Rein get out of the tram and found his team was waiting for him in front of his ship, waving at him. As he walked closer, one of them ran and slapped him. He woke up and looked around confused. Ruby stood beside him, with a spatula on her hand.

He rubbed his face "What was that for?" he saw the light shined through the curtain "Uh.. what time is it?"

"Mid day, your breakfast already cold."

"Whaaa!" he looked at the clock, it’s almost twelve "My ship-" he remembered, he forgot to tell Ruby.

"You're late for your departure?" she sighed, handing him a plate full of soggy sandwiches.

He ate all the sandwiches and hurriedly took a shower. Donning his academy uniform, he affixed his badge on his sleeves and re checked his luggage before went outside. Ruby was already waiting for him in front of the door.

"Master Barret," she said "I will be waiting for your return, to raise the next heir of the Barret family."

Rein perplexed "Huh?"

"Miss Engel will be a great partner for you-"

"Err.. what are you talking about? why me and her-"

Ruby sighed. She walked inside the house "I fell sorry for miss Engel.. Good luck master Barret." before closing the door behind her, leaving Rein dumbfounded.

“Weird.”

Ruby was gazing at him through the window as he dragged his luggage and walked to the nearby tram station. Along the way, he saw sir Wainwright waving at him. He and his droid Alfred were trimming their yard.

"Good morning, lad!"

"It's already noon, sir" said Alfred.

"Is it?" sir Wainwright looked at him confused "Anyway! where are you going, lad?"

Rein told him about his departure.

"Ah! I remembered when i met my team for the first time, and Elena.. the most beautiful woman I had ever met," sir Wainwright looking at the sky "Oh! Elena, i missed you... your blue eyes-"

"Madam Elena had green eyes, sir."

"Nonsense! There's no way i forgot her eyes!" he howled.

"Sir, after your 983th birthday, your memory is getting hazier, i suggest-"

"Mine still sharp as ever!"

"Uhmm... sir Wainwright, I'm sorry, but i have to go, I’m going to be late for-"

"Oh! sorry to take your time lad.. have a great day at school!"

"See..” Alfred sighed “Good luck on your journey young master Barret."

Rein waved at them and continued heading towards the tram station, he could heard their bickering from far.

 

At the station, Rein boarded the tram and went to the designated hangar bay. Arriving there, He looked around and saw a huge spaceship with the same color he picked yesterday. There were peoples gathering at the ramp in front of his ship.

A girl was looking at him with her lustrous red eyes. She's really beautiful, her skin white as snow and her long shiny silver hair gleamed under the light. She approached him and asked "Are you Rein Barret?"

"Yes i am," he replied "are you related to madame high elder?"

She smiled "She is my grandmother. I am Eleanor Staritter," she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the others at ramp "We have been waiting for you.."

"So.. you're the new boss?" asked the Machinehuman with sleek dark blue armor suits which resembled a Mecha from the TV show he used to watch.

Rein introduced himself to his teammates.

"I am Fabian Lysander," the tall white suits Machinehuman shaking his hand while staring at him with his six eyes under his round visor "I am your team doctor."

The huge black guy beside Fabian gave a salute to Rein "Kincade Elba, at your service!" a huge smile formed under his bionic eyes which resembled a thick shades.

A girl with golden hair peeked behind Kincade "Laylah Bard.." she said in really low voice before hiding behind him again. She have bionic arms like Kincade.

"Sorry.. she's a bit shy, anyway.. we were EX security forces, so.. whenever there’s trouble, just leave it to us," Kincade grinned "Also i will be your pilot and chef."

The dark blue Machinehuman introduced himself "Garland Alter, ready to serve boss!" he said cheerfully.

The crimson voluminous haired girl shoved Garland aside before looking down at Rein and pinched his cheek "Our leader so cute.."

"Ou- Ouch!

"Miss Lonbell.. please stop that.." said Eleanor.

She stopped pinching and giggled "Rosetta Vern Lonbell, just call me Rose.."

"Why you pinched every girls you see and our boss," Garland wondered.

"I love small and cute things.." she smiled "I would have pinched you too, if not for your metal cheek."

"Eh?"

"Although.. i can still do this," she lifted Garland.

"Hey! put me down!" flailing his hand.

She smiled and lifted Garland even higher before putting him down.

A short girl beside Rose giggled looking at Garland who now hid behind a pillar. She waved at Rein "Hi.. I’m Dianna Luce, nice to meet you..”

"Move Anna! it's my turn!" said the orange haired girl "Sierra Renard, the best engineer in this galaxy!"

"And.. she's my best best friend in the whole galaxy.." Dianna smiled brightly.

"Whose your best friend!" shouted Sierra.

Garland chuckled behind the pillar.

"You! stop laughing!" she glared at him.

"Oh, Erra.." Dianna about to hugged her but she evaded.

While everyone laughed seeing Dianna attempted to hug Sierra again, Rein looked at his spaceship. He never seen this model before, and it was larger than the exploration ship he had seen during the school lesson.

"That's the newest exploration ship, the stellar class. It's still in development," Eleanor explained "but thanks to miss Renard, we are given one of the prototype."

"Yeah! thanks to me, we got the most advanced ship!" Sierra said smugly "I'm the one who designed that, besides.. it's perfect chance to test it."

Garland raised his hand "Uh.. It's safe right?"

"Of course!" she crossed her arms "I'm the best engi-"

"Thank you, miss Renard." said Rein "i couldn't ask for more."

She looked exultant and proud "Let's go, i'll give you a tour inside!"

After asking the drones to bring all their luggage to their designated personal cabin. Rein and the others followed Sierra boarding the ship.

They arrived at the ship’s hangar bay. Several ground vehicles parked there such as a mobile base camp, all-terrain vehicles, and buggies, there were also a submarine, and a landing craft. Rein spotted a pair of hover bikes at the corner.

"Oh! that's mine," said Kincade, he went to examined it "Nice! exactly like i requested."

After checking the vehicles, They rode the elevator to the middle section. There were storage rooms, a manufacturing room, med bay, and a small botanical room which was requested by Rose.

They went to the top section. Rows of personal cabins for them and a gathering room combined with kitchen. The bridge was located at the front section, which only accessible through the gathering room. There's also another elevator that led to the upper deck.

“Cool huh?” Sierra puffing her chest.

Rein thanked her for the tour before asking his team to gathered at the bridge after they went to their rooms to checked their belonging. He saw his name on one of the cabin near the gathering room entrance. He walked inside, the room was spacious even bigger than his room at his home. He checked his new bed before storing away all his belonging to the drawers and cases.

“Hmm..” checking if his books were in order. Satisfied, he left his room and went to the bridge, no one was there. He took the seat on the middle which denoted for the leader, familiarizing with the instrument in front of him.

Few minutes later, everyone walked into bridge. They all get to their seats, Kincade sat on the helms. When he ignited the ship reactor, they heard a voice welcoming them.

"That's the ship AI, give it a name," said Sierra to Rein.

Rein thought for a moment before asking his team for suggestion. They all came up with several names such as Citrus, Moonmoon, Eaglet, and Scalpel.

"Asha.." Laylah murmured.

They all looking at her. Her face turned red. Rein asked her about the name, but she just shook her head. She finally repeated it after Kincade encouraged her.

“Asha huh?” Rein rubbing his chin.

After some thought, they all agreed to named the AI, Asha.

The AI confirmed it and then changed it voice into a female "Asha, a female name mean Hope or Wish.."

"Hah!" Garland glanced at Laylah.

She turned even redder and quickly covered her face. Rein saw kincade smiled at her.

"Alright, we're ready to depart!" said Kincade. He contacted the tower.

After getting permission to depart. The gate behind their ship slides open and their ship slowly reversed into the airlock chamber. They heard a loud thump and their ship was guided towards the outer gate. The outer gate opened and Kincade carefully steer their ship outside into the outer space. Kincade pushed the thruster and a blue curtain began enveloping their ship.

“Okay! Here we go!”

They're off to their assigned sector called Gate of Valdur. According to the data, there were thousands of planetary systems that yet to be discovered. Rein looked at the screen, seeing his home Twilight Ocean getting further and further away. They passed another capital ship called Victoria.

"Good bye Victoria.." said Fabian

Rein asked "You're from Victoria?"

He nodded.

"I'm from Victoria too," said Rose.

"I heard.. it's an interesting place," said Dianna.

Fabian crossed his arms "They replicate everything to matched that novel."

"Novel?" asked Rein.

"An ancient detective novel from earth, everyone there adores it. We have annual murder mystery game, not the real one of course," Rose added "We called it the baker street phantom mystery."

"Are they baking cake there?" Dianna tilting her head.

"Eh? no- it's just the street name from the novel, i have no idea why they named it that."

"Aw.. i want a chocolate cake.."

Sierra shook her head "Childish as always."

"Don't worry, I’ll make one later," Kincade smiled.

"Really? Yay!" she raised her hands.

"Miss Staritter, you are from Eisengrand i presume?" asked Fabian.

Eleanor nodded "I live with my grandmother."

"How about you three?" Rein asked Dianna, Garland and Sierra.

"I'm from Neo Steam" said Garland.

"Ohoho, fellow Neo Steam, i see." Kincade grinned.

"I'm fro-"

"Me and Sierra were from Port Solace.." said Dianna "Although i later move to Wild Havens to be a rangers. I met Garland there.."

"Hmph!" Sierra pouted.

"Ranger eh?" asked Kincade "So, you guys are our animal expert."

Rein looked at Laylah "How about you Laylah?"

She covered her face again and whispered something.

"She's from Garden Nile," said Kincade.

"I remembered when studied plants there.." Rose closed her eyes "Really beautiful place, that garden on the middle is spectacles.."

They passed another capital ship called Verglas. Asha informing them they left the vicinity of the capital ships, they will reached their destination in 3 months.

Kincade gave the ship control to her before taking a spatula stored inside his bionic arm and smiled "Who's hungry?"