I dragged myself to my feet, the pain in my back still noticeable but I didn’t trust the tutors enough to stay there any longer. My back objected to the movement and I knew immediately that, if I survived the day, the pain was going to be much worse in the morning.

The corridor was quiet, too quiet really. Normally there was the faint buzz of electricity, the bustle of Bots speeding to and fro, but there was nothing. It was eerie. A little scary actually.

The base that I knew and loved so much, that had been my home for so long, felt like it was dead.

There should have been something.

I started along the corridor, my feet following the familiar route without me even needing to think about it, but I was tense. It felt like I was walking into a trap. I mean, why was she in her office? She shouldn’t have been. She should have been out fighting amongst the other two tutors. It didn’t feel right.

“Aries, why are you leaving the garage?” a voice asked straight into my ear, making me jump.

I lowered my gun, glancing around just in case.

“Plend is still in her office, I don’t know what she’s planning but I’m not comfortable with it. I… I have a bad feeling,” I said, hating how weak and unsure I sounded.

The tutors always said to trust our instincts but what if I was wrong? What if, this time, I should have ignored it?

There was a pause before Trolis spoke again, “Are you safe going there alone? Should we come down?”

I hesitated.

“No. My crew can handle it. If anyone else comes down, they might do something stupid like blow this place up. With just my crew, they’ll think it’s a fair fight.”

How is it going? I asked.

“Okay, we’re here if you do need us. Don’t take any chances, yeah? We can be there in seconds.”

Good, they’ve got another shield and they’re trying to push forwards but obviously, they can’t. We’ve got this, Peg sent back, her voice more confident than before.

I nodded, taking a steadying breath and continued jogging along the route.

The only sound was the gentle rhythmic thud of my boots as I sped towards where I knew Plend was, stopping at each intersection to listen carefully and scan the area. I was scared, so scared, but not for me.

My fear was that, if I ran into any of the kids, if they hadn’t followed my orders and stayed where I’d told them to, I wouldn’t be able to keep going. Or somehow, word would get back to Plend and she’d be ready for me.

My eyes found the camera on the wall in front of me as I paused, looking at a ladder. I could hear the quiet whisper of voices, a lot of them, somewhere nearby. They were probably down the ladder, maybe one or two floors below. That was close enough to the canteen that it could have just been overspill but I couldn’t risk it.

I blinked, still staring at the camera and not wanting to move.

I’m still not sure if it was on. Andy had told me he’d disabled all of the cameras before he left. He’d said he’d systematically destroyed the wiring, making it unsafe to ever use, but I still worried. She could have been watching me. She could have seen me coming but still, she stayed in her office. Why?

Why did any of this happen? Why is her name another on my list with a fucking question mark next to it?

Did I even do the right thing?

The whispers below me paused and then started, louder this time. I didn’t hesitate. I threw myself forwards, over the hatch, and started climbing up, away from the voices. If I ran into a kid, what if they wanted to come with me? I couldn’t have another death on my hands. Another person killed because of me.

It was a longer route, going up over the classrooms and offices, but it was the safer one. It was quiet, dead.

There was no one there. I didn’t even hear whispers.

It felt like only seconds before I was standing by the hatch near Andy’s office, ready to step back out into the corridors I’d walked hundreds of times. Not Andy’s office, I needed to remind myself. Plend’s. It hadn’t been his for a very long time.

But still, as I looked around the familiar yet foreign hallway, my heart sank.

I was so close to the Tutor’s bedrooms. We’d lived so close to where I was standing. A few steps and I’d be standing in that hall, outside my old room.

I wonder if it still looks the same.

Memories hovered at the edge of my mind, reaching out to me, but I forced myself to push them back. They didn’t matter right then. What did matter was Plend and whatever she was doing in the office she’d stolen.

I paused, scanning the corridors and cycling through my eye mods, checking for movement or anything else that might be suspicious, but there was nothing. It was quiet and empty.

How’s it going? I asked again, almost wishing that I hadn’t left them.

I still don’t know if it was the right decision or not.

Good, we’re— Peggy stopped thinking immediately, falling silent.

My heart leapt into my throat and I stepped back towards the hatch. I was too far from them. Even if I were to run, I wouldn’t get back there.

What’s going on? I thought sharply, trying to hide my panic but needing to know what was happening.

Was it Cas or Cory? Which member of my crew had died because of my actions?

We got them! Peggy cried. One down, one to go!

My heart fluttered with relief so strong I almost felt dizzy.

You downed one? I asked, needing to be sure.

Cory did!

Good job. Keep going but be careful, okay? It was almost a plead.

Of course, Cory thought back.

How’s it going there? Cas asked.

Almost at the office.

There was a moment of silence before Cas responded.

Be careful, he thought softly. Just… just be careful.

My chest tightened.

I will, I told him.

And… come back to us, alright?

I always will.

At least that one wasn’t a lie. I’ve told too many of them.

I didn’t have any more excuses. The knowledge that my crew had downed one of the tutors drove me forwards because what if Plend was just waiting to see if we’d be killed before she did something reckless like blow the place up? Or what if she was on comms to the Guardians and they were waiting just beyond Trolis’ scanner, ready to storm the base. We wouldn’t survive that.

I’m almost at Plend’s office. Peggy, can you override the door when I say so or should I ask Trolis?

I waited anxiously for her response.

I can do it. We’re almost done here.

My heart squeezed and I stopped, scanning the corridor again as I neared my goal. It was there, in the distance. A camera was staring directly at me and I knew, if it were on, it would be able to see me but… nothing happened. I braced for impact and everything. I was certain that something was going to happen but nothing did.

The corridor was silent and motionless.

I crept along slowly, so slowly. My breath hitched in my throat and my hands tightened on my gun. My mind was basically empty. I was just focusing on the door and my surroundings.

There should have been something, right? There should have been some defence drone or a bot, something to warn her that I was coming.

Did the Council abandon them? Is that what happened? They’d left the planet and everyone behind to fend for themselves? Or did they just not care?

I’m almost there. A few steps and I’ll be ready, I warned Peggy, even my thoughts coming out in a whisper.

Ready when you are, she replied.

Be careful, Plend is dangerous, Cas warned.

I nodded even though I knew they couldn’t see me and I edged along the wall.

I was next to the door, my hand on my gun, when I realised I should have brought a shield. I didn’t even think to bring one. This wasn’t part of the plan. At no point did I ever think I’d be hunting Plend down by myself.

I should have been more prepared.

But it didn’t matter.

Peggy, ready for you to open it.

There was a pause and I felt my heart slow down. It was ready, I was ready.

I wasn’t even scared but I knew I should have been.

Opening in three, two, one.

I fired before the doors were even fully open.