My footsteps pounded along the metal floor as I marched towards the garage, trying not to look like I was rushing despite how much I was. I know it was a horrible situation and I was terrified for Sammy, the Irisians and everyone being left behind on Nova but it felt so good having my crew beside me as I walked towards a ship. I’d missed that so much even if Gem’s absence weighed heavily on me.

But with every step, fear pounded within me. I wanted to believe that Harvey and the rest of the Council would leave Nova alone and not do anything disgusting like murder everyone on the base or even obliterate the planet and murder everyone but…

They wouldn’t. Right? Like, that’s too extreme even for them, isn’t it? I mean, I like to think that they wouldn’t and that the thought hadn’t even crossed their mind but… A bunch of the tutors did evacuate. And loads of the Guardians were called onto the warships. What if that was the plan?

Peggy, I started, forcing myself to keep my breathing even and under control, do they… What are the chances that the Council would destroy Nova?

I mean, pretty high really. I think that’s their plan. They’re going to evacuate, creating chaos and leaving not enough Guardians behind to deal with the aftermath and then they’ll watch smugly as the planet and everyone on it suffers, she replied with venom in her voice.

Her response, even though it didn’t fully answer my question, sent a shiver down my spine. She didn’t get what I meant. I needed to explain.

But they don’t have the ability to, like, bomb the planet, right? I asked as we entered the garage.

Heads turned to watch us as we weaved between the ships, looking for ours. My eyes fell on Isabella, the ship Gem had died on, and panic seized me.

If they made us fly that ship… I wasn’t sure I’d be able to.

I was trying. I was trying so hard to be strong and to hold everything together and not fall apart every time I thought of her or something reminded me of her or whenever someone put their hand on my arm and told me how sorry they were for my loss but being in the very place where she died would be too much. I knew, based on how silent they were, that my crew felt the same.

“Alright, everyone fall in!” Fornax called, waiting for everyone in the garage to crowd in around her.

She could have used a microphone or something but her voice was loud enough that I knew that everyone would have been able to hear her.

Despite Fornax being the person who was leading the briefing, people’s eyes kept flicking towards where my crew and I stood next to her. If I’d realised she was going to start the briefing immediately, I would have stood in front of her, not beside her. It felt wrong. I didn’t have the seniority there. I should be listening to the briefing, not a part of it.

“By now, you should all be aware of the situation on Nova.” Fornax paused and glanced across at Trolis who she’d sent down earlier to brief everyone. “We need to get in and out of the planet and its atmosphere before they even have a chance to react. Most of you will be coming with me to the prison where the Irisians are being held but the rest of you will be accompanying Captain Aries and her crew to their base.”

I straightened my spine, holding my chin high and meeting the gaze of everyone who looked at me. It was difficult, there were a lot of them. The tone of admiration and respect in Fornax’s voice did make it easier for me to do it though. I knew that she approved of what I had said to Aquila even though I felt bad.

“Captain, is there anything you’d like to say to your crew?”

I looked across at Fornax, belatedly realising she was talking to me.

“Oh, yeah. Um… the main objective of this mission is to save and protect as many kids as possible. I want you all to remember that most of them are just that. They’re kids. A lot of them don’t know better and might not understand what we’re doing or why. It’s likely that the ones who are going to be fighting against us are Volunteers. I’m not sure how many of you were Volunteers but it is very possible that they’ve only had good experiences on Nova and with the Council so they won’t understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

I paused, looking around the faces of those who were watching me attentively. It didn’t look like they’d argue with what I was about to say but I was worried nonetheless. It was a big and potentially dangerous ask but… I couldn’t not.

I knew the risks but I couldn’t let kids die because of me. It wasn’t their fault they were stuck on Nova or most likely brainwashed by Plend and the Council. I’d be leading it though, I could take the brunt of this decision.

“Whenever kids are nearby, I want all weapons set to stun,” I said finally.

I expected a backlash or some form of complaint but the garage was utterly silent. There was no noise apart from the constant buzz of machinery.

I risked a glance at Fornax, worried that she’d be angry at me, but a faint smile played on her lips.

“Any questions?” I asked.

There was a moment of silence before someone in the crowd raised their hand.

I wasn’t used to that. I expected them just to shout them out at me. If I was on the base with my crew or anyone else in training exercises, they would have just shouted.

“Um… yes?” I said, gesturing towards them uncomfortably.

“Shouldn’t there be more people going on your ship? I mean… not that I doubt your abilities, of course. It’s just… four doesn’t seem like enough,” they said hesitantly.

I fought not to let my hands clench into fists at my sides.

It shouldn’t be four. My crew should have five. We were a complete crew but now… Now, we’re not.

“I understand that and under any other circumstance, I would agree with you but the kids on the base know me and my crew. I want them to know that they can trust us and that we’re freely making the decision to go to the base. If anyone else is there, it might not be so clear.”

“So, it’s true? You’re going to go down to the base by yourselves?” someone else asked sounding surprised even though I knew that Trolis had briefed them on the plan.

I wanted to glance back at my crew but I continued to look forwards, finding the woman in the group who had spoken.

“Yes,” I said simply.

“Isn’t that dangerous?” another person called.

“It is but it’s the best way. We’ll be running scans before we land, working out how many people are on the base and what kind of weapons they have so we should know what we’re going up against. There will be three other ships waiting just beyond the base, ready to approach if needed,” I said, more to myself and my crew than to anyone else.

We’d be fine. We had to believe that.

If I let fear take over, I’d go in with too much firepower and risk the kids.

“Any other questions?” I forced myself to ask.

This time, no one spoke or held their hand up.

I nodded and looked at Fornax who was watching me with a strange look on her face. She continued to stare at me silently for a moment before nodding and turning back towards the crowd before us.

“Alright, crew. Time to make show the Council what we can do!”