then. Just tell me when to turn and I shall."

...

Nerissa watched as Rhapso began to ooze with delight at Apollo’s praise. Her eyes narrowed slightly watching her sister being a suck-up. It needed addressing.

Once they were in the clear, Neriss asked. "Apollo, can you go into one of your deep thoughts where you block out pretty much everything? I need to speak in private with Rhapso."

"Hah! You don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll just fly south till I get a pat on the shoulder or something... Now what should I- oh I know!"

Nerissa watched for a moment as Apollo’s mind went elsewhere. It was truly a marvel to behold how he did that, but right now she grabbed her sister and ushered her to the back of the ship.

"Rhapso, what are you doing?" She asked sternly.

"Talking to you? What is going on? Why have you pulled me away from Apollo? Are you sure Apollo cannot hear us?"

Nerissa then turned to Apollo and shouted "Apollo, do you want to know what I know about the gravastar where the incident occurred? I’ll even override my oaths that prevent me from speaking about it!"

"Ness!" Rhapso suddenly exclaimed, looking her sister up and down in sheer terror before turning back to the Apollo then who didn’t even flinch.

Nerissa then continued. "See. His mind is so occupied that my oath even knows I am safe to discuss it right now. So, can I ask you a question?"

Rhapso nodded her head. "Of course sis. I don’t know why we need secrecy though?"

Nerissa then took a deep breath before asking. "Are you sucking up to Apollo because we know his secret? If you are. Stop. Now. He doesn’t want us thinking about that side of him."

Nerissa could sense Rhapso forming a frown underneath her helmet. "What? Are you serious? Apollo asked us to treat him as human, as a friend, not as... Whoever he was. And I’m not sucking up."

"Hah!" Nerissa let out a chuckle of derision. "Please, all you have done is suck up to him. Complimenting him and butting in just then on a task he asked me to do."

Rhapso looked at Nerissa confused. "Are you serious right now? All his actions have been commendable. His flying just then was superb. He has kept his own against the beast and *Gasp!*"

Rhapso then went silent, but Nerissa could feel the aura of her smirk and the narrowing of her eyes through her helmet.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Oh, my gods... Ness, are you jealous?" Rhapso asked, causing Nerissa to do a double take?

"Jealous? Of what?"

"Well, Apollo isn’t your special little human buddy anymore is he? He is ours to share and he has been giving me some attention and *Gasp* Hehehe! you are totally jelly!" Rhapso said, seemingly absolutely delighted.

Nerissa folded her arms across her chest and took a very uncharacteristic stance. "Sis, I am not jealous. I am delighted to have you accompany us. I just wanted to make sure you were not trying to suck up to Apollo. But if you are genuinely impressed with his actions, I am fine with that. Truly. As I agree with you."

Rhapso then proceeded to reach up and pat Nerissa on the top of her helmet. "Sure~ I totally believe you, Jelly belly. Now come on, I wanna get some practice in the art of Apollo watching before I start full time. This is going to be so much fun!"

Nerissa watched Rhapso take the co-pilot seat next to Apollo and rested her head in her hand.

Her eyes then drifted to Apollo then Rhapso, then back to Apollo again before shaking her head.

’Jealous? Ridiculous...’

...

’-No. That doesn’t work anymore... I’ve gained new height and my muscles are stronger than ever. The pseudo-abortion didn’t relinquish the benefit of the blessing, I still have the level up... So I can’t do muscle enhancement without having a weakened period... My best bet is the bones... But that will require me to go to another galaxy for those bio-minerals... Hmmm~ I still wanted to explore around Spartari for a bit before I left again... But I suppose the war and college is quite the exploration already. Both had been fun in their own way.. Though I do need some Jewel lovin’ for definite. I wonder if I keep using my far sight it will get stronger and she could actually get her tentacles through safely? If that could eventually happen... hehehe~’

"Apollo!"

"Who-What? I was. Yeah? Where am I?" I said, startled before realising Rhapso was touching my shoulder. She then turned to Nerissa and then back to me.

"Wow. Apollo, you have been in deep thought for over five hours. I’ve never seen something like that before. It was amazing. What were you thinking about?"

"..."

"Did you say five hours? Wow, I was really in the zone for a while there. Sorry, is something happening? I feel like you just told me to stop listening."

Nerissa then spoke from behind me.

"We are approaching the landing zone, you need to make some course adjustments soon. So get ready."