The Phantom Thief and The Video Message

In the heart of the sprawling metropolis, Logan Larson found himself in a ship unlike any other.

Its design was a marvel of futuristic luxury and cutting-edge technology.

An extravagant marvel even in the most opulent of galactic standards.

It was a far cry from the shadows and secrets of his life as a phantom thief.

But now, things have changed, and change has brought pain and reflection.

Within the ship, Logan stood in a room with a panoramic view of planet Earth.

The grandeur of the room was only enhanced by the breathtaking view of his home planet.

The Earth hung in space like a delicate jewel, serene and beautiful despite the turmoil that had enveloped it.

Logan couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy as he gazed upon it.

It was a sight that reminded him of all that he had lost and all that he had done.

In the center of this resplendent room, bathed in the soft glow of the Earth's reflection, lay a medical pod.

A device of advanced technology, its purpose was to preserve Lyla's body.

It was here, surrounded by the boundless expanse of space, that Logan had brought her.

Lyla, the woman he loved and lost, had been his partner in life and in their adventures as phantom thieves.

But a series of tragic events had torn her away from him.

Her final wish was etched into his memory: to be laid to rest in the presence of a rising sun.

It was a poetic request, one that spoke of hope and a new beginning.

But the chaos that he created on earth, made it impossible for Logan to fulfill her wish.

Now he is wanted by the United Galactic Federation.

He needed to disappear from the U.G.F.'s watchful eye.

The galaxy was divided into three factions.

There is the United Galactic Federation, the Lunar Galactic Empire, and the outlaw regions, where chaos and anarchy reigned.

Because Earth is part of the United Galactic Federation, it had made any attempt to honor Lyla's final wish on Earth unattainable.

And so, Logan had turned to the only feasible option, the Lunar Galactic Empire, a place where he could find refuge, and perhaps, redemption.

As he continued to watch Earth through the massive window, the virtual screen on the side of the room flickered to life.

A news report announced the imminent return of Princess Seraphina, the ruler of the Lunar Galactic Empire, who was adorned with the Moon's Tear necklace.

This necklace, a powerful artifact, had been part of Logan and Lyla's past adventures.

When his battle with Barry had reached its intense conclusion, retrieving the Moon's Tear had been the furthest thing from Logan's mind.

All he had cared about was preserving Lyla's body, even if it meant leaving behind a cherished memento from their past.

As he contemplated his next move, Logan couldn't help but think about the Lunar Galactic Empire.

It was the one place he had never operated in during his time as a phantom thief. A place where he could potentially find a refuge in the shadows.

There was an old saying he recalled, "If you want to hide a tree, hide it in the forest." And the Lunar Galactic Empire seemed like the vast, uncharted forest he needed.

But as Logan stood there, lost in thought, a memory called out to him.

He turned to the AI companion that had been a part of his adventures, Lucy.

"Lucy, play the video message," Logan requested.

A few seconds later, a holographic projection appeared, and it was Lyla.

Her presence, even in the form of a recording, filled the room with warmth and sorrow.

"I'm hoping if you play this back, it's not to grieve," she began, her voice filled with a mixture of love and longing.

"I hope it brings a smile to your face. You and I are like an intricately tied knot, gently entwined with one another. Even if, someday, we were to be unraveled, I thought it'd be a good idea to leave behind something to remember."

Her words, once joyful, were now a poignant reminder of their separation.

The destination of all life, she said, was death, but she had reached it a bit earlier than him. Even so, she implored him not to chase after her too quickly.

The recording continued with her gentle wisdom.

"In this world where we're born, there's probably no one born just to shoulder burdens. It is also okay to change. The only thing I ask of you is to seek happiness."

As the recording neared its end, her voice quivered, "Oh my... the tears won't stop... I meant to make this video without crying. It'd be nice if we could hold hands and take one last walk together... Goodbye… Logan. I love you."

"End of recording," Lucy's voice announced as the holographic projection faded away.

The room was quiet, and the faint sound of Logan's tears hitting the floor seemed to echo in the silence.

Lyla's words, filled with love and the wisdom of someone who had crossed to the other side, still reverberated in his mind.

"You never had to save me," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"All I ever wanted was for you... for you to live. Besides you, I've got nothing left. Honestly, nothing else ever really mattered. How awful of you to ask me to move on... to be happy."

In that room overlooking the Earth, Logan was in the presence of a powerful memory, one that held both the pain of loss and the love that had sustained him.

He had once asked Lyla a question that now resonated even more deeply.

"If happiness had a form, what would it be?"

She had answered that it would be like water, something ever-present, often taken for granted.

Sometimes we wanted to make it sweeter, so we mixed it with sugar, but if we accidentally mixed it with salt, it became undrinkable.

In the absence of light, we would miss it, but with enough light, we could see reflections on its surface.

We could see ourselves when we were alone, and sometimes, we could see all the people and things we cared about.

"What can be seen within is proof of a grand existence more than anything else," she had said.

"It will always be reflected, forever… and ever…"

Logan took a deep breath, his resolve solidifying.

Lyla's words had been a parting gift, a testament to their love, and a reminder of the beauty of life.

As the tears continued to fall, he knew he had to honor her memory and her wish for him to seek happiness.

With that, he turned his gaze once more to the window that framed Earth.

It was a planet filled with memories, both joyous and painful. But it was also a reminder of the vast galaxy beyond, where a new chapter awaited him.

The Earth, a jewel in the cosmic sea, was just one part of the universe.