United, the eight Starganauts formed a defensive wall in front of the Vexadorian soldiers. The soldiers’ electrashields hummed, the sound of energy barriers between metal frames filling the air. The Guardsmen looked as nervous as Valora felt. Her teammates always seemed calmer than her. Battle. It shook her to the core, making all else fall away. She took a deep breath. Before her, a group of individuals unlike any other emerged from between parting ranks of enemy troops, causing her heart to skip a beat.​

      Face and body paint distinguished them from the common Trylithian warriors. Wild tattoos covered their blue skin between sections of heavy plating, fantastical headdresses crowning their alien brows. Yet their eyes, blazing, riveted Valora to the spot. In unison, they hovered into the space between armies. Drawing their hands downward and together until their palms touched, they faced the Vexadorians across the rubble-strewn square with faces that inspired fear. 

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      “NO!” her husband cried.

      “Plasma waves!” Thunderbane roared.

      She felt a brief moment of terror before the Trylithians shouted words she couldn’t understand. Their arms flew apart and walls of purplish energy hurtled towards her. I trusted You, Lord, Valora thought, in that brief instant before oblivion. Despite my wants, despite this life of sacrifice, I trusted You…and now I’m going to perish. We’re all going to die.

      The world was engulfed in a single color. Combined waves of plasma slammed into Valora like a sledgehammer, searing her armor, tearing her body from the ground. Backward, backward she flew—unable to see anything but purple. Her vision darkened, and she knew this spelled the end.