We were ensconced, all 55 of us- each within our designated stations aboard the military spacecraft when the countdown reverberate through the vessel's hull as I sat in the captain's chair in the center of the command bridge with my counterpart next to me and our lieutenants poised behind.

We were ready; ready to navigate the ship through the dark abyss of space. "Helix, systems check." I declared, the massive ship thrumming to life in response. I was astonished when the command deck illuminated, casting a warm glow on our face when I gazed through the expansive viewport and saw the golden rim of Helix gleaming with luminescence in the glass.

"Systems are optimal, Commander Atlas," Helix reported. "Shall we depart?" I glanced back to my crew; With Nova on communications, Gorm at security and Emmet, overseeing ship-wide functions I felt no doubt in our abilities, when I casted one final glance at Grey next to me, my second-in-command, and felt nearly resolute.

I grinned, "Alright-" I said, my gaze returning to the viewport. "Hit it." As Helix disappeared and the ship roared to life. Its arrowhead form, slowly surging upwards as the engines strained against the gravity of the planet, feeling the hull shudder. Red alarms blared and their cries echoed through the metropolis as citizens scrambled for shelter, when the city above us began to cleave in two- granting us passage.

We were leaving.

And the feeling was exhilarating. My heart pounded in my chest as I flipped the final switches on my arms chair to connected myself ship-wide before peering back to Nova for confirmation, "Ready when you are, Commander Atlas-" Nova chimed as a smile bloomed across my face and began. "Today, we journey into the vast darkness of space- back to a place we once called home. So, buckle up. It's going to be a long ride." I chuckled when I heard the muffled cheers erupt throughout the ship giving a final glance to Grey. He gave me a reassuring nod, matching my demeanor;

"Mmm..." I hummed, "Let's fly."

And the ship roared, blue flames erupting from the engines as it propelled us skyward. The velocity hit like a landslide as we crossed through titans crust and pass the dome's threshold, hurtling into the stars at maximum speed. The ship was rattling, as I gripped the handles of my seat tightly feeling my heart beat in equal measure.

"Breaking atmosphere, Commander." Helix announced. The flight deck window glowing an eerie red before everything went silent as we entered the vast expanse of space and into the cosmic darkness. Everything cooled in an instant and the ships rattling seemed to cease as we ventured deeper into the black velvet, with only the stars to illuminate our path and the nose of our ship pointing towards home.

My eyes widened in disbelief. 'We made it-' I thought, tears welling up when I saw the tapestry of stars, asteroids, and cosmic dust fluttering about. My Jaw dropped as we passed the delicately woven rings of Saturn, with gravity showing us its mysterious ways in a breathtaking spectacle that we had yet to discover in its full potential.

But for me... It was the beautiful comets that painted the void as I sat up in my seat with my eyes widened, watching as the massive rock crept through space next to the starship. Its streaks of sparkling blue trailing behind in a wisp of pure evolutionary science and spoke to how water reached these distant worlds... right before our eyes.

It was extraordinary~

I disengaged the launch systems, allowing everyone to move about the ship freely when I glanced over and saw Grey's eyes sparkling with admiration, the universal darkness humbling him within seconds. I felt a smile tug on the corner of my lips, hearing the ship buzz with excitement when I overhear Nova and Emmett discuss the landing bay and everyones plans to meet there...just to watch us fly away from everything we've ever known.

We of course followed suit, Grey and I... joining the others in the landing bay to witness Titan receding into the distance and upon arrival, we found everyone perched atop cargo boxes or Vagabonds, gazing out through the bay's expansive viewport. A single magnetic shield separating us from the deep chasm of space.

I sighed, it was, truly, a breathtaking sight. Not only the spectacle of Titan shrinking against the backdrop of Saturn, seeing its majestic rings shimmer like a halo, but also the sight of everyone so serene, so content... to see them bonding. It wasn't something I had anticipated on a mission like this as I murmured, "Amazing..." under my breath.

Our troops were just chatting amongst themselves when I glanced to my side and saw Grey next to me. His arms were crossed and matching my grin. "They're in high spirits." He remarked, glancing at me. I couldn't help but smile back, everyone had seemed in good spirits despite the uncertain future that lay before us. It made me want to hold them close and keep them safe from harm...

But it would be foolish to promise something like that.

"Team Alpha-" I commanded watching everyone snap to attention. "SIR!" They exclaimed in unison. Their swift obedience boosting my confidence as they lined up in groups of ten, in five rows- my lieutenants sentinel in front. I smiled and clasped my hands behind my back. "-At ease." Letting them relax before I continued.

Here, beneath the ship's hangar, I was determined to transform our team into one of honor and trust. Where I begin with transparency on my end first, "I confess-" I began, a wide grin spreading across my lips with a raised brow, "-I'm awfully excited to be here." The infectious energy in my voice sparked grins and chuckles among the crew, their postures relaxing as a wave of calm washed over us.

"Humans tend to follow each other blindly, like sheep leading off a cliff." I paused, locking eyes with my soldiers. It was a harsh truth, but one that had led us to this point- scattered across the cosmos. "-One by one, each sheep will follow the other down into the abyss..." I raised a brow, "...But we aren't going to repeat that mistake." Before stopping in front of a row of soldiers, each headlined by the Captains of the squadron. "What's your name, soldier?" I asked the clean-shaven man.

He snapped to attention, saluting crisply. "Captain RJ Jinx, Sir! No relation to bad luck!" We all chuckled as I briefly patted his upper arm. "Enough with the formalities, Jinx. Though let's hope your ancestors carried the weight of your name with more... brovado." Snickers emerged from the crowd as I moved onto the next row, addressing a woman with her hair neatly bound in a bun.

"And you?" I asked as she instinctively started to salute, then hesitated as I tilted my head with a raised brow. She slowly lowered her hand and put herself back at ease. "Eugina Price... Sir." She said, her voice slightly shaky. I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, locking eyes in a determined gaze, "We are not X or HGMP Command. Relax, soldier." I gave her shoulder a firm squeeze before walking back to the front of the line. "You should feel no fear around us. However-" I continued, my voice softening, "-I understand your apprehension."

I looked to Grey, who nodded and joined me at the head and branched off my words with conviction. "I know our ties to X and HGMP might make you doubt us. But we no longer operate under their rules. Now? We forge our own path-" Grey seamlessly picked up where I left off. "Where we are headed, there are no rules. That's why we need to trust each other. To truly know one another and protect the ideals of this mission." His gaze briefly met mine, sending a flutter through my heart.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability from the man who had always kept his distance, even though we had grown up together. I tore my eyes away and walked down the front of the line. "From this moment on, we will rely on Helix, humanity's latest marvel, to guide our missions." And as if on cue, Helix materialized before the soldiers, its golden orb shimmering like stardust mid landing bay- directly in front of them.

Gasps filled the air- Though they knew of its existence, they had never witnessed it in its true glory as a hearty mix of awe and apprehension flickered across their faces. It was opportune in that moment to let Helix take over to explain our mission in further detail when I saw Grey motioning me aside from the corner of my eye. I checked back on my lieutenants and soldiers whom were captivated by Helix's physical form, enough for me to take a moment as I made my way towards my counterpart- as a new chapter began to unfold.

"Number 2..." I acknowledged with a nod, joining Grey at a cargo container where we settled into a comfortable lean, arms folded and mirroring each other as we surveyed the scene beyond. Thats when a private channel request flickered in my HUD. I couldn't help but smile, knowing Grey's need for discretion and without hesitation- I mentally accepted the request, opening a secure conduit between our thoughts.

His voice was a steady stream of consciousness that flowed into my mind. 'X is planning something.' He first remarked without even an hello.

My eyebrows shot up playfully and a smirk tugged at the corner of my lips, "Of course they are." I muttered aloud, "I've suspected that for a while now." When I stood up and reached into my pocket to produce a sleek, quarter-sized holo drive and with a flick of my wrist, tossed it to Grey.

'You knew about this?' He questioned, curiosity settling on the data drive while analyzing the device thoroughly.

"I've been keeping my eyes and ears open." I cooed with a nonchalant shrug, watching as he carefully pocketed the orb and stood up to meet my gaze. I body checked him and folded my arms as he approached,

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"What's the point of having a private channel if we're not going to use it privately?" He challenged playfully. I couldn't help but chuckle though, oddly enough, I found joy in this ever growing relationship as I rolled my eyes and turned my body to face the crew.

"Because~ there's no need for secrecy when we're alone, Number 2. Look at them." I gestured towards the crew, now clustered around Helix. Their faces were alight with curiosity as they bombarded the AI with questions. Even Nova, Emmet, and Tommy, usually calm and collected, were caught up in the infectious enthusiasm.

"Besides-" my voice softened as I continued, "-it's not like we have anything truly damning to hide from them. Sitting here having a telepathic conversation is odd enough as it is, wouldn't you agree?" I straightened my back as a sigh escaped my lips. "And more importantly-" I added, turning back to Grey as a touch of steel entered my voice "-you heard what they said back at the corporate tower. I have no intention of being a pawn in their games and neither should you."

I walked up to him, tapping the disk drive nestled in his pocket. "That's the file on Helix. Everything - motives, purpose, the whole integration plan. I downloaded it from my parents database before we left, figured it might be useful. There's something buried in there, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Take a look, see what you find." My voice took on a more authoritative edge just as the soldiers' snickers caught my attention.

Their attention span clearly short-lived as I scoffed and backed off from grey, nodding towards them. "They're waiting." I said with a small wink before turning back to the crowd. 'Come on, Number 2, duty calls' I urged in my mind, hearing his footsteps fall in line behind me. A warm smile graced my lips as we spent the rest of the evening, by Earth time standards, conversing with our soldiers- until it was time for slumber.

It wasn't until that next morning, while everyone else was eating in the mess hall or training with their new weapons, that Grey and I had formulated a plan. That we would gather our lead Captains and Lieutenants in the commander's room for a night of respite before the inevitable chaos.

-

I wasn't an expert chef, but whenever I could, I'd dust off old Earth recipes, experimenting in secret for Nova and myself. Whether in the mess hall or my private quarters, we often shared meals and cooked together; she didn't have parents, so we became each other's family and tonight presented a rare opportunity to showcase these culinary skills- feeling grateful for the fresh ingredients that ended up as a parting gift from X and HGMP, as they sent us towards our uncertain fate.

Go figure.

I julienned the carrots, their vibrant orange contrasting against the verdant greens plucked moments before as I watched the pan sizzle and the vegetables meet the warmth of onions. The added garlic released a sweet fragrance into the air, and when I added potatoes, red wine, and a medley of spices, I allowed the concoction to simmer before gently placing the synthetic chicken legs into the pot. The dish was coming together: Coq au Vin, a fond memory from my childhood from mine and Novas experiments.

The rich aroma filled the room, mingling with the cheerful chatter of our Lieutenants and Captains. After all, it would be these people leading our soldiers on the ground. Nova quizzed everyone with her usual barrage of questions. Tommy and Emmet keeping to themselves, engrossed in a hushed conversation with two others and Grey who sat alone at the kitchen top island across from me, tuning into the various conversations while I orchestrated the culinary symphony.

But.. despite the cheerful atmosphere, a nagging thought lingered in my mind. My parents had wanted to induce us into a coma? To what end? To steal our DNA? The implications were chilling, and I knew Helix wouldn't offer any answers, given its complex nature and ties to the leadership... A felt a pit grow in my stomach as I pondered the horrors that might await us- if we return.

I sighed, lost in these dark thoughts when I accidentally nicked myself. My HUD flashing when it highlighted my injury and location. "Ouch..." I exclaimed, dropping the knife onto the counter. A bead of blood instantly welled up on my fingertip and trickled down the appendage. "Idiot..." I muttered to myself, searching for a hand towel.

Though, Grey carried a very unusual skill of popping up in the most opportune moments when he appeared at my side, offering one with a gentle smile. I accepted it with a curious grin, wrapping the cloth tightly around my finger when I saw him produce a tube of DermaX, another marvel of human technology capable of healing minor surface level wounds within minutes and minimal scarring, from his pocket.

Carefully, he took my hand and applied the cream to the cut, watching in fascination as the cream worked its magic- staunching the bleeding and knitting the skin back together in a couple minutes or so. Such a feat would have been unthinkable just a few generations ago as I slowly lifted my gaze to meet Grey's making me feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

I quickly averted my gaze, the blush now creeping to my ears as I gently pulled my hand away from his and returned to my cooking with a simple, "Thank you..." Escaping my lips. My chest tightened and my stomach became a whirlwind of flutters. But I couldn't deny the smile pulling at me- as irritating as it sounds when my eyebrow twitch from the embarrassment. Usually, it was Nova who cared for such things, but Grey's gesture felt different, more significant and not something I could wrap my head around. Not in a time like this, when I had finally finished the side dishes- lost in my never ending thoughts of Grey.

Thats when I paused.

My eyes immediately searching for the right of the HUD when the private channel read on... I froze- my heart thumping violently in my chest when I slowly turned back to Grey leaning on the counter behind me with a knowing smirk, his purple eyes lowered. I felt my face turn red- my heart cascading from its cage as I immediately closed the channel and placed my hands on the counter in front of me. 'Focus-' I demanded to myself, taking a deep breath when I heard Grey's footsteps recede and felt instant relief.

So I continued, ignoring the preface of my stupidity as the side and main dishes were finally prepared. I carried the plates and utensils to the table with Nova eagerly following my lead as she leaned in to whisper, "Sooooo, what was that about?" curiously when her eye fluttered towards Grey.

He was mingling with the other Captains now as I rolled my own and continued setting the table, "I accidentally cut myself. Number 2 had DX on him." I explained simply, though my mind buzzed with other unanswered questions when we finished setting up, "Alright, Alpha-" I announced, ignoring Nova further, "-dinner is served." as I carefully placed the steaming pot in the center of the table, seeing the others gather quickly- their voices creating lively conversation and compliments towards my cooking.

All ten of us, finally bonding. Yet, the unfamiliar warmth of this spectacle left me unsure of how to navigate this level of... personal intimacy. With Price and Jinx discussing their training with the other three captains: Oliver St. Paul, Jasmine Galileo, and Zenith Williams, I found it difficult to give my input and it was their laughter and chatter that painted an atmosphere of belonging I hadn't found myself adjusted to.

"Family-" Williams exclaimed. "-I have several siblings, but they all work as grunts for X. No one wanted to join the military. I'm the first." I looked over at the captain who would be under my command when we reached Earth, a warm smile spreading across my face with a reaffirming nod. "You're the daughter of Galileo Tech aren't you?" Zenith exclaimed looking to Jasmine Galileo, the Captain of Tommy's force.

"Yes-" Jasmine confirmed, a hint of pride in her voice, "-My father owns Galileo. He poured his heart and soul into this ship. I'm actually a bit surprised to see how well it's holding up." A ripple of intrigue passed through the room, and several captains paused mid-sip. I chuckled slightly seeing their worried faces while Grey leaned back in his seat to enjoy the show.

"Should we be worried?" Williams asked in concern as Jinx chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. The room lights were dimmed that casted a more intimate glow over the gathering as Galilleo hesitated and lifted her gaze upwards. "Not at all-" she finally replied, her voice laced with a subtle unease. "-I just wasn't sure about..."

"Helix." I finished for her, sensing her concern. "Yes, the AI." She downed the rest of her whiskey in one swift motion, setting the glass down with a decisive clink while tapping the glass. I could tell she was irritated, even from her posture as her leg tapped violently against the floor.

"I appreciate the invitation, sir. But... permission to be dismissed." She stood up, offering a crisp salute. I nodded, understanding her reservations. Many harbored a deep-seated fear about AI and its integration into society, but its rise had always been inevitable... as I escorted her to the exit and thanked her. She saluted as the metal door closed behind her with a soft hiss.

It left the room quiet when I turned to the remaining captains and announced, "Thank you for all coming, I appreciate it. You're all free to go if you wish." and offered a warm smile as they rose, each taking a few dishes to the sink in a gesture of good faith then leaving one-by-one over the course of an hour. It was when that hour was up that sense of relief consumed me and the last of the captains and lieutenants bid their farewells. The only one left was Nova as she parting me with one final wink before leaving Grey and I alone in the soft glow of the commander's quarters.

The weight of leadership was a constant hum between us. With so many minds and opinions around me, it often left me feeling catatonic but now... a comfortable silence enveloped us- a welcome respite from the excitement as I turned to the sink... ready to tackle the remnants of our shared meal. Thats when a familiar voice echoed through the room.

"Here, let me."

I turned around and folded my arms as I leaned against the counter in front of him with playful defiance in my tone. "I'm more than capable of handling it on my own, Number 2." I said with my eyes narrowed. He approached me and gave a gentle smile... and without warning, his hands found my shoulders- sliding me aside with surprising ease. I looked at him, momentarily stunned, as he took over the dishwashing duties without a second thought.

Each plate and utensil meticulously cleaned and placed in the silver drying rack hovering above the water. I couldn't help but grin; a growing tension beginning to ignite between us as i grabbed the nearest towel and began drying them. Each dish he washed met with the gentle caress of my towel, then carefully returned to its rightful place in the cupboards above. It was then a peaceful rhythm settled over us, a quiet understanding that felt both unexpected and strangely natural.

Every dish Grey handed me was met with a grin and raised eyebrow and I couldn't help but chuckle each time. Despite having numerous ways to communicate, silence felt like the most fitting choice for us and when the last dish was dried, a feeling of contentment began to linger in the air realizing... We too, had to bid each other goodnight.

But just before Grey stepped fully into the hall, he paused and turned around- gripping the frame with both hands. His gaze met mine, filling me with an unexpected warmth. "Cook like that for us again sometime?" I couldn't be sure if he'd winked, but the compliment sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.

I nodded shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Count on it." I replied softly, watching him retreat until the door slid shut with a final hiss. I stood there for a moment with my mind racing. What... was that tonight? I went to sit on the couch, grappling with the reality of our situation and feeling thats been developing with Grey as I laid down with an arm over my forehead. Though, at the end of the day, I realized, that question didn't matter. Soon we would be put in cryo-sleep where we would wake up two years from now in an entirely different world, where our perilous mission awaited.

Forgetting this night ever happened.