The Guardians pulled me forwards again but I struggled against them, fighting to get back to the Councillor.

“What do you mean ‘was’?” I shouted.

He said nothing, his lips curving up in a cruel smile as he watched the Guardians finally dragged me out of his office.

Was meant she didn’t survive.

I tried to fight them, screaming at the Councillor, begging for more details but his door was closed behind me and their grip on my arm was too strong.

I gave up.

Tears welled in my eyes as I was pulled along blindly behind the Guardians.

Gem! Can you hear me? I thought desperately.

What’s going on? Cory replied, anguish evident in his thoughts.

Gem! Please! I screamed internally, trying to hold back the wave of heartbreak that was threatening to break me.

I waited, hopelessly, for her to reply but I heard nothing. Tears flowed freely down my face.

What’s going on? Cory asked again even more desperately.

I think she’s dead. I was barely able to form the thoughts.

No. Peggy breathed. She can’t be.

Cory didn't reply and neither did Cas but I could feel their agony.

The world moved around me and I realised I was in a lift, probably going back down to my cell.

“Stop crying.” One of the Guardians ordered.

I ignore them, unable to hold back my tears even if I wanted to. My love for Gem was overpowering and I couldn’t cope with her being gone. She was one of my best friends and she deserved so much better.

“There’s no need to cry. She was worthless and so are you.” The other one sneered at me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out their words. She couldn’t be dead. I needed her to be alive. We needed her to be alive. Waves of helplessness washed over me, threatening to overwhelm me.

“Stop crying or we’ll give you something to cry about!” The one on the left threatened, her grip tightening on her baton.

I tried. I breathed deeply and dug my nails into my hands but it didn't help much. Gem was dead.

“I’m sick of this noise.” One of them complained as they brought the lift to a halt with a push of a button.

The Guardian turned, holding up their baton menacingly. I sucked a breath in and stepped back slightly but I bumped into the back of the lift. There was nowhere else for me to go. Panic broke through the numbing heartbreak I was feeling.

“Traitor.” They spat before bringing their baton down on my face.

Pain flared across my jaw as I tried to raise my hands to protect myself but being handcuffed in a small lift meant there wasn’t much I could do.

The baton came down again, this time catching the side of my head and causing lights to burst in front of my eyes.

Aries, what’s going on? Why has the lift stopped? Cas’ worried voice echoed around my head.

The Guardians aren't happy with me, Is all I could think as I tried to avoid their blows.

“Don’t aim for her face so much, remember?” A Guardian said, punching me savagely in the stomach.

I doubled over, bile burning my throat.

The baton cracked against my ribs, knocking the air out of me and I barely manage a grunt. Hot tears dripping down my face as I dropped into a ball to protect myself, unable to breathe.

Aries, are you okay? I heard faintly.

A fist smashed against my back and vomit trickled out of my mouth mixed with blood but I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

I tried to think something to the others to let them know that I was okay, just injured but the thoughts danced in my head just out of reach.

“Disgusting.”

Somewhere in my mind, I had the thought that maybe I deserved this for killing Gem.

The lift started moving again and the world span around me as vomit threatened to escape again. The pressure on my chest told me I wasn’t breathing enough. Or maybe I was really hurt. I tried to suck in a breath but I felt myself start to heave instead.

Aries!

I tried again to reply to the panicked shouts but my thoughts swam away from my grasp half formed.

“Get up.” I think someone barked at me.

I could barely make out what they were saying over the ringing in my ears. A hand drifted into my field of vision, the outline swaying. I tried to move my legs so that they wouldn’t hit me again but I lurched forwards, unable to support myself.

“Oh for nik’s sake.” One of the Guardians muttered before they dragged me to my feet.

The movement was too much for me and I felt the vomit leak out of my mouth, dripping onto my shirt. I opened my eyes with monumental effort as I heard the lift doors open again but the sudden brightness burnt my eyes and I squeezed them shut, retreating to the spinning darkness. The ringing in my ears had started to subside and I could hear vague banging and shouting coming from a distance. It felt like I was underwater and the warbled sound was coming from a great distance.

Cas’ voice. My brain told me but I couldn’t work out what he was saying. The words were unintelligible and blurring together.

The Guardians opened my cell door and pushed me inside. With them no longer holding me up, I crumpled to the ground, pain shooting through my hands as I hit the floor.

“Aries! Please!” I heard shouted, the speaker sounding like he was in pain.

“I’m okay.” I managed through bruised lips.

The effort of speaking causes my head to spin dangerously, bright lights flashing into existence behind my closed eyes.

Aries, are you okay? Please! Nik! This is all my fault. Aries! Cas cried, his voice thick with tears.

I’ll be okay… Just give me a minute. I thought weakly before the white spots in my vision overpowered me.

The sharp smell of vomit and bile stinging my nostrils was the first thing I noticed. Cas’ voice shouting was the second thing.

Hello?

Oh, Aries! Are you okay? His voice came back too loudly.

I winced, the movement causing jarring pain to dance across my face. I forced my eyes open, the white walls reflecting painful light straight into my brain. I sat up slowly and taking account of my injuries.

I’ve been better. I tried to joke but it fell flat.

Physical report. Cory requested, sounding weak and tired.

I crawled to the wall, not trusting myself to walk, my head swimming from effort and bright spots threatening my vision again. I raised my hands to my face, feeling for any bruising or serious injury but they came away wet.

My face feels a mess. I don’t think anything’s broken. No loose teeth but a bust lip and probably a black eye or two.

Keep going.

I stretched my neck to the side feeling stiffness and dizziness but no sharp pain. Good.

Probably a concussion. Got dizziness, headaches, stiffness all the usual.

That makes sense, you were unconscious for a little while.

How long?

Not long, just under a minute? Probably less. Cory estimated.

I winced. That was not the worst but still wasn’t good.

Any weakness in your arms?

I clenched my fists gently, there was a slight twinge of pain in my left hand where I vaguely remembered one of the Guardians standing on it but it didn’t feel broken, just sore. I’m not sure when that happened, it’s a bit of a blur.

I stretched my arms out gingerly, gasping involuntarily when I felt a stabbing pain in my side. Lights burst in front of my eyes and I clenched them shut again, trying desperately to cling to consciousness.

Aries? Cas thought anxiously when I didn’t answer.

Sorry, I’m okay. Just need a second… Broken rib I think, no weakness though.

I tried to breathe as deeply as possible but each breath felt like I was being kicked in the chest again.

Have you coughed up any blood?

I looked at the pool of vomit on the floor, my stomach churning again, but didn’t see any blood.

I don’t think so.

Do you know where we are? Cas asked gently.

No, but we didn’t before either. I smiled weakly.

Have you vomited? Cory continued.

Yeah but I think they hit me in the stomach pretty badly.

Anything else?

My hands probed gently along my ribs, the pain was bad but it was nothing I hadn’t felt before. I stretched my legs out, rotating my ankles and felt no pain.

I think that’s it. I was drained and just wanted sleep.

I hate him. This was my dad. Cas said, fury boiling in his voice.

He’s an asshole. Peggy’s voice was quiet yet passionate.

My head slumped back against the wall, exhausted.

Aries? I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Cas whispered.

No, it’s not. I said feeling my heart break again at the pain in his voice. We would have still been captured even if your dad wasn’t a Councillor.

She’s right. It’s my fault. All of this is my fault. Peggy barely managed to think, clearly crying.

We saved so many people because of you, Peg. I argued shakily.

But not Gem. She replied sadly.

Tears overwhelmed me again, burning my eyes. She was dead.

They were wrong. It wasn’t Peggy’s fault or Cas’ fault. It was my fault. I told her to go out and fix the other ship. I could have gone. Or at least sent someone else. She was the best free flyer but not the best engineer. Maybe if I had sent Cas or Peggy everyone would still be alive.

My head dropped into my hands and I cried until no tears would come, each sob wracking my head and filling it with pain. Finally, that pain became too much and I threw up again, this time onto the cold floor of my cell.

I hate myself for what I did. I could have done more.

The lights turned off, offering little relief to my head, and leaving just enough to be able to see my bed. I crawled again and paused when I reached my bed, my nostrils flaring. The smell of vomit was just as strong now as it had been where I was sitting before. Something was wrong with that.

I sniffed again, trying to work out whether I had stepped in it or crawled through it and realised I must have thrown up on myself at some point. My hands gingerly patted my shirt down, cringing when they touched the damp front. I pulled it over my head and threw it as far away as I could, the movement jarring my ribs and causing me to hiss in pain.

I’m sorry Gem.