Prologue
3,000 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY
On a distant planet in an unknown galaxy stood a massive scientific facility.
Deep inside the facility was a heavily guarded laboratory.
A hulking alien with eyes red and a frightening mouth lined with sharp fangs stood before a large containment chamber. His muscular frame made him appear more like a warrior than a scientist.
Inside the chamber, a strange stone floated within a field of energy.
Green light pulsed brightly from its surface.
“The research and development is progressing well, sir,” an alien scientist reported.
The hulking alien turned toward him.
“Good.”
The lead scientist stepped forward.
“We have tested its effects, and the results are consistent with our expectations. We are now entering the final phase of development.”
He paused.
“Once it is complete, you will have what you desire.”
The alien's eyes widened.
“Perfect.”
A sinister smile spread across his face.
“Wuhahahaha!”
His laughter echoed throughout the laboratory.
“At last! The galaxies will bow before me!”
His eyes narrowed fiercely as a sinister grin spread across his face.
“I will conquer the universe!”
The scientists exchanged nervous glances before bowing their heads.
“Yes, sir.”
The lead scientist turned and left the laboratory.
# # #
Several days later, the facility was attacked.
A group of alien soldiers stormed through the laboratory while their leader was away conquering another planet.
The facility's defenses activated immediately.
Alarms blared.
Weapons fired.
But the attackers were prepared.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the soldiers fought with precision and strategy, pushing through the facility's defenses until they reached the laboratory.
They found what they had come for.
The Stone.
One of the soldiers carefully secured it inside a protective container.
“Move!”
They rushed toward their respective spacecraft and took off into space. However, the facility's security forces pursued them, following close behind.
As the escaping ships fled, they suddenly encountered another spacecraft approaching from the opposite direction.
It was the boss's ship.
The boss saw the fleeing spacecraft with his facility's security forces in pursuit. His targeting system immediately identified the escaping ships as hostiles.
“Those ships! Stop them!” he ordered.
His forces immediately opened fire.
Laser beams and plasma shots streaked across the darkness of space as the two sides exchanged fire.
One of the smaller spacecraft was struck by a laser.
BOOM!
Its wing exploded, sending the damaged ship spinning out of control.
“Sir, are you okay?” another spacecraft radioed.
“Focus on your escape! Don't mind me!” the leader replied.
Smoke poured from the damaged hull as he desperately searched for a way out.
Then he noticed a control panel.
A dangerous idea came to him.
He pressed a strange button.
A swirling portal suddenly opened ahead of the spacecraft.
It was a long-range travel system, but there was no time to configure the destination.
He entered a random coordinate.
Random galaxy. Random planet.
“Don't let them escape!” the boss commanded.
The damaged spacecraft accelerated toward the portal.
Its hull continued to smoke as it swerved violently through the swirling vortex.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The spacecraft disappeared into the portal.
The portal collapsed behind it.
No one knew where it had gone.
# # #
When the alien leader finally returned, he found his laboratory in ruins.
Smoke filled the corridors.
Sparks fell from damaged equipment.
Broken machinery littered the floor.
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
Then he looked toward the containment chamber.
Empty.
The Stone was gone.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
His fists slowly clenched.
Then—
The entire facility shook with his roar.
“WHO STOLE MY STONE?!”
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