She found Jaks leaving the military mess hall; a backpack slung around one shoulder. He was holding a gun in his other hand.

It took him a moment to notice Jocelyn, but when he did, his eyes lit up like exploding stars in the night sky.

“Jocelyn!” he exclaimed as he rushed to her side. “Is it done?”

“The Overseer…” she struggled to say the words. “He just stopped breathing. He’s dead.”

Jaks pulled her close to him. He didn’t seem all that surprised by the news.

His embrace was warm. Jocelyn closed her eyes and allowed the radiating heat from his body to warm the numbness she felt.

She was struggling to accept the fact that Bulba had died, coincidentally, after she gave him the sedative.

“What does Halycon extract really do?” she asked, her head still resting against his chest.

“It’s a sedative. It puts people to sleep.”

“Tell me the truth.”

Jaks released Jocelyn from his hold and held her at arm’s length. “Listen to me, Jocelyn; Bulba Fyore was not in good health. The stimulants he took sped up his heart rate. He probably suffered a heart attack.”

“He died seconds after I gave him the Halycon extract,” Jocelyn stated.

“Perhaps the alchemy of the extract was too much for his body to process?”

“Then I killed him.” Murderer—the word rang in her ears like monastery bells.

Jaks shook his head. “This is no different than someone having a bad reaction to medication. On Gaia, are doctor’s punished if one of their patients dies due to an allergic reaction?”

She thought about it for a moment. “Well depending on the circumstances…”

“Let’s just say no. You did what you had to do Jocelyn, do you hear me?”

“It’s not worth it,” Jocelyn breathed.

Jaks shook his head as he pointed up to the calm, starry sky.

“What do you see?”

“Just stars.”

“Yes. No drones flying around like unwanted eyes. We’re free to leave.”

Jocelyn swallowed, and then reluctantly nodded. “We need to save everyone else,” she said. “Behyru is almost dry which means…”

“Which means the Xaksu will kill all the workers stationed here,” Jaks frowned. “There should be more than enough ships to get everyone off this damned planet.”

Jocelyn closed her eyes and allowed herself to accept that Bulba Fyore’s death was a necessary evil.

If they were to save everyone, there was no room in her mind for doubt.

“Come on, we’ll still need to deactivate the anti-air artillery from the control room. They’re automatically set to blast any unconfirmed flights off this planet.”

“What about the other guards?”

“I’ve been spiking the food in the guard’s mess hall with a weaker sedative called Makosia. It’s a Dromedian potion that will have them all—as the humans say—dreaming of sugar bum fairies.”

Jocelyn couldn’t help but laugh. “Sugar plum fairies,” she corrected him. It felt good to smile, after all that had just transpired.

“Right,” Jaks said. “That sounds less ridiculous—slightly. Anyway, all guards who had visited the mess hall at least once today should be out cold.” Jaks took her hands in his and stared deep into her glossy eyes. “We’re free Jocelyn, there’s no one else to stop us.”

The word ‘free’ resonated in her ears like a blissful melody.

“Free,” she repeated.

“Come, we need to move quickly.”

They made their way through the eerie quietness of the camp. Usually the compound was alive with drone and guard patrols but on this night, Jocelyn and Jaks had rid Behyru of both. They had rid themselves of the long shadow of the Overseer.

“We’ll shut down the air cannons, grab one of the Dragon Fly ships, find a cure for your poison, and live the rest of our lives dancing the nights away,” Jaks reaffirmed the plan as they navigated through the dusty trails of the compound.

“And I couldn’t be any happier.”

Jaks grinned. “No, you couldn’t.”

Jocelyn thought about going back for her music box, along with the collection of music she had accumulated during her time here.

It was her only source of joy and comfort in this miserable planet and the thought of leaving it behind filled her with an overwhelming sense of loss. She’d be leaving a piece of her heart behind.

Perhaps she’d mention it to Jaks after they were finished in the control room. The extraction building was on the way to the airfield anyway.

“We’re here,” Jaks said as they stopped in front of a square building that had as much character as a hunk of cement. A large satellite protruded from the top of it.

He placed his hand on an LED panel next to the steel door and held it there for a few seconds. The security sensor recognized Jaks’ hand impression and the door came unlocked.

He pulled it open and gestured for Jocelyn to enter.

“After you,” he said.

As expected, the control room was filled with computers and other types of high tech equipment. Many of them were similar to ones they had back on Earth, intelligent devices with blinking lights and cables protruding from their backs like tentacles that terminated at a master panel. A few relays looked distinctly different. Some of the computers—if that’s what they were—looked alive, onyx flesh stretched over metallic bones with a digital interface for a face.

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

It was creepy.

On the north side of the room were two levels of massive screens the width of the entire building. The first screen showed green dots surrounding the air fleet, which Jocelyn deduced were anti-air cannons.

The second screen was a live video feed of the camp, alternating from one camera to the next every few seconds. Tonight, across the entire compound, guards were laying on the ground, unconscious. It seemed as if the Makosia extract had done its job.

Slumped in one of the chairs in front of the control console was an unconscious guard.

Jaks pushed him to the ground and took the seat for himself. “This may take a minute,” he said.

Jocelyn couldn’t help but notice that the guard was completely limp. She knelt down, unhooked the latches underneath his helmet, and removed it.

He was Cymerian, roughly in his forties, with a lifetime’s worth of scars on his pale face. It didn’t seem like he was breathing. She wanted to check for a pulse but it was difficult through the armor.

“You said the Makosia would render them unconscious,” Jocelyn stated.

“I did.” Jaks didn’t look up from the console, his fingers rapidly dancing across the keyboard.

“I think this guard is dead, Jaks.”

“No, he shouldn’t be.”

Jocelyn sucked in a deep breath. If Jaks was lying to her and he had in fact murdered all the guards, what then?

Was Bulba telling the truth when he alluded to Jaks’ true nature? When the violence overtakes him, that man can burn down an entire city by himself.

Suddenly the guard let out a gasp that caught Jocelyn by surprised.

Jaks turned around from the computer console and frowned.

“The Makosia is wearing off,” he said. “We don’t have much time before he wakes.”

Jocelyn’s relief hit her like waves of cool ocean water.

Jaks was telling the truth. He hadn’t killed them after all. All this time, Jocelyn was being foolish in doubting him.

“I’m done,” Jaks said as he rose from the console. “Come on, we need to get out of here.” Jaks stepped over the unconscious guard, grabbed Jocelyn by the wrist, and led her towards the exit.

The moment they stepped outside, they were greeted by a gun pointing at Jaks. It was Rose. She must have been off duty, as she wasn’t in her armor, choosing rather to dress in civilian clothes—a white t-shirt and black pants.

“Stop right there,” she said. A frown ran across her face like a razor’s cut.

Jaks sighed. “Are you dieting or something?”

“What did you do to everyone?” she asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jaks said.

Rose shook her head. “You’re lying. I checked the video feed from one of the drones patrolling the mess hall. I admit, it took me eight repeated viewings before I finally saw it, the powder slipping out of your fingertips and into the drums of food.”

Jaks didn’t respond.

Rose tilted her head towards Jocelyn. “Why is Jocelyn with you?”

Once again no response.

Rose looked at Jocelyn from out of the corner of her eye, gun still fixed on its target. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“It’s not what you think, Rose.” Jocelyn said. “Please, just lower the gun. Everything will be alright.”

“I can’t do that,” Rose said. “Agent 76 has violated protocol. He’ll need to be taken to the Overseer.”

“The Overseer is dead,” Jocelyn said. Her voice cracked as she said it.

The news took Rose by surprise. “What?”

“It’s true,” Jocelyn said. “He’s dead.”

Rose tightened the grip on her gun and pointed the laser sight right dead center at Jaks’ forehead.

“No,” Jocelyn shouted. “Please, just put the gun down.”

Jaks finally spoke. “Rose? This doesn’t need to go the way you think it does.”

She didn’t respond.

“I’ve always treated you well, haven’t I?” he asked. “I have nothing but respect for you. I trust you. In return, I need you to trust me. As Jocelyn said, everything will be alright.”

“Rose, we’re leaving Behyru. We can all be free.” Jocelyn said. “You can come with us.”

The laser sight remained fixed on Jaks’ forehead.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Jaks stated. “But I will if I have to.”

“You want me to trust you? You’re the last person in this camp I’d ever trust.” Rose snapped. She took a second to breathe, and then shook her head. “Why did you do all of this?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jaks said, “For love.”

Rose eyed Jocelyn. “You love her?”

Jaks nodded. “Are you surprised?”

“A little,” Rose replied. “I would have never figured her to be your type.”

“The Cymerian’s never discriminated against other races,” Jaks said.

“That’s not what I meant. She’s got a gentle heart while yours is…” she struggled to come up with the right word.

“My heart is what?” Jaks asked.

Jocelyn wanted to know what Rose thought of him also.

“Your heart is cold,” Rose stated.

Jaks sighed. “You’ve seen me only as a soldier. It’s understandable you’d think that.”

“No, I’ve seen the other soldiers. You are different. There’s something inside of you, something dark from the first time we met.”

Jaks rolled his eyes. “Great, do you want to put me down even more in front of the girl I love?”

“Please come with us,” Jocelyn said. “Jaks has promised to find a cure for my poison. I’m sure we’ll be able to solve your problem as well.”

Rose touched her stomach. Jocelyn could tell she was thinking about it.

“Yes,” Jaks said. “Come with us. Leave the Xaksunian Empire. They’re all monsters.”

“I’ve seen you kill for them,” Rose said.

“It wasn’t my choice. You know that.”

“You may call the Xaksunian’s monsters, but they offered me a hope for happiness when no one else could,” Rose said. “Not even my own race.”

Jaks frowned. “You won’t let us go?”

“No.”

“So now what?” he asked. His hand was hovering over his holstered gun.

“I take both of you as prisoners and then report this back to the Xaksunian Empire, as part of our protocol.”

He shook his head. “Rose, I can’t let you do that.”

“I have no other choice.” Rose turned to Jocelyn and smiled sadly. “It’s the only choice I have. I deserve a bit of happiness, don’t I? Otherwise there’s nothing left for me.”

Jocelyn understood.

Rose wanted a baby to call her own and loyalty to the Xaksu was the only means she had to achieve it.

“We’ll find another way, Rose,” Jocelyn whispered. “You’ll get your happiness, I promise you. Just come with us, please. We’ll be safe together.”

Rose shook her head as she turned her attention towards Jaks. “We will never be safe with him.”

The sounds of two distinct gunshots happened so quickly that Jocelyn didn’t have time to process what happened.

She watched in complete shock as Rose crumpled to the ground, clutching her belly. Meanwhile, the gun in Jak’s hand was still smoking from the bullet exploding out of it.

“Rose!” Jocelyn shouted as she dashed to her side and cradled her in her arms.

Tears were streaming down the side of Rose’s face. She smiled as Jocelyn hugged her tightly.

“And another human bites the dust,” Rose said in between ragged breaths. Her hands covered her belly, blood seeping through the cracks of her fingers.

Jocelyn shook her head. “No,” she whispered. “No, it didn’t have to end like this.”

Rose nodded. “I can hear the children now,” she smiled. “This is happiness.”

And then she was gone.

“We have to go,” Jaks said as he holstered his pistol.

Jocelyn rose to her feet, hands balled into fists.

“Who fired first?” she asked.

Jaks was perplexed by the question.

“Jaks, who fired first?” Jocelyn asked again.

He sighed. “Didn’t you hear the sounds of the gunfire? She fired first.”

His voice was calm and reassuring. However it was more than once tonight where someone made mention of Jaks’ violent tendencies. Her trust in him was now displaced.

“Why did you kill her?”

Jaks shook his head. “Don’t sympathize with her,” he said. “She was ready to shoot us or toss us both into a cell.”

“She was a friend,” Jocelyn disagreed, “And now she’s dead. Jaks, did you shoot first?”

He shook his head. “I pulled the trigger only after she fired. Now Jocelyn, please we need to get out of here before something else happens.”

And just as he said it, something else did happen.

In the distance all the Dragon Fly space shuttles began floating up into the sky.

The white metal bodies of the shuttles were all glowing red, like irons in a fire.

Watching hundreds of these burning ships floating up into the clear night sky reminded Jocelyn of floating paper lanterns she had seen when she was a young child back on Earth.

“What’s going on, Jaks?” Jocelyn whispered as she stared at the hauntingly beautiful sight with unease.

And then, one by one, the Dragon Flies began to explode, a symphony of fireworks that all but destroyed their only means of escape off Behyru.

“Jaks?” Jocelyn repeated. She needed some form of reassurance that everything was going to be okay.

Jaks frowned. “We’re being invaded.”