Lu Shan returned to Shan immediately after the hostage crisis.
Leia was true to her word.
Her chambers in the palace stood empty—silent, untouched, almost hollow.
Her starship was gone from the Spaceport.
Her presence… erased.
In the dark cold of space, far from Shan, Leia Shan stared at her home one last time.
The planet glowed like a jewel in the void.
A single tear slid down her cheek—a rare display of emotion from a woman who always hid her heart behind steel.
She turned away.
In the cockpit, she initiated warp travel.
A ten-second countdown began.
As the numbers ticked down, flashes of Shan filled her mind:
Her childhood.
Her training.
Her father's harsh lessons.
Her mother's warmth.
Her little brother laughing.
Her throne that never became hers.
10… 9… 8…
Then her ship burst into light and vanished from the Crimson Galaxy—gone into the endless cold of the Universe.
---
Lu Shan Addresses His People
That night, Lu Shan stood before a camera, his message broadcast into every home and displayed as a hologram across the sky.
"Citizens of Shan, we are living in difficult times," Lu declared.
"But I remain committed to peace with our neighbours."
His voice shook slightly—not from fear, but from truth.
"Unfortunately… not everyone shares my vision. This includes my own sister and former Commander of our army."
Gasps echoed across the planet.
"As a result, Leia has resigned from our military… and has left Shan."
Silence fell. Even the neon lights seemed to dim.
The citizens respected Lu, but Leia was their strongest warrior. Her absence left a hole in the planet's heart. Some believed she represented the old ways—Lu Ghan's brutal glory. Others believed she did what was necessary when peace failed.
Shan was divided.
---
Beray Brings Dangerous Ideas
Later, Beray met Lu privately, his two black-armoured guards watching from a distance.
"My lord," Beray said quietly, "Leia activated warp travel. There is no trace of her in the Crimson Galaxy."
Lu forced a neutral expression.
"She made her choice. All I can do now… is move forward."
"Exactly," Beray said brightly. "And on that note—allow me to mass-produce the Zotan Mark I to serve as our army. Until you appoint a new commander."
Lu blinked. "Beray… Rukan is not improving, I know. But what do you propose I do?"
"We need a deterrent," Beray said plainly.
"The Zotans will serve as that deterrent."
"I don't want war, Beray."
"And there won't be. The Zotans look terrifying… but they're not as powerful as people believe."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Since I deployed them on Rukan, there have been no attacks on my projects."
Lu's chest tightened with discomfort.
Intimidation… as peace?
"Yes, but using fear to uphold peace isn't right. It isn't sustainable."
Beray nodded, though his expression hid frustration.
"I understand, my lord. I only hope you're right."
He left Lu alone to wrestle with the decisions crushing him.
---
A Night Out — And A Public Humiliation
The next evening, Beray tried to help Lu forget his burdens.
"My lord, let's go into town. Have a drink," Beray suggested.
"I can't. I'm the ruler—my father would—"
"You are not your father," Beray insisted. "You are you."
Lu hesitated… then agreed.
They took a CyberShuttle escorted by four palace guards. When they landed, the crowd erupted.
"MY LORD!"
"IT'S EMPEROR SHAN!"
Lu gave a shy smile, waving softly—still unused to public affection.
Inside the bar, every young woman stared at him like he was made of starlight.
He had no personal life since becoming ruler.
No friends left.
No lovers.
No time.
This attention felt strange… but comforting.
Beray brought them to VIP and ordered bottles.
"Beray, I don't even recognise you right now," Lu laughed.
"Have you been living a secret life?"
Beray smirked. "All work and no play destroys a man."
Two young women lingered near them. Beray beckoned them forward.
"I'm Raya, 22!"
"I'm Azula, 21!"
"Lu, my lord… you're so cute," Raya said, leaning in.
"Yeah, he's blazon-hot," Azula giggled.
Lu blushed and scratched his head nervously.
Beray excused himself to check on an issue at the lab.
Lu stood to leave but Beray insisted:
"No, stay. Enjoy yourself. You deserve one night."
Lu reluctantly agreed.
Until—
A man shouted across the bar:
"YOU DISGRACE! Drinking with women while we prepare for war?!"
Others joined in, heckling him.
Lu's guards reacted instantly, gripping their weapons.
The shame hit him like a bullet.
He apologised to the women.
Then to the crowd.
Then left the bar, cheeks burning.
That night he lay awake, guilty for enjoying one hour of normal life.
He swore never to indulge again.
Shan would come first.
Always.
---
The Second Attack — And Rukan Trembles
Days later, Lu arranged an official peace meeting with Allister Spark.
But a fire near the palace delayed his departure.
He authorised ten senior officials to go ahead and represent him.
Minutes after their ship reached Rukan—
It was shot down.
All ten officials killed.
Shan erupted into chaos.
The people demanded justice.
They demanded retaliation.
They demanded war.
Lu Shan couldn't calm them anymore.
At his request, Beray constructed 200,000 Zotan MK1 robots in 24 hours.
The army launched toward Rukan, dodging missiles effortlessly.
They landed and occupied key areas, standing motionless like metal statues of death.
Then Lu Shan and Beray arrived in Evergreen—the capital of Rukan.
Allister burst from his home, rain soaking his robe.
"THIS IS MADNESS!" he shouted.
"YOU caused this," Lu yelled back.
"Two terrorist attacks on Shan citizens—and now you shoot down a convoy of my generals!"
"Lu… I didn't do it. We didn't do ANY of it!"
Allister pleaded.
"I've known you since you were a child. You know this is not us!"
Rain poured like mourning tears from the sky.
Lu hesitated—torn between facts and the man he trusted.
"DO YOU SURRENDER?" Lu demanded.
Allister lowered his head, rain hiding his face.
"Spare my people… and I will surrender."
Lu ordered his guards to arrest him.
Most Rukan guards surrendered.
But twenty-four charged.
Beray tapped his glasses.
The Zotans attacked instantly.
Blades.
Lasers.
Screams.
All twenty-four Rukan guards died in seconds.
Allister heard it all from inside the ship—crying silently.
Lu stared into a rain puddle.
His reflection blurred…
and for a moment, he saw his father staring back.
Was he becoming the tyrant he feared?
"Let's go," Lu said hollowly.
"We should leave."
Beray nodded.
"But my lord… until we form a clear plan for Rukan, the Zotans must remain. The people will be furious. Intimidation is our only option."
Lu nodded weakly, deaf to most of Beray's words.
He sat in his ship, drenched and empty—knowing today changed everything.
Peace was gone.
Trust was gone.
And the boy who never wanted to rule…
…was slowly becoming the man he swore he'd not become.