Freedom

Under the Enlighteneds' rule, the people of Sytre have lost many of their freedoms. However, they show a hopeful and determined spirit as they fight to get those freedoms back. Elmir is Valerian's main source of information about the political climate of the galaxy, and he reveals that the Enlighteneds are forcing their religion on the people while forbidding scientific knowledge.

Valerian and Laureline discover an abandoned science lab when they are in the Enlighteneds' isolated sanctuary. They find similar signs within the palace walls. These show that Elmir is correct in his assessment. The members of the Merchant Guild say the Enlighteneds have even begun to negatively affect the trade routes, which is affecting trade. There are no longer people qualified to work on existing space ships or to build new ones. The sum of these restrictions have begun to harm the galaxy as a...