Therese flew the ship through space. “Relax, it’s not like you have never done this before.” She told herself. Therese disengaged the infinite drive and flew the shuttle in evasive maneuvers as she reached real space as a standard Space-Girl precaution, but no attack came. Therese checked her navigation panel to ensure she was at the Norved system, and she was.

The planet read as a viable atmosphere, but it was isolated in a small star system. The coldness of space seemed to reach through the ship and into Therese, as she shivered. The dark cold space reminded Therese of eating lunch alone in the winter at school, she felt isolated and missed her friends.

“Hello Space-Girl, land so we can fight.” Space-Girl Michelle’s voice came over the commlink. Therese’s heart fluttered, he was about to meet her hero, and fight her. Space-Girl Michelle had the intention to destroy Therese.

Therese wagged the wings of the shuttle, then landed it a short distance away from Space-Girl Michelle. Therese unbuckled her harness, activated battle armor mode with her ring, checked atmospheric conditions to ensure it was safe, and then left the shuttle. If Space-Girl Michelle wasn’t about to try and kill her, Therese hoped she would be proud of how well she did, because this was going to hurt real bad no matter how good she did.

“Let’s fight to the death.” said Space-Girl Michelle calmly to Therese as she climbed out. Therese climbed out and faced Michelle. Therese was inexperienced, but she was determined.

Michelle charged Therese, and although Therese attempted to dodge the punch, she was hit, and went flying back, her body slammed into the side of a rocky hill, and her helmet shattered. Therese crumpled into the ground. The Space-Girl helmet could withstand a small cannon blast and Space-Girl Michelle had shattered it with a single punch. Therese spit blood out and stood up to face Michelle.

“You seem brave, but you lack the courage and strength to defeat Brainenock, we are one.” said Space-Girl Michelle, pointing to the blue mass on the sides of her head.

“Let’s go.” Therese said, doing her best to balance herself. Every bone in Therese’s body was already aching, and she knew she’d be dead without the Space-Girl armor.

Space-Girl Michelle ran with great speed and kicked at Therese, but Therese had used her Space-Girl power to split herself into a multi vex of images. Eight Therese’s scattered in different directions and Michelle kicked at them all. Finally one of the kicks connected with the real Therese, and Therese went flying through the air.

Therese’s power ring flashed in purple energy, attempting to shield her from the pain, but Therese still flew twenty yards and collapsed on the ground in even greater pain. Her vision blacked out for a second as a wave of pain shot through her body.

Therese cried tears of pain as the pain radiated through her body. She attempted to rise on all her knees and collapsed. Therese cried, every breath hurt, but she refused to give up. “I’m sorry you can’t do better, but I hope you haven’t given up. I love you.” Therese told Space-Girl Michelle. Therese spit out more blood, every breath felt like knives in her side as she crawled on the ground, but she was waiting for her opening.

“You know I’m going to kill you now.” said Space-Girl Michelle, staring down Therese.

“I think you’ll try, and I’m sorry you are not having a better day.” Therese said, then she looked down and saw a gold glitter in the sand. Therese grabbed it, it was the locket with Peter and Anna, she took it, smiled, and put it in her pocket. Therese adjusted her ring and purple energy shot into her, healing some of her wounds. Therese carefully and deliberately stood.

“You are unusual, I can’t control your mind.” said the possessed Space-Girl Michelle.

“If public school failed at that, I doubt you’ll have much success either.” said Therese.

“Very well.” Space-Girl Michelle replied, posturing herself in a fighting stance.

“I’m ready to finish this.” said Therese, hoping she would get her opening sooner than later.

“Now is as good as anytime.” said Space-Girl Michelle, while jumping up in the air and attempting to kick Therese as she landed, but when she did, Therese had already moved in a blur, increasing her own speed. Therese pointed her Space-Girl ring and shot pure healing energy into the side of Space-Girl Michelle’s head. The Space-Girl collapsed on the ground, withering in pain until the Brainenock separated itself from Space-Girl Michelle. Therese then focused the healing ray on the Brainenock until it dissolved into a burning puddle of goo.

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Space-Girl Michelle rolled on the ground, gasping for air. “I’m sorry.” she whispered to Therese. Space-Girl Michelle shook in convulsions, having mild seizures following her separation from Brainenock.

Therese grinned her busted lip and bloody teeth back and focused the healing ray on Michelle. “It’s okay, you’ll feel better in a few days.” Then Therese spit out blood and collapsed, but she kept her healing ray pointed at Space-Girl Michelle, reducing the convulsions, before turning it on herself.

Eventually, the purple energy mended both their wounds and Space-Girl Michelle was able to slowly stand.

“Who are you?” asked Space-Girl Michelle, she looked up, saddened at the blood and wounds visible on the young Space-Girl. Michelle was in too much pain to recognize Therese. Her vision was cloudy from the Brainenock’s mind control and her thoughts even cloudier.

“I’m Therese, and I’m one of your biggest fans.” The girl answered, and spit out more blood, still hurting to breathe.

“Thank you, Therese, how did you know the healing ray would work against the Brainenock?” asked Space-Girl Michelle, grateful to be freed from her mental abductor.

“You told me. True courage was all I would need, and kindness is true courage, this guy on my planet, Mr. Rogers, he was a real bad ass, he was so kind. So I treated the infection instead of killing you.” Therese told her.

“You knew Fred? I miss him every day.” Space-Girl Michelle asked, stunned by this new girl Therese who just saved her and the galaxy from herself.

“No, but he helped me a lot when I was a kid.” said Therese.

“Please forgive me, I’m sorry, I wasn’t in control when I attacked you.” Space-Girl Michelle said, extending her hand. Therese was in painful disbelief she was shaking hands with her hero.

“It’s okay, I’ve been there.” said Therese, and spit some more blood on the dirt.

“I am so sorry.” said Space-Girl Michelle.

“When Space-Girl forgives, she forgives.” said Therese, ending the apologies. Michelle nodded.

“Can you fly us back, I really think I am going to need a nap, that thing drained my brain.” said Space-Girl Michelle, collapsing on her back.

“I’d be honored.” said Therese, helping Space-Girl Michelle stand, walk to the ship and climb into a chair. As soon as she was strapped in, Space-Girl Michelle fell asleep. Therese engaged the start-up sequence and flew them back to the Space-Girl base where more powerful healing would be possible, and rested a little herself once they reached infinite speed.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving me and the Galaxy, Space-Girl Therese.” Space-Girl Michelle told Therese in the hall of valor. Colored banners flew for each of the bravest Space-Girls, and a new purple one that said Therese in bold letters had been added. The sides of the hall echoed the banners of hundreds of free worlds. The other Space-Girls clapped their hands and cheered. Therese grinned a full grin ear to ear for a few seconds longer this time.

“You are welcome.” said Therese, still smiling. Kara grinned back, seeing Therese smile like that again was her only wish.

“I have your reward.” said Space-Girl Michelle.

“Honor is a Space-girl’s greatest reward.” said Therese, standing tall in her Space-girl uniform. She was already best friends with Kara again and ad a great boyfriend, there was not much else to want in the universe than honor.

“Yes, but courage is honored too, I have two gifts, you’ll understand.” said Space-Girl Michelle, taking a Space-Girl ring out of one of her pockets and handing it to Kara. “Put it on.” said Space-Girl Michelle. Kara put the ring on her finger, was surrounded with a flash of bright light and was then standing there in her own Space-Girl uniform. “Space-Girl Kara.” said Space-Girl Michelle.

“To all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know Ye that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Space-Girl Therese, she is meritoriously promoted to the rank of Senior Space-Girl for her courage and kindness in saving the galaxy.” Space-Girl Michelle read a warrant, and a red stripe appeared on the shoulder armor of Therese. All the Space-Girls cheered in agreement.

“I’ve got to ask, are there any Space-Boys?” Kara asked Michelle.

“A few, they tend to die faster than us over stupid stuff, and most of the others join the Space Marines anyways, they like the dress uniforms and energy swords.” answered Michelle.

“Just always wondered.” said Kara, with Therese nodding in agreement.

“Space-Girl Kara, I put you and Space-Girl Therese in charge of planet Earth. Take charge and protect the sector. Second gift, Space-Girl Therese, look at this.” Space-Girl Michelle finished holding a device and pointing it at Therese, who was surrounded in a green light as she stared forward. Michelle held a golden electronic box that allowed her to traverse time and space, whether in her consciousness or her entire body. The device was rare in the universe, powered by miniature stars and coveted by all their enemies.

“What was that?” asked Kara. All she could see was a green energy field develop between Therese and the box.

“Infinite possibilities in the timeline. I have been given the option to return to any point in my life with my consciousness now, but there will be effects. I have chosen when I will merge with me.” Therese told Kara and Michelle.

“Does this mean, we can not have you fall out of the tree?” Kara asked, about her life’s biggest regret.

“No, I’ve told you before, that timeline is terrible, our friendship falls apart over petty bullshit and worse, the galaxy is conquered and destroyed. I’d rather suffer the voices.” said Therese to Kara.

“That’s right, you did tell me that, you knew then.” said Kara.

“I did. Just trust me, you won’t know then, you’ll only know what affects you, but it’s all I wished for.” said Therese.

“You have chosen wisely, Space-Girl.” said Michelle, sending Therese back in time into her own consciousness. Therese felt like a sack of potatoes hitting the ground as she smashed into her past self.