“They’re not too smart, positioning themselves there. Don’t they realize they’re out in the open for everyone to see?” Zephyr took out his phone.

“With the fighter hidden, they probably assumed the coast was clear.”

As soon as Karl said that, he heard the familiar cry of an eagle. Karl gasped. “Gobaith, no!”

The poachers readied their weapons and aimed for the eagle, as Gobaith flew the opposite way from the hawks. Karl hastily looked around and saw a tree not too far below the spot where the poachers were. Karl turned towards his brother. “Zeph, gimme a boost. I need to get up that tree.”

“What are you planning?” Zephyr raised an eyebrow.

“Hurry!”

Sighing, Zephyr put his phone away and jogged towards the tree. When he was in position, Karl dashed towards him and stepped on his interlaced fingers. Zephyr used his hands as a makeshift springboard for Karl, who was able to jump high enough to grab on a branch and climb up. The moment he found his footing, he swiftly pulled out his guns.

Using a small opening between layers of leaves swaying in the wind, he aimed at the poachers. Little blue lights that looked like fireflies danced around his silver weapons before they concentrated on the barrel. In the window of a few seconds when the wind stopped and the leaves stayed still, he fired two precise shots—one from each pistol— and the poachers’ rifles exploded in their hands, making them drop their weapons. They frantically looked around, and then scrambled to run away.

Karl put his guns back into his belt, got down from the tree, and walked back to his companions.

“Impressive...” said Rywa. The compliment seemed to have gone past Karl, as he looked with concern up at the sky.

“Is he okay?”

“See for yourself,” Rywa extended his hand to let the majestic bird perch on his gauntlet.

“You crazy bird. You used yourself as a decoy to let the hawks escape, didn’t you?” Karl scolded before his features relaxed into a smile, and with a gentler tone added. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

Gobaith gave a playful peck on Karl’s sleeve, then curiously looked at Zephyr who stood beside him.

“This is my brother, Zephyr,” said Karl.

“Hello, Gobaith,” Zephyr nodded, then said to Rywa “What a beautiful eagle.”

“Thank you. I first met him in my teens, and he’s been a faithful companion since,” said Rywa then turned to Karl. “You saved him and those hawks, and for that he’s thankful. So am I.”

Karl looked up at him with a wistful smile. “I work hard to protect people of Earth from alien invaders. Sadly, sometimes we also need to protect other living beings from people...” He shook his head in disappointment.

“Don’t worry,” Zephyr patted his back. “I have solid evidence, so we can report those guys,” he waved his phone with a triumphant grin.

“Thanks, Zeph.” The corners of Karl’s mouth quirked upwards.

“What’s the matter?” asked Rywa.

“I’m glad those two are okay, but what about the rest of them? Where are they now?” His face fell, looking dejected.

Gobaith bent down and lightly pecked Karl’s arm once more, eliciting a chuckle from him. “Are you trying to cheer me up? Thank you, Gobaith.”

Gobaith was poised to fly when Rywa spoke. “Wait, I have a favour to ask you before you go.” Rywa shifted his eyes from the eagle to Karl and Zephyr. “Excuse us for a moment...”

The brothers nodded, then Rywa walked away.

Zephyr moved closer and wrapped his arms around Karl from behind, resting his chin on his shorter brother’s head.

Karl held Zephyr’s arms. “What’s this? Are you trying to cheer me up, too?”

“I was thinking about what Tetsuro said earlier. I don’t know what happened back then, but I... I just want you to remember I’m here now. And Luna, too,” said Zephyr.

“I know.”

Karl looked up as Gobaith flew off and Rywa rejoined them.

“Shall we get going?” Zephyr said, breaking away from Karl’s grasp. Frowning, he grabbed Karl’s hands and examined his palms. “You’ve got scratches.”

“Oh. Must’ve been when I went up that tree. It’s nothing,” Karl tried to pull his hands away, but Zephyr held them tighter.

“We need to disinfect it and-”

They looked up when they heard a melodious bird call.

“It reminds me of the song of the last ʻōʻō... Hauntingly beautiful.” Turning to Rywa, Karl added, “He was the last of his kind. Someone was able to record his song, as he called out to a mate that no longer existed.” 

“Karl... your hands...” Zephyr said, eyes wide.

“Hm?” Karl turned to his hands. “Whoa. The cuts are gone!”

They looked at each other and exclaimed “The mystical bird?!”

 “How? I’ve heard of the mental health benefits of bird songs but this is something else entirely...” said Zephyr, shaking his head in dumbfounded amazement.

“Okay but, where is he?” Karl eagerly looked around, up in the sky and branches of the surrounding trees but didn’t see any birds around them.

Rywa cleared his throat. “If I may, Gobaith taught me a song that he claims should be able to call any bird’s attention. Though, I must warn you that the success rate is rather hit or miss.”

“I guess it won’t hurt to try,” Karl shrugged. “What happens if it’s a miss anyway?”

“You don’t want to know,” Rywa smiled cryptically. He cleared his throat then proceeded to let out a whistle.

Zephyr leaned closer to his older brother and murmured “Doesn’t it sound a little... off?”

Karl nodded, “Yeah. Like it’s out of tune or something...”

When Rywa finished, there was a brief silence before they heard buzzing. It got louder. And closer.

The three men yelled upon spotting a swarm of bees coming their way and bolted for the other direction.

“Ava, disengage stealth mode! Now!” Karl yelled at his watch. As soon as the fighter appeared, they hurriedly got on and Zephyr slammed the door shut behind them.

Still catching his breath, Zephyr glared at Rywa. “You said it calls birds!”

Karl could feel his heart pounding. “So when you said Gobaith can’t sing... Oh. Nevermind.”

“My apologies. It does work sometimes,” Rywa grinned sheepishly.

Zephyr rolled his eyes. “And it calls bees when it doesn’t?”     

“Not always. Last time it summoned a herd of bumbling little dragons. The fire-breathing kind.”

Karl jerked up, looking at Rywa with sparkling eyes. “Did you say dragons?!”

Zephyr leaned back, letting his head hit the wall. “Oh, brother...”

An alarm coming from the dashboard called their attention and Karl hurried over to switch on the monitor. A spaceship was hovering above Tokyo tower, firing below while the surrounding buildings were set ablaze. The radar showed Chris’ and Tala’s fighters were already on site. As if on cue, Chris’ voice came through Karl’s watch.

“Team Alpha, we’re under attack, I need you to get here as you can.”

“Karl here. I’m on my way.” Karl responded.

“I’ll go with you,” Rywa said. Zephyr chimed in “me too” then spoke to his watch, “Team Aceso, we have a code red, I’ve pinned the coordinates. I’m onboard Alpha 5 so I’ll meet you there, ETA five minutes.”

Zephyr and Rywa hurried to their seats, buckled up, then Karl took off.