“You’re going away?” Pan asked, his black eyes widening and glistening as he looked up at Anya. He stood at the foot of Samaira’s bed, while Samaira herself sat on the edge. Chandrali lay at full ize beside her, the big cat’s head raised and ears aimed at Anya, alert and concerned. All of them were in one of the newly created dorm rooms set aside for hosts or other visitors within the expansive Antarctic factory.

“You’re serious?” Samaira asked.

“Yes, and yes,” Anya said. She sat in a soft chair near the bed.

“But you can’t go!” Pan said and waddled to her side. He rested his gleaming claws on her knee and shook her leg gently for emphasis.

“I don’t want to go, but it will help a lot of people. You and Sam included,” Anya said.

“I understand the basic arithmetic of it. A couple of hosts against billions of human lives and the planet itself. It sounds like a bargain. But it’s not just numbers, Ann,” Samaira said.

“What do you mean?” Anya asked.

“I mean, even if you and Renn succeed——and this is assuming he doesn’t try anything sneaky——there’s still the question of what happens after. The Earth losing the host who killed Alpha and Omega would be hugely demoralizing. And you know, your friends would be pretty heartbroken,” Samaira said and gestured at herself and Pan.

“But you’d be alive. And it’s not like this is guaranteed doom. We just need to stay long enough to guard the digger rocket and then escape,” Anya said.

“So you could come back?” Pan asked and a fragile smile pulled at the corners of his tiny mouth.

“I could, yes. I’ll try to.”

Samaira gave her an arch look and let out a breath.

“Pan, come here a second,” Samaira said.

“Okay!” the pangolin said cheerily and waddled over to her.

“I have to tell Anya something and it’s private, so I’m gonna cover your ear holes, okay?”

“Okay!”

Samaira placed her hands on either side of Pan’s head and then looked up at Anya as she whispered, “This is a death sentence and we both know it. I understand not wanting to scare Pan, but don’t get his hopes up.”

“Sorry,” Anya said and blushed. Samaira removed her hands and Pan waddled back to Anya’s side.

“What did Gary say?” Samaira asked.

“He called me a god-damn idiot.”

“Yeah, well…” Samaira said with a nod.

“I’m trying to save people,” Anya said.

“I know. And it’s very brave of you. I agree that Renn would be stupid to go to this trouble just to bump you off out in the middle of nowhere. Unless maybe he’s an alien?” Samaira asked.

“He’s been scanned by Gary any time he’s been near the factory, and doubly so after Omega took over Garreth. He’s had his host signal confirmed by every single AI we each have, and he’s saved my life and others’ on a few occasions. If it weren’t for him, we would’ve had a much more difficult time with Omega,” Anya said. “And if he is some kind of traitor to humanity, then it’s better that we find out sooner rather than later. I’m still just one host. The worst he can do is kill me.”

“Or take you over, like Dr. Immonen,” Samaira said.

“Noooooo,” Pan wailed.

“It’s okay, Pan, that isn’t gonna happen,” Anya said.

“No, it isn’t,” Samaira said and pulled something off a shelf next to the bed. It was metal, but not like any metal Anya had ever seen. It had a faint glow of silvery moonlight, and was the shape of a crescent moon. A deep purple gemstone no bigger than Anya’s fingernail was set into the center. When the light shimmered across the surface, Anya caught a glimpse of some kind of sigil deep within. There was a a clasp on the back, and Anya realized it was a type of hair-clip.

“I’ve only had a few hours to work on this, but I started as soon as I heard Renn’s idea. And knowing you, I figured you’d probably throw yourself into space to fight aliens, so…” Samaira said and shrugged.

“It’s beautiful. But what is it?” Anya asked as she accepted it. It tingled slightly in the palm of her hand, like something that had an electric charge running through it.

“It’s a charm. It’ll protect your mind…at least a little bit. If Renn is on the level and he’s keeping you safe from Alien psychic control, then it’s just a back-up. But if Renn tries to take you over, you’ll have a few seconds of defense and a warning from this. It won’t be much, but it should be enough for you to light him up,” Samaira said.

“Wow. Thank you, Sam. I was planning on blowing some RAC on something from the store or asking Gary is he had the time or inclination, but this is way better,” Anya said.

“The least I can do,” Samaira said.

“I don’t have a present for you!” Pan cried. “I didn’t know we were doing that!”

Anya smiled and caressed the pangolin’s armored head. “It’s okay, Pan. Make sure you stay safe while I’m gone. That’s a good present.”

“Okay,” Pan said and clicked his claws together.

“I should go. I still have to tell Tori and Garreth,” Anya said as she stood up. Samaira got to her feet and Chandrali slid off the bed. Samaira, Chandrali, and Pan escorted Anya to the door of the dormitory and stood there as Anya walked out into the hallway.

“Is it good-bye now?” Pan asked.

“No, we’ll say good-bye tomorrow,” Anya said, then knelt and hugged the pangolin. He was much bigger than when she had carted him out of the Riverbanks Zoo, but he still felt very small. He stretched his stubby arms around her as much as he good and pressed the skin of his leathery cheek against the side of her face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow okay?” Pan asked. “Promise?”

“Pinky promise,” Anya said and wrapped her pinky around Pan’s smallest claw. This pleased him enough to let her go and take a step back. Chandrali bumped Anya’s side with her head and she gave the big cat and affectionate scratch under the chin before she stood up.

Samaira was looking at her, eyes wide, hands fidgeting.

“I, uh…I just wanted to tell you that I…I really appreciate everything you’ve done. And are doing. And I…well, I’ll be here all day if I start listing things,” Samaira rushed and stumbled over the last, and looked away from Anya. Anya had the impression she had something else to say, but she kept her mouth closed.

“Thanks, Sam,” Anya said, then leaned forward to hug her. Samaira only came up to chest-height, and Anya heard her squeak in surprise at the sudden hug, but she returned it. Anya felt her fingers tighten against the back of her leather jacket, hold then, then release

“You should go,” Samaira said. “I think Tori’s gonna be pretty upset when you tell her.”

“Yeah, probably,” Anya said. “All right, I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!” Pan said. Samaira only nodded and Anya waved at them both as she turned and left.

——————————————————

Tori had come to the factory with MacDougal and a number of other USAIF agents, but had been kept busy with logistics or organizing transports during the big meeting and after. So when Anya told her about Renn’s plan, she hadn’t had the same amount of time to adjust to the idea, let alone Anya’s consent to it, as the others.Her friend had always been sarcastic or flippant when things at work had gotten to the point where anybody else would have lost it.

Anya had never really seen Tori cry before. But when Anya told her she was going into space, her friend had gone pale and silent, and then broke into a storm of bawling as she latched onto Anya with the tenacity of a starving leech.

“Tori, geez, c’mon,” Anya said. They were standing along the side of the factory hangar, well within sight of several other agents and other people who’d come with the respective governments.

“Nooooooooooo,” Tori wailed. She had gone from silent to full-on ugly crying with startling rapidity. Tori snorted, then buried her face in Anya’s shoulder as she took several hitching breaths.

“Tori, Jesus Christ,” Anya said.

“You’re leaving!” Tori said. “And you’re probably not…not…not…” she stuttered on the last word as she sniffled.

“I am leaving and yes it’s dangerous but I’m going to try and come back,” she said. Samaira wasn’t here to lecture her on giving false hope, so she added, “And with Gary upgrading my ship, and Renn watching my back, we should be okay.”

“R-really?” Tori asked.

“Sure,” Anya said and shrugged. The lie stung a bit, but she couldn’t take seeing Tori like this. Anya had cried in front of her friend numerous times, all of which had been during her first year in New York. The stress of her new job, the city, the pressure of trying to convince her mother that she was worth a damn, it had worn on her. Tori had been there for her through it all. She figured the least she could do for her friend was to blunt the edges of the news.

“I think you’re full of shit,” Tori said and sniffled. Both women looked at each other for a minute and then laughed.

“I am pretty full of shit,” Anya agreed. Tori snorted loudly as she laughed, then punched Anya on the arm. “Hey, that might’ve hurt if I were a normal person.”

“That’s for lying to me. Or trying to,” Tori said and wiped at her eyes. She took a deep breath and asked, “It has to be you?”

“I think it does,” she said and laid out the details.

“I guess that makes sense. It’s bullshit though.”

“Tori…”

“I get it. I don’t like it but I get it.”

“I’m sorry,” Anya said.

“For what? Being stupidly brave enough to charge at a bunch of monsters to save everything? That’s nothing to be sorry for. I just hope you’re not planning on going on a space roadtrip with Renn without some kind of precaution,” Tori said.

“I was gonna buy something from the RAC store but Samaira sorted me out,” Anya said.

“How’d she take the news?”

“She wasn’t thrilled, but she was supportive, obviously,” Anya said and pointed at her hair-clip.

“Then the least I can do is the same. I don’t have any gifts for you but I’d go with you if I could.”

“I mean, you probably could,” Anya said and smirked.

“I’d die in five seconds and you know it,” Tori said and punched Anya again. “But you know what I mean. If there’s anything you need, I’m here.”

“I know. Thank you. If I make it back, you plan the victory party,” Anya said and hugged her friend. Tori sniffled again and hugged her back.

“Bet your ass,” she said.

“And look after Pan. You’re his other liberator and he hasn’t forgotten.”

“I think he’d be better suited to looking after me, but I’ll keep him company,” Tori said. “Do you have time for dinner or something?”

“I was gonna go tell Garreth, and then I gotta meet Gary about which ship I’m taking. The launch is at 11:30 tomorrow morning, so before then, maybe.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then, I guess,” Tori said and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “I want you to know that all this shit has been a real mess, Anya. Ever since you called me to your apartment after you got the menu. Really turned my life upside down.”

“Yeah, I’m s—”

“Thank you.”

“Uh, you’re welcome?”

“I’m serious. It’s been insanity the whole way, but I’m glad for whatever I’ve been able to do, and I’m glad you came to me first. Now go before I start bawling in front of all the other agents or something.”

“Thank you too, Tori,” Anya said and gave her another quick hug.

“Go! I’m serious. I got a party to plan now,” Tori replied and dabbed at her eyes. Anya laughed, then went to go see the last person on her good-bye list.

————————————————

Garreth was in his own dorm, a slew of folders on his desk and his menu expanded into several different screens when he opened the door for Anya. Hoitaja, his white AI, floated behind him and said something in Finnish. He waved a hand at her and responded n kind and she vanished.

“Anya! What a pleasant surprise. I figured you’d be busy with meetings after Renn’s announcement,” he said as he grinned. “I’m trying to decide if such a plan is a result of his youth or being French.”

“Well, whatever it is, I’m going,” Anya said. Immonen’s eyebrows rose up as his mouth sagged open. Anya invited herself in and explained everything for the fourth time that evening, reassured and rationalized for the fourth time, and made Immonen understand that yes, she was certain this was the best way for the fourth time and that she had safeguards against Renn in place.

When she was done, Immonen didn’t become terse and grumpy like Gary, sad like Pan or Tori, or quietly disapproving and concerned like Samaira.

“You’re very, very brave. And I have to admit, I’m a bit in awe of you,” he said and smiled at her. It wasn’t an entirely happy expression, but she was relieved that it wasn’t more tears or anger.

“You’re okay with it?” Anya asked.

“Of course I’m not okay with it. We’d only had one date, and I thought it went pretty well. I was looking forward to the next one, and now, well…As far as excuses for not getting a second date go, saving the world is pretty good.”

Anya chuckled. Immonen smiled at her and took her hand into his.

“I want to see you again. I hope you come back. Truly, I do. But before I the menu, I too frequently saw that hope was not enough to stave off the inevitable that came to the hospital. I don’t want to sound pessimistic just…honest.”

“It’s fine,” Anya replied. “I know it’s a one-way trip.”

“Well, the menu was a miracle for the people in my hospital. Maybe another miracle can happen,” Immonen said.

“Maybe,” Anya said.

“If it does, I’ll be here.”

“Thank you,” Anya replied and squeezed his hand. Immonen leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss, which she returned. “Sucks we didn’t have more time.”

“It does sucks, yes,” he agreed with a little nod. Anya looked at him, at the way his long hair fell around his face and along the side of his neck, how his glasses sat on his slightly crooked nose. She set her jaw and took a breath.

“Give me a few minutes,” she said, then stepped out into the hallway before he could respond. She brought up Gary on her comms and he appeared in profile in the chat window, face turned to look at some other screen.

“Kid,” Gary said.

“Gary…I know you’re not happy about this, but I hope you know why I feel like I have to do it,” Anya said. He sighed, his mustache puffing out over his lips, and he turned to face her.

“Yeah. I do. Torn between thinking you’re a helluva young woman and a damned fool, though.”

“I get it.”

“Well, I’ll say no more then. I got a ship picked out for you. Just need you to approve and buy it while you’re in the hangar. The Zordenn Interplanetary Striker. Good speed, great firepower, excellent shields. Once I soup it up and install an Earth-friendly autopilot for you, it’ll be a dream.”

Anya poked her head back into Immonen’s room and the doctor’s head shot up to look at her, confused smile on his face.

“You stay there,” Anya said, then flew down the hallways to the hangar while she had Felix pull up the spaceship Gary had mentioned.

It was a sturdy-yet-sleek craft with a long sweeping prow, powerful thrusters, and a top the sloped up and back towards a small bridge surrounded by triangular armored panels. It lacked obvious wings, and instead the body spread out into broad, thick fins. The whole thing gave the impression of a stout, rounded swordfish.

“Well that looks pretty fucking cool,” Anya said. It was also pretty much all of her RAC, even with her ship token from her Cosmic Warden class. She’d have a comparatively small amount of RAC left: just over 50k.

“Can’t spend it if you’re dead,” Anya said. And really, when compared to saving mankind, to maybe giving her and Renn a remote chance at coming back, it was a steal.

She entered the primary hangar, It was five times larger than the one: a sprawling multi-story tall, kilometers-wide armored hold made of sleek white walls and recessed lighting and glowing landing pads and charging stations. All of the planes or advanced aircraft from foreign government were on the far side of the hangar, clustered together.

“Over here, kid!” Gary said and waved at her from far down the other end of the hangar. She flew over to him and landed with a soft tap of her sneakers that still echoed in the enormous space. “You okay? You look flushed.”

“Fine. Yeah, just…sorry,” she said.

“Nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry for making a hard decision harder. What you’re doing is commendable. You prepared for Renn to try and flip on you, right?”

Anya laughed. “Yeah I’ve got that covered.”

“Good, good. All right, pull the ship up and I’ll get started,” Gary said. Anya confirmed her purchase from the store and watched in awe as the Zordeen Striker appeared before her. Even though the menu information had compared it to a “small” battleship, it was still the size of a damn battleship. Lights along the sides of the hangar illuminated the huge vessel, and Anya felt a sense of wonder looking at it that she hadn’t really felt since she had first summoned fire in her apartment.

It was an actual, honest-to-god, spaceship.

And it was hers.

“She’ll look even better when I’m done with her,” Gary said. “Got a name for her?”

“Uh, hadn’t really thought of it yet,” Anya said.

“Well, lemme know if you think of something and I’ll paint it on the side,” he said. A portion of the hangar’s many roof sections opened up to reveal a clear, arctiv night sky. The moon was full and bright above them, and a small area of it was covered in what looked like angular black veins. That was the lunar construction sight for the giant Mori Cannon, already well underway. Anya sighed as she looked at it, then away towards the many construction drones that were flying toward her new ship.

“You seen the doc, yet?” Gary asked.

“I was just about to…”

Gary looked at her, raised his eyebrows, then smirked.

“Go, kid. Have fun. I got things covered here.”

Anya was too embarrassed to respond to Gary’s knowing smile, so she just nodded at him with silent gratitude, then flew away, her face hot. When she landed once more in front of Immonen’s room, her hand froze in front of the door. He was busy. He was always busy. And this was pretty sudden. They’d only had a single date. She wasn’t in college anymore, either. And she…

And she was leaving Earth, probably forever, in a matter of hours.

Anya rang the bell and Immonen answered almost before it had finished ringing.

“Is everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes! I mean, aside from everything with the aliens, yes, all good,” Anya said and laughed nervously, then cleared her throat.

“Did you need me for something?” he asked. Anya laughed and nodded, then cleared her throat again at his confused expression. She half wished Immonen had some of Chell’s ability to read emotions so this would be easier.

“Look,” she said. “I like you.”

Immonen grinned. “I like you too.”

“And I wish we had more time. But we don’t. I’m way too wound up to sleep and I’m pretty sure that’s more of a luxury at this point with my Regeneration and all and…and I was thinking I could spend the night with you.”

“Oh,” Immonen said and blinked. His mouth softened with surprise, then widened into another grin as understanding came. “You mean…?”

“Garreth, I’m coming onto you. Me, you, your bed, no clothes,” Anya said, the words coming out in a blunt tumble. Immonen was laughing by the end of it, nodding as he embraced her and silencing his own laughter as he pressed his mouth against hers.

“I can’t think of anything I’d like more,” he said. Anya pushed him into his room, and closed the door, and everything that would happen tomorrow, behind her.