Got them! Just two tutors there, not sure where Plend is but they’re in standard armour. It looked weird though. Like, it was fancier than normal but I’m sure it’s just the normal stuff, Cory told us, confirming what I’d thought.

Why would they just have normal armour? I thought the Council would have made sure they had something better if they suspected they would be going up against us. I mean, they must have known we’d come. Why did the Council abandon them?

Where’s the weak point? I asked instead.

I’m not sure. I think it’s probably the neck, it normally is, he shot back. Weapons don’t look like anything special, just normal phase guns. Couple darts and rifles.

They must have been taken from the armoury, I added, peering through the window of the shield. Peg, start firing again. Bring the shields down.

Why didn’t they go for the good stuff? she asked as the ship exploded back into action, sending a steady stream of bullets at the tutors. Do you think Orion took any weapons with her when she left?

She might have hidden them, I suggested. We need to lure them out. Make them think we’re incompetent so they leave themselves open. Where’s Plend?

The ship barely even stopped firing as Peggy quickly checked on the missing tutor.

She’s still in her office, what the fuck is she doing there? Peggy thought back.

My mind span.

What was she doing there? It could have been anything really but all I knew at the time was that she could be calling the Council. There could have been Guardians and maybe even the IA on the way to overwhelm us. We needed to take her out.

I know it’s not an excuse, of course I do, but she was the bigger risk.

Fuck, I sound like I’m trying to justify it, I know I do but… She was the bigger risk. She was a fanatic, she would have killed us, I was sure. I thought that’s why she went to her office rather than trying to sneak around the back of the garage to ambush us.

Why is she not coming? Cory thought.

Are there any calls going out? Can you find out what she’s doing? I thought, aiming at the shields and firing so that Peggy could focus just on working out what Plend was doing.

No, nothing. Either she’s not using the normal system or she’s not doing anything in there.

I waited for Peggy to start firing again before stopping, giving myself a chance to think.

Would it have been different if Gem was still there? She was better at this than us but I know, ultimately, it still would have been my decision.

One of us needs to go to her office, I thought slowly, continuing before anyone could object. No, we need to. If she’s calling the Council or rigging this place to blow, we need to know and we need to act quickly.

Agreed, Cas thought back.

The fact that he agreed so quickly both reassured me and concerned me. I knew it wasn’t an irrational fear I had if he was worried too.

I’m going to go. I’m going to make a run for the service hatch against the right wall, near Pict’s office. I can get near to Plend from there, I thought, glancing towards the hatch.

What if they’ve changed the codes? Peggy asked.

I should go, Cas thought but I shook my head.

No. I’m going. I left out how dangerous I knew it was. They won’t have changed the codes, they don’t know how. I’ve still got the chip, it’ll be fine.

They might have, I left that out too.

There was a moment of silence before Cory finally broke it.

We can lay covering fire. Distract them so that they’re cowering. None of their weapons will be able to piece your armour but it still might knock you down. Just sprint for the hatch and get in.

I will, I thought back, knowing his words were to warn me but also reassure himself.

Let us know when you’re ready to go, we’ll give them everything we’ve got, Peggy thought softly.

Aries, Cas started.

I knew that sentence was going to end with either ‘are you sure’ or ‘be careful’ but I couldn’t hear it.

Keep me up to date on what’s going on here, I thought over him. The second the tutors are downed, let me know. If you’re low on ammo or get hit, even if you think it is minor, tell me immediately.

We will, Cas thought.

And… I paused, not quite sure what to add. I knew it might be the last time I ever spoke to them, I wanted to tell them I loved them and to be careful and to take care of each other if anything happened to me but I settled for, No retreat.

No surrender.

I took a deep breath, my hands tightening on my gun and peered through the window again.

I couldn’t take the shield with me, it was too big. I would be faster without it. I knew that, of course I did, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it.

Going in five, get ready. Increase it on two, I instructed, glancing at the hatch again.

Got it.

I shuffled slightly, trying to get in the best position to run without giving away what I was doing, just in case they could see through my shield.

Five, four, three, two, the increased firing was immediately evident. Even with my helmet on and noise suppression in place, it was deafening. One!

I darted out from behind my shield, sprinting for the hatch.

It felt like I didn’t blink or even look away from my goal as I ran. I knew that if I did, if I faltered even slightly, it would give them the chance to fire. I think they must have been scared. I’m not sure what it was but they didn’t fire. I was at the hatch before they even looked around the edge of their shield.

That’s when I glanced back.

I’d slapped my hand against the scanner and I was waiting, just waiting for the door to open.

It felt like it took forever but it was just enough time for the tutor, whoever they were, to notice me and raise their gun. I dove through the door, my heart hammering in my chest as I braced for impact.

I was knocked forwards as bullets slammed into my back, throwing me to the ground, but I made myself roll further into the service corridor as my breath left me.

Aries! Cas shouted.

I’m fine, I thought back, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment to run a scan of my suit. Nothing’s pierced or broken. Are they coming for the door?

I needed to know. Did I have a moment to catch my breath or would they rush me?

The door started to close automatically as Cas thought, They haven’t moved.

I rested my head back against the floor, the pain in my back searing, and sucked in a painful breath.

I knew that they would probably be telling Plend what had happened and that I shouldn’t have but I stayed there for too long, just waiting until the painkillers the suit injected into me automatically kicked in.