On the way home Jack peacefully walked through the town. Each step dragging as his mind walked in the fields among animals. In the streets of Cartina. What would those streets look like? Jack was drawn back to his dirt roads by the whispers of the villagers passing by. Seems there is something going on in town. Jack continues back to the workshop, but the commotion got louder.

"I am really sorry. We cannot allow you to enter the base." Jack recognised Mathias's voice in the group.

"Then just let me speak to the commanding officer at the base. I just need information."

Jack pushed through the group of people to see Stella confronting his frantic soldier friend. Mathias awkwardly grinned in his usual manner as he tried to resolve the problem. Stella stood firm with her arms on her hips.

"I will go tell him and bring him here if you just wait a moment." Mathias perked up realising that this could be solved.

"You think our captain has time to speak with you." Boras walked forward. Stuart and Neil followed closely, grinning mischievously. "And you just thought to bring the captain out. What if this is a trap? What if she is an assassin, or what if there is a team waiting on a signal?"

"I assure you, Sir, I am just looking for this girl. Your captain might have resources to help find her."

"Huh! You take me for a fool. Anyone can walk with a piece of paper claiming anything to get into the base. If what you say is true, why don't you just come with me, and I will decide," Boras said as he began to grin. He reached for her hand. Stella quickly jumped back and placed her palm close to the ground. A human sized yellow rectangle a couple inches thick with a faint glow appeared in front her and Boras. The sudden wall made the soldier fall backwards. "This is assault on an officer!"

In a fast tempo, Stuart and Neil circled the wall and lunged at her with swords in hand. Stella gracefully ducked under the swing aimed at her head while also stopping the blade aimed at her stomach with her small dagger. She slid her weapon to the hilt of Neil's sword to grab his wrist and pull him off balance. Stuart quickly pounced again, swinging his sword, but Stella danced away. As she stepped back, Boras ran from the side and placed his hand on the ground creating a large yellow wall himself. The yellow light elevated him roughly twice the height of Stella. He leaped off and aimed his palms downward forming a large red orb that shot at her. Stella rolled backwards as the spell tore into the dirt, but Neil was waiting and swung his sword from over his head. She raised her hand to the blade and just before contact, a large gust of green light spun out her palm pushing Neil into the air. Stuart began charging at her again and Stella ran towards him head on. She looked like she was going to run into his blade, but she shot to the side using the green gust and launched a large ball of blue with some yellow speckles into Stuarts ribs. Boras stood there not moving forward. The frustration on his face was visible to the entire crowd.

"Can we stop this now. I really just want to talk to the captain." Stella stretched her arms to the side as she walked forward. Jack's eyes were glued forward. He couldn't spot a drop of sweat. How could it be that effortless?

"You think you can attack the officers of the Sovalan Empire and make demands!" Boras exclaimed. The entire crowd inched back.

"Boss, I think she has to be important! I have never seen anyone use Ice Mimics before and look at that hair pin," Stuart said between breaths and his hands on his knees.

"It doesn't matter. If she was that important, then she would have known the consequences," Boras continued. Soldiers rushed through the crowd and circled around her. Spears pointed ahead, approaching slowly. Stella just stood there. Her eyebrows pushed down onto her eyes. Jack was drawn in, that looked like discontent, not fear. She was so cool. The air felt different. Wisps were shifting. Jack knew something big was going to happen. "Capture her!"

A wooden crate crashed into a couple of soldiers behind Stella and a flash of red appeared in front of Boras. Jack, suddenly in front of the girl, grabbed her wrist and dragged her forward barely slipping by. "We have to get out of here quickly. If we can hide until sundown, you can probably escape to another town."

"What are you doing! I could have handled them! Now you are going to be arrested!" Stella protested while being dragged away.

What was he doing? It was too late now, and the warmth of her hand kept reminding him that there was no time to regret.

"I'm not much of a fighter so I am definitely scared, but even I could tell you was capable of taking them all down," Jack said, smiling until the tone in his voice shifted. "But what if the crowd got caught up in the fight? I just didn't want to risk anything happening to anyone." His tone returned to excitement. "Don't worry about me, I'm really quick."

Stella was shocked as she thought back to the encounter. "Okay let's go. What is your name?"

"Jack." He released her hand and took on a couple of steps ahead. Stella could tell that he was holding back his speed for her. He moved over and through the crowds and obstacles with fluidity. He really was quick, but it all came to a stop in an instant. Standing in the centre of the town square, in front of the fountain, was a mountain of a man.

Captain Rodriguez seemed to be patiently waiting, but how could he be ahead of them? How could he be waiting? He never broke eye contact with the pair. He wore normal under armour gear with the crest of Sovalan stitched into the front. The three red dots sitting on an upside-down red triangle stood proudly on his chest, and reminded the two that they were in serious trouble. The scars running down his arms, into every rise and valley of muscle added to the most intimidating presence Jack has ever come across.

"You do realise that you have attacked the army in my town. You have attacked my commandment. You both are going to have to come with me," the man calmly said while moving forward. "If there is no struggle then I supposed some public punishment and a little jail time should suffice. You have to understand, we cannot let anyone think they can incite a small rebellion and get away."

Jack felt the sweat dripping from his forehead. Even Stella didn't look as calm and collected as before. She wouldn't be able to hold back in a fight like this Jack thought. She just has to get away. "Please don't try and fight. He is the captain of this base for a reason."

"I don't intend to fight. You were right last time. A lot of people would get dragged into this battle. I'll turn myself in and explain how you just ran away to protect the people," Stella said, closing her hand into a tight fist. Jack could see an entire story filled with regret behind those words.

"Take me instead! I can serve time for the both of us!" Jack exclaimed towards the army captain. He placed his arm in front of Stella in a feeble attempt to shield her from the approaching soldier.

"What are you doing?" Stella exclaimed. This didn't make any sense, but Jack couldn't stop thinking about how sad she looked earlier today.

"You have to go find her as soon as possible." Jack wore a soft smile.

"You think you have a choice," the deep voice grumbled by Jacks ear. Captain Rodriguez was behind both of them without them noticing. A green trail of light from his initial position was all that was in front of them. He placed his massive hands on both of their shoulders. "You both are involved in this. Do not make me repeat myself."

Jack instantly raised his palm and red orbs gathered as quickly as he could will it. The red glow was smashed into Rodriguez's hand, spreading outward when he gripped Jack's palm. The captain's lips climbed into a large menacing smile. He stared directly into Jack's eyes. "You have really done it now."

Stella, without hesitation, buried her heel into his stomach before jumping away. She had seen a wall budge more than this man. He tossed Jack into her causing both criminals to hit the ground, rolling just before the fountain. They quickly sat up but froze as what seemed like the worst decision in their life walked slowly towards them with the same sharp grin. Jack felt his breath get shorter. The sweat dripped onto the dirt ground that he dug his fingers into in an attempt to keep his body up. What was he doing? How did this happen?

A black cloth flashed through the air. It draped over a familiar red top with the black sleeves of the jacket hanging from his forearms. A familiar grin crowned with a thick moustache crouched right in front of them, in the way of the now paused captain.

"Hey, I was thinking today, and I decided I would need your help. If you guys are up for it, do you think you can help me save the world?"