Chapter 101: Drama In Astro

So many civilized sections were spread all across ASTRO—five, to be exact. Each and every one of them was distinct from the others in every possible way, designed and built to serve the purpose it existed for.

There was the agriculture sector. It was made up mostly of trees, their fruits later harvested for the citizens to use. It also served as refuge for livestock—cows, goats, pigs… pretty weird animals for demons to like eating, but they were all kept for the sole purpose of providing meat to demonkind.

This was the area Captain Fiona and Cool Joe had coincidentally landed in after the portal went unstable and collapsed into pieces.

Then there was the modern side, where all the houses were located. Demons living in peace and harmony, without any fear of having to hide themselves—or what they were—from the outside world. It was like heaven… if heaven had been built entirely for demons.

The third was the military district. Even though it had so many bases and was strategically divided, it had been designed to cover and monitor pretty much everything that happened across ASTRO.

And the fourth was the desert grounds, where Jamie had fought Lieutenant Damion earlier before taking off for his training. It was a mountain-covered land swiftly created for the training of demons who wished to become stronger. Yes, the military only consisted of demons who were ready to give their lives for the protection of their kind. A strange thing for those in power to encourage, especially when their race was going extinct at such a terrifying rate. They should have needed every able hand on deck, the same way most human nations do when war comes knocking.

But demons had a different approach to war. One that involved very questionable decisions… like this one.

The fifth part was pretty much a secret—somewhere not even demons were allowed to go. A truth kept hidden from everyone, including Jamie himself. Every strong nation had a secret it would rather die with than reveal, and when it came to the demons… this seemed to be theirs.

…..

In the military side of the city, on top of one of the skyscrapers that housed the military base, right on a helicopter pad, a gateway appeared.

It stood wide open, glowing with a bright white light that spilled out from its frame like the kind of heavenly doorway often shown in Christian movies.

After going through the portal back on Earth, the female scientist had entered the coordinates that would send them to ASTRO—specifically to one of the military bases. They were returning from a military operation, after all, so they needed to report to the lieutenant on how everything had gone.

And by everything… they meant everything.

From the problems they faced, to the allies they had somehow managed to make along the way. The report demanded every detail they had seen, heard, and survived during the journey. A massive amount of information for anyone to take in, but when your entire nation stood on the edge of destruction, there was no such thing as being too informed.

The first leg came out of the portal, the foot stepping onto the base with a soft tap.

Whoever it was had a lab coat on, so it was safe to assume it was either the male or female scientist.

And when the figure finally emerged fully, it was confirmed to be the female scientist—the technological mind behind the entire operation.

The demon soldiers standing near the gateway smiled with anticipation, like husbands waiting for their wives to step off a plane so life could finally begin again after months apart. They looked disciplined. Their uniforms resembled those worn by many armies on Earth, but theirs were white with golden patterns running across them, adding an almost regal feel to the overall look.

Then, after a few seconds, all of the required people finally came through the gateway, with Sandra being the last one out before the portal vanished behind her.

The soldiers’ eyes widened.

For a split second, they lost their composure.

Shock flashed across their faces so openly it almost betrayed them. It was the kind of reaction that would make anyone question who exactly they had been waiting to see all along. But with practiced haste, they snapped back into attention as if nothing had happened.

Many of the soldiers had already heard the report beforehand—from the other demons who had encountered Sandra back in the world of the living.

So what remained now… was seeing her with their own eyes.

“No matter what happens, don’t talk to anyone until we arrive at the Commander’s office.”

Kasa whispered to Sandra, his voice so low and calm that even those standing right beside them couldn’t make out what he was saying. All they heard was a faint murmur, enough to show that some kind of conversation was happening.

And just like that, they began their march inside the building.

Their faces were held high, expressions serious and unreadable, clearly showing that none of them had any interest in engaging in conversation with anyone they met—no matter how important the reason might be.

Every soldier they passed along the way saluted them as they moved forward, giving them the respect they had earned after carrying out a mission that had lasted years.

The walls inside the building looked less like a military base and more like the interior of some expensive accounting company. But as long as the work got done properly, what did appearances really matter?

But just when it seemed like the surprises were finally over, they stepped into a wide corridor…

And Sandra saw someone she never, ever expected to see in a place like this.

Walking in the opposite direction.

The captain of the Blue Jaguars.

His hands were cuffed with what looked like magical restraints, glowing lights built into their very structure.

How…?

When?

How did he arrive here?

As they passed each other, their eyes locked.

Focused. Sharp. Heavy.

To anyone observant enough to catch it, it became instantly obvious that the two of them knew each other. But both groups were moving too fast, and both sides looked far too occupied for anyone to stop and ask questions—or investigate.

So Sandra kept walking.

But doubt had already entered her mind.

And deeper than that… in her gut, another feeling stirred. One that told her that no matter what happened, the truth would reveal itself sooner or later.

The group of four kept walking until they finally arrived at a wide waiting room.

It had everything a person in waiting could ever need. Large, comfortable chairs surrounded half the room, built for long hours of sitting without discomfort. Snack and cold drink machines were scattered neatly around the place, positioned in a way that made them easy to reach if the need ever arose.

Now that they had finally arrived where they needed to be, there was nothing left to do but relax and wait for the Commander to be notified of their arrival.

So that was exactly what everyone in the room did.

And for a few brief seconds, everyone’s heart felt cool and still… almost like they were on vacation.

“How do you think Jamie is doing?”

Sandra broke the silence as everyone leaned back into the chairs, using every bit of their comfort to the absolute limit.

No one replied for a few seconds.

For some reason, they all looked nervous—like they were the ones still carrying out the mission.

But Kasa eventually gathered enough courage and answered.

“He’s doing great. Don’t bother yourself with him.”

“Besides, we have to worry about ourselves. We have a report to give to the Commander… she is so hard to please. Gives me chills just thinking about her.”

The female scientist whined, concern clouding her face like a student who still hadn’t submitted her research even though the deadline had already passed.

The male scientist’s mouth moved a little, preparing to throw his own opinion into the conversation with his usual small voice.

“It is because of her unpleasant behavior that she always brings out good results in everything she does.”

“Butt kisser. Why do you always have to go against what I have to say?”

The female scientist had a point.

If she criticized anything, he always found some way to twist her words into something positive—like he was some kind of lawyer desperately trying to defend his client.

Suddenly—

Clack.

The door opened.

And through it stepped a woman.

She wore a black shirt with red buttons and a tight black skirt to match. On top of her head sat a red-and-black hat that completed the look so well it almost made her resemble an airplane attendant.

“The Commander sent me to inform you that she does not wish to speak to all of you at this time,” she said.

Her eyes then shifted.

Landing directly on Sandra.

“But only one… and that one person is you, Sandra.”

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