Emma finally decided to send a message to Akkadia about her whereabouts. She no longer cared about what would happen to her. Haoran paid close attention to her when Emma sent the mini-s.h.i.+p from the capsule into s.p.a.ce.The girl had recorded a short message and spoke in Akkadian language to explain who she was and asked for help to see her family. That was the message brought to Akkadia.
"According to AWA, if this message reaches its destination without problems, they will receive it within six months," said Emma, turning her head to Haoran. They wore special clothes with oxygen cylinders that allowed them to walk on the moon"s surface outside the capsule.
Both of them looked at the mini s.h.i.+p that shot quickly into s.p.a.ce and immediately disappeared into a flickering light, like other billions of stars above them.
"Then ... if they sent pickup immediately, we will meet them in one year from now ..." said Haoran.
Emma nodded.
Actually, one year felt really long for her. However, she tried to console herself by thinking that she had waited for 15 years. Of course, she could wait for another year.
***
"Sir, our radar has captured a small Akkadian s.h.i.+p moving in light-speed approaching us." The first-cla.s.s officer named Saul gave his report to Therius, who was sitting leisurely in his room, reading a book.
"An Akkadian s.h.i.+p? Are you sure?" Therius asked in bewilderment.
"It looks like a s.h.i.+p used for sending messages. We will immediately stop and check its contents."
"Good. Let me know when you"ve brought it in."
Therius put down his book after Saul left his room. He wondered who had sent the Akkadian s.h.i.+p for sending a message. Were there other people from Akkadia around here? They were traveling too far from home.
Except...
His mind worked quickly, and he suddenly thought about the girl he was looking for. Was Princess Arreya"s daughter sending the s.h.i.+p?
Instantly he became impatient and hastily walked out of his room to the bridge.
"Still far?" he asked the officers on the bridge without further ado.
They understood what he was asking, and Saul, who had just given him the report, immediately replied, "It"s near, sir. We are getting ready to intercept it."
"Good."
Therius decided to wait for developments on the bridge. He wanted to be there when they met the s.h.i.+p and stopped it. He wanted to know what"s inside. If the s.h.i.+p was indeed sent with a special message to Akkadia, he wanted to know who sent it and what message was in it.
He felt grateful for his luck. They intercepted the s.h.i.+p here before it could reach Akkadia. He could not imagine how the people would react, including his two cousins, if they received a strange message from Earth.
"I heard a commotion in the lounge about a s.h.i.+p or something." Xion suddenly appeared by the door. "Anything interesting?"
Therius nodded. "Just wait."
"Ah ... good. I"m bored. There"s nothing I can do here. Anyway, when we arrive on that planet, we shouldn"t go home immediately. Let"s explore a little bit. Let"s call it research," said the handsome young man enthusiastically.
Therius just rolled his eyes at Xion"s words. He did not intend to linger on an undeveloped planet like Earth. He had many commitments and responsibilities in Akkadia. He had to go home as soon as he found the girl.
"That"s it! We"re going to hold up the speed and bring it in," Saul said, making everyone immediately focus on the big screen in front of them.
A very sophisticated mini-s.h.i.+p seems to be approaching their direction. At first, it looked like a star that kept getting bigger and bigger. After the mini-s.h.i.+p entered their firing range, Saul ordered his men to kill the engine with one clean shot and pulled it closer to their direction.
Not long after, the hangar entrance at the bottom of the plane was opened, and the mini-s.h.i.+p was pulled in with electromagnet. After the entrance was closed, they all went down to the hangar to see their catch.
"Wait here," Therius said firmly, gesturing to his people to step aside. He walked over to the small s.h.i.+p and pressed a b.u.t.ton on the right. Shortly afterward, the s.h.i.+p"s door opened, and a metal ramp slid down for him to climb aboard. He immediately walked inside.
Xion walked after Therius. Although all the officers there had to submit to Therius" orders, he was not one of them. He could enter this s.h.i.+p as he pleased.
Inside the small s.h.i.+p was a small control panel and a large screen. Therius looked around and realized that this was an old model. He needed a few moments to decide which b.u.t.ton to press to listen to the sender"s message.
He pressed the blue b.u.t.ton.
ZING
The large screen in front of him instantly turned on, and a young and beautiful girl with platinum hair and a pair of beautiful topaz eyes suddenly appeared. She was in tears, and her voice sounded hoa.r.s.e as she recited her message sentence by sentence.
"My name is Emma Stardust. My father is General Kaos.h.i.+n Stardust, and my mother is Princess Arreya Stardust. I am now on a planet called Earth, six light-months away from Akkadia. My parents left me here to protect me. I really miss my family, and I am longing to see them. You have to take me to meet them."
For a moment, Therius stood transfixed in his place. He had never seen anyone as beautiful as the girl now on the screen in front of him. And for some reason, seeing the girl sad made his heart ache. Her topaz eyes reminded him of his own eyes.
He didn"t know if there was such a thing.. but he felt like he just fell in love at first sight.
Xion fell silent. He could feel the heartwrenching pain from the girl on the screen as she spoke. Suddenly, he regretted his casual words about Therius marrying Arreya"s daughter for Akkadia"s throne every time he was teasing his friend.
That girl was not just a tool ... she was a human being with a heart and feelings.
The two young men were stunned in their respective places, staring at the screen as Emma"s message replayed repeatedly.
"My name is Emma Stardust. My father is General Kaos.h.i.+n Stardust, and my mother is Princess Arreya Stardust. I am now on a planet called Earth, six light-months away from Akkadia. My parents left me here to protect me. I really miss my family, and I am longing to see them. You have to take me to meet them."
I really miss my family, and I want to see them.