A few hours later, the United Planets fleet of spaceships raced through the void. Inside the lead ship, A tall, muscular man in gold and white armor concealed his face under his helmet as the soldiers gathered around him. Gancelot, Orion's second in command, held a meeting of dire importance. And unease filled the air as the soldiers came to their leader.

"Thank you all for a swift reassembly! I called you back to clear up any miscommunication. This attack must be flawless if it is to succeed!"

"Vice-Commander Gancelot, is this attack a good idea? We're not at max fighting strength, so there's no guarantee we can break through their defenses and secure the target," Sarah said.

Gancelot let out a mountain of stress with a sigh. "We must try and do more with less. According to your intel, they could destroy the divinus anytime now! And if that happens, I don't know if we can win this war!"

"Why isn't the boss here?"

"With our forces stretched thin, Orion has departed on another mission! He is overseeing the defense of several valuable locations on the front!"

Daisy raised her hand to ask a question, and as Gancelot saw her, he signaled her to talk.

"Vice-Commander, I'm sorry, but I still don't quite understand. What exactly is the divinus, and why is it so important?"

"It is a miraculous energy source. Possibly the greatest in this or any galaxy. However, its will refuses to bend to Mavor, so he wants to destroy it!"

"It's will? You mean to say it's alive?"

"Simply put, it is the only thing that can rival Mavor's power, and that's why we must secure it at all costs!"

Later, Daisy spotted Everton sitting alone in a corner and ran over to him.

"Everton, I want to apologize for what happened before!"

"There's no need to apologize, child! As I said, your kindness is a blessing to others but a curse to yourself!” Everton adjusted his seating, turning his back to Daisy. “You see no value in your life. And now I know better than to get involved with fools' errands!"

"Pa always said-"

Everton got up from his seat, turning to Daisy, enraged.

"To be charitable to a suicidal degree? You'll die in the name of people you don't know!"

"If that's how you feel, why did you join this army in the first place?"

"It was because I had a dream long ago. You humans wouldn't know, but there was a time when war was a distant memory!” Everton dropped back onto his seat, exasperated. “I sacrificed everything for that dream. I still remember the happy days with my dear father as a child!”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Daisy held herself, trembling like in a cold breeze as she heard Everton.“I never knew you understood my pain so well!”

“Daisy, I see so much of myself in you it hurts you're like a second d-"

"A second what?"

Everton gave Daisy silence as a response, turning his gaze from her. But tired of him not listening to her, she took a deep breath, preparing to continue speaking.

"I am like you. I share your dream of a galaxy where love and kindness rule. A place where all intelligent life can enjoy the gifts of freedom and lead happy lives!” Daisy stooped down, making Everton look her in the eye. “And just as you did before me, I will sacrifice everything for this dream. It's who I am!"

Everton took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his daughter's cushion and showed it to Daisy. "Very well then, here's a peace offering!"

Daisy's jaw dropped in shock and disbelief as she saw the cushion."Your daughter's pillow! I can't take it!"

"Please, indulge me!"

Daisy slowly took the cushion from his hand and held it close to her heart.

"Thank you!"

Suddenly, alarm bells rang, and all the soldiers in the room ran off to prepare for battle. Daisy and Everton joined their comrades as they gave each other a face of determination.

Later, a squadron of advanced fighters from the United Planets' fleet began the attack on the planet.

"Vice-commander, everything looks ready! Beginning attack approach now," Lucas said.

The squadron, led by Lucas, kept a tight formation, entering the enemy atmosphere! But nearing the Nemesis fortress, dots of purple light peppered the battlefield as enemy turrets prepared to fire, and soon they met with a storm of plasma bolts.

The United Planets squadron quickly scattered, taking evasive action!

"Listen, team! I'll try to draw the attention of those turrets! When you see an opening fire at will," Lucas said.

Lucas swiftly dived closer to the turrets like he dared death to catch him. Many of their attacks drew towards him! But he navigated through the barrage, dodging the shots. As he got close enough, he bombarded the enemy forces, firing plasma bolts and missiles at the turrets. Lucas left a fiery scar of destruction on the land, a refuge from the rest of the bolts flying through the air. It was an opening for his fellow pilots to dive closer and destroy the remaining turrets so the fleet could land.

As the blockade of bolts thinned, the remaining squadron quickly reunited into formation, beginning their attack run. The ships dived near the remaining turrets, unleashing a salvo of their guns on the enemy. Together, the squadron widened the scar Lucas left, giving the fleet the room to land.

"Vice-commander, we've cleared a path for you the best we can. You may begin your approach!"

On the lead ship, Gancelot stood with his soldiers, preparing to join Lucas on the battlefield.

"Many thanks, Lucas!"

The lead ship soon landed on the battlefield. Inside, anxiety and the sounds of war filled the air. And as Daisy stood with Everton among their comrades, she sweated a storm.

"Daisy, I hate to bring this up again, but-"

"You're gonna ask about the killing thing again?" Daisy interrupted.

Everton nodded yes.

"I'm willing to do it now! We're still in sick times, but it's not a game anymore!"

"Good to hear!"

Daisy Jumped out of her skin as she saw Sarah grow to a giant size.

Sarah saw the look of shock on Daisy's face and giggled."Overwhelmed human?"

"I'll never lie. After this, I'll need a double helping of Ma's apple pie!"

The doors opened to the battlefield, and all the soldiers inside hurried out, led by Gancelot!

"United Planets, maximum overdrive," Gancelot said.

The United Planets soldiers rammed into the nemesis forces with a fierce clash! Bodies flew over the battlefield as the two factions fought for dominance. Daisy ran into the heat of war, ready to fight. But as the killing on both sides quickly grew, she was in shock. She thought she was ready, but she wasn’t. Daisy underestimated just how deeply ingrained her values were. Daisy still viewed all life as sacred. It was a divine gift that someone should cherish as long as possible. To see such flippant disregard for its sanctity was more than abhorrent, but an existential crisis. So, she stood there watching the battle unfold, stationary and an easy target for the enemy!