The general atmosphere, or the vibe (as the youths on Earth back in Yoongi’s time would put it), in Māho-5 was severely lacking.

This was, however, a much needed and welcomed change from the consistently terrible and terrifying ordeals they’ve had to consistently deal with and adapt to for quite a while now. Yoongi feels relaxed here, with a normal amount of shadiness, corrupt officials at lower rankings, standard looking non-threatening ships and Transporters with equally non-threatening and standard looking crew and members.

‘This is surprisingly relaxing,’ Hoseok comments, voice guttural and low in his disguise. Yoongi had to really go through his somehow very skewed and detailed memory to pinpoint Hoseok’s current disguise. It was also a very standard, and non-threatening species from Ghandhar, lanky and lean, slightly balding. Like this, Yoongi is almost reminded of Amic.

His chest constricts slightly, the knowledge that Amic was somewhere out there right now. That Amad’la was out there. That his entire rag-tag of a team could possibly be out there, right now. It’s not surprising.

It’s not surprising but at the same time Yoongi still finds himself reeling from the shock of it all. The same way he’s still somehow reeling from the shock of finding himself here, of finding himself aware and awake.

‘You okay?’ Hoseok asks, looking down at him, concern in his currently green beady eyes.

‘Just thinking,’ Yoongi shrugs in reply as they enter the market zone.

It’s a lot more crowded here and messier with stalls thrown up all over what used to be a massive hangar. Now instead the support beams crisscrossing the exposed floors and walls are used as support for granges and displays. Huge outlets connected with massive wiring and connectors braid through the floor and up towards the high ceiling at random. At least the lighting isn’t too bad in here.

‘Yeah, it’s all we can do now I guess,’ Hoseok remarks with a sigh. ‘Spaces, can’t this just be over already.’

Yoongi chuckles, dodging an overeager salesperson who was trying to sell some form of questionable oil-extract. He’s about to reply to Hoseok when something clicks in his mind.

‘-it’s not like Namjoon losing himself is helping-‘ Hoseok grumbles, stuffing his 4 -hands into his pockets, ‘-us with pacing our trajectory-‘

‘-Hoseok-‘ Yoongi says tersely, hair on the back of his neck standing when he realizes a few Beings around them were giving him inquisitive looks, as though trying to place his identity, his face.

‘-what?’ Hoseok looks back down again.

‘I- I uh, don’t mean to cause alarm but I think-‘ Yoongi is nowhere near comfortable with this. ‘-I think there’s-‘

A quiet but resounding humming alarm goes off, ringing down at them from the high ceilings of the hangar-turned-market. And then everyone is starting at Yoongi.

‘Hey-!’ someone yells, pointing at Yoongi. ‘Hey you-!

There’s raised mumbling, more Beings staring at Yoongi and Hoseok.

‘It’s him!’ someone yells. Yoongi tries his best to ignore the voices and pointing and open-pointing but it’s impossible when everyone starts to back away, pushing themselves up against the stalls and granges, gawking at him.

Yoongi swiftly takes off his Comm-Device and shoves it at Hoseok.

‘I think it’s about Pompen,’ Yoongi quickly says, planting his feet firmly on the eroded metal floors, pushing Hoseok even more. ‘Get back to the ship.’

‘-!’ Hoseok curses before he nods and he’s backing away from Yoongi immediately.

‘Change as soon as possible-!’

A beam of light flickers all around him. It’s not the stunning-beam, it’s a scanner. Yoongi thinks of how he can bolt out of this situation. But his mind comes up blank- not without causing an even bigger problem or causing a disruption that could expose their location to Beings they can’t possibly protect themselves against or account for.

Don’t move. Don’t do anything.

So Yoongi doesn’t move. Doesn’t try to make a run for it. Not when everyone was staring at him. Not when everyone seemed to recognize him.

His body was tense, seconds dragging out to minutes and whole hours, it felt, until the security force of the Māho-5 Patrol Unit appeared.

‘Under the laws of justice protecting Māho-5, we do not tolerate or allow members of the Isbahaysiga Alliance to establish their presence within our borders,’ one of the officers states. A bunch of other officers are sprinting past, clearly trying to find Hoseok. Had they been watching them from before? How long has his face been sent out to the public that it was eliciting such an immediate response? What about the others? If they had his face, what about Namjoon, Sk’jin, Taeh’yung, and even Jimin?

It’s a small comfort, knowing that Jungkook wouldn’t be in the roster of supposed members of the Isbahaysiga Alliance. Was this retaliation? If so, from who? Had Seulgaan been alive, Yoongi would have initially suspected him. But considering what they knew now, and about how Seulgaan had in fact been a part of a much bigger plan alongside this mission, it couldn’t be anyone from the Special Jury. Or could it?

Long lance-cuffs are used to hold him down.

Yoongi knows it’s procedure- and to an extent, a rather smart idea considering his own horrific battle arena in Pompa. This was definitely a precaution Māho-5 was exercising smartly. Though again, if Yoongi wanted to break free, he most definitely could.

Too tired.

‘Yeah,’ Yoongi sighs as the lance-cuffs twist him around and make him kneel, arms twisted over his head. The cuffs then expand and twist from his wrists to latch around his throat. Another cuff is placed onto his ankles.

Great. They were going to use a lift to transport him around. Yoongi realizes he’s being captured via multiple screens despite the Māho-5 officers gathering around him to create a perimeter. Even though he’s very much indeed restrained, the Māho-5 officers still make use of the charged lances to move him and keep him down on the lift.

Yoongi doesn’t hear or see any other commotion.

Hoseok had clearly gotten away, and the others were probably immediately warned and were now out of the Dock.

Yoongi knows he could rely on them to get him out. There was no question about that.

But what could this entail for them? What could this twist into – Pompa had felt so long ago; trivial, at this point. But here they were, falling into a mess they thought they had long left behind.

The Māho-5 officers don’t seem to have any questions for him, simply taking him away. Voices and murmurs and pointed starting follow Yoongi all the way into what he guesses is the main station for law enforcers. This wasn’t a strictly GLA-standard division of spatial border law prison, so Yoongi’s not sure what they’re going to do now.

He’s taken all the way inside, down a narrow hallway and into a holding cell. It’s not a bad set-up, for a place like Māho-5. The walls are digitized, Yoongi can tell, and were designed so that lance-cuffs could slide through slots, making it easier for the officers to control their captive without having to step into the cell.

Even though he’s released, Yoongi’s arms, wrists, knees, and ankles are bound. He can’t do anything other than sort of weirdly slump on the ground. The lift he was transported in quickly slips out through the gaps in the wall.

No doors, no windows; the only light allowed in comes from the designated slots and gaps bordering the cell. There was no need for surveillance or added security for a cell like this one.

The thin digitized walls hum quietly around him.

There was no escaping this sort of prison cell. Maybe this was the only one they had, saved for dangerous, Teronko’ng Prison level criminals or berserking Beings.

It’s, funnily enough, the first time Yoongi has ever been in prison.

And instead of feeling despair, panic, or worry outside of well- outside of the mess that was, without exaggeration, his life, he feels a sense of curiosity.

Ah, so this is prison.

Yoongi could roll his eyes at himself.

Should he say something? There was an officer seated some ways outside his cell. But what could he ask? Maybe he could try and clarify why he was in prison. And how long he would be kept in here. And who he was probably going to be transported to. Would they try and send him back to Raksane Tayi? They would have scanned him by now and wouldn’t find any record of him. Unless somehow some sort of identification was created for him by the same Being/s who had him uploaded into the GLA’s version of a most-wanted list.

The taping and distribution of his arena must have very extensively gone through the major channels, if trading ship officers and crew members nearly immediately recognized him.

But maybe it wasn’t the recognizing part that threw Yoongi off. It was the fact that they actually took note of him to look at him. Like he was so physically present- a notion that he is unfamiliar with. A notion that would make his life difficult because Yoongi has relied so much in the fact that he’s been able to blend so easily into his immediate surroundings.

More awake.

Yoongi sighs.

His muscles are cramping from the awkward position. He’s weirdly hunched, and on his knees, making him have to balance himself constantly.

Tired.

Shuffling towards a wall and leaning gingerly on it, Yoongi exhales out a surprisingly tired breath as he supports himself. With some difficulty, he’s able to somewhat sit down in an only slightly uncomfortable angle.

He didn’t have to say it out loud. Didn’t have to confirm with anyone about it, or be told about it either. Yoongi knows that he’s treading a very thin line.

There’s more he wants to find out. More he knows they can search deeper into. More that he knows will help them see better, by first looking into the past, so they know what they’re about to approach.

The memories Jimin helped him revive amidst his past’s hung-over state was smudged but still understandable and incredibly telling of what they had blindly walked into. And Yoongi doesn’t want a repeat of that. Because with everything that was happening right now, this was a repeat of the past Yoongi does not want to relive.

But he knows Jimin will never agree to look deeper. Not after he’s experienced first-hand what it did to Yoongi. And though he knew that it was a terrible risk, and he was now suffering for it, Yoongi doesn’t regret it.

They needed to know, needed to understand.

A sudden spike of pain floods his body, coming and going quickly, but leaving Yoongi with a throbbing pain in his bones. It was getting easier to mask his pain, but every time Jimin so much as touched him, he knew Jimin could feel it too.

Sighing out slowly and ignoring the rather unsteady rhythm with which his heart beat, Yoongi closes his eyes.

If he concentrates enough he can almost hear it. Almost feel it.

The house used to be a prototype for homes from Ancient Earth, according to his middle-school teacher back on Earth. They would have field trips, taking them to various locations around the surface of the Earth to better understand their complex history. And there were many locations, rebuilt to look like what it once did in various points of history.

And though it wasn’t awe-inspiring or even remotely unique, the prototype of a simple “townhouse” somehow stuck with Yoongi ever since. And in a strange way, rematerialized into perfection in the recesses of his mind.

It was always raining, when it first formed, but now the sun shone through the windows, a gentle and steady sunrise just beyond the horizon.

‘How long did you build it?’

I first thought of it in Šerdesas. It was raining then too.

When Yoongi first woke up, all those sols ago, standing in Zhoumi’s apartment, the sound of the rain faint but all around.

It was cold.

Yoongi shivers a little, but he smiles a little, watching the way the room lit up in rosy colours.

It’s warm now.

*

‘You’re set?’

‘Yes,’ is Sk’jin’s irritated answer. ‘This is the dumbest ever-‘

‘You know that the GLA never sends in single officers-‘

‘We could do this without involving Jungkook-‘

‘Yes but you also know that as both you and Taeh’yung are very much indeed part of the GLA’s wanted list for Level 1 criminal offence, I think it’s best we do not have either of you come out here?’ Hoseok sighs out, leaning against the wall of the Hangar along other maintenance Androids. ‘And no, we are not going to have Jimin out here either. That’s riskier than the two of you combined.’

Sk’jin makes an annoyed sound.

‘He’s never done a space-run, there’s so many things that could go wrong-‘

‘It’s not a long distance and there’s no gravitational force to pull him down,’ Hoseok sighs again, knowing that Sk’jin was only arguing like this because he was worried. ‘And he’s a natural-‘

‘Just because he once defeated like 10 GI agents on his own doesn’t mean he can suddenly space-run all the way there for some ed-up attempt at a rescue.’

‘But do we have any other option?’

‘I know we don’t, I’m just arguing because I don’t like this, happy?’ Sk’jin fumes, sounding like he was struggling before adding, ‘Taeh’yung please-‘

‘Where did you get all of these uniforms from? And when?’ Jimin asks, not sounding as worried as Hoseok thought he would.

‘From Amme.’ Is all Hoseok says.

‘It means he stole them from Amme’s ship,’ Sk’jin explains unnecessarily. ‘Thank Jungkook isn’t too tall yet-‘

‘Does it fit him?’ Hoseok asks as he mingles with the Androids who immediately take off once a ship docks and lands. Hoseok watches as a patrol unit moves past them, not sparing him or the other Android a glance.

‘Yes. But just barely. He’ll be there in 30 minutes.’

‘Okay great.’

‘That being done, how are you convincing the Māho officials you’re actual GLA officers? There is no recorded ship docking in from the GLA to back you up-‘

‘I know,’ Hoseok replies readily, ‘Yoongi is declared a member of the Alliance right? Meaning that the GLA wouldn’t necessarily want the general public or members of the general public to handle a case like this one-‘

‘-because apparently the Alliance is dead.’

‘-exactly- so we’re going in as agents.’

‘You’re going in as yourself.’

‘Somewhat.’

‘A triple-disguise. Very effective. This plan is still stupid.’

Hoseok chortles.

‘Right. Jungkook looks too excited, gotta knock him down I ‘spose,’ Sk’jin sighs.

‘Unconscious?’

‘What? No! As in, ground him, I dunno, less-enthuse him.’ Sk’jin exclaims.

‘Less-enthuse him. Gonna use that next time when I-‘ Taeh’yung begins enthusiastically.

‘Please don’t finish that sentence. I’m too old.’

Jimin is wheezing over the line.

To everyone’s relief, Jungkook manages the space-run with an ease that even Hoseok is envious of. And to an extent, it’s not very surprising considering his species, his up-bringing, and where he grew up – his instincts were keen and sharp.

His enthusiasm was potentially eye-catching as the first thing he does when he literally crashes into Hoseok after making it past the Atmoshield is to whoop very loudly.

Hoseok quickly muffles him by slamming shut his visor again and shoving him into the Android maintenance room.

‘That was so fun!’ Jungkook says brightly, taking off his helmet and spacesuit with too much energy. One of the sleeves slaps Hoseok across the face.

‘Are you dizzy? Do you feel heavy?’ Hoseok asks, looking over the youngling with worry.

‘No! I’m fine!’ Jungkook bounces a little, clearly very elated.

‘That’s him knocked down,’ Sk’jin explains tiredly.

Space-runs were tiring, even with a good spacesuit. And for Beings who weren’t trained beforehand it was an absolute nightmare maneuvering the controls, knowing how much pressure to release in the compressed air-valves, how to time your transit through dead-space straight in through an Atmoshield.

But here was Jungkook, absolutely living and energized by the whole experience.

Hoseok remembers having to lie down on the floor for a whole hour, trying to recalibrate himself from the shock of going through dead-space and down into an area with complete gravity.

‘Here!’ Jungkook unties the large flat bag previously attached to his back and hands it to Hoseok. ‘It’s everything you requested for.’

‘Thanks Kookie,’ Hoseok immediately starts unpacking it.

‘Hoseok, you might want to check up on an issue headed your way- I mean, well, Yoongi’s way. It seems like they’re expecting a large Transporter for their dock.’ Sk’jin tells him tersely. ‘They might be transferring him somewhere else.’

‘Why the are their lazy asses actually working on time?’ Hoseok hisses as he pulls out the uniform he requested them for.

‘Alliance makes Beings jumpy? I dunno,’ Sk’jin replies. ‘You’ll need to help Jungkook with the mask.’

Hoseok quickly strips himself off of the maintenance overalls, his skin rippling, hair darkening and lengthening just the slightest and forming a neat cut right under his chin. Jungkook is staring with wide eyes, watching with fascination as Hoseok does his utmost to bring the most change to his body as he can. It was a little more difficult to change into a distinctly feminine silhouette but Hoseok has long mastered the tricky bits. Most times, with most species, it was the physical attitude that mattered the most.

‘Pretty,’ Jungkook remarks with a wide grin. Hoseok rolls his now silver eyes in response.

Hoseok slips on the long skirt, forgoing the standard stockings for long socks (mainly because he hadn’t found stockings), and quickly pulls on the long blazer on top.

Most Yisheng ships were stocked with default uniforms for a number of official statuses for the purpose of (but not limited to) funerals. Does Hoseok feel bad? Not really.

His stock of useful uniforms, badges, and status-based equipment were all in the Užkulisai. He was simply restocking. In a very unconventional manner.

‘Do you have the IDs for me?’

‘Sending to the screens. With Kookie,’ Jimin informs him.

‘Let’s do your eyes,’ Hoseok pushes back his longer hair into a neat brush-like low pony-tail.

Jungkook immediately bends his knees a little so that Hoseok can help him drop the EDie into his eyes. It seemed like Sk’jin had carefully masked Jungkook’s very telling skin-colouring into something slightly warmer. And now with the silver EDie, Jungkook looks very much like a Tayian. A tall Tayian.

‘You’re clearly mixed,’ Hoseok remarks, looking over Jungkook one time over to make sure everything was set.

‘It’s okay?’ Jungkook looks a little nervous.

‘It’s fine,’ Hoseok pats his shoulders, ‘You won’t have to talk much. I’m acting as your superior, and in Tayi, a lot of them are pretty prissy about ranks.’

‘More like all of them,’ Sk’jin comments dryly. ‘Get moving.’

‘Ready?’ Hoseok asks Jungkook, the latter is nervously combing through his hair with his fingers, chewing at his lower lip, a small furrow forming between his brows.

He nods timidly.

‘Just remember, you need to act like you own the room you walk into. Like you’re meant to be there. None of this is new to you.’ Hoseok tells him. ‘Look disinterested.’

‘Disinterested,’ Jungkook says the word carefully, exhaling out and then nodding. ‘Okay.’

Stepping out of the maintenance room, Hoseok walks with purpose and aim, the small but sharp heels on his feet making clear clacking sounds.

They don’t speak as they walk out of the Dock and head straight towards the Māho-5 Keep. It’s not extensively large or very fortified, but after some research, Hoseok is sure that Yoongi is being detained in their singular digitized cell. Most small and localized prisons or keeps had at least one digitized cell since almost 5 sols ago. The GLA had made it a standard practice and legal requirement that all facilities made to retain and hold criminals should be outfitted with one.

Hoseok wonders now if that was a decision made in regards to the Gaia Case.

According to a very easy search into the Keep’s system, Yoongi was being withheld as inmate 3589901. His arrest and warrant was charged under Deputy Ferf Fanger, also the head of the Keep.

‘No sign of Namjoon,’ Sk’jin tells him quietly. ‘Or of the Omhlophe.’

‘We had a really big head start,’ Hoseok says quietly. ‘And if this works out, we can get out within an hour. Just get ready to cut the signal when they send out the report.’

The Māho-5 Keep is little more than just a glorified detention center for mainly going through messed up trade-documents, passes, and only localized crime or the occasional pirate messing things up. So it’s not surprising when Hoseok and Jungkook have to walk through a small crowd of Beings, all eager to catch a glimpse of the Alliance criminal.

Hoseok had been, admittedly, far too busy to really keep track on what happened after Pompa. And while Hoseok knew that Yoongi’s arena had indeed been distributed and widely viewed for that short period of time, hadn’t imagined that it would have been used to frame him, and them, as members of the Alliance.

Amme had not mentioned this. Either she would have thought it was something they would have already been aware of, or she didn’t know about it herself. She wouldn’t be in the correct official position to be aware of information like this. But if it was connected to this mission, Hoseok is pretty sure that the Special Jury would have found out- especially considering the fact that Xmi, as Chief of the Galactic Security and Safety Department was in the Jury.

Hoseok had tried to pinpoint where and when their warrant for arrest would have been issued. It must have been fairly recent, considering they were not recognized in Grisial.

It was strange seeing his own picture, archived and retrieved from the Venture Unit, brought out and labeled alongside a warrant for instant arrest. He was ranking pretty high, with a heavy fine and sentence declared based on his supposed involvement with the Alliance. In order to obtain his original picture, you would need to have an incredible hold or authority over the Venture Unit archiving system.

Sk’jin’s picture is from a surveillance footage, Yoongi’s is from when his hair was still blue, and Taeh’yung’s was clearly taken from Teronko’ng Prison. Namjoon is also there, his picture taken from surveillance footage as well. There’s a blank image but with a general warning that this crew of old Alliance members were numbered at 6.  

It’s all loosely based on the incident that took place in Seulgaan’s ship. The Tayian himself is not mentioned, and instead they’re labeled as a group of former Alliance members still actively working on trafficking.

This was a very strategic and quiet attack against them.

There used to exist a unique species of insects in Ngfy’wid. They gathered grain husks during the harvest, to use in their underground nest-mound during the winter to grow and collect fungi which their larvae would feed on to grow fully in the coming spring. However this was an incredibly risky move for the insects, as they were the primary prey for most of the local birds. But the insects had a defense mechanism, excreting poison onto their wings to fend off their natural predators. However in order to get close to their own nest-mounds, they would need to shed their wings.

It was a harsh sacrifice, but the insects would time themselves, shedding their wings close to their nest-mounds, letting go of the husks before they’re swooped out by their predators. 

The autumn air would flutter with falling leaves, poisoned wings, and drying grain husks.

Hoseok can’t help but feel like their wings are being forcefully shed now.

Both Hoseok and Jungkook flash their fake (quickly and expertly made by Hoseok, further embellished by Sk’jin through legal systems), IDs over at the entrance once they make their way inside the Keep, the doorway guards allowing them entrance once they spot Hoseok’s rank.

They even respectfully curtsey.

‘Ah, a good start then.’ Sk’jin comments.

‘What the ?’ Hoseok hisses quietly, side-eyeing Jungkook.

‘So I stuck an Iris on him, need to keep an eye on things,’ Sk’jin replies blithely.

‘You saw me changing,’ Hoseok deadpans as they pause shortly in the anteroom before the main Lobby. This is clearly a pretty big ordeal, with the whole Keep flitting by around quickly, projections and screens blinking all over.

‘If it’s anything worth mentioning you look great in a skirt-‘

Hoseok doesn’t bother replying but does glare at some point around Jungkook’s chest. A harried looking pale Keep-staff approaches them.

‘Oh yes- oh, have you forgotten something?’ he inquires.

‘Forgotten?’ Hoseok tilts his head, posture leaning forward and downwards. ‘I beg your pardon?’

The staff member visibly flinches, ‘Oh uh- please, uh, wait one moment, we’re quite in an uproar-‘

Hoseok would feel bad for this unfortunate staff but he needs to get Yoongi out, then leave this place before the Omhlophe get to them, and find another place where they can restock weapons and supplies.

‘Who is the overhead of this Keep?’ Hoseok snaps as though he didn’t know.

Unable to really respond much other than plead at Hoseok with rapidly blinking eyes, the staff-member points towards the doorways past the service-cubicles.

‘Uh the Deputy Fanger is busy right now-‘ he begins but Hoseok pushes past and makes his way straight towards the doors.

The staff, though admirable in their attempt to stop Hoseok, tries to stand in front of Hoseok to stop them from continuing forward. Before Hoseok can say anything, Jungkook steps forward and physically lifts the staff away. He hears a squeaking protest behind him but Hoseok ignores it.

‘Cold.’ Sk’jin comments dryly. ‘Just follow Hoseok Kookie, you’ve really made quite the impression on that staff.’

Hoseok ignores the calls and warnings from around the Keep and pushes through the doorway labeled “Deputy”.

The door, much to Hoseok’s satisfaction, bangs open.

The Deputy Fanger jumps in shock, glaring at Hoseok with all five thin long eyes momentarily before schooling her expression once she notes Hoseok’s uniform and status.

‘I am Officer Jeong and this is Officer Heenuen,’ Hoseok flashes his ID, and Jungkook does the same behind him with an added Tayian bow. Who the taught him that? ‘From the Venture Unit Networking Division. We’re here to take the purported Isbahaysiga Alliance suspect.’

‘Not purported,’ the Deputy Fanger recovers, ‘Declared.’

‘Very well. The declared purported Isbahaysiga Alliance suspect,’ Hoseok clips back, ‘Inmate 358…-‘

‘-9901,’ Jungkook completes from behind him.

‘-is to be taken in by Venture Unit agents-‘ Hoseok is ready to lay down their complete details, backstory of how they’re here, and even more evidence of their validity as law-abiding agents but the Deputy Fanger just snorts.

‘I’m sorry Officer Jeong,’ the Deputy practically sneers, ‘But inmate 358…-‘

‘-9901,’ Jungkook completes.

‘-that.’ She scowls, ‘Has already been taken by your fellow visiting agents from the neighbouring port during the round up. Guess your competition is done.’

He hears Sk’jin exhale with frustration. Hoseok manages to disguise his own frustration and panic with a glare at the Deputy Fanger.

‘Daily? You really stock up on them don’t you.’

She gives him an extremely irritated look.

‘Which prison are they taking inmate 358…-‘

‘-9901.’ Jungkook offers again.

‘-9901,’ Hoseok nods, ‘where are they taking him?’

‘He didn’t have any identification or record. He’s being taken to the Cuab-D2 Detention Facility. Was this not declared to you by your supervisors Officer Jeong? If so, please do not insinuate any fallacies about my Keep.’

‘Wait- isn’t that-‘

‘Axudar?’

‘Yes,’ she smiles in a sour manner, ‘You may take this up with your Division supervisor I don’t care. Maybe you need to spruce up on your time management yes? Kindly see your way out.’

‘Very well- expect to see a memo tomorrow,’ Hoseok grits out through his teeth, acting out a defeated agent to the best of his abilities.

The Deputy rolls all 5 of her eyes.

Hoseok turns, his heels clacking on the floor while Jungkook quickly sides up next to him after bowing the formal Tayian farewell to the Deputy Fanger.

‘Was that okay?’ he asks very quietly, ‘Taeh’yung taught me?’

‘You were fine Kook,’ Hoseok says as reassuringly as possible as they march out into the anteroom. ‘You did well.’

Jungkook seems to sag in relief, rubbing at his face carefully. Hoseok catches sight of the unfortunate staff and hails him over with an imperious wave. The poor staff scurries over, sweat visible on his face but with a blush on his cheeks as he glances at Jungkook.

‘Oh no Spaces this is so embarrassing.’ Sk’jin groans. Hoseok thinks he can hear Taeh’yung laughing in the background.

‘I need the schedule and navigation charts following the transfer of inmate 358-‘ Hoseok turns to look at Jungkook who is quick to add, ‘-9901’, his expression expertly schooled and also genuinely completely unaware of whatever effect he was having on this poor staff.

‘-immediately,’ Hoseok finishes.

‘O-of course-!’ the staff fumbles with his screen, nearly dropping it a few times before handing it over to Hoseok.

‘We won’t need to use Jungkook as bait anymore but clearly we’re gonna have few new options now,’ Sk’jin is saying as Hoseok quickly scans the schedule before him, memorizing the trajectory and time slots. He quickly taps along the details, not surprised to find Yoongi not registered as was the case with dealing with high-level criminals. Those would be registered and handled directly by the agents responsible for their arrest.

‘Who was responsible for the arrest of inmate 358-‘

‘-9901.’

‘-and which Division or Department did they come from?’ Hoseok asks without even looking up.

‘Oh- uh, they were from the Venture Unit ma’am, I uh- I am uh, not versed on t-their uniforms.’ He stutters before weakly adding, ‘I’m new.’

Hoseok genuinely feels bad for this unfortunate staff.

‘Thank you,’ he says curtly, handing the screen over to the staff without an added glance and walking away.

‘What’s your plan?’ Jimin asks.

‘The Transporter taking Yoongi to Cuab will leave in 3 hours. There’s an hour delay and I’m guessing that’s because no one was expecting Yoongi’s level of warrant. They’re probably pulling up extra security. Sk’jin, could you look into Cuab first and foremost?’ Hoseok says as they walk through the main lobby and towards the doorway. ‘What sort of security system will they be employing? If we have 3 hours, we might be able to extract him from the Transporter without even leaving Māho.’

‘On it.’ Sk’jin replies as the doors slide open to allow them out.

Hoseok spies a pair of Venture Unit agents, uniforms a mess as they hurriedly push past the crowds, clearly clamoring to make their arrests. Hoseok remembers when he was just a greenhorn, taking up as much arrests and cases as he could. Staying near Docks and ports like this was always good if you were still training.

‘Is this the new style of internship?’ Sk’jin asks absentmindedly as Hoseok pulls Jungkook aside as the agents push aside the crowd and sprint past just as Hoseok and Jungkook duck behind the main crowd.

‘Guess that explains why there was activity in the Keep’s docks,’ Hoseok sighs. ‘, that was faster than I expected them to move. Is that too much of a coincidence or is that actually normal?’

‘Bad luck,’ Sk’jin replies immediately, ‘Māho-5 has daily round-ups, but it’s normally just local crimes and thieving. But I guess because of the level of Yoongi’s warrant, they called the agents themselves.’

‘Kook and I will head over to the Docks-first we need to know who are the arresting agents,’ Hoseok declares, ‘We have a decent time-frame, but we can’t allow Yoongi to leave Māho.’

‘What if we can’t?’ Jimin asks, his tone light.

‘I can get him out!’ Taeh’yung volunteers at once.

‘No,’ both Hoseok and Sk’jin say at once. ‘Buggy, we can’t – you can’t. We can’t afford to leave an obvious trail- not now, so close and soon to Grisial. We also can’t draw more attention to this than it’s already garnered. Yoongi is recognizably known as a criminal now, we can’t mess up.’

‘Fine,’ Taeh’yung audibly pouts.

‘If Yoongi is arrested, and we can’t get him. What will happen to him?’ Jimin asks tentatively.

‘Most likely scenario for a declared member of the Alliance he will be immediately sentenced to life-imprisonment in Teronko’ng Prison,’ Hoseok replies evenly as they move out of the crowd outside the Keep. ‘This is a high-level warrant issued by someone very high up.’

‘Will they be notified?’

‘They will,’ Hoseok replies, ‘They probably already know. It’s fair to say that the Jury probably know too. An envoy could be waiting for him at Cuab which is why we need to get him out of here now.’

‘Would it- in the long run, would it be safer, for Yoongi to be arrested?’ Taeh’yung asks out of nowhere.

Both Jimin and Jungkook make an affronted sound.

‘I don’t think Yoongi would appreciate being left behind,’ Sk’jin remarks dryly. ‘Unlike Namjoon, we’re going back for him.’

Hoseok grimaces, expecting some sort of retaliation or comment from Jimin but nothing comes. 

‘How far is Cuab-D2?’ Jungkook asks as their tram pauses at a stop.

‘2 days in warp.’

‘How close is it to the main planets in Axudar?’ Hoseok inquires.

‘Less than 4 hours.’ Sk’jin replies before adding, ‘Okay- Yoongi’s arrest has been taken over from Fanger to two agents from the Venture Unit under Interstellar Patrols Sub-Division. Would it be safe to say that Haenoon or S’ava are behind this warrant?’

‘We can’t be sure,’ Hoseok replies, feeling a little more hopeful. This would make things easier for them, as Hoseok was more than familiar with Venture Unit protocol regarding arrests and transfers. ‘But we can’t rule it out either. Are you using the NaviLet? Can you find their IDs and-‘

‘-Hoseok please, I am way ahead of you. I’ve already found the two agents,’ Sk’jin retorts with a scoff, ‘I’m sending their IDs and complete data to you-‘

Sk’jin suddenly pauses.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hoseok asks with some trepidation.

‘We have around 3 hours correct?’ Sk’jin asks instead.

‘Yes?’

It’s silent over the Comm for a few minutes, during which Jungkook keeps giving Hoseok nervous looks. They’re close to the transit-stations now, the sound of the trams clear over the sound of the street and shops and crowds.

‘Hoseok- as an agent, were you every accidently arrested during missions or infiltration tasks?’

‘Yeah?’ Hoseok replies with a frown and quickly adds, ‘We’re not going to have me arrested- I think it’s fair to say that the remaining Venture Unit agents who know of me won’t take too kindly to meeting me anymore.’

Sk’jin makes quick shushing sounds before he starts exclaiming, ‘- Spaces - I am a ing genius.’

Jungkook, clearly nervous and completely confused, grabs onto the edge of Hoseok’s jacket as though it will help him understand.

‘I think, Hoseok,’ Sk’jin begins rather ominously, ‘I think I know what we should do.’

*

Yoongi’s pretty sure 3 hours had not yet gone by.

He was shortly read his “rights” as well as his sentence, issued and collected from the Interstellar Patrols Sub-Division from the Venture Unit. Great, he was going to be taken straight back to Šerdesas at this point. He was told that he would receive his complete court-issued sentence in Cuab-D2, and then be taken to Teronko’ng. This was pretty standard and not at all surprising considering what he was being arrested for.

After his “rights” were read to him, Yoongi was left alone. He kept track, rather subconsciously, of the routine and schedule followed by the officers around him. In a Keep like this, it was probably connected to a private and very large, very near-by Dock that allowed them to secure and oversee all transfers of criminals and other legal activity. If Yoongi was going to have to go through his own escape, the best timing would be during this trip to the Dock. But there’s no way of knowing just how many officers, how many defense mechanism, and how many obstacles he’ll have to fight through with such a massive handicap on his physical strength and abilities.

Which is why Yoongi is surprised when an officer stands outside the digitized-wall, waiting for a doorway to appear to allow them in.

‘Inmate 3589901 stand back.’ The officer calls.

Yoongi rolls his eyes.

He couldn’t even stand.

The doors open to reveal one of the officers that had arrested him. He steps forward and to Yoongi’s complete confusion is released from the cuffs around his neck and knees.

The pain that follows the relief of being somewhat released is almost not worth it but Yoongi manages to bite back the groan of pain.

The officer takes a step back, still eying Yoongi warily. Yoongi instantly concludes that this officer has most definitely seen his arena footage before.

2 other officers appear at the doorway.

‘Follow me,’ the officer says, turning on his heel and walking out.

Yoongi is beyond confused but doesn’t show it.

He follows the officer out of the digitized-cell and is flanked by the two additional officers. And instead of taking him to maybe the regular prison cells, they simply walk past them and into the hallway through which Yoongi was brought in.

Yoongi walks past open windows.

I could literally escape right now what on Earth is happening? But Yoongi doesn’t act on this very easy option and instead follows the officer past the open-windowed hallway and downwards to the main offices. Just 20 meters to Yoongi’s left is the doorway leading outside. While his feet were cuffed, Yoongi knows at least 10 different ways of breaking free of those. He also has the strength to at least run out. But he doesn’t. Instead they enter the main offices, the two officers behind him stopping at the entryway. The officer in front of Yoongi continues to guide him straight towards a large doorway that looks a lot more imposing than the others.

This was probably where the Deputy stayed, Yoongi surmises. What was going on?

A hassled looking staff appears, giving Yoongi a nervous smile before shuffling forward first. The door opens and the staff goes through, standing by the doorway and waiting for Yoongi to enter while the officer stands just outside of it.

‘U-uh, in-inmate 3589901 p-please enter,’ he stammers awkwardly, nervously glancing inside the office.

Very confused, Yoongi enters the office.

The Deputy is sitting behind her desk, 2 of her 5 eyes glancing at Yoongi quickly. Yoongi also notices 2 other Beings in the office. He recognizes the uniforms as some Division from the Venture Unit and surmises that they were the agents who were now taking over his arrest. They study him carefully, as though surprised that he was a member of the Alliance. Maybe they never saw his arena footage.

‘Inmate 3589901,’ the Deputy says, all eyes focused down on the screen before her. ‘It seems like there have been some problems.’

She says it as though the word “problem” personally insulted her.

‘Please address him by his official given title Deputy,’ one of the agents says with a stressed smile while nodding at Yoongi.

‘Inmate 3589901 Agent Aydinliþ Şig,’ the Deputy says dully, ‘It appears that we have been most unfortunate in disrupting your mission issued by the Venture Unit.’

Yoongi blinks a few times.

‘I do not have the authority to discuss my mission,’ Yoongi manages to say.

‘Yes well, how convenient,’ the Deputy drawls while the two agents stand, sweat visible on their foreheads.

‘We have tried out best, Agent Şig,’ one of them says with a nervous smile. Huh, a rookie. ‘But we’re afraid that due to the uh, warrant that was released, we cannot set aside the arrest unless it’s on Cuab-D2. We are very sorry-‘

‘-please take this apology nonsense somewhere else,’ the Deputy cuts in sharply, ‘We will be doing our part that was expected of us when the arrest was first warranted and will be delivering Inmate 3589901 Agent Aydinliþ Şig to Cuab-D2 and all authority that was granted unto me will be forfeit thereof.’

The agents are sweating even more so Yoongi steps in, starting to understand what was happening. He eyes the agents carefully, studying their appearances carefully.

Too tall.

‘As expected of the Deputy,’ Yoongi states, ‘I am relieved to find that the mission is not entirely compromised but my going to Cuab-D2 will delay my work. I don’t think I need to mention how that paperwork will go.’

‘You don’t need to,’ the Deputy yawns before nodding at the nervous staff behind Yoongi, ‘Evdos will take care of it.’

The staff smiles but it’s more of a terrified grimace. Yoongi feels very bad for this unfortunate staff.

‘And who the had my ID warranted?’ Yoongi demands, rounding up at the two agents still anxiously standing.

‘We-! We’re sorry Agent Şig,’ the other stammers, ‘But we- we received an updated list after the Pompen Area was exposed- we- uh-‘ she glances at the Deputy who is watching them with bored eyes and lowers her voice to a whisper, ‘-we were not made aware of uh- the level of your mission.’

Spaces, if these were the new agents in training the Venture Unit was doomed.

‘How long until we’re leaving?’ Yoongi grumbles.

‘The transfer-ship will leave in-?’ the Deputy looks at Evdos, the nervous staff with 3 eyes.

‘-at! In uh, 94 minutes ma’am!’ he stammers.

‘In 94 minutes,’ the Deputy echoes dully. ‘Then you all can do whatever you want. Evdos take the Inmate 3589901 Agent Aydinliþ Şig to the waiting facilities-‘

‘-he’s not a prisoner you must-‘

‘-no agents, you must make sure that I receive the standard payment for hosting this clumsy fool who thought he could just waltz into my Dock and not know about the -up of his own agency,’ the Deputy snaps, ‘-so sit back down. We’re here to discuss payment.’

The agents throw Yoongi helpless looks but Yoongi just ignores them, feigning annoyance at their incompetence.

They immediately start giving him some form of elaborate courtesy. Yoongi grimaces and turns away.

Evdos, the nervous staff, hurriedly moves aside so that Yoongi can walk through.

‘Uh- uh, his uh, cuffs-‘ Evdos coughs with an apologetic smile at the officer waiting for them.

The officer still looks at Yoongi with suspicion as he goes to unlock Yoongi’s cuffs.

Correct height.

For a brief second they hold eye-contact.

It would take less than 2 seconds.

The officer flinches away, back straightening and hand twitching for his weapon.

Yoongi wants to laugh and at the same time sighs at himself.

Maybe 1 second. It’s not Hoseok.

‘We-we are very sorry- uh, the Deputy is a busy person and uh, needs to consider a lot-‘ Evdos is saying, walking a little behind Yoongi as they follow the officer back.

‘-we are so sorry- we were not aware- I mean how could we be- of your mission with-‘ Evdos chokes out in a whispered tone with wide eyes, ‘-the Alliance-! We are so sorry to have disturbed you and caused this issue by arresting you mid-mission – you must be so-‘

Yoongi tunes it out. Well, this was very well thought out. Was this Hoseok’s plan? Pretending that Yoongi was a Venture Unit agent pretending to be an Alliance member but being caught by accident in the middle of a mission was ingenious.

‘-and we’re so sorry we couldn’t let you go at once!’ Evdos is going on, ‘We tried our best! But our only option is to simply send you to Cuab-D2 but you will immediately released! Your agency will be sending in agents to guide you through the process.’

Yoongi’s ears perk up at this.

‘When will they be here?’ Yoongi asks.

‘U-uh, they should be at the transfer-ship when you get there!’ Evdos says, dropping his screen and quickly picking it up again. ‘Again we are very sorry!’

They reach the doorway for the cells and the officer steps in first, saying something to the officers inside. Yoongi makes to follow, feeling relieved now that he knew where things were headed.

‘Uh- agent Şig!’ Evdos calls out again, Yoongi looks around, one eyebrow raised.

‘I hope you can catch some sleep at least,’ he says, his tone losing the frail nervous stammer, emphasizing gently. Yoongi pauses a moment to really look at the nervous staff. With a small wink, his large purple eyes briefly shift into very familiar yellow hues instead.

Yoongi could laugh.

Wasn’t expecting that.

Yoongi looks down, hiding his smile as he follows the officer towards the holding cells. There’s clearly a shift in the way the officers now regard him. Many look incredibly apologetic, others are rightly suspicious looking. But he’s taken past the holding cells which are surprisingly filled with a lot of inmates. Quite a lot of them recognize him almost instantly and those that didn’t are very quickly filled in on who he is.

This was beyond odd. They were going to have to be very careful in this last leg of their journey before they hit Menigišiti.

‘Agent,’ the officer nods, indicating him towards a waiting area to the side with long benches. ‘Would you like any refreshments?’

Might as well.

‘Water- and I need the washroom,’ Yoongi tells him.

The officer nods and indicates to the side where a mini-station was established. Two other officers sat in there, the entirety of the station covered in surveillance projections. The officer knocks on the partition and says a few words.

The officers inside look at him dubiously and with some fear. But they are nodding as well.

There’s a mirror in the tiny washroom. And Yoongi takes a few minutes to really look at himself.

He hasn’t changed much. There’s been no visible difference in his appearance since the first day he awoke, looking at himself in Zhoumi’s apartment.

He rubs at the marks still around his neck from the cuffs. They would probably bruise, and with no access to any medical-care, he won’t be able to prevent it either. Sighing Yoongi finishes up using the washroom, hair around his forehead damp from washing his face.

He’s left alone for most of the part of staying in the lobby with the exception of the two officers inside the station who are doing a terrible job at spying on him.

So, clearly, Hoseok and possibly Jungkook would be his “agents” from his “agency”. That would mean that they were able to forge or get somewhat almost entirely legal documentation to pull him out under an entirely fake identity. Hoseok being an actual agent with many many decades of experience not only put them at an advantage for a plan like this, but also allowed them to use their situation as a way to get close to Axudar. If Yoongi is not mistaken, Cuab-D2 was very close to Axudar; Namjoon had actually mentioned it in passing to them when they were first building their trajectories.

Actually going to Cuab-D2 and pulling him out from there must mean that Hoseok and Sk’jin were confident in the documents and permits they were using. Clearly they tried getting him out from here, but the Deputy seemed to be the type to enjoy purposefully making things complicated.

Yoongi still finds it funny that he didn’t realize the nervous staff was Hoseok completely shifted.

It’s also slightly terrifying.

‘I hope you can catch some sleep at least.’

Yoongi shifts his position, making both the officers inside the station jump, eyeing him skeptically before he pillows one arm and closes his eyes.

It’s probably not something to boast about but at his current state, Yoongi could very easily fall asleep if he chose to do so. So it’s not a surprise to find himself opening his eyes inside a warmly lit room, the night sky filled with stars outside the open windows.

A cool breeze enters, the thin curtains fluttering a little. He sits up from the bed, feeling rested and safe.

There’s a short series of knocks and Yoongi quickly gets up, jogging towards the main door.

He’s only able to breathe out his name as he opens the door when Jimin pushes through quickly, arms wrapping around him in a secure and all-encompassing embrace.

Yoongi stumbles back a little, taken aback by the sudden hug.

‘Yoongi,’ Jimin exhales quietly, his body relaxing against his, as though finally at ease here in Yoongi’s hold.

‘Hey sunshine,’ Yoongi holds him all the closer, only realizing that Jimin was pushing them backwards when his back hits the wall under the stairs.

‘Sunshine-‘

Jimin kisses with a sweet sense of desperation.

‘You looked so tired,’ Jimin tells him softly, his lips brushing against his own. ‘And your neck-‘

Hoseok probably had an Iris on him, allowing them to see what was happening.

‘I’m okay,’ Yoongi kisses the words on the corner of Jimin’s lips, ‘I’m okay. It was just the restraining cuffs- it’s not serious.’

Jimin kisses his neck where his bruises were forming.

‘I’m sorry for worrying you,’ Yoongi says quietly as Jimin presses his lips against his throat. Yoongi closes his eyes, taking in this moment with a deep inhale. ‘Is everyone okay?’

‘Just- just one moment,’ Jimin’s words are barely audible, his grip around Yoongi tightening even more.  

Yoongi cards his fingers through Jimin’s hair, his other hand slowly rubbing up and down his back.

After a few minutes, Jimin slowly moves back, blinking furiously and trying very hard to maintain a composed expression. Yoongi takes his hands in his, noting how cold they were, and kissing them.

‘You’re not hurt?’ Jimin asks, looking over him as though expecting to see his bruises.

Yoongi shakes his head.

‘Are you all safe? Were you able to get away?’ Yoongi asks.

Jimin nods, tugging at their hands and pulling them away from under the stairs.

Instead of taking them to the bedroom, Jimin takes Yoongi to the second doorway into a small but cozy room. It was supposed to a sort of reading room or study, with a low coffee table in front of a comfortable pale blue couch under a narrow but deep window. The table is littered with knick-knacks and decorations and from the ceiling a lamp, unlit, dangles down alongside a rather childish model of the Earth’s solar system.

They sit on the couch, Jimin’s legs folded up, his feet wiggling to push under Yoongi’s thigh.

He takes Yoongi’s hand and begins, ‘As soon as Hoseok alerted us, we pushed back past the borders. We made sure we would be undetectable.’

Yoongi nods, listening closely.

‘Hoseok stayed to watch and observe. We searched and the uh, list, it has you from the Arena, and Sk’jin, Taeh’yung, Namjoon, and me- but not my face,’ he says quietly. ‘Hoseok too but- but I guess, it’s okay for him.’

Yoongi smiles at that.

‘Jungkook is still safe?’

Jimin nods at once.

‘Hoseok and Jungkook tried to come and claim your arrest,’ Jimin tells him, ‘But there were others who came before you.’

Yoongi thinks back to the two agents being grilled by the Deputy.

‘So Sk’jin suggested that we should claim that you are an agent for Venture Unit, like Hoseok, but working to- against, Alliance, by pretending,’ Jimin gives him a small smile, as though pleased with the idea. ‘It took a while to make the correct uh, permit? And we could overpower your warrant.’

‘I’m guessing it was Hoseok who did it?’

Jimin chuckles a little, leaning in a little closer and just simply staring at him, as though there was nothing more he wanted, ‘It was Sk’jin. He’s very good.’

‘And old-‘

Jimin laughs, his body falling against Yoongi’s.

‘And uh, Hoseok used an official channel to issue this permit. It was…it was frightening,’ Jimin concludes, ‘We had to wait for the approval. Make it as of-official, as possible. Nothing strange, nothing messy.’

Yoongi nods in understanding and asks, ‘Who was Hoseok disguised as?’

Jimin laughs again, the stars outside sparkling with the sound of his delighted laughter. He’s laughing too much, unable to give an answer, his whole body leaning against Yoongi’s.

‘Sunshine-‘ Yoongi chuckles, ‘what is it? Who was the Being Hoseok disguised as?’

Jimin actually has tears in his eyes, trying to compose himself.

‘Okay okay,’ Yoongi adjusts his arms to wrap around Jimin, pulling him down with him as he lays back on the couch. Jimin’s laughter is quiet and Yoongi can feel it against his chest.

‘So I’m guessing Hoseok and Jungkook? Will be those agents Hoseok mentioned?’ Yoongi asks after Jimin has stopped laughing, his fingers finding a way to comb through Jimin’s hair.

‘Hm,’ Jimin hums in affirmation. ‘We uh- we had to stop their flight.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘A Transporter came with the guards,’ Jimin explains, his breath seeping through the thin fabric of Yoongi’s sweater. ‘Sent to follow you through to Cuab-D2.’

‘How?’

‘Uh- Taeh’yung,’ Jimin tells him before hastily adding, ‘Nothing bad.’

Well, okay then.

‘We could attach Laikin to their Transporter,’ Jimin tells him, ‘And the Transporter will go inside the transfer-ship.’

Yoongi frowns at that, ‘Does that mean you will be aboard during that time? Along with Sk’jin, and Taeh’yung?’

Jimin nods against his chest and says, ‘Can’t be seen.’

That sounded incredibly risky but at the same time Yoongi would’ve done the same too.

‘We will take you to the transfer-ship,’ Jimin explains, ‘after we reach Cuab-D2. You won’t go inside prison. Just in- in the uh, bay?’

‘Yeah, it’s called the bay,’ Yoongi nods, ‘It’s the area after the dock, it’s where the transfers would take place.’

‘Hoseok will be close by always. Cuab-D2 won’t take you,’ Jimin says firmly, ‘We will transfer you out immediately. We take the guards Transporter and abandon it, take the Laikin, and continue with out trajectory.’

‘Won’t whoever called for my arrest be notified?’ Yoongi asks, ‘Along with the warrant overturn?’

Jimin shakes his head.

‘They will know about the arrest- but Hoseok said, Venture Unit agents are different.’

‘Guess that’s also why the GLA didn’t trust them,’ Yoongi hums in approval.

This part was definitely true- while Venture Unit agents definitely had a romanticized and highly praised commercial aspect to their work, the GLA more or less hated them because the Venture Unit time and time again, messed up their arrests and warrants. And many times the Venture Unit simply exercised their power for fun, to rile up the GLA.

‘Then it seems like things worked out well?’

Jimin nods again.

‘Any news about Namjoon?’

‘Nothing yet,’ Jimin says in a small voice.

‘The Omhlophe?’

Jimin shakes his head.

They stay like that for a while.

‘You’re okay?’ Yoongi asks after a while.

‘Worried,’ Jimin replies softly.

‘Sorry I got arrested,’ Yoongi chuckles, fingers playing with Jimin’s ear.

‘They could see you,’ Jimin comments quietly, ‘You were so visible. So clear to them…even more than before.’

‘Yeah- it was weird,’ Yoongi confesses.

Jimin pushes himself up a little, balancing himself so that he could lean up against Yoongi. Yoongi shifts to accommodate Jimin better, their legs entangled.

‘I won’t let anything happen to you,’ Jimin tells him. It’s almost like a command. ‘I’ll protect you.’

Yoongi smiles up at Jimin, pushing back his hair and tucking the silky strands behind his ear.

‘I know,’ he replies. ‘Don’t push yourself too much.’

Jimin nods, leaning in to kiss forehead. ‘You too.’

‘I won’t,’ Yoongi promises, his hands curving around Jimin’s bare waist, pulling him down to lay against him again.

Jimin leans in with an open-mouthed kiss, hands sliding under Yoongi’s back.

‘I need to go back,’ he says quietly, lips still on Yoongi’s. ‘We’re going to dock inside the transfer-ship soon.’

Yoongi holds him tighter, pressing hard kisses against the side of Jimin’s head and then to his cheeks.

‘I’ll see you soon,’ Jimin promises, eyes closed as Yoongi gently kisses his nose. ‘We’ll come and get you out.’

Jimin pushes himself up and Yoongi makes to sit up but Jimin pushes him down.

‘Just sleep for a while longer,’ he says, brushing Yoongi’s hair back gently. ‘Rest a little more.’

Yoongi just nods, settling back into the couch.

Jimin unfolds the soft yellow blanket over the back of the couch on top of Yoongi. He kisses his forehead again before stepping back.

‘I’ll see you soon.’

Jimin steps out and Yoongi closes his eyes, listening to the sound of Jimin’s bare feet quietly padding down the hall and towards the front door. The door opens and clicks shut with a soft dry sound.

The solar-system dial hanging above him moves quietly, the sun model at the center glows faintly. The model of the Earth has its own small moon attached to it. Suddenly, Yoongi misses it.

Grabbing the blanket from around himself, Yoongi sits up and makes his way out. Quietly, as though he didn’t want to disturb the quiet of the night, he makes his way up the stairs.

It’s incomplete but a bit more fixed up. The floors are slightly worn, a light ash wood paneling covers the previously exposed floors. The walls are a clean and soft white though in this night light almost appeared a greyish blue. The walls are not closed up yet- but maybe that was intentional. Long white curtains of a soft thin material flutter, the smell of ocean clean and faint in the breeze.

Open before him is the ocean.

And above it high up, is the moon.

Yoongi sits down, his feet dangling from the edge of the open room.

This was an unfortunately complicated plan. A lot of it banked on Beings who were at officer levels to simply not give a about most procedures and policies. And while that was generally the case, being framed a member of a supposed long-gone and very vile organization that even pirates despised, would generally cause for more speculation.

Yoongi hugs the blanket around him tighter. The breeze picks up a little, the thin white curtains shifting a little more. If he listens closely, he can hear the stars singing to him.

‘Agent Şig.’

Yoongi sits up, squinting just a little as he regains his bearings.

He feels better rested even though that could’ve only been an hour, at most, of sleep.

The officer that had brought him here stands over him. Over at the end of the hallway now flanked with a lot of armed officers was a long train of inmates.

‘We will be heading for the Docks,’ the officer tells him.

Yoongi nods and stands up, discreetly stretching a little.

The officer guides him to stand next to the long line of inmates. Some of them eye him curiously, recognition in their eyes as they study him closely. Yoongi chooses to ignore them after a quick scan. They were mostly pirates it would seem. Probably caught over nothing more than simply being pirates.

He looks around at the officers, eyeing their height and stature, wondering which one would be Hoseok. Jimin had said Hoseok would always be close by.

He remembers infiltrating a transfer like this before. How he snuck in easily, simply switched uniforms, and quickly assassinated one of the inmates waiting the transfer-ship. Yoongi doesn’t know why he had to do it- but then again, most of his missions meant nothing to him other than something that needed completing.

He makes his way to the end, at the front of the line of inmates in front of a large circular doorway. There was probably a lift or tram to take them to the Dock. Yoongi eyes the inmates and their restraints. The officers don’t seem too bothered by the very simple and rather flimsy cuffs on the inmates.

‘Agent Şig,’ the officer gestures to him to stand to the side just as the circular doors sink back a little before split rolling away to reveal a series of connected trams.

The officer guides the way forward and Yoongi follows. It’s after a moment or two the inmates follow in neatly. This was an oddly subordinate bunch of pirate inmates, none of them yelling or making a ruckus as they were wont to do. The Keep didn’t seem like such a terrible place that inflicted psychological suppression into their inmates as a lot of places unfortunately did.

As soon as each tram fills up, the doors lock up and pull upwards.

Yoongi stands by himself with the officer, clean rings of light falling as they rise up. The officer doesn’t say anything and Yoongi can’t sense anything out of the ordinary even though something was definitely starting to feel strange.

He can’t make it out though- unable to clarify if he was simply just reacting as a result of the fact that he was going to break out soon, and that this entire operation was based on his false identity as a Venture Unit agent unfortunately caught in a carelessly issued warrant.

Or maybe he was just overreacting.

The tram stops, and almost immediately a similar circular doorway opens up just as the rest of the connecting trams arrive and reconnect to form a long chain.

The Keep’s Dock is massive and so is the transfer-ship awaiting them.

It could easily house 3000 inmates in just the hull-area, Yoongi estimates as he looks up at the towering ship.

Cyborgs line up the path to the transfer-ship in a slightly curved path to a wide ramp leading up into the transfer-ship. Yoongi looks around and finds it rather sparse; there were few wide spread officers, each at their own station or overseeing something else.

Again, Yoongi tries to quell the gnawing feeling steadily growing.

It’s weirdly quiet for one- the pirates behind him don’t talk and their footsteps aren’t loud. Yoongi glances back. None of them have nervous expressions or were displaying any sign of anxiety, anticipation, or worry. They all looked extraordinarily calm- like this was completely normal.

Almost like going on a casual walk somewhere.

Yoongi scans the place again, wondering where Hoseok could be. Jimin had said they would be bringing in the ship his initial guards had flown to Māho. Were they already inside, were they waiting to be transferred in after all the inmates were sent in?

At the edge of the ramp a pair of cyborgs set up a fence with scanning poles, the lights on top of the scanners gleaming red.

The officer walks through first, the light gleaming blue. When Yoongi walks past, the lights turn green.

He glances back, curious as the pirates behind them all file in neatly, walking past the poles.

The lights turn blue.

No one says a thing. It’s not exactly quiet- sounds of machines, engines, air-purifiers, humming electric fields; all of these fill the air with a white noise Yoongi is accustomed to.

The problem is that no one is really talking.

The main entry hull is high but not too large. There’s a gateway through which Yoongi walks through, following the officer. Inside it’s equally void of talking, with only cyborgs walking about.

Maybe this was a tactic employed by the Keep- to unnerve their inmates into sub-ordinance.

The gateway is quite long, each section kept open as the emergency doors lay deactivated until required. The main door at the end of the gateway opens to a massive hull transformed into a holding cell facility.

It’s loud in here, voices echoing about. It almost makes Yoongi feel better.

The cells are decently spaced and sized, separated by charged fields not too different from an Atmoshield. Rather than extending up too high, the cells are stacked at only 2 floors, with each cell having their own steep stairwell for access. This was space-consuming but a precaution that Yoongi understands. Clearly there are several floors; massive watch towers climb through what Yoongi counts at around 8 distinct floors within this hull only.

He follows the officer straight towards one of the towers.

He’s almost feeling all right, pushing his queasiness down, when there’s a steadily growing silence.

Looking back around, Yoongi frowns as he notices the silence spread as soon as the pirates behind him walked in.

He’s halfway towards the tower when he can’t help himself and asks, ‘What’s with them?’

The officer doesn’t reply.

After a few minutes, when the silence spreads even more, Yoongi hears it.

Whispering.

And then there’s clapping from somewhere. And it picks up, faster and quicker than the silence.

The whole area bursts into thundering applause as the last of the inmates file in.

‘As part of the procedure,’ the officer says as they get closer to the tower, as though the inmates inside the hull weren’t cheering loudly. ‘You will have to stay in the hull-compound. But you can stay in the Towers instead of a cell.’

‘I understand,’ Yoongi replies, not understanding. ‘Where are my escorts?’

‘Your escorts will come to collect you before the ship lands inside Cuab,’ the officer informs him.

The applause dies down a little.

The officer doesn’t pay any attention to their surroundings.

‘What’s going on?’ Yoongi asks in a quiet voice.

The officer doesn’t reply. But when they reach the elevator doors that will lead him up to the towers the officer says in a calm and neutral voice, ‘Agent Şig, I hope you follow all of the proceedings without any delay.’

The doors open and Yoongi steps inside after a moment of hesitation. The officer turns around and walks away, back towards the main gateway.

The doors close and Yoongi feels the elevator move up. He takes a cautionary step back, back closer to the wall.

I don’t understand.

Yoongi nods to that.

The doors open quietly into a typical watch-station.

Yoongi is not very surprised to find the watch-station only manned by cyborgs. Yoongi scans the room quickly. It’s shaped like a ring around the entrance; a way for the security to keep constant watch below. Yoongi steps around quietly, ignored by the cyborgs stationed at  the dashboard at intervals. Yoongi steps closer to the continuous ring of windows that offered a good but narrow view of the hull below. He sees the inmates being led into their cells over at another row.

From the view on top, Yoongi sees how each cell is labeled with their row number. Taking note of the cells the inmates were being guided into, Yoongi finds the corresponding surveillance feed. One of the cyborgs opens a seat for him and then moves to another station. Yoongi sits down, not realizing that his legs felt a little rubbery and weak, and pulls up the surveillance projection.

One of the screens to the side displays the total fuel they were taking in, supplies that were being stocked up for this stop, and finally, number of inmates expected.

To Yoongi’s immense disquiet, the number of inmates remains 0.

He scans through the rest of the ship’s most recent changes in inventory, access, and arrivals. He quickly finds his own at the top of the list that finishes updating after the allocated timeframe for the gates to be open has passed. Only his admittance into the ship is documented with what he suspects is the fake identification Hoseok and Sk’jin created for him. Yoongi scans lower down on the arrivals list and finds nothing that indicates the arrival of the ship Jimin had mentioned to him. He scans the rest of the lists available to him but finds nothing.

Was this something Hoseok and Sk’jin were responsible for?

That didn’t feel right.

Jimin had talked about how they worked so hard on making the whole process as legal and as legit as possible. The reason why they didn’t bust him out of the Keep using Taeh’yung’s abilities (which would have definitely got them out asap) was solely so that they could maintain as much of a low profile as possible and not leave behind gigantic messes.

This didn’t feel like they were maintaining a low profile.

‘I would like to speak to the Bridge,’ Yoongi states clearly to the cyborg closest to him. ‘Which panel do I access.’

For a moment it’s like the cyborg wouldn’t response. But then it reaches over to the projection Yoongi had been watching, collapses it and starts a new one. This opens a wide panel of tabs for him.

‘Thank you,’ he nods at the cyborg who ignores him too.

The ship lets out a small siren sound, a warning that they were exiting the Dock and about to hit warp.

Yoongi quickly finds the line for the Bridge.

Right before he places the call, he watches as the registered arrival of his admittance into the ship is neatly erased from the archive.

Yoongi pauses, finger frozen over the faintly glowing square labeled BRIDGE.

They’re watching.

Yoongi stops, retreating back a little. He doesn’t move from his seat, sits back and secures himself as the ship lets out another warning calling for warp preparations.

The familiar gentle tug at the bottom of his stomach signals that they’ve pushed into warp and several things happen at once.

All of the barriers in front of the cells blinks out, the dashboards in the watch-station all shut down, flooding him in a shadowy darkness, and the cyborgs all shut down at once.

The elevator door behind him opens, staying that way the same way a forced emergency categorized under evacuations would.

Yoongi pricks his ears for any sound approaching him. But there’s nothing. Watching out of the window, he notices how the inmates aren’t clamoring around to celebrate being freed or anything. They’re behaving as though this were a completely normal thing. But Yoongi knows it’s not. No transfer-ship of inmates were ever released from their cells like this.  

The elevator quietly hums and turning, Yoongi watches as the lights inside the shaft blink innocently at him until an elevator comes down, stopping before him.

Inside are 3 Beings, clearly not officers or crew of this ship.

They seem to appraise Yoongi, looking over him carefully.

They’re not carrying any weapon- none that Yoongi can see anyways, and didn’t seem to be at all violent or aggressive. But then again, that has never stopped violence or aggression in Yoongi’s experience. Yoongi recognizes their species only vaguely.

While one was clearly a native from Axudar, the other to the left is definitely from Orvan, her arms have the tell-tale welts, the same as the ones Namjoon had on his own wrists. This was a Being who definitely escaped the cruel system of Orvan. The one who stood in the middle is much taller. His skin is a deep blue, thinly lined with faded and healed over scars, the hair on his face and head a slightly faded orange-red that indicated his age. His horns are well polished and maintained though one is very cleanly snapped off; the tip shifting in opacity and quality appearing garnet like. He wears a skirt like garment that extends just a little below his knobby knees and exposing the hoof-like ends of his legs. Yoongi doesn’t note his tail that he knows their species possessed. He towered over Yoongi, having to duck a little to enter the room. Yoongi has only seen their species in passing, and it’s mainly because the Ožkan, like Humans now, had a very small and dying population.

‘Are you Agent Sig?’ he asks, his voice rumbly but oddly very nice. He speaks with a sense of authority- or at least seemed to stand with a sense of leadership.

The leader. Behind this.

Yoongi doesn’t know why he would approach Yoongi, an unknown supposed member of the Alliance only recently declared agent of the Venture Unit, so openly like this.

‘I am,’ Yoongi replies.

‘You’re quite dedicated to bringing down the Alliance if you were willing to so change yourself in order to participate in the Arenas,’ the Ožkan comments- it almost sounds like genuine praise. ‘It is indeed unfortunate that you were caught after exposing the Pompen Arenas. That was a job well done.’

Yoongi only nods to that.

‘As you can see, there have been some changed made in the transfer-ship,’ the Ožkan tells him rather conversationally. ‘I do not think it will do anyone good to have you completely hidden in the dark for the next few hours considering we’re both headed to Cuab-D2.’

‘Is this an attempt to break open Cuab-D2?’ Yoongi asks.

‘It is,’ the Ožkan replies easily. ‘As you are aware, due to recent events that the GLA are doing their best to completely quiet down, pirates and others involved in the Underverse are being rounded up heavily. My crew were swept up in this affair as well, and I’ve been gathering them all back after I was able to break-free just 2 sols ago. The last of my remaining crew who are still living and imprisoned are currently in Cuab-D2, and after that I would have made them all safe.’

‘I see,’ Yoongi replies.

‘So understandably, you, an agent of the Venture Unit, being on board here, would complicate our plans,’ he states.

‘What about my escorts?’ Yoongi inquires, ‘Are they onboard?’

‘No escorting agents were picked up from Māho-5,’ he answers.

Yoongi’s stomach drops a little, a cold rush flooding him.

Where were the others?

‘Now while this could have definitely been ignored, and we could have kept you in the dark, albeit it being confusing as you noticed early on that some of the proceedings were not the standard protocol regarding inmate transfer under the GLA.’ The Ožkan crosses his arms, leaning his weight on one leg, ‘We could not choose to do so because we know that you are not agent Sig.’

‘I’m afraid you don’t understand,’ Yoongi replies smoothly, ‘I was unfortunately caught in the midst of my mission attempting to infiltrate the Isbahaysiga Alliance. My warrant was revoked and I am waiting for my escorts to come take me back to the Venture Unit for a revaluation or a complete reassignment. I believe my documents from the Deputy of the Māho-5 Keep was clear.’

‘While your documents were definitely very well made and definitely legal and followed the standard protocol of what to do if an active member of the Venture Unit is falsely captured during a mission, you and your Ngfy’widan friends made the unfortunate mistake of mimicking one of my shadows in Māho-5,’ The Ožkan explains kindly, almost patiently. ‘The staffer you knew as Evdos had been working for nearly 5 months at Māho-5 to work alongside Deputy Fanger in order to secure our plan executed today. Which is why understandably, when my shadow did not board the transfer-ship as was initially planned, and his last report back to me had been minutes before we were sent a memo from Fanger that we would be having an agent transfer to us. A memo that should never have been cleared because my shadow was supposed to make sure it wouldn’t pass.’

It’s very quiet.

There’s nothing threatening in the way the Ožkan addresses him, or as a matter of fact, even the two behind him. But Yoongi knows that he has to be very very careful.

‘So my confusion is that, if you are truly, an agent mistakenly arrested, why would you need to create fake documents to release you from Māho-5. You are not operating at a pirate level, because the access you have as well as expertise in handling this transfer suggests you are not a pirate.’ The Ožkan concludes. ‘And while this then begs the question, if you are in fact truly, a member of the Alliance and are currently escaping because whoever is controlling the Alliance in the GLA wants you back- you would not need this cover up of being an agent for the Venture Unit as for a mission this delicate and high-up, the GLA Chiefs still controlling the Alliance would simply have you permanently removed for exposing yourself in a very public arrest.’

The Ožkan is incredibly well-versed, leading Yoongi to believe he has been around as a possibly very powerful pirate in the Underverse for a very long time.

‘And again, while all of this is enough for me to ignore you as it does not directly effect us, and allow you to leave naturally as your release grant allows you to do so at Cuab-D2, I am unfortunately missing a shadow. And the two disguised as escorting agents who came aboard the ship have disappeared. Meaning I am sure I have 2, or more, undocumented and well-hidden Beings, no doubt your friends, somewhere aboard my ship. I cannot allow anyone to further mess up my plans. Which is why I would request you to contact your friends, and ask them to step out, to make sure that they have not alerted any authority of this venture.’

Yoongi is in no position to bargain. He knows this. And so does the Ožkan.

So far these pirates or whoever they were, knew of Hoseok and of Jungkook. But beyond that, everything was up for guessing. So that meant that at least, Sk’jin, Taeh’yung, and most importantly, not because he’s biased, Jimin was still hidden and safe.

‘While I can guarantee that I have no intention whatsoever in bringing harm or issues in your plans, what guarantee do I have that you will do the same for us?’ Yoongi gets out finally.

The Orvan just slightly rolls her eyes.

‘There is no guarantee. This depends entirely on your behavior during our trip to Cuab-D2. If you do anything to disrupt my mission, or attempt to inform any authority if they have not already done so.’ The Ožkan replies with a slight shrug.              

And that’s more than fair.

Yoongi sighs internally.

‘Could I request that we be allowed to stay inside my designated Transporter during the duration of this journey. We will remain in lockdown until we arrive at Cuab-D2. We will make our scheduled leave, without any fuss, without any trouble. You will never hear from us again.’

The Ožkan seems ready for this and replies, ‘We have your ship under complete lockdown and you can only access it after we have made our complete landing within Cuab-D2. When you call your friends, you will be staying in the private holding cell upstairs.’

Yoongi inhales and exhales slowly.

Of course they could very easily dispose of Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jungkook. It would in fact, be quite wise to do so in an operation as risky and painstakingly executed. They were at their last leg, and right now Yoongi was posing a major risk for them.

But the hidden nature and secrecy that shrouds Yoongi and his being here alongside Hoseok and Jungkook were giving the pirates pause in taking immediate action. Just like them, they needed to be careful, not raise any alarms whatsoever.

If they did, in fact, kill off 3 highly secret agents working for either the GLA or Venture Unit, their entire operation would be exposed and revealed. And the kindest thing that could happen to them and all of the officers/high-ranking officials they clearly bought and bribed, would be imprisonment for life.

There’s not a lot of guarantee but Yoongi has to make it work.

‘I understand.’ he says, ‘How am I communicating?’

The Ožkan doesn’t say anything but just removes his own Comm-Device and hands it to Yoongi.

Of course, because Hoseok would have made sure to snitch one in order to hear what was going on.

‘This is Suga,’ he says quietly, ‘I have spoken to the authorities of this operation and have come to a deal regarding our safety and travel.’

‘No offence, how do we know this is actually Suga,’ a voice replies. Yoongi doesn’t recognize the voice and that’s not entirely surprising.

‘I like tea,’ Yoongi says.

‘Understood. Where and when do we meet?’ Hoseok shows no sign of discomfort or worry. But then again, Hoseok was a seasoned veteran in his field of work.

Yoongi gives the Ožkan a questioning look and the Axudari quietly says, ‘Lobby 3 of the 5^th Hull.’

‘Understood.’

‘Please don’t carry any weapons on you,’ the Axudari adds.

Hoseok doesn’t reply.

The Orvan holds her hand out and Yoongi drops the Comm-Device back into her palm.

‘Well then,’ the Ožkan gives him a small smile. ‘I can’t say I’ve met a lot of Humans before. Especially ones that were born nearly over 15 centuries ago.’

The Ožkan steps aside and gestures for Yoongi to follow him. But he’s stuck, heart in his mouth.

‘We’ve been hearing a lot,’ the Ožkan tells him. ‘There’s been a lot of strange stories, a lot of strange sightings, a lot of strange packages, even stranger deals, even stranger Beings.’

Yoongi stiffly follows after the Ožkan.

‘I’ve always maintained that we stay clear from certain businesses,’ the Ožkan continues. ‘The Alliance being one of them. But in staying away, didn’t mean we ignored them. We studied them, learnt how to avoid them, how to stay clear from their dealings and plays. Their channels eventually lessened, what with the Yishengs involvement with creating the GI.’

Yoongi eyes the Ožkan as he leans against the walls of the elevator moving upwards.

‘The GI were considered a myth of course,’ the Ožkan says conversationally. ‘But it’s not much of a myth when one is sent to assassinate you.’

Yoongi can’t help it, glancing up at the Ožkan who gives him a shrug and half-smile.

‘That’s what happens I guess when you control half of the troves across the Underverse and refuse to cooperate with the Yishengs.’

That explained the authority this Being had.

‘The GI agent sent to assassinate me almost succeeded. As you can see, I didn’t escape unscathed,’ he points at his horn. ‘Had to do a lot of work to save this side of my head and face as well.’

That would also explain the faint lines connecting around his face, concentrating lower and disappearing into his beard.

‘This GI agent nearly had me, but I was luckily surrounded by my own friends. Two of them died. But in doing so, one of them managed to knock off his helmet.’

And suddenly, Yoongi knows where this was headed. Why the Ožkan hadn’t simply had him thrown out or killed.

‘This was 5 sols ago,’ he adds. ‘He was so close to killing me. Until he quite suddenly stopped- and after barely a second, he dropped dead. We could only watch when he seemed to dissolve.’

The elevator stops and the doors open after a second.

‘Of course I could never forget his face.’ The Ožkan says as he steps out. Yoongi follows after a strained second. They’re in an antechamber with several doorways.

‘Passive, no expression of aggression, anger, pain,’ the Ožkan pauses a moment before the doorway to their right. ‘And I went into hiding for a while.’

The doors open and it leads into a nice and simple looking lobby.

‘I never thought I would see his face again but,’ the Ožkan smiles at him as they walk into the lobby. ‘I guess I was mistaken.’

*

(Author’s Notes)

I am SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN SO LONG

I had a really bad writers block after my exhibition

I guess my exhaustion, strange relief with stress coupled together, anxiety waiting for my grades to finalize and be released, all sort of dog-piled over each other in a weird mess that blocked my creativity and writing abilities.

But I am back!! And I think I can go back to the every 10 days updates again T_T

And yes, the room that yoonmin were in is indeed, the room from serendipity

As well as the open space above the stair case.

If you wanna see what the rest of the rooms and house looks like, I made them as part of my thesis project in 3D you can check them out here:

It’s my artstation its also me promoting my work in general

https://www.artstation.com/unclassified_lulu

haahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahahaa anyways

Im also happy to announce that I’m working on a commission for yoonmin!!!! I’ve already started on it and it’s gonna be chaptered!!