We crept forwards, Cory taking point with his shield stretched out in front of him, expecting the Guardians to appear at any moment. My eyes darted to the scanner in the corner of my vision, watching for any sign of life around us but the corridors were terrifyingly empty, the scanners terrifying still. There was nothing.

They’ve just called me to board now, Peggy thought. I’m running to the garage but I’ve already got you playing on all the screens and holodisplays.

Who’s ship are you on? I asked.

Even on edge and watching my surroundings carefully, I needed to know that she would be safe. If we didn’t make it out of the Council ship, I needed to know that Peggy would be okay. That there were people on her ship who would be able to hold her back and stop her from doing something stupid.

Andy put me on Fornax’s ship with him, she said.

There was something else that she wasn’t saying. Something more was happening there.

Who else is on the ship? I asked.

Andy, Elliot and Fornax. It’s just the four of us, she thought before hesitating. Aquila didn’t want them to come though.

We paused at a corner, checking our scanners before continuing.

Still no one.

Why not? I asked.

Too dangerous but Andy refused to stay. He said he would leave Freo permanently if she refused to let him go.

I swallowed, shock rushing through me at that. Andy was so important to the fighters, I knew that and I knew that he did too. Without him there… a lot of people would leave. It wasn’t a threat though. It was a promise. If Aquila didn’t let him come to help us, he would leave and not look back.

Wait! Cory thought, lifting his gun higher.

The dot appeared at the edge of my scanner too. There was someone ahead.

We slowed, edging forwards, our steps not making any noise. There was someone there. Just one person. A Guardian, most likely. We were about to fight. It was the only thing that made sense. They were a scout or they’d been sent forwards for some reason.

I forced myself to breathe slowly and deeply, never lowering my gun. I needed to be ready to fight, even if it was just a young Guardian who had no clue what they were doing or why. That was most likely. They were probably one of the Guardians who had chosen to stay behind, to support the Council. They probably knew what the Council were doing and still supported them.

Or maybe they didn’t. Maybe they were just a kid who had no other options and no home. The Council made leaving without dismissal a crime and they refused to dismiss them. Maybe the kid just couldn’t leave.

Neither option makes it any easier though.

What’s going on? Peggy asked desperately.

Movement on the scanner.

Be careful.

We reached another corner and paused again. There was no movement from the Guardian and there were just around the corner. There should have been something. Gunfire or something. They should have been preparing for us but they were just… waiting.

Throw the shield out. They’ll fire at it and we’ll see what we’re up against, I thought.

Cory nodded, tapping his arm to disconnect the shield. It disconnected immediately and he glanced back at us before tightening his grip on his gun.

Ready? he asked.

Ready.

I braced myself for the deafening roar of gunfire as Cory thrust his shield out into the open but I didn’t expect the quiet sob that sounded.

“Oh, Gods. Please,” a man breathed. “Who’s there? Help me, please!”

I didn’t move.

It could be a trap. Harvey might have left an injured or dying Guardian in our path, knowing that we’d want to help them. He could have injured them intentionally. Maybe they were a deserter, someone who had fought against the Council. They could have been anyone.

Or maybe they weren’t injured at all. Maybe it was all a trick.

Aries, what do we do? Cory asked.

He wanted to help the man who sobbed wetly so close to us, I knew he did. I could hear the gasping cries, the rattle of his breathing. He sounded injured. No, more than that, he sounded like he was dying.

I’m going out, I decided. I’ll see what’s going on.

Too dangerous, Cas objected immediately. I’ll go.

Cory didn’t argue though. He simply stepped forwards, rounding the corner and ducking behind the shield.

I heard his soft intake of breath as he squinted through the window on the shield, the noise sending my heart rate speeding.

Cory, what is it? I demanded.

His gun faltered before lowering.

It’s… there aren’t any Guardians here, he thought, his tone hushed. There are, they’re just… dying.

I blinked, activating my eyes mods and scanning the surroundings again.

There was one body, one Guardian, lying on the floor. I could see a pool of heat around him, cooling rapidly. Blood.

There were cooler patches in the corridor, some on the walls too.

What had happened?

I don’t see anyone else there, do you, Cory? I asked.

There was no one on the scanners either. No more bodies.

There was a pause before Cory thought, No. Can I… can I go help?

I stepped out behind him, Cas mirroring my steps, and surveyed the corridor through the screen on the shield.

Red painted the brushed metal floors and splattered on the walls, bodies lay at unnatural angles, all unmoving except one.

“Help me,” the Guardian gasped. “Help me, please. It hurts so much.”

I nodded to Cory, keeping my eyes on the corridor ahead and my hands on my gun as he slipped out towards the man.

“Hi,” he said softly to him as he knelt at his side. “Can you tell me what happened?”

The Guardian’s cloudy eyes were fixed on Cory and I was glad because I knew my expression was one of pure horror. He’d taken his helmet off and it laid abandoned next to him. Blood coated the young Guardian’s face. It dripped from his lips, pooling on his chest. Underneath it, he looked young. His pale face was untouched by age. Hells, he looked younger than we did.

His hands found Cory’s and clutched it.

“It was… it was in the water,” the Guardian started before breaking off into wet coughs, sending even more blood spraying over his dark uniform. “They’ve poisoned all of us. Everyone’s dead.”

Cory glanced at me, his other hand reaching for his medkit.

“No, don’t,” the Guardian said, lifting one shaking hand with difficulty to stop Cody’s movement. “Don’t try and save me. I don’t deserve it.”

Cory shook his head, kindly but firmly putting the Guardian’s hand back on his chest.

“Everyone deserves to live,” Cory told him softly.

The man shook his head, hacking out another cough.

“I don’t. I knew what they were doing, I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t stop them. I didn’t say anything,” the man said, tears leaking out of his eyes and clearing a track down his blood-splattered cheek.

“That’s okay, there’s nothing you could have done,” Cory said softly, pulling out a medscreen.

“I could,” the man started, coughing again. “I could have stopped them. I could have done something.”

Aries, what do we do here? Cas asked. We need to keep moving. We can’t stay with him.

I knew he was right. We needed to hurry, we needed to get to the lab and Harvey but, if the Guardian was right, if he had killed everyone… why would he do that? I just couldn’t work it out.

Cory worked steadily, typing on the screen, trying to work out what had happened to the Guardian, but we couldn’t wait. I knew there was more to Harvey’s plan than just killing all the Guardians, there had to be.

Cory looked up at me.

I know what he’s used, he told us quickly. It’s a common poison, cheap and easy to manufacture. I can stop it from killing them until the others can get here with the stuff to make the antidote.

I didn’t hesitate but maybe I should have.

Stay here, I thought. Save as many as you can. We’ll go after Harvey.

Cory paused though. He looked away, taking in the blood-stained corridor, before glancing back at me.

If you need anything, if you find Harvey or need back up or anything, just say the word and I’ll find you, he promised.

I know, I told him. Be careful. Keep an eye on your surroundings, put a proximity alarm on, and don’t risk it. If anything doesn’t feel safe, don’t go. Don’t be a hero.

His lips lifted in a grim smile.

None of this feels safe, he told me.

He was right.

I hesitated, not wanting to split up our crew again, before looking away from Cory, my eyes finding Cas.

We need to find my dad, he thought, his expression intense. If he’s done this… what else is he planning?

I nodded.

You two focus on Harvey, Peggy thought, her voice hushed, horrified. When I get there, I can destroy the lab. I’m pretty sure I know where it is.

I swallowed.

Okay. Just… be careful, Cory.

I will be, he thought before lifting a bloody hand to tap his helmet.

“Chal, can you hear me?”