When Anue returned to the Timechasers’, they simply teleported inside, forgoing the process of opening the hatch and climbing up the ladder. The golden glow that so often leaked out of the sole hyberpod inside blanketed the interior, and Elmadan’s mutterings accompanied it. Anue was usually pleased when it happened, but this time around, they frowned underneath their hood. They took two steps toward the hyberpod and crouched down next to it. As they suspected, the muttering was laced with pain. They couldn’t quite make sense of what he was saying, either.

‘Maybe he…?’ Anue shook the thought away. ‘No. It’s from a power far greater than him, he shouldn’t be able to understand it.’

The glow faded away, and Elmadan went quiet again. Anue stood up. A ping from the ship’s control panel gained their attention, and they padded over to it. On the small screen in the middle of the control panel were the Timechasers standing under the ship. After a little bit of time spent reminding themself which button did what, they opened the hatch and lowered the ladder so they could come inside.

“Hello again. You came not a moment too soon,” Anue greeted the Timechasers as they shuffled inside the ship, the hatch closing behind them. “How was the trip to the Point of Power?”

They were met with silence for a few drawn-out moments as they Timechasers glanced between each other, before Buzzy Bol replied, “…Successful.”

“…Good to hear. Anything noteworthy?”

Silence, again.

“…No, not really.”

‘Suspicious,’ Anue thought. “While you were at the Point of Power, I found Malik, and he—”

The Timechasers gave Anue odd looks as they flinched and gritted their teeth. Silence hung thick in the air before the hyberpod creaked open just enough for Elmadan to poke an eyestalk out. The golden glaze had become stronger, to the point where his iris had turned completely golden. His sclera was a few shades lighter than the iris.

“Hey Anue, did you feel that…?” he wearily asked.

They stood still for a couple of seconds before slowly nodding.

“Wha’dya think it is?”

Their voice no louder than a whisper, Anue replied, “…We weren’t fast enough.”

The Timechasers all let out a, “huh?”

“Time has ended.”

The announcement left everyone wide-eyed. To imagine such a thing could occur seemed impossible. Something that had existed since the birth of the universe itself… gone. There was no denying the truth of the matter, though.

Ralivil spoke up, his voice cracking, “But I thought visiting the Points of Power would help stop it!” Arix put an arm around Ralivil.

“This was all part of your little plan, wasn’t it?” Boson growled, throwing a glare at Anue.

“I did not plan on this, believe me!” Anue argued.

“Guyyyyys, I gotta rechaaaaaaarge. Could you, like… not?” Elmadan murmured from within the hyberpod before retracting his eyestalk and closing the lid.

Anue cleared their throat before replying, “My apologies.”

Silence hung in the air again before Arix stated, “You were gonna say something, Anue? *click*”

“Yes! Yes, I was. I found Malik, and he said something that made me realise that we could free Captain Deepsea from the RPG-maker’s influence,” Anue explained. “I do have to make some preparations first. Arix, could you come with me outside?”

Arix nodded. With that answer, Anue reopened the hatch and teleported outside. Arix climbed down the drop ladder after them. Once his feet touched the ground, the hatch closed behind them. Anue was standing not too far away, looking up at the sky.

“…A shame how no other beings will know what it is like to live again,” they murmured.

As Arix walked over to their side, he asked, “Are you okay?”

“Well enough. Come along.”

Anue led Arix into the forest, quite a distance away from the ship and the town. It was quiet. Quiet in the way that it overwhelms you; that it deafens you and clouds your thoughts.

After a point, Anue came to a stop.

“Malik said that Captain Deepsea would have lost any heart and soul he may have had by being infected with the RPG-maker’s leakage. I apologise for what I will have to do, but I am afraid there is no other way.”

Anue’s hands slowly rose to their hood, and pulled it back. Their long ears flopped momentarily before standing upright again. Light yellow eyes with dark sclera looked over their shoulder.

“…C… Commander…?!”

Anue turned to face Arix. “I thought you deserved to know the truth. Thank you for being so loyal.”

Anue slowly walked up to Arix and placed a hand on his chest. Their voice lowered to a whisper as they closed their eyes and told Arix, “I truly am sorry.”

Light yellow PSI surrounded Anue’s hand, which then became light pink as their hand melted into Arix’s chest.

---

Anue teleported back into the ship after some minutes that no longer existed. They did not open the hatch.

“Oh, hey Anue!” Buzzy Bol said upon seeing Anue return.

Pushing himself up from the ground, Ralivil asked, “Where’s Arix?”

Anue pressed their lips together. “…We were ambushed by some Starmen. Malik’s, I take it. I managed to get away, but Arix…” Their breath softly hitched.

“HE’S DEAD?” Ralivil cried, jumping to his tentacles.

“No! No, he is still alive. He simply got captured by the Starmen. The Sigismundo took off before I could retrieve him,” Anue reassured him.

Ralivil slowly sat down again. “Oh.”

Anue followed up with, “I finished my preparations for freeing Captain Deepsea before that incident, however. Shall we be on our way?”

Ralivil was still for a moment before nodding slightly.

Anue opened the hatch for the Timechasers. After they had exited the ship, they closed the hatch and teleported outside. Boson hovered down from the sky and squinted at Anue momentarily before looking at the other Timechasers.

“The Sigismundo ain’t here no more. Guess Anue was telling the truth about that,” he told them.

The Timechasers followed Anue into the town. It was completely still as well. Both human and Starman alike were frozen in place like figurines. There was no need to convince every Starman that they meant no harm – they couldn’t hear them anymore.

The entire trip up to the top of Deepsea’s tower was silent. It seemed to drag on forever, yet there was no forever that it could have dragged on for. Anue gave a quick, polite knock on the door to Deepsea’s office.

“Hello, are you in there, Captain Deepsea?” Anue asked.

There was no reply. Anue hummed to themself, then turned to the Timechasers.

“Stand back,” they ordered. The Timechasers did as they were told.

Anue took a step away from the door, then held out their right hand. It glowed light yellow for a moment, before changing to purple and shooting out a beam. The beam obliterated the door as soon as it made contact. The sawdust that remained of the door stood static in the air for a few moments before teleporting onto the floor, spread out all over. Now staring them down was Deepsea, who had gotten up from the leather couch.

“Finally come to challenge me, Inpue? *click* *whirr*” Deepsea asked.

Ralivil crept behind Anue and warily peered past them at Deepsea. He then turned his eyestalks to the hooded alien and quietly asked, “Why did he call you the wrong name?”

Anue’s ears folded back slightly. “…It’s… nothing.”

As Anue strode into Deepsea’s office, the Timechasers followed behind them. Anue stared Deepsea directly in the eye.

“You should know why I am here, RPG-maker.”

Deepsea scoffed. “I sure do! But *click* *click* do you really want to save this vessel when it’s already too late for the world?”

“Saving one person is all I can do now. If not this timeline’s Deepsea…” Anue held out their arms, ready for battle. “…then surely the rest!”

“Funny how *click* *whirr* *click* you think of these robots as people.”

Anue looked over their shoulder at the Timechasers. “Get ready to do battle. Just wear him down – if he dies, my plan will fail.”

Ralivil and Buzzy Bol nodded.

Immediately, Deepsea fired a PK Beam at the Timechasers and Anue. Anue gracefully jumped away and both UFOs cleared the way for Ralivil to dodge. He slithered up to the Starman Deluxe and fired a PK Freeze Gamma at him. Buzzy Bol and Boson shot beams at him. Deepsea glared at the two UFOs, then raised a hand into the air. Cosmic energy swirled around his hand, which grew and grew until it hung over the entire room. Buzzy Bol hurriedly set up a PSI Shield Sigma as the yellow, blue and white PSI stars emerged and shot down towards the Timechasers. The blows of the stars were softened by the shields. Buzzy Bol then cast a second shield — a PSI Reflect — onto Ralivil. Ralivil gave Buzzy Bol a smile.

Boson glared at Anue, who had taken cover in the doorframe at the end of the room. “Yo Anue! You gonna help out or what?!”

Anue was silent for a moment before quietly sighing. “Very well.” They held out their right hand, and a light yellow glow surrounded it. The glow then changed to purple, and a beam shot out of their hand. The beam brushed over Ralivil’s head as he ducked, and it hit Deepsea directly in the eye. He let out a howl of pain, and rubbed at his eye.

Ralivil wrapped his right tentacle around Deepsea’s right leg, then used his left tentacle to grab Deepsea’s right leg and pull him to the ground. A hollow clang rang out throughout the office. Ralivil’s right tentacle chilled, and a burst of PK Freeze Gamma erupted from it. The ice froze Deepsea’s leg in place. He glanced down at it with a choppy whirr. He propped himself up on his left arm and raised his right again. Another round of PK Starstorm flew around the room momentarily, before it all flew toward Ralivil. The PSI Reflect Buzzy Bol had cast on him earlier bounced the stars back at Deepsea. Deepsea frowned deeply, then began to whirr loudly. Ralivil went in for a Tentacle Slap, but as soon as he touched Deepsea, he recoiled with a pained yelp. The ice on Deepsea’s leg soon started melting.

“Is he… using his whirring to increase his body temperature?!” Buzzy Bol exclaimed.

Deepsea’s whirring stopped, and he gave Buzzy Bol as close to a smirk as a Starman could give. Buzzy Bol let out a light chuckle.

“Well, I hate to say it, but you’ve just put yourself in grave danger.”

“On the *click* *whirr* contrary, I’ve increased my firepower tenfold.”

“Uh oh.”

Deepsea fired a PK Beam at Buzzy Bol. It immediately did heavy damage to his UFO, even with the PSI Shield up. It shattered immediately after the blow.

Boson pulled out a grenade, but was stopped from detonating it by Anue shouting, “Boson, stop!”

Boson glared at Anue again.

“If you use that, it will damage Captain Deepsea too much! His body needs to be kept in as good of a condition as possible!” Anue explained.

“Fun police,” Boson muttered as he put the grenade away. He then opted to shoot some beams at him. Deepsea shielded himself with an arm. It began to dent, but Anue didn’t show any sign of concern.

Deepsea turned his gaze to Ralivil, then lunged. Ralivil quickly slid out of the way, then fired a PK Freeze Gamma at his back. The attack didn’t seem to affect him as much as before. Deepsea got to his feet and chuckled as he turned to face Ralivil.

“Did you really *click* *click* think that PK Freeze would hurt me now? I’m pipin’ hot!” He held up his hands as he said, “Let’s finish this the old fashioned way. *click* *whirr*”

“But you’re a Starman…? If you’re implying we use tentacle kung-fu, then I’m pretty sure Starmen don’t use… that…” Ralivil replied. “Also, didn’t you just say that you’re piping hot?”

Deepsea gave him a Starman equivalent of a smirk. He dived at Ralivil, left arm pointed out for a Forceful Jab. Ralivil ducked, then rolled to the right. Boson shot more beams at him. Deepsea fell to the floor again, but quickly got back to his feet. He took a single pace over to Ralivil, then raised his right foot. Ralivil rolled to the left as Deepsea slammed his foot down on the ground. The impact made a hole in the floor which he struggled to get his foot out of. During this time, Ralivil held out his right tentacle and focused his energy to it. As Deepsea pulled his foot out from the floor and spun around to face Ralivil, there was a soft pain from the Prophet’s Mark. The air chilled, and a burst of pure psychic energy erupted from Ralivil’s tentacle. Ralivil squeezed his eyes shut as soft pink glow filled the room before light blue lines and geometric shapes began flashing throughout the room. When the flashing died down, Ralivil opened his eyes to Deepsea lying face down on the floor again.

Ralivil looked over his shoulder at Anue. “Was that too much…?”

Anue shook their head. They stepped towards Deepsea’s body and knelt in front of him as a light yellow glow surrounded their hand. The aura turned light blue, and Anue pressed their hand to Deepsea’s head.

As they retracted their hand, they muttered to themselves, “Still alive.”

Anue revealed their other hand, which quickly gained the same glow as the first. They held Deepsea’s body and propped him up on the leather couch, now ripped and burned from the fight. They let go of Deepsea, then took a couple of steps back. They held their hands up to their chest, as if they were holding a ball. The glow around their hands changed from light blue to light pink, and a glowing ball, very faintly blue in hue, appeared between them. They grasped the ball and strode up to Deepsea’s body. They pressed the ball to his chest. A light pink glow surrounded Deepsea’s body, and the ball melted into it. The glow around Deepsea’s body strengthened for a moment before fading away.

Anue stepped away from Deepsea’s body again. They glanced to the Timechasers. “Go to the back wall.”

The Timechasers did as they were told and pressed up against the back wall of the office.

Anue held their hands together, and underneath their hood, they closed their eyes. They began muttering alien words, and a silvery blue glow began to surround their body. They held out their hands, thumbs side by side, and the outline of a square formed in front of them. The square travelled towards Deepsea’s body, and once it was only a few centimeters away, it extended into a cube around him. There was a flash, and once the light faded, Deepsea’s body had disappeared. In its place, a small orb of light with the word “deepsea” seemingly inscribed in it hovered in the air above the leather couch. Anue strode up to it and gently grabbed it. They then let it into the air, and it disappeared.

“…What was that?” Ralivil asked.

Anue turned to face the Timechasers, and explained, “I inserted a… special something into Deepsea’s body. That something destroyed all the leakage inside, as well as repaired any remains of his heart and soul that were destroyed by it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“…It is difficult to explain. But essentially, when Captain Deepsea was infected by the RPG-maker’s leakage, it took away his ability to care and feel. Those things reside in his Magicant, and the something I inserted into him went there.”

“Magicant?”

“It is not relevant to the situation, let me continue my explanation of what the something did,” Anue stated. “After the something found its way to Captain Deepsea’s Magicant, I turned him into a file. I then sent it out into the universe to overwrite every timeline’s Captain Deepsea, to make sure nothing similar to what happened to our Captain Deepsea will ever happen again.”

The Timechasers were silent as they furrowed their brows trying to make sense of Anue’s words.

Noticing this, Anue explained, “Files, put simply, are the core of our existence. Without them, we would not exist.”

After the Timechasers thought some more, Ralivil asked, “…Aaaand the RPG-maker is destroying our ‘files’?”

“Not exactly. It is destroying the code in which our files are put into. There is a difference.” Anue then trotted to the door, then stopped beside the Timechasers to tell them, “Come along. There is a Point of Power on Mercury somewhere. While it would be useless for us to go there now, Malik will still be expecting us. We may be able to find Arix there.”

With that, Anue trotted into the hall and out of the building. The Timechasers watched as they did so, then exchanged glances.

As Ralivil looked down the hall again, he said, “Maybe you’re right, Boson…”