Teruta was the only planet in orbit around the star called Mau. A private destination, indeed. The star was small and in perfect distance to the massive planet for optimal ultraviolet radiation. Its effects to the faunal growth were visible even well beyond its surface. A reddish hue covered every inch of the landmasses.

A shield surrounded the entire planet, projected from satellites in a checkerboard pattern around the exosphere. The shimmering white of the shielding was barely visible to the naked eye. A costly mistake to someone in a rush to the planet.

The Agkistrodon neared the security checkpoint of Teruta. It was a metal waypoint floating amongst the shielding, like a permanent structure amongst the vacuum of space. Vatra frowned as she watched guards donned in suits and tanks walk out into the path that opened before her, motioning like traffic controllers for her to pull the Agkistrodon into the tunnel.

"I thought we had a clear path to Teruta?" Hisato asked. He'd taken Revna's place when she'd gone to take respite from Vatra and Enyalius.

"I'm sure it's just a typical bag check. Haven't you ever been to somewhere fancy?" Vatra guided the Agkistrodon into the docking bay and landed carefully where she was directed to. As soon as the tail end of the vessel cleared the tunnel, the shielding went up once more.

Before them, out of the other side of the tunnel, Teruta was in clear view. Vatra looked at the blue waters with longing.

Spyro, you better be down there, she thought.

Turning off the controls, Vatra paused for a moment before someone knocked on the boarding ramp. It wasn't the usual demanding sound someone made when they wanted on board. A good sign, maybe.

Vatra stood and walked through to the kitchen. The others were all standing around, looking at her for an explanation.

"Well, let's be on our best behavior. They probably just want to make sure we're not smuggling anything." Vatra cast a look around, eyes landing on all of the gods seconds longer than the others.

"Should we hide things?" Revna offered.

Chuckling, Vatra walked faster to the boarding ramp.

Should we? She thought, her smile fading. It was too late for that.

She lowered the boarding ramp with a confident hand, standing at the top with squared shoulders. The two guards had exchanged their air tanks for tablets.

Not weapons, that's something different, too.

"Boys," Vatra said sweetly.

"You're Cora's friend," one of the men paused, drawing his gaze up Vatra, "but she didn't say your ship was a Corrcon combat vessel. We can't let you onto Teruta without making sure this ship can't even fire a spout of water. I'm also betting you have some weapons on board. Teruta is strictly weapons free. You can have them all back as soon as you depart."

The man drifted his gaze over Vatra's shoulder, green eyes meeting something beyond her. "I'm guessing you have a lot of weapons," he added.

Vatra turned, catching Geb and Enyalius darting back around a corner. 

"No offense, but it will take a while for you to collect all the weapons here," she said with a smile.

"It will go a lot faster if you and your friends help collect all of them." He looked down at the tablet in his hands. "Those that are hidden, too. Our engineer will install the device that will keep your vessel from accessing its weapons. I advise that you don't interfere with him."

The other man started up the boarding ramp, but Vatra held her hands up. "Hold on, uh-"

"My name is Roman, and that's Filip," Roman said, nodding to the engineer as he introduced himself and his companion. "You're welcome to watch Filip install the device if you're worried about him doing something to your ship."

Vatra hesitated. She needed them to get to Teruta, but she didn't want to put the Agkistrodon at risk. How could she trust they weren't spies of Hephaestus? They were human, after all. But so were millions of others scattered throughout the worlds.

Chewing on her lip, Vatra nodded sharply. She turned and followed after Filip. The others had stayed grouped in the kitchen area, and she caught Hisato's gaze. With a sharp gesture of her chin, an unspoken order to watch over the man heading to the cockpit was given. Thankfully, Hisato understood.

Hisato followed behind Filip, the two crowding into the cockpit, while Vatra turned back to the remainder of the group.

"We need to gather up all the weapons and hand them over," Vatra said, setting the volume of their conversation low enough so Filip couldn't overhear them. Though, from her experience, it was impossible to hear anything outside of the cockpit.

"The hell we do," Nat stated. She folded her arms and leaned back on the counter.

"I'm with Judas on this one," Enyalius said. "We give them nothing."

Nat narrowed her eyes at the god, but said nothing to his insult.

"We have to," Vatra sighed out. "Somehow they know about all of our weapons on board, and they won't let us down on Teruta unless we hand them over. That also means if Ares is down there, he doesn't have any weapons either."

"Do you really think they confiscated his rings, though?" Enyalius inquired, wiggling his fingers for added effect.

"Godkiller or not, all of us together could take Ares on if that's all he's armed with," Vatra said.

A round of groans and uncertain grumbles passed around the group.

"I'm not so sure," Fulgora commented. "Ares has always been pretty scary."

"We need information, at least. C'mon, why is everyone so chicken shit about being without a weapon for just a little while?" Vatra spread her arms out beside her. "And the security of this place should tell you that we'll be safe without them."

Geb pointed a finger at her. "Don't say things like that. Something always goes wrong when someone says something like that."

"I agree," Set added. "Their security means nothing. If Hephaestus shows up with his army, their weapons will make quick work of this planet's defenses."

"Your judgment is clouded right now," Enyalius mumbled to Vatra.

Vatra snapped her head around to him, crinkling her nose so hard she felt the skin burn between her eyes. "If it is, I'll pay for my mistake."

"Not if we all die," Enyalius said, though his tone changed. "But, what fun would a vacation be without a little danger, right? C'mon, the phoenix is right. Why are we all being chicken shits because we're scared to give up our weapons? I say let's get down there, and enjoy a little time on the beach." He looked at Vatra with a half-cocked smile.

Thank you, she thought. But she didn't say it aloud. Instead, she gave the god a small nod.

"Fine," Geb said. He pulled the spear from his back and set it down on the counter. "I won't be the god that was afraid to get my toes wet. If the captain orders it, we'll go."

"It's risky," Set warned.

"What isn't?" Vatra slipped out her godkillers from their sheaths at her back and set them down beside Geb's spear. "I wouldn't put you all in danger, you know."

There was an instantaneous and equal look of wry amusement at her statement. Revna even stifled a laugh.

"I'm taking you all on a damn vacation to Teruta, all right? Gods, you're all so ungrateful. All I ask is you keep your ear to the ground about Ares and Spyro, okay? And don't be stingy about your weapons. Everything on this counter." Vatra slapped her hand to the countertop before walking over to the hidden compartment full of weapons.

As she gathered the firearms and array of knives, Vatra couldn't help but think about how her wishes for a fearsome crew had finally come to fruition. A crew she could trust with her life. One where she could be without weapons and not feel defenseless.

This is the crew the Agkistrodon needed, Vatra thought. The one I always had Spy conjure up.