Dohta groaned and awoke, to see demure golden eyes watch him attentively and a bright smile form on the orange-haired tall woman's countenance once she beheld him come to his senses.

"W... Where_"

"Dohta!" the familiar high-pitched voice of his little human friend reached his ears. Ellie dashed at him and squeezed him in embraces, crying hot tears of joy, "Dohta, you're awake! You're alright!"

"E... Ellie?"

"I was so worried!"

The tiny maiden wetted his bandaged chest with tears. Lady Maluma, for she was exactly that orange-haired woman to have treated his wounds, explained to him the situation – of how he was taken into custody by the Young Captain, if one could name it so, since Dohta's very own brother Zehu and sister Zona, as well as his friend Ellie and all the other comrades were on the ship and it was rather a friendly company than captivity. Soon, all of these family members and friends gathered in his room, to cuddle him (since Zehu and Zona could never bear not hugging their long-lost-and-recently-found big brother) and congratulate him on his recovery. Then, came the time of introductions – Zona introduced her boyfriend Baxus (yes, they had already decided to become a couple, since Dohta had actually been sleeping for many days and had missed quite a lot), Ellie introduced her sister Violet (whom Dohta already knew too well) and father Gunther, and Maluma, on her part, presented her husband Roderigo Alvarez, who came to get along with Dohta in quite a short time, thanks to their similar personalities.

After Dohta heard the whole story, he sighed in relief:

"So, you say, Hitha became the chiefess and married Jedha Mahut – that commoner she said she loved?"

"Yes," Zona replied, and Zehu too nodded in the affirmative.

"That's good. At least my rampage did bring something beneficial to the whole asteroid... I apologize to you all, for causing such trouble".

"Don't worry. We understand your pain, Dohta," Zona smiled with the intent to encourage him. "We love you. Hitha was worried about you. We'll let you contact her via a crystal-device later on when you're better. Until then, we'll inform her of your recovery".

"Thank you, I'd appreciate it. I've caused her quite a lot of pain too... I hope she forgives me".

Zehu placed a hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner, as a sign that everything would be alright. Dohta gave him a grateful beam in return. Then he eyed them all, and, noticing their troubled faces, inquired:

"So, what will happen to me now?"

"Captain said he wants to invite you to his crew," Ellie hugged him. "He promised me he wouldn't hurt you".

"Hmph, he can't really hurt me any more than he already has, can he?" Dohta bitterly chuckled and glanced down at his bandaged body, "Recovering from his Crimson Ardour blasts will require some time. I guess I should even thank him he left me alive? I hate being grateful for such lowly pity, so tell him to not expect that from me".

"Come on now, young man, what are you saying? Weren't you two friends? At least that's what Aru has told me," Maluma put hands to her waist in a reproachful manner, "It was only natural he'd leave you alive!"

"He said so? Arubah was always unpredictable... To be honest, since he was a Herminoid – a higher species than me – I never knew what was going on in his head. He is a complete riddle to me. It is true, though – it was he who inspired me to continue living and pave my own path. I'm eternally grateful to him for that. But before I sort things out with him, I'll need time to process my thoughts and feelings, and reflect upon everything that has happened".

"Don't worry about my idiot son. Take time on your recovery".

At such a blunt remark of Roderigo, everyone laughed. They spent some more time with Dohta, and then returned to their affairs. Maluma went out too, since Dohta needed to rest now and did not require her attention as of yet. Only Ellie stayed in the room since she had been longing for Dohta for many days while he still slept, and now she couldn't let him go so easily after he had finally woken up. She remained cuddling with him on the bed. The young man softly caressed her on hair:

"So, you met Arubah, huh?"

"Yes. I couldn't leave you in peril. I had to visit him and ask to not hurt you... I was scared".

"Thank you, my kind little bean," Dohta gave her a tender kiss on the head. "You are a true friend".

"I love you, Dohta... How could I ever abandon my best friend?"

"I love you too, tiny".

They were silent for some time, hugging each other. Then, they heard a knock on the door. Dohta started:

"Who can it be?"

"I've no idea..."

"Come in!"

The door opened, to reveal Young Captain Arubah Arruroe, dressed in his scarlet shirt, having apparently left his black coat and slouch hat back in his cabin. He nervously eyed both Dohta and Ellie as he approached them.

"Greetings. I hope I'm not disturbing?"

"No worries," Dohta pressed Ellie closer to his chest, since the girl got frightened to see the captain more or less live up to his rumours of heartlessness now, or so she explained his unusual cold attitude. Dohta, however, could well notice his friend was not just cold and serious, but sorrowful as well. "Sit down. What is it you wanted to discuss?"

"You truly are a smart bean," Arubah chuckled and took a seat on a chair near his bed, "You were always quick to read people".

"I'm seeing your face only now, so I'm using this privilege to study you well, unlike my vain attempts back in prison. Even right now I find it hard to penetrate through your mind, and back then, behind the mask, you were a complete enigma".

"I figure. I am a Herminoid – there is no way you can completely read me... Anyway, Dohta, brother, I've come to talk to you".

"I know. Ellie has told me".

"Oh? Well, before I go on that business, there is something more important".

"Hmm? What?"

"Well..." Arubah dropped to his knees before his bed, "I've come to ask for your forgiveness".

Both Dohta and Ellie watched him in stupefaction, not able to understand what he meant. The Galaxy Pirate Emperor and a Herminoid Prince was bowing down to Dohta – a Daluma banished from his homeland?

"We swore brotherhood back in the prison. Since then, I've cherished those times in my heart for as long as I can remember. I've never forgotten you, even once. I know that, for your heart filled with bitterness and sorrow, my actions back on the Daluma Asteroid were not easy to take in... They might even have been too brutal to your feeble soul back then. I've hurt you physically when you had already been hurt, I'd say, wounded and scarred, on both emotional and mental levels. I had to act according to the circumstances that were around me since it concerned my own ancestral homeland – the Daluma Asteroid – and I would want the best for everyone. For the common good, I sacrificed my treasured friend's feelings. I cannot forgive myself, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't forgive me either. Still, I consider it my duty to apologize to you – for my harsh actions, for battling you, hurting you to this extent... for scaring your little friend there," he glanced up at Ellie for a moment, and then put his head down to the floor again, "Forgive me not as a Daluma or a Herminoid, but an idiot human who's messed up! Forgive me, brother!"

"Come here," Dohta grabbed him and put him on the edge of the bed. Ellie grew petrified – tiny tears flickered in the captain's eyes! Dohta didn't miss this detail either. He embraced Arubah tightly: "You do realise you've saved me from getting consumed by my own powers back then, don't you?"

"Still, I've hurt you... What good can it bring, hurting people? It is hideous, brother! It is hideous, yet I can't do anything about it..."

"You're telling me that you, Arubah Arruroe, regret your action?" Dohta laughed, "That's something new... If there were creatures whose judgment was always right, it's the Herminoids, and you too belong in that group".

"I know, Dohta. I'm never wrong in my judgments. I assessed the situation in the right way. I do not regret my action. If I were to be thrown in that situation again, I'd still do the same. But... at times, I begin to hate myself, and this world, for being so cruel. I had to hurt my friend to save him and his homeland – our homeland. How hideous can that be, when there is no other way than violence? It is brutal. This world is brutal..."

"You're telling me you have your human-tantrum existential crisis right now and you decided it was the best time to visit me?"

"Ugh, shut up, you were always so evil... Sometimes I want to speak my heart out, okay? And you were always the right doctor to turn to".

"Hmph..." Dohta chuckled, "Ellie, dear, I apologize but, could you please leave us in private for a moment?"

"Sure. I have to go anyway. Violet wanted to speak to me about something".

Ellie, guessing the captain wanted to cry his heart out on his dearest friend's shoulder, walked out of the room since she did not wish to meddle in these affairs.

Bloody? The guy just gave Dohta some curable wounds and is crying! He's rather a cuddly donut...

***

In the evening, the captain gathered the crew together, including the Hawthorne family. He led Dohta out on the deck by supporting him since he still hadn't completely recovered, and announced in a joyous voice:

"Say hello to my new second-mate and your new leader – my brother and friend, Daluman Prince Doctor Dohta Vaagard!"

The crewmates whooped, roared, squealed in their many tongues. Baxus and Zehu howled in Bakhal, while Zona used the Daluman language. Ellie and Violet instead cried 'Hurrah' in Aenglish. Gunther, Roderigo, and Maluma just clapped with joyful smiles. The crew welcomed their new member and leader Dohta Vaagard, quite a powerful ally since it was the sole man to possess the Black crystal powers, able to injure even the Divine Emperor. Arubah was beyond happy, for he had come even closer to his long-sought goal – to vanquish the Divine Emperor Koriel man Herminn, avenge his maternal planet Hermin, and claim rights on his paternal planet Earth.