Astri led the group down the path until they reached the entrance of a cavern. There was a long hall-like path that had lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The Dvergr all followed them inside, but kept their distance so that they wouldn't spook their guests. Astri decided to ask some questions to break the awkward silence as they walked. "So, how'd the four of you end up traveling the stars together? And what are your names? Only Harrison introduced himself while we were still aboard the ship."

Harrison spoke up first since the journey started with he and Kir. "I was an archaeologist turned superhero after discovering the Enforcer bracelet in a dig on Earth. My country's government asked for my help with Kir, but instead I helped her escape after realizing they've been keeping her prisoner. We escaped using her old ship, but they did a number on it so we needed a new one. We went to the nearest outpost. We split up after selling the ship. Kir went to find us a ship and ended up finding our pilot as well, but I'll let them explain more about how that went down. Then----"

Lyris cut Harrison off as he was getting to how they met. "Then I saw this guy and thought he was an easy mark and a fake Enforcer. I'm Lyris by the way. He was selling Kir's slave bands and wanted to buy her the most beautiful bracelet I've ever seen to replace them. I knew that he wouldn't be able to without blowing his cover so I stole them for him."

"While also trying to steal my money," Harrison added.

"I wasn't really going to steal his money." Lyris corrected. "It was all part of my plan to join him and Kir. We met up with them at the ship that you forced us to land and the rest is history." 

Astri nodded as she listened to them all. They were freshly drawn together, but still this close and dedicated to each other. They were definitely outgunned and unprepared, but they had the makings of a force that wouldn't be broken or separated by anyone or anything. Not even the Empire. "An interesting bunch indeed." She said, still chewing on her candy cigar.

Harrison had a question himself. "You said the pirate that you work with is a human. Who are they and how'd they get up here?"

Astri stopped for a second and turned around to face them. "As much as I'd love to tell you, I can't. It's not my story to tell. But I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough."

Harrison started to do the math in his head. "Wait. He's still alive?"

"Oh, yeah. Not even time can kill that cockroach." She answered before turning around and continuing down the path. 

There was light up ahead showing that their destination was close. Astri stopped when she reached an edge that revealed an entire civilization within the main chamber of the cavern. It was as large and as intricate as a metropolitan city. Buildings hung upside down like stalactites. There were Dvergr walking on air with anti-gravity boots. There was a river at the bottom that spread throughout the chamber's floor with buildings, trees, and other flora all around it. "Welcome to the real Niðavellir." She said with a smile before pressing her fingers against the tunnel's wall in a certain pattern. Stairs of stone protruded from the wall beneath them giving them a way to walk down to the base of the chamber.