"Good morning Ki," I greeted the orange-haired cook of the team. Everyone else was still asleep besides the two of us and Ki was busy preparing our breakfast.

"Yeah-" Ki shortly replied before yawning.

I stood behind him and watched him cook his special noodles with black sauce. The smell was salty, sweet and savory. "I hope you don't mind something spicy in the morning. This is what's left in our storage ever since we left," Ki told me. "Then again if you don't want it then suit yourself; more food for me," he added and scoffed.

Same old Ki.

He might always sound like he was trying to be rude but his activities everyday were always focused on feeding us, making sure that we were tidied up and that we were in our best behavior.

"I do not mind at all! It smells really great," I replied. "I appreciate you for always waking up so early to cook for us," I added. "Thank you very much Ki. We wouldn't have great mornings without you."

Though it was already known in our group that Ki always did the chores, no one did bother to show him gratitude for everything he does.

Ki abruptly stopped stirring in the pot before continuing in a gradual motion. "Idiot! I'm n-not doing this for you. I wake up early because I'm hungry so I thought why not include you idiots in my breakfast preparation since none of you knows how to cook. It would be a great bother if one of you causes a nuclear explosion in the kitchen..." he reasoned out in a fast and defensive manner accompanied by a vigorous stirring.

I didn't bother to comment further on Ki's statement because that would only aggravate him so I offered to set the table while he performed his finishing touches on the food. One by one the rest of Team Ske started to wake up and Stugox was the first one to sit on the chair to wait for food.

Hoets did some morning stretches while Joe fell on the sofa in attempt to sleep the remaining drowsiness he was feeling. Hyuk Min -being a morning person- hopped towards Joe and knelt on the floor beside him.

"Joeheonmaeee~" he whispered. "Wake up...Joeheonmaeee~"

"Uhh..." the latter grunted.

"Ki...food..." Stugox groaned.

"You'll have to wait. I won't adjust for you," Ki grunted.

Imsothy came out of the bathroom and sat with Stugox and Ki placed the pot of noodles in the middle of the table. "Is Won still asleep?" Ki asked in an annoyed tone. "Honestly..." he grumbled and wiped his hands on the apron he was wearing. "Everyone, get on the table we're going to eat," he announced before heading to Won's sleeping pod.

Imsothy narrowed his eyes at Ki's order and he looked at me with confusion. "He says get on the table," Imsothy whispered to me.

The aechean rose from his seat and took off his bowl from the table to replace it with his arse. He then tapped Stugox who groggily followed and then jerked me with his finger to join them.

Hyuk Min was successful in making Joe sit on the sofa and when he saw what we were doing, he pulled Joe from his sitting position and sat the oblivious aechean on the table with us with his eyes still closed. Hoets came and released an amused short laugh and excitedly joined us.

Ki would not be pleased with this but then everyone didn't question Imsothy's command. But I must try to convince them to prevent causing stress to our cook.

"Should we really be bothering Ki with this? I do not think that he would be pleased with this..."

Hyuk Min giggled beside me and patted my back. "Oh don't worry, Ki's used to this!"

"-used to screaming at us all the time," Hoets snorted.

Ki returned with Won barely walking behind him and his face was that of annoyance and disbelief.

"Really, who started this?" Ki questioned.

"It is Imsothy," I answered honestly and Imsothy let out a "SHHHH" before saying: "It wasn't me!" in a humored tone.

Ki tilted his head to the other side with a murderous glint in his eyes. "There will be no food for any of you if you don't name drop the real culprit!" Ki snapped which made Stugox jump off from the table and started to panic.

"It was Imsothy! He forced me to do this I swear Ki please give me food!" Stugox screamed deeply and out of character as he pointed at Imsothy in a begging tone.

The things food can do to Stugox...

"Stugox...have you been fed right when you were born?" I asked him out of concern.

Imsothy cleared his throat and then pointed at the door. "Then I'll escort myself out of here now if you don't mind..."

Ki hummed and grinned at him. "We don't mind. You know the drill."

We finished our food in a fast manner because all of us received a message from Gilmos-ssu about an emergency meeting. There weren't many students in the campus because almost all of them were assisting in various places of planet Aecha due to the Necron invasion. There were some students here but these were just those who were designated to protect this place.

Once we got out of the dormitory and headed for the main building, I received a lengthy message from Seven which was triggering my paranoia.

"Aecha, I know that Gilmos must have forbid you to initiate any contact with me but I want to inform you of my findings here. The annies have been agitated for the past hour and I had to disable their motor functions since I don't want them to cause a wreck to my already wrecked laboratory. I hacked into their system and discovered that the next Necron invasion will be at the abandoned city of Zhekson. If the annies that they have there haven't been activated, I want you to at least suggest to Gilmos to investigate on Zhekson. Just find a way. And oh yeah, watch out for Saek, I wouldn't trust him if I were you. I hacked the system of the Necronies' hideout and found that Saek had been recently going there. Keep your guard up."

This was a heavy responsibility and a dilemma placed on my shoulders. This could be valuable information that Gilmos will either brush off or investigate with caution and even if Gilmos did not trust Seven, I still would like to at least try what he had discovered.

But Saek...I didn't want to believe his connections with the Necronies but then again, there were many occasions of infiltration in the laboratory and attempts of assassinations that only someone who was close to me can possibly do. But still, I will not believe that Saek had the capability to do that. I believe that despite the fact that he was an aechean born from the tree of Con that he was still a man of word and honor.

We entered the conference room and Gilmos and the rest of his group were waiting for us. I passed my eyes at Saek who was waiting impatiently on his seat as he bounced his leg on the floor.

"Took you long enough!" Saek complained.

"We apologize," Stugox stated and bowed as he entered. Won was next in line to greet them followed by Hyuk Min, Joe and Hoets. Imsothy forgot to bow in apology so Ki had to kick the back of his knee causing him to release a wheezing sound saying "Sorry for the wait" as he limped towards his seat. I was the last to enter and the meeting started as soon as I sat on the floating chair.

"The first issue that I am going to bring up is the casket of Eleo," Gilmos began. Typhi straightened himself on his seat and tilted his head to get a better hear on what the President had to say about his brother. "Eleo is missing from his casket."

At that statement, Typhi's face fell and genuine concern, sadness and anger were all seen on his expression. "Where is my brother?" he asked. "Is Laechea gone too?" he asked which immediately spun my ticker in alarm.

"Laechae is still there including his weapons," Gilmos told him.

"Isn't the necropolis of heroes heavily guarded?" Trux asked. "What were they doing; drinking booze and watching mocksian porn?"

"Eleo is one of the greatest warriors in Aechean history, it's not a surprise if someone wanted his genetics," Gilmos replied.

I watched Typhi's hands clench in disappointment on top of the table and Dryp stroke his back for comfort. "But all my brother wanted was to rest beside Laechea...he asked me to keep the both of them safe and I let them down..." Typhi muttered.

Gilmos leaned forward and extended his hand to cover Typhi's fist. "We'll find him and I will let you take justice in your hands..."

"What's the next issue Gilmos?" Trux asked which made Gilmos withdraw his comforting position.

"I received a message from Seven saying that the next invasion will be at Zhekson," Gilmos announced which slightly lessened the burden that I was feeling.

Saek scoffed. "What he says and what our scientists say do not match. The next one will be in the city of Iomarbus. You're seriously going to believe on that criminal?" Saek asked.

"It's worth the try Saek, we'll cover both Iomarbus and Zhekson," Gilmos stated.

"But it's risky, are you sure you want to trust him?" Saek questioned back which was creating a tension between the two of them. Trux released an amused "Hmph" before placing his feet on top of the table and lowering his wide hat while Dryp covered his mouth to conceal his incited reaction.

"I'll take that risk Saek. I'll take whatever risk I can because at this point there is nothing that is not risky," Gilmos coldly replied and glared at Saek.

Saek avoided Gilmos' intense glare and cleared his throat before straightening his posture up. "I'm just saying that we should be cautious when being around Seven. You know how things are with him."

"I am very much aware Saek. You don't have to remind me," Gilmos replied and interlaced his fingers together in an embrace on top of the table.

Saek seemed to regain his confidence when he blurted out: "If things go bad I'll come to you and say I told you so."

Gilmos gave him a smirk which was agreeing to that challenge. "Go ahead and I'll give you the authority over the Paragons since you want it so bad."

The usual prideful Saek cringed with a pained expression. "You know that's not what I-"

"Isn't that what you always mean whenever you question my authority? Isn't it because you don't want to obey everything and anything I say and decide on because you want this position and that you want to do the decision-making?" Gilmos firmly snapped at him.

"Woah woah, what's going on here?" Trux asked clearly confused from the sudden escalation of this conversation.

The sudden outburst of Gilmos was putting a pressure on all of them and even us. This was not heading in the right direction. I have never seen Gilmos and them argue before.

Saek slammed his hands on the table and glared back at Gilmos. "What the heck are you talking about? I do whatever it is that you tell me no matter what it is! I follow you around, I give you my support in everything and I give you my thoughts whenever you ask me to!"

Gilmos powerfully rose up from his seat to level with Saek. "But I'm not asking you for your opinion this time; I'm asking for your cooperation and obedience! Now, if you can't give me that, retire from your position," Gilmos slammed back which put us all in a state of bewilderment and astonishment.

Saek was in equal shock with us but with a mixture of hurt from his wounded dignity and harmed comradeship with Gilmos.

"Enough of this Gilmos, Saek it's not our place to-"

"Just because he's the president that doesn't mean that he can treat us like we don't have a say on things!" Saek snarled at Typhi.

"But he's our leader so he gets to decide on what we'll do," Dryp explained in the gentlest tone he can manage.

"Saek, calm down and take a seat. Let's talk about this. There's no reason to get mad at Gilmos who's only doing his job," Typhi stated.

Saek brushed his eyes with his hand and then turned around carrying much air from his swift twirl. "I don't care anymore. I won't listen! La la la la LALALALALALA!" Saek screamed with his ears covered in defiance and ran out of the room. Trux, Dryp, Typhi and Gilmos sighed all at the same time.

"You spoiled him too much Gilmos so this is what you get," Typhi lightly scolded.

Gilmos rubbed his forehead and slightly grinned. "He's our youngest after all..."

We got ready for our mission and I was assigned to go with Gilmos and his team to Zhekson while the rest of team Ske —with the accompaniment of the other instructors and other students— will cover the city of Iomarbus.

"Leave your stupidity here and bring all your common sense with you," Ki reminded me. "Do you have your weapon crate with you?" he asked me.

I reached out behind me and nodded. "Yes I have. Thank you for reminding me Ki."

"I just don't want you to look stupid out there," Ki scoffed.

Hyuk Min wrapped his arm around Ki's neck and grinned at me. "He's just worried for you so be honored!" he laughed.

Stugox approached me and placed a hand on top of my shoulder. "Aecha, be careful out there. Don't forget to communicate with us if anything happens and we'll do the same."

I placed my hand on top of Stugox's hand and nodded at him. "Yes I will and please take care of yourselves and Hoets' sexiness."

I felt myself get encircled from behind me and I caught the nice scent of Hoets. "Aw! Of course they'll take care of it for me!" Hoets laughed out.

"I'll push you off from the first cliff I see," Ki grumbled.

Team Ske and I separated from each other when we arrived at the ship area. Gilmos and his team were already there including Saek who did not seem to be upset anymore. Dryp and Trux were our pilots and we departed after we have checked the completeness of our equipments. Once we got to the destroyed entrance of the city just passed the stores, Gilmos divided our group into three. I was partnered up with Gilmos, Trux went with Typhi and Saek went with Dryp. The city still seemed normal to us but Gilmos wanted to see if there were any suspicious movement in the city.

Gilmos abruptly halted in his tracks and he raised his hand to stop me from moving. He stared down on the ground and a sudden gush of rotten wind soared past us.

The same process of contamination of land occurred in the city and Gilmos pulled me to the side as we bear witness of the changes in the city while looking out for the major cronie which was still currently out of sight. Despite the fact that this was not my first time seeing this, in my eyes, this was the most horrific process that I have ever seen that it still brought chills throughout my body.

"Do you see anything Gilmos-ssu?" I asked him in a whisper.

Gilmos swayed his head into a 'no' and then jerked his finger at me. "Come on, let's move," Gilmos ordered and went out from our hiding spot with me on tail.

The red-haired president tensed up and quickly pushed me aside successfully knocking me out from my standing position before hitting back a slicer -which was a sharp weapon which was used like a boomerang- with his sword. My eyes scanned the source of the attack and my ticker sped up when  I saw the culprit.

"Typhi-ssu?"

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A/N: Typhi-ssu you traitor!