Clive watched Ros intently as she practiced her martial arts a few meters away. She was a young woman set broadly with healthy thighs, short, fluffy, unruly pink hair, and flawless light pink skin! Never before did he experience such feelings for a woman. He didn’t know if he was captivated by her physical beauty or the beauty of her combat prowess. Perhaps the combination of the two fed into each other, amplifying their effects, enamoring Clive like a siren song. But as she practiced combat with her Bo staff, she soon noticed Clive staring at her.

Ros marched up to him, exasperated! "Let me guess. You're wondering why the nemesis isn't in chains, right human?"

"N-no! I'm sorry for staring. I know it's rude!"

Speedily, Ros looked at Clive and realized he was rather handsome, and her exasperation disappeared. "Apology accepted. So what's your name?"

"Clive Rogers. And you?"

“Lieutenant Clive Rogers?”

Clive nodded yes.

"Ros Lightwell!"

"Okay, I have to know. How-"

"Did a nemesis get involved with the United Planets? It's a long, painful story, but my comrades and I came to our senses. And now we want nothing more than to end Mavor's deranged campaign," Ros interrupted.

"Glad to have you aboard!"

"Glad to be here!" Ros extended her arm for a handshake.

Clive shook Ros’ hand, but he still held it after. She could feel his grasp on her slightly tighten enough to enjoy her touch without hurting her as he grew a faint smile. Ros could tell that he wanted to be more than friends. As her heart rate increased, she knew the feelings were mutual, but she wouldn’t dare act on them. “I have to go!” Pulling away from Clive.

“Do you need a sparring partner?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I am a lieutenant! Maybe I can teach you something?”

Ros, relenting to her feelings slightly, nudged her head in the direction where she was going. It was a sign of approval for his offer. Clive soon followed behind Ros, walking to her preferred spot. And as they stood before each other, they took fighting stances, beginning martial arts training.

The battle between the two lasted at least an hour. The combatants continuously landed heavy blows on one another. But as the punches to their bodies mounted, tired, wheezing laughter escaped their mouths instead of screams. As Ros went to throw another, she tripped in her exhausted state, landing in Clive’s arms!

Ros blushed, hurrying away from Clive.”Sorry!”

“Don’t be!”

Someone threw a juice bottle at Ros’ head, drenching her with the red beverage inside. And as Clive searched madly for the perpetrator, his eyes widened with shock as he saw it was his fellow soldiers!

"How many times do we have to tell you? We want to see your face as little as possible, nemesis! So why are you still out here?"

"I-I'm sorry. I wanted to get a little more training. And I lost track of the time!"

"Leave! Just looking at you makes me sick!"

Promptly, Ros heeded the soldier’s demands and started to leave. But Clive grabbed her arm, stopping her, and he glared at his fellow soldiers in disgust.

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As the soldier saw him, he quickly walked to Clive with a similar glare! "Are you humans with us or against us?"

"Go to h-"

"Clive, stop! They have every right to hate me. I defected for atonement, not forgiveness!” Ros pulled her arm away from Clive. “Please, I'm not worth fighting over, especially now!"

"But they can't just...Fine!"

Swiftly, Ros continued to leave, and Clive followed her.

"She's right when she says she's not worth fighting over. Because she's not worth anything!"

With the soldier's words, Clive's patience was exhausted! He stopped walking and directed a wrathful gaze at him. Hastily, Clive walked back to the soldier, and he raised his fists for the impending attack. But his preparations were fruitless as Clive punched him in the face faster than he could defend, knocking him into a set of training weights!

To Ros’ horror, a battle ignited in her name. The soldier got up and charged at Clive, but he backhanded him away. His comrades restrained Clive's arms, and again, he charged at him. Swiftly, the soldier punched Clive in the gut, but he broke free, head-butting his opponent in the mouth. But as he knocked away his comrades, the violence prompted retaliation. A horde of soldiers drew into the battle, pounding on Clive. But as he fought back, knocking one unconscious after the other, Damara ended the conflict!

Her shield flew through the crowd, hitting all the combatants in the face, including Clive, leaving them lying on the ground in pain. And even as they tried to recover, with one disappointed look from Daisy, the soldiers knew the battle was over! In her presence, the soldiers grew dead quiet. Daisy scanned through the crowd from left to right, ensuring everyone shared in her disappointed gaze.

"There was once a noble and wise nemesis. He selflessly lay down his life for a girl who wasn’t even his species. He believed in the dream that created this army!” Daisy stopped scanning the crowd just before reaching Ros. “He believed the day would come after the war when all intelligent life could enjoy peace and freedom. So, like it or not, you will have to forgive the nemesis. And if you have a problem with this, you have a problem with me!"

Her words came through as clear as day, and quickly the soldiers left. Rose dashed at Clive to check on him as they went, and Daisy followed her.

"Thanks, Damara! Those clowns were out of line," Clive said.

"I wouldn't be so casual, Lieutenant Rogers! I'm just as angry with you as I am with them. I expected better from a friend of Carter- I mean General Carter!"

"She's right! I told you to back off, and now look what happened!” Ros cried. “It's not even like I didn't deserve what they gave me!"

As she heard Ros, Daisy looked at her with worriment. But she took her hand, and it changed to a kind smile, looking at her.

"My problems with Lieutenant Rogers aside, what those soldiers did was wrong. Everyone deserves kindness, especially the repentant!"

Daisy’s words hit her with more force than Clive’s punches! For so long, she endured the hatred of the Nemesis empire’s victims. But she never complained or fought back. She thought she deserved the punishment and worse. However, now, the hero of the galaxy, the greatest enemy of the empire she once served, came to her with words of kindness and redemption. She fell into a crying frenzy, balling her eyes out! As Daisy saw her turmoil, she comforted her with a hug.

A few minutes later, amongst the hustle and bustle of the base, Favian and Carter shared a rare moment of agreement. They both looked upon an embarrassed Clive with frustration for his actions, especially Favian, as a vein bulged on his forehead.

"Clive, bud, what's the one thing you know I didn't want you to do?"

"Erode discipline!"

"And what did you go and do?"

"Erode discipline!"

"Sirs, I think I should take some responsibility. I should have tried harder to pull him out of it," Ros said.

"I think the same goes for me. I did a poor job keeping our promise, General Favian!"

"No, you're both wrong. These events are reflections of us as generals. If our subordinates lack discipline, then it’s no one's fault but our own. But at least everything else is running smoothly!"

Everyone grew a look of worriment. As Favian saw them, he followed their gaze to witness what they saw. His eyes soon fixed on Yara as she sweated a deluge of anxiety.

"Yara, what is it?"

"Well, General Favian, I don't want to give you any more bad news, but we have problems. Our troops have reported several snags with the evacuation!"

"Such as?"

"In Palus Urbs and several other settlements in the area, they've experienced difficulty moving the critically ill. They need more time and resources to do it safely or run the risk of-" Yara moved her thumb across her neck, mimicking a blade slashing her windpipe as she coughed out.

The veins on Favian’s forehead bulged again as he saw her display, placing his hand over his face, stressed.

"Yara, I believe the visual presentation was unnecessary. But by the gods, what else could go wrong?"

In outer space, the answer to Favian's question sped through the void at light speed! A giant mechanical structure charged toward the western planets with relentless progression!