Space-Time Coordinates: 32082.500877.beldandi

The sleek shuttle slipped through empty space between stars like a needle piercing cloth. After a busy day of pushing bone debris out of orbit, the makeshift crew of the invisible spacecraft felt exhausted both physically and emotionally (all except for Isis). The shuttle invisibly floated towards the massive exploration ship which had been parked in geo-synchronous orbit over the graveworld designated Planet Sparta. The exploration craft, built for carrying megatons of cargo with gigantic ion drive engines for crossing the distances between stars at near-lightspeed, loomed like a sleeping giant around the now moonless planet.

Doctor C'thulhu had suggested gliding towards the exploration ship. Like all vessels of the Paradox Institute, it was engineered with stringent security features including a weapon system which automatically fire on any incoming vessels that were not broadcasting encrypted Paradox Institute identification. The doctor suspected that the shuttle's stealth capabilities could allow it to dock without triggering a response, but not using engines while approaching increased the likelihood. Even in the highly advanced shuttle belonging to Isis, surviving a A.I.-targetted salvo of magnetically accelerated missiles with plasma warheads was more drama than anyone involved currently wanted to endure.

At the moment, however, the doctor did not feel concerned. Judging from his speech, his two teammates thought he had entirely forgotten about the danger in which they were placing themselves. Inside the cramped shuttle's interior, the octopus and the rabbit were chatting at the small and only table on board.

Isis said, “My favorite band is Random Encounter. My favorite smell is lavender. My favorite flavor is boysenberry. My favorite jewels are rubies. My favorite exercise is hopping. My favorite color is pure vibred.” The small yellow-furred rabbit had stripped off her faux-uniform and was dressed now in only a few pieces of gold jewelry with unusual bright blue gemstones.

“I'm sorry, what color is vibred exactly?” Doctor C'thulhu asked.

“That's the color you get when you mix infra-red with ultra-violet in equal parts. Reolet has more infra-red in it. Ultra-vibred has more ultra-violet.”

“You know, I always liked that color, but I never knew it had a name. Humans never created a name for it because it's a color they cannot see, and I inherited their languages.”

“Tell me about it. Most of my ships and all of my drones are colored pure vibred, but the humans only see the pink underneath. It's nearly impossible to find a vibred dress in this galaxy.”

The three others waited farther back in the shuttle. Morgan le Fay floated in zero gravity and diligently repaired the hem of her own dress with needle and thread. The two agents of the Paradox Institute huddled in the back of the shuttle. Morgan turned her head to the agents and said, “Verily, they look to get along passing well.”

Freeman muttered through his speakers, “Too well.”

Cleo sat with her knees to her chin and pushed up as well as she could manage with her back to Freeman's chasis. She shook her head and said to him, “Don't antagonize them.” The young agent turned to the sorceress and said, “Don't get us wrong. We are grateful that you saved our lives. It's just that – I know you haven't been traveling with that Isis creature for long, but the Institute has a file on her. It's a long file filled with what we've managed to learn about her. She's dangerous.”

Morgan laughed. “I too am dangerous, maiden. If I am to die, I would have it among these stars and wonders than in the dungeon of my kin from which I was ransomed. Mayhap you shall understand when you have more seen more mid-summers.”

Cleo unfolded her legs. She said, “Excuse me” to Morgan and pushed herself floating forward. Freeman wordlessly followed. He turned his body sideways and scuttled to avoid disturbing the sorceress.”

Cleo said, “Pardon the interruption. May we please speak with the doctor?”

Isis looked up and said, “Okay-dokey, kiddo.” With a wave of her paw, Isis vanished from sight. Morgan vanished also at the same time. Cleo looked around in confusion but accepted what had just happened instead of questioning it.

Freeman broke the silence first by saying, “Doc, we need to talk. You were the most suspicious of these freaks a few hours ago. Now, you look chummy as twin girls at a slumber party.”

Cleo added, “At the risk of them being able to hear me, I have to say something. That rabbit-shaped thing is not you friend. The barbarian woman traveling with her, Morgan-something, is almost as bad. We don't even know where they are going or why they need you. I asked, and they won't tell us.”

Doctor C'thulhu sighed. Then, he said, “You two think that I shouldn't go with them. You think I should try to talk them out of taking me with them.”

Freeman said, “Heck yeah, we think you should at least try. Shoot, just try being your snooty regular self like usual, and they might change their minds.”

“Be the fish that they throw back?”

Cleo said, “Doc, we're serious here.” She reached out and gently took a tentacle into her hands.

C'thulhu told them, “Even if I could change their minds by some trick or some miracle, we would be passing up an incredible opportunity for advancement of our knowledge. Isn't that my responsibility to the Institute?”

Freeman said, “It's a one way trip, Doc. If you don't board the Exploration Ship with us, you ain't never filing another report to the Institute. I can feel it in my metal guts.”

Cleo added, “The Institute exist to protect all life from civilization-ending cataclysms. Isis probably caused some of those extinction events.”

Even as Cleo's last word was formed in her mouth, the shuttle shook. A large clack-sound sounded through the small ship. A door appeared in the side wall, leading into the airlock of the Exploration Ship. Isis and Morgan were already waiting on the other side of that door, floating inside the larger ship.

Morgan said, “Your ship is cold.” She crossed her arms and rubbed herself for more warmth.

Isis said, “Ahoy and welcome aboard, mateys! We came within range that my shuttle could project us over a couple of mini-cycles ago. You seemed like you wanted some privacy, so I left the three of you behind.”

Freeman observed, “You also got the two of you onto our ship all by yourselves. Don't think we don't notice.”

C'thulhu pulled his tentacle away from Cleo's grip. He said, “Cleo, Morgan, my co-workers and my friends, you are not wrong. I want to go, and I have my reasons. If you respect me, please respect my decision.” Another tentacle reached forward and gently cupped Cleo's face. “Return home and tell the Institute what happened here. You are both much younger than me and have most of your lives ahead of you. I do not want you to worry about me.”

C'thulhu looked at Freeman with huge black eyes. He said, “Agent Freeman, you lack a hand for me to shake at the moment. Please consider this verbal salutation to carry same meaning.”

Freeman said, “Alright Doc, you can't see it, but I'm saluting you right now.”

C'thulhu said, “Let's get the two of you on board and get you situated. You'll need to go into hibernation status for the return trip. I need to gather a few personal items. Madam le Fay needs a jacket.”

Morgan said, “Have you any furs?”

All three agents said, “No.”

Isis told them, “Chop chop, I and my two new besties are in a hurry. We need to make one more pit stop before we get where we are going. We're going to need some muscle.”

Freeman climbed through the doorway first. He said, “Hold up, are you saying that you need a soldier? There's nobody in the galaxy tougher than a Paradox Institute Security Specialist with a top of the line heavy combat chassis – like me!”

Isis answered, “That's not quite true. You're not bad, Agent Tin Man. You're not the toughest though. For this mission, I need a stronger human that you've ever seen, and there's a remote planet you don't know about at the far side of this galaxy. That's where I can find the human I need. We're going to visit the planet of superheroes.”