My hands shook as I landed on Sphoreia. Heartbreak that I couldn’t share this with Peggy stuck thickly in my throat threatening to choke me. I forced that aside and rolled my long blonde wing, tucking it underneath my seat so that people couldn’t see it. If the Council had seen me on that planet, they’d be expecting me to have long blonde hair. My normal hair scraped back into a bun would be better, more unexpected.

I forced myself to take a deep breath and peeked furtively through the windows. People were looking at my ship. It looked out of place in the parking lot next to so many other huge ships. I bet from above it just looked like a tiny bug. I’d parked in the compact spot but still, there was enough space behind my ship for another one to fit in. Most of the other ships in the lot seemed to be large transport ships so my tiny one-person fighter stuck out too much. There was nothing I could do about it though, I’d already landed.

Sweet floral air caressed my face the second I lifted the glass canopy and stepped out onto the planet. I took another breath, wanting another scent of that strangely gourmand smell but instead I gasped, my gaze finally settling on the world around me. I felt my eyes go wide as I took in the thousands of trees bursting in vibrant bright colours all around the parking lot. The concrete beneath my boots was strewn with the colourful petals, each one almost the size of my hand and lightly trampled.

An engine burst into life on the other side of the small lot sending fumes and leaves towards me. Raising my arm to shield my eyes, I glanced around. Most of the people in the lot seemed to be older or families with young children. Anxiety bubbled in my stomach. I’d stand out alone but I had no other options. I had to do this. I had to do it so I could tell Peggy about it one day.

I pushed the glass canopy down locking my ship and ignored the few petals that had found their way inside, before walking towards the boxy education centre where everyone else was going. The cool conditioned air inside the building was refreshing. Outside, it was warm and muggy. The air was thick, hard to breathe and saturated with perfume from the trees. It was a little overwhelming, especially with how raw I was already feeling.

Tall, floor to ceiling holodisplays explained the history of the planet. When the Council oversaw the planet many years ago, the trees were grown for their leaves. The strangely shaped building we were in was once a perfume distillery but once the Council abandoned the planet, it became a botanical garden and nature reserve.

My eyes grew wide, wanting to know more about this planet that had apparently peacefully fought against the Council and won. My eyes scoured the information boards, soaking it all in. The people here live in treetop houses, made from real wood. But they didn’t cut down trees to get it. Any tree that was injured by natural disasters, lightning strikes or disease, would be cut down and put to use. It was a symbiotic relationship, the sign told me. People on Sphoreia look after the trees and in return, they collect water from the leaves and from the harmless spiles they’d fitted into the trees and food from the plants that grew alongside the trees or the animals that frequented them.

A sigh slipped out of my lips without my consent. It seemed like a good way to live. A peaceful way.

My mind continued down that treacherous path for too long. I could see my whole crew living here happily. Cory would love to learn more about their development of medicine from these trees. I could almost hear Gem hooting with pure glee as she ran through the forest, carefully avoid any mushrooms or roots. Peggy would spend every day soaking in the knowledge of those around us whose family had been living there for thousands of years.

I don’t know what Cas and I would do. Our whole lives revolve around the Corps, without it we have nothing but our crew. I honestly don’t know what I would do with my time if I wasn’t training and fighting but I couldn’t imagine not flying again.

As a kid, I’d always wanted to go into the Space Corps but standing in Sphoeria, surrounded by families, I realised for the first time that I’d never thought any further ahead than that. I could go back to teaching, maybe? That idea was appealing to me less and less. I couldn’t teach in the Space Corps, that much was true. Even if, somehow, this all blew over and I could return to the base, I couldn’t do it.

How could I train kids to follow corrupt leaders and join in an endless fight they have no say over? This fight will be never-ending as long as the Council is still in power. Their greed and hunger for control will never be satisfied and my hatred for them would never be quietened.

Maybe I could teach on Freo? That didn’t appeal to me either. I’d still be training kids most likely for slaughter.

So, I guess that answers my question. The only future I could have is fighting the Council. Then, and maybe then if I survived that long, I could think about what else I wanted to do. For now, I couldn’t see any further ahead. I couldn’t imagine a world where I didn’t have to fight. Where I could just exist without having to constantly be looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being followed.

I sighed, returning from my daydreams and walked back outside to begin the walking tour of the gardens.

Blinking against the brightness, I came to a stop. I was standing in the middle of a large, unexpectedly empty space about the size of the parking lot. The ground was bumpy and carpeted in leaves but there were no trees. My eyebrows drew together in confusion as I walked towards the large carved wooden sign and began reading.

Here lies the symbol of the Council’s greed and hunger. Over one hundred years ago, the Council attempted to reclaim this land from our ancestors. However, they retaliated with their knowledge of poison, developed from native plants, forcing the Council to flee. They returned wielding flame throwers and attempted to force our ancestors from their homes. Luckily, they were able to act swiftly and only seven lives were lost. Their bodies remain buried under this site which will remain empty to remind visitors of the cost of hatred.

A shiver went through me and I moved away from the loud group who were approaching the sign. Several tutors, surrounded by children mostly much younger and much happier looking than me, pointed to the sign and one began reading loudly. I walked quickly away, paranoia prickling the back of my neck as the tutors watched me as if making sure I wasn’t meant to be with their group.

My legs moved over the bumpy, worn earth sluggishly. Exhaustion was starting to catch up with me like it always did after a panic attack. The calm, sereneness of the place wasn’t helping. As beautiful, pastel-coloured soft petals fell around me, occasionally landing on my head or brushing my arm on their way down to the ground, I found myself longing to rest. I too wanted to sink into the ground and lie there forever.

It was strangely inviting. The ground looked cushioned and some and, soon, the leaves would cover my body in a gentle blanket blocking out people’s stares and the sun. I’d be happy there.

Finally reaching the end of the roped off path, I glanced at the sign.

Please stay away from any mushrooms you find and don’t cause any damage.

People walked ahead of me through the underbrush, marvelling at the vivid colours. I followed them before veering away and staggering as far as I could before my legs gave out.

I sunk to the ground, staring up at the beauty and trying to take it all in.

One day, I promised myself, I will tell Peggy about this place.

My head dropped back against the thick, steady trunk of the blue flowering tree behind me and my eyes started to droop. People’s voices were distant, hushed and somehow the whisper of movement from the people in their houses above me was comforting.

My eyelids fell heavy and I allowed the fragrant air to wash over me again, encasing me in its warm comforting bubble.

“Something told me I’d find you here,” a familiar voice said after some time.