As they entered, the stone halls, reminiscent of temples, opened above them. Alabaster columns reached for the stars, crowned with delicate and rich capitals on their tops, with light arches drawing the ceiling.

In their brilliant shapes of timeless architecture, they hid a secret; they weren't that ancient at all. These spaces, filled with the heavy air of generations past, were just imitations of different buildings back on Earth. This colony on Impetus, one of the moons of Saturn, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary just a few months ago. All of this structure was built with the use of mixed technology three-dimensional printed blocks.

As they climbed the white marble stairs leading up to the amphitheatre, each of them felt the watchful gaze of the patrons. On the top of the floor stood twelve white columns, with ten of them showcasing gracious sculptures of the initial founders of the colony in full exploration suits and their faces uncovered. The other

Two were missing, and just their helmets lay there; by tradition, it is said that the founders created the first base that rapidly grew in size over the years and took in settlers. However, a tragedy happened when the main environmental generator failed one day, and to save the whole colony from suffocating, these two sacrificed their lives to save hundreds. Their bodies have been recovered.

Pax looked up for a moment, with a mixture of fear and respect, trying to imagine who these people were and what drove them to become heroes. Suddenly, she felt Ino's hand closing over hers and helping her up the stairs as she almost stopped, and the people started to push on her.

"I don't remember being that nervous," she remarked with a hushed voice when they finally reached their seats in the amphitheatre. It was already after dawn, and the light beamed in through tall cathedral windows on the side walls, filling the front of the room and the speaker platform with amber light. Tall, serious, and silent figures waited on it for the crowd to settle and calm down. Behind them hung the ensign showing a Hellebore in the heart of a circle, orbited by several others; inspired by the alliance of the outer rim planets. The League of the Outer Solar Planets describes itself as a light of civilization that combines together, in peace and prosperity, all the colonies on the moons which drifted apart in chaos after the Great Collapse. This symbol was hand-embroidered with shimmering blue thread on a silky white background, surrounded by geometrical patterns in gold. This was done so that instead of just producing it with one of the printers, it stands as a symbol that the hard work of human hands is what drives us as a civilization.

As one of the figures rose on the platform, everything fell into silence; such was the discipline in the academy that allowed it to blossom throughout the years. There was no need for applause, only attention. The only movement was caused by a single security guard who moved along the right side to the main door.

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Admiral Cadmus Theba, the speaker, held his gaze for a minute on the lonely figure and then spoke with a clear and warm voice.

"We welcome you to this official presentation. You are the seed and descendants of our generation. You will lead us into a new, better future. For all of your effort, dedication, and sacrifice, we thank you. Without any further delay, let's start with the ceremony..."

"I don't think he will be doing an interlude to the show!" whispered Athamos to Pax, distracting her from the rest of the speech. If that was true, she expected to hear her name. She expected to rise and walk. Suddenly, she felt like her muscles filled with a thousand air bubbles and couldn't stay in one place. Ino held her tight in place. Pax's mind whispered louder and louder - "The new captain of the fleet, Pax Inthem, please..."

"As of first, I am honoured to call to the most distinguished honour, our new Captain of the League fleet, Pax Inthem, please rise and approach the council." First, a silence deeper than a singularity, and then a cacophony of applause filled the amphitheatre as she rose and started walking towards the pedestal. Her eyes gazed around to see smiling faces, lips moving, and saying words she could never possibly hear and understand. Everything danced around her in the lights of the brilliant morning. A huge hologram with her face caught her attention as it mirrored the whole room and her. Admiral Ur himself walked towards her now, an unlikely friendship since she arrived in the colony, a man she could always trust and who showed her the way when there was only darkness.

"You deserve this more than anyone, child! I am so proud," she heard his voice. Then a gunshot pierced through the air.

Pax turned suddenly around in the direction of the sound, but everything felt like it was drowned in a sphere of slowed time. As she moved, her body became immobilised with pain as a sudden explosion tore the air, throwing her like a doll. Fire and smoke filled everything. There was no sound.

There was too much sound.

As she gasped for air in pain, her body twisted painfully, hitting a hard surface. Two more explosions happened. The sound of deadly destruction and surreal screams of pain and then, and then reality finally cut off the horror of senses and let her sink into painless darkness.

*

A kaleidoscope of light started soaking through her closed eyes, and she had a metallic taste in her mouth. Pain beamed from her left side of the body. She groaned and lifted the palm of her hand, trying to clear her face. An overbearing watercolour world was knocking hard on her consciousness, blazing waves of heat and light. Somebody called her name, but it wasn't her name. Her arms were covered in dirt, and there was blood on her hands. What's going on? There was a gentle sob coming from across a pile of chairs. Someone lifted her gently off the ground. Pax blinked and choked in pain, feeling that she would pass out again in whomever arms that were carrying her. As the details blurred and focused again, she saw a figure, a dark uniform, a handsome face with several scars in different places. The man had very light hair, his eyes were of dark steel. Everything was coming and going out of focus. He spoke again to her; she could feel something was still going on beyond. Were these after explosions or did the attack continue? She couldn't tell.

"Hold on" was the last thing she heard before darkness took her again.