[Starship.]
In the quiet hum of the Starship, Josephine turned her chair around, her eyes settling on Jinx, who was still on the couch.
"So, Jinx, tell me about yourself. Your family," Josephine said, her voice soft and inviting.
Jinx's expression remained flat. "What do you want to know?"
"I don't know, anything at all," Josephine replied, leaning forward slightly.
Jinx's gaze drifted, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes. "I don't have any memories of my parents. The only thing I remember from my childhood is being picked up off the street by my adoptive father, covered in blood. I don't know anything else."
"Who's your adoptive father?" Josephine pressed.
Without a word, Jinx snapped her fingers. A small, intricately carved wolf token appeared in her hand. She tossed it to Josephine, who caught it with practiced ease.
"You know him," Jinx stated simply.
Josephine's eyes widened as she stared at the familiar insignia on the token—her own family's emblem. A gasp escaped her lips.
"Your adoptive father... is he Commander Gamin?!"
"I don't know if that's his real name, but yeah... that's what I called him," Jinx confirmed.
"That... that was seven years ago," Josephine murmured, her mind racing. "And now you're 19... So everything that happened before then, you don't remember?"
Jinx nodded, her voice dropping to a low whisper. "I've tried to remember, but it only injures me more. So I just left it behind. Maybe I'm not destined to know my real parents."
"Injured you? How?" Josephine's confusion was evident.
Jinx glanced at her from the corner of her eye, a long sigh escaping her lips. "Forget it," she said, looking away.
Josephine stared at the token in her hand for a few moments before looking back at Jinx. "Is it related to the Dragon nation?" she asked cautiously.
Jinx's head snapped up, a look of shock and surprise on her face.
"Don't look at me like that," Josephine said, turning her back to Jinx. "The moment we set foot on that planet, you were uncomfortable. Your anger towards Matilda might have distracted you, but I noticed." She looked over her shoulder at Jinx. "Besides, I've always wanted to ask you something else."
Jinx's eyes narrowed.
"Why do you always wear that black cloak?" Josephine asked.
A small chuckle escaped Jinx's lips. "So attentive..." She exhaled slowly. "I've had the cloak forever. Even though it's just a common outfit, I can't seem to let it go."
She looked directly at Josephine:
"As for your other question, I don't know the answer. There's just something in me that doesn't like that planet."
"Okay," Josephine nodded, then opened her mouth to ask another question. "Sorry for all the questions, but when you said you'd die for Ellen, did you mean it?"
"Every single word," Jinx replied without a moment's hesitation.
"And why is that?" Josephine turned to face Jinx fully. "You told me I can't be in love with Sunny because I just knew him. But what about you? I've known Sunny longer than you've known Ellen, tell me if I'm wrong?"
Jinx looked down at her feet, lost in thought. After a few moments, she looked up. "I don't know, there's just something about that girl that drew me to her." She raised her hand, examining it.
"I've always been aloof, minding my own business, not giving a fuck about anyone. But when I saw her, her eyes... I don't know, something rose from within. Especially the moment I saw the scars on her body." She clenched her fist.
"Then she healed my hand, and looking into her eyes, I vowed to always protect her."
"What about now?" Josephine asked calmly.
"Sunny is with her. He trusted me, so I have to trust him," Jinx said, her gaze turning cold as she looked at Josephine.
"But if he comes back without her, I will make sure to kill him. If I can't... I will die trying."
"....!!"
Josephine was stunned. She cleared her throat, looking Jinx dead in the eyes, knowing this Xenon lady wasn't kidding. "I'm sure they're both safe—"
Josephine froze, her eyes fixated on the sight of dark, scaly dragon skin on Jinx's knuckles.
"You... you...?"
Jinx followed Josephine's gaze to her hand. Seeing the black scales, she quickly hid her hand behind her back.
"You... are you a dragon?!" Josephine asked, utterly flabbergasted.
****
"Are you hungry, my little angel?" a beautiful Xenon lady cooed, her face full of a loving smile as she looked down at the baby girl in the crib.
The baby's big purple eyes were fixed on the lady, a happy smile on her face.
"Don't worry, your big sister is out to get something from your father," the woman said with a soft smile. She gently lifted the baby from the crib and held her close.
The blonde-haired baby reached her small hands up, trying to touch the woman's face.
"Always reaching for something," the woman chuckled, lightly touching the baby's nose.
"Nope. Last time you almost sucked the breath right out of me. You need to know how to use your powers, my little Jasmine." She raised her gaze to the two white dragon horns on the baby's head, a hint of worry crossing her face.
"And you should also learn how to hide these," she said, sitting on a wooden chair. "My two girls are blessed with powers that could destroy the galaxy, and with these powers come great dangers." She looked down at Jasmine:
"No matter what happens, both of you must master your powers and learn to hide them. No one can be trusted." She forced a bright smile, trying to hide her worries.
"Jasmine, you have the power to kill, to heal, and even to resurrect the dead with just a touch. Your powers are even more terrifying than your sister's. I know your father and I are selfish, but this is the only way to keep both of you safe."
She looked out the window, her gaze fixed on the clear blue sky. "We have to move to this unknown planet just to hide."
She gave a sad chuckle, stood up, and walked outside. A green, radiant field stretched out before them. In the distance, a young girl, who looked to be around 8 or 10 years old, ran toward them, a bag clutched in her hand.
"Oh... your sister is back," the woman said with a smile.
Jasmine turned her small head to see the blue-skinned girl rushing toward them. She looked exactly like the woman, and the baby wondered why she looked so different.
____
[Back to Sunny.]
"GASP!!!"
Sunny spun around, his eyes landing on Ellen, who had just woken up in shock.
"You're awake!" he exclaimed, walking quickly toward her.