Captured among the stars

The command center buzzed with tension. Suddenly, hologram flickered to life, and there he was—prince Kaelrith, projecting his ominous presence across the room. His smirk, faintly sinister, sent a chill through the air.

“Greetings, prince Akihiko. As you’ve probably noticed, someone is missing from your palace,” Kaelrith said, voice calm but laced with a menacing undertone.

Akihiko finally stood up, with his hands curled into tight fists. His blue eyes burned with controlled fury.

“If you so much as touch a single hair on her head, you will regret it,” he warned, his voice sharp enough to slice through the tension.

Kaelrith’s grin widened. “Don’t worry, I won’t harm her. She is very important to me… far more than you can imagine.”

A short clip appeared in the hologram. Akihiko’s breath caught. Aiko lay unconscious on bed in dark room, fragile and still, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. The sight of her powerless filled him with a fury so intense it ached in his chest. Yet, he remained silent, his jaw set, eyes like glacial fire.

Beside Kaelrith, a brinchar—a tiny creature no larger than a fist, wings glowing in soft greenish-blue light—buzzed relentlessly around him. Kaelrith’s composure faltered ever so slightly.

“This… worthless creature… will not stand in my way!” he barked, forcing a confidence that barely covered his frustration.

“Prince… should I drive it away?” one of his soldiers asked hesitantly.

Before the soldier could act, he stumbled, tripping comically. Mika and Naoru exchanged glances; Naoru had to suppress a laugh, fighting the absurdity in such a tense moment. Kaelrith’s face flushed with the tiniest tinge of embarrassment.

Akihiko’s gaze never wavered. Cold. Unyielding. Calculated.

“You will regret this,” he murmured, voice icy, directed not just at Kaelrith, but at the unfairness of it all.

The brinchar continued its chaotic dance, brushing against Kaelrith’s cloak. The dark prince’s forced smile lingered for a moment before he ended the transmission, stepping away from the hologram, muttering to himself.

“Someone remove this creature. I’ve never looked so… foolish.”

The room on Kaelrith’s ship was dim, illuminated only by the soft, artificial glow of metallic walls. Aiko lay on a cold bed, the dress she had been abducted in clinging awkwardly to her. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, confusion and exhaustion pulling at her senses. Her head throbbed, body heavy and unresponsive. Memories were fragmented—the last thing she remembered was Kaelrith’s shadowed gaze, darkness swallowing everything else.

A faint, ominous “ssshhh” echoed as the sliding door opened. Kaelrith entered, cloaked in darkness, his face hidden in shadow, but the smile… oh, that smile—it was icy, slimy, and terrifying.

Aiko’s voice trembled, barely a whisper. “Where am I? What do you want from me?”

Her body tried to move, but fatigue and fear held her in place. Kaelrith stepped closer, predatory, gaze assessing her like a rare prize.

“More than you can imagine,” he said softly, almost mockingly, crouching to meet her eyes. His hands, cold and precise, lifted her chin gently. “You are very important to me.”

Aiko’s lips quivered. “Me? Just a regular Earth girl? You must be joking, right?”

Kaelrith’s cold red eyes never left her. “Oh, Aiko… do you really think I crossed the galaxy for someone ordinary? Your face… could spark a war.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Heart pounding, she summoned the last reserves of her courage and energy.

“No… don’t touch me…” she whispered through gritted teeth, turning her head with defiance.

Kaelrith froze for a fraction of a second, surprised by her resistance. His eyes darkened, cold as midnight.

“Next time, you will obey me, Aiko. If not…” He straightened, towering over her with menace. His voice dripped ice as he spoke once more.

“If you don’t want anything to happen to your people on Earth… make sure you cooperate more.”

The door closed behind him with a muted click, leaving Aiko alone. No tears yet, only silent fury and the fire of determination quietly kindling within her.

Her gaze drifted to a small window across the room, starlight spilling softly across her face. She inhaled deeply.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me, Akihiko. I’ve betrayed your trust… endangered Akarihoshi… I will never be able to look you in the eyes again…”

Tears finally fell. She sank to her knees, sobbing quietly in the silence of the cold, foreign room.

Royal Command Center

The holographic call left Akihiko’s jaw clenched and his chest tight with burning urgency. Without hesitation, he summoned his elite team—Naoru, Mika, and the other top soldiers.

Tension filled the air as he stared at the holographic map. Each planet, each ship, each blinking light marked danger, and yet, determination surged stronger than fear.

“Satellite data has detected an energy signature from Umbra… prince Kaelrith’s homeland,” Naoru reported, voice steady despite the weight of the situation. “He’s still near the planet. As if he’s expecting us.”

Mika’s calm voice followed. “Coordinates are set. We’re ready.”

Akihiko’s fingers clenched into fists. “I have to rescue her.”

Akihiko stepped closer to the tactical table, scanning the layout of ships, escape routes, and enemy positions. “Kaelrith will likely turn off the shield for me to board his ship. If we’re lucky, some of you can come along. But until we have Aiko, there can be no conflict. Then we disable Kaelrith’s vessels and escape.”

King called Akihiko via StarCom: “Akihiko… I know you’re upset. But be careful, don’t make a rash move. This is a trap.”

Akihiko (coldly): “I know it’s a trap. But I still have to… I have to save her.”

Then he looked at everyone in the room with a serious expression.

“If anyone isn’t ready, they can step aside now. I will understand. We know this is Kaelrith’s trap, and he currently holds all the cards.”

Silence filled the room. Then Naoru stepped forward and spoke decisively on behalf of everyone:

“This mission isn’t just because you’re a prince and it’s our duty. We’re doing this because you’re our friend. And most importantly—because of Aiko. She’s surely scared, alone in a world she doesn’t know. Together, we’ll bring her back.”

Mika nodded, determination burning in her eyes. “She deserves more than to be Kaelrith’s prisoner.”

Akihiko’s mind was consumed by visions of Aiko—her laughter echoing in his ears, the faint warmth of her presence beside him, the fleeting moments that seemed too small to matter, yet had rooted themselves deep inside him. He took a deep breath, exhaling the storm of worry and anger.

Technicians hurried with final checks on the personal flying vessels, their hands skillfully inspecting systems and weapons.

Akihiko adjusted his uniform and clenched his fists.

“Let’s go,” he said, resolute. “We won’t leave Aiko behind.”

Akihiko and his companions took their positions in the flying crafts. Each of them ready to face whatever awaited on Kaelrith’s ship. Outside, the cold stars of space reflected the tension radiating from both sides—the predator and the rescuers, fate bound in a deadly, silent dance.