After another moment of silence, Ryu stands, his expression resolute. I follow suit, and so does Nikko. We make our way back to the camp, the quiet surrounding us a comforting blanket after the emotional visit to Lyra's grave. As we reach the dining area, Ryu heads straight to the makeshift kitchen, busying himself with cooking. Nikko and I sit at the table, the comforting sounds of food preparation filling the air.

  Soon, Ryu brings over a platter of food. The aroma alone is enough to make my mouth water. He's prepared a hearty stew with chunks of tender meat, root vegetables, and a fragrant mix of herbs and spices. There are also freshly baked bread rolls, golden brown and steaming, perfect for dipping into the rich, savory broth. The colors and textures of the meal are inviting, and I can see the effort he put into making it. By the gods did I miss this kind of food. No more of those disgusting packed meals we've had to endure.

  As we begin eating, the warmth of the food spreads through me, a welcome comfort after the long and taxing day. I take a moment to savor the flavors before turning to Ryu with a question that's been on my mind. "What do we do now?" I ask, genuinely curious about our next steps.

  Ryu takes a deep breath, setting his spoon down. "Apollo and I hid out in a cave after we landed here. It's about a three-day walk from here. Once we get there, I can work on repairing the speeder bike in peace."

  "So, we'll head for the elven kingdom after that?" I inquire, trying to piece together the plan.

  Ryu nods. "Yes, that's the plan. We leave at nightfall."

  Nikko, who has been quietly eating beside me, suddenly looks up, her face a mix of disappointment and fatigue. "Walking at night again? Can't we go in the morning?"

  Ryu's expression softens as he looks at her. "I know you don't like it, Nikko, but traveling at night keeps us from being spotted so easily. If you get tired, I can carry you again. Don't worry, we won't walk all night. And remember," he adds, pointing toward the supply tent, "we have plenty of food this time."

  Nikko nods reluctantly, though I can see she's still disappointed. I share her sentiment, the thought of another night walk weighing heavily on my already tired body.

  After we finish the meal, Ryu begins packing up all the nonperishable foods he can find. Nikko and I decide to get some sleep while he continues his preparations. I find a comfortable spot and lie down, exhaustion quickly overtaking me.

  ?????

  When I'm gently woken by Ryu, the night has already fallen. Apollo stands beside him, ever vigilant, and DP-7 is perched on his shoulder, ready for action. Ryu then softly wakes Nikko, who groans a little before stirring from her sleep.

  We head out, the camp fading into the darkness behind us. I'm still tired, my muscles protesting as I move. Nikko is already being carried by Ryu, her small form nestled securely on his back, asleep once again. The forest around us is silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of our footsteps on the forest floor.

  The moonlight filters through the dense canopy, casting ethereal patterns on the ground. The air is cool and crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the campfire we left behind. Despite the discomfort of night travel, there's a certain peace in the stillness of the forest at night. The sounds of nocturnal creatures create a symphony that lulls my mind into a state of calm, even as we move with purpose.

  Ryu leads the way, his steps confident and sure. Every now and then, he adjusts Nikko in his arms, ensuring she's comfortable. I glance at him, marveling at his strength and resilience. Even after everything we've been through, he remains our unwavering leader, guiding us towards safety.

  As the hours pass, the darkness becomes less oppressive, the forest around us more familiar. I find myself lost in thought, reflecting on the events of the past few days. The dangers we've faced, the bond we've strengthened, and the uncertain future that lies ahead. But in this moment, I'm grateful for the quiet, for the opportunity to simply be together, moving forward one step at a time.

  Eventually, we stop for a brief rest. Ryu sets Nikko down gently, her small form still curled up in sleep. I lean against a tree, my body aching but my spirit lifted by the thought of reaching the cave. It's a place where we can regroup, plan our next move, and hopefully find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.

  As we continue our journey, I realize that despite the hardships, we are not alone. We have each other, and together, we are stronger than any obstacle that stands in our way. With this thought in mind, I press on, determined to face whatever challenges lie ahead with courage and hope.

  ?????

  Six days have passed since we left the camp, and the journey to Ryu's cave has been surprisingly uneventful. We haven't encountered any patrols or those eerie black birds, which is both a relief and a cause for concern. When we finally arrive at the cave, I'm struck by the remnants of Ryu's previous life here. The interior of the cave is spacious, with a sense of organized chaos. Supplies are scattered around, including crates filled with various tools, parts, and essential items.

  In one corner, a modest bed is set up near the back of the cave, its simple frame supporting a thin mattress and a couple of worn blankets. The cooking area is also in the back, with a small fireplace made of stones and a few tables covered with cooking utensils, pots, and pans. The cave's walls are lined with shelves holding an assortment of supplies, from food to mechanical parts.

  Ryu decided to build a new speeder from scratch rather than just repairing the old speeder bike. Both speeder bikes lie completely dismantled, their parts neatly organized on the ground. Ryu works tirelessly, constructing the components for the new speeder and assembling the frame. The new speeder is designed to hold four people, with a sleek yet rugged appearance. It incorporates parts from his ship, giving it a unique, almost futuristic look.

  Among the crates of supplies, I notice one filled with droid parts. Beside it lies a very badly damaged IG-22 droid. Its limbs are missing, and its chest is torn open, revealing a tangle of wires and circuits. The sight of the destroyed droid is still unsettling, a reminder of the brutality of Ryu's crashlanding.

  Ryu is deep in his work, lying on the ground beneath the frame of the new speeder, which hovers above the ground. Sparks fly occasionally as he works on wiring and attaches various parts that look foreign to me. Nikko eagerly hands him tools as he points to them, her eyes wide with fascination.

  "Something's been bothering me," I say, watching Ryu as he works. Nikko hands him what appears to be a small welding tool.

  "That we didn't run into any patrols or that it's been oddly quiet for the past few days?" Ryu asks, his voice muffled from beneath the speeder.

  "Exactly that," I reply. "What's going on?"

  Ryu tilts his head slightly, his eyes still focused on his work. "Yeah, it's been bothering me too," he admits, pointing to a tool with a unique design I've never seen before. Nikko hands it to him. "Perhaps they're having a hard time finding us."

  "That doesn't explain why we didn't run into any patrols on the way here," I say, my voice tinged with worry. "I don't like it. What if something terrible is happening out there?"

  Nikko looks up at me, her face mirroring my concern. "I don't like it either," Ryu says, grabbing the small welding tool and starting to use it. "But we can't worry about what-ifs. The speeder won't be done for another couple of days."

  He stops and looks at me and Nikko, his expression thoughtful. "Why don't you two get some shooting practice? Now's the perfect time to familiarize yourself with your blaster" he suggests.

  Nikko's eyes light up at the prospect of learning how to shoot with the blaster Ryu gave her. The idea sounds good to me too. I agree, and we leave the cave. Not far from our hideout, we've set up a training area. Various fighting dummies carved out of wood stand in place, and shooting targets made from parts of Ryu's ship are heavily marked with blaster burns. Suspended from a tree branch is another fighting dummy, swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

  I grab the communicator Ryu gave me and contact Apollo to meet us at the training area. It responds with an affirmative, and sometime later, Apollo arrives.

  ?????

  The training session begins with Apollo watching while Nikko and I practice shooting at the targets. Apollo explains proper weapon handling, reminding us of the do's and don'ts of blaster safety. Our initial shots are far from accurate, missing the targets entirely or hitting them off-center. Frustration builds as we struggle to get better, but Apollo's calm instructions keep us focused.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Remember to lead your target," Apollo advises. "Aim for where the target is going to be, not where it is."

  Nikko's shots are closer now, but she still misses the center. Her frustration is palpable, her ears drooping in disappointment. I try to comfort her, encouraging her to keep practicing.

  "Don't worry, Nikko," I say gently. "We're both improving. It's all about practice."

  We switch to the suspended dummy. Apollo gives it a strong push, and it sways back and forth. "Not every target will be standing still," he explains. "You need to anticipate where the target will move."

  Nikko and I take turns aiming at the moving dummy, but our shots miss the mark. Apollo's advice to lead the target seems easier said than done. Frustration mounts, but we keep trying.

  "Proper breathing and aiming are crucial," Apollo reminds us. "Relax and focus."

  Nikko tries again, adjusting her aim. This time, her shot hits the dummy squarely in the chest. She lights up with excitement, her tail swishing back and forth.

  "I did it!" she exclaims, her ears perking up.

  "Great job, Nikko!" I praise her, smiling. "Keep practicing like that."

  Encouraged by her success, I take my turn. My first few shots miss, but I keep adjusting my aim, remembering Apollo's advice. Finally, a blaster bolt hits the dummy. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

  "Well done, Talia," Apollo says. "You're both improving."

  We continue practicing, our shots becoming more accurate. The frustration begins to melt away, replaced by a sense of accomplishment. Apollo's guidance and corrections are invaluable, helping us refine our technique.

  After a while, Apollo gathers us for another lesson. He hands us our blasters and begins explaining how to take them apart for inspection and cleaning. "Proper maintenance is crucial," he says. "A neglected blaster can mischarge or even explode."

  The thought of a mischarge scares Nikko, her eyes widening with fear. "Will that happen to us?" she asks, her voice trembling.

  "Not if you take care of your blaster," Apollo reassures her. "Regular maintenance will prevent any issues. I'll show you how."

  Apollo demonstrates how to disassemble the blaster, explaining each step in detail. We follow along, carefully taking apart our blasters and inspecting each component. The process is meticulous, but Apollo's calm, steady instructions make it manageable.

  As we clean and reassemble our blasters, I feel a growing sense of confidence. The blaster, once an unnerving piece of technology, starts to feel more familiar, more manageable. Nikko, too, seems more at ease, her hands steady as she works.

  "Remember, proper maintenance is the key to a reliable blaster," Apollo says, his tone firm. "Take care of your weapon, and it will take care of you."

  With our blasters cleaned and reassembled, we return to our practice. The training session has been challenging, but also rewarding. Nikko's frustration has turned to determination, and I feel a sense of accomplishment as our shots become more accurate.

  We finish the session with a final round of practice, aiming at the swaying dummy. Nikko's shots hit the target consistently, her confidence growing with each success. I, too, manage to hit the moving target, the blaster feeling more natural in my hands.

  "Both of you have performed well," Apollo says, his voice filled with approval. "You've both made significant progress."

  As we walk back to the cave, I feel a sense of pride. The training has been tough, but it's made us stronger, more capable. Nikko's excitement is infectious, and I can't help but feel hopeful for the challenges ahead.

  As we return to the cave after our training session, I notice Ryu standing by a worktable, not working on the speeder bike as I had expected. Instead, he's surrounded by various tools and parts, his focus entirely on the dismantled remains of IG-22. The worktable is cluttered with pieces of droid components, and beside it is a crate filled with more parts. Sprawled open on the table is a small, worn book, its pages filled with detailed drawings and notes. The current page shows IG-22 standing, but separated into many pieces, a meticulous diagram of the droid and its components. Lyra's handwriting is precise and thorough, documenting every part and connection.

  Nikko approaches Ryu, her curiosity piqued by what he's doing. "What are you working on, Papa?" she asks, peering at the drawing in the book.

  "I'm repairing IG-22," Ryu explains, glancing up at her. "The other droids are too damaged to repair, but IG-22 here can be fixed. Its processor is still intact."

  Nikko looks confused. "What's a processor?"

  Ryu smiles gently. "A processor is how a droid thinks. It's like its brain."

  Nikko then looks over at the notebook, her eyes widening at the detailed drawing and notes. "Did you draw this?" she asks.

  Ryu shakes his head. "No, that's Lyra's old workbook. She was very meticulous with her work. She wrote down everything she's ever worked on."

  "What does meticulous mean?" Nikko asks, tilting her head.

  "It means very thorough," Ryu replies. "If you want, I can read some of her notes to you once I'm done here."

  Nikko nods excitedly, and I watch as Ryu begins the repair process. He instructs Nikko to find the proper droid limbs, and she eagerly helps, rummaging through the crate for the right parts. Ryu carefully takes apart the chassis, examining the damaged components and replacing them with the salvaged parts. His movements are precise and deliberate, each action showing his deep understanding of the droid's intricate systems.

  I assist by handing him tools, many of which look completely foreign to me. The small welding tool, for instance, emits a faint blue light as it seals metal pieces together. Sparks fly occasionally, illuminating the concentrated expression on Ryu's face. Nikko watches intently, fascinated by the process, and I can't help but be impressed by Ryu's skill and dedication.

  ?????

  As the sun begins to set, the final pieces are put into place. Ryu wipes the sweat from his forehead and closes Lyra's workbook, a look of satisfaction mixed with sadness on his face.

  "Ready?" he asks, and Nikko nods eagerly.

  "Step back," he says, and we take a few steps back, giving him space.

  Ryu manipulates his glove, and suddenly, IG-22 sits up with a jolt. The sudden movement startles Nikko, but she quickly regains her composure, her eyes wide with amazement. The droid's photoreceptors spin and turn, surveying the cave.

  "Welcome back, IG-22," Ryu says, a hint of relief in his voice.

  "Master Ryu?" IG-22 responds, its voice mechanical and monotone.

  "Yes, it's me," Ryu confirms.

  The droid, IG-22, moves with a chilling precision as it rises from the table. Its three red photoreceptors rotate, scanning the cave with mechanical efficiency. Every step it takes is purposeful, its metal joints making a soft whirring sound that echoes off the cave walls. I can't help but watch with a mix of fascination and unease. The droid's tall, lanky frame seems both fragile and unyielding, like it was built for speed and lethality.

  "Welcome back, IG-22," Ryu says, his voice carrying an unusual hint of excitement. It's not often I hear that tone from him.

  The droid's head swivels towards Ryu, its central red photoreceptor locking onto him. "Master Ryu?" The voice that emerges is sharp, cold, lacking any hint of humanity. After a brief pause, the droid adds, "Your appearance has changed."

  Ryu nods, pulling his hood back slightly. "It has."

  IG-22 takes a moment to glance towards the mouth of the cave, its sensors whirring as it scans the environment. "Where are we? I can only pick up faint signals. Are we being jammed?"

  Ryu shakes his head slowly. "No. This world is just very primitive."

  The droid processes that information in silence, then its head spins back toward Ryu, with that same unnerving quickness. "Where are the other droids?"

  My heart tightens slightly, and I feel a pang of sorrow for Ryu as he lets out a quiet, almost resigned sigh. "Only Apollo and DP-7 survived the crash. AP-7 and C1-B4... they're beyond repair."

  The droid remains perfectly still for a moment, its photoreceptors dimming briefly. There's no reaction, no sign of remorse or acknowledgment of the loss. The coldness of the machine is unsettling, especially when it asks, "And Miss Lyra?"

  Ryu's face tightens, and he shakes his head, his eyes filled with a brief flash of pain before he turns away slightly. The silence that follows is thick with emotion, but none of it seems to come from IG-22. How can it show no sadness? No grief? Lyra was part of its crew... they fought side by side.

  Then, just like that, IG-22's attention shifts from the past to the present, its head rotating towards Nikko and me. "New crew members?" it asks, its tone devoid of curiosity or warmth.

  "Something like that," Ryu says. Sensing my discomfort, Ryu turns to Nikko first. His voice is calm, almost encouraging.

  "Go ahead," he says softly, his voice calm, reassuring. "It won't hurt you."

  Nikko hesitates, biting her lip as she eyes the droid with a mix of awe and nervousness. After a moment, she steps forward, her small voice breaking the tension. "Hi... I'm Nikko," she says hesitantly.

  IG-22 observes her for what feels like an eternity. Its photoreceptors shift slightly, scanning her, and for a brief moment, I wonder what it must be thinking—if it's even capable of thought like we are. Finally, it shifts its gaze to me, and I freeze under the intensity of its scrutiny. My heart races as I meet those glowing red eyes.

  "I-I'm Talia," I manage to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. My nerves are raw, and I can't help but feel like I'm being dissected by this thing. It's unsettling how lifeless it seems, how detached it is from everything we've been through.

  The droid is silent, its photoreceptors flickering slightly as it processes this information. I wish I could read its thoughts, but it remains as cold and indifferent as ever.

  Without warning, IG-22 turns back to Ryu, as if dismissing us entirely. "So, what has happened since the crash?" it asks, its voice as mechanical and emotionless as before, as though nothing of importance had happened in all this time.

  Ryu begins to recount the events that have unfolded since the crash. His tone is steady, though I can see the weight of those experiences in his eyes. He starts with how the ship fell from the sky, crashing into this strange world. His voice softens slightly as he recalls a particular memory, chuckling as he tells the story of a woman shrieking at the sight of Apollo. It must have been a chaotic and confusing time for them.

  He then moves on to the moment he first met Nikko and eventually our paths crossing. As he speaks, his words paint vivid images of the adventures he's had before we met, the challenges he's faced, and how he's grown. Every detail of our journey, every dangerous encounter—including our fight with the Shadowfell—is laid bare, with nothing omitted.

  Throughout the tale, IG-22 stands motionless, only moving its photoreceptors occasionally to track Ryu or me as we react to certain moments. It's eerie how still the droid is, yet it feels so alive, absorbing everything Ryu says. Despite the heavy subject matter, I can't help but smile at some of the lighter moments, like the bond we've built and the things we've accomplished together.

  When Ryu mentions the journey into his mind, a faint shadow crosses his face, but he continues on, undeterred, relaying everything as if it's vital for IG-22 to know. There's something comforting about how calm he is, sharing every part of his story, no matter how painful or difficult. The silence from the droid speaks volumes as it listens to everything intently, processing the complex emotions and events without a single word of interruption.