---

The bridge of the Titans Pillar was awash with a soft, ambient glow as the colossal spacecraft emerged from the Celestial Gate, the hum of its engines fading into a gentle purr. The holographic displays flickered to life, revealing the breathtaking sight of Sönder.

Sönder was a system in chaos, yet there was a strange beauty to it. The three habitable inner worlds, once a harmonious trio, were now sundered, each half spinning away from the other, held in place by the gravitational embrace of the central star and the spacetime warping catasrophe that caused their sundering. The resulting six states were a patchwork of colors, each distinct yet interconnected by the delicate dance of gravity and momentum.

The once-pristine blue oceans had been split, their waters churning and frothing as they struggled to find their new equilibrium.

The atmosphere was a swirling maelstrom of colors, the result of the catastrophic event that had torn the worlds apart. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was a fragile beauty: the dance of the broken worlds, the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky, and the delicate balance that kept them from spiraling into oblivion.

Captain Carter stood at the helm, his eyes scanning the holographic displays with a practiced ease. He had seen many wonders in his years of service, but Sönder was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

A soft, white gloved hand rested on his shoulder, startling him. His gaze shifted to the side, meeting Nova's deep, unfathomable black eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the holographic display, her expression a mix of awe and sadness.

"It's... beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the bridge. "But so tragic."

Nigel nodded, his voice steady despite the lump forming in his throat. "It is: A tragic reminder of the price of power."

Nova's gaze flicked to him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Power is worth the price. It just has to be weald by the one who paid it," she replied, her voice steady.

Nigel raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her response. "Is that so? And who, according to you, paid the price for this power?" he asked.

Nova hesitated, her gaze once again flicking to the holographic display. "I..." she began but was interrupted by Lucas' urgent voice, "Captain, we're being hailed by someone from the surface. It's High Governor Atlas of Sönder."

Nigel frowned, surprised by the sudden contact. "Put him through, Grayson."

The holographic display flickered, and the image of Sönder gave way to the rugged visage of High Governor Atlas. His flowing blonde hair and dark beard were unkempt, framing a face that bore the lines of age and hard living. His eyes, however, were sharp and piercing, holding a keen intelligence that belied his common appearance.

"Captain Carter," he began, his voice a deep rumble, "I trust your journey here was uneventful?"

Nigel nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, old friend, The Titans Pillar has made the journey without incident."

"That is an interesting way to put it, Captain," Atlas replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "A battle with Tribold Pirates, ending with the destruction of the Lupus along with her captain and entire crew counts as uneventful to you now?" Atlas's voice, though still deep, held a note of sarcasm.

Nigel sighed, "You know what I meant, Atlas. We handled the situation, and that's what matters."

Atlas chuckled, "Indeed, you did. I must admit, I'm impressed. You've gathered quite the crew since we last met. I've heard whispers of your new engineer, Nova. Remarkable, they say."

Nova, who had been quietly observing the exchange, shifted slightly at the mention of her name. Nigel glanced at her, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Indeed, she is. But then again, you know better than most that whispers can be deceiving, Atlas."

Atlas's expression turned serious, his gaze never leaving Nigel's. "Indeed, I do. Which is why I wanted to invite you and your crew to the Arena. You've come at an opportune time, all the governors will be in attendance, so it would be the perfect audience for Tatyana to defend her title. And of course, the perfect opportunity for a private, but safely in the open, conversation between... old friends." he added, his gaze flicking briefly to Nova before returning to Nigel.

"How can I refuse such a gracious invitation?" Nigel replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "We'll be there with bells on."

Atlas chuckled, "I look forward to it, old friend. Until then, safe travels." The holographic display flickered, and Atlas's image disappeared, replaced once again by the stunning view of Sönder.

Nova turned to Nigel, her brow furrowed in thought. "The Arena? Is that a place of combat?"

Nigel nodded, "Indeed, it is. A gladiatorial arena, to be precise. It's a tradition here on Sönder. But you'll see soon enough, it is not as barbaric as it sounds." he said, his blue eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Lucas, you'll see large ports on the largest, central planetary piece. Pull us into there. They'll dock and lock the Titans Pillar, and we can all disembark." Nigel ordered, his eyes still fixed on the holographic display, watching as their massive ship glided towards the designated port.

---

Nova stood at the observation deck, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the sight of Sönder's surface. The planet was a patchwork of colors, each half of the once-united worlds now a distinct entity yet connected by the delicate dance of gravity and momentum. She could see the other governors' ships, smaller and sleeker than the Titans Pillar, already docked at the central port.

The Arena itself was a colossal structure, its walls carved from the very rock of the planet, stretching high into the sky. It was a testament to the power and wealth of Sönder, a symbol of the governors' might.

Nova felt a shiver run down her spine as she imagined the battles that had taken place within those walls.

Doctor Orlova approached her, her eyes reflecting the same awe Nova felt.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've seen many wonders in my time, but Sönder's Arena... it's something else."

Nova nodded, her gaze still fixed on the colossal structure. "It's... intimidating. But also, somehow, beautiful."

Orlova smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's a good way to put it. It's a testament to the power and resilience of this planet. Now, let's get ready to dock. The others will be waiting for us," Orlova said, turning towards the exit. Nova followed, her mind still racing with thoughts of the Arena and the governors who ruled Sönder.

---

In the cargo hold, Tatyana was helping Lucas secure the Celestial Engine's components. Her tail swished behind her, knocking over a crate in the process. She cursed under her breath, her deep blue eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Careful, Bosun," Lucas teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Wouldn't want your tail causing any more trouble than it already does."

Tatyana shot him a playful glare, her tail swishing dangerously close to him. "Keep pushing it, Chair Jockey, and I'll show you just how much trouble my tail can cause." she threatened with a smile, as the tip of her tail glided softly down his snout.

Lucas held up his hands in surrender, laughing. "I believe you; I believe you. No need to demonstrate."

Bella entered the cargo hold, her eyes scanning the organized chaos. "Ready to disembark?" she asked, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach.

She had heard tales of the Arena, of the gladiators who fought and sometimes died there, and the thought of Tatyana stepping into that arena made her uneasy.

Tatyana turned to her, a confident smile on her face. "Of course, we're ready. Isn't that right, Lucas?" she said, looking at the pilot who was double-checking the engine components.

Lucas looked up, his bright orange eyes meeting Bella's. "Always ready, Tatyana. We've got this," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Bella nodded, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Alright then, let's get ready to disembark." Bella's voice cut through the tension in the cargo hold. She took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for what was to come.

Together, the crew members made their way towards the docking bay, where they met with a contingent of Sönder's guards. The guards wore uniforms in the colors of their respective planetary halves, a stark reminder of the world's fractured state.

Despite the tension, Tatyana greeted them with a warm smile, disarming them with her charm and grace.

"Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Tatyana Carter, Bosun of the Titans Pillar," she said, extending a gloved hand.

The guards exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by her demeanor. The leader, a tall, broad-shouldered man with short red fur and piercing green eyes, stepped forward. "Governor Atlas' personal guard, Commander Kronos," he replied, shaking her hand firmly. "A pleasure to meet you, Bosun Carter. Your reputation precedes you."

Tatyana's smile widened, her tail wrapping around Lucas's waist in a casual, possessive gesture. "I hope it's a good one, Commander."

Kronos chuckled, his eyes flicking to Lucas briefly before returning to Tatyana. "Indeed, it is. Your feats in the Arena are legendary. Governor Atlas is eager to see you defend your title."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably under Tatyana's tail, clearing his throat.

"Ah, the new pilot. And you must be the new First Officer," Commander Kronos said, turning his attention to Bella and Lucas.

"Indeed, they are," Captain Nigel Carter said, placing a firm hand on Bella's shoulder, while knocking his daughter's tail from Lucas. "Am I to infer that we're in for a crew reunion today?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Of a sort," Kronos answered with a grin, then stepping to the side, "But first, I'm to bring you and your crew straight to Governor Atlas. He's eager to welcome you personally."

Nigel nodded, "Lead the way, Commander."

The group followed Kronos through the docking bay, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the vast, cavernous space. The air was cool and damp, carrying a faint scent of ozone and metal. The walls were lined with hulking pieces of machinery, their purpose a mystery to the crew of the Titans Pillar.

As they walked, Chief Engineer Bjorn leaned down to Doctor Orlova, "Memories of the old days, eh, Doc?" he whispered, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Indeed, old friend. It's been too long since we last set foot on Sönder." she said, her gaze taking in the labyrinth of metal that led to the Arena.

Bjorn nodded, his gaze sweeping over the docking bay. "A lot has changed, and yet, so much remains the same."

Nigel, eavesdropping on Bjorn and Orlova, nodded in agreement. "Curses tend to do that." he sighed as they made their way towards fate.