"So how much access do you currently have?" Z curiously asked the interface in front of her that was shifting between sinusoidal waves and polygon structures. Dr. Singh shook his head in disapproval and continued his work in the adjacent laboratory testing lunar samples for any anomalies Apollo might have caused.

"Well, I've seen the lunar bases blueprints and they could do with some improvements. My program was built partially by you and other contributors but was improved upon by me so really my limits are restricted to my A.I.'s location" L.U.N.A began to express herself in a more mature tone. Z began to look worried at the thought of an A.I. that could upgrade itself.

"If you don't mind L.U.N.A I'm going to run some diagnostic tests and install new patches that will aid you in navigating Amir and the other crew members safely back to Earth. Estimated time of arrival is still 1 hour?" She asked masking her intentions.

"Correct. I'll switch to safe mode while you install the patches, Zabine" she said reverting back to sinusoidal waves on the monitor Z sat in front of. Furiously typing away at her keyboard Z intended to install safeguards for L.U.N.A that would prevent her from evolving without human validation.

"Every story of A.I. ends with them becoming our overlords, enslaving a less superior species and building a "better" world. Why do we even need this?" Dr. Singh appeared at the quarters doorway with look of concern on his face.

"In the face of uncertainty we need this certainty. L.U.N.A will work." Z mentioned without taking her eyes of her laptop connected to the stations remote servers. She knew if she revoked L.U.N.A's access to the lunar mainframe it would only make her suspicious so she encrypted a constantly adapting algorithm that would prevent any future self upgrades.

"The boys will be home soon" Z sighed turning the system back on.

"T-minus 15 minutes to entry" L.U.N.A spoke gently out of the overhead comms.

Inside the the Perseus Pilot Amir diligently followed the flight plan that was mapped in front of him in a shade of blue. Two symmetrical lines were guiding the ship back to Sriharikota, India where the ISRO launch site awaited the crew.

"Do we have a debrief ready" Saghir asked overlooking the sedated security crew while strapped in his co-pilot seat.

"Something about a guy in a mask, be prepared for war and that the lunar base a communication blackout zone. Isn't that right L.U.N.A?"

"Partially, whether or not the anomaly and the lunar bases communication blackout are interlinked is still unclear. And isn't Earth always preparing for war, at least from the data I've gathered." She said to the silence of both crew members.

"Let's go with that." Saghir agreed.

The blue sphere of water and earth was now close enough to reach. Saghir unstrapped and inched towards the visor to witness their home.

"It really is quite beautiful" L.U.N.A added viewing the planet from the Perseus's forward sensors.

"Perseus do you copy?" suddenly broke the hypnotic silence. It was professor Kanan of ISRO.

"Loud and clear, professor" Amir replied. "We have 2 security crew members injured and 2 fit to fly."

"And an artificial intelligence that's taking care of you, I presume." Kanan sarcastically retorted. Amir blushed and brushed the comment over.

"Entering Earth's atmosphere at 40,000 kilometers per hour. You're doing beautifully Chandrayaan-10. Your parachute should deploy after you've reached an altitude of 80km and then your lower thrusters – which look fully operational – will be softening your landing at intervals of 10km. It's a bumpy journey so strap in!" Professor Kanan spoke into the now working communication channel to the confirmation of the crew.

"You left out the part where D.O.M will be receiving them for a debrief as soon as they emerge from their ship" Yunus said venting his frustration at the defeated professor.

"There was an issue, it is their right." Professor Kanan simply replied. "I just hope the others are doing well."

________________________________________________________________________________

At the rise of dawn a blooming white flower resembling a lily bloomed out into a red carnation. Fields of similar flowers followed as Apollo lead the way on the dirt road that lead to a mud hut. The vast blue countryside was a fresh of breath air from the dystopian nightmare of Totali they had transported from.

"Does the nausea get any better?" Sara asked in between gags of air.

"If it didn't would you still travel with me?" Apollo asked sincerely. His eyebrows contorted in analysis of his two companions and whether or not they could actually be his friends. Sara took a deep breath of air and rose into an upright position.

"Right" Apollo sighed and knocked thrice on the wooden door of the mud hut. There was no reply.

"To add context to the situation me and the fella in there are not on the best of terms. I ran away with his wife. His wife duped me to get off planet and neither of us were any better for it. Or we were, depends on your outlook" he concluded. He suddenly ducked down as a blaster beam shot through the wooden door and into the field of carnations.

"Hello to you too, Venus!" Apollo yelled over the reverberating sound of the blaster. He seemed prepared for battle with his right hand inches away from his blaster but his left raised as a sign of peace.

"Whatd'ya want Pol?" a gravelly voice replied from behind the door.

"I've got two companions out here from a planet called Earth, they're establishing a moon-base and plan to colonize their solar system. I just wanted an experienced opinion on the matter to give them a few tips" he quickly retorted.

"Earth..." the gravely voice repeated. "What concern is it of yours Pol whether or not these humans colonize the stars."

"I'm concerned about what might happen as a result of them entering the cosmic battle." Apollo replied calmly as if connecting to the stranger on a past encounter. The door opened to a muscular grey figure shirtless with self inflicted scars marking his torso. He wore a brown loincloth that extended to his ankles and was fitted in leather sandals. He put his large shotgun-like rifle down and came inches away from Apollo who now stood upright.

"You do not care for anyone but yourself. Your actions do not make up for your past. You are and always will be a murderer." Venus mouthed to Apollo before turning his attention to Arjun and Sara. "You're better off on your own." he said sternly before walking back towards his hut.

"A man once looked up at the sky and saw possibility. A possibility of expansion, exploration and excitement. Their planet was dying and this was their best hope. He slaved day and night to build, pleaded with the elders to convince them of his plan and when all else failed expedited the extinction of his people so that they would be forced to leave the dying planet. You ask why I care about these Earthlings? Because they aspire to colonize Mars, again."

Silence followed Apollo's monologue. Venus stood still with back to the trio and his hands balled into a fist.

"If they do, they will retain the wrath of all those that the martians wronged." Venus spoke through gritted teeth. "Blood oaths are everlasting and never forgotten." Apollo slowly nodded.

"We're both murderers Venus, we've fought enough wars trying to defend what is right and disgraced ourselves by coming out alive. War is coming, this was just a friendly notice." Apollo turned as soon as he was finished and walked back down the dirt road followed by a confused Arjun and Sara.

"We originated from Martians?" Arjun was quick to question.

"Partially." Apollo abruptly answered.

"So do we or do we not colonize Mars?" Sara continued the line of questioning.

"Not up to us to decide" Apollo abruptly answered again. He paused at the discomfort both of them felt at the answers he had given them.

"I think it's time to return you to the moon. Disable the communication black-out and see how this plays out. Venus is right, I'm not the right person for this." Apollo spoke solemnly pressing the notch on his heart and creating a flurry of indigo lights that consumed the trio and brought them back to the lunar base from where they had begun their travels.

"Time dilation this time?" Arjun requested nauseated.

"One day. I just needed some practice" Apollo smirked.

Defensive Organization of Moderators debriefing room

In a classically brightly lit box of room sat Amir facing a circular terminal.

"You encountered an anomaly while on the lunar base who incapacitated your security and took two of your crew members on a separate trip to an unknown location while your communications expert built an A.I. meant for stage 5 of the lunar mission." a monotone voice spoke through the audio peripherals on either side of the circular camera meant to examine the candidates eye dilation, heart rate and stress levels. Surprised by the accuracy of the account Amir concisely replied "Yes." Silence followed the response as if calculations were being made on the other side of the box Amir sat in.

"What was the purpose of the anomaly?" The monotone voice finally asked.

"He was there to warn us of the impending war we would be entering by initiating a lunar base to explore the solar system." He briefly answered. He had told them the truth, or at least his version of it, there was no point in hiding anything from D.O.M in his mind. Their purpose was to protect the people of Earth.

"You and Saghir will be assigned as instructors at the ISCRO space academy while the NASA mission continues on to an early phase 2 of the lunar base. Any objections?" It felt like he had been punched in the gut. It was highly likely the duo wouldn't be allowed back on the lunar base immediately but returning to the ISCRO training academy was a slap in the face. Back to the beginning he thought nodding his head in agreement at the offer.

On the other side of the debriefing room was a lowly lit operation centre where a trio of white collared technicians sat analyzing Amir's behavioral functions.

"We know he's not lying" a figure in the dark mentioned emerging slightly out of the shadows. "Saghir's version of events match his. We really do have a space anomaly up there." He paced over to the only window in the room and peered out into the sky. "How exciting."

"We'll have to equip NASA with the necessary armaments, I suppose." One of the white colored workers turned around and suggested.

"That won't end well" their superior sighed.