Soon, the big red planet could already be seen from the ship, covered with water and hot sands. At a certain place where the ocean water met the deserted shores, were erected a black palace and some black houses and huts, all covered in metal docks where a lot of spaceships had anchored. It was the pirate capital, Cyberia – a base that no one could ever break down, due to its high defences and the omnipotence of its fearsome emperor, Young Captain – a man engulfed in many bloody legends. He was also the founder of the Shark Tooth Pirates – the pirate fleet known for its blue-sailed ships, one of which Captain Sinbad owned. The main Shark Tooth vessel was kept at Young Captain's disposal – the original magnificence built of the Crimson Wood and Herminese shark bones, both of which were native to Planet Hermin, destroyed millennia ago. Hence, the original Shark Tooth served as an ancient artifact of that long-gone place.

Violet watched in fear and amazement as their ship descended in the pirate city. It docked in the harbour and Captain Sinbad walked down the shore with his mates – pegacorn Diyuma and Radenoid Jasheen, followed by Baxus and Zehu. Violet accompanied them as she had been instructed (even though she had no idea why she should be present in that gruesome place when other more serious crew members had stayed behind). The harbour was full of space scoundrels of all races and sorts cussing, fighting, talking, or simply laughing at each other's weirdness.

All of these pirates seem so crazy...

Violet walked near Baxus and Zehu as if seeking protection from this bizarre bunch of pitiless criminals. The boys noticed her uneasiness and smiled faintly. Captain Sinbad, on the other hand, kept his cool – apparently, he had arrived on a rather serious matter. Once the friends reached the black palace, he informed the guards he was on business and had to meet up with the emperor.

"Bax, what kind of a person is the emperor?" Violet asked with a trembling voice.

They stepped into the grand hall and walked through corridors and stairs, up to a grand black door marked with the same skull symbol Sinbad's crew had on their flag – the Cyber Sammy.

"He's a man!" Baxus replied with a proud grin.

"A... man? What do you mean_"

"Lord Captain! Captain Sinbad has arrived!"

The guards let them through the black door in a small cabin lighted by some blue fire and windows letting the moonlights in. The room was full of bookshelves filled with multiple books – hardbacks and paperbacks of Mind-Books as well as normal language ones, and even some scrolls in numerous tongues, both familiar and strange to Violet. Many red crystal skulls were hung onto the walls, giving her nausea and shudders – such bloodthirstiness...

The main entity who grabbed Violet's whole attention right away was not any of the two men present in the chamber, but the third one sitting at the writing-table, his black boots placed upon it. He wore a slouch hat, a scarlet shirt, black trousers, and a long black coat hung onto his shoulders, while his scarred arm held a golden pipe he calmly drew on, much in Captain Sinbad's manner. His hair was short and pitch-black, giving the same vibes as Sinbad's one, but somehow similar to Zehu's one, too, particularly in its shape and some dark green patterns. His eyes were the most awe-striking – those two black orbs of an eagle, filled with the determination like those of Baxus, innocent slyness like those of Zehu, and infinite wisdom like the ones of Sinbad.

This man... is not of this world...

"Greetings, Lord Captain." Sinbad gave him a faint smile. "I'm back to drop off certain people I borrowed."

"Oh? That's quite a relief! I've been waiting for my staunch first-mate to get back to me..." The emperor idly exhaled the fragrant blue smoke and glanced at Baxus, who watched him with scintillating eyes, "I guess, welcome home then, Bax?"

"You bet! I'm all yours again, my one and only captain!"

"I'm returning Zehu too. He's done his part," Sinbad said. "I'll be going to the Mordhor Universe next. I only needed him in Bakhassa and Raden."

Violet watched as Zehu and Baxus walked to the Captain Emperor's side and looked back at Sinbad and his mates as if they were complete strangers and those "years of working together" were nothing but mere words. To think of it, Zehu did mention once before, that his true master was some "Lord Captain" and not Sinbad!

"Also, I have a certain gift for you, Lord Captain. I collected it for the Root Cherishing Day, just for you."

The Root Cherishing Day? Sinbad was congratulating this man? What was happening here? Wasn't he the last of his species?

"Aw, how generous of you, amigo!" the emperor chuckled, pronouncing this last word in a perfect Hispanish accent Violet had heard nowhere but on Earth. "What would it be?"

"Meet Violet Hawthorne, a human." Sinbad casually pointed at her as if she were some product instead of a person. "There's an added bonus – she's your precious Baxus Meelias' very cousin. She speaks fifty-one languages since Baxus has taught her Bakhal. She's struggling to learn Herminese. I thought you'd be much amused at this impudent human's trying to imitate our race. Wait, even better – she has actually given me some gifts, can you imagine?"

Both of the men gave out hearty laughs, while Violet's heart shattered in multiple pieces – all this time, on all those days of adventures together with these people, she was viewed as nothing but a future gift for their emperor – a prize? Even to her cousin Baxus? No, this latter did not laugh... He had a sorrowful gaze – it seemed that after learning they were blood kin, he had changed his mind about her, but unfortunately, had no power this time, to save her from the situation. She looked back at Sinbad. Her heart burned with rage, shame, and humiliation – a race of gods? More like a race of demons...

"That sounds quite interesting..." the emperor laughed, "As cruel as ever, eh, Sinbad?"

"You know me. Well then, I'll be going. I'm leaving your people and your gift to you."

He walked out together with his mates, not even looking back at Violet, whose eyes had already gone swollen with tears that poured down her cheeks. She had been getting resold in multiple markets as a slave back in her years, but this one was the worst of all she had undergone – to be given out for free as a slave-gift by a man whom she thought a friend. It seemed like she and her race of humans couldn't learn a certain rule of this life: that the species above them, even though their creators, viewed them not as precious children but as some tools made for their amusement. They were not gods, but simple creatures of the rotten world just like them. Sinbad had never shown any particular interest in her, or heartiness, and she had instead built towers of dreams where she perceived him as a friend. Now, all of these illusions broken down, she faced the sad truth posed before her eyes – that no matter where she travelled in these universes, she was but a feeble human, to be viewed as nothing but a slave to toy with.

***

In the evening, when Sinbad's crew had left, Violet was taken to the emperor's room with golden chainless handcuffs on both arms, indicating yet another imprisonment, this time with an unknown future. She took a seat on the scarlet bed and stared at her hands, tears dropping on them from time to time.

How could I ever think they'd take me as one of them? I should've learned my lesson after these ten years of slavery – nobody is going to look at us, humans, with benevolence in this cruel world. Even back on Earth when we thought we were alone in the world, we did not treat each other graciously. We had atomic wars, biological explosions, and took so many lives! Come to think of it, we did deserve such fate for all those atrocities we have done. Just five world wars are enough of a disaster to annihilate us for!

The door creaked and Baxus called out:

"Violet?"

"What do you want?"

"I... I am sorry for all that has happened. I did not know Captain Sinbad was planning this sort of a thing. I'd surely have blown him up if I had known."

"How am I to believe you? Is there anybody I can even believe in this world?"

"Do I look like a liar? You are a human and my blood kin. I would never deceive you even if I were such a foxy bastard."

"I am sorry, Baxus. It is just, I believed him so wholeheartedly! I thought he was kind... His touch was always so warm, and the energy that surged around him..."

"All Herminoids had that kind of energy. They were foxy bastards and that is why they've gone off the face of the universe." Baxus embraced her in his sturdy arms. "Don't worry. I am actually relieved he has left you here. I was more concerned about your remaining in his hands once my duty with him was over and I was to be brought back here. I am glad you've stayed with me and Zehu. You are in good hands."

"Good hands? That emperor was so creepy, and I am his slave!"

"Don't worry. I think Young Captain shall take better care of you than Sinbad ever would."

"How come? He looks even creepier than Sinbad, his voice is more frightening, and his legends too, are even bloodier!"

"It's because he is my best friend since early ages, Zehu's best friend too, and... he's quite an extraordinary fellow."

"You said Sinbad was harmless too."

"I never said that. I warned you to be wary of him, yet you still dared approach him. Even Zehu told you to keep your distance with that man. As for Young Captain... Well, you'll assess on your own – he actually wanted to see you."

"I don't want to see him. I'm fed up with being a slave!"

"You are sitting in his room, though. The guy is coming to have some rest. Anyway, he'll soon be here. I have to go and help Zehu."

"Huh? Wait, don't_"

But, as always, Baxus had already closed the door behind, with a sly chuckle as if happy to tease her.

"Ugh, you always do that on purpose!"

Violet remained alone in the room. Even though it was sumptuous and well-decorated, it still gave her rather shudders than relief. Embraced by solitude and a cold breeze entering from a little window, she wrapped her arms around her body as her teeth began to chatter. Sadness pressed upon her heart again – sadness and pain for losing her freedom yet once more... the freedom that was illusional, to begin with. She tried hard to suppress her inner anguish, wiping the tears off one by one as they fell.

I feel so lonely and cold... Why is there no one to help me? Anyone... Baxus...

The door creaked.

"B... Baxus, you're back?"

She bit her tongue – the emperor had entered.