Chapter Seven : Intricate Dealing

***" The evil Cassiopites , a race of aliens from across the universe invaded Earth . They wanted , and by extension , she wanted to take out her enemy , Spica Starlight . So , they used the indestructible Heart Of Darkness to take out both Spica , and her hiding place , Earth .***

***We lost our friends , our allies , our families and even Spica herself . Just when we thought it was over for us , we were saved by a mysterious robot called Juniper . "***

*A swirling mass of debris was all that had managed to remain after the black hole disappeared , floating gracefully in the empty void of space . It would've been beautiful if not for one fact -- everyone had died . Lost forever in an infinite gravitational singularity .*

*The dragon-human hybrid , having lost everyone and everything he loved , fell into a deep depression , unable to say anything . Juniper , however , was hemming and hawing over some of the ship's ultra-futuristic screens , saying , " Oh my , and 'Oh dear ' " , every other second . She walked about the cockpit , seeming to attempt some sort of repair work , although , the others were all but interested , being very quiet .*

*However , just then , Brandon realized that he wanted answers .*

*Turning to the robot with tear-drenched eyes , he spoke :*

*" Okay , Juniper , or whatever the hell your name is , what just happened ?! "*

*Spinel , seemingly disturbed by everything , took Juniper by her shoulders and shook her violently , irritating the robot .*

*"This has got to be some kind of sick joke , right ? " she said frantically . "Right ?! "*

*Juniper took her hand and smacked Spinel right across the face , temporarily stunning her . She shook her head in distaste as she walked away . " Calm down , Spinel . I'am needed at the pilot's seat . "*

*Misty also got into the conversation as Spinel gave Juniper a rather dirty gesture . She mimicked it . Juniper urged Steven and Rigel to get out of her seat and as she sat down , Misty gave her interrogation .*

*"That's not good enough . Where the hell are you taking us ? "*

*Juniper clicked her tongue as she worked at the dashboard . With everything in place , the ship made a rather harmonious sound as its internal lighting deactivated . In the darkness , a voice spoke .*

*" All questions will be answered in time . "*

*The ship then shuddered as a bright rift in the expanse of space opened , startling everyone .*

*" What the hell is going on ?!! " Rigel exclaimed .*

*Juniper pressed a button and a protective dome surrounded herself . The others stared in shock as what happened seemed unreal .*

*"Hold on to something !!! " Juniper shouted . Immediately everyone held on to Brandon , though much to his annoyance . In a bright flash , the rift engulfed the ship as it flew though it . Whilst inside , a severe cacophony of sounds thundered as rainbow streams of light flickered , then blue , then yellow . It was like being within a living , noisy , kaleidoscope . Brandon and the others screamed and shouted as the noise and vibrations was numbing . Then the black hole dramatically appeared before them , spitting back out the pieces of Earth as the planet re-materialized itself , all whilst spinning at intensely disorienting speeds . The Heart Of Darkness shrank exponentially as the planet grew in size , all of the deaths being reversed . New York was reformed , as the machine shrank and deactivated , many of the buildings reconstructing themselves . Spica came back to life as her death was undone . The invasion and the long battle repeated itself in reverse , as the Moon spun around the Earth . Days and nights passed as the Cassiopites left , with only the reformed Earth and Luna spinning violently , slowing down until it finally stopped . Then a massive thunderclap-like noise sounded as the ship skidded in place .*

*In the massive window giving a perfect view of the planet , Misty , Brandon , Rigel , Steven , Adalene and Spinel gazed with wide , happiness-filled eyes as they saw it . The Earth and Luna floating in space , their home restored . It was over !*

*"What , ...........how ?! " Adalene gasped in ebullience . " It can't be ! "*

*" Earth !!!!! " Steven shouted in joy as he hugged Misty and Spinel tightly . Rigel walked over to Brandon as he stood there , staring at the planet , with tears of joy streaming down his face . Rigel smiled and embraced him as Juniper stood front and center . Everyone was back ! Spica was back !*

*"EH-hem ! " Juniper said expectantly . Everyone , still happy , looked at the robot as she spoke .*

*" I understand that you all are happy , but I hope you do realize that the threat of the Cassiopites remain . "*

*As if struck with a piece of lead , Misty asked in a concerned tone . " Who exactly are you ? "*

*Everyone concurred as they were all curious . Especially Brandon .*

*Juniper appeared annoyed , but answered anyway .*

*"Like I said , my name is Juniper Starlight . I am a friend of Spica . It was actually Spica herself that sent me here to save you all as a last ditch escape attempt . Plus , I've always wanted to see Earth ! The planet really is as beautiful as the Intergalactic Authority says it is . "*

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*Juniper returned to her seat and sat down , pressing a few buttons and thing-a-ma-jigs , propping up a hologram of the Heart Of Darkness , the machine that started this war in the first place . Brandon had a murderous thought about its creator , but became quickly enthralled in Juniper's monologue as she explained what their objectives were .*

*" I think that we all know what we have to do , right ? " she asked .*

*" Of course we know , Jupiter . " Misty said .*

*" Ah-ah , Juniper . " Juniper corrected with curtness , pointing at the hologram . " The Cassiopites spent the last six years searching the cosmos for the fragments of this machine , which were placed in the most exclusive , abandoned spots in this universe . "*

*Everyone stood and were silent , waiting for Juniper to get her point across .*

*" So this means that stopping them this way is virtually impossible , however , they will arrive in a few minutes so- "*

*" A few minutes ?!?? " Spinel asked with horror . " Are you saying that those brutes are right around the corner ??? "*

*Steven and the others became nervous . Adalene glanced about . Brandon turned his back to everyone , staring at a gleaming white dot near a smaller red one in the inky blackness of outer space . His heartbeat began racing .*

*" Yes , " Juniper said in a calm tone , looking at Brandon . " If Brandon's looking at what I think he's looking at , they are actually at Mars at this point . "*

*" I know . " Brandon said in a low tone . The he turned around , a look of strictness and apprehension on his face .*

*" What's the plan , Juniper ? "*

*" The plan is this : We must stop them from using the Heart Of Darkness on Earth , before they have a chance to even get the machine near its countdown ."*

*Steven seemed confused .*

*" And how exactly are we supposed to do that ? They outnumber us millions to seven ! "*

*Juniper smirked .*

*" Exactly , which is why they'll be complacent in this pursuit . Because they think that they'll win easily . That's the point . "*

*The white dot got slightly bigger .*

*" So , we'll simply do this : Get to the city and stop them . "*

*Everyone looked stunned .*

*"Stop them ? Of course !! " Rigel said in an annoyed tone . " But how is the question . Why exactly would we not stop them ? The reason we lost was because we had no concrete plan . We were fighting all over the place !!!! "*

*" True , but this time , we'll be more vigilant . "*

*Misty smiled . " Even so , if we fail , we can just go back in time again , right ? "*

*Juniper shook her head and frowned slightly . " No , " she said . " Repeated time travel around the constraints of the Black Hole Generator is impossible because even time is subjected to its violent traction . "*

*" So what are you saying ? "*

*The air in the ship felt clammy and cold , with everyone contemplating the massive battle that they have to fight ..........again .*

*" I'm saying that .....we must defeat the Cassiopites and destroy the Heart Of Darkness , or we won't have another chance . Even if you all manage to save Spica this time .... Earth will be gone forever . That's why we cannot let that happen again . We must be on our toes . We can't rely on Earth's militaristic forces or anything of the like . Only we can truly stop them . "*

*Adalene held Misty and Rigel's hands and squeezed them gently , reassuring she and everyone else that everything will be okay . Juniper sat back down in her seat as she began to steer the ship towards New York , soaring through Earth's turquoise-blue atmosphere .*

*" So , are you all ready to save Earth once again ? " Juniper asked .*

*" Hell yeah !!! Let's do this !! " Misty proclaimed . Everyone cheered and whooped , with morale high within the team once more . Everyone was ready and inspired . Everyone but Brandon , who stood afar for that time , watching as the surprisingly devastated skyline of New York came into view , with Starbeams a few miles above the city . Then the cheers died away . The sense of fear was reinstilled as towering Tripods waltzed all over Manhattan , vaporizing everything that they got near .*

*" Let's get this done , then . "*

*In the charred remains of the World Trade Center , the ship landed near a diamond-faceted skyscraper , hidden by its shadow as the Tripods laid siege near Battery Park , just a few miles shy of them . With the ship's power off , the crew walked out , stealthily and cautiously , with Juniper at the foreground , surveilling the surrounding area .*

*" It's safe to come out . Let's hurry , we only have a few hours before the machine is activated again . "*

*In the smolder , Spica and Dahlia zoomed through the rubble of Central Park , sitting near a park bench with Windy , all of them covered with dust and blood , smelling of charred corpses . Three Quasars careened near the center of the park at a massive fountain , bringing the Heart Of Darkness once again to its resting place . Many soldiers beamed down and began to fiddle with the machine , whilst others began to take their places in guarding , gazing about the perimeter .*

*" Those Mortaxans are scientists ," Dahlia said . " They're tasked with the preparation of the Heart Of Darkness . "*

*Windy looked in shock as a few of those monsters , as tall as a telephone pole , began to creep closer .*

*" So , um................I think that those are the soldiers ? " she asked shakily .*

*Dahlia and Spica both shook their heads . Spica's eyes were incredibly red and dull , with drooping mascara running down her cheeks . She had been crying . Crying because her fellow friends , family and husband all passed away in the massive explosion that took down her ship . She , Windy and Dahlia were the only survivors as the Starbeam barely missed them , incinerating everyone else instead . She could still hear Brandon's dying screams in her head .*

*" Okay guys , I'm not sure if we can do this by ourselves , so I called for the Diamonds for assistance . Until they reach , we have to push back those soldiers as much as possible . "*

*Dahlia laid a hand on Spica's shoulder , comforting her as she began to weep again . The world was beginning to burn all around her , and she was the fault for it .....or so she thought . As she cried , large buildings began to collapse as the city once again began to become a ravaged war zone .*

*" Spica......"*

*Spica turned her head away as she cried , moving her glasses out of the way , eyes misty and damp .*

*" I should've just let Andromeda torture me to death . Maybe if I hadn't gone to Earth and stayed on Cassiopeia , Brandon and the others would've still been alive . This world wouldn't be sucked up into a black hole ............why did I come on this world just to inadvertently destroy it ? "*

*" Spica ........"*

*Her loathing was cut short when a soldier tore the bench away and jabbed the gun near her face , seconds away from pulling the trigger .........*