In this chapter, we learn that the interstellar army has been formed to "strike down the evil" that runs rampant in the universe. This means that they're going to kill anyone who's a threat to their existence. This is a big deal, because it means that the government is going to be able to do whatever it wants with you, even if you don't agree with it. We're not going to get into all the details of how the government operates, but we do know that it's pretty aggressive. The government has the right to take action against anyone it deems to be an enemy. It doesn't mean that they can't kill civilians, though. It just means they can do whatever they want with you. The only problem is that you're a little boy, and if you live long enough, you'll grow up to be a great evil. So yeah, the government's got the power to kill you, right now. It's not like they can move the stars, but they can control the ether, which is the stuff that Elsie's ether gear gives them. They can use this power to make the stars their own. They're able to control the stars because they absorb the ether of a planet and make it their own . This stuff is super-weird, but it also has a super-awesome power: it can "control the stars" . Now that's cool, says the government, because they can use it to finish you off. The next thing you know, Elsie is running around like a crazy person. She's totally freaking out, and the government has to figure out what's going on with her. The guy's super-fast, but he's also super-smart, so he can figure out a way to control Elsie and her ether gear. He's