Villain Retirement

"…"

"…"

"I don't really appreciate being dragged around like this, Rebel Princess."

"Just wait until we reach my terminal, it's just beyond the territory. And why are you calling me that?"

"Sorry, just a force of habit—everyone knows you as the Rebel Princess."

In the vast expanse of the universe, somewhere in Theran territory, Aerith was carrying Vera with one hand using a harness, while Riley was following them from behind. The collar around Vera's neck, removed by Aerith before they left the planet.

Riley was initially going to also attach Vera to Aerith via a telekinetic chain—but Vera adamantly refused.

And so, right now, she was wearing some sort of mask to help breathe in a proper amount of oxygen. But that wasn't the mask's only purpose, it also allowed Vera to privately talked with Aerith.

"Anyway, when are we going to secretly kill Riley?" Vera then said; making sure she was looking forward so that Riley won't notice she was plotting his demise, "That's the true reason you brought me, right?" Vera

"...No."

"Until when are you going to tolerate his existence? Riley is a bane to this universe—he said so himself. Wait…

…don't tell me you're actually starting to get all chummy chummy with the guy?

"No one's getting chummy chummy with anyone."

"But you are. You think I'm blind? I don't know how you long-lived species think, but I will never forgive the person that massacred my brother and a hundred of my people—no matter how much time passes."

"That was out of my control... and I'm not forgiving, Vera. I am adapting," Aerith could really only sigh as she shook her head. Now that she was sure the effects of the kahn mollusc were completely out of her system, she was finally able to think clearly of things relating to Riley Ross. She was sure of it now, the only reason she was having those disturbing thoughts is that the mollusc still had lingering effects.

There was no way she would be developing feelings for someone like Riley Ross—never.

"Riley Ross is a creature that is even more durable than themarians—a true immortal like the Pirate Queen Xra. Except unlike the Pirate Queen, if the right conditions are met, he will grow even stronger than before."

"Then just trap him inside a different dimension."

Aerith's hand slightly flinched as Vera tried to face her.

"Technology like that doesn't exist yet. We're not even sure if there really are different universes out there."

"No, not an entire universe, just a small dimension—a pocket dimension."

"Technology like that doesn't exist yet," Aerith repeated her words as she sighed.

"It does," Vera's voice slightly lowered as she shook her head, "The Norinlads have a prototype."

"Where… did you get this information?"

"From mother," Vera's voice soon became whispers as she breathed through the mask, "She received the information from Elder Tedi, who helped in creating it. They've been trying to create one to serve as a jail for rogue Norinlads like the Bounty Hunter Kerrigan, and now they have a prototype. If it can keep intangible beings like the Norinlad, even someone like Riley would have no way to escape it. He—"

"Wait," Aerith slightly glanced back at Riley, making sure he wasn't hearing any of their conversations,

"Your mother will be present in the Common Council. Find a way for us to talk privately."

"...What about Riley Ross?"

"He…"

"..."

The two continued talking for an entire hour until Aerith finally stopped flying as they reached a large asteroid the size of the empire state building. This asteroid, however, seemed completely still… and it was smooth. Aerith then slowly approached this asteroid, before placing her palm on it.

And as soon as she did so, several holes opened up on the surface of the space rock—spewing out drones that started scanning her from head to toe. And as soon as one of the drones finished scanning her eyes, the asteroid started to open up like a flower… and attached to its hundreds of petals were ships of different sizes.

"..."

"What?" A small smirk crawled on Aerith's face as she saw the look on Vera's face, "I was young once, you know. I formed the habit of collecting ships that I couldn't use. It… gave me the sense that I could leave anytime I wanted—but in the end, when I did leave, I ended up not using any of them."

"Hm…" Vera only nodded his head at Aerith's somewhat melancholic words, "So, which one are we using now?"

"That," Aerith pointed at one of the smaller ships that sprouted from her… asteroid garage, "It's small, but it can get us to the Common Council faster than any other ships—Riley!"

And before Aerith could drop her hand, she immediately turned to Riley. And without even any hesitation, Riley suddenly flew toward the small ship—and as he did so, a red beam that was large enough to wrap Aerith's entire asteroid garage raged from the distance… instantly disintegrating the asteroid along with all the ships it held—all except one.

"..." Riley had his palm raised as the red beam dissipated; the small ship behind him, completely unscathed from the sudden attack.

As for Aerith, her back was slightly scorched, but already regenerating as she protected Vera from being hit by the beam; Vera had also seen the beam coming towards them—she positioned herself in a way that would leave her completely unscathed from the blast even before Aerith finished calling Riley's name.

"What—" But before Vera could say something, Aerith quickly threw her away toward Riley. And almost like a golden dragon weaving through the darkness, a golden blur slammed straight into Aerith, causing her to be blown away into a far distance.

But in the blink of an eye, Aerith returned; her fist, already planted on the golden blur that blew her away.

"Until when are you going to disobey me and your father?" The golden blur soon became a silhouette of a person; her long golden hair that reached past her ankles, just freely floating behind her like a tail; the raging red in her eyes, fading away and revealing a color so blue, they were almost shining.

"...Queen Adel," Aerith breathed out; her voice, slightly seething as she returned her mother's glare, "I can't say it's nice to finally see you again."

"Why did you even return? Just to humiliate and disrespect us even more than you already have?" Queen Adel's hand that was gripping Aerith's fist tightened; almost creating a sound even through the voiceless expanse of space.

"Why are you even here, Adel?" Aerith quickly pulled her fist away, only to hold her mother's hand and competed grips with her.

"Do you really think your friends in the castle are still your friends?" Queen Adel rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, I haven't told your father of this—return, and you will be given a swift journey to your Eternal Death."

"..." Aerith took in a deep breath as she increased her grip; her eyes, looking straight into her mother's eyes, "It is a mistake, mother. It was a mistake that people like you are allowed to breed."

"...People like me?" Queen Adel's eye started to twitch,

"There are no other people, Aerith," Queen Adel then turned to look at Riley and Vera, "There's only us…

…and the rest are just animals."