Amber and Jade exchanged a look at each other and grinned. "I guess now is a good time to test it out," Amber agreed with a laugh.
With each hop of the symbiot, Gallad, Polk, and Hobbins quickened their pace through the narrow corridors, their anticipation building. Gallad rubbed his hands together. Thoughts of his credits flooded his mind, conjuring visions of luxurious vacations and extravagant purchases. He would buy a massive freighter, its steel hull would gleam in the starlight, and he'd eagerly take on a multitude of lucrative jobs. He was even open to the idea of taking on another job for his sister, as long as she didn't try to deceive him and withhold his rightful earnings.
"Right this way, fellas," Gallad murmured, glancing back at his accomplices. "We'll get the device, and then we'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams."
As the symbiot came to a stop, the three men stumbled into one another. The clumsy movement was a pretty bad mistake, but even so, the men immediately attempted to conceal their pursuit. Hobbins turned in a swift motion and forcefully stuffed his hands into his pockets. Pretending to clean something off his boot, Polk leaned against the wall, his eyes focused on the scuffed surface. Gallad acted like he was searching for something on the floor.
The symbiot's sensitive nose twitched back and forth, picking up the tantalizing scent of something intriguing, before it disappeared through a doorway. The men grinned and followed the creature through the open door, eager to see what lay beyond.
When the door closed behind them, Hobbins let out a string of curses. Gallad's four eyes swept over the room, capturing the vibrant colors and intricate foliage. Only after he noticed the luminous flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges did he realize they had entered a hologram room that resembled a garden. His eyes narrowed in suspicion when three kids—two teenage girls and a young boy—stepped out from behind a large plant.
"Where is it?" Gallad demanded.
"What? This?" the girl wearing a dark pink top asked as she held up the device Gallad had stolen earlier.
He took a step forward and curled both of his lips. "Give it to me, keep your mouth shut, and maybe you'll live," he snarled.
The girl tsked and looked at the girl beside her. "Did he just threaten us?"
The girl in red grinned. "Yeah, I think he did."
"He obviously doesn't know who he's dealing with," the boy scoffed.
Gallad's eyes narrowed, fixating on the boy who clutched a mysterious box. He felt a sense of unease as he observed the amused expressions on the children's faces. The unexpected reaction caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless. Most of the street urchins he encountered on the spaceports ran in the opposite direction when they saw him coming. He sneered with both sets of lips, revealing his contempt.
"Give me the device," he said, his voice dropping lower and more menacing.
The girl in pink shook her head. "I don't think so."
He glanced over his shoulders and jerked his head at both Polk and Hobbins. "Get them."
Polk and Hobbins nodded in agreement and took a confident step forward. They had only taken a handful of steps when the girl in red lifted her hand and pointed a peculiar device at them that resembled a box with a round disk. Just as he was about to speak, a powerful blast struck him in the chest, causing him to lose his breath. With a sudden jolt, he felt himself floating, and his eyes widened with panic. As he floated off the floor of the ship, his arms swung like spinning wheels, desperately trying to maintain balance.
"Wha–what's happening?" Gallad cried, his two heads swiveling in confusion as he flailed his arms helplessly.
"I can't swim through air!" Polk exclaimed, his feet kicking at the air.
"Wait, I weigh more than a ton!" Hobbins shouted, his legs dangling uselessly beneath him.
Amber giggled. "That should slow them down. Now, James! Hit them with your Spider Blaster 5000!"
James eagerly nodded and knelt. He carefully opened the lid to the box, unleashing a swarm of tiny mechanical spiders. Dozens of silver spiders with glowing red eyes scurried across the floor, their tiny legs making a clicking sound as they hurried towards the walls. Gallad's eyes darted frantically from one creature to another, his panic intensifying.
"Create a net," James instructed.
The spiders skillfully spun their sticky webs, capturing the floating men in a tight bind. In a matter of seconds, a fine webbing enveloped him, Polk, and Hobbins, making it difficult to move. The steely threads had them locked in place, suspended nearly five feet above the ground.
Gallad, now helplessly cocooned in the spider webs, growled in frustration. "We were so close! You'll pay for this, you little pests!"
"Oh, I don't think so," Jade said with a smirk, holding up the vidcom that was linked to their parents. "I'm pretty sure my dad's going to take care of you when he finds out you were trying to steal Mom's new bubble painter."
"Bubble painter?" Polk echoed in disbelief. "That's the secret weapon? Are you serious?"
Jade nodded. "It's for the amusement park, but you won't get to see it."
Gallad groaned while Hobbins and Polk cursed. Their anger filled the room as they remained suspended, swaying like helpless marionettes. Listening to the threats pouring out of his companions' mouths, Gallad was thankful they couldn't reach him. Hobbins was really trying.
When the door suddenly slid open, he twisted his heads as far as he could, trying to see who was entering. Trelon Reykill stormed through the opening. Gallad swallowed nervously. The Valdier prince skillfully dodged the silky strands, causing a grimace to form on the trapped men's faces. Rushing in behind the prince, the petite woman was saved from running straight into the trap by his timely intervention. Stepping to the side, they straightened and shared an amused gaze as they looked up at Gallad and his companions.
