Villain Retirement

The Cherbi.

A living calamity that has existed for eons. Not much is known about this colossal pink fluff of ball, but new information may suggest that the Cherbi is a Primordial—a being that has existed for as long as the Universe itself.

No one knows when, but at the time that civilizations have had the capability of moving and traveling through the expanse of space, civilizations have also tried to hunt and vanquish the Cherbi.

Many have tried, but all of their efforts were futile. The past generations of advanced civilizations only stopped when they saw a Messenger—a being larger than several planets, thought to be invincible, was absorbed and eaten by the Cherbi like some sort of noodle.

But of course, in time, that shocking defeat was forgotten, and the new advanced civilizations that rose up tried to eradicate the Cherbi again.

It wasn't until they received news that two themarians were eaten by the Cherbi like pieces of candy, that everyone finally completely erased any ideas of pursuing the pink fluff.

Themarians are known to destroy planets with the snap of a finger and could bathe in the core of a sun without even as much as a scratch to their hair. If a creature like that was no match for the Cherbi—how could the rest of the Universe even think of blocking the Cherbi's path anymore?

Like a rampaging storm or a sentient black hole, the only thing they could really do was evacuate—hoping the Cherbi could be diverted and they would still have a stellar system to go home to.

Perhaps the only solace in this is that the Cherbi was and is similar to a rampaging storm. It could think, but it doesn't as it has no need to. After all, why think if you could just endlessly float in the expanse of space and absorb anything for eternity?

It just needs to go to its next meal, over and over again—and right now, in front of it, was something it had never truly sensed or smelled before—a new meal that was different from what it has been having for eons.

It was smaller than its usual meals, much smaller. But the Cherbi sensed that it could be tastier, and so… it ignored everything else and just moved to this alluring snack.

[It's working!]

And now, with the Cherbi's path successfully redirected, Tedi also started to fly away.

Riley Ross was currently attached to her now tangible finger—but due to the extreme heat that he was producing, he was attached to her using another Riley, who was the one who is telekinetically acting as a chain between them.

Riley had to concentrate all of his focus on controlling Hannah's powers in just the right amount to not die, so having a clone handle the logistics with Tedi would allow him to do that.

[We need to go far enough that it won't detect Theran's sun anymore,] Tedi said as she triggered some of the thrusters attached to her back, [And far enough to also not detect another civilization. This is good, considering most of the stellar systems around Theran are uninhabitable.]

"I think the Cherbi is gaining speed, Tedi!" Riley's clone yelled as he looked back and forth between the approaching pink fluff and the colossal Tedi, "I think she's going to catch up to us! Go into hyperdrive!"

[Are you sure Riley can handle it?] Tedi adjusted her glasses as the thrusters attached to her legs also started to light up, [Are you sure his body could handle all the stress it is receiving?]

"The Boss experienced worse," Riley's clone shook his head, "If he survived Hannah, he can survive anything. Do it! It's getting close!"

[...Fine.]

And with that, Tedi's silver silhouette turned into a streak of light—quickly disappearing from view. The Cherbi, almost at the same time, seemed to have sped up; it wasn't as fast as a ship that was moving on hyperspeed, but it still moved fast enough not to lose the scrumptious meal that seemed to be deliberately making it chase it.

Of course, Tedi was also making sure that the Cherbi would be able to follow them; so she slowed down from time to time to make the Cherbi catch up.

"..."

Unbeknownst to Tedi, however, she was actually doing something that no one should ever truly do…

…tease a lazy living calamity that never had to truly work for its food ever since it was born.

"Uh… Tedi?"

[What is it? Are you getting tired, or is something happening to Riley?] Even though Tedi's mind was busy creating millions of calculations on exactly where to leave the Cherbi behind, she was still not neglecting to check on Riley and his clone.

"I don't know if it's just me…" Riley's clone squinted his eyes, "...But I think the Cherbi is getting closer and closer to us."

[That is impossible,] Tedi adjusted her glasses, [I know the limit of the Cherbi's flight speed, we should already be maintaining the best ideal distance.]

"That's good and all, but no…" Riley's clone started to nervously chuckle as he shook his head, "Yup… she's getting closer and closer."

[Stop calling it her! We don't even know if it even has a—It… it is getting closer!]

And as Tedi turned around to see why Riley's clone seemed to truly be nervous, she realized that the Cherbi, is in fact, getting closer to them. It won't be noticeable for one that was staring at it, but for Tedi who just turned her head—the change in distance was clear. And so, Tedi no longer thought twice as she turned all of the engines attached to her at full speed.

"I already told you!" Riley's clone screamed, "Go full hyperspeed!"

[I am.]

"...What?"

[We are already moving at hyperspeed.]

"Then go faster!"

[Anything faster will either collapse or sap the energy cores,] Tedi's voice has turned monotonous; her mind, no longer placing any effort in putting out emotions.

"Are you saying… she is moving faster than hyperspeed?" Riley's clone gulped as he looked at the pink fluff that was slowly approaching toward them. It was just the size of a marble earlier, but now, it was the size of a watermelon and getting bigger by the second.

And then, all of a sudden, a sound that has never been heard in the history of the Universe echoed through the expanse of space.

It was a shriek, a wail, or perhaps a howl.

In the expanse of space where sound does not traditionally travel, a howl echoed—heard by planets lightyears away like a siren signaling the end of their world.

And very soon, a pair of large eyes appeared from the pink fluff.

[I didn't know it had eyes… or that it could scream.]

"What is she saying, Tedi!? I think she's pissed!"

[I don't understand what it said, but I too, think it is getting frustrated. We need a new plan.]

"The Boss has one! But we need to stop moving!"

[Princess Aerith said not to trust Riley, but right now, I believe I do not have a choice. The Cherbi will catch us either way,] Tedi's monotonous voice continued to vibrate as the engines attached to her started to fire in the opposite direction,

[Whatever it is you are planning, Riley. Do it now.]

"Pavoom."