"The commander has died, his body is preserved in the Space Crystal," Apophis slowly took down the space pendant, placing it gently on the table.
John's reaction, having received the news, was far more intense than Apophis's had been at the time. He nearly fainted. Fortunately, he was psychologically prepared and managed not to be overwhelmed, collapsing into the chair, his complexion shifting erratically from pale to flushed... It took quite a while for his fiercely pounding heart to settle down.
"Are you saying that the commander is in the Space Crystal?" At that moment, John, tears streaming down his face, trembled as he pointed at the Space Crystal, pausing at each word.
"Yes, only you and I know about this among the ranks, including the high levels of the Federation."
John's gaze stayed fixed on the Space Crystal but he took no further action. He didn't even want to verify the truthfulness of Apophis's words. "Do you know the cause of the commander's death?"
