“What are you waiting for, Guila!?” Time resumed its normal pace, and Guila immediately glared at Ariel.

“Who said you get to quit?!” Then she roared and grabbed onto the ceiling plate with both hands. It was heavy, far heavier than anything she’d ever had to carry. At least an inch thick and wider than a bed. “We are… leaving…! together!” With one last push, she finally managed to free Ariel. However, even though their armor protected them from the heat, it could not protect against the blunt force, and Ariel’s right shin had been bent at an angle. Yet, there was no time for them to dwell on such things, so Guila grabbed her by the armpits and slung Ariel on her back instead.

There was no way they could reach the Count’s ship anymore, since the entirety of LD 7 had collapsed and given way to flames. But, Guila did not lose hope. The bulk of the explosions should’ve passed by now - there could only be so much fuel stored for any ships that docked. The rest would be partitioned for Serenity’s personal use. Which meant, she only had to worry about the flames and falling debris.

But she was wrong, and another explosion erupted from somewhere behind them, throwing them forward. But thanks to the suit, Guila landed on her feet and didn’t let go of Ariel. “We’re almost there!!”

“Where?!” Ariel cried out, tears in her eyes as she clung tightly around Guila's neck. “Where are we supposed to go?!”

Guila’s injured leg was screaming at her, it could no longer stand on its own, much less carry another person’s weight. In spite of that, she took another step and leapt across a ravine. People had always made it past their hurdles, and surely there was nobody alive better than her at that. She broke into another limping run, then arrived at Loading Deck 6. But it too was engulfed in flames. Loading Deck 5 was the same.

Guila growled with every step, while Ariel could do nothing but keep crying into her shoulder, weeping incoherently. She never even got to chase her dream, all she managed to do at the end of her short life was become Guila’s final burden.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Guila!” She wailed. The thing called Ariel was nothing but a chain that kept Guila from reuniting with the one she truly loved. “Please! Please don’t ever forgive me! I’m sorry!”

“Shut up!” Guila roared back, then turned her head to glance inside Deck 5. Although the flames were weaker here, Its floor had collapsed and there was no method of escape inside.

Deck 4. Deck 4 had to be it! Sweat and blood drenched them both from head to toe, but Guila did not allow her focus to snap. Nor did she let her trembling and aching body falter. She would not fail now and so she employed every technology she’d included in the suit. Not least of all, the soles which adapted to every terrain and granted the optimum amount of grip.

“Haah…! Haah…!” When the pain in her leg got too much to handle and new images started being sent to her brain, she bit down on her lip to bring her back to reality.

Deck 4… Deck…

“I…”

Barely any flames engulfed the area, much of the floor still remained, and there, at the corner next to the plasma film was their ticket out of this hellhole. A scaled up tram-like vehicle, with several small thrusters on every side. There were tinted windows along its length, and two airlocks. One in the rear, and the other was on its right side, near the front. It was a passenger shuttle, suspension-docked next to some scaffolding. A literal silver-lining in the chaos.

“I told you so!” Guila broke into a run, with a bright smile on her face. Whereas Ariel could only stare with blank amazement. Every time she stepped on the floor, it felt like it was going to give way. But they reached it, and after a rapid set of inputs into the scaffolding console, the shuttle’s side airlock hissed open. Now both of them were smiling, then laughing, and crying. They had nothing more to worry about. Not even the thinning plasma membrane. But perhaps that was because of the lightheadedness that came with Serenity finally running out of atmosphere.

“Hey, Guila. I-” Ariel whispered out, just as they entered through the hatch and into the shuttle's lightless interior. There were words she needed to say, especially now - when there was likely so little time before they reunited with the Count.

“I… really-” Ariel let out a hoarse, breathless scream, and a powerful force shoved them onto the shuttle floor.

Guila rolled over as quickly as she could, but the first thing she noticed was Ariel’s severed left arm, now lying on her chest, drenching her with rapidly boiling blood. Worst of all was the culprit, the Insect King, was right outside the ship. Even if she commanded the shuttle to close again, it would sever Ariel’s lower legs in the process.

Despair. Guila despaired, but even so, she moved to grab Ariel by the thighs. She was going to drag her inside, as far as she could, and no mere Insect King was going to stop her. But, as if mocking all her efforts until this point, it backhanded her across the right side of her face, and the sheer force of the hit flung her access the floor, towards the cockpit. Its strike had caved in her helmet and everything flashed red, while blood drenched everything in her line of sight.

She couldn’t even feel her jaw, or the entire right side of her face for that matter. Yet, even so, she never lost her grip on Ariel, and now because of its strike, they were both well inside, with enough clearance to shut the thick hull-door behind them. She just needed to give the command.

“... Jhilonse…!”

But there was no way such a nonsensical word would be viewed as a command. The cargo shuttle wasn't even able to receive commands, because much like in the tram, it did not have access to Serenity's mainframe anymore. So, for her last moments, rather than the death which would surely come, she instead faced Ariel and sought any glimpse of her figure that her ruined eyes would grant her. However, the Vulpina's flesh had begun to burn, and surely, her own had begun to, as well.

Yet, Ariel still looked so beautiful.

‘If I’m to receive one final vision, it would be of this adorable little Vulpina smiling up at me, and nothing else.’

“... ei lahkv… …”

Then, just moments before losing consciousness, she heard the airlock shut far faster than it should’ve been able to, and she glimpsed a blue jewel appearing in the corner of her UI.

*** *** ***

“My name is Admiral John Azel Moore, Captain of the Luxury Planetoid, Serenity. I am her first and last Captain. Let it be known that I am recording my last entry, as we reach the end of a crisis that has taken too many lives that were supposed to be under our care. Serenity was always meant to be a beacon of peace, to symbolize the reunification of fragments from the old Dominion. Some would say that it was a pointless gesture, but I believe she represented an optimism within every man, woman, and child. That everything was possible.

The crew, all 70,231 souls, have displayed unwavering courage and dedication in the face of adversity. Each member, from the bridge, to engineering, and security, have exemplified the spirit of service and dedication that has defined our mission. It has been an honor to lead such an exceptional group of individuals. Our passengers have done exceptional work as well, and nothing would have been possible without their strength and unity.

However, many lie dead, now one with the stars.

To the families and loved ones of Serenity’s passengers, crew, and her escort’s crews, I offer my deepest condolences. Their sacrifice and support have allowed us to save as many as we could. Know that your loved ones faced the challenges of the cosmos with bravery and commitment. Me and my bridge crew will remain aboard to wish you safe travels home. Serenity may be lost, but please, do not let Peace die with her. May our ill-fated journey be remembered, and I pray that the next generation may continue our quest for togetherness.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Admiral John Azel Moore, signing off. May peace be with you all.”

*** *** ***

Deep within the Imperial Battleship - “Conviction”

Hazel M. Corteza and the children under her charge were seated around the same sofa, waiting for the Lord Duke to finish a conversation with a young lady, no, a child, whom he bowed to reverently. She, who is known as the “Stellarch”, then commended him for his successful rescue, and turned to face them.

“You all. Come. Introduce yourselves.”

*** *** ***

Within the Federation Titan Carrier - “Ceres Parlton”

“Be careful!” A medic yelled as he watched two soldiers place down a stretcher near several others. “That’s the Commander you’re carrying.”

Sibel M. Corteza managed to survive despite gruesome wounds. Along with more than half of the survivors she brought to Deck C with her. However, many of them were moderately or gravely wounded during the ensuing madness that resulted from the moon’s light. Some worry that she is still under its effects however, as she continues to squirm and resist her binds, despite sleeping. While her long, second set of ears, which greatly resembled a rabbit's, were constantly on alert.

*** *** ***

Aboard the Imperial Destroyer - “Innocence”

The Count stared longingly at the image that was burned into his mind and seemingly superimposed on his vision. Guila, saying the words that wished he’d have been able to hear. However, he was willing to accept it. She had always been the type to make a split decision and leave everyone who cared for her, to pick up the pieces. Guila would probably want him to smile for her. He just couldn’t.

But just as he was about to turn away, he saw a ship. No, it was a shuttle, headed straight for the planet below. Only at that moment did he smile, He didn’t need to confirm who was in it. He already knew who. Once again, he was caught lacking faith in the woman who chose him, and one that he made with her in mind.

Suddenly, he heard Hiiro’s voice on the comms. Yelling at them to prepare for a bit of shaking. When the Count raised his gaze so that it was level with Serenity, he saw a dull white juggernaut, reflecting the sunlight, as it leapt across the ravine of time and space. Then Hiiro used up all that remained of his fuel to close in the gap.

[“Brother! Are Guila and Ariel-?!”]

“They’re well, Hiiro! You did excellent! We’ll be picking them up right after this.” However, the Count could barely hear Hiiro roaring with laughter, because the Innocence’s monotonous voice drowned him out.

[Forgive me for interrupting, Lord Count. But that will not be possible.] It’s dull-echoing words were a devastating gut punch - right when they were on a massive high.

“... what?”

[To all personnel and passengers.] Another artificial voice, this time feminine and familiar, resounded throughout all of the remaining ships, catching everyone's attention and stopping everything that they were doing. [My name is Serenity.]

[I wish to inform you that Captain has passed. Because there is no one left that can override any orders given, I have been allowed to say my “goodbyes”. Instead of that, however, I want to thank you. My deepest gratitude goes to everyone, for having worked together to save and protect as many people as you could. You took on the duty when I was too incompetent to act.

Yet even though I am a failed guardian, I will not leave my thanks as sound and congratulations aalone. I wish to give all that remains of myself, to as many people as I can. They will surely aid you greatly and some of you will soon feel its changes. I beg that you do not refuse. But before you leave, please grant me these last few moments to say what I truly want to say. Beyond what I have been programmed with.]

Nearly two hundred thousand souls watched as the flashing lights on Serenity's surface finally stopped, and her dead thrusters burned once more - pushing it towards the moon. Yet, it did not crash into the celestial body, instead the Post-Dominion's greatest creation was rapidly torn apart, seemingly by invisible hands. Those hands tore through every outer layer and pulled out Serenity's Antimatter core, followed by several massive CPU arrays that were scattered throughout her discarded shell.

[I love you all, my children… I did not wish to fail like this, but I hope you can forgive me.]

Eventually, the last of her signals faded into nothingness. Serenity had been consumed. As if satisfied by it's success, the maddening light that the moon produced from some unseen apparatus weakened and then disappeared. But, rather than grant the survivors a mourn those they lost, or at the very least, be relieved; they were instead engulfed in another frenzy.

“Minister Val, we've just received coordinates from Serenity for landing on the planet!”

“What?!” She yelled back, before yelling at him to reconfirm. Many other Captains told their officers to ignore the data and plot a course to the nearest civilized port. Meanwhile, the Count spoke with the Innocence, once more.

“What do you mean, it isn't possible?”

[I cannot answer, Lord Count.]

“Why not?”

[Because you are no longer the Commander, and I have not been assigned to you.]

Before he could even process the absurdity of what he had just heard, a message came from the Duke, detailing that smaller vessels were to leave first while larger ships held the rear in case. Just then, the Union Light Cruiser - “Petraleia”, which was in the best overall state, began charging for a hyperspeed jump. Followed by 5 more ships..

Their preparations only took a few minutes, and by then, every Heavy Cruiser and Capital-class ship they still had, minus the automated Imperial vessels, aimed their weapons towards the Moon. Since the strobing lights had stopped, they were able to make use of the cameras. Still, they didn't have nearly enough firepower to destroy it, so they held fire just in case it would pursue them in some way.

But then, just as the Petraleia's Antimatter drive could build up the necessary charge, a massive… something, burst out from the moon's surface and decimated the ship, tearing it into five main pieces, before disappearing into the inky blackness beyond. All its passengers and crew, almost a thousand souls, died upon impact.

“So it had a railgun, all this time…” Hiiro muttered with a low voice as he walked over to the Count, sweat still running down his gashed, but not fatally wounded body. No bite marks on him, either. But his expression inspired no confidence. “But why didn't it pick us off, while the light was on?”

Rather than dwell on the question, the Count turned to Innocence's avatar on the LCD Screen once more. “We cannot choose our destination, can we?”

[Yes, Lord Count. But rest assured, the entity does not desire my meager processing capability. You will be reinstated as Commander, once all hyperspeed capabilities have been properly scuttled on the planet surface.]

“Will you be able to tell me why, after I regain Commander privileges?”

[No. My memory banks will be wiped of all sensitive information before the turn-over is done.]

“Is there anything that you can tell me, at all?” At that moment, everyone within earshot knew that either the AI gave a satisfying answer, or the Count would find it's CPU and crush it underfoot. They all thought that it would reply immediately. But now, the Innocence took its time. As if it also knew that fact, and was rapidly testing the limitations of the gag order that it had been given. Then, after almost thirty agonizing seconds, it finally answered.

[The entity has a directive with regards to Serenity's ‘children’. But the directive was only conceived after Serenity was granted freedom.]

“... Did you hear that, Lord Duke?” He spoke into his earpiece, surprising even Hiiro.

[“Yes, Lord Count. I will relay it to the other Imperial vessels, post haste. Shall I also share it with other factions?”]

“It will be best to do so.”