Anxiety churned in my stomach as my hands patted my concealed weapons compulsively.

I glanced around at Tuc and Elliot who were standing on either side of me behind the sealed door. Elliot’s face was a mask of concentration but Tuc’s easy smile had returned, all traces of his earlier tears gone.

“Okay, Aquila has spoken to the Captain on the other ship. They’re preparing to bring Peggy out,” he told me before turning back to the rest of the crew.

They had come out of their pods and were standing to attention.

“Alright, Trolis and Drac. I want you both to stay on the weapons once we’re out there. You’ve got access to my earpiece and my mods. If anything happens or seems suspicious, try my mods first then, if I don’t reply, try the comms,” Elliot ordered.

They nodded and ducked back into their pods, each shooting me quick, reassuring smiles.

“Are you ready for us to go out?” Elliot asked me in a lower tone.

“You’re coming with me?” I asked dumbly.

I don’t know why but I hadn’t thought either of them would actually get off the ship.

“No, we’re just going to leave you to deal with that small army of Guardians alone,” Tuc said sarcastically, jutting his chin towards the window. “Yes, we’re coming with you.”

My eyes went wide.

“No, what? It’s too dangerous!” I objected, stepping back away from them.

They shot each other a look that said they’d expected my protests but neither said anything.

“Surely you can’t be okay with this? What if they recognise either of you? They’ll definitely want to take you too!” I said, fear pounding within me.

“Aries, we know the risks,” Tuc said softly. “We want to do this.”

“No. You can’t risk being captured just because of me!”

I knew that I sounded hysterical but I couldn’t help myself. Elliot had spent so long away from Andy, I couldn’t be the reason they were apart again. And Tuc’s hatred for the Council was too obvious. If he were captured, they’d kill him. I knew that they’d want to use him for Council adverts and movies again but he’d never do it.

“Well then, you better hope that your weapons work. You’re a good shot. I have no doubt you can take out any Guardian who comes near us,” Tuc joked.

My hands tapped my hip, stomach, then back of my leg again. He was right. I’d kill them all if it meant we all got back to Freo safely.

“Plus, obviously our suits are stuffed to the brim with weapons!”

I nodded, my anxiety settling down to a slightly more manageable level.

“Shall we head to the airlock?” Elliot asked softly.

“Okay,” I said quietly.

About to head out to see Peggy, I thought.

Be careful. If anything doesn’t feel right let us know and we’ll come down immediately, Cas shot back.

Come back to us. Bring Peggy too, Gem thought, her voice shaking slightly.

Of course, I purposely tried to sound more confident than I felt. No retreat?

No surrender!

The cheer echoed in my head, making me hold my chin higher. I was ready to bring Peggy back.

The airlock door closed behind us and the usual countdown started.

“I didn’t want to say out there but…” Elliot started. “Brace yourself. Aquila said the pictures of Peggy look bad. Real bad.”

Fear reached up and gripped my throat but I nodded, unable to speak. I stared out the door of the airlock at the Guardian ship. They’d left some space in between our ships. I was glad. It meant if there was a fight, which was likely, there’d be less chance of our ship getting damaged in the crossfire. But it also meant if we had to run, it would take longer and we’d be in more danger.

In the recent streams, Peggy had seemed weak. She might not be able to make the run alone. I’d need to carry her, or one of the others would have to.

“Ready?” Elliot’s voice interrupted my panicked planning.

“Yes,” I said hoarsely.

He hit the button, releasing the door and I got hit with a wave of humid heat. I stumbled back, my hand rising to cover my eyes from the dust that swarmed in.

Tuc coughed.

“Urgh. Why did I choose that moment to breathe? That sand tastes like nik,” he swore, wiping his mouth with his glove.

“Why aren’t you wearing your helmet?” I asked quickly.

“We can’t. Council’s orders,” Tuc shrugged before gesturing out of the door.

My hands clenched nervously into fists before I hastily unclenched them, worried that I’d accidentally set off some of my new weapons.

“When you’re ready,” Elliot says, quietly prompting me to step out of the ship.

The harsh sunlight burnt my eyes as I descended the ramp, blinking frantically and staring at the open door of the other ship. There was a small crowd of Guardians standing outside the door, facing us, but Peggy was not among them.

We walked across the space in between the two ships, stopping in the centre. With every step, my heart pounded louder.

“I’ve given the order for them to bring Peggy out,” Aquila said into my earpiece.

Nausea swelled in my stomach and my hands shook as I waited, seeing even more Guardians spill forth from their ship. Finally, a shock of blonde hair emerged.

A gasp slipped out of my mouth and my knees felt unsteady.

I can see her, I told my crew faintly.

Oh, Gods, Gem thought. We can see her on the stream.

I couldn’t breathe as she came closer. Two Guardians were holding her up, almost dragging her. They hadn’t even bothered to cuff her, I realised slowly. They clearly thought she wasn’t a risk.

I couldn’t look away from her shocked, scarred face. Pink lines ran along her hairline and her hair was scarce and thin. Her large eyes were frantically searching my face. I wasn’t sure if she was surprised to see me or if she was checking whether or not I was real.

I couldn’t breathe as they drew close and she yanked her tiny arms away from the Guardians, crossing the space between us as they hovered a few steps away. She raised her shaking hands to my face, gently taking my chin in her cold fingers. She turned it to the side, her eyes scanning my hairline where my disrupter would be, before dropping to her sides.

“It is you,” she croaked through dry, cracked lips. “Why would you come?”

My breath left me in a gasp as she threw her arms around me with surprising strength, crushing me in a hug. I slowly brought my arms up, wanting to hold her too but scared of hurting her.

Her body shook with tears as she clutched me.

“I’m so sorry, Aries,” she sobbed. “I wanted to talk to you but they took my mods. They took everything from me. I should have told you not to come.”

My heart broke and tears slid down my face, landing in her hair.

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I’ve got you, you’re going to be okay,” I promised.

She froze, leaning back, a look of absolute horror on her face.

“Wait. Why did you come?” she asked fearfully.

I didn’t know what to say but she spoke again before I could reply.

“No! Tell me there’s a plan,” she demanded, her bony fingers digging into my arms painfully. “Aries, tell me there’s a plan! Tell me you aren’t going back with them.”

I couldn’t say anything. The Guardians were carefully watching our every move, it wouldn’t be safe to tell her. Plus, there was no guarantee that our plan would work, no matter how hard we tried. There were so many Guardians and not enough of us.

Suddenly, an intense panic swept through me and I was seized with the realisation that I didn’t want to go with the Guardians. I couldn’t. I’d never see my crew again, I’d spend the rest of my days as a Council pawn.

No. I’d kill myself before I let that happen.

“You’ll be okay,” I repeated. “They’re going to take you somewhere safe.”

My voice shook and I found myself thinking desperately about everything I wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell her about everything that she’d missed. About Freo and the pleasure deck, and that our crew was waiting, just outside orbit, and that they couldn’t wait to see her again. I wanted to promise her that no matter what, I’d see her again and we’d go somewhere where we could be safe, happy and together but I couldn’t.

I couldn’t get the words out. It wouldn’t be safe. Instead, my mind landed on something else. A safer topic but something I wanted her to know.

“I went to Sphoreia,” I whispered. “Just like we always said we would. They’ve decorated it in all these coloured ribbons, for us. Because of what I wrote. It looks like the flowers are blossoming all the time now. You have to go.”

I don’t know why but I needed her to. In that moment, it felt so important to me that she saw how much people supported us. How much they supported her.

Confusion crossed her face before she realised that my words felt like a goodbye. They could have been.

“What? No. Aries, tell me there’s a plan!” she demanded, her voice rising hysterically.

I threw my arms around her, tears falling freely from my eyes.

“Please tell me you have a plan,” she sobbed.

I glanced at Tuc. I needed him to take Peggy back to the ship before I lost my nerve.

“No retreat,” I whispered into her ear.