Twenty million kilometres from Earth.

“I can’t believe we weren’t there to help Do’Lânqwa,” Blane huffed, taking his chair next to his siblings in the cockpit of their ship.

“Well we’re going there now. These NASA explorations are really important thought. I think it’s a good thing we can help,” Mindy said.

“But it’s tame by our standards. It’s not often we get to fight and when the time comes…” Blane grunted out of frustration. “I just have pent up energy to expel!”

“Alright there Blane, chill. When we get back we can train it out. Find somewhere deep in space and let loose,” Holt suggested.

“Sure, but that’s just training. I need to let rip.”

“Well… I think you may actually get your chance,” Mindy said pointing out of the cockpit windscreen. The boys looked ahead, seeing for themselves what Mindy had spotted.

“What the frick?” Holt muttered. “Nasa Ambition 4, we have twelve possible bogey ships ahead of us, please hang back while we investigate.”

Mindy gently engaged the boosters to creep up closer on the twelve ships in front of them.

“Have you seen anything like them before?” Holt asked aloud.

“It’s not Earthuu tech,” Mindy said.

“It doesn’t look Alliance either,” Blane added. Just then, four of the twelve ships turned on the spot, doing a one hundred and eighty degree turn to face the siblings.

“What are the chances they’re just lost?” Mindy asked, watching them intently.

“I’m going to go out there and protect Ambition 4,” said Blane. Mindy got up with him.

“I’ll man the ship,” Holt confirmed, nodding to them both and gripping the stick controllers.

“Are we waiting until they fire first?” asked Blane and as he and Mindy came into view in front of their own ship.

“Definitely. We’ve got civilians to protect too,” Holt warned.

***

The standoff that followed felt like it went on for a lot longer than it actually did, and despite Blane’s hunger for full out destruction, the three held out patiently.

It was their acquaintances that gave in first, one of the four jets firing a short burst towards Holt in the jet.

Holt turned it ninety degrees, whilst flicking the wing up to deflect the shot and protect the Nasa ship behind it.

Blane and Mindy did not hesitate and soared towards the jet which shot. The enemies aimed for the two and fired on them, but Mindy and Blane were more dynamic and were smaller targets, managing to weave and dodge what was fired.

Blane and Mindy simultaneously fired their respective energy beams at two of the jets each, slicing through them as they turned their heads to destroy the other one.

Four of the remaining eight turned to face Blane and Mindy. They seemed to be upping the ante as they sprayed larger missiles over a wider area, causing the pair to peel away from each other and somersault backwards to dodge.

Holt watched as two of the jets used this distraction to advance towards him. He levelled his jet out and faced them head on, shooting first at them this time.

They banked from each other, making it harder for Holt to take them both on. They fired at him as they charged from a ten o’clock and two o’clock positions. Holt positioned his jet towards the ten o’clock angle, ascending out of the way but keeping his guns pointed at the target. When the jet blew up, Holt felt another explosion behind him.

“Motherfuckers!” Holt yelled, as he spun the jet around. The second jet had used the advantage of Holt being preoccupied to flank round and fire on the NASA Ambition 4 ship, obliterating it, the crew of six scientists and their research from Mars’ atmosphere.

Holt flashed with anger.

He immediately ejected from his jet and launched himself straight at the responsible attacking ship. He landed feet first on it’s roof, having avoided its missiles.

His fists were clenched and he felt the solar energy he harnessed build up and course to his hands. As the jet violently spun in an attempt to shake him off, Holt smashed both burning fists down.

Upon contact, the heat flooded through him and into the body work of the jet. He screamed out as he pushed through the burning sensation and held on until he could feel the jet beneath him begin to seizure.

Within seconds, it blew up and Holt flew vertically up out of the explosion and debris, surveying to see what his siblings were up to.

He watched and waited as Mindy flew towards him. “Oh my God, what happened to Ambition?” she asked rhetorically.

“Where’s Blane?” Holt asked instead.

“He’s gone after the last one. We took most of them but we also found out what they were doing, which is why Blane’s gone after it. We need to catch up and hope he’s taken it out and get back to Earth.”

Holt just hovered there, staring at where Ambition 4 should have been.

“Are you ok?” she asked him.

“They’re all dead… It shouldn’t have been like this. They had families waiting for them.”

“I know, but if we’re not quick there might be more at stake,” Mindy said sympathetically yet firmly. “Come.”

***

Mindy and Holt eventually caught up with Blane, who had succeeded in destroying the last of the twelve jets seeking to complete it’s mission.

Returning into Earth’s orbit, Mindy initiated contact with Mission Control at the Kennedy Space Centre. “Mission Control, this is The Power of Three. We have lost Ambition 4. I repeat… we have lost Ambition 4. We came across deadly forces who attacked. Expect us to re-enter in six minutes. Can you also tell us where The Astral Sheriff is. We need this urgently, over.”

There was a long pause before an answer came back. “This is Mission Control. We copy you loud and clear. We are devastated to hear about Ambition 4. We will debrief with you, but we will get The Facility to patch you through Do’Lânqwa’s co-ords. Out.”

***

“Prince Luqrit!” called out Mindy, barging through the doors with her brothers following.

“Err, Mindy, we were just-” the Vice President tried to say.

“We just intercepted a squadron of alien aircraft on our way back from Mars,” Mindy continued.

The President turned to look to their visitor. “Prince Luqrit, have you bought others with you?”

“N-no,” he said shifting in his seat.

“He’s telling the truth,” Do’Lânqwa said, able to contribute something since their arrival to this room.

“They weren’t with the Prince, Mr President,” Holt said.

“Are you going to tell them, or are we?” dared Blane, staring at Luqrit with a raised eyebrow.

“Well someone needs to,” the President said sternly. “Were they hostile forces?” he asked the triplets.

“Yeah, I’d say. They blew up Ambition-4,” Holt said angrily.

“Oh sweet Jesus,” the President muttered throwing his hand to his forehead in shock. The Vice President stat back down to collect himself. “I want answers now!” the President demanded furiously. “Because no one is leaving this room until I get them. And The Sheriff will know if you are lying.”

“Okay,” conceded the Prince. “It’s a long story.”

“I don’t give a shit,” Purcell cut in, swearing uncharacteristically.

“Look,” Prince Luqrit started. “You three came across a private firm of bounty hunters. Did they tell you that?” he asked the siblings.

“Yes,” Holt replied bluntly.

He sighed. “Right, of course. Well, see, I wasn’t originally meant to be conducting this assessment on Earthuu. I actually… disposed of… poisoned the official who was meant to, so that I could come in their place instead.”

“And you have bounty hunters after you for that?” Do’Lânqwa asked.

“Oh no. There’s more, isn’t there Luqrit?” Blane cut in.

“Yes. But no, Do’Lânqwa. That isn’t the reason.” He took another deep breath. He appeared to be really struggling with the truth. “My child was part of an arranged marriage as a condition of a trade deal between my nation and another’s on Earthriq. My child was due to marry Rajinadhat Traizai Alamich, daughter of Eminence Faqgret Buttyawan Alamich. Well, the problem being, my child was born Lamfran Bapreem Yodman. My son. But during the course of his young life, he felt more comfortable as a she. So now, my daughter, Jabeetna Malizhar, who I have with me on this trip, clearly cannot uphold the condition of this trade deal and I have come here to… to assess whether this planet is safe enough to leave my daughter on. But it seems that Eminence Faqgret Buttyawan’s bounty hunters were in the right area. Luckily, these three prevented them from getting too close.”

Prince Luqrit looked around the room at his quiet audience, and waited for them to process the information.

“Well, he is not lying,” Do’Lânqwa said first.

“No he’s not,” Blane said. “It matches up with what I was told.”

“So you’re using this official trip as a means to make your assessments for… personal reasons?” Glói asked.

“For my daughter. You have no idea what they would do, what they have already done to coerce this marriage into happening. The fact that she is refusing to, and proclaims to be an alternative gender as the one she was born into makes her a huge target. Her and the rest of my family. I was desperate. Please, you have to understand.”

The President considered this for a moment, and in the meantime no one said anything. “Well, I do understand,” the President said. “But you need to understand… that we’re going to make our own deal now. I’m just speaking for myself here, but I am furious that you put is in some much potential danger coming here under the circumstances that you did. I dread to think what could have happened had The Power of Three not been where they were. It was reckless and selfish and I think you know that. But I am a father myself and I understand the lengths you went to, to protect your child. So, here is our deal. We will let you do what you need to, to make your assessments. I’ll even assign the triplets here as your chaperones in the absence of your team. We will even rehome your daughter-”

The President stopped when he noticed Glói and Purcell express signs of protestation at what they were hearing so far, and how easily it seemed to them that their boss seemed to be giving in.

“But… you will need to return to your council meeting and inform them that Earthuu, we, are not going to join the Alliance. How you spin that, I don’t care. You’ll think of something I’m sure. But in no circumstances are we open to joining an agreement and we want to continue to be left alone, as we have been.”

“Absolutely, yes. I can do th-”

“I’m not finished. You will also need to provide this planet with security, protection against any outside forces who continue to hunt your daughter down.”

“Yes, sure. Ok. If my daughter will be here, I can do that.”

“Ok, excellent. Then we have a deal that will work for everyone.” The President looked around the room, anticipating any protests, but none came. He nodded in satisfaction and sat down.

“Mr President? When do you want us to take Prince Luqrit? And where?” Mindy asked.

“Now will be fine. Sooner we start, the sooner it’s done. Freshen up here if you need and then head out. See all seven continents. Start with North America. Then go to South America, Antarctica and by the time you get to Africa, I’ll have had the CIA draw you up an itinerary for where to go as per the Prince’s other requirements.”

The triplets looked at each other. They hadn’t even been to many places outside of America. London, England. Then Canada and the North Pole…. But Africa? Asia? They’d never been before.

“Ok, we’ll do our best,” Blane declared.

***

“This is much warmer than the White Lands,” Prince Luqrit marvelled, as the group stepped off The Power of Three’s jet and onto the firm, grassy ground. “I definitely prefer it here than where we just were.”

“Welcome to Africa. Apparently we’re in the Savannah,” announced Mindy, reading the information on her tablet. “There’s some pretty cool animals around here. I’ve seen it on nature documentaries.”

The triplets, Prince Luqrit and his daughter, Jabeetna Malizhar, who had joined them looked at their surroundings.

She was your average fifteen year old with shoulder length sacramental green wavy hair. She’s been quiet for most of the tour with the triplets despite Mindy doing her best to strike up conversation. Although, who could blame her? Here she was on a strange planet that her father was going to leave her on, looking around said planet with strangers she had never met.

The sun was setting and the views all around them were breath taking. There was a light warm breeze that made the long grasses sway from side to side.

“Look Blane, giraffes!” exclaimed Mindy, seeing three in the distance. “Can we go and see them before it gets too dark?”

“Yes, but we don’t want to get too close and scare them. Holt, are you happy to stay here?” Blane asked.

“Sure, I’ll stick to seeing my giraffes on the telly then,” he muttered. Holt let Mindy and Blane fly off and turned to Jabeetna who finally displayed something more on her face than the resting bitch face she’d had so far. She looked in awe at Mindy and Blane flying.

“You’re impressed?” he asked her.

“Yeah, I didn’t know. And I didn’t think they’d be allowed to fly here.” Jabeetna had been out of the loop so far since being on Earthuu. She had no idea due to her own inability to be sociable that her tour guides were capable of such things. She also had zero prior knowledge of Earthuu and if they even allowed the Tunmans to use their abilities on a planet that wasn’t theirs.

“Yeah. There are a lot of humans who have what they call enhancements here. My brother and sister and I have our own abilities and we can use ‘em here. But only for good. Use them for bad and you’ll deal with The Enhanced Beings Collective. At least in America. There are groups of good guys all over the world who help fight the bad guys off,” he explained.

She nodded her understanding and smiled.

“Can yo-” Holt started to say, but he saw his siblings fly back with some urgency.

“Please tell us you heard that too?” Mindy asked.

“Heard what?” Holt asked confused. “We’ve just been talking?”

“Oh, she speaks?” Blane asked out loud before thinking.

Holt ignored him. He could tell from their faces that they weren’t messing around, but he wasn’t sure what they were talking about.

“It was like a laugh. But not a fun one,” Mindy said.

“Nor did it sound like a human one,” Blane added looking back. “It was really lou-” The laughing they were talking about rung out for everyone to hear this time.

“Yeah, that’s definitely not human,” Holt whispered, getting goosebumps.

“It’s loud,” Prince Luqrit said. The laughing happened again.

“And closer,” Blane said looking around.

More laughing, and there were more of them making the sound.

“We’re good to go now right?” Mindy asked. “I think I prefer it on the telly.”

The laughs came out again, bit so did a rustling in the long grass, just nearby.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Luqrit decided, talking Jabeetna by the arm and moving back towards the jet.

The rustling sound came from all around them, intensifying in sound and proximity. Mindy took off to get a bird’s eye view.

“Guys, we’re surrounded. There’s no clear route to the jet,” she warned.

“Surrounded? By what?” Holt shouted up.

“D-dog… men?”

“Dog men?” Blane repeated back. “We’ve not seen them on the telly.”

Just then, around fifty walking hyena figures came out from the long grasses, howling and cackling. They prowled menacingly, closing their surrounding circle around them.

Stood at around six and half feet tall, they were essentially spotted hyenas stood on thick hind legs. The fur on their body was shorter than on their legs, neck and head, and Holt thought they looked like just really hairy chested men. Except they were faced with slobbering menacing beasts.

Blane fired a blast of his beam at the feet of two of them nearest him and they jumped back in fright, only to regain composure again after.

“Do you hear that?” Jabeetna asked, whimpering.

“Not over all this laughing I can’t,” her father called out.

“Yes, I do,” Mindy said from her position up high. “It’s like music. Drumming.”

The hyena men must’ve heard it too because they charged at the group they had surrounded.

Prince Luqrit grabbed his daughter close to protect her, whilst Blane and Holt jumped out towards their attackers. Mindy dive bombed down to back up her brothers, blasting her own brand of moonbeam to take out those hyenas that were getting too close for comfort.

All while this was happening, the sound of the drums were getting louder and louder into a horn sounded. The sound of the horn stopped the remaining hyenas dead in their tracks.

In fear.

From behind where the triplets were fighting the hyena men, loomed ten orange glowing auras in the shape of animals the height of two houses. There was a buffalo, an ostrich, a hippopotamus, an African wild dog, an antelope, a leopard, a giraffe, a zebra, an elephant and a lion that encircled the group.

“What da fu-” Holt muttered, another horn drowning out the rest of the swear word. At the horn, the auras shrunk out of sight and out jumped ten tribes people adjourned in face paints and ornaments representative of each of the animals just seen. The hyenas turned their attention to these new fighters but one by one the hyena men retreated, knowing that their luck was out.

When the literal dust settled from the hard, dusty ground, the ten fighters walked towards the out of place tourists, the low sun showering rays through the clouds over the lands, and bringing a new sense of calm over things.

“Th-thank you,” Mindy said first, standing forward.

The fighter symbolising the lion stepped toward her, making her think he might be the leader. The tribal fighter with an attire matching the appearance of the elephant stepped to the lion’s side.

The lion leader spoke in a language that no one understood. The elephant fighter waited until the lion finished and translated into English.

“You take great risks being here. The werehyenas are an ill and merciless breed. You should go and take your outer worlds magic with you."

“Yeah, don’t worry. We don’t plan on sticking around,” Holt said, but the elephant fighter didn’t translate that.

The lion spoke again and when finished, it was translated again.

“Next time, call ahead.”

Holt couldn’t help but chuckle. “Who are you all anyway?”

“We are Kikosi Cha Savannah, the watchers of these lands and the life that is from it and die within it,” the lion responded themselves.

“Kikosi Cha Savannah!” the other members of the group chanted back.

“Gotcha. Well thank you for saving us from the howhyenas,” Blane said, instinctively bowing in respect.

“The werehyenas,” the elephant corrected.

“Sure, them. We’ll go now. Thank you,” Blane said waving at the ten people who came to their aide in time.

“Our next place isn’t like this, is it?” Prince Luqrit whispered as they walked away.

“Europe? No, no. No wild animals in Rome,” Mindy assured.

Blane turned to Jabeetna. “So little Miss. You have quite the party trick. You thought I wouldn't see that?” he said, referring to her phasing through the hyena earlier to save her dad.

Jabeetna blushed. “Well I didn’t want to say anything in case it was not good to have abilities here, but your brother said lots of people have abilities here and it’s still ok for us aliens to use them.”

“Yup, he wasn’t wrong. But you can only use them-”

“For good, I know.” She smiled.

***

After Europe, the triplets took their guests to Asia and Oceania before heading back to America. With instructions to land at The Facility followed, the returning jet was met by the President, Vice President, Glói Valtersson, Do’Lânqwa and now The Secretary.

“What an exhilarating trip!” the visiting Prince said, beaming with a big smile. “Except of course our brush with death in Af… Af…?”

“Africa,” The Secretary said, helping him out. He smiled back. “Thank goodness for the Kikosi Cha Savannah.”

“Yeah, how come I’ve not heard of them before?” Blane asked.

“They a very illusive and legendary group rarely seen, but thought of very highly. They are very local to the heart of Africa. You won’t ever see them anywhere else. You were lucky to come across them,” Glói explained.

“So what’s next?” the President asked.

“Well as per our arrangement, I will need to write a report that reflects our interests to keep your planet from joining the Alliance, and I would like to engage in discussions on the case of my daughter,” the Prince said with his arm around her shoulder. She seemed unfazed by the thought of staying here away from her family and home, but Mindy reckoned the risk and the threat posed by staying on Earthriq was just too great now considering the way she now identified.

“Of course,” said Purcell.

“She has abilities you know,” Blane said. “She saved her dad from the hyena dog men.” Jabeetna blushed, not saying anything.

“Oh really? Nice one!” the President cheered.

“Yeah, I’m very proud,” Prince Luqrit said beaming with pride. “It’s got her into trouble with her mother and I but her phasing ability is very useful.”

“That’s interesting,” said Do’Lânqwa thoughtfully. “I think we have a convenient solution to her rehoming situation.”

The Secretary shot a stern look at him. “Do’Lânqwa, no. Not now.”

“I think now’s the perfect time,” he said regardless.