“Search” [verb]: seeking carefully and thoroughly.

Yoongi takes a short break.

His chest feels tight- not in the way it did as a result of his occasional smoking habits, and it’s not in the way where he’s developing a cough or cold. There’s a strange pressure- building deep within Yoongi.

Almost like a pressure channel collapsing into itself inside his chest.

He tries to cough, hoping to relieve the tightness in his chest. But he can’t.

It doesn’t work.

He absentmindedly fiddles with the foil of the cigarette packet in his pocket. He hasn’t smoked one in ages. Since Earth, in fact.

There was something about being back on Earth that just triggered Yoongi’s smoking impulse. Outside of Earth, he didn’t even touch it. But he carried the packet in his pocket at all times. Especially for situations like these. It made him feel better.

Like he was carrying a bit of home in his pocket.

A small secret he kept safe.

He also knows this isn’t strictly because of the cigarettes.

Rather it’s also because of the small glittering purple-clip he had discovered being snuck into his belongings.

She had done something like this before.

Sneaking in objects into his bag as though making sure that by some brotherly duty, Yoongi would always return home to give it back to her. She started doing that ever since he moved out of their home to study at a university in the neighbouring Settlement Arc. And Yoongi always came back home to return it to her.

‘Yoongi?’

Jimin too was far from home. He had illustrated via hologram what his planet looked like. What brought him all the way here?

Jimin looks down at him expectantly, worry in his eyes.

The past few days were tough. What with the tension between each Being, the fear, the confusion.

‘Hey sunshine,’ Yoongi’s smile isn’t forced and this unknown Being’s presence is soothing to the pain in his chest. ‘What’s up?’

Jimin points towards the back, gnawing at his lower lip in worry.

And this was something else added to all of the strain in the team.

A strange illness seemed to be slowly taking over a few of them. Fatigue, temporary loss of senses, fever, chills, racking coughs, and labored breathing. But it went past these symptoms.

There was something else about this illness.

And Amic was one of the victims.

Jimin gestures, placing his palms together and under his head to mime sleep.

‘Sleep,’ Yoongi nods. ‘I’ll stay up- it’s my turn to watch.’

Jimin looks back to where the team were huddled around, eyes sharp but weary. He seems to  make up his mind and sits next to Yoongi instead. A few moments later, Jimin’s head makes its way to Yoongi’s shoulder.

‘Sleep,’ Yoongi whispers quietly, peering out into the forest. ‘Jimin sleep.’

Jimin nods into his shoulder wordlessly, a hand creeping around his forearm slowly, as though hoping Yoongi wouldn’t notice.

To reassure Jimin, and also to experience what it felt like, Yoongi gently brushes through Jimin’s silver-gold hair. Jimin leans in even closer at the contact, his hand now fully holding onto his arm.

‘I’ll be here when you wake up.’

*

Sk’jin steps out of his cabin dressed in one of his silky robes that survived what he mentally referred to as the Pompen Suga Carnage. Shortened to “PSC” as well, somehow sounded much more credible. It was just a simple matter of hiding this little gem away. It’s a soft lilac in colour with dainty gems sewn around the sleeves and throat, creating a ribbed design structure around the torso before seemingly falling off in drops down the floaty fabric of the main coat.

It highlighted his hair to perfection and balanced the cool tone of his hair perfectly.

He steps out of his room, hands clasped behind his back. Humming to himself, Sk’jin makes his way downwards.

‘Namjoonie, Tae-Tae, are you guys already out?’

‘Yes we are!’ Taeh’yung chimes in. ‘We’ll be there in a couple of minutes!’

‘Perfect. Make sure your timing is right- and don’t lose Namjoon.’

‘For ’s sake-‘

‘I won’t lose pa! He’s safe with me!’

‘We’re being pulled in.’ Yoongi reports. ‘Landing inside the Hangar in 15 seconds.’

Sk’jin pauses at the mirror at the bottom of the stairs, carefully setting his bangs about and making sure he had nothing between his teeth. He absentmindedly thinks he should wear some earrings next time. A few gems maybe. Satisfied, Sk’jin makes his way down fully.

‘All right. Are you ready?’ Sk’jin asks, striding across the Lobby and into their Hangar Bay, the gate opens slowly,  the shimmering blue of the Atmoshield glimmering in preparation. Yoongi is waiting for him, in his uniform full-black outfit complete with helmet.

‘Ready.’ He replies.

‘All right,’ Sk’jin steadies himself easily as they land. As the Hangar gates open fully and the ramp is lowered, they find themselves inside the large docking bay of Van Seulgaan’s slaver ship. This time the Dock is closed off and there is no direct view of the wide gaping slave-cages in the background for which Sk’jin is grateful. They couldn’t afford any form of distraction at this moment.

The Tayian himself is standing there, seething where he waited for them but with an almost manic grin on his face. Behind him stood more of the cyborg guards they had encountered in Pompa, as well as a rag-tag assembly of living guards.

Sk’jin barely manages to stop the eye-roll, a skill because he rolled his eyes as frequently as he swore. Instead he gracefully descends down the ramp, the thinner fabric of his robes flutter slowly behind him and settle around him a little late. Sk’jin really loves these robes. He inclines his head to the side in greeting before sending Seulgaan a smile that he definitely did not deserve.

‘Let’s please not get anyone killed or worse,’ Namjoon warns, a grumbling tone to his voice.

‘Oh, you overestimate me,’ Sk’jin smiles, gracing the rest of the gathered Beings a smile as well.

‘You have much to explain Khol’isa!’ Seulgaan spits out as soon as they’re close enough. His eyes are darting from Sk’jin to the white ship behind them.

‘Jimin- is everything ready?’ Sk’jin asks pleasantly just feet from Seulgaan. They had practiced some phrases in Standard so that Jimin understood what they meant in relation to this rather chaotic plan.

‘Yes.’ Jimin replies in his best Standard. Sk’jin stops himself from turning around to beam up at the front window of the Užkulisai.

‘Perfect- let’s start.’ Namjoon murmurs.

‘Van Seulgaan,’ Sk’jin greets the Tayian. ‘A procession! How nice!’

‘Cuff him,’ Seulgaan orders at once. But before any of the guards can approach them, Yoongi’s previously hidden and blackened form appears from behind Sk’jin and easily deflects the approaching guards attempts in even being able to touch Sk’jin.

Predictably Seulgaan starts at the sight of Yoongi’s form behind Sk’jin.

‘Who are they?’ Seulgaan demands as soon as he’s recovered, pointing behind them through the thick sea of debris at the gleaming white ship. ‘What the is that?!’

‘Something we did not foresee! We made an unfortunate enemy in Pompa,’ Sk’jin tells him pleasantly. ‘And you see, they want their dues returned to them I suppose.’

‘Not before I’m done with you,’ Seulgaan retorts, much to Sk’jin’s delight. The Tayian jerks his head at the cyborgs and barks out, ‘Search the ship! Bring the others out- they can’t hide for long, what the were you thinking?’

‘A whole lot more than you were,’ Sk’jin replies too quickly for Seulgaan to hear before he continues, ‘I’m afraid our beloved captain has just run away- possible in our smaller Transporter. The Ngfy’widan went with him, and I’m afraid it’s just sweet sweet Suga and me, cleaning up the mess for now.’

‘What about the other one?’ Seulgaan frowns. ‘The one who was always smiling.’

‘To be honest I don’t know,’ Sk’jin shrugs, ‘And in all fairness, if you knew him, then that would really perfectly explain him.’

Seulgaan watches him with intensely disbelieving eyes. Sk’jin was being careful. Though clearly unhinged and a little crazed, Van Seulgaan was still a cunning and powerful Being in his own right. Who he was, who he knew, and most importantly, who he was connected to, were still unknown to them. While they did have an advantage at this moment, given Seulgaan’s disturbed character, they still needed to tread carefully.

‘And the egg?’

‘Yoongi- are we clear?’ Namjoon asks quietly.

‘You’re clear.’

‘What makes you think I’d bring him out here?’ Sk’jin asks, eyes widening and a look of intense discomfort settling over his features in a convincing manner despite the intense relief he feels inside at the conversation he’s hearing. ‘We only just managed to subdue him.’

Seulgaan’s eyes narrow even more, but now there’s a hint of fear in his eyes.

‘So you’ve seen one of them with your own two eyes,’ Seulgaan mumbles, eyes switching over to Yoongi’s quiet form. And with unnerving monotone he simply states: ‘Abomination.’

Sk’jin senses Yoongi twitching next to him and he hastens to speak.

‘Abomination?’ Sk’jin repeats.

Seulgaan doesn’t explain any further and the cyborgs reappear from behind them.

‘No other presence detected within the ship,’ it reports in a pleasant automated voice. ‘One sealed OrTank retrieved.’

‘Take it down,’ Seulgaan orders the Beings behind him before rounding up to carefully stare at Sk’jin. ‘They do not sleep after being woken- how did you manage?’

Sk’jin keeps a mask of calm, his features perfectly poised despite his inner mind screaming questions. What did Seulgaan mean? Had he woken up others like Jimin? Like Yoongi? Were they unstable?

‘You know things, we know things,’ Sk’jin replies simply before adding, ‘I don’t want to change topics here but you do realize that that is out there? It wants us too.’

Seulgaan looks out briefly before turning to address his guards again.

‘Set up a line of communication right now,’ he barks. ‘Fix a channel to the white-ship there and connect them to me.’

‘You will want to be careful,’ Sk’jin warns with a smile. ‘They’re not the type who easily give up.’

Seulgaan doesn’t spare him a look or response as he takes the screen his guard hands him.

‘Who is this?’ Seulgaan demands imperiously.

The line clicks softly before an entirely new voice speaks up. Yet again, Sk’jin cannot place the gender or accent of the voice.

‘We request you hand over the Yemenifesi Ch’inik’eti, and the remaining members of the Užkulisai to us, and we will leave you in peace. Thank you for your cooperation.’

‘I have not given you my cooperation!’ Seulgaan snaps. ‘I do not care what issues you have with this rag-tag -heads but I’m claiming them so I would advise you to turn back. They are no longer your problem and I will make sure they cause no more problems in the future.’

‘If it is units you require then we shall transfer the needed amount and more in return for the Yemenifesi Ch’inik’eti and the crew members. Name any amount and it shall be yours!’

Seulgaan actually rolls his eyes.

‘Listen here,’ he states in a calm voice, unimpressed. ‘I don’t care what you have to offer or what you want to offer. I’m giving you a warning- leave, or I’m releasing the 10 proton-missiles that I’ve had locked on your location.’

It’s silent for a moment and Sk’jin momentarily panics. They had to keep the Omhlophe here until they could extract Hoseok out of their ship. If the Omhlophe decided that it wasn’t worth it, then they would lose Hoseok forever. And that wasn’t something Sk’jin needed in his conscience.

‘We are issuing you a warning to release the Yemenifesi Ch’inik’eti and the crew-members to us immediately or we will not be this courteous.’

Seulgaan frowns heavily at that. Though a threat that would have Sk’jin really sweating, it makes him exhale out in relief.

‘Release a missile- miss, but be close.’ Seulgaan orders.

Sk’jin turns around, willing his actions to be relaxed, to watch past the wings of the Užkulisai as a bright streak of electric blue streaks out through the debris and explodes close to the white ship.

‘We’re fine.’

Sk’jin wishes he could reply back but he doesn’t.

‘We’re almost there. 30 seconds.’ Namjoon says quietly.

‘I need one more minute.’ Yoongi reports quietly.

The light clears and the debris around the white ship scatters even more, causing issues with the already compromised visibility outside. The line is quiet and so is everyone in the Dock.

‘Next time I won’t miss,’ Seulgaan says simply. ‘Now leave, or I won’t be as courteous.’

Sk’jin waits with bated breath.

’10 seconds.’

‘We regret to inform you that we will no longer conduct our approach with care. You were warned. Please be prepared to be boarded Van Seulgaan, we hope you have a nice day.’

A chill runs down Sk’jin’s back and he whips around to face Seulgaan who though rather unstable, looked remarkably calm.

‘Raise the shields at maximum, close all docks and bays. Reinforce the engines and set ready to warp-‘ he makes to turn around but pauses to glance briefly at the distant white ship, ‘-destroy that filth.’

*

Sk’jin had said this was something incredibly stupid and risky and he wasn’t kidding.

Namjoon cannot believe he’s doing this. Even for someone of his mechanical built and practically inorganic being, being exposed to space wasn’t the smartest idea. There was a lot that they didn’t know about space even after millenniums of research and discovery and breakdowns. So much remained unknown and mysterious yet here he was; just feet from a full blown space-battle, with a slaver-ship waiting to obliterate his ship, and an unknown ship possible capable of obliterating his entire ship if they wanted. 

Not for the first time has Namjoon questioned his decisions and actions this deeply in the past few months.

Because you didn’t even have to be “smart” to know that transporting yourself through an open and unlocked Transporter in space, clinging to a handle to the side of the wall inches off of the floor, being guided and shielded only by the unknown abilities of a questionable Being was a pretty stupid thing to do.

Namjoon is not hydrophobic and neither is he agoraphobic- and the idea of drowning in space seemed bizarre and extremely unlikely. But recently, bizarre and unlikely things seemed to be happening rather frequently to him so he’s not about to take his chances either way.

The Spardyti is quiet and deactivated. The engines quiet and still, the doors flung open and the Atmoshield switched off. Everything has been turned upside down in here. Quite literally in fact. There was no gravity in here and Namjoon warily watches the massive bubbles of water sloshing around the place, some pressed up and enforced in certain areas. Instead of a shimmering blue shielding them from the vacuum of space, a neon green thing blocks the doorways and windows.

‘How is this even a thing?!’ Namjoon bursts out, unable to contain himself anymore. ‘We are in space­- there is no mass or volume that you could use to possible project us like this- vaulting through space-how are you projecting or generating independent energy-‘

‘-there is mass and volume all around us,’ Taeh’yung remarks looking at Namjoon as though shocked Namjoon didn’t know this. ‘Look at all of this energy-‘

‘Energy isn’t a palpable or corporeal mass-‘ Namjoon splutters, offended. ‘It’s the property of a system rather than a physical property-‘

‘Pa you think too much,’ Taeh’yung reaches over and takes his hand, never minding the blobs of water floating about that could drown them. The ship shudders as they hit another chunk of debris.

Namjoon is also extremely against this entire thing for another reason: the literal sea of debris they were floating around in.

The space-battle they had warped into had moved closer to the broken moon and left behind massive areas of debris and junk. Namjoon gives the debris a month or so before it’s pulled down to the small planet above them, inevitably drawing its own death sentence as a result of its own gravity. But for now it served as a sort of double-edged camouflage blanket for them, leading them slowly towards the stationary white ship below.

Namjoon hurriedly shoves a blob of water out of his general vicinity while Taeh’yung opens his mouth wide in hopes of having it land into his mouth.

Jimin had claimed, with no context or further explanation, that they would need water in order to really use the cell. He said they didn’t have the time, and Taeh’yung added he didn’t know enough of the more complex words in order to properly translate Jimin’s words anyways. And it was true- Taeh’yung tried his best, but some of the more complex words, ideas, forms, and general state of this technology was just too alien and complex to translate into Standard. Sometimes Taeh’yung would just stare out into the air before he was finally able to somehow manage to translate.

Water was key to all of this. And Namjoon knew this. He’s just not sure how it all relates.

Nonetheless, the whole thing was fascinating. Namjoon aided Jimin in constructing the rather odd oblong cylinder strapped to the floor of the Spardyti, originally designed to sit inside the Užkulisai.

What Namjoon understood was that they used the natural orbital resonance between their tightly knit system, harvesting that energy into a stable and usable source of energy to create powerful electromagnetic shields in order to shield them from most transmittable radio-waves that could be used to scan or even actually visibly see them. It was in a sense, System-sized Faraday cages; constructed and set up in a way to deflect and or block out certain wavelengths and resonances that could pass through to reveal them. But the very idea behind it seemed too simple. There had to be more to it. Because it seemed rather odd to Namjoon, seeing as the GLA had tried this experiment before and hadn’t been able to harness the volatile force to create this sort of shield around themselves at such a scale. How did water come into play? It made no practical sense.

Just what exactly were Jimin and his people capable of?

Taeh’yung casually tosses the cell between his hands, slowly spinning in the air himself.

How was this small cell storing such a volatile force for so long, and how much havoc had this small device singlehandedly wrought?

‘You have much to explain Khol’isa!’  Seulgaan’s angry voice fills the air.

‘Jimin- is everything ready?’ Sk’jin sounds too pleased.

‘Yes.’

‘Perfect- let’s start.’ Namjoon nods at Taeh’yung who nods back delightedly and swims in the air, cell in his hand. Namjoon floats over to the open doorway where a few simple air-pressure tanks were attached. They wouldn’t need a lot- but it was always best to be safe rather than sorry.

‘Ready?’ Namjoon asks Taeh’yung who gives him a thumbs up and proceeds to jam the cell into the small slot of the cylinder.

There’s a moment of strained silence where Namjoon and Taeh’yung just stare at each other.

According to their calculations, they had been able to summarize that the success rate was at 78%. And like Taeh’yung had said- that was better than 77%.

Then slowly, a shiver runs through the Spardyti, the water floating about them freezes and then like molten glass flies past and encases them like a thin shield just outside of the green-tinted shield Taeh’yung projected.

‘Yoongi- are we clear?’

‘You’re clear.’

Taeh’yung lets out a cheer.

Sk’jin’s plan was extraordinarily dangerous, stupid, and risky.

But also brilliant.

Sk’jin, Jimin, and Yoongi would remain in the Užkulisai, awaiting capture and would allow themselves to be captured. Meanwhile, Namjoon and Taeh’yung would board the Spardyti, seal the Hangar, and open it up and float out into space without switching on a single engine or system. Taeh’yung would then seal them in, using his abilities (which Namjoon will not inquire as they did not have the time to do so and honestly Taeh’yung would only give him an even more confusing explanation that answered no questions) to sustain them as they float through the debris.

This sea of debris would then cover their motion and plan until Yoongi is ready and then they would activate the cell, and theoretically, it would mask their presence the same way Jimin’s home-system was masked. Seeing as how the theory proved itself and was now working, they would use the small air-pressure tanks to gently punt themselves through the sea of debris unseen by the Omhlophe and Seulgaan’s ship towards the former’s ship.

Taeh’yung says something to Jimin, a slight teasing tone to his voice. Jimin’s splutters and indignant responses are amusing and it almost makes Namjoon smile. But he has other things to occupy his mind as he activates the Spardyti’s life-support system and gravity. The engines hum to life as well but are not activated just yet.

The white ship is large- at least 5 times the size of the Užkulisai. It was a unique design- if it weren’t for the uniform white colouring, the ship appeared as though it was hastily and blindly thrown together. None of the wings matched, the hull design was greatly different from the main body, the windows were different in size and shape and seemed to pop out at random.

‘We only just managed to subdue him.’ Sk’jin is saying.

‘So you’ve seen one of them with your own two eyes,’ Seulgaan sounds remarkably calm and contained as he adds: ‘Abomination.’

Namjoon frowns at the choice of words. Taeh’yung pauses in his motion to give Namjoon a quizzical look.

‘Abomination?’ Sk’jin sounds similarly confused.

Namjoon cannot afford to be distracted by Sk’jin’s conversation- he was going to have to depend on the Khol’isa to make sure things went how they were supposed to there. They continue to hide themselves behind the debris and with the slightest release of air-pressure in the right direction, they start floating towards the now stationary white ship.

‘We’re approaching our target,’ Namjoon reports, feeling breathless despite not having any issues breathing. ‘Yoongi- are you almost done?’

‘I need 3 minutes.’

Amazingly everything was still going to plan.

‘Release a missile- miss, but be close.’ He hears Seulgaan order.

This was a great risk in their plan- getting caught in between missile exchange.

‘Incoming-‘

There’s a burst of light and shockwaves send them careening forwards.

‘We’re fine.’ Namjoon says at once. He looks around, and finds that they’re now incredibly close to the ship. Oddly enough that missile was practically god-sent. ‘We’re almost there. 30 seconds.’

‘I need one more minute.’ Yoongi reports quietly.

Namjoon checks on the tiny missiles locked and loaded onto the canon-like TeorSer that needed to be hefted up onto a shoulder in order to launch the missiles.

Magnetic-pulse detonators.

Powerful and small- it would give them the time they needed in order to make their escape and meet back with the Užkulisai. It was designed to effect only their gravity-systems and engine-chips. But they themselves would need to be at a good distance before triggering it. Not that it would affect the Spardyti, considering no systems were activated or switched on so the magnetic pulses wouldn’t fry any of their engines or mechanics. However, Namjoon deemed it prudent to keep themselves on the safe side. After all, a lot of unexpected things kept happening and the last thing they needed was to get caught in the explosion and end up stranded. 

‘Magnetic strips ready!’ Taeh’yung reports brightly.

And right down to the very second that Sk’jin had so haphazardly calculated, they find themselves under the belly of the Omhlophe ship, attached to the bottom with moderately strong magnetic strips. It’s not strong enough to trigger an alarm, but enough to keep them anchored.

‘Please hurry.’ Yoongi states quietly. ‘Van Seulgaan is preparing to attack.’

Namjoon nods despite knowing Yoongi couldn’t see him. He grabs the extra air-pressure tank already outfitted with a strap and he slings it over and around his back.

‘Keep her steady and attached,’ Namjoon tells Taeh’yung who nods fervently in reply, pulling out a slim and dark screen from inside his jacket pocket. ‘When you get there, release at once and come back. ing Spaces I hope this works.’

Namjoon sighs out before taking a deep breath and jumps out of the Spardyti.

This was the part that Sk’jin had called “heroic but idiotic- perfect for you!” with a smile directed at Namjoon. It makes Namjoon’s eyebrows twinge at the very memory of it. With steady releases of the air-pressure, Namjoon shoots forward quickly and up to the surface of the ship. He suppresses a shiver as he touches the ice-cold metal of the ship.

They hadn’t flown out at random- they aimed to reach a certain part of the ship for a reason. And that reason was the water-cell latches.

‘Seulgaan will launch in 30 seconds.’ Yoongi reports quietly. ‘I am here. Ready when you are.’

‘Pa is there! I’m getting Hobi now!’ Taeh’yung replies for him.

Namjoon has a bone to pick with Yoongi. Clearly the Human did not even try to break his habit of frequently poisoning them with extremely rare trace amounts of highly radioactive isotopes- but it was the only thing that was allowing them to keep track of Hoseok’s whereabouts though it’s only through Yoongi’s personalized screen. Namjoon wants to argue this worrisome habit but seeing as how it was working out in their favor, he can’t say much. Besides, it wasn’t as though it was preplanned- Yoongi, like Namjoon, had wanted to keep an eye on the Ngfy’widan after he left the Užkulisai, and so made him a cup of tea in parting.

Namjoon had actually seen that moment unfold before his very eyes.

Yoongi had offered the former Venture Unit agent the cup, face stoic as ever.

‘Is it poisoned this time?’ Hoseok had asked, a laugh in his voice.

‘Yes.’ Yoongi had replied.

Hoseok had laughed harder and finished the tea.

In Yoongi’s defense, he hadn’t lied.

Space is a cruel and harsh environment. Instantly Namjoon feels crushed but his body withstands it. He finds the latches and with a strong punch to the side, pries it open.

Water-cell latches were traditionally not secured – mainly because though it granted access into the ship via ducts and pipes, it had no life-support supplied in here and was therefore a terrible way of entering a ship illegally unless you wanted to face a painful death. But Namjoon is spared this.

The water-cell racks are narrow and Namjoon has to push himself through, his clothes snagging on the protruding shelves. But it’s enough.

He finds the duct, smaller but similar to the one Namjoon and Sk’jin had used to infiltrate Seulgaan’s ship. But he doesn’t have to go in. instead he reaches in and grabs the thick coil of wires to the side. Carefully, he snaps a wire just enough to expose the underwire. Once he sees the gleam of metal, he carefully attaches a small temporary self-destructive chip that lights up the moment Namjoon lets go of the chip. Pulling back and in the same motion as one would while swimming, coils in the air and with his feet pushes himself out of the cramped space, keeping as straight as possible.

‘I GOT HOBI!’ comes a delighted exclamation followed instantly by a violent shuddering that sends Namjoon careening off to the side. Ripples of raw force flushes him out of the water-cell latch and for a wild panicked moment, Namjoon is hurled out into space without anchor or security.

Unfiltered and raw heat waves crash about him like heavy waves of water and just as Namjoon thinks he’s probably the victim of the 22% chance of this plan failing, a hand grabs him non too gently and in a moment of pure confusion and intense vertigo, Namjoon finds himself retching and heaving on the floor of the Spardyti, his body shaking uncontrollably. But he’s aware enough to just make out Hoseok’s face looking down at him in worry.

It’s his hand gripping his own and beyond the look of worry and immediate urgency, Namjoon recognizes the look of reconciliation and acceptance in the Ngfy’widan’s yellow eyes.

‘You look like ,’ is all Hoseok says.

‘-ready as soon as you’re far enough,’ Yoongi is saying. ‘Seulgaan is still firing.’

Hoseok doesn’t look too bad- his hair is matted and his clothes severely crumpled. His face has sunken just the tiniest bit and there are dark circles under his eyes. But there is energy in his movement and though Namjoon isn’t sure if it was because of the adrenaline triggered from his unexpected rescue, it gives him a small sense of relief.

Namjoon can’t help but laugh.

There’s another ripple of shock that rocks the Spardyti.

‘NaviLe- NaviLet-‘ Namjoon coughs out, still dizzy but he has plans to see through.

The NaviLet is into his hands as Namjoon continues to cough out, ‘Hoseok- please fly us towards the battle towards the moon- quickly- put us in autopilot, then I need you to fire this at the Omhlophe-.’

Burst of light and shockwaves push them at random and though there’s no sound, the force of the explosions are overwhelming. If Hoseok has any question about how they were here, what the water was doing, where Namjoon had been, he doesn’t ask. Instead he just nods instantly- now was not the time for questions.

With shaking hands Namjoon pulls up the tab waiting for him.

The Spardyti hums to life and the glimmering green is gone, replaced by a light blue sheen that disappears almost at once. The thin shield of water remains though. The Spardyti shudders and careens precariously, making Namjoon slip and slide along the floor but he’s caught by Taeh’yung who hooks his legs around Namjoon’s waist from the back, clinging onto a chair himself.

‘Okay pa?’ he asks all too cheerily as Hoseok rights them.

‘Autopilot engaged,’ Hoseok announces, quickly exiting the cockpit and sliding over quickly to Namjoon and the loaded TeorSer to the side.

‘What’s this?’ Hoseok asks. Namjoon’s not sure what he means- was he asking about the TeorSer, the NaviLet, the water-shield?

‘I’m scanning all of their channels,’ Namjoon croaks out- he was definitely going to have to eat his meds after this.

‘Are you trying to override their systems?‘ Hoseok sounds confused.

‘No,’ Namjoon shakes his head. ‘We need to get rid of the Comm they took from you- I attached a bug to scan their system and erase that channel so that they can’t use it to potentially track us or use it for their benefit-‘

‘-wait, you’re going to have to recreate new channels-‘ Hoseok interrupts again but Taeh’yung makes a sound of realization and he reaches inside his vest pocket and produces a brand new Comm-Device.

‘Pa made them! New ones!’ he declares, reaching around Namjoon to hand it to the Ngfy’widan.

Hoseok blinks at the tiny object for a moment before he shrugs and clips it on at once. Namjoon had at least 5 other channels as back up, so it wasn’t difficult setting up an entirely new one within minutes. He glances out of their still open doorway, the debris around them is churning with the force of the explosions and detonations, brief flashes of light streaking in and out violently. He’s not sure where exactly the Omhlophe ship might be but they weren’t aiming for an accurate shot.

‘But a bug is loud,’ Hoseok argues, ‘You’ll get caught at once-‘

‘Not with that,’ Namjoon nods at the water shield around them. He finds the channel he had designed so carefully and neutralizes it at once. ‘Got it- it’s done.’

‘What-‘

‘Yoongi- ready?’ Namjoon struggles to sit up with Taeh’yung’s legs still wrapped around his waist.

‘Ready.’

‘Hoseok- can you fire that?’

Hoseok only pauses for a second before he nods, shouldering the TeorSer and lifting it up.

‘Fire on 3…2…1!’

The air smells like ozone and carbon, a wave of heat washes of them as the small compact missile whistles past and through the debris, disappearing into the lights now at a decent distance from them.

There is no indication, at least no physical evidence, that the missile has met its mark. But there is another signal that Namjoon is waiting for with baited breath and it arrives in the form of Yoongi’s order.

‘Sunshine, now.’

The lights and explosions stop almost immediately and it fades away to give Namjoon a clear view of the Omhlophe ship.

There is no motion, no light, no movement- the massive engine hubs were dim and no light was indicated in the turbines.

‘Sk’jin?’

Hoseok has no idea what was happening but he too remains quiet, waiting with Namjoon and Taeh’yung for a response from the Khol’isa.

The seconds seem to drag on forever until Sk’jin replies, all too pleased with himself with a clear, ‘We’re clear. See you in a few minutes.’

Namjoon exhales out in relief and finally sits up properly. Taeh’yung’s legs fall off of him only to scramble upwards and jump up and down in celebration. Hoseok holds out a hand that Namjoon takes it.

Hoseok is shorter than Namjoon and doesn’t possess the same physical presence as the Kutsoglerin or the graceful elegance of Sk’jin’s form. He’s not lithe and slender like Jimin nor is he lanky and wispy like Taeh’yung. He wasn’t like Yoongi either where his presence was so slight you could all together look past it. But there was something solid, and reassuring about Hoseok- a sort of permanence to his being. A trait that Namjoon reasons as the main factor in why he found himself trusting the Ngfy’widan.

‘So,’ Hoseok begins, glancing out behind him at the Omhlophe ship and then forward towards the slaver-ship, and then to the on-going space battle to the side. ‘Care to explain?’

*

Sk’jin’s plan was brilliant.

Dangerous but brilliant.

‘But how do we know this Sool-gaan won’t instantly give up? These Beings are clearly dangerous and with abilities we cannot foresee or predict,’ Jimin asks.

‘He is intelligent,’ Taeh’yung translates Sk’jin’s words. ‘But he’s greedy and vain and angry. Never underestimate anger- it is the easiest emotion to manipulate.’

Jimin nods in reply, unsure how to feel about it.

They would separate. Taeh’yung and Namjoon in the smaller ship, and attached to it the cell in order to hide their presence as they floated out to the Omhlophe’s ship. There they would wade through the debris to mask their physical presence, an added protection even though they were virtually invisible to every form of sensor. Namjoon would then take with him the chip he designed in order to erase the Užkulisai’s channels that had been stolen from Hoseok’s Comm-Device. While Namjoon took care of that, Taeh’yung would continue on and find Hoseok and extract him from where he was being held. Apparently they all had some form of “tracking” installed inside of them- and they had all stared blankly at Yoongi about it. Jimin didn’t understand but seeing as it wasn’t explained to him, he decided it probably wasn’t all too important.

Then to make sure that the Omhlophe didn’t do anything more, Namjoon would put some distance between the Spardyti and the Omhlophe and detonate a magnetic device to deactivate their major systems.

And then meanwhile, Sk’jin and Yoongi would go into the Sool-gaan’s ship and distract him, engage him in conversation and essentially use his ship as their own shield. But when Sk’jin had hurriedly explained that part of the plan, he paused and with a very pleased smile added something else that made Yoongi instantly reject it.

‘No,’ the Human says, shaking his head at once. He was disagreeing with Sk’jin, Jimin could tell.

They continue to argue, fast and snappish and it’s over in a few seconds. Taeh’yung seems reluctant to translate, glancing at Yoongi before clearing his throat and giving him a sheepish smile.

‘Sk’jin says that he wants you to disguise yourself as Yoongi and to go with him to meet Seulgaan,’ Taeh’yung grins. ‘And in the meanwhile, Yoongi can hide inside your old OrTank case where he will carry another magnetic-pulse device and set it off to shut down Seulgaan’s ship.’

Like Jimin had thought, this was a dangerous plan.

‘But – but if we are inside the ship-‘ Jimin begins, wondering about the clear flaws in this plan.

‘Seulgaan will want to secure the most important cargo here- meaning you,’ Taeh’yung continues to explain. ‘He will want to secure you and keep you inside the ship as soon as possible- meaning they will take the OrTank, meaning Yoongi, deeper inside the ship- there, Yoongi can slip out and make his way to the engines and set off the device in there, without effecting the Užkulisai.’

‘And during this time, Sk’jin wants me to subdue Sool-gaan and his guards?’ Jimin asks carefully.

Taeh’yung nods brightly and adds, ‘And Yoongi will come back up, and the three of you will return to our ship, while Namjoon, Hobi, and I come back. With the cell activated within the Spardyti, which will return back to our ship, we will continue to remain hidden. Then we leave as quickly as possible.’

Jimin can see a lot going wrong with this plan. But then again, they had no other choice- not when it was so sudden. The existing situation was already this dangerous, and Jimin does not want to face these mysterious Beings who knew exactly who he was. Taeh’yung had explained the events to him. And though vague, Jimin could not shake off the strange apprehension he felt every time he thought of these Beings. So he was with the rest of them in their desire to put as much distance from them as possible.

Not to mention retrieve Hoseok as quickly as they could.

So he nods his agreement.

Sk’jin looks pleased and he claps his hands, hurrying them along.

‘You’ll need to dress in Yoongi’s gear,’ Taeh’yung quickly explains.

Jimin is immediately worried- would he be able to convince this Sool-gaan that he was Yoongi? They were the same height, with similar built. But the difference between them is startling clear.

‘Jimin.’

Yoongi gestures quietly and walks out of the Bridge. Feeling nervous, Jimin follows after the Human and down to his Cabin. Yoongi is taking out the full black gear he wore every time they left the ship. He even wore it under the clothes he wore inside the ship. Not that it mattered, because Yoongi was always dressed in black, hardly any difference in the style or structure of what he wore.

He doesn’t say anything, instead calmly handing him the gear. Jimin takes it, the fabric feels oddly weighty and fluid- like it would slip out of his grip if he didn’t grip it tight. Jimin wants to know more about this material- about this uniform. He wants to know more about Yoongi- what he did before, what he was doing that he had this garment. But he doesn’t have time, so without much ceremony, he starts to undress.

Jimin isn’t particularly bashful or ashamed of changing out of his clothes in front of others- he grew up sharing his living space with his guards from a young age and onwards. But he’s conscious of Yoongi’s presence and he almost regrets his actions but he’s already in the process of changing. He tries to be quick but Yoongi’s gear is unusual and Jimin isn’t sure how to really wear it.

But he’s not confused for long.

Yoongi steps in and helps him.

Jimin tries to stop his sharp inhale as Yoongi helps him undress fully. Jimin can’t help how he’s jumpy, face flushing with colour as Yoongi slips the socks off of his feet, his hands quick and steady. Jimin is used to dressing and undressing in front of others but here, like this, he can’t help but feel affected. However there is no awkwardness or discomfort from the Human at his now utter ness. It doesn’t seem to bother the Human or affect him in the slightest. Perhaps it was because prior to this, Jimin was always entirely inside the OrTank, so it’s not that much of a big deal to Yoongi. Or perhaps it was simply a Human thing.

Jimin takes some comfort in this- this was a matter of importance and required speediness on their behalf. So he tries not to shiver too much as he slips into the oddly weighty gear that Yoongi holds up for him to wear.

It fits like second skin, yet despite the fluidity of the fabric, there is a certain heaviness, a weight that adds to his form and Jimin feels invincible but at the same time incredibly exposed. Even more then when he was . The fabric molds and seals itself over Jimin’s skin in a seamless manner. It sealed over in the back and before it closes, Jimin feels the softest and briefest down the center of his back.

Did his back look different to Yoongi?

The weight that came from the suit wasn’t just from the physical mass it bore- but rather a feeling it seemed to emit. Jimin cannot place it- but he has the intense urge to take it off immediately. He stares at his arms, down at his body, feeling at himself- there was something wrong about this. About the gear, everything about it was just not right.

He feels tainted.

He doesn’t feel like himself in this.

‘Yoongi,’ Jimin can’t help the tone of his voice. Can’t help the discomfort and strangeness he felt. How did Yoongi deal with this? Or did he realize it himself?

‘This- this feels weird,’ he says knowing full well Yoongi wouldn’t understand. He pulls at the high-necked ribbing around his throat, face screwing up in discomfort.

When he looks up he catches a glimpse of his reflection on the mirror inside the bathroom. And Jimin is repulsed by what he sees- who he sees. This wasn’t him- this wasn’t Yoongi.

They were both changed, yes- especially Yoongi. But there was something about this gear, something about all of this, that made Jimin greatly unsettled.

‘Jimin?’

Jimin looks away from his strange reflection and at Yoongi instead. There’s a look of understanding in the Human’s eyes. Like he knew exactly what Jimin was feeling, what he was thinking.

‘This is so strange,’ Jimin whispers, all of the fight leaving his body. He looks down at his feet. The gear was like one full body suit, the boots rippling over and folding over the shape of his feet perfectly. This was wrong.

But there was nothing he could do. This was part of the plan and to make sure they were secure, to make sure Hoseok would return to them safely, he was going to have to do this. He could do this.

He will do this.

Yoongi’s hand appears in his field of vision and settles on his chin. Jimin feels his head being lifted, to face Yoongi properly. The Human studies him for a moment, his eyes dark and though he bore no expression, there was a depth to his eyes that felt familiar and safe.

‘Beautiful,’ Yoongi tells him.

Jimin flushes instantly.

He knew what that word meant. He ducks his head again, his hair falling around his face. This was not what he wanted to hear exactly. Especially in this situation. But it makes him feel better, oddly enough.

And then to his surprise, Yoongi taps at his chin once more and lifts his head up slowly. Then rather gently and with great intimacy that stutters Jimin’s breath in his throat, Yoongi brushes back his hair. Jimin wants to lean in, taking in all he could from this Human before him. Yoongi seems to really like his hair- even back in Menigišiti, when they would sit together, exhausted and frightened, Yoongi would take a moment to just simply marvel at his hair. As though drinking in the sight of it; like an elixir that granted him strength.

Jimin’s hair colour was a result of who he was- his sister was the same. Their people- their species, were known to have dark hair. Their parents had hair that was almost black. During a rather rebellious phase, Jimin had dyed his hair black, if only for a few hours of attempting to feel less isolated, and to blend in with his species. But it didn’t last long. Because he carried Fate in his eyes, and every time he saw himself, that was all he could ever see. 

Yoongi pushes back his hair one last time before he lifts the helmet up. There’s a worried look on his face, as he holds the helmet up for Jimin to push his head into. Jimin remembers how Yoongi didn’t want him to put it on. Jimin figured it was an extension of a weapon- or at least a device that aided in the usage or application of some weaponry. Maybe he didn’t want Jimin to be in a situation where he was using it?

Jimin himself did not enjoy fighting. He did not see the appeal of brute force. But he also understood how it was applicable and at times, needed in certain situations.

‘We do not strike when struck,’ his sister had said, nursing a black eye with an amused expression. She received it as a result of a heated debate regarding some diplomatic issue and Jimin hadn’t been there, having been away on the other side of the planet. He had been young at the time and seeing his sister in pain and with an actual wound had greatly upset him.

‘You must have seen it coming,’ Jimin had pressed, angry and upset now. His sister had given him an amused look.

‘I did. And sometimes you just have to accept it- because there is more power in empathy than strength.’

That hadn’t placated Jimin one bit but he trusted his sister to know what she was doing. And just as well, ridden with guilt, the Being responsible for giving his sister a black eye had thrown himself on the ground before her feet, begging to be forgiven. And it was through this situation that his sister had gained her most trusted advisor.

He bows his head and allows Yoongi to push it over.

If the gear felt wrong, then this helmet was simply put, an abomination.

It’s suffocating and Jimin doesn’t know how Yoongi does it. It instantly blocks all of Jimin’s senses and he almost forgets to breathe only to realize he could do so freely. He blinks a few times before sight is restored to him and oddly enough everything seemed sharper, but also a little distorted. Sound rushes to him as well and almost quite simply, the helmet fits over his head quite easily. It almost feels like he isn’t wearing it, the only indication is the slight distortion in his vision.

‘Okay?’ Yoongi asks quietly, his voice unchanged and filtered through perfectly as though no barrier was raised between them.

Jimin nods, ‘Okay,’ he replies.

Yoongi looks unsure, his expression worried.

Jimin wants to lighten the atmosphere so he chuckles a bit before asking Yoongi, ‘Beautiful?’ knowing full well his face was covered from view. Yoongi doesn’t reply yet, now fiddling with some gloves before he takes Jimin’s hand, thumb carefully the back of his hand.

‘Beautiful,’ he nods before slipping the glove into Jimin’s hand. Then he takes the other hand and repeats his actions, quietly repeating the adjective again.

Jimin is grateful for the helmet because his face is flushed, his ears burning.

There’s a simple honesty- a raw unfiltered genuineness in Yoongi’s tone and words. There was no reasoning or purpose- not the way Jimin was used to- not in the way where he was beheld high up by his people his title and who he was. This was different.

Yoongi now and Yoongi then were the same in that aspect. Who they were, conceptually and subjectively, was different. There was no denying it. But that remained- an identical imprint that lingered, stamped into Yoongi’s DNA, into the very force that governed his being and entirety.

It draws a reaction from Jimin that makes him want to look away, to hide his face out of embarrassment.  

Maybe it wasn’t what Jimin wanted to hear- but he now understands what Yoongi was trying to say.

Who he was still existed- what he wore now, where they were now, what they had to do now, did not stop him or change him from who he really was. And though Jimin blushes to think about it, for Yoongi, no matter the gear Jimin dawned on, he would see him for who he was; and that was beautiful.

Pushing up the visor of the helmet, Jimin reaches for Yoongi, gloved hands cupping the Human’s face.

‘Beautiful.’

Yoongi looks genuinely stunned.

Slowly, he shakes his head to Jimin’s statement. Jimin can’t help smiling, repeating the word again. It was almost as though Yoongi was shy.

They walk together towards the Hangar where Namjoon and Taeh’yung were getting ready to leave. The cell quickly and hastily attached to the main engine component on the Spardyti. Namjoon looks impressed when Jimin approaches, clearly making a comparison as his eyes flit between Jimin and Yoongi. He says something and Taeh’yung nods enthusiastically to that.

‘Does this really look all right?’ Jimin asks Taeh’yung the moment he’s close enough.

‘It does,’ the Zhak’gri tells him reassuringly.

‘It feels wrong,’ Jimin tells him helplessly. ‘It’s- it’s heavy.’

Taeh’yung has an understanding look in his eyes. He understood the implications of Jimin’s words.

‘Only for a while,’ he smiles.

Jimin nods. He knows.

They empty out the OrTank casing that had carried Jimin’s original OrTank. It would be large enough for Yoongi to sit inside with the magnetic pulse detonator with some extra space. The Human steps inside without further ado and takes the small compact device from Namjoon and tucks in a screen with him.

There’s a strange sensation the electrifies Jimin with dread as they slide the OrTank case cover close.

‘He’ll be all right,’ Taeh’yung pats the OrTank case. ‘They’re actually quite comfortable!’

‘…how do you know?’

‘I hid in one for a week once!’

Jimin doesn’t want to know how or why Taeh’yung found himself in such a situation.

He sees off the duo, setting off in the Transporter. He eyes the OrTank case quietly, making his way to sit next to it if only for a few seconds. He places his hand over the surface, wondering if Yoongi knew he was there or not. They were pretty sound-proof, from what Jimin can observe in terms of the design and materials used.

By the time Sk’jin comes down, dressed in truly magnificent clothing, Jimin almost doesn’t feel like himself at all. And maybe that was why he didn’t feel nervous, or why he could descend the ramp to face this Sool-gaan. He doesn’t even feel much when the Being in question regards him with a strange contemptuous look. Something like fear, disgust, and most of all, pure and intense hatred directed at him. He can feel and smell fear, pain, death, and loss in this ship. It reeks of it.

Every inch of this ship was smeared in it. He could not see it, but he knew, that beyond the great gateway behind Sool-gaan, existed hell and damnation.

‘Yoongi? Okay?’ he asks quietly, wanting to reassure himself by hearing the Human’s voice.

‘Okay,’ the Human replies quietly as the cyborgs carry him past Jimin and out of sight.

Sk’jin is clearly enjoying himself heckling Sool-gaan, and this easily takes up time. There are alarming explosions of light but Jimin is reassured by Taeh’yung that they were all right every so often.

They keep communicating on the Comm-Device, Taeh’yung sometimes translating.

‘How does it feel wearing Yoongi’s clothes?’ the insinuation is clear in Taeh’yung’s tone and Jimin tries in vain to sound nonchalant as he splutters a nonsensical response.

His heart is at ease when he hears Taeh’yung excitedly announce that he retrieved Hoseok. And then Jimin mentally prepares himself. It would be soon now.

Not counting Sool-gaan, there were 17 other Beings, 24 cyborgs, and 2 androids. There would be more but that wasn’t immediately important right now and all access to this Hangar would be taken care of by Yoongi. Jimin can sense Sk’jin’s nervousness. Despite his very convincing attitude of confidence, the Khol’isa was obviously nervous. And with good reason.

Sool-gaan issues his orders, hand waving dismissively before he walks out of the Dock. Jimin doesn’t move as the guards approach them, flanked by the cyborgs who all aim their firearms at them. They would have to time this perfectly.

Sk’jin is quite obviously nervous, and maybe the Sool-gaan’s guards can see it too because they start speaking to him in mocking tones.

‘Yoongi?’ he asks quietly, allowing the guards to push him backwards. Jimin has a feeling they would take his helmet off and he couldn’t have that now. But at the same time he couldn’t prevent it because the cyborgs were still active. And every single explosion of light that ripples across the debris-strewn space outside increases his panic and nervousness. Jimin wants to reach out and take Sk’jin’s hand- but he couldn’t. Not when he was imitating Yoongi.

But they don’t have to wait long.

‘Sunshine, now.’ Yoongi tells him quietly.

Though it had been only a mere 30 minutes, Jimin had felt as though time had lapsed for eons. Exhaling as though he had been holding his breath, Jimin finally relaxes and his movement draws attention. The lights in the Docks blink out and give way to the glaring emergency lights and in one collective heap, all the cyborgs fall to the ground. But the remaining guards have no time to react.

Light erupts- soft and gently and soothing. A calm and reasonable suggestion- one that spoke of common sense, of logic- and one that could be classified almost as seductive.

‘Be at peace,’ he whispers softly, his voice a lulling hymn, a gentle song, and a powerful command.

‘Don’t take off your helmet!’ Taeh’yung translates urgently.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because Jimin finally feels like he’s overcome the gear- like he’s shedding the weight of it.

Actual physical growth is not a sensation most natural living beings experienced. At least not in a physical sense.

And it’s not a physical presence either- it’s not a tangible or palpable property that grows out of Jimin at his beck and call.

It was an extension of himself- it was his core.

It was his will and it was his intention.

And he knows he doesn’t have to extend this anymore than this room. But he does. The stench of death, pain, fear, and loss is replaced with sudden sleep and even though Jimin starts to feel a little light-headed he continues on. He had felt constrained and restricted- travelling for continuous periods of time through space was not comfortable for Jimin. He preferred being in-planet, where he could feel the surges of power deep within the planet’s core.

‘Jimin?’

Jimin doesn’t know how much time had gone by as lowers his hands and finds Sk’jin in front of him, eyes shielded and narrowed. ‘Stop.’

Jimin stumbles backwards a little, extremely dizzy and light-headed. His breaths sound harsh to his own ears and he quickly kneels on one knee on the floor, trying to regain his strength.

Sk’jin is talking to him and Jimin knows he’s asking if he was all right.

‘Okay-‘ Jimin manages to pant out, ‘I am okay.’

Looking over the grounds, Jimin finds the guards in heaps on the floor, fast asleep. The cyborgs are still in heaps on the floor and no living being was approaching them. Shakily, Jimin manages to stand again. He wasn’t going to be able to do much after this for some time- he would need rest. Sk’jin helps him up, still looking about  the place with confusion, eyeing Jimin as well as though hoping for an explanation. The Khol’isa says something more, his tone sounds almost chastising, as though telling Jimin off for overdoing it. It makes Jimin smile.

‘It’s done,’ Jimin reports back weakly in his best Standard.

Sk’jin too says something before he’s nodding. He carefully lets go of Jimin as though to make sure he was all right. Jimin raises a shaky thumb’s up and Sk’jin takes this as a positive sign. And then he’s rushing back towards the Užkulisai, not sparing a single glance back at the Dock or the guards. But Jimin stays still. He wants to remove the helmet but he doesn’t want to be seen or recognized.

‘Yoongi?’ he asks nervously, pacing a little as he glances around for any rogue guard or some attempt to upset this delicate plan.

‘Coming sunshine.’

It feels almost like hours before Yoongi reappears, bursting through the doors towards the end of the Dock. Jimin tries to move quickly towards the Human, searching his being for any injury. But Yoongi is fine, his hands reaching out in response to Jimin’s own outstretched ones. When their hands meet, Jimin is finally at complete ease, his light-headedness ebbing away slowly.

They both head towards the Užkulisai, her engines humming and the turbines bright and active. And out past her glimmering slightly amidst the dense sea of debris, the Spardyti was returning as well. They would have to wait until it was safely docked in before they could leave.

‘Jimin,’ Yoongi points inside their Hangar at the magnetic strips waiting for the Spardyti to arrive. Jimin nods in understanding, making his way towards them to ready them to receive the Transporter. He’s fatigued and his body feels like it’s moving in slow motion but he doesn’t stop. They were so close to leaving this behind. But he doesn’t even get to step inside the Hangar when the whole ship suddenly jolts violently.

Falling to his knees at the sudden brute force, Jimin doesn’t need Taeh’yung or Namjoon’s warning cries to feel it.

Light blankets the wide gaping opening of the Dock as a torrent of missiles fall upon them.

‘-imin get inside now- it’s- it’s the space-battle, they’ve moved over-‘

‘Taeh’yung-!?’ Jimin recovers enough to stand up, wildly looking out but there’s too many flashes of light and the ship is tilting violently. Their own method of escaping by using the magnetic pulse was now crippling them. Sool-gaan’s ship was now simply a sitting target, with no protection or means of escape.

They had been too distracted- too worried for their safety that they forget the immediate danger that lay outside this ship. The very danger that they had nearly crashed into when they eased out of warp.

Jimin remembers Namjoon saying that this planet, Ynqaba, was in the midst of a great civil war. They had not expected this battle to spread from in-planet to their spatial-borders. And now they were caught in the middle of a war.

Jimin twists as he slides down the Hangar floor, trying to catch himself on the floor. He catches sight of Yoongi who is attempting to hold himself steady on the railings to the side of the ramp floor. The Human looks unperturbed, only a slight look of worry as he watches Jimin perch himself against the side of the floor.

‘Sk’jin!’ Jimin yells out, inching forward towards Yoongi to help him inside.

The lines of communication are scrambled and there’s too much white noise- everything was too loud. Jimin concentrates on moving forward, eyes never leaving Yoongi’s.

Yoongi is waiting for him, his expression steady, as though silently encouraging Jimin to move forward. Jimin feels restricted- he wishes he could remove the helmet but he knows it’ll keep him safe.

The blinding lights clear and Jimin is momentarily distracted at the sight that unfolds outside.

Jimin can no longer see the Spardyti. In fact the sea of debris and rubble has scattered far across and before him the whole mass of battle-worn ships gather and hover.

Jimin gulps, horror and shock flooding him in tremors. There were thousands of innocent lives in this ship. If they are attacked, then they could do nothing to stop it. Especially not with the Omhlophe waiting for them just beyond. But Jimin can’t help but wonder at these Ynqaba ships gathered outside. They were fighter-ships yes, but they weren’t numerous or powerful enough to take down a ship as large as this one. Perhaps the Omhlophe’s ship could have made an easier target, but a ship this size was sure to withstand their continued attacks for weeks even.

Sk’jin had said that there was a 78% chance of success.

This was probably the remaining 22% coming back to overthrow them.

‘Jimin!’

Tearing his gaze away from the barrier of ships before him, Jimin concentrates back on Yoongi.

The Human has already carefully clambered in and he’s stepping up onto the ramp when a bright clear light erupts outside of the Dock.

Momentarily blinded, Jimin braces himself for the force of impact but nothing happens.

At least not what Jimin expects.

There is no shock wave, no pressure from the force of the explosion of a missile. Instead there is silence. A strange, hollow silence and Jimin understands at once.

These ships weren’t here to blow them up or even attempt to fire at them. That explosion of light had not been a missile. It had been a very powerful magnetic-pulse.

Because these Beings, the ones in the battle-ships in front of him, knew they didn’t have the masses or power to take them down. But they could always rely on their planet’s natural gravitational pull to draw them in. And now, without the power or energy to source the brakes or anchors on Sool-gaan’s ship, they were harnessed into Ynqaba’s gravity range.

They were now, in every sense of the word powerless.

And as though the ship too had realized what Jimin had come to realize, darkness falls and sirens and warnings go off but it’s not before gravity vanishes partly and suddenly, everything is untethered and unstable. Jimin loses balance and falls over, his impact oddly slow but still disconcerting.

And then to his horror, before he can even remotely stabilize himself, the ship starts to tilt around dangerously, pulling Jimin down again. And to add to this, the Ynqaba ships start to fire. Massive forceful detonations, all aimed to push them further and deeper into Ynqaba’s gravity range.

Jimin tries to concentrate- could he reach out and stop this destruction? Could he reach out and stop this attack-

The ships suddenly lets out a deep and almost guttural groan.

‘Jimin.’

Yoongi is still there, trying his best to cling onto the ramp the same way Jimin was trying to cling to the Hangar wall.

A symphony of lights erupt around them- heat waves pushing over before ripples of force press Jimin down. The Dock quakes and then within a second, the ship starts to chip apart bit by bit. The light illuminates the Dock and Jimin sees the way the floor panels seem to peel off, chunks of wires and pipes floating out, weaker thinner metals curling and falling off. The heat is powerful and Jimin is desperate as he attempts to fight the overwhelming waves of force from the continuous rain of missiles and move forward to Yoongi.

Yoongi has managed to cling to the side of the ramp, his face contorted with concentration and pain. Jimin can see blisters forming on Yoongi’s hands and this spurs him forward even faster.

The Užkulisai tilts dangerously again and Jimin has the momentum to move forward- but this means that Yoongi is in even more danger.

‘Yoongi-!’

Jimin runs forward and he feels gravity returning, the slightest hint of a pull brushing against his exposed skin. Diving vertically, Jimin soars through the spinning air and grabs Yoongi’s outstretched hand. They fall in a heap as gravity pulls them down and Yoongi swings on Jimin’s arm over the edge of the twisting ramp.

‘Yoongi- please climb up-‘ Jimin tugs at Yoongi’s hand and the Human grips back even tighter before tensing almost violently for a second and he pulls himself up on Jimin’s arm and upwards. His free hand grips onto the lip of the ramp and he easily swings a leg over. Jimin scrambles to pull him up over, sitting up from where he’d been on the floor on his front, his body buzzing and strung from adrenaline and panic.

It all happens too quickly.

There’s a bright flare of light and before Jimin can even comprehend what he instinctively understood, Jimin yanks Yoongi into the Hangar Bay with all his strength just as a missile detonates right above them.

The force of the blast tilts the Užkulisai sharply and Jimin has no control as he falls out.

His vision is a kaleidoscope of lights, heat, stars, the Dock, and the Užkulisai.

He collides hard onto a wall and slides down.

And by all laws of physics, the Užkulisai should also be crashing beside Jimin- but gravity is wreaking havoc and the forces of the missiles jolts the very air around them and the Užkulisai is rotating upwards and outwards. How was this possible? That magnetic-pulse would have taken out all of their systems- how was the Užkulisai still able to function?

They don’t know what purpose the magnetic-pulses were meant to serve. If the gravity functions were falling apart- then life-support could also follow soon. Panic spreads inside Jimin and his body is electrified into action with fear. He pushes himself up and propelling himself forward, Jimin attempts to swim towards the Užkulisai.

As Jimin stretches, the Užkulisai flips around and Yoongi is there.

His eyes are wide with fear- and it’s not fear for himself, or fear of death or pain.

It’s the same fear within Jimin reflecting back at him and Jimin cries out, willing himself to move forward.

The emergency lights dim and the alarms shut off.

He doesn’t hear it, but he see Yoongi’s lip forming the syllables of his name- he was calling out to him- he was calling for him. And Jimin has to answer- he has to reach back. Yoongi’s hand is stretched out for him and Jimin tries-

There is an eruption of heat that rips through the remaining air and Jimin collides heavily with a careening OrTank and he falls back deeper into the Dock.

But the Užkulisai is suddenly upright and steady- her engines and turbines alight and powered.

‘What-‘

The air is spinning around Jimin and the Uzkulisai is the only steady thing in his vision. Yoongi is still there, eyes and mouth wide, as though he was screaming- his hand is reaching out but the ramp is closing him in and in a matter of a couple of seconds, the gates of the Hangar Bay are closed and Yoongi is gone.

There is another detonation and fire, white and hot rains down on Jimin from above the Užkulisai. Jimin’s scream is deafening even to himself as the Užkulisai shoots out through the cloud of fire and out of the riotous Dock into open space beyond before it is hidden from his sight by a blanket of explosions.

‘YOONGI!’

As though he was being yanked back by a rope, Jimin falls backwards through the air and he’s crashes. His vision dims, his entire being threatening to slip into unconsciousness. But he can’t. So he concentrates- there was only one thing Jimin could concentrate on. Jimin can only hear himself breathing- his pulse roaring like thunder in his ears. He counts his breaths- pacing his thoughts, his movements, forcing his recovering to align. When he pulls himself together, he feels how a great pressure is pushing him with bone-crushing force against the walls of the Hangar. If it weren’t for the gear he wore, Jimin would not have survived.

‘Yoongi-!’ he chokes out. ‘Y-Yoongi-! Taeh’yung-!’

He’s pushed down heavily and though his vision is blurred and compromised, he sees the horrified dead faces of Sool-gaan’s guards close by. Jimin cannot look.

‘Lisai!’ Jimin calls out desperately, his mind reeling with all the words and terms he memorized with so much dedication. ‘H-help!’

The automated voice sounds clear and stable but Jimin doesn’t understand. But he can understand the tone- the AI was asking him a question. All AI’s were designed and programmed to prioritize living Beings and prevent any harm from occurring. Whatever it was asking Jimin, had to be of good. To help him.

Jimin flips- pressure dragging him downwards instead and to his horror he watches as loosened gravity-lifts and other large gadgets are ripped off of their hinges and crash down around him. The Užkulisai was nowhere in sight and Jimin has no way of knowing if it was safe or not. He can’t afford to think about it- the Užkulisai had purposefully left the Dock. It had left Jimin behind.

Lisai’s voice repeats the same words and Jimin, in his heavy disorientation understands just a few words and one of them is ‘return’- and that’s what Jimin needs. He needs to return- he has to return. He cannot leave Yoongi again- he cannot allow this to happen again-

‘Yes!’ he manages to cry out.

His vision which had previously been clear and sharp, with just a singular warped line to the side to indicate his visor, is now suddenly overwhelmed with light-lines and letters forming in nauseating rapidity.

Jimin crashes against a wall and with agility and speed he didn’t know he possessed, spins and rolls away as a massive bolder falls where he had just been.

‘Lisai-?!’

The words are going past so quickly they look like blurred neon streaks- trying to look past them, Jimin crawls forwards towards a vent. It was a contained space- he would be safer in there-

He slides along the floor as the ship tilts again but Jimin holds onto the floor’s textured surface, using Yoongi’s gear to his advantage. It’s a difficult climb and he keeps repeating ‘Yes!’ to Lisai’s questions. A stray pipe catches itself on Jimin’s leg and he holds back a cry of pain and moves on. Below him the planet Ynqaba was looming shockingly close. So his hunch had been right. They were pushing the ship towards their planet.

Everything was screaming- the ship, the living beings in it, the very atoms that existed within that space- everything was screaming and Jimin’s throat is parched and strained.

Just as he grabs on to the vent-lip the blurred lines freeze and vanish, leaving behind a long paragraph of words and sentences he does not understand.

[‾ - ‾SWƎ┴S⅄S]

[N/⅄ pƎƎƆOɹԀ‾פNIHS∀ɹƆ SWƎ┴S⅄S]

[N/⅄ pƎƎƆOɹԀ‾פNIHS∀ɹƆ SWƎ┴S⅄S]

[N/⅄ pƎƎƆOɹԀ‾פNIHS∀ɹƆ SWƎ┴S⅄S]

[N/⅄ pƎƎƆOɹԀ‾פNIHS∀ɹƆ SWƎ┴S⅄S]

[ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO]

[ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO]

[ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO]

[ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO]

[ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO W∩WIX∀W ┴∀ SNOI┴ƆN∩Ⅎ ƆI┴∀WƎ┴S⅄S]

[W∩WIX∀W ┴∀ NOI┴ƆN∩Ⅎ ƎqO˥ ˥∀ɹOԀWƎ┴]_

_

_

_

‾N/⅄ ¿˥˥∀┴SNI‾

˙Ǝ┴Ǝ˥ԀWOƆ p∀O˥NMOp ƎɹOƆ pIOɹpN∀‾

‾

‾

‾פNIpN∀ԀXƎ‾

‾פNIpN∀ԀXƎ‾

‾NOI┴∀┴NƎWפ∩∀ ˥∀NɹƎ┴NI Ԁ∩ פNI┴┴ƎS

‘Yes!’ Jimin cries out one more time before pulling himself inside the narrow vent. He doesn’t even know what he’s agreeing to but he just screams it.

_

_

_

_

‘Lisai?!’ he shouts. The screaming is louder in here and Jimin can’t help but close his eyes.

_

‘Please- Yoongi!’ he screams. ‘Taeh’yung! Sk’jin! Namjoon! Hoseok! Can you hear me?! Please!’

_

The screaming rises to a numbing pitch and light flashes through his closed eyes and Jimin is forced to open them.

_

[‾-‾NƎSIp ┴ON Op

Ǝפ∀פNƎSIp ┴ON Op

Ǝפ∀פNƎSIp ┴ON Op

ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO Ǝɹ∀Mpɹ∀H

ƎΛIɹpɹƎΛO Ǝɹ∀Mpɹ∀H

‾N/⅄ pƎƎƆOɹԀ -NOI┴ƆN∩Ⅎ˥∀W Ǝɹ∀Mpɹ∀H]

It’s white and as though the universe had inversed. Great lines of stars streaked past, leaving behind black spots that blinked and are gone in an instant- voices and laughter and crying ring around until they burst into colour.

Jimin feels his stomach convulse, his entire being shivers and his head is suddenly fevered. Feeling as though two great hands were squeezing his brain, Jimin struggles to look away, his hands trying to push away the sight before him. But he can’t let go- he had to hold on to the ladder or he could fall out of the vent and back into the hangar-

[TEMPORAL LOBE FUNCTION AT MAXIMUM]

[SYSTEMATIC FUNCTIONS AT MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE]

[OVERDRIVE]

[OVERDRIVE]

[OVERDRIVE]

[OVERDRIVE]

[SYSTEMS CRASHING_PROCEED Y/N]

[SYSTEMS CRASHING_PROCEED Y/N]

[SYSTEMS CRASHING_PROCEED Y/N]

[SYSTEMS CRASHING_PROCEED Y/N]

[SYSTEMS_ - _]

_

_

_

_

SETTING UP INTERNAL AUGMENTATION_

_EXPANDING_

_EXPANDING_

_

_

_ANDROID CORE DOWNLOAD COMPLETE.

_INSTALL? Y/N_

/-Y_

He’s back in the vent.

His breathing is harsh and his mouth tastes like bile. His entire body shakes violently, his mind is filled with a sort of buzzing that reminds Jimin of night-insects but just amplified at least 10 times in volume. 

Jimin thinks he might have fallen unconscious again because when he opens his eyes again, everything feels strangely normal.

‘Good evening Jimin.’

It’s eerily silent. It is also dark, and it’s impossibly cold. The very air around him is still and Jimin only just realizes he’s on his back. But he doesn’t care about any of that.

‘Your health-tab suggests that you have sustained a concussion, please do not move too much. You have also sustained 3 cracked ribs, a cracked fibula, and bruised your 4^th and 5^th lumbar vertebrae. Your suit has aligned to support you, so please do not strain yourself.’

As though the words triggered it, pain floods Jimin’s body and he can’t help the cry of pain that comes out of his mouth.

This was a dream. It had to be a dream. But the pain was too real- this vent was too real. The soreness of his throat, and the heaviness of his tongue was too real.

‘Li- Lisai?’ Jimin croaks out, willing himself to wake up. This was a dream. It had to be. It wasn’t possible- this wasn’t possible. This had to be a dream- if he could hear Lisai, he had to be in the ship. Or at least near-by. 

‘How can I help you?’

This was not a dream. This was real.

This was all too real.

He can hear the words. Hear the foreign tones and by all means, by all logic Jimin shouldn’t be able to understand.

But he does.

‘Y-Yoongi-‘

Pain blossoms along his chest and Jimin coughs violently.

‘Weapons-specialist Yoongi is out of reach. Channels from Ynqaba do not allow off-planet communications.’

Off-planet?!

Jimin racks his pain-fevered mind, bright spots appearing before his eyes as pain floods his body, leaving him shaking to his core.

‘Lisai- where-…where I am.’

‘You are currently located inside the XBI-001-43, a trading ship under the command of Van Seulgaan of Raksane Tayi. You have entered the country of Luargeri in the planet of Ynqaba illegally. Please obtain your pass at the nearest Immigration Office, located 3.1 light years in the System of Ymir.’

*

(Author’s Notes)

“The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities.”

Stephen Hawking.

I’m SO SORRY for the late update!! Istg uni is killing me this semester T_T

But I hope you enjoy this update!! It was really fun to write and WOO THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT JIMIN UNDERSTANDS STANDARD

 NEXT CHAPTER IS GONNA BE SO FUN *coughs* i mean, it'll be chill *coughs*