Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 176: Sis Marvel Is Mine

Chapter 176: Sis Marvel Is Mine

Somewhere in the endless void of space, Liliana stood beside the chair. She held her head down, feeling the sharp sting of Blackheart’s taunting laughter echoing in her mind.

"Turns out you people are just like us," he scoffed.

The voice in the phone didn’t seem pleased with the comment. "You can have her; I just wanna see the dead body..."

"I get it, I get it... keep the civilians out of this, right? Easy." Blackheart scratched at his ear, cutting off the communication with a flick. Then he lounged back in the chair, casually pulling Liliana onto his lap. "Did you catch that?"

"Daddy, those people are sketchy. What if it’s a setup?" she expressed her doubts.

He tightened his grip on her chin, his fingers almost digging into her skin.

"Listen up, Sis Marv is mine!" Blackheart licked her ear, his voice dripping with possessiveness. "I’m not settling for just you. Push those thoughts aside, got it?"

Frustration sparkled in Liliana’s eyes. Leaning against him, she softly replied, "I get it. I’ll help you find her." But the real concern nagged at her—would Lyra really bow to him?

A sly smile played on Liliana’s lips, hidden from Blackheart’s view.

...

To Lyra, any problem that could be tackled with brute force wasn’t a real problem. But after Captain Baird figured out the gap in their power dynamics, he decided to lean into his authority and wield it like a weapon.

He slapped punitive laps on her for not hitting the mark during drills. Then he forced her to scrub the toilets and clean the dining areas, grasping at any excuse he could muster.

Even though robots usually handled those chores, he insisted she do it herself, which only ruffled the automated helpers’ circuits.

Whispers circulated about his motives, and Kail even squared off with Baird, but that didn’t change the fact that Lyra was in his crosshairs.

She flat-out refused help from Thierry and the others, saying, "You’re interning; just do it right."

While he targeted her, Baird still managed to train the other interns well.

Zinnia, worried for Lyra, chimed in, "But he won’t even let you on a mission!"

Space pirates were lurking, patrols scouring nearby human settlements, and some remote towns remained under tight security.

Interns typically teamed up with veterans after a short adjustment period, while those sent out for reconnaissance had already traveled far across Demetra’s hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Lyra hadn’t even stepped off the military base. After a quick sweep under the watchful gaze of the robots, she carefully placed the vacuum out of reach, making sure it wouldn’t be mistaken for trash.

"I’m gonna grab a bite," she declared.

Zinnia stomped her foot in frustration, while Vikie sighed, "She knows what she’s doing."

And Lyra really did feel no rush. If Ansel planned to confront her, he wouldn’t do it at the base—not in his territory. He was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Then, on the seventh night at Demetra, it seemed that moment had arrived.

In the dead of night, Baird called everyone to a helicopter, declaring they were heading miles away to secure a small town—a vital trading hub for veggie merchants and farmers.

Kail’s Alpha Squad 09 was tagging along.

"Lyra, you and I are on perimeter duty for the market!" Baird ordered.

The outskirts were often the most perilous zones. Lyra shot him a glance but chose silence.

Not too far off, Kail was all ears, brow knitted as he wrapped up personnel assignments and made his way toward the perimeter.

Everyone was suiting up in their uniforms, armed with particle guns. They quickly took their places after getting their hands on the mecha’s Space Buttons.

Before dawn broke, the area was alive with hustle and bustle.

Nearby, vegetable farmers rolled in, unloading truckloads bursting with vibrant greens and colorful produce.

After confirming their identities, they were given the green light to enter.

Soon, the place overflowed with goods ready for market, as merchants arrived in large refrigerated trucks and even spaceships to load up their cargo. The open ground transformed into a lively marketplace, pulsing with energy.

Lyra stood at the edge, observing a lively old lady bartering with a merchant. "No way! A truckload has to be at least a thousand; otherwise, I’ve wasted two months of hard work!" she insisted, glaring. "Look at my back; it’s still aching!"

"Hey, don’t try to pull one over on me! Everyone knows it’s all grown by robots!" the merchant shot back.

Most customers were familiar faces, quickly hammering out deals, while others got into heated arguments, faces flushed with passion.

This vibrant scene was new to Lyra, offering her a glimpse into the colorful tapestry of the world around her.

Thierry and the other interns patrolling nearby sidled over, handing her a large, ripe tomato. "Hey, an old guy gave this to us; it’s super tasty!"

The old lady, overhearing, piped in, "My tomatoes are way better!" She eagerly pulled a few from her truck, handing them over with a grin. "Come on, I know you guys! You were amazing in the ATM... or something... My great-grandson even wants to join your military school!"

The merchant, ready to protest that she had already sold to him, fell silent when he saw the young faces surrounding her.

Zinnia gasped, "You look so young! And you have a great-grandson?"

The gray-haired woman, dressed in work clothes, winked playfully. "My grandson’s just as handsome as these two lads!"

Laughter rippled through the crowd, creating a moment of warmth amid the chaos.

Just then, Baird spotted the group of interns and barked, "What are you all doing? Lyra, get moving!" Though he was unsure why Lyra was given a task today, Baird recalled Ansel’s earlier advice: keep her on her toes.

The laughter faded, and as Lyra prepared to leave, something caught her eye. Suddenly, she shouted, "Into the town!"

Thierry and the others didn’t question her psychokinesis for a second. In unison, they yelled, "Everyone, get into the town!" The crowd started to stir, growing restless.

Baird, clearly frustrated, marched over with clenched fists. "What’s going on here?"

Ignoring him, Lyra’s gaze was fixed on the distant mountains. "They’re coming," she announced, raising her hand.

In an instant, dozens of enormous shields materialized, towering twenty meters high. Those caught up in transactions froze, staring up in stunned silence.

Then a laser beam shot out—

It shattered the shields, casting a crimson glow on the frightened faces in the crowd.

Just then, some gleaming silver metal expanded, deflecting the light waves.

Yet the searing heat made everyone’s hair stand on end.

Lyra’s Schedar took on a spherical shape, revealing a fan-shaped melted area on the ground before the crowd.

Baird’s expression hardened as he leaped into the mecha, amplifying his voice to bellow, "Everyone, get into the town now!"

Even the slowest person could sense the chaos erupting. People scrambled toward the town, some tripping and falling, getting trampled in the frenzy.

Baird quickly organized the teams. "Groups Eleven to Twenty, maintain order! Groups One to Ten, hold the rear!"

He turned to the interns, "Everyone but Lyra, head back!"