I nod. It’s clear that my popularity down there won’t exactly increase if I’m seen talking to someone like her.

I look at her curiously.

"Kaia, what position do you actually hold?" I ask spontaneously. "I mean, other than being friends with your ruler!"

"We’ve been friends since childhood!" the young woman exclaims, her gaze seeming to linger dreamily on the past.

She quickly snaps back, and her words swell with pride.

"Well, I’m the commander or trainer here. But only when I feel like it." A broad grin spreads across Kaia's face. "I’m pretty good with spaceships and often torture young recruits with flight lessons. It’s fun, but it doesn’t do much for my reputation."

Kaia jumps up.

"Come on! I'll give you a quick tour of your new home."

I follow her lead. Without feeling too comfortable, I follow her through the spaceship.

When a door suddenly opens in front of us, I briefly raise my hand to shield my eyes. Compared to the lighting inside, it’s quite bright outside, and the sudden switch from dark to light momentarily blinds me.

The room I now stand in is not only brightly lit, but also massive. Not just from wall to wall, but from floor to ceiling as well.

We are elevated, and below us, a carpet of spaceships stretches out, appearing tiny from this height. Along the sides of the room are fenced-off paths, with connecting walkways extending across every level, unsupported.

I swallow as I look down, impressed by the height we’re at. Though there are railings along the paths and walkways, it’s still imposing and gives a first impression of the station’s immense size.

Behind us, the Politaris is lowered into the depths, towering above all the other spaceships on a pedestal.

"The Politaris is the only one of our ships that only one person besides the owner is allowed to touch," Kaia mentions, laughing. "He still remembers a nosedive he took as a little boy. Back then, someone cut a few cables on his ship. The saboteur probably hoped Torsos would get stranded in space and starve miserably. Instead, he ate his way through our planet until he finally revealed whose son he was."

I look down, feeling troubled. My mother told me something like that.

"What’s wrong?" Kaia asks me. She looks at me curiously from the side.

"I think my biological father caused that nosedive," I mention. Being in the presence of such a close friend of Torsos suddenly makes me feel uncomfortable in my own skin.

Kaia stops and looks at me in disbelief.

"Malgard was Makko’s best friend‽" she exclaims, astonished. She sighs, then continues on her way. "Things happen!"

As we walk, I watch the activity in the hall with interest. A few men dressed in black are crossing the walkways. I don’t see any women, but this is just a small part of the station.

Besides, Kaia mentioned that there are few women.

Another thing that puzzles me is the fact that I can’t spot any doors on the walls.

What I see are bright walls stretching along the sides, blending into the floor without a trace of welding seams or any indication that plates have been joined together.

It looks like everything was cast from a single piece, which seems almost impossible given the size.

Kaia suddenly stops. After a short time, I understand why and am quite surprised. A part of the wall disappears, revealing a small room.

I follow Kaia inside, and shortly after we enter, the entrance closes again without a trace of a door.

A slight jolt is felt as the seemingly solid room begins to move. It shouldn’t surprise me. After all, elevators are as normal to us as spaceships are here. Yet, I expected something special in this small room. Some exciting technology, not just a means of transport that simply takes us down.

I use this time to ask her a question that’s been on my mind, aside from the technology here. "You mentioned that there are only a few women here…"

I don’t need to say more.

"A few," she replies. "When the right guy is in power." Kaia rolls her eyes. "His opinion is that women serve only two purposes." I listen to her explanation with curiosity. "The first is to ensure that his army has enough recruits for training. The second…" She winks at me. "They’re supposed to serve the men and – especially him – fulfill their every wish." She giggles. I, on the other hand, raise my eyebrows in surprise.

And here I thought that aliens had to be advanced. The technology is, but these views seem downright medieval.

I shake my head. When I look back at Kaia, she beams at me and proudly declares, "I’m the only woman on the station who gets to give orders to the men!"

I can’t help but chuckle.

Kaia looks like she enjoys this fact. And I can understand that. It must be an unparalleled feeling of power for a woman who is physically much smaller than many of the men.

A moment later, our ride comes to an end. The elevator stops and reveals a long corridor behind us.

There’s no sign of a door or another passageway. Only bare, sterile-looking metal walls are visible.

If I were alone, I’d lose myself in the weight of solitude. Lost in a futuristic labyrinth.

For a moment, I wonder if there’s only this one path, but maybe I’ll find a way to inquire about that later.

As we leave the elevator and I see what lies ahead of us, I can’t imagine Kaia giving me an answer now.

In the middle of the corridor stands a group of men. Two of them are wearing gray jumpsuits that cling tightly to their bodies, outlining their muscles. My gaze discreetly shifts to Kaia. Somehow, I can’t shake the feeling that she had a say in the design of the uniforms.

Next to the two are ten men dressed in more comfortable clothing, distinctly different from the station’s crew. Their hands and feet are shackled, chained together. Black collars are wrapped around their necks.

Such things, which Kaia had already reported.

Fear rises within me as I notice the gazes, especially the ones directed at Kaia. Since I'm following her, these glances also touch me. And from these glances, only hatred and disgust speak.

In front of the group, a young man paces back and forth, explaining some rules to the men. But when his gaze falls on Kaia, he rushes over to her immediately.

His uniform is also tight-fitting. His muscles are outlined through the black fabric.

Are all men here so well-trained?, I wonder. And above all, good-looking. He is certainly a handsome man and makes an impressive appearance. Although the men in gray don't measure up to him, they don't look bad either.

On his chest, he wears a badge I can't identify. Like Kaia, he has stripes on his shoulders, but his are green and almost covered by his blonde hair.

His intriguing green eyes first look kindly at Kaia, then wander over to me with curiosity.

"Has good old Kaia recently started giving tours of our station?" he asks. He smiles at me warmly. "Then quickly get out of here! The prison isn't exactly a place that leaves a good impression of our station."

"No, no." Kaia shakes her head. "I’m supposed to bring this girl down here."

"A female prisoner?" The man seems surprised. "And such a sweet girl at that. That's madness!"

"Don't say that to me!" She sighs.

"But he would have to be found first, which I've already tried, but no one can tell me where he is right now."

"You're asking the wrong person; neither of them reports to me what they are doing," she says with a shrug.

"And you'd think someone like him would be reachable for important things," he says, accompanied by a sigh.

His gaze falls on me again.

It makes me uncomfortable how closely he's examining me now, as if he's trying to figure out something that eludes me.

His questioning expression isn't just on his face.

"Back to the girl." The blonde man lowers his head closer to Kaia, his tone becoming quieter. "Say what you will, but she looks a lot like the race of a certain tyrant here on the station," he whispers to her. Quietly enough that only I hear it, but not the rest.

"Why are you whispering like that?" A conspiratorial grin forms on her lips. "Afraid that this really nice guy might hear how you're gossiping about him?" She laughed loudly. "Otscharsan, that's not nice!"

"I'm just telling the truth!" Otscharsan protested. "So, am I right or not?"

"Malgard's daughter!" Kaia responds quietly.

Immediately, he looks at her with wide eyes.

"You're lying!" he exclaims. Now she has completely piqued his interest.

He examines me more closely, as if searching for some resemblance to another person.

Perhaps he's heard my father's name before and knows him from records or compares me to his idea of him.

I can't imagine that Otscharsan ever met him personally.

Not if everything happened so long ago, and my family lived successfully hidden on Earth for many years.

Still, it doesn't change how uncomfortable I feel, so I avoid his gaze and take a step behind Kaia.

As if there were a place to hide behind the petite redhead.

I wonder why. Is my biological father really that famous?

"That was centuries ago!"

"Cold sleep!" Kaia responds shortly.

"Is the great warrior still alive?"

I lower my head silently. It's clear to me that they're talking about my father.

"No, but the prophesied hero is said to have already passed away," Kaia says.

Prophesied hero? Who does she mean by that? I look at them both questioningly.

"Then I understand even less why she's down here," Otscharsan says.

"You’d have to ask our beloved tyrant," Kaia says with a honeyed smile on her lips. "I stopped trying to figure out what goes on in his head centuries ago."

Kaia makes a move to continue walking. I obediently follow her.

This time, a man from the group of prisoners stops her. A muscle man who drags a few of the men with him as he steps in front of her.

"What an honor!" he shouts loudly. His words are full of mockery. "The great Kaia!" His broad grin seems to hardly impress her.

Kaia tries to continue walking, but she finds no way past him.

He’s a tall guy, making Kaia look like a tiny person. Almost six foot three, with short brown hair and brown eyes, which hold nothing but contempt for Kaia. His appearance isn't bad, but he can't quite compare to the handsome Otscharsan.

"In close combat, you'd be done for soon, sweet little doll!" It's clear that he wants to challenge Kaia. Even clearer is how successful he is in doing so. "Without all these weapons carried by the men around you, you'd be as helpless as the little, weak girl you are!"

Kaia glared at him fiercely with her red eyes.

"We could test who kneels before the other first!" A brief command is given to one of the men in gray, and the muscle man is freed from his chain.

Suddenly, two hands are on my shoulders. With a gentle push, I'm pulled away from the two fighters.

"Our fury needs to play the big fighter again," Otscharsan says with a sigh. "Better stay far away from them! After all, you're the daughter of a celebrity! Nothing should happen to someone like you!" The smile on his lips seems nice, surely making some women melt. It would have had the same effect on me if he were a bit younger.

"Then show me what you've got, little girl!" the man shouts.

No sooner has he finished this challenge, he lunges at Kaia.

She skillfully dodges his first blow but not the second.

He hits her square in the stomach.

Kaia groans and stumbles back a few steps from the force of the blow. She has no time to recover. The giant throws her against the wall with his weight. He practically presses her against it. The pain on her face shows that his grip around her upper arms is not exactly gentle.

"I told you so...!"

Mockery fills his voice. It's clear that he already sees victory on his side. Even I can't imagine how she could still emerge victorious from this situation. Pity rises in me as his hand wraps around her throat.

My gaze shifts to Otscharsan. I actually want to ask why no one is intervening, but he just watches the scene with amusement. He seems to enjoy seeing the young woman in such a situation.

When Otscharsan notices my shocked expression, he crosses his arms and says, "Anyone who wants to fight has to get themselves out of it!" He pauses briefly before continuing. "Besides, the brat knows how to take care of herself!"

He is probably referring to her ability, which I have already heard about.

Suddenly, Otscharsan looks concerned. When I turn back to the two fighters, I understand why.

The muscle man has somehow gotten hold of a sharp piece of metal, which he now holds in his hands, menacingly aimed at the petite redhead.

"It seems the great Kaia overestimated herself!" The man laughs mockingly. "Will I become famous if I kill one of you beasts?" He runs the metal along her cheek, leaving a fine cut.

No sound escapes Kaia's throat. The redhead just glares at him as fiercely as a predator about to pounce on its prey.

Otscharsan and the two men in gray exchange confused looks. A silent discussion about the next steps.

I don't understand their behavior.

They should fulfill their duty and intervene, not waste time!

Only the prisoners seem amused by the woman's predicament, while I give her a worried look.

"No weapons!" Otscharsan shouts. He takes a step forward, intending to intervene, but the smile on Kaia's face makes him pause.

"Then I don't need to play fair either!"

She shows no fear. Her voice is strained, as his other hand has moved to her throat. Exhausted, every sound is hard for her to utter.

I don’t even know where she gets this fighting spirit that already declares her victory.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her powers in action.

Her irises glow red and mesmerizing. He can't help but look into them.

Her gaze traps him, with no escape, not even under his panic-stricken eyes.

Apart from the glowing current in her irises, there is nothing visible to the onlookers.

"Now kneel before me, you damned bastard!" she commands him.

"Witch!" gasps the large man. The sharp piece of metal falls from his hand and lands clattering to the metal floor. His grip loosens around her neck.

Kaia touches the pressure point where his fingers had been. She feels the lingering pressure and tries to dispel it with a cough. Her other hand rests on her aching stomach.

She doesn’t allow herself to rest, remaining in front of him, maintaining the connection between her eyes and those of her opponent. Anger has taken hold of her.

The man in front of her pulls at his collar. It appears he feels it cutting off his air, just like his hands had with her neck. But this piece of fabric is elastic. Yet, it cannot be easily discarded without consequences. His body jerks as if he’s been shocked by an electric jolt. It’s so intense that he can barely keep himself upright.