The sleek, streamlined body of the TurboNova V burst out of ether-space and entered the familiar confines of our own dimension. If there had been any sound in the cold, harsh vacuum of space, the sound of the TurboNova’s MegaHyperDrive shutting down would have been clearly audible.

Onboard the TurboNova, in the Central Command Unit, Quantum Hyperflux sat in his UltraChair. Quantum checked the readouts on the vast display console before him and then brushed a speck of dust off his deep blue MagnoSuit.

“The ship has now exited ether-space,” said the female voice of Synthia, the TurboNova’s artificially-intelligent computer. “I’ve plotted a course for Rigel IV, and our ETA is ten minutes and fifty-six point three seconds.”

“That’s hypoloopy,” said Quantum, indicating his approval.

“I hope you enjoy your trip to the PleasureDome,” said Synthia.

Quantum smiled. “Now, now, Synth’,” he said. “You know as well as I that this is purely a business trip. I’m just returning those crystalline datarods I picked up on Terraquadmus XI to their rightful owner. There won’t be any time for me to enjoy myself.” His smile widened in a grin. “Well, maybe just a little. But I’ll be thinking of you all the time.”

“If only that were true,” Synthia said, wistfully. “Wait, hold on a second, there’s a—”

The TurboNova was rocked viciously and Quantum was knocked off his seat. Thankfully he had finished his cup of Nutro-Tea a few minutes earlier, otherwise it would have been spilt all over the control console. The Central Command Unit was bathed in the deep red glow of the emergency lights, and the warning klaxon went off.

“What the hell was that?” Quantum shouted, staggering to his feet.

“Weapons fire,” Synthia reported. “I’m detecting a hostile vessel to the

stern.”

“Identify!”

“Vessel is identified as… Quantum, it’s a Hypnoid Battlecruiser!”

“Hypnoids!” Quantum exclaimed. “What the styroblast are they doing in this sector?”

“I don’t know,” said Synthia, as the TurboNova was shaken by another volley of weapons fire. “But I don’t think they’re here to deliver you a bouquet of flowers. I’m raising defense shields. Should I lock the ion disruptors on them?”

Quantum considered this for a moment. “No, not just yet. Let’s see what they want first. Open a comm channel, audio-stream only.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Synthia. “Channel open.”

“This is Quantum Hyperflux, captain of the TurboNova V and freelance operative for the Intergalactic Law Enforcement Agency to the unidentified Hypnoid vessel. You have launched an unprovoked attack upon my ship, in clear breach of Article 734848 sub-clause B2 of the constitution of the United Commonwealth of Star Systems. If you do not cease your attack immediately and provide an adequate explanation of your actions I shall be forced to arrest you.”

A reptilian voice slithered in reply across the comm channel. “No, Hyperflux, it is you who shall be arrested. By us. Now.”

Quantum frowned. “Arrested? On what charge?”

“You have been accused of the most terrible crime that the Eternal Empire of the Hypnoids recognises: attempted regicide.”

“Surely that’s the second most terrible crime?” Quantum asked, puzzled.

The muttering of several Hypnoid voices could be heard over the comm channel. After what seemed to be a rather heated discussion, the first voice came back: “Okay, okay. The second most terrible crime. It’s still pretty bad, whatever way you look at it. You are suspected of attempting to kill the King of the Hypnoids!”

Of course, everyone had heard of the King of the Hypnoids. Parents often used him as a bogeyman figure to make sure that their children went to bed on time and ate up all their genetically-enhanced SuperVegetables™. But whilst everyone knew of the legend of the King, very few people actually believed he existed. Quantum Hyperflux did, for one very simple reason: he had met him.

The Hypnoids had been the scourge of the Universe for millennia, and Quantum had battled them across nebulae, in the vast distances that separate galaxies and even in the depths of a black hole. He had come close to death many times, but had always managed to prevail. One encounter, though, still chilled him to the bone. During the 376th Interstellar Antigravity Games, the Hypnoids had launched an attack on Scorpius Stadium, with the intention of wiping out the ruling council of the United Commonwealth of Star Systems who just happened to be all there watching the Unbelievably High Jump event. Using a combination of quickfire brainpower and a Mk. IV MegaTron Blaster Cannon, Quantum had seen off the attack force and, dashing into the TurboNova V, chased them out of the system. Little did he know, however, that the attack was merely the bait to lure him into a trap and almost certain doom.

No sooner had he entered the Magaluf system hot on the trail of the Hypnoids, when fifteen attack ships uncloaked right before his eyes. They paralysed his ship with a Multi-Graviton Inverter, and captured Quantum.

The Hypnoids took him to the deepest dungeon on their dark, cold home planet of Q’larax. They stripped him naked and tied him to a Neural-Disruption bed, which denied him movement but still allowed him to feel pain. For three long weeks he was tortured and humiliated. His human dignity was ripped from him, along with most of his body hair and the ‘I love my mum’ tattoo Quantum had mysteriously obtained one night after drinking a few too many MegaBeers.

The days dragged slowly by as Quantum was broken down, put back together, and then broken down again. And all the while, standing at the back of the room, silent but with a sinister grin on his face, was the King. Larger than the other Hypnoids, and with a darker skin colour, he was a truly imposing figure. His eyes seemed to drill into Quantum’s soul, searching for the secrets he possessed. But of course, Quantum did not falter.

Eventually our hero escaped by disguising himself as a washer woman and stealing a Molecular Disintegrator pistol from a guard who had luckily fallen asleep on the job. That had been six years ago. The scars left by the experience still had not healed, though.

No, Quantum was in no rush to meet the King of the Hypnoids again.