Poschomenia

‎
For the past few days, Vinde Pauri lived at the Unicross Centre of Research in Traveo, where testing was continued on the Kzoa Im. Tale stayed nearby the Kzoa Im to further develop her power, but was allowed the company of Ametra. Verce worked with the other researchers on ways to defend against a Farzal invasion, knowing fully well that they did not intend to hand over the Kzoa Im.

Tale and Ametra had a new visitor that day.

Vinde entered the room where they were kept with the Kzoa Im. “There’s someone here to see you two, to talk about tomorrow,” he told them. A tall man walked into the light of the room, grinning. He was unmistakeably Biyth Shoremn, the leader of Unicross. He shook the hands of Tale and Ametra, before making the announcement to them.
“Apologies that it has taken so long to produce a plan, but I believe we have developed something to help us maintain the Kzoa Im.”

Biyth Shoremn planned to take the Kzoa Im with him when confronting the Farzals. If they show aggression when he refuses to hand it over, Verce would send a portal-summoning signal to the Kzoa Im, as the Farzals had done prior. This would remove the Farzals to a distant part of space, before another signal disables a new portal from being created.

“Wait, doesn’t this mean that they’ll still be able to return?” asked Ametra.

“Yes, but we get more time. It might persuade them to choose peace with us, too,” Biyth responded.

“Will we need to be there, too?” asked Tale.

“I have a feeling that your power may be useful in case something goes wrong, so, yes,” Biyth explained. “I have to be going now, I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

‎
2 hours until the deadline.

‎
While on a train heading towards a sparsely populated area of central Halin, Verce continued to observe the Kzoa Im’s energy. It hadn’t taken the research team long to find what energy signals could access its 4th dimensional properties, so he assumed there were other abilities it may contain.

Tale and Ametra had been in dormancy within Vinde during the day to be at full capability when the deadline hit. Biyth Shoremn hunched over a bit and flicked his thumbs together, catching the attention of Verce.
“Is this a member of Biyth’s fusion? What’s your name?” Verce inquired.

“I am Nei,” she said.
She hadn’t turned to look at him.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“No. I seem to be the only member worried about our death,” she said.

“If they all believe you’ll live, is that not reassuring?”

“You misunderstand me…
We will die.”

Then she was gone.

‎
1 hour until deadline.

‎
All of the tests were complete, and now they just had an hour until the Farzal army would arrive. They did not know what power to expect, but the power they had seen from the Kzoa Im had made them confident in victory. Now, it was just time to wait in the desert.
With an absence of any work to be done and only a quiet wind blowing, Verce had time to think to himself. He wondered if Nei’s words had any meaning, if there was something Biyth had known which wasn’t shared with anyone else. Looking over to see Biyth standing away, holding the Kzoa Im while the sky darkened and darkened, he could only think one thing:

‘I have my trust in my leader.’

As the arrival came closer, Verce readied the signals to be sent. He woke up Tale and Ametra, now rejuvenated and ready to help with the fight. Vinde’s other members focused on defending their host. Verce continued to take control of Vinde, as he in charge of operating the signals.

‎
10 minutes until deadline.

‎
Everyone turned as Biyth Shoremn held the Kzoa Im up with one hand. Its glow lit up the desert, only growing brighter and brighter. Then, a beam shone from it out into the night sky, and from it a portal grew. Everyone took a step back in horror as the fleet of round ships flew out, with one landing down onto the ground. A door opened from the front, and a recognisable figure stepped out. It was the same one, Farzal Purple, whom Vinde had seen before. He reached out his hand, beckoning.

“Hand over the Kzoa Im,” he spoke. “You have 7 minutes.”

Biyth turned to look at Verce, Tale, Ametra and the others in the distance. He turned back to Farzal Purple, responding with “That’s long enough for us to speak, isn’t it?”

“Don’t believe you can dissuade us.”

“You greatly underestimate what you truly face here. From one space-faring civilisation to another, I suggest you make peace today.”

The Farzal looked upset. “As Leipheros of the Farzal Army, your offer is declined. 6 minutes.”

Biyth smirked. “As Biyth Shoremn of the Unicross leadership, cool.”

Verce still waited for the signal from Biyth, but he did something else. Clasping both hands around the Kzoa Im, he was emblazoned in a light blue glow as the members of his fusion left his body. They were absorbed into the Kzoa Im, illuminating the desert as it glowed with energy. Leipheros, the purple Farzal, took a step back, dust and dirt flying towards him as the Kzoa Im blasted it away.

“Enough of this!” Leipheros shouted. “Your deadline has been met.”

He lifted up a finger, and from out of it fired a beam of energy, striking Biyth in the chest. He fell to the floor, but in his left hand he still held the Kzoa Im. As Leipheros bent down to take it from him, Biyth shone blindingly bright. His body was absorbed into the Kzoa Im, the rest of his fusion, himself, was gone. That was, except for a girl. Her body rested unconscious in the place of Biyth, whose energy Verce recognised as Nei’s. As Leipheros finally obtained the Kzoa Im, a medical team picked up Nei and took her away for safety. It seemed as though whatever Biyth had planned was unsuccessful. At least Unicross remained safe and the attack was over with only one casualty.

The portal opened up again, but as the Farzals began to leave it closed quickly. Verce still had a signal connection to the Kzoa Im, and was able to disable it.

“Tale, quickly!” shouted Verce.

“Wait, what?” asked Tale. “I can’t help here!”

“Yes, you can. Use that same power you used before.”

Tale remembered to that moment, in the chamber. Diving into the Kzoa Im, feeling the immense flow of energy.
With a dashing flight, she charged at Leipheros. He swung his hand to grab her, but it phased through and she dashed toward the Kzoa Im. Inside, she saw Biyth.

“Ahh, Tale. It’s nice seeing you here,” he said.

“Mr Shoremn? Did your plan fail?” Tale asked.

“No, no, no, this is exactly how I expected things to go. I had always known I was going to die this way, although Nei lives because she personally wished for it. I hope she remains to do good out there.”

“But… how? You’ve sealed yourself inside of the Kzoa Im, now you can’t lead the country, can’t lead us, can’t lead me… how will we win this?”

“You will be your own leader, Tale. As for the country, my vice Val Arcos has always known of this plan and everything is in place for him to lead. Don’t worry, I’ll provide you with as much power as I can.”

Everything faded away, then Tale was back into the world. Again, she was in her physical form and shining brightly of gold and purple. She felt much stronger than before, thanks to Biyth’s help. She saw that the Kzoa Im was now held by a chain worn around her neck.
Leipheros flew towards her, readying an energy blast. Tale dashed past him, diving through his ship and causing it to explode. She continued this, moving quickly through the fleet faster than the Farzals could respond. They fired their blasts at her, which homed in on their target, but she danced around them in the air.

While this was happening, Verce took the opportunity to reopen the portal. The Farzals began to retreat into it and away from Poschomenia, although they still attacked at Tale. Before she could dodge the next blast, her leg was suddenly grabbed. She was unable to escape and was hit directly, knocking her out of her flight. The Farzal still held her leg, pulling her down to the earth. As she rapidly approached the ground, she was able to take a glance and see that it was Leipheros about to drag her through the ground. She shielded herself with the Kzoa Im’s energy, but it ended up not being enough and she was left aching on the ground when Leipheros released her leg.

“Don’t think I’m impressed by this miraculous power you’ve discovered, or that rebellion of yours,” Leipheros said. “The empire will put an end to you.”

He fired out another beam, but Ametra was quickly able to lift Tale out of the way. Verce was also ready, sending Leipheros away in a new portal. Tale was badly injured, but she had kept the Kzoa Im safe. Biyth Shoremn was gone, but had left Val Arcos in his place. Unicross was at war, but it now had the strength to win.

‎
2 days later.

‎
Tale, using the Kzoa Im to materialise, was resting in a hospital with Nei, both recovering from the attack. A TV in the room was playing on a news station. Tale watched for a minute, finding out it said ‘Biyth Shoremn Replaced By Val Arcos’ with who was titled as ‘Stellar President Arcos’. He was being interviewed on what had occurred to Biyth, although he had explained that those events were yet to be fully disclosed as they want to make sure information remains accurate. Of course, this would mean waiting for Vinde Pauri to recollect on the events and write about them.

Looking down at the Kzoa Im, Tale wondered what Biyth had been doing inside of it for all of this time. He had sacrificed himself and almost all of his fusion members to be sealed inside, somehow Tale knew that he had to be doing something in there. She entered inside of it again, seeing Biyth standing next to someone Tale hadn’t seen before. His long, brown hair and golden eyes contrasted a lot with Biyth’s short, silver hair and green eyes, which made Tale believe that he wasn’t a part of Biyth. That was when the two turned to see Tale, and Biyth spoke:

“Oh, Tale! I’d like you to meet this man, here. He calls himself Sovve, the First Unirian.”