The Science spaceship was ready to provide support in the event of medical emergencies or even for the rescue of survivors, if there was need. But in the heat of the battle, where people fought on everywhere, the ship's crew couldn't keep up with the tragic unfolding of the events. Something destabilized their frequency, making it impossible for them to see the end of the battle, leaving Zara and Drako eager for news. That was when Nicholas and Tibor materialized in the scientific ship. Little Wolf ran to meet the young man, who surprised everyone, because he cried inconsolably. Nicholas couldn't express the sad news of the death of his father and friends. Zara, seeing his pain, hugged him, worried. Tibor's eyes were also teary at the thought of how he would tell such sad truth to them.

"Where are the others, Nick?" Zara tried to ask, but Nicholas said nothing, still in shock.

Tibor interceded:

"They're all dead. Merko, Sivoc and Crom... All our crew. From our side, only Nicholas and I are left. No one survived from Mirov's side."

Zara was frightened by the news, the red, sad eyes with the tears that threatened to form. She hugged Nicholas along with Drako, while Tibor, injured, watched them from a distance.

"Why didn't you ask for our help?" Drako asked Nicholas, with a sad look. "We could've helped avoid this catastrophe."

"It wouldn't work. They were at advantage. Somehow, they managed to neutralize my telekinetic forces and all of Merko's psionic powers."

"Now I can understand why they built pyramids and obelisks all over the planet. I've made a study of the material used in these structures and discovered that they had quartz crystals. The central computer made an analysis of the pyramids and verified that they had internal chambers that transformed radioactive energy into electromagnetic, capable of modifying the gravitational field generated by the planet Earth. This way, the telekinetic powers were interrupted and neutralized. This was the real goal of those gigantic artifacts: to nullify your powers."

"It was a trap", added Nicholas, who spoke again. "Now it's too late."

"The worst thing is that we fell into it so easily. We should have realized that there was something wrong with so many constructions being done by our enemies on the planet" Tibor was unhappy.

"Knowing that the engineers Mirov brought were able to invent the gravity-deforming weapon and seeing the alignment of these pyramids with the stars of the Orion and Sirius belt, I thought they would serve as a space-time passage to the constellation of the hunter, if he had need..."

"This could only come from a demon like Mirov. That bastard from hell! He died and took our friends with him. Well, nothing else holds us here. I think we should go. The other ships were destroyed and, to our luck, the Science spaceship didn't participate in the combat, otherwise it would certainly be broken as well. Maybe we would all be dead now. Drako, I ask you to prepare the ship to leave. Let's go back to Orion and, from there, we'll think about the next step", Tibor pointed out, wanting to go home and try to forget everything that had happened.

"We're safe here. Calm down, it's all over", Drako commented. "You need to rest. This was all very stressful. There are no more threats..."

"I don't want to stay here any longer." Zara was saddened by all that had happened.

"Please, my dear, we must rest. Tibor's wounded and needs care. There's no danger here, at the bottom of the sea. No one can do us any harm. Mirov's forces were wiped out", Nicholas tried to show he was strong, but inside he was destroyed.

"It seemed like everything was under control and now we lost our friends. Nick, you need to stay strong. I'll stand by your side, my love."

Zara led him to the room to rest. Bob came back in that instant and entered the ship's hangar. The platform was empty. No scout ship had returned.

Tibor agreed to rest for a few hours. He picked up some tools and opened a compartment on his right arm. Lights blinked in a tangle of electronic circuits. Drako approached and looked at it, amazed.

"Had I never told you that I was a bionic man? I have one eye, one arm and one leg that aren't mine. I suffered an accident in one of my missions and by a close shave I could be saved. Thanks to the doctors and engineers of planet Life I'm alive. These are the wonders that nanotechnology and robotics can do."

"Tibor, we like you and respect you for the man you are," Drako tried to please him.

"Don't worry, my friend. What matters to me is to live. There are no obstacles big enough that I can't overcome, except death. The loss of our friends has left me depressed, but I'll overcome it one day."

"You need to rest, Tibor. I'll take care of everything and make arrangements for the trip back to our planet." Drako finished the subject, not knowing how to cheer his friend.

The Science spaceship began to emerge from the sea, pushing the waters around itself. It took flight, rising towards the exosphere. Drako prepared the ship's weapons and fired at the force field created by Mirov. Next, they measured the electromagnetic field around the planet and knew that everything was back to normal. The terrestrial ionosphere was working perfectly again.

"Drako, prepare our trip to Orion", ordered the new commander of the ship.

"Yes, Tibor. In a few hours, we'll reach our destination."

Nicholas and Zara stayed in their room during the trip.

"Zara, I'm thinking of something, but I don't know if we can do it." He broke the silence of the mourning that surrounded them.

"Say it, Nicholas."

"If we could go back into the past by entering the space-time gap, we would arrive moments before the battle we fought. This way, we could change everything... Is this possible or am I delirious?"

"This idea seems absurd and paradoxical to me. If we do this, we risk altering the whole future."

"I wanted to save Merko and I couldn't do anything... If there is any chance, I need to do it now. After everything Mirov did, the changes on planet Earth have already been caused," Nicholas argued with despair in his eyes.

She remained speechless. She knew that Merko himself wouldn't agree to it. However, she decided to talk to Tibor and Drako. As soon as Nicholas slept, she left the room and went to the command bridge. Drako was carefully piloting through the portal, putting the ship at warp speed.

"Where's Tibor?" Zara asked, willing to discuss her husband's idea.

"He's fixing his arm, and after, I think he's going to rest a little."

"And you're piloting alone? Isn't there any danger of you getting tired?"

"The course is already mapped out by the on-board computer. I can leave it on autopilot and rest if I want, but I'd rather stay here in case there's any trouble."

"You're very competent, Drako. That's why Sivoc trusted you so much."

"I'm going to miss him a lot. We served planet Life's government for many years. He was a great commander and a good friend." Drako's eyes were wet.

"Does Tibor need help with his arm?" Zara asked, not knowing how to react to her friend's apparent fragility.

"He said he can do it himself, since he has nanotechnology and mechatronics knowledge. If he needs anything, I asked him to let us know. Besides, the nursery staff's helping him." He held back the tears as he focused on another subject.

Zara started talking to Drako about Nicholas' idea, asking for his opinion about the possibility of accomplishing this unprecedented feat.

"Drako, that sounds kind of crazy to me, I assume... Trying to change the natural order of things, going back to the past."

"Isn't everything we've done so far crazy? We chased Mirov, we ended the dinosaurs diverting a meteor and we still participated in the Games of the Gods. We influenced humans directly and perhaps we'll advance the development of civilizations. And what about Mirov, that insane man who even taught them management, architecture, and math techniques?! This reality lived by the human beings is already crazy. No matter how we modify it, there will always be new things, willing not to follow a pattern."

"That's true... But you didn't tell me what you think of Nick's idea."

"I think it's theoretically possible, but the consequences are unpredictable. Let's call Tibor to make the best decision together. After all, he's the most experienced person on the ship."

"All right, Drako. I'm going to check on Nick and I'll be right back."

"Zara kept thinking about the possible consequences of Nicholas' plan. Could it be possible to for them to be successful?"

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