The closer we got to Freo, the harder my heart pounded. A million different scenarios raced through my head as we shot past countless stars.

It had to be the Council. They had to have heard what had happened on Osinir. I couldn’t think of any other reason for a press conference so soon after the last one.

They’d kill them all, I knew it. They’d set fire to the planet, just like they had on Sphoreia. No. Osinir is mostly barren. Fire wouldn’t spread over a predominately sand-based planet, I knew that from Weaponry lessons back on the base. The only way to subdue a planet like that would be to make it uninhabitable.

A bomb then. Probably radioactive. Nuclear. Something that would ruin the earth and make it unsafe to live there. Poison the ground so nothing could ever grow, so that gas seeps into buildings and destroys all signs of life.

They wouldn’t think twice about that.

Cas’ ship twirled beside me, gracefully and unnecessarily avoiding an asteroid that wasn’t near enough to us to warrant such actions but still it brought a smile to my face.

I pushed the engines harder, torn between wanting to enjoy the rare chance to fly with Cas and the ever-present fears about the Council. I wiped my sweating palms on my legs before gripping the controls again as Freo came into view.

“Captain Aries and Cas approaching,” I said into the radio.

“Acknowledge, prepare to embark,” the voice replied after a beat.

I slowed before bringing the ship to a halt outside of the main garage doors and waiting.

Just about to park up then we’ll meet you. Are you in the garage, Cory? I asked, assuming Cory would be meeting us there after his shift in the medBay.

Nah, already in the room. You’ve got an escort though, he thought back.

“Doors opening, park in bay seven and eight,” the radio blared.

You first, Cas thought as the big metal doors pulled open.

I directed the ship inside slowly, touching down gently on the large painted yellow number seven at the back of the row of single-person fighters. I gave the inside of the ship a once over whilst waiting for Cas to park, noticing the sealed barf bag tucked into the pocket near my knee. Cringing, I grabbed it and pushed the canopy up.

“All sorted?” Cas asked, rushing forwards to offer me his hand as I climbed out of the ship.

I took it with the hand that wasn’t holding the full bag and as soon as my feet touched the floor, I threaded my fingers through his.

“All sorted.”

“You okay?” His eyes were flicking between the bag and my face.

“Fine,” I lied lightly, “must’ve eaten something that disagreed with me.”

He pursed his lips but didn’t push it. The crease between his eyebrows deepened as he stared at me.

“I always forget how good you are at flying,” I said partially to change the subject but mostly because I genuinely meant it.

I was always the primary when we few as a crew so Cas barely got a chance to fly. If we got to work together again, I’d need to change that. It wasn’t fair. Plus, I liked watching him fly.

His lips quirked up into a grin.

“Thanks, working with the best pilot in the galaxy really sharpens your skills.”

I nudged him playfully.

“You’re talking about Fornax, right?”

“Who else would I be talking about?”

He winked cheekily.

“I heard that!” Fornax called, strolling out from her office.

“Are you not coming to the war rooms?” I asked, surprised to see her still in the garage.

“Aye. I was tasked with waiting here for you to get back and then making sure y’all make it in time so now hustle!”

“We need to strap up the ships,” I said, glancing back at the ship I’d just left.

“Nuhuh! Get a move on. Trolis! Get the ships strapped up, please,” she called.

The tired, gruff-looking second in command of the garage came out from the office next to hers.

“Oh, aye, aye Captain,” he grumbled, shooting her a dark look.

A wicked grin grew on her face as she whirled on her heel and started marching towards the door.

“One sec, I just need to…” I gestured with the vomit bag still clutched in my hands towards the chute for the incinerator that was on the other side of the garage.

“Oh, for heaven’s…” she muttered as she stalked back towards us.

She took the bag from my hands and looked around quickly.

“Trolis. Catch!”

Without hesitating, she flung the bag towards him.

“Fornax, what the fuck!” he squealed, stepping forwards quickly to catch the bag.

Her lips twitched upwards in a barely suppressed smile as the man examined the bag in his hands.

“A vom-bag? Why would you throw this? If you get vomit on my suit one more time, I swear to each and every God that I will destroy everything you hold dear! Your ship will be the first to go!” he screamed.

“Oh, please. Trolis, we are in a rush. Also, it was sealed.” she turned back to me and muttered loudly enough for him to hear, “It was sealed right?”

I nodded, trying not to laugh at the man who groaned loudly.

“You didn’t even check?” he shouted.

“We’re in a rush! Got to go! Thanks, Trolis! Love you!” she called over her shoulder with an evil smile.

He grumbled loudly but started skulking towards the incinerator without further complaint.

“Let’s go! I wasn’t kidding. Get a move on. We have three minutes!” she gestured for us to speed up as she took off quickly across the garage.

I walked as fast as I could, trepidation consuming my mind again.

Does anyone know what this is about yet? I asked.

Still no clue. It’s making people antsy here. Aquila looks like she might murder someone if she doesn’t get some answers soon, Gem thought back.

I swallowed, subconsciously clutching Cas’ hand much harder. I hadn’t wanted to face Aquila after my fuck up on Osinir but, now that I knew she was in a bad mood, I wanted to face her even less. My brain begged my legs to slow down and delay the inevitable but too soon we were standing in the empty lift.

Cas’ hand squeezed mine and I could see him looking at me from the corner of my eye.

You okay? He mouthed.

I nodded tightly back, not wanting to explain my worries.

Fornax burst out of the lift before the doors were even fully open and we followed her. The outer war room was abuzz with activity. People flitted between the cubicles, talking loudly, and watching us enter with an interested look. Orion’s hand shot out in a graceful, yet flamboyant salute as soon as he locked eyes with me and I raised my hand, tapping two fingers to my temple in a much smaller acknowledgement. My eyes strayed to his screen and ice rushed through my body as I saw my name.

He was on a forum but very clearly at the top it said ‘Captain Aries spotted alive on liberated planet, working with the resistance’. I couldn’t look away, I needed to know more about what they were saying and if anyone had been killed because of me.

“Here we go,” Fornax said, grinning as the doors to the inner room swung open.

I craned my head as I fought to see more on his screen but the door shut behind us too quickly. Biting back my fear and annoyance, I forced myself to look around the room.

Everyone was seated around the table already, their gaze fixed on the screen in the front, hushed whispers breaking out occasionally before they fell silent again. Andy and Aquila were locked in a heated conversation but her eyes found me immediately. I couldn’t work out the calculating look on her face but still, I felt coldness wrap itself around my heart. Andy muttered something to her and she finally looked away but I couldn’t hear what he said.

“Sit,” Fornax said, pushing us towards the empty seats between Elliot and our crew.

I walked forwards on unsteady legs and dropped into the seat next to him.

“Do we know what’s going on?” I asked quietly.

Elliot opened his mouth to talk but was cut off by Aquila before he could start.

“Aries, stay after the conference. I’d like to speak to you.”

I nodded nervously, trying to avoid Andy’s eyes. I knew I’d see disappointment in them. The handful of times I’d disappointed Andy in my life has stayed with me to this very day. It didn’t happen often. Normally it was when I made a dumb mistake or acted without thinking. Or once when my crew had done poorly in a mission. I hadn’t taken into account how the weight of the shipment we were picking up would impact the fuel consumption. We’d run out in an abandoned area of space that was frequented by bandits. It was the first time I’d endangered my crew and I could still see the look on Andy’s face.

“No, no clue what this is about yet,” Elliot whispered, interrupting my thoughts, “It could be nothing or it could just be about our most recent attack on the IA hunting ships.”

I nodded, my breath catching in my throat as the Council music blasted from the speakers. My leg bounced under the table as Councillor Harvey strode out, grinning his usual pseudo-grin.

Cas’ hand reached out under the table and stroked my balled fist. I unclenched it, letting his fingers slip through mine and hold tightly, anchoring me in place.

“Thank you all for coming out today,” he began as he always did, “I’m grateful to have the support of so many people!”

He looks tired, Gem thought over the fake roar of the crowd, I bet this is about the IA ships I hit two days back. We got so much stuff from them. He’ll be furious.

The glee in her voice was reassuring. That mission had been a success, she told us all about it when she got back even though it was like three in the morning. My hand unclenched slightly and my leg slowed.

“I have asked you to join us here today to address some of the rumours that have been plaguing our Capital.”

My heart thumped uncomfortably and the room grew still.

“It’s regarding a certain terrorist sect that I am sure you all have heard of. Crew Seven Six One.”

A tremble started in my hands and I felt the world slip away, my focus consumed by Harvey’s words.

“I have heard the rumours posted online about a specific member of the group. Pegasus. Several people have incorrectly claimed that the Council sent Guardians into her base in the night to steal her away and murder her but that is untrue.”

I had read that. I hadn’t been the one to post it but I was sure it was someone on Freo.

A lone voice screamed out from the crowd, “Liar!”

I found myself cheering them on internally, wishing that I could be there. I longed to scream that in his face before I murdered him.

Harvey bared his teeth at the woman who had shouted and I knew without even glancing at the other screen that showed the sparse crowd that Guardians were already on the way to kill her.

“The truth is much more clear cut and maybe a killing blow for the terrorists. Pegasus sought us out. She came willing to us. She renounced the actions of crew seven six one and wanted to help clean up the mess they made.”

My mouth hung open. Surely no one would believe that.

A whisper shot through the room but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the screen. The camera showing the stream from the Guardian’s helmet showed the crowd frozen in confusion.

The Councillor surveyed the silent crowd smugly.

“Of course, you don’t believe me. The terrorists have poisoned many minds. Why don’t you hear it from her?”