A flock of birds flew gracefully overhead, the ring of Talabor illuminating the sparse clouds with the colors of the rainbow. Nameless and Rachel where leaning up against her Barracuda. Rachel had her lit pipe in her hand, soft smoke wafted from her nostrils. Nameless was studying his holographic notes.

The area around them was a maelstrom of activity, as shuttles came and went from the sky-port. Long columns of soldiers were disembarking, cargo ships loading up with supplies and munitions, several massive Martian mech suites carrying large shipping containers with weapons attached to their backs could be seen, as well.

“You done yet?” Rachel huffed.

“Mhm. Yeah,” Nameless said absent mindedly.

Rachel grimaced and nudged him harshly with her elbow.

“Hey!” Nameless groaned.

“I asked if you were done yet,” Rachel titled her head.

“Does it look like I’m done?” Nameless spat.

“God you are so fucking annoying,” She rolled her eyes.

Irritation bubbled up inside Nameless as his attention went back to his notes. On his hologram was the data sent to him from Spider, regarding the progress reports of all the volunteers who had taken the serum. So far so good, no signs of any adverse symptoms.

“You can’t keep them locked up forever you know,” Rachel growled.

“I’m not the one in charge of that,” Nameless sighed, scrolling through the notes.

“Sure act like you are.”

“Welp, I’m not. Shit, technically you’re higher ranking than me, you go tell Spider how to do his job.”

“As if that computer humper would ever listen to me.”

Nameless looked up from his notes.

“That computer humper is the reason we have mechs, and why so many of these guys made it. Your King would have gone up in smoke if it weren’t for Spider,” Nameless said.

“Alex could drink twice the dosage you did and have been just fine.”

“Uh huh.”

“Jealous?”

“Of what?” Nameless laughed.

“That Alex is ten times the man you are,” Rachel arched an eyebrow.

“Oh please. I’d have taken being born into royalty with a castle and an army over my childhood any day. He’s a stand-up guy, nothing special,” Nameless shrugged.

“So you are jealous,” Rachel smirked.

“Whatever makes you feel better,” Nameless sighed, turning his head back to his notes.

“You’re no fun,” Rachel growled, pushing herself off of the car.

Nameless turned off his notes, also leaning away from the car and stretching.

“Well?” She asked.

“He’s finishing up the last few checkups, we can release them from quarantine in a few hours,” Nameless sighed.

“A few hours?!”

“Yes,” Nameless nodded slowly.

Rachel huffed. Her long hair was flowing in the wind, a patched jean jacket covering her white tank top, with ripped jeans and black and white sneakers. Nameless was wearing his normal leather jacket, cargo pants and combat boots, plus his battle belt.

“So, what’s there to do around here?” Nameless chortled, crossing his arms.

“As if I’d want to do anything with you,” Rachel scoffed.

“Okay. Then we’ll just stand here and bitch at each other until they’re ready,” Nameless shrugged.

“Fine!” Rachel spat.

“Fine.”

Both defiantly stared at each other.

“Urgh! Get in the fucking car,” Rachel spat, stomping around him and the hood, to the driver’s side.

Nameless grinned, and pulled open the passenger door, settling into the pristine leather seat. The interior of the Barracuda was polished and spotless, with an ace card and a picture of a family pinned to the inside of the drivers mirror. As Rachel turned the car on, Nameless studied the picture.

There was a broad shouldered man with dark brown hair, and a mustache, his arm wrapped around a beautiful woman with Italian features and long black hair in a bun. Standing in front of the parents, were two young girls. One was ten years old and wearing a baseball cap with bright clothes. Her young bright face was glowing with joy as she held some kind of golden trophy. The other was maybe sixteen, covered head to toe in black. Nameless recognized the scowl, it was a young Rachel.

She followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at. She quickly shut the mirror, glaring at him. Nameless looked away, gazing at the disembarking soldiers. Rachel downshifted gears and hit the gas pedal. The muscle car launched forward, roaring down the tarmac in-between the massive, bristling star ships. She was an expert driver, miraculously avoiding hitting anyone as the car roared forward with all cylinders whistling.

A grin erupted from Nameless’s face as his stomach was left behind. He felt like he was ten years old, riding in a buggy across the dunes of Mars at top speed for the first time again. He looked over, and saw Rachel was trying to hide a smile. Her green eyes were alit with focus and pride, as she shifted gears and careened between people and vehicles.

They approached the checkpoint that guarded the sky-port’s exit, the guards quickly recognizing the car and lifted the orange gate. The Barracuda roared past the waving guards, coming out to the new paved road. Rachel swung the wheel, the car fish-tailing as it turned left. She hit the clutch, down shifted, straightened the car in a perfect maneuver, up shifted, and slammed the gas.

“Hold on to your nuts, bitch!” Rachel roared happily.

Nameless’s eyes widened as he clutched the door handle and center console. He looked over and saw the orange dial steadily shift to the right. Eighty, ninety, one hundred, one seventeen.

“How fast can this thing go?” Nameless shrieked with glee.

“My dad was the best mechanic in Jersey, watch this,” Rachel grinned.

Nameless heard a shrill whistle from underneath the hood. He quickly realized even though the car was from 1960, the engine certainly was not. The force of the acceleration pushed him into the seat as the Barracuda nearly jumped, propelling forward. One twenty, one thirty, one fifty, one seventy, one eighty, one ninety, two hundred miles per hour.

The countryside whisked past them as they raced down the perfectly straight highway, in the car lane. Horse and buggies sped past Nameless’s window in a blur as he whooped with happiness. Rachel slowed the car down, downshifting with a grin on her face. In a few minutes, they where cruising at ninety miles per hour.

Nameless watched the Talaborian snowcapped mountains gently float past them, lush farmland and wilderness on their left, the citadel on their right. As they sped along, he looked over at Rachel, who was smiling. She glanced over.

“What?” Rachel laughed.

“That was fucking awesome!” Nameless laughed.

She rolled her eyes, turning the radio on.

“Hello, hello everybody! To all my sailors, prospectors, and plants out there, you’re listening to Zion Frontier! Hope you all are having a safe and fun time out there among the stars! Bring me a back a souvenir for your favorite Uncle Eddy, why don’t ya?

“This next batch of tunes is dedicated to the brave members of Task Force Ishtar, who are out and about doing the good work on some classified rock! So, hush, hush, gotta love the brass and their cryptic announcements, huh folks?

“Speaking of the military, just another friendly reminder to all my human shipmates out there: do not get in that cab with a Spree during libbo! You don’t wanna be the one who has to explain to your captain why all the booze and ammunition is gone from your ship, now do ya kids? All right, all right, stay safe out there people, I’m Zion’s favorite Uncle Eddy, and you are listening to Zion frontier!”

Rock music blasted from the stereo as they cruised along. Rachel calmly pulled her pipe back out and lit it. Smoke trailed out of the open window as Nameless watched the countryside.

Soon, the end of the pavement approached. Rachel slowed down substantially, as the wheels hit the dirt road. The car bobbed up and down, as they continued down the road. Soon, a cozy village came into view. Curiosity burned in Nameless’s chest as he tried to figure out what was in store.

As the car rolled into the small group of huts, Rachel slowed down to a crawl. The villagers came out to greet her cheering, as children ran behind the muscle car. Eventually, they came to a stop in front of a slanted roofed building bigger than most of the village’s homes.

Rachel stopped the car, and shut it off, twirling the keys with her finger.

“Well?” She asked.

“Your dad was a fucking magician, man,” Nameless laughed.

“Twenty nineteen v10 in a 1960 body, ya damn right he was,” Rachel laughed.

She head nodded and got out. Nameless followed suite as the children swarmed the car.

“Aye! Hands off, gremlins!” Rachel barked.

The children groaned, carefully backing away.

“Hey, go get the stuff from the glove box real quick will ya?” Rachel asked.

Nameless nodded, leaning into the car and opening the glove box. He pushed aside the holstered Glock nineteen and pulled out a bag of candy. He straightened and held up the sandwich bag. Rachel held her open hand out and he tossed it. She snatched it out of the air and turned smiling.

The children in medieval peasant clothing shrieked with glee as they desperately held out their hands, Rachel distributing out all the candy. They all thanked her, scurrying away with hands full of sweets. As the mob of children dispersed, Nameless noticed a smaller skinny boy on crutches, missing a left foot. The boy timidly looked up at her as she chuckled.

“I told ya kid, you need to whack em with one of those crutches, can’t let them take all of it,” Rachel sighed. She spoke in Talaboran, surprising Nameless as his translators buzzed with feedback.

“Me pa don’t like it when I fights with the other children,” the little boy mumbled in his native tongue.

“Shame really, there’s none left,” Rachel sighed, holding the bag upside down.

The little boy sighed; his head downturned. Pity filled Nameless, when he noticed Rachel’s hand sneak behind her back, pulling a bar of chocolate out of her jean’s back pocket.

“You been paying attention in school from the sky people?” Rachel asked softly.

“Aye, the butcher says he’ll bring me on for the summer too!” the little boy said excitedly.

“There you go! Makes getting rid of the mean ones easier,” Rachel winked.

“Chop, chop, chop!” the little boy giggled with a grin that missed several teeth.

“Here you go, now be a good lad and share some with your ma!” Rachel ordered.

Rachel held out the bar of Zion chocolate, the little boy’s eyes lighting up as he took it.

“Thank you Lady Rachel!” the little boy happily said.

“Off with you!” Rachel laughed.

The little boy was about to hobble away when he saw Nameless standing beside Rachel. The boy’s eyes widened as his mouth dropped.

Rachel looked over.

“Oliver, meet Nameless, he’s a knight like me,” Rachel said.

Oliver tilted his small curly haired head.

“Ye don’t have a name sir?” the little boy asked curiously.

“Such a silly thing, isn’t it?” Rachel smirked.

Oliver giggled as Nameless smiled.

“Pleasure to meet you, Oliver,” Nameless said warmly.

There was a moment’s pause as Rachel translated for him.

“Can I be a knight like you some day?” Oliver asked.

“Of course you can”, Nameless smiled.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Oliver grinned once Rachel told him what Nameless had said.

“Good day, me lord and lady,” the little boy nodded.

Nameless and Rachel watched as the little boy hobbled away on his wooden crutches.

“Isn’t Zion offering free medicine, and care for stuff like that?” Nameless asked softly.

“Yeah,” Rachel sighed. “But these folks are still pretty sketched out by off worlders. They were almost wiped out by sky people, remember? The kids don’t mind us, but good luck convincing the parents to allow some kind of replacement for that foot. They don’t seem to mind anyone who fought in the war, but they barely go near new technology.”

Dark memories of the war on Talabor came back to him. Of their last stand against the Dark Axium, and the countless he had personally killed which had been turned Talaborians.

“Hearts and minds I see,” Nameless sighed.

“Hearts and minds,” Rachel huffed.

“How many villages are there out here?” Nameless asked.

“Just a few, this one is for all the servants in the last castle before Armenium swooped in and saved them. Little Oliver there lost his foot saving his mother from a Dark Axium fuck. Killed a full-grown man with a kitchen knife no less.”

“Gods.”

“These people deserve better. C’mon, we still got those hours to kill,” Rachel said.

Nameless followed as Rachel led the way to the large building, most likely a tavern of some kind. A wooden sign protruded from the outer wall, with a name written in Talaborian with the depiction of a rearing artu.

Rachel opened the wooden door, ambient firelight and the sound of cheerful voices bathing her slender form. Nameless followed as she strode into the warm tavern, closing the door behind him. The voices died down as the door shut, and Nameless turned to see everyone sitting in the tavern had grown silent, staring at the two new arrivals.

They were rough men and women in primitive garb. Several people were missing limbs or had eye patches; some had healed 3rd degree burns. The tavern was comprised of long tables and benches, with several smaller circlular tables and chairs. A long bar ran the length of the far side left wall. Behind the bar, was the male bartender from the feast, and presumably his wife who also wore a leather apron and white blouse.

Rachel went over and sat at the bar, unbothered by the silence and staring. Nameless awkwardly followed her, and sat down beside her, every pair of eyes following them.

“Nice place,” Nameless mumbled.

“I love it here, come every day that I get a chance,” Rachel sighed, putting two fingers up.

As the male bartender came over with two mugs of ale, Nameless shifted his weight on the wooden stool uncomfortably.

“If you come here so often, why are they staring at us?” Nameless whispered.

“Speak for yourself fuckboy, they know me,” Rachel chortled.

Nameless turned in his seat, to see everyone was still staring at him.

“A pint of ale for the goddess and the Nameless Captain,” the bartender said warmly.

“Thanks,” Nameless mumbled, taking his mug.

Movement from the corner of his eye caught Nameless’s attention, and he turned again to see an old man slowly approaching. He wore rough and simple robes, a red cloth hat sat on his bald weathered worn head as he approached cautiously. The old man stopped a few paces from Nameless, and took his hat off, holding it in both hands.

“Begging ye pardon sir, are ye truly the Nameless Captain?” the old man croaked in Talaborian.

“I am,” Nameless said, nodding.

The old man’s chin trembled as he slowly came closer, holding out his weathered hands. Nameless slowly raised his hand, and the old man grabbed it. The old man held Nameless’s hand surprisingly firmly for an older fellow.

“Thank, you,” the old man said slowly in English.

“When King Alexander gathered his banners, and marched on the black cloaks, Heinrich here stood on the walls with his crossbow. He saw the sky people descend, and reigned fire down upon the black cloaks and their twisted disciples. Nary a night goes by we don’t tell the tales of the battle of the five hills,” the bartender said, cleaning a mug with a worn rag.

“Is it true? That a princess from the stars brought forth her captains and knights to aide us?” a man called from the back of the tavern.

Nameless looked at Rachel. The Vagabonds had been deployed to rescue the princess all that time ago. But they had come to this place for Zyhara, not these folk. If anything, he should be thanking the Talaborians for standing by them during the battle.

“Yes, our bannermen came to this world to help you all,” Rachel called.

While technically true, it was a half truth at best. But how else would you explain an interdimensional clandestine mission to medieval peasants?

“Do you really have a lance of fire?”

“Is it true you slew an entire host alongside our liege?”

The tavern erupted into rapid fire questions as the people rose from their seats, swarming the two off-worlders. Nameless nervously drank his ale, while Rachel blew smoke from her nostrils.

“Everyone, to ye seats! Let the young lord and lady enjoy their pints ye lot!” the bartender thundered.

The crowd slowly retreated as Nameless finished his drink. He sighed, standing up. He tapped the mug gently on the bar, and the bartender gave him another drink. He then turned and looked at the people.

“One at a time please, what do you guys want to know?” Nameless called.

Rachel translated.

“Your lance!” a man called from the corner.

“They want to see my lance?” Nameless asked softly.

“Most of them were behind the castle walls during the fighting, none of them have actually seen particle manipulation. Well, not on our level anyway,” Rachel sighed.

“If I may beg ye pardons lords, please do not burn down me abode,” the bartender chuckled.

“Of course, sir, have you seen particle manipulation?” Nameless asked.

The man’s smile nearly faded, his eyes twinkling.

“Aye. I was rode alongside our liege and bore witness to the battle of the five hills. I stood by him at the silver world and followed him across the mountain homes of the sky fortress,” the bartender nodded.

Nameless recalled seeing a strapping knight who had rode along King Alexander as he had charged across the highway of death during the battle for Zion.

“You are a knight, sir?” Nameless asked.

“Once was. Me days of killing are over lad, it’s the quiet life for me now,” the bartender smiled.

“What’s your name?” Nameless asked.

“Reginald, lady Rachel calls me Reggie. Over there is me lovely wife, Cassandra,” Reggie said.

“Hello,” Cassandra said slowly, her warm face welcoming.

“Good to meet you two, Reggie. Okay, here we go, I’ll be careful I promise,” Nameless smiled.

Nameless slowly climbed onto the top of a wooden table and ignited his energy carefully. Golden embers of fire emitted from his body, his eyes glowing gold, his spear forming in his open left hand. The tavern crowd gazed in awe struck wonder as the lance formed, the young man before them transformed into a golden knight with power beyond their comprehension.

As Nameless looked at them all, he realized they reminded him of the free people of Oasis. How the freed slaves had studied him and followed his every move. These Talaborians were good people, innocent folk who had been wrapped up in events far beyond their control. And yet, here they stood, unwavering, rebuilding their world after nearly being wiped out.

Nameless extinguished his energy and hopped down from the table. The tavern was silent as he went back to his stool.

“Why are the sky people here? My lord,” one of the women asked hesitantly.

Nameless looked at Rachel. She sighed.

“We are here, to ensure that the past never repeats. This Nameless Lord is the commander of the army of the sky people. King Alexander has graciously invited him here to train and guide your warriors. The people of Talabor shall prosper, with the gifts the Nameless Lord and his people bring,” Rachel said.

“Why are you Nameless?” a man asked.

Rachel looked at Nameless, her eyes searching. Nameless bit his lip.

“I was born without a name,” he said carefully.

Rachel translated.

“Why don’t ye pick a name, sir?” a women called.

“On my world, I was born without a name. They just, gave us numbers. Most people like me, slaves, chose their own names. But I liked being called Nameless. When they said Nameless had killed a slave master, or when Nameless had brought in a large bounty, it felt like I was representing everyone without a name. My god, was also Nameless. The thirteenth and Nameless God of Mars. The unknown, unspoken, hooded man who cut down those who would seek to bring misery to others.

“By being Nameless, I gave up all glory and fame. I fought for the betterment of myself, and my people. My reward was getting the job done and making sure my friends got home safely,” Nameless said.

He waited for Rachel to ridicule him, but there was just silence. He looked over, to see her studying him. She finally translated. As she spoke his words, Nameless saw the crowd shift. Their eyes growing wide as they leaned in.

“You where a slave, me lord?” a man asked.

Nameless nodded.

“How did ye become a knight then?” he asked.

“I killed my masters and led my people to freedom. Then the star people came, we accepted their gifts, and joined forces. That led me to your world,” Nameless said, as Rachel translated.

The tavern buzzed with activity as the Talaborians, now at ease with their arrival, went back to their merry drinking. Nameless leaned on the bar, drinking his third drink, when he noticed Rachel was staring at him.

“What?” Nameless sighed.

“You never told me you were a slave,” Rachel said.

“You never asked.”

“What else don’t I know about you?”

“Uh, I’m a councilman of Mars, I’m the adoptive father of the children disguised as adults known as the Vagabonds, and I all I want is to be left alone? That’s pretty much me,” Nameless sighed.

“No ruling, or schemes for power?” Rachel chuckled.

“If I could give all of this up to go back to my old life, I would. I hate this responsiblilty,” Nameless sighed.

“Huh,” She chortled.

“What?”

“The dickhead who strolled into my A.O like he was better than me didn’t act like this.”

“It was a mission, and you were being annoying,” Nameless shrugged.

“I was the one being annoying?!” Rachel stammered hotly.

“You shoved a finger in my face.”

“Because you just walked up! No ‘hi how are ya, my name is bitch mcfuckface’, or anything! You are so fucking insufferable, you know that?!”

“You’re still here though,” Nameless arched an eyebrow.

“Cuz I’m stuck with you,” she huffed.

“Are you though?”

She looked at him.

“I don’t get you,” she seethed.

“Why? Cuz I don’t buy the tough girl act? You poke and prod, and I just shrug. Not much to get there.”

“Yeah, well you’re a guy, so it’s a little weird for me. Most men want to get in-between my legs or inside my head, you just exist and annoy the shit out of me.”

“What do you want?” Nameless asked.

She blinked, playing with the table with her thumb fingernail.

“I want, I dunno. All that movie bullshit ain’t real, I just want a semi-quiet life. Whatever unfortunate soul can deal with me can stay for the ride if they want, but I don’t need anyone.”

“A nice cozy farm somewhere?” Nameless chortled.

“Fuck no!” she laughed.

“So just a little bit of action with some nice quiet dude?”

“If we’re not fucking, killing and drugging into old age, I don’t want it,” Rachel sighed.

“Good luck finding somebody crazy enough to stick with you for that long,” Nameless laughed.

“Fuck you!” Rachel roared.

They had some more drinks, stories were told, people went in and out of the tavern as curiosity spread among the village. They spent the rest of the time with small talk, as Casandra brought them out wooden plates of delicious food. Stomach full, and head buzzing, Nameless looked at his watch.

“Almost time, you good to drive?” Nameless asked.

“Yeah,” She sighed. “Thanks for the brews Reggie.”

She put some coins on the bar as they got up.

“My pleasure me lords,” Reggie smiled warmly.

“Be seeing ya,” Cassandra called sweetly.

“You bet,” Nameless said happily.

The two walked out of the tavern, approaching the Barracuda. As they walked, Nameless studied her. An ominous feeling was creeping inside of him, like this was the last moment of peace they’d have for a long time. As they got to the car, he cleared his throat, catching her attention.

“For, um, the record. I don’t care what Aryus or Seraph said,” Nameless said.

“About what?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Us,” he shrugged.

“Oh, I see. So, because our past lives boned, we’re destined to be together?” she laughed.

“Not even close to what I meant,” Nameless sighed.

He stood by the passenger door, while she was a foot or two away from him. She crossed her arms.

“Well for your information, I don’t fucking care what they said either. You’re annoying as shit and easily one of if not the most pig-headed men I have ever met,” Rachel snarled.

“And you’re the most insecure, daddy issues little girl playing army woman I’ve ever met,” Nameless spat.

“Is that how you feel huh?”

“Yeah, it fucking is!” Nameless said angrily.

“I wouldn’t be with you if you were the last man alive!” Rachel chortled.

“I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole!” Nameless snarled.

“Yeah?” “Yeah!” Nameless said firmly.

They stared defiantly at each other, both grimacing. He sighed and launched forward. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Her eyes widened, her body stiffening. Nameless felt stupid, waiting for the incoming slap.

But instead she relaxed and kissed him back. They slammed against the car, kissing passionately as they held each other. Nameless pulled his head back. She blinked, then squinted with anger as she lightly hit him on the chest with her closed fist as he held her.

“You’re a piece of shit,” she sighed.

“You’re fucking gorgeous,” Nameless sighed.

She tilted her head, smirking.

“What, I haven’t scared you away yet?”

“Gonna have to do better than that,” Nameless grinned.

They kissed again, then she pushed him away. She pointed a finger at him.

“If I find out you’re doing all this, and there’s some side bitch, I’m cutting your dick off,” she snarled.

“Dude, I can barely handle you,” Nameless laughed.

“Bold of you to assume you can handle me, fuckboy. Get in the fucking car,” Rachel laughed, walking over to the driver’s seat.

Nameless sat down, as she started the engine. She gripped the wheel tightly, then huffed.

“If we’re gonna do this, this is it. I don’t care about labels, but I swear to god if I find anyone else with you-” she started.

“You already said that,” Nameless laughed.

“Bitch, don’t cut me off!”

“Who else is trying to get with me?” Nameless chortled.

“You’re like a people magnet! You can talk to people, you’re always leading shit, you’re rich and powerful, I don’t fucking like competition!” Rachel spat.

“Luckily for you I only like crazy bitches then, huh?”

She scowled at him.

“Watch it, fuckboy. Oh, and a fucking heads up would have been nice!”

“What do you mean?!” Nameless exclaimed.

“I thought you were being a little shit cuz you’re an asshole!”

“I am an asshole!”

“No dur! But letting me know you liked me would have been nice!”

“I’ve liked you since we met. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Scary as fuck, but holy gods woman,” Nameless laughed.

“Oh yeah? What about Julia, huh?”

“She’s like my sister,” Nameless sighed.

“You asked her out though. You try to bang every sister like friend you got? Is that what this is?”

“It’s complicated! Wait, is this about Julia? You’re not competing with her,” Nameless laughed.

“No shit I ain’t competing with her! I’m better than her…” Rachel trailed off, looking at her nails.

“You’re it man, like you said, you’re stuck with me,” Nameless chuckled.

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re lucky you’re cute. Got the personality of a fucking sponge, and you suck at communication!”

“I’m sorry! I like you, okay, Rachel?!”

“I’m already regretting this,” She sighed.

Nameless smiled as the car took off, heading back the way they came.

“I like you too, dickhead,” Rachel huffed as they cruised.

“I know,” Nameless smirked.

“I will fucking yeet you from this goddamn car!”

“This is gonna be awesome,” Nameless laughed.

“Gonna end in body bags or sharing a bed in a nursery home,” Rachel grumbled.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Nameless chortled.

His watch vibrated, a red hologram blinking. Both of their eyes widened, the color draining from their faces.

“Step on it,” Nameless growled.

“You got it,” Rachel nodded, slamming the accelerator.

Nameless answered the call, and Spider’s face hovered before him.

“What’s up?” Nameless asked.

“We’re expediting the initiative, the army is mobilizing, we’re heading off world,” Spider nodded.

“What happened?” Rachel called.

“Zyhara can brief you on the ship,” Spider said darkly.

“What’s going on Spider?” Nameless barked.

“There’s been an…attack…in our solar system. It’s bad, really bad,” Spider said gravely.

“Is everyone back home all right?” Nameless asked.

Spider was silent, as he shook his head.

“We’re on our way,” Nameless grunted, turning off his watch.

They were silent as the car hit top speed, zooming down the highway.

“I’m not going anywhere, and I’m here for everything you come with. If we do this, we do this together,” Nameless said firmly.

Rachel nodded.

“Peace was boring anyway, at least I’ll have someone to annoy during whatever is coming,” Rachel sighed.

As both people made peace with the future, and the knowledge that they were together, the Barracuda thundered down the road, towards the Sky Port which was now ablaze with hurried activity.