Akamori and the others entered the briefing room, uncertain of what to expect. He expected Rayshe was already there, demanding blood based on what Sala and Lt. Fennex had said. So it came as little surprise when the door slid aside and revealed exactly that taking place. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes when Rayshe pointed a finger at him accusingly, demanding his death because he’d struck Rayshe out cold. He’s lucky that’s all I did. Though it was too little, too late for Akamori to do any more than he had.

Morwen folded her arms, giving them all an exhausted look. The situation was straightforward based on her expression that this was not the best use of their time and that she felt as much. “You understand you’re placing me in a hard position, Lt. I hear your concerns. However, summary executions are not something doled out lightly.”

“They committed treason during war!”

“And as I understand, their success helped to secure the station for our Brotherhood allies, was it not?”

Rayshe’s jaw snapped shut with nothing to say to that.

Morwen pressed him, “And am I not incorrect in understanding that your plan called for deployment of a complete platoon of marines into the station to combat a horde of undead and their shackler?”

“It was my mission! I was free to command it however I wanted!”

“To an extent Lt. and no farther than that. You might be a junior officer, but your orders still must adhere to the spirit of mine, and my orders during this mission have been to preserve all elements as long as possible for the ultimate battle. Your orders directly violated that mandate.”

“We’re not here to bicker about the validity of my orders. We’re here because that filthy air nomad struck me during war! That’s high crimes and treason, and I demand blood in retribution.”

Akamori took a deep breath, his father's words about owning your actions ringing in his mind. “Look. I get it. I screwed up. Rayshe’s orders were shit and it would have gotten many people killed, sure. But I could have found a better way to handle the situation than striking a superior officer. If anyone must pay, if anyone must die? Then let it be me alone. Spare the others and take me alone if you must.”

Morwen frowned, and it was difficult to read why. Maybe she actually valued his presence in the squad. She looked from him to Rayshe, with the unspoken question in her expression.

“Well, Lt. would that appease your blood lust?”

Rayshe glanced back at Akamori, then to the others. Then back to Akamori again. That cold, seething hate never leaving his eye. He scowled as the hate bubbled in his eyes.

“Fine. I’m afraid that includes me too. I was there as well, and I let the kid hit the Lt. without stopping him. Sure, I stood back because I knew not doing so would have meant ordering all my men to their death’s. Doesn’t mean I’m not just as responsible,” Lt. Fennex said as he stepped side to side with Akamori.

Amara stepped up next to him as well. “I fired the sleep spell on the Lt. I kept him from resuming command. If they’re guilty, then so am I.”

Sala stepped forward next to Amara giving her a resolved look. “I allowed it without interrupting. Even in my injured state, I could have tried to stop them. Then when they deployed in search of the Shackler, I left the Lt. asleep instead of waking him. I’m guilty too.”

“No. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Taking a sacrifice for your insubordinate comrades. Well, I’ll not let you all off that easy. No. They all die. If you won’t do it, I will!”

Everyone glanced down to Rayshe’s side, and Akamori saw Morwen’s expression harden immediately at the site of Rayshe’s sidearm held firmly in hand. Whatever was to be decided in that moment, had happened immediately thanks to Rayshe’s impulsiveness. Morwen drew her own weapon slowly.

“No. I’m their commanding officer, and it falls to me to dispense with the punishments.”

She leveled her pistol at Akamori. This is it I guess. It’s been fun. Looks like I’ll be joining you guys soon mom, dad. He stepped forward and dropped to his knees, chin slightly elevated, and closed his eyes. If he was to die, he wanted to remember his home the way it was when he was happy. Before the attack. Amara got down to her knees next to him and gripped his hand tight, closing her eye. Lt. Fennex and Sala did so as well.

“Sir. I know that striking an officer is out of line and all. But the punishment don’t feel like it fits the crime. Especially not with the biggest battle we’ve all yet to fight looming just over the horizon. Doesn’t feel like the smartest play to me,” Sgt. Sirsir said in a small voice.

“I understand Sergeant.”

He heard the pistol charge with energy, the whine of compressed aether growing in pitch. Akamori braced for the shot and allowed himself a smile as he could see his parents in his mind's eye. He never expected waiting for oblivion to feel so peaceful.

The pistol barked, and Akamori flinched, expecting to feel something. He would have expected it to hurt. Even just a little. Right? He cracked an eye open and glanced down at himself. No holes there. He glanced down, hearing Rayshe’s body collapse to the deck. A quick look, and Akamori saw the smoking hole in his chest. The Captain had fired clean through his heart. He turned back to the Captain who wore a distant expression.

System Info: Quest Update: You lived. Barely. Captain Morwen executed her second officer instead of you. Good thing you’re more useful than he was or else that would have been your heart she cored out with a void spell. Talk about a close call. But the fight is only just getting started. You’ve got a world to save, Mage. Reward, 1 XP for progress and RP.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Let the record note that I’ve executed Lt. Rayshe for insubordination and threatening the success of the mission. I alone will bear the full brunt of the consequences for this after settling our business on Hidros and not a moment before.”

“Sir?” He stood up, “Why?”

She holstered the pistol. “Don’t take it so personally private. The prophecy given to me called for you three. Not the Lt. Had the situation called for different outcomes the other way, I’d have acted accordingly.”

He squinted, “See… just when I think you’re not so bad you say something like that.”

“I just spared your life private. Don’t make me regret doing so this soon.”

Amara nudged him in the side, the armored elbow plate scraping against his own armor. She gave her a stern look that said shut up.

“Don’t be such a dick,” she hissed quietly.

He shrugged helplessly.

Admiral Smits backed out of the meeting area. “It looks like you’ve got your hands full here, so I’ll return to my ship. Well, set up a perimeter around the planet. Nothing gets in or out without us greeting it first. Good luck down there, Captain.”

“Thank you admiral,” Morwen said with a departing salute before turning back to face them.

“Now then. Since I’ve executed my second in command, I face a tough decision. I have a gap in my command structure. Normally a battlefield promotion requires that I promote you Sgt. as my next Second.”

“No offense Sir, but hard pass. I don’t like being in charge. I’m comfortable in my role and what I do.”

Morwen looked genuinely rebuffed. “Very well. Then who would you suggest?”

Lt. Fennex clapped Akamori’s shoulder plate, “I’d follow this man into battle any day. He may not know much about our decorum, but he’s quick on is feet, and he respects his people.”

He turned to face Fennex, and the blonde-haired man grinned at him. Fennex’s tight cut military hair felt out of place with the rest of them. Akamori turned to face the others, suddenly uncomfortable with all the attention again.

The big Sgt. scratched at his chin thoughtfully and then nodded, “I could see it. Gimmie a few weeks and I’ll have him whipped into shape,” he said to the Captain.

Morwen nodded and flicked a finger. The rank pins on his uniform morphed from Private to Lieutenant diamonds. “Very well. I promote and commission you to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Congratulations.”

He blinked. This was all way too fast, even for him, and he liked speed. “Hold on. Wait, time out. Pause. How did I go from almost being executed to being promoted? How does that even work?” The world was desperately racing along and he felt like his feet were stuck in mud.

Morwen smiled, then leaned against the aether projector, gesturing to the illusory planet of Hidros. “Everything we’ve done so far has served a prophecy. It showed me a possibility in which if we failed to act and lose this world? We lose everything, period. Something powerful is waiting down there, and failure to act means sacrificing all life in the sector and possibly the galaxy. In that prophecy, you all were instrumental to the odds of succeeding. Since you’re a prominent part of it, I believe this was the best possible decision to make. Had I executed all of you to appease Rayshe, it would have spelled the doom of the sector and I refuse to spit in the face of all our hard work and sacrifices.”

“Some might call that destiny.” Amara said with a cheerful tune next to him. She was looking far too amused with that thought.

He huffed in disgust, reminded of how out of control his own life felt right now. He hated not feeling in control of his life and secretly, part of him wished she’d just put him out of his misery. But then, wouldn’t that mean lacking control? Gods, this stuff was so stupid. Here he was once again, nearly stuck in charge of something they had pushed him into. Just once he wanted to assume leadership of something he wanted from the start, or created on his own. He really hated inheriting command of other people’s problems.

He rubbed his gloved finger over the rank pin on his collar, and thought of what his father might say. Realizing Kalenza would have been extremely proud of him eased some tension in his back. Amara patted the back of his armor. She gave him an approving nod.

“Is this something I can decline?” he asked, cutting over everyone’s approval, and the room went silent with confusion shared by all.

“I’m just not sure this is something I want.” That wasn’t technically correct though. Not completely. He also wasn’t sure he was the right one for the job.

Morwen’s expression softened, “Akamori, I understand the hesitation. We all have our reasons for wanting to avoid the crushing weight of responsibility that comes with Command. But I can see the beginnings of a great man in you. Your father taught you well. And I believe that teaching was preparation for the role you’ll play below on the surface. There are thousands of lives depending on us and our choices. We all need you at your best. They need you. So go be your best and let that be enough.”

“I just don’t know that I’m the best man for this.”

“Akamori, I’ve known you since we were kids. So I understand your fear. But ask yourself this: Which is worse? Running from the inescapable? Or leaning into it and facing it down?” Amara said.

Something in her words grabbed him. Was this running? Was he just dressing up his dislike of destiny as fear and running to avoid facing it? The idea of being a coward made his face twist in disgust. He wasn’t sure it was completely one or the other. But he’d known she was a priestess for a while and always appreciated when she gave him advice, even if he disliked what she had to say such as now. He sucked in a slow breath, letting it ease out of his nostrils. He was soul bound to his contract. So he couldn’t avoid service for several years at least. There was also a war going on and innocent people stood to die or worse. The bastards who attacked his world would also likely be here too. Damnit. She was right. She usually was, and he quietly disliked that.

“Alright. Provisionally. The company has a need, and the people down there need us. So I’ll do this fight and we’ll see how it fits.”

Captain Morwen actually smiled, and he felt like it was so rare he should have taken a screen cap with his armor. “Good. I have a sinking feeling it’ll grow on you all the same.”

He quickly realized he had a part to play in this, whether he wanted to. The attack on Hoshun sucked him into this spiraling adventure, and ever since then, they had woven together his thread of destiny with the others, so he felt. He still wasn’t comfortable with not feeling like he was in control of his own life, but he understood his individual value in helping the Captain and her prophecy out. He just hated feeling used like this. Like he had no really good choices.

“But that’s just it isn’t son?” his father would say. “You can choose sit and stay behind. To not fight. To not defend your clan. But you know the road that choice will lead down. You know how it ends. It’s easy to see. No, you find yourself instead not liking what your heart is telling you, vs what you know must be done. But then, that’s the difficulty of choice. Having to make it, even while disliking the act of doing so. You may not enjoy the road you’re walking, but you must walk it. You alone have the power to do so. It’s why you face the choice, and not someone else. We fight, so others won’t have to.”

He lowered his gaze and smiled softly. “I understand. Thank you father,” he whispered silently.