CHAPTER 2

  At the front of the stage, the black figure was rope bound to a chair. Don’t worry, I made sure it was inescapable. It still couldn’t hide that menacing smile that they had on their face, and it was pissing me off.

  I then looked at the three who were sitting at the seats. “The three of you shall guard them. I’ll return the core back to the stronghold. Should any of you reveal his face, I do not allow it until I come back.”

  Xegel immediately moved his head to the “Guard” mode after my command. “Oh, we’ll make sure they doesn’t escape, alright.”

  “You can count on us, Master.” Evliga’s voice softened, still thinking about what would’ve happened if the capture was unsuccessful.

  Astei just moved his right leg over his other thigh, still processing the events from earlier.

  I gave them a nod before looking back to where I was going.

  Going backstage, I looked for the secret door only me and my devotees knew about. It was in my office, right behind the closet. That place was the best hiding spot I could think of. Don’t ask me why.

  Entering the code, the door opened for me and I went down the stairs. This room was below the entirety of the circus; at the core of the floating rocks that were holding up the entire place. This chamber is only limited to us four, and just us.

  “How in the universes did they manage to get in here…? I should signal Regor this instant to talk about the predicament.”

  Regor is one of the members of the council, and he and I were the well-known best friends amongst the rest. He’s the one who does all the logistics so, this is perfect for his skills. Not when it comes to me though.

  I got to the center on the chamber, which had thick power lines on the roof connected to the land above that charged the circus’s ability to light up and not crumble in on itself. Yes, I deigned that, I’m proud. With the help of Avior.

  This is how it is for me. The strong hold powers this entire place using the power of the core. Without it? Consider this place a flat pancake. Props to my co-leaders for attempting to get to the thief.

  The core started to glow, and I placed it back to where it belongs. The power lines charged up and started to pump the energy all the way to the top. Seeing it powering up the place I built for thousands of years will never not be boring. Why would I?

  “Success at last. Now, what must I do after the interrogation with Regor… Oh, seems I have forgotten to mention it. Foolish of me to get lost.” I said to myself.

  I had a habit of talking to myself whenever I would be alone. Fills the space. I hate how sometimes it’s really quiet in places. I can’t bare having to listen to complete silence because it makes the atmosphere so dull. I despise the emotionless.

  I opened my Cosmic Communicator and a digital cloud of space opened up everywhere, projecting the universe of where we were. Now, the database for this was made from Sheliak’s followers. I don’t know how they were able to put the entirety of everything into it. I’m amazed.

  “Cosmo, find the location of Regor in the other universes, please.”

  Cosmo, the system’s voice and robot for the communicator have been by all of our sides ever since the gadget was first introduced to us. I like to call it the “Connector” since it’s the main reason why wherever universe we’re staying in. We’re connected by the guy.

  “System Searching. Found. Currently staying at his home galaxy: Dusty Hand in universe Astran XVI.”

  Every star has its home galaxy. For example, Dusty Hand is Regor’s because he lives an apocalyptic life along with his followers which in fact, has a lot of dust and remains.

  “Oh, so he’s currently in his home place? Perfect. Could you send the signal to him?”

  “Signal Sent.”

  He answered to the signal, and his digital form appeared to me. “What do you want, Sirius?! Can’t you see I’m running over here?! You better have a good reason on why you decided to signal me at the current moment.”

  Yeah, that’s his job alright. Chasing people escaping from his grasp because they don’t want to be interviewed by him. My lights, is he fast. I think he can run even faster than the fastest creature of a universe. I could be faster if given the right skills, but he would find a way to bring me down.

  “Uh, are you available to arrive at the circus? I require your assistance with something.” I said with a bit of unease.

  “What’s this about now? You lost your red coat? Or you’re just going to keep bugging me about the hat you’ve been searching for eons?” He answered back, annoyed at having to do something while clearly doing another thing. He’s not a multi-tasker and it shows.

  When it comes to Regor, he does everything in an organized fashion. Dare to disturb that? He’ll probably send you to a far universe from where you were in that moment. Just like me one time.

  “It’s far worse than that, Regor. I’ll explain the details to you when you get here.”

  “Fine. But you’re going to help me out with this in return.” That evil smile appearing on his face.

  “Ugh, come on! I can’t get out of this… Fine, I accept your proposal. Cosmo, cut off the signal.”

  “Signal cut.”

  I closed the gadget and started to head back. That’s done. Hopefully this doesn’t happen again. I would break down if it did. I poured out my soul to build this place. Just thinking about my followers having to leave their home is just unimaginable.

  I climbed back up the steps with caution, closed the door carefully, and went to the stage again. Now, here’s where things go really unexpected. See, I was down there for just a short time and, you know, I didn’t want to see what might’ve happened.

  “I wonder what has happened while I was down here… Hopefully, nothing terrible has happened with them…” I pondered. I was absolutely wrong.

  As soon as I got to the stage, I saw the three of them tied together by the same rope I used for the figure. That shadow wasn’t anywhere to be seen. And I thought this dark couldn’t get even darker.

  “Master! Watchout!” Astei yelled to me with fear as he tried to escape from the ropes.

  “Where are they?!” I asked, before I got kicked right on my abdomen by the figure who just appeared in front of me. That had me get taken off guard.

  “Gah! What in the dark void-! Ow-!” I groaned, grabbing my stomach and falling to the ground. That kick was one singularity strong, it could pain me for eons!

  “Guess I checkmated all of you!” The hooded figure said. That grin and tone of voice, ugh, get this figure in some confinement already, it’s uncanny to look at their face!

  “No, Fireworks!” I yelled, trying to chase the figure, but I was too slow. I couldn’t get my whip because my stomach felt like it was stabbed with one-hundred blades and it was the only thing I was grabbing onto right now.

  “How about you reconsider your actions.” A familiar voice said, coming from behind. There you are, Regor. Just when I needed you at my current lowest.

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  He just threw his cuffs like it was there was barely any effort, stood there with crossed arms, and let the thief get cuffed by the magnetic metal.

  “Curse you!” The yell was directed at him with madness in their face.

  I looked at him from the floor, still holding onto my stomach that I cannot let go off. “Do you mind helping me out over here or are you just going to stand there like a mighty statue?”

  “I save the best for last, Sirius.” He went to untie the three first before helping me. His face had his common stern expression and dark, heavy eyebags.

  I wouldn’t expect less from him. He’s constantly drinking most of the teas or herbs for staying awake from Saiph and Rana. I feel bad for the guy, honestly. But I can’t do anything to change his life, can I? All I can do is support him and watch as he just becomes more restless.

  “Thank you, Detective Regor…” Astei applauded, the situation under control now.

  Xegel spun his head to his “Relaxed” face, the usual face he always has when we’re not on stage. “It’s our thanks, Detective Regor.”

  “You all just head backstage, alright? This place is for interrogation, and only me and Sirius can do the actual interrogation face-to-face.” His voice had that hint of commanding.

  “And as for you, Sirius. I have to let you slide from my other case for now.” He helped me up, his strength was palpable.

  “I will feed “Blackmane” grapes next time if you reconsider doing that.”

  Blackmane is his pet wolf, and we forbid something happened to that furry guy. If one did happen? We’re killing the one who hurt him immediately. No one messes with the pet wolf.

  I head to the benches just a few minutes later, taking extra careful steps in doing so.

  Evliga was helping me out with my now bruised stomach, offering one of her tea concoctions she learned from Rana. She taught well.

  “Drink up, Master. This should help with the pain for later.” She assured me and offered the remedy. Having a kind heart was her thing. She knew what type of tea I needed or what the others needed when something went wrong.

  I looked to her after drinking from the tea cup, still a little bit weak from earlier. “I’m very pleased to have you as one of my devotees, Evliga.”

  “I’m thankful for that, Master.” She responded back, her sweetness is more than enough sugar to fill six boxes of sweets.

  Regor looked at me from the middle of the ring with those sleepy eyes, the thief now released from the cuffs and tied up to a chair with a much stronger material than before. I don’t know where he got that, but I guess it works.

  “I cannot start until you’re fine.”

  “I’m alright enough. Evliga, you can go to backstage. Just meet up with the other two.” She then went to the other two with soft steps, who were now watching at the monitors from backstage.

  “You can begin the interrogation.” I metioned to Regor.

  Regor sought to record the entire thing. See, all his interrogations were recorded and kept in a place somewhere in his home. There are probably a ton of documentations about me. I can feel it.

  “Now, to record this documentation and initialize it, it’s best we discover who this is first so we have a clearer view of what and who we’re dealing with.” Regor said.

  “Remove the hood off of them!” I motioned him to do, desperately wanting to know who did all of this. I was dying about this ever since it started.

  Regor then removed the black hood off of the figure with some lazy force. This figure is a he, and a follower of Avior…? They were called units, and Astei was one of them since he had a mechanical torso.

  “Enjoy the reveal, detective? I sure hope you’re flabbergasted.” The guy said to him in a sarcastic tone. This disgusts me.

  “What is a unit like you doing here? And what’s the reason you called me here, Sirius?”

  I forgot to mention why I invited him here. Silly me, always forgetting some stuff. Hey, come on. We all forget to do some things, you know? Like my hat.

  “He attempted to steal the core from me.” I revealed.

  Now, I don’t want to make some jokes here because this is a Sirius matter. Get it? Sirius? Ok fine, I’ll stop with these lines. I can’t help it sometimes though. I bug Astei with these all the time. He’s probably taking short times off just to deal with them.

  “The core?!” He got surprised. “We’re going to talk about this later.”

  I’m probably going to get another lecture.

  “Now, why would a unit like you steal the power source?” Regor asked him, his expression reverted back to that stoic, old man demeanor.

  “I can’t tell you who ordered me to do this. If I do, I might just die right here and you won’t squeeze out the juice from me.” The unit said to him, his mechanical neck automating his voice to have a teasing tone.

  “Tell me this instant. You’re not getting away without telling me the reason of stealing the thing that holds this very place together.” He threatened him.

  “Why should I? Both of you are nothing but the laws I can break.” He said to me and Regor. That is offensive.

  “Hand me your whip.” Regor looked at me with a tired expression. He was so done with this.

  I threw it down at the front of him. All our weapons can be held by the other members, and in this situation, Regor had experience with mine, and trust me, he knew how to handle it good.

  He freed the guy from the cuffs, and whipped him around the blades, the healed cuts from earlier opening back up again. He also put on the flames for a bit, the heat radiating off of it.

  “Agh! Don’t torture me like this!” He groaned in pain, burns marks starting to appear.

  “If you won’t comply to what I say, I won’t hesitate to squeeze this more. He looked at the unit with an anger only I could feel. The passion radiating off of Regor was strong.

  The unit gave in. “Fine. He goes by the name ‘Angel of Gold’ and he wants the core for something.”

  “What could that something be?” Regor asked, questioning what could probably be the reason.

  “That is confidential by him. We do not know his intentions with it. We were only tasked to secure them to him.” The hints being written down and recorded.

  I noticed something. “I apologize for the interruption but, them?”

  “Yes. Them.” He repeated.

  Regor then thought for a moment. The risk of having the other cores getting stolen and used for something else? That’s a slippery slope. What could they possibly need all of that for?

  “Sirius, this matter is to be mentioned to the others.” The worry was there.

  “Wait. I raise two more questions for our thief here.” I asked him.

  “Go on.” He had me take the spotlight.

  “First, why did you create such a deceitful banner about me?” I asked the figure, still getting hurt by those images.

  “What banners?” Regor asked.

  I told him about it. “When captured the core back from him, these banners fell from the tent saying that I abuse my followers for a stronger reputation.”

  He looked at the unit. Mad as dark voids. He can’t have his best friend be portrayed like some beast. Believe me, sometimes, he’s a little bit overprotective of me. But it’s not my fault he’s like this. He was born with it.

  “You better have a reason why you did that.” He looked at him with disgust.

  “It was just to weaken his reputation. Guess it worked.” The thief smiled with that evil look. Not again, ugh.

  “Second, how did you get into the door? I swore me and the other three are the only ones who knew about it.” I then asked, so curious how he got in there.

  “Easy. I can become transparent and pass through stuff. You’re a peasant to think it was so protected, yeah?” How rude of him to say that.

  Out of anger, Regor then wrapped the whip around tightly, and breaking the unit into pieces. This was so he couldn’t escape again too quickly. A bit graphic, don’t you think? I’ve seen worse than that in my life. I wouldn’t complain though. I would do that exact same thing.

  I then asked. It was so sudden, it probably felt like the speed of light. “That’s it? That’s all the information we can squeeze out of him?”

  “It’s all I need. We need to have Janus hold a meeting for this.”

  “If it wasn’t obvious enough. I’m half scared, to say the least.”

  He thought for a bit, before coming up with something. “You better stay with me for this. The rest needs to know about it.”

  “Can I not just stay here for a little more? I need to make sure the door is secured properly. And also decide on who to amongst one of my devotees as a witness.” I asked him if I can do that.

  “Well then hurry up. I don’t have all the light.” He responded back. Calm down, it’s going to be really quick.

  He then went to go outside and wait for me. I think he just decided to sit at the benches in the waiting area of the station.

  That express has the longest railway in the universe. It’s also really fast too. Faster than the speed of light, I guess. I mean, it travels to different universes so why bother?

  I headed backstage, and saw the three sitting. They were watching the thing happening through the monitors with intent and all the answers, I believe, were answered for them.

  “The three of you, come with me to the door leading to the chamber.” I commanded them to follow me.

  Xegel then looked at me. “What for?”

  I responded to that. “When we arrive.”

  At the entrance, we were grouping around the door when I was thinking.

  “Hmm… Evliga? Can you make a tea solution for it?”

  “I can. On it, Master.” She said, leaving to get the materials ready.

  I looked at Astei, my stare solely focusing on him.

  He noticed it, then said to me. “Master, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”

  “No, no. There is nothing on your face, Astei. I simply need to bring you with me for the next meeting. Xegel and Evliga already went last time so, it’s your spot right this very moment.” I invited him to it.

  His eyes started to glimmer. “I’ll go with you willingly.”

  Evliga came back from outside of my room, with the tea hot and ready in her hand, and being really careful with it. “Move away from the door.”

  She splashed the tea at the door, and it burned a magical hot barrier surrounding it.

  “It’s a firewall. No one should be able to get in anymore.” She told us the details of it.

  “Good. Now, both of you.” I looked at her and Xegel. “While me and Astei are gone for now, could you two guard the circus on your own? I’m entrusting the entire institution under your command for our leave.”

  Xegel spun his head back to the “Guard” face. “Count on us, Master.”

  I nod of appreciation. “We’ll see you two again as soon as possible, alright?”

  Me and Astei then left, walking towards the exit of the circus, or the void gate. We were going a bit quicker since we didn’t want Regor to wait for too long.

  “You sure we should leave them alone to guard the circus? I feel like they wouldn’t do well…” Astei inquired.

  “They’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.” I reassured him.

  The void warped us through the other side. Outside was the Astral station, where Regor was waiting for me since earlier. The train had already arrived at the station.

  “We’re ready to depart.” I said back to Regor.

  “Hop on then. Don’t be slow.” He said to both me and Astei.

  All three of us got on, and now, we took our seats and heard the train conductor yelling out: “Leaving Star Station 1!”

  The train started to move, and we were off.