Star Lords

The galaxy Eirene was a spectacle of lights and colors. At its heart, floating in the vacuum of space, was gaia, the capital of the Republic. The city was a marvel of cosmic engineering, with skyscrapers rising on floating platforms, connected by bridges of glowing energy. Ships of all sizes and shapes crossed the skies, and traffic was coordinated by a central artificial intelligence. In the center of the city, the Palace of the Republic stood out, an imposing structure made of crystal and metal, reflecting the light of the surrounding stars.

Inside the palace, in the meeting hall, the soldier Marcus stood before the Consul , a woman with blonde hair and bright green eyes. She wore a white and gold suit, a symbol of her position as one of the leaders of the Republic. Marcus, on the other hand, was in his military armor, with insignias indicating his rank as captain.

- Consul, you called for me? - asked Marcus, maintaining a rigid posture.

The consul looked at him with a serious expression. Her eyes reflected the concern of someone carrying the weight of an empire on their shoulders.

- Yes, Marcus. Something has happened to Senator Dario. He was on a diplomatic mission in the galaxy of Silvatron and then passed through the galaxy of Vanir when his ship was attacked. We received a distress signal, but then... silence.

Marcus frowned. Senator Dario was an important figure, known for his attempts to negotiate peace between the conflicting galaxies.

- And what do you want me to do, Consul?

- I want you to go there. The galaxy of Vanir is under our control, but the people who attacked him must be dangerous. However, you are one of our best warriors, from the constellation of uranos, and this should not be too dangerous for you. Find out what happened to Dario and bring him back, dead or alive. - Lyra paused, looking at the hologram of Vanir hovering over the table. - You will have permission to use the Intergalactic Portal. We cannot waste any more time.

Marcus nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The Intergalactic Portal was a rare and expensive technology, used only in emergencies. He knew the mission would be dangerous, but it was also an opportunity to prove his worth.

- Understood, Consul. I will not disappoint you.

Lyra smiled slightly, but her expression remained somber.

- Good luck, Marcus. And remember: Be careful.

"That woman is terrifying," thought Marcus.

---

As Marcus left the meeting, he was sweating coldly, relieved to be out of the consul's presence. One of his soldiers, a young recruit named Ponce, noticed his captain's state and approached him.

- Captain, why are you sweating so much? - asked Ponce, with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Marcus, still tense from the meeting, lightly smacked Tullus on the back of the head.

- Don't ask stupid questions, Ponce. Just focus on the mission.

Ponce rubbed his head, slightly embarrassed, but then asked:

- So, what did the Consul want? What's the mission?

Marcus took a deep breath, calming himself before answering.

- She wants us to go to the galaxy of Vanir. Senator Dario's ship was attacked there, and we need to find out what happened to him.

Tullus's eyes widened.

- Vanir? That's far, isn't it? Must be, what, 40,000 light-years away? 

Marcus nodded, his expression serious.

- Yes, it's far. But we'll use the Intergalactic Portal. It's the only way to get there quickly. So, get ready. We leave soon.

Ponce nodded, still a bit dazed by the distance, but determined to follow his captain.

---

On the planet Helar, the sky was overcast, and a fine rain fell over the village. The atmosphere was heavy, laden with sadness and mourning. In one place, a small crowd gathered around a freshly dug grave. It was the burial of Lira, Gyro's mother.

Zorya stood beside Gyro, holding his friend's shoulder as he cried. Gyro, with his brown hair wet from the rain, seemed smaller than ever, shaken by the loss. He held a small object in his hands: a necklace that his mother always wore, a memory of better times.

- She didn't deserve this - whispered Gyro, his voice trembling. - She just wanted to protect all of us.

Zorya said nothing. He knew that words would not bring comfort at that moment. Instead, he looked around, observing the tired and sad faces of the villagers. The war had left deep marks on all of them.

The priest of the temple of Mandrax, an elderly man in a brown robe, began the ceremony. He spoke of Lira's courage, her love for her son, and her dedication to Helar. When he finished, Gyro approached the grave and placed his mother's necklace on the simple wooden coffin.

- Goodbye, mother - said Gyro, his voice almost a whisper. - I will make you proud.

Zorya looked up at the sky, where the dark clouds seemed to reflect the mood of everyone. He knew the war would not end soon, but at that moment, all that mattered was being by Gyro's side.

---

Meanwhile, on the planet **Kizar, the air was thick with tension. King Marduck sat on his throne, an imposing structure made of black stone and adorned with symbols of war. Around him, the leaders of Kizar's allied factions were gathered.

Marduck was an imposing figure, with black armor that gleamed under the dim light of the hall. His red eyes seemed to burn with fierce intensity. He raised his hand, and silence fell over the room.

- My comrades - he began, his voice echoing off the stone walls. - The time has come to end this war. Helar has discovered that their star produces Stellarium, and we cannot let them take this news to the Republic. I myself killed the Republic's representative on our planet and on Helar. After all, they do not know that I am a user of stellar energy and am from the constellation of Thanatos.

The leaders murmured among themselves, agreeing with the king's words. One of them, a tall man in a red cape, stood up.

- But, my king, our forces are tired. The war has already lasted a decade. Is it worth risking everything in one final battle?

Marduck looked at him with disdain.

- This is not just a battle for resources. It is a battle for the future of our planet. If Helar continues to control the Stellarium, they will have the power to dominate the galaxy under the wings of the Republic. We cannot allow that.

He raised his fist, and the leaders responded with a unanimous shout of approval.

- Prepare yourselves! - ordered Marduck. - The final battle will be all or nothing. And this time, there will be no mercy, and I will go personally.

---

Back in Gaia, Marcus stood before the Intergalactic Portal, a colossal structure glowing with an intense blue light. He adjusted his armor and checked his weapons. He knew the journey to Vanir would be dangerous, but he was determined to fulfill his mission.

- Are you ready, Captain? - asked the technician responsible for the portal.

Marcus nodded.

- Activate the portal.

The technician pressed a series of buttons, and the portal began to glow even brighter. Marcus took one last look at the floating city before leading his men and boarding a warship, disappearing in a flash of light.

---

As Marcus traveled through the portal, Zorya and Gyro sat on a hill, looking up at the sky of Helar. The rain had stopped, and the stars began to appear.

- What are we going to do now, Zorya? - asked Gyro, his voice still heavy with sadness.

Zorya looked at the horizon, where the lights of the Kizarian ships could still be seen.

- I don't know, Gyro - he said.

- But when I grow up, I want to travel the cosmos like Zod the Invincible. I will be as powerful as Star Lord Chronos or Mandrax - said Zorya.

- You are blessed, Zorya. You were born graced by the stars, like in the legends of the Star Lords and those legendary mercenaries, free from the clutches of the Deviants... - said Gyro.

- But you could be like Jiang the Brave. He wasn't a user of stellar energy, and besides, I don't even know which constellation I'm from - said Zorya.

---