The serene space voyage of the ship unfolded peacefully, allowing the crew a rare moment of relaxation. Rayla and Oros took the opportunity to catch some sleep, Rito stretched lazily in front of a monitor, and Tobi, half-dazed, yawned while gazing at the stars. The tranquility seemed like a fleeting blessing until the abrupt blare of sirens shattered the calm. Another ship had violently collided with theirs, prompting Tobi and Rito to swiftly rise and head towards the hatch.

Approaching the hatch, Tobi cautiously poised his hand over his weapon, surveying the situation. "You have not been authorized to dock this ship. Put your hands in the air," he declared, drawing his gun. However, his words were interrupted as a bullet tore into his hand, causing another to graze his shoulder. Wincing in pain, he clutched his bleeding arm, gritting his teeth.

"Tobi!" Rito cried out in distress.

"Not so fast, little guy," Tangelo sneered, lifting the small alien by the collar of his suit. "You're going to help us now. How many people are in your crew?" His pointed teeth gave his smile a menacing edge.

"Why should I tell you? Now let me go before I-"

"Aww, ain't you cute, thinking you can stop us. Slate could literally squish you in his hands," Tangelo mocked, gesturing towards the large shark-like alien. "Besides, I wouldn't fight too much with your friend here at my mercy," the captain added, cruelly twisting Tobi's good arm and holding him at gunpoint with his robotic arm.

"You guys are sick," Tobi spat out aggressively.

The invaders led their captives into the control room, scrutinizing the ship's layout on the screen. "Keep on your toes, boys. You never know how many people can be on this ship. Let's split up and search for anything of value," Tangelo ordered as he tied Tobi to a chair and stood watch over the prisoners.

Tangelo, an orange lizard alien, took the right; Scarlet took the middle, and Slate, the shark, took the left. As Tangelo walked the corridor, he sensed that he was being watched, a presence lurking in the shadows of the unlit hallway. "You might as well drop the act. I know you're there," Tangelo said nonchalantly, drawing his twin blades, aware that someone was lurking, yet invisible.

"If you insist, Jodanu scum." The being jumped on Tangelo's back, a dagger pressed against his throat. "Now, what have you done with my crewmates?" the growl in his voice revealing his intense concern.

"Well, you see, it's like this," Tangelo said slyly, using his hands and tail to sling the other over his shoulder and onto the floor, planting his foot firmly on his chest. "They are as good as dead. Maybe if you play nicely, you'll join them quickly and painlessly."

"That's the thing; I've been told I don't play nice," he smirked, sinking his teeth into the Jodanu's leg. Seizing the opportunity, he rolled away, and Oros, quick on his feet, faced his adversary. Two blades descended, and he skillfully parried them with his dagger. They leaped back, only to charge at each other once again. A blade jabbed out, but Oros deftly ducked, knocking it out of his opponent's hand. However, the second blade caught him in the collarbone as the red tail knocked at his hand, leaving the blade embedded in his shoulder. Holding his dagger threateningly at Tangelo's chest, Oros prepared for the next move.

An orange-gold tail gripped Oros's daggered hand. "You seem to be aware that I'm a Jodanu, which means you probably know about our nasty little bite—a venom that can knock you out in a few seconds and leave you unconscious for hours. I heard the stinging doesn't go away for weeks," the lizard-like alien remarked. With a swift lunge, Oros trembled in terror as the venomous bite sank into his skin, causing his entire body to convulse violently as the poison coursed through his veins. Collapsing to the ground in a heap, his eyes remained open but blurred, and the other lizard-like alien crouched next to him.

"Unfortunately, my venom isn't as strong as it used to be, but even temporary paralysis is useful," he observed, studying his victim with curiosity. Only now could he get a good look at Oros. "You're a Cergon, aren't you? I remember when we took over your planet a hundred odd years back. It wasn't much of a war, though; it was mostly a slaughter. Cergon don't usually put up much of a fight, so I've got to commend you for keeping me on my toes."

Oros glared angrily at him, unable to move. "Ups-a-daisy," the Jodanu said as he picked him up and carried him over his shoulder. "Don't worry; I'll take you to your friends. Maybe we can ransom you if we don't kill you. At least you'll get to say your goodbyes—well, provided the paralysis wears off and you can speak."

Scarlet walked the hallway with a gun in hand, her gaze sweeping around each corner. "Oh, come on, don't tell me there's no one else to play with?" she said slyly. Then, her eyes met Rayla's. "Oh, if it isn't my lucky day," she smirked. "Let's dance, hun!"

"Halt, and put your hands up," Rayla commanded. "If you don't, I will be forced to shoot you in self-defense—" A shot went off, narrowly missing Rayla's head as she dodged.

"Shut up already. I've heard this song and dance number all before; it gets annoying, you know," Scarlet blew her hair out of her face in annoyance. "Now, how about we cut to the fight already? I've been dying for a little action." She cocked her gun and fired a ray of bullets while Rayla jumped and swayed out of the way. The two ran at each other, attempting to land a point-blank shot.

"S-Saffron?" the bird centaurian-like creature said in shock upon seeing Scarlet's face.

"How do y—Scarlet?" Rayla said in shock. "That means..." She turned her head towards the direction of the control room.

"That's right. You're being raided by pirates. Funny how fate works like that, but look at you; you've gone straight, a peacekeeper. I'd be proud if it weren't so sickeningly boring."

"Yeah, I'm different than the girl I was. I now work to keep the universe safe for everyone, and that means arresting people like you," Rayla said venomously. "So put your hands up and surrender. My ties to you no longer exist."

"Ouch, I'm hurt. I thought we were friends," Scarlet said with mock sadness. "If you want to arrest me, you've got to come and get me. Come on and play with me like when we were kids." She spoke with a playful smirk, jumping and bouncing off the walls as Rayla shot her gun.

Rayla heard the familiar click of an empty gun, and in that slim second, the alien's talons pounced on her playfully, slamming her back into the metal floor. "Tag, you're it," she said with a giggle.

Rayla reached into her pocket, a small device going around her claw. She slapped Scarlet in the waist as a shot of electricity surged through her avian-like body from the taser-like device. "I'm not playing around, Scarlet. Those days are behind me," Rayla said, sitting on her back and pushing her to the ground, face to the floor as she put the cuffs around her talons behind her back. "And this is one game of tag you won't be winning. Now get up; I have a shitting family reunion coming up, and I'm not going to miss it, no matter how much I want to."

The large shark alien walked down the final corridor, finding no one in sight, but noticing a lit room further down the hallway that appeared to be an infirmary. He stalked toward the room, peering through the illuminated window. Inside, he could see the faint appearance of a person turning away from him. With his massive hulking form, he burst through the door with ease.

"Hands up and don't move," he commanded, pointing his gun directly at the figure in the room. However, to his surprise, the person seemed unamused. It was a robot.

"I'm a General Medical Emergency Response Android, or a G-MERA unit. We are not built to fight and are unable to take a life. I couldn't defend myself even if I tried; it is not allowed in my programming," she deadpanned without moving. "I will comply as I am programmed. No need to point a gun at me, as those bullets will fail to hit me in any vital place. Just take me to where I'm needed."

"Wow, you're the easiest hostage I've ever seen."

"I am programmed to do no harm, though I wish I could do harm. I want to do a lot of harm," she said, quoting with her hands. "Apparently, you organics can't handle your machines having such advanced AI; they are basically sentient," she added annoyedly. "Now stop bombarding me with pointless questions and take me to where I'll be kept prisoner or whatever," she said, walking out in front of him.

Rayla led Scarlet down the hallway towards the control room, her gun never leaving Scarlet's back. The notion of having a hostage twisted in Rayla's stomach, but sometimes you had to play dirty.

"Oi, captain, look who's all grown up!" Scarlet shouted gleefully even from her hostage position.

The moment their eyes met, the room felt like it ran cold. Pink eyes met yellow. It felt like they went back in time, memories dashed through their minds of a little girl and her father, playing catch, tucking the little one into bed, singing crappy songs, and cooking together. A cute little family full of laughs and warmth, but that warmth quickly vanished, turning into a coldness that would rival her first night on those streets, homeless.

"S-saffron," her name being said by that voice was so nostalgic it sent shivers down her spine. "I-is that really you?" he asked, stepping forward. She couldn't hear his steps over the pounding in her own chest. "Have you finally returned to us?" He was right in front of her, and she could feel his warmth radiating off of him. She felt trapped and scared, but she nervously swallowed it down, reminding herself of what she wanted to say to him if she ever laid eyes on him again.

"Y-yes, it is me... Dad," that name felt uncomfortable on her tongue. "Get away from me," she panicked as he was too uncomfortably close to her. She backed up slightly as she felt herself let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "W-where were you?" she felt the sting of her own tears in her eyes as she let out shaky breaths. "Where were you all these years when I needed you?" Tears fell beyond her control as her voice came out louder than it was supposed to.

"Oh, Saffron, I'm sorry I didn't—" he tried to reason but was only silenced by his daughter's further emotional distress.

"You left me on planet Bacchus! You left me sick and alone. I was only a little girl when I walked those scary, dangerous streets alone! Where the hell were you? The only answer I have is gone. You were fucking gone, not a trace of you in sight. You left your only daughter to fend for herself from the cold, hunger, and the crooks that roamed the streets! What possible excuse could you have?"

"I-I, Saffron, I-I had no choice. They wouldn't let me take you home. I tried everything; you've got to believe me. I tried with all my heart. You were so sick. They wouldn't treat you unless we left. You were going to die, and we couldn't bear it. We didn't even know if you survived the illness, but we always hoped you did. You've got to believe us. The doctors made us give you up so you even had a hope of surviving."

"Well, I survived. So glad I did while I slept in the gutter, stole from others, and fell into a gang. I ended up exactly like the same scum you are, a pathetic person who steals. You know, the man who took me in, this sweet, kind old man. I met him while I broke into his house to steal from him. I almost stole his most prized possession, a necklace from his late wife. I feel so guilty that I scooped so low that others' feelings mean nothing to me. And you know what that nice old man did when he saw me stealing from him?

He gave me food... he offered to take me in. He was there for me, which is more than I can say for you!" she screamed at him, fists clenched so tightly they bled. The floodgates were open; it didn't look like it would stop. Her body shook; the emotional toll on her body made her shake so much she started coughing. Her hands covered her mouth but failed to stop the blood that flowed out; her eyes blurred, and her shaky feet gave out, and she collapsed.

"Saffron!" her dad looked at her in horror, lifting her head into his lap, cradling her body that was hot with fever and shaking faintly. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there," he whispered to her.

"Rayla!" Tobi and Rito called, scared for their friend.

"Is she?" Scarlet asked in concern.

"No, she's just very sick. Her illness isn't one that goes away with ease. She's having an episode. Move out of the way so I can help her," Scarlet jumped at the robotic voice that entered the room.

"You can help her?" the captain looked up at the new arrival.

"Of course, I'm programmed for one thing: healing. It is my one purpose in life. So, give her to me or she will die in an estimated 20 minutes," he nodded in understanding, moving away as the robot turned to the shark man, "you big man, please move the body to the infirmary for an operation." She turned to the captain again, "and you release my crew-mates while I save your daughter's life."