"... urhk!"

Since when did it happen?!

Hiiro was on his arms and knees, vomiting onto the floor. Everything was still a blur, while his other senses were dulled and he was incapable of pushing himself back up. But at least his mind was clearing up first.

What?! How?! What could have possibly bypassed his mental augmentations and reduced him into this state?!

Wait…

It was due to that light!

Finally, his mind was able to form a coherent thought.

"... brother!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, his pupils darting wildly, like he was searching for something. "Are you there…!?"

The Count, who himself was still somewhat unfocused, went to his knees and placed a hand on his older brother's shoulders.

All the while, the ship was still engulfed in a bright white light.

"I'm here, Hiiro! You're disoriented, so calm down!"

But then came a screeching, pulsating hum. Bringing along a migraine that felt like an ice pick being stabbed repeatedly into his head. It was so agonizing that he nearly slammed the back of his head against the Count's face.

"Niaaaagh! Get me up, now! We have to g-aAgh!"

There was something-!

Something in the light!

Why couldn't he say it?!

He needed to warn his brother, but the aching in his head worsened the more he tried. It was only then that the younger twin truly noticed their surroundings.

It wasn't just Hiiro. Members of the crew and those who served under him were also on all fours, screaming wretchedly while others like the Count were unaffected and tried to help.

"... it's like Serenityy!" Hiiro could barely utter through the pain. "We can't say anything abOUT it!!! But we have to go, now! Away from the liiIGHT!"

"Understood, brother!" The Count answered before placing Hiiro's arm over his shoulder and grabbing his arm. "All men, do not look outside! Grab those that you can, we are leaving!"

Hasty answers and screams alike came through his earpiece as a response, but as long as they knew what they had to do.

Of course, there was a tacit understanding between them. After all, not a single Imperial moved to aid the crew.

"... what's the pLAN, bR-"

"We're evacuating." The Count said with a grunt as he lifted his brother. "When you pulled me around, I saw an Imperial vessel with its shields on, moving our way. We just need to gather as many people as we can before we leave."

Hirro couldn't even nod. But as one of the men opened the doors, they quickly filed out and let it close behind them. Even while some of them kicked and screamed, those unaffected held them tightly, making sure that they got through.

And once they were out - the migraines stopped.

The hallway was suddenly silent, save for their gasps, groans and chattering teeth.

"Brother… you mentioned a ship… should we try the comms below this level?"

"Are you sure you can lead the way, Hiiro?"

"Yes… just… just give us a second to catch our breath…"

Then, he remembered.

Just now. No. Just earlier. He wanted to say something. He wanted to warn his brother about… something.

But he had no idea what. Did he see anything? Hear anything? Feel anything?

"Brother… what happened inside there? I can't remember."

"Okay, enough. I'll lead. Hand me your weapon, Hiiro."

But rather than receive the gun, the Count had his collar grabbed instead.

“Do not dare, brother! I am not unfit!”

"Lord Count! Captain! Please, if I may…" One of the men called out, while wiping the bile off his chin with a sleeve. "I too cannot remember anything after seeing the light. Even though I know that something happened for us to be standing here now."

Silent nods from the others like him confirmed their collective condition.

"If that is the case… all of you who were affected, give up your weapons. You're dead weight now. But we'll drag you, nonetheless. You as well, Hiiro. Do not make me repeat myself."

"... understood."

And with that, their fighting force was halved. With the unarmed now at the center of the group and the Count at the helm.

But time waits for no man. Not even for him.

With a violent crash in the distance, the ship shook violently and threw all the men against and across the hallway. However, unlike their sorry displays just a minute ago, every single man was able to land on their feet or recover within a second or two.

“Prepare for anything! We head for the main square first!”

*** *** ***

The door would open once again, how long it had been, Guila did not know. There was no clock in the room.

Standing at the door was another tanned female soldier. Based on the similar dirty uniform, she was most likely also working for the woman from before.

But this one was carrying… a medical kit?

Her eyes then met with Guila's, who hadn't moved from her earlier position, then turned to the left, where Ariel supposedly was. Before she turned back to her and walked in.

‘... so she didn’t hurt herself. That’s…’ A part of her was relieved knowing that, but she was worried to utter anything at all. Not because she feared any further beatings, but because…

While she was lost in her own head, the soldier, with her brunette hair tied into a short ponytail, had kneeled beside her popped shoulder and held it.

"Ahk-! Wai- Eeik!" One could almost say that the fierce jolt of pain brought new life to her, as her expression was now far more lively than before.

It was only then, when she was about to complain, did Guila notice her expression. There was a thin, wry smile on her pockmarked face.

"It'll be sore for a few days. Maybe weeks. But we have cooling patches to help with that." She then quickly rummaged through her kit and produced bandages, disinfectants and many more.

"... thank you. Can you help me-?"

"I can’t help you up your bed. I was explicitly ordered not to. You will have to do that on your own." Her tone was curt and flat, like she didn't wish to speak. And yet, she replaced the bandages around her wounded thigh with such gentleness.

‘Why?’ She wanted to ask. But kept herself from doing so.

That was until it was time for the patches on her head to be changed - as Guila was staring straight at the name on her chest.

'PFC. Corteza'

"Were you ordered to be nice, however?"

"No, I was not." Once again, a curt reply. And yet, her hands didn't stop working. “I treat you well of my own accord, and because I swore an oath to do so.”

“I see…”

Then her smile widened, before she placed a hand over Guila’s.

“Don’t worry. Nobody else on this ship hates you enough to just barge in and lynch you. They made sure of that when your name popped up on the manifest.”

“Is that why most of the crew are on the younger side?” It was a question that needed no answer. Corteza then pulled her hand away and started putting her medical instruments away.

“But there might be at least one more, now. But it’s a bit too late to deny tickets at this point.” She said with a wry chuckle. “I'll be back with your meals later. Good luck."

And with that, she was gone. Leaving only Guila, staring back at the floor.

"Good luck, she says…"

She then turned her gaze towards the person behind the curtain. Ariel had been silent all this time. Now, she was too. Quiet.

So painfully quiet.

“... Ariel-”

And so it happened. A violent crash shook the ship like a giant snow globe in the hands of a child. Guila couldn’t even scream before she was thrown forward, through the curtain, and against the cold, hard tile floor.

But what? What could possibly have caused all of this?

Well, those aboard Serenity need not worry about the unknown for much longer. The always intended passengers had finally arrived.