The Olsen Hotel was a high-end skyscraper of two thousand seven hundred and seventeen feet. It was one of many in a chain that spanned several countries. It was world-famous for its cuisine, spas, and recreational activities. Housing many influential figures from America and abroad! Among them were Daisy and Carter. Her miraculous return after the nemesis attack prompted bold action. The young man had spared no expense, securing an apartment for him and his lover. It symbolized the longevity of their love and the end of Carter’s days as a lady’s man.

Belle sat alone on the couch, reading a book in the luxury room. But the sound of the door opening tore her away from it. And she saw Daisy entering.

"Good evening, Big sister! How do you like our house?"

"A lot! The pretty boy treats you well!"

"Good to hear because there's been a slight change in plans!"

"Are you not cooking anymore?"

"No! We have a few extra guests!"

"The more the merrier!"

"Great! Aisha, bring them in!"

Aisha swiftly brought the Mulvanas into the room as Carter and Clive followed her. She carried Rohan in her arms and dragged Makiway by her arm. But Belle jumped out of her skin, screaming! "No!" Dropping onto the floor, scrambling away in fear as she saw them!

Daisy hurried to Belle's aid, helping her stand."Belle, calm down!"

"But-"

"But nothing, Chief! These are our new neighbors, Makiway and her daughter Rohan!"

"Maybe this was a mistake! Thank you for the offer, but I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable," Makiway said.

"No! You're staying and enjoying a meal with us! Big sister, I'm sorry, but the Mulvanas are friends!"

Belle angrily broke away from Daisy, punching a wall, enraged, in a corner. As Daisy saw her sister, she wished she could make her understand. Daisy wanted to explain how her heart ached from the tragedy that befell the Mulvana family. Hearing of her father’s death, she immediately saw herself in Rohan, having lost Joseph and Everton. She needed to alleviate that suffering. But making the case to Belle now might have prompted uncomfortable questions from Makiway. So, exasperated, Daisy and the others left Belle to release her anger.

Aisha went with Rohan still in her arms, but she tugged on her clothes."Excuse me!" Stopping her.

"Oh, sorry! I'll let you down!"

"It's okay! I don't mind anymore!"

Aisha playfully pinched Rohan's cheek."Well, that's good to hear, sweetness!"

“May I ask a question?”

“Be my guess!”

"If Miss Belle is your sister, why doesn't she like me and Mama?"

"You have to understand, she's been through a lot! There was a time when we thought off-worlders, the Nemesis, killed Daisy!"

"Can I please talk to her?"

Aisha cracked a smile."I don't see why not! Maybe getting to know you will make her see sense!"

Aisha carried Rohan to Belle. As Belle saw them coming, she stopped punching the wall, backing away in fright!

"Stay away from me!"

"Chief, calm down! She's just a kid, and she wants to say hello!" Aisha gently put Rohan down in front of Belle.

Rohan reached out her hand to Belle."I-"

"I said stay away!" Belle swiftly slapped Rohan in the face!

Aisha watched the act, dropping her jaw in horror and disbelief. Reality hit Belle with the force of a mighty punch as she realized the severity of what she did! She reached to console the child! But Rohan, clutching her face in pain, released screams of agony, running to Aisha for safety! And hearing her, Daisy and the others hurried back into the room.

"What happened in here?" Daisy asked.

Makiway saw Rohan crying, fearfully clinging to Aisha."My love, why are you crying?"

"M-miss Belle hit me in the face!"

"What?" Daisy and Makiway shouted in unison.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Belle, how could you? Hitting a child," Daisy angrily said.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Belle hastily ran out of the apartment, crying.

Later, after dinner, Daisy and Carter saw the last guests off. The Mulvanas stood outside the door, preparing to leave.

"Makiway, let me apologize again on behalf of my sister!"

"Aisha explained it all to me! What you're family has endured. The toll the war has taken!"

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"Still, our Pa and Ma raised us better than this!"

"Please! Go easy on her, Daisy! Trauma leaves scars!"

"Your husband?"

Makiway nodded yes.

"Thank you, and good night!"

The Mulvanas left, waving goodbye, and Carter shut the door.

"Let's hit the hay," Carter said.

"You go ahead. I want to get started on that favor for Clive!"

"Don't stay up too late, red!" Carter kissed Daisy.

Carter left Daisy for their bedroom. She headed to her sewing machine on a table as he went. But as Daisy sat down, taking her thread out of a basket, Everton’s pillow caught her eye. She took the pillow, hugging it next to her heart. But as Daisy looked at it again, misery washed over her face as Makiway's words reverberated through her mind like the echo of a vast cave. Remembering his death, Daisy dropped her head on her workstation as she wept quietly!

On the first day of July, the vast land of planet Hachiko was abuzz. Racing through the green fields bathed in golden sunlight, a fleet of hover transports hurried to the many farmer villages. Seeing the silver vehicles approach, the Hachiko toiled relentlessly, reaping what they sewed. They gathered massive stores of meat and vegetables, hurrying to present them to their incoming guests for sale!

In Yasai Village, the inhabitants moved faster and faster as the transports came along the horizon. Each farm had a dozen workers readying the goods. But one stood out, as only two worked the land. Lucas and Lucy tilled their land tirelessly!

"Mother, how are you doing?"

"Much better now that you're here, my son! If only your father could see you now!"

"Great! But what's the deal? I've never seen a harvest this hectic!"

"It's the war! It gets costlier each day! The soldiers need greater and greater food to replenish their strength!"

"By the lawgiver!"

"You don't know the half of it! I've heard from friends that the situation on Brac, Rancisis, and Oku is even worse! The providers can't match the demand, especially with the upcoming sieges!"

Lucy Collapsed from exhaustion, and Lucas ran to her aid.

"Mother!"

"I'm fine, son! I just pushed myself a bit too hard!"

"Let's take a break!"

Lucas helped Lucy to her feet. He carefully walked her to a bench and sat beside her.

"You're working yourself to death! I'm so sorry for not being around more!"

"It can't be helped, son! We all must do our part in these difficult times. You fight in your ship, and I do this!"

"Still, maybe I can request more leave time to care for you!"

"You'll do no such thing! You're needed far more on the battlefield! I've already weathered my fair share of storms, boy!"

"But-"

"But nothing," Lucy interrupted.

Lucas reluctantly nodded yes, and Lucy lovingly pinched his cheek.

"You've grown quite handsome, my son! Much like your father before you!"

"I hope I make you guys proud!"

"You already have! But still, if you could try things with that Sarah girl!"

"Mother, how many times do I have to tell you? We're just friends!"

Lucy giggled."I believe that friends make the best partners!"

Meanwhile, Damara held a meeting alone in a room in Camelot Alpha. She called Aisha and Mary via holophone.

"Sweetie, how long until you return to us?" Mary asked.

"My tour should be a couple of months, Ma!"

"Months?"

"Orion ordered a two-pronged campaign! Launching off from Planet Aqua. Carter will lead the sieges to the west, and I'll assist General Róngyù with the east!"

"I still can’t believe this is our life now. You going to those killing fields and us not knowing if you're alive or dead for months on end!"

"I know it's hard, but I'll call every day I can!"

"And I'll be praying!"

"Good luck, Daisy! Make Mavor pay for what he and his thugs have done!"

"I'll do my best! But Ma, Aisha, where's Belle?"

"I tried to shake her out of bed, but she wouldn't budge," Aisha said.

Daisy sighed heavily."I see!"

A knocking sound came on the door of the room.

"I have to go! I love you all!"

"Same to you," Mary said.

Daisy hung up the phone and hurried to the door. She opened it, meeting Sarah outside.

"Sarah, did you see someone coming?"

"Take a look!" Sarah pointed to Carter standing beneath them under a bridge.

"I see! Thanks again for the help!"

"Anytime!"

Daisy swiftly jumped to Carter."General Carter, is there something wrong? Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the sieges?"

"I was, Damara, but General Lev called an emergency meeting!"

"What about?"

"Why don't we find out together?"

Later, Damara and Carter went to the meeting room, but they bumped into Favian and Yara in the corridor.

"Hello, General Favian!"

"Morning, hydromos!"

"Same to both of you!"

"Do you know what's this meeting about?" Daisy asked.

Favian nodded no.

"Did General Lev say or do anything strange during your date?"

"No, and it wasn't a date!"

"It would have if you brought the flowers I told you to," Yara said.

"What was that, Lieutenant?"

"Nothing, sir!" Yara nervously stiffened her back.

"You just can't read women, can you, hydromos?"

"I know them well enough!” Favian glanced toward Daisy, realizing she was the woman in Carter’s room on Planet Aqua. “Especially now, things about a certain one have become clearer!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why don't we all go into the meeting," Daisy said.

Daisy grabbed Carter and Favian’s arms, pulling them toward the meeting room as Yara followed. As she heard Favian, she knew he was referring to her. In the chaos of the past months, Daisy had failed to tell Carter about her revealing her identity to Favian. She imagined how mortified she would be if her lover berated her for disobeying direct orders from their commander. But whatever the consequences, the meeting came first! The group quickly entered the room, meeting Lev, Orion, and Gancelot. As they took their seats, Róngyù scrambled in, taking his.

"I apologize for my tardiness! But what's so urgent that we need a meeting at such a difficult hour?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Róngyù," Carter said.

"Then I'll cut to the chase!" Lev pressed a button on the table.

A holographic map appeared over the table. It displayed the border between the United Planets' southern territory and the Nemesis. Numerous battleships stood guard on each side, but the Nemesis soon retreated deep into their territory.

Daisy's eyes widened with bewilderment."I'm sorry, but what exactly are we looking at?"

"Lev and the enemy have stalemated over that territory for years. I can't imagine why they would retreat now," Róngyù said.

"Neither can I," Lev said.

Favian gazed at the image, pondering the riddle of the enemy's retreat, but he fearfully jumped to his feet, realizing the answer.

"By the gods, we've seen this before! Or at least General Carter and I have!"

"First, retreat to get our guard down and then come back with a vengeance," Carter said.

"Another darkhold fortress?" Daisy asked.

"Impossible! Even for Dr. Zola!"

"Perhaps it's a trap? The enemy may be hoping to prey on our fears. And exploit any tactical errors we make," Lev said.

Carter banged his fist on the table."Of course, this happens right before our sieges!"

"Do we dare go forward with them now?" Favian asked.

"I would argue, yes, we should!"

"You sure about that, Lev! They'll most likely attack your planet first," Carter said.

"I realize that, but I'm more than ready to protect my homeland! Besides, we must capture more territory now! It would be costlier to delay the sieges!"

"We shall put it to a vote! Those in favor raise your right hand, and those against your left," Orion said.

The hands swiftly rose into the air. Lev and Róngyù raised their right hands. After thinking about it, Favian relented to Lev and Róngyù. Carter raised his left hand. Daisy gazed at the responses, nervously looking between the other generals and Carter. But she took a deep breath, forcing up her right hand.

"We've reached an agreement! The sieges will proceed as planned!"

"I guess I'll put in a little extra effort when something goes wrong!"

"That's the spirit, General Carter!" Lev giggled.