The week passed quicker than it had any right to, going in a blur of activity and events of reacquainting himself with his parents and getting to know the sister he didn’t know he had. At first, Elmira—Ely—was quiet for the most part, keeping to herself and not saying much beyond a couple words. She had trouble looking other people in the eye but had a knack for discerning someone’s true feelings despite how they acted. As the week went on, however, she grew more and more comfortable with his presence.

Before he knew it, though, Xaleyp found himself standing once more in the spaceport behind the same transport, hugging his parents goodbye. They exchanged final farewells then hurried into the rear of the ship, finding seats near the middle and stowing their luggage in overhead compartments before sitting.

They were heading for some paradise planet towards the inner core of the galaxy, hopefully far away from any conflict that might occur on Siatia’s crusade for unity. Though they didn’t say it aloud, Xaleyp knew how happy they were to get away from the madness of Siatia and Ardus even though it meant being further from their son.

Ely stood close to Xaleyp, holding onto his hand tightly as their parents disappeared amid a sea of other passengers on the ship. Ardus pulled some strings to get her a spot in the Praesidium Archive, the most prestigious school on Siatia, as a way of apologizing for hiding Skylar and Kaylee. Now, it was just up to Xaleyp to get her there for her first day in a couple weeks.

Eventually, the door of the transport began to slowly close, erasing the two of them from view as the engines primed. Xaleyp gently guided Ely away from the ship, keeping her close to him. As they ambled down the path of the spaceport, not wanting to get too far until the transport left, he saw Eve casually approaching them, her hair falling straight down her back and hands in the front pockets of the hooded jumpsuit she wore. When she realized he noticed her, she smiled and raised her hand in greeting.

“So they really leave today then?” Eve asked as she reached him.

Xaleyp nodded and released Ely to let her skip around, waving a toy holographic wand in circles to create dazzling lights.

“It’s too bad,” she said, hooking her elbow in his as they stood to watch the transport as it slowly hovered into the air. “I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet them this time. Maybe next time.”

“Maybe.” Xaleyp alternated between looking at the transport and at Ely spinning in circles, unable to keep from smiling even with the solemn air surrounding them. “Have you heard from Mian lately?”

“Not anymore than you have.” She shook her head, giving him an odd look and nudging him in the side with a smile. “Don’t tell me you’re actually worried about her.”

“She’s one of my best friends. Why wouldn’t I be worried about her?”

Xaleyp felt his face going red with Eve’s question and the answer he gave, knowing perfectly well there was more to it than that. Eve, however, didn’t press him, and instead returned her attention to the transport ahead of them.

“You know, they say that when one door closes, another door opens, but we’re usually too focused on the first and what we lost that we can’t see the opportunity right in front of us.” Eve shrugged her shoulders as now it was Xaleyp’s turn to give her an odd look. “I disagree. Sometimes, the new door doesn’t lead anywhere, and it would’ve been just as pointless to take it. But, then again, sometimes it’s a grand archway, just screaming for attention, and we assume it’s too good to be true so we ignore it and wait for another chance that never comes.”

She turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling even in the dim light of the spaceport. Xaleyp stared back, a quizzical, somewhat confused expression on his face.

“This is the grand archway of your life, Xaleyp, so don’t spoil it waiting for something better.”

Without another word, she returned her gaze to the transport, watching as it continued its slow acceleration down the spaceport. Somewhere in the distance, a gentle rumble of what sounded like thunder reached their ears. Eve ignored it, but Xaleyp looked up, trying to see through the open strip of the ceiling to the sky, before he remembered the city was built much too high for there to be any weather.

The engines of the transport glowed brightly in the distance, drawing his attention. He called over to Ely, who quickly returned to his side, and together they waved goodbye to the departing ship. As it continued further and further, accelerating faster and faster, he wrapped his hands around Ely’s shoulders and held her tight in front of him. Eve, perhaps feeling uncomfortable, released Xaleyp’s elbow and stepped a few paces away to give them space.

Finally, it cleared the edge of the ceiling, bursting into the open air of the planet and heading for the sky. The rumble of thunder sounded off again, much louder and distracting Xaleyp, prompting him to look for it. In that moment, he found the source.

Two narrow streaks of smoke sped from out of sight, followed immediately by a deafening boom filling the air. Before he knew what was happening, the transport exploded as the missiles struck the side. It immediately burst into flames, the wreckage cascading down over the ships at the far end of the spaceport. A shockwave tore through the area, ripping apart the uppermost portion of the structure. Some kind of fighter appeared briefly in the opening in the ceiling before disappearing across the opposite side, pulling up and towards the atmosphere.

Then silence surrounded them. No engine noise. No talking. Nothing.

For several seconds, it seemed all time stopped as Xaleyp stood there, processing what he had seen. Eve covered her mouth in surprise, and Ely cowered under the sudden noise, unable to make sense of the event.

This couldn’t be happening. Not again, he couldn’t lose them again. There was no way he could go back to not having them after a decade of it. They had to be alive, they just had to be. This was just some sort of messed up dream, and any second now he would be waking up from a nap with Ely or something. He screwed his face up, closing his eyes as tightly as he could in an attempt to force himself awake.

But he didn’t wake up.

Every time—every fucking time—he tried to keep someone safe, tried to keep them out of the line of fire, something bad happened.

All at once, it seemed the world returned. Sirens pierced the air from somewhere else in the city, and the people around him shouted in shock, some of them taking off at sprints towards the burning carcass. Others simply stayed where they were, exchanging fearful conversations with the individuals next to them.

Xaleyp tried lunging forward, tried to run towards the wreckage, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. Eve grabbed him tightly, pulling him as hard as she could and taking them both down to the ground with a spinning crash as if in slow motion. Hot tears formed in his eyes as her arms wrapped around him, holding him as close to her as she could and keeping the flaming wreckage out of sight. His face contorted in rage and grief and anguish, and his body wracked with each sob that issued from his throat.

Crowds of people—most of those in the spaceport—were beginning to rush forward to render aid however they could. Panicked sobs broke through the tumultuous chaos, and the crackling of fire from the transport reached their ears. Pieces of broken and jagged metal mixed with shards of glass lay scattered around the area. A few meters in front of Xaleyp and Eve sat a small suitcase decorated with charred images of pink flowers, flames licking at what fabric remained within.

“It’ll be okay,” Eve whispered into his ear, the sound barely audible over the cacophony around them. “It’ll be alright.”

Xaleyp knew the words weren’t true, but what else was she supposed to say? He just wanted to scream, to let out all of the anger and grief and hate he had pent up. He just wanted to go and see if there was any chance they were alive, any chance he could help them.

Camera drones were already on the scene recording the events unfolding, their lights flashing aggressively. Ely stood over him, looking at the fire confused, her body shaking with silent tears.

“Get out of our way!” a voice shouted over the rest.

Xaleyp looked up to see Ardus Kaine coming towards him, anger written all over his face. Two Vanguard Ascendancy soldiers followed close behind him, their domed helmets turning as if on a swivel to watch the area.

Xaleyp tried standing to meet the man, but his legs gave out from underneath him, forcing him back to the ground. He tried to look towards the wreckage again, but Eve gently pushed his head back the other direction.

“Don’t look at it, it’ll only make it worse.”

Ardus met Xaleyp’s eyes and made a beeline for him, shoving other people out of his way as he went. He placed his hands on the younger man’s shoulders, holding him still.

“We have to get you and Elmira out of here, they may be sending more to get you two.” Ardus looked around the area fearfully, his eyes scanning th area for any threat.

With Eve’s help, he brought Xaleyp to his feet and half dragged him away. One of the soldiers grabbed ahold of Ely’s hand, bringing her with them as they made their way to the spaceport exit. More roars of engines pierced the air as Siatian ships passed overhead, hunting for the fighter that committed the atrocity.

“It was the Arcadians,” Ardus said as they made their way out of the lobby of the spaceport. “This is why we need to act decisively and why we must do what must be done, because these people do not listen to anything except violence.”

“What are we going to do?” Eve asked, grunting as she tried to keep Xaleyp from falling to the ground.

At the sound of Ardus’ words, however, something sparked within Xaleyp, and he found his footing with ease. It took several steps before Ardus and Eve released they no longer needed to help him, looking at him to find what changed.

“We’re going after them, whether the Senate likes it or not.” Xaleyp wasn’t sure whose voice said it, but it felt like it came from within him. He took a deep breath and stopped moving. “If they want a war, we’re going to give them the war of their lives. And I won’t stop until every last person responsible for this is dead.”

Ardus smiled slightly at Xaleyp’s words, hiding it quickly and continuing to guide him down the street. They passed groups of different citizens huddled together, pointing towards the spaceport and the thick plume of smoke steadily rising into the air.

“Get Elmira somewhere safe,” Ardus said, pointing to the girl. She struggled for a moment as the soldiers tried to take her away from Xaleyp, but a look from her brother told her to go with them. When she was gone, Ardus placed his hand on Xaleyp’s shoulder, looking him in the eye. “Trust me when I say that we are going to make them pay.”

**

I push myself off the window, walking in a small circle to get the blood recirculating to my legs. Ben leans against the wall, crossing his arms to stare at me with something of expectancy. The star, Draconis, is just beginning to crest behind the mountains as it sets. Narrow streaks of light pass through the uncovered windows, sending beams onto the floor around us.

“So, what happens next, Michael?” he asks, perhaps too giddy for his own good.

I manage a weak smile at the question, knowing perfectly well that he doesn’t need the answer, that he already has it. But what good is a storyteller if he doesn’t play along to his audience’s wishes?

“What else when the powerful get too greedy for their own good? After a week of peace, war returned to the galaxy, with a vengeance only the blood of the innocent could quench.”