We don’t speak as the ship continues to drift, we’re hoping to conserve oxygen on the ship. I spent a few seconds wondering how long it would take or who used the most oxygen, but I chose to just let the question float away. When the station finally comes into view none of us choose to celebrate. We share a knowing glance in the silence. A glance that says Kay was already insane and off the deep end, but losing Daamin might have just caused her to build a new deep end.

For his part, Daamin has been sitting on the floor corss legged and meditating again. I’m not sure where he picked up the habit but it probably helps a lot. Helps us conserve oxygen, because it looks like he’s barely breathing, and helps him, not be upset about Kay. I remember my first real break up, I cried for almost two weeks straight. Didn’t go to classes, and didn’t even eat or shower most days. He’s taking it like a champ, at least from the outside. I didn’t think he had it in him to break it off with her. The way he was head over heels in love with her and running after her like a lost puppy. Hearing him choose us over her was really refreshing. I want to tell him there’s going to be more women but I’m not sure how much good that would do, especially with how little time we have left.

Kevin is surprisingly calm through all of this. He’s laid on the ground taking a nap. I’m not sure I’d take a nap when losing oxygen, that seems like a good way to take a permanent nap. He’s got the love of his life down there fighting, or maybe not. He’s just taking a power nap The calmness is admirable, way different than when we first met. Actually, it’s pretty similar to when we first met. He was always calm until Kai shot his kid. I fight the urge to chuckle to myself.

Kai seems to be the only other person conscious at the moment, leaned over the navigation system with his head resting on his arms. He’s looking at the station slowly getting closer, but I can tell that isn’t where his mind is. He’s just got a look that says he’s deep in his own thoughts.

“How you holding up Kai,” I break the silence.

“Dre, I don’t know if we’re going to live or die.”

“None of us do, but we’re here now. You told me to be optimistic earlier, so just believe everything is going to be okay.”

“But I don’t know everything is going to be okay and I can’t pretend it is much longer.”

“I get it, I know what you mean. Our lives are in the hands of a psychopath and it doesn’t matter if we suffocate on this ship or get crushed by whatever defenses are on the station. But we can’t give up now.”

“Dre, if we’re going to die, there’s something I really need to tell you.”

“Relax, look how close the station has gotten. We’re only a few minutes from there.”

“Dre listen,” Kai sits up, but doesn’t look at me. “We’ve known each other for over fifteen years at this point. When I met you, I hated you. You were a straight up bully.”

“I know, you never let me forget I used to raid your cities.”

“Yeah, but all I did was reach out a hand to you. I’ve been bullied so much in my life and I always tried to reach out and form a friendship instead. Nobody ever took my hand, but you did. You took my hand and never let go. You’ve become the best friendship and the longest friendship I’ve ever had. The time I get to spend with you is the best-”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Kai is cut off by docking instructions from the ship. It’s not Kay this time, but the actual ship. We’ve made it to the stations. The instructions wake Kevin and Daamin who rush over to view out the window. We all gather around as the ship continues to do it’s own thing. I’m not sure if the look on Kai’s face says he’s relieved or upset, maybe even angry. It’s a hard emotion for me to read; I wish I could just ask Kai what the emotion is and how he’d like me to respond but I feel like it might not be a good idea right now.

“Hey guys, we’re heading into the station,” I start another incredible motivational speech. “I know we’ve all got a lot on our minds going into this station. But I want you all to know it doesn’t matter now. We’re about to face the endgame, the final boss. Everything up until now mattered, but it doesn’t matter if we go in there and get taken out. Let’s all focus on what’s in front of us.”

“Alright, captain my captain,” Kevin jokes getting some laughs as we dock.

We’re off the ship in a hurry once the doors open. It’s funny how suddenly getting all the oxygen you could ever want suddenly fills you with energy. This place is more of a futuristic castle than it is a space station. Not that I’ve ever been on a space station, but everyone has seen pictures of the real International Space Station. The initial landing area is set up like an arsenal. A place to fill up on ammunition, make modifications to weapons and creating healing items. Kevin and Daamin take the opportunity to explore, try to improve their swords. Kai and I don’t feel so comfortable and trusting of her. A map makes it really simple for us to understand the plan. Beyond these massive dock doors, is a massive room where we’ll face an unspecified number of enemies. There’s an elevator in there. We’ll take that to the second floor. There will be more enemies there, but also a place to upload the cure. The third floor is the final boss.

“Kai, there was something you were trying to tell me earlier.”

“Don’t worry about it Dre. It seems like I wasn’t meant to tell you.”

“It seemed like it was pretty important.”

“Yeah, it was. But even if I told you now, it wouldn’t make a difference. Heck, even if I told you then it wouldn’t have mattered. Just something I wanted to say.”

“Well, tell me when we go home.”

Kai laughs, “I’ll tell you if we survive this.”

“We’re going to survive, because now you’re keeping a secret from me, and I don’t like that.”

Kai laughs, “I keep lots of secrets from you.”

“Name one,” I smile.

“Then it wouldn’t be a secret,” Kai laughs before glancing off. “You ready to go through those doors?”

“Only if the kids are done playing,” I joke.

“Kids, come along. Daddy and daddy are ready for doom,” Kai shouts.

“Coming,” Daamin plays along.

“Wait up little bro,” Kevin gets in on the joke.

“Take this seriously or I’ll turn this whole space ship around,” I wag a finger.

For just a moment we all laugh before remembering just how serious the situation is. Maybe we shouldn’t be taking it so seriously. We were joking all the way here, maybe that’s what kept us alive. The bad times being fun. It’s a game after all. Life and death rest in the balance, but it’s a game. Games are supposed to be fun first and foremost.

“You guys remember when Kevin was playing dad to a woman the same age as him,” I joke about Yuna.

“Yeah that was weird, what was up with that,” Kai adds.

“That’s not funny,” Kevin doesn’t laugh.

“Relax, they’re teasing you, that means they’ve accepted you into the group for real,” Daamin pats him on the back.

“I thought I was already in the group,” Kevin seems concerned.

“Yeah, but now you’re official. You can join the group chat and everything,” Daamin promises.

“What do you guys talk about in the group chat,” Kevin seems intrigued.

Kai sighs, “there’s no group chat. Daamin is just messing with you too.”

With some more smiles and laughs, I think we’re ready. “If you guys are ready to kill this psycho give me a hell yeah,” I shouth.

“Hell yeah,” they shout in unison.

“Then let’s do it.”