The cool hum of the drive core, the shiny steel walls, and the large windows that that reveal the stars, our only companions in space. These made the ship feel cold to me at first.
I look around at my crew and remember my first mission as commanding officer. I barely knew my crew, but as we went through hell and back, our bond became unbreakable. We saved the galaxy and when we got back to civilization, we were labeled as pariahs. The political leaders of the galaxy were in denial.
They didn’t want to believe that we were in danger. Only now that their home planets have been invaded, they look to us for salvation. After Alaina’s death on Haestrom, Kirrahe sacrificing his team to save mine, Kaide abandoning me on Ilos, after dying and losing the ship, everything changed. We’ve lost a lot of good people, humans, aliens, and machines. My crew has done more for the galaxy in three years than the council ever has. I hope they remember that. Not all of us are going to make it out of this alive.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and jump. “Whoa, Davies. I didn’t mean to scare ya.” Kaide says while stepping back and chuckles. I just sigh and shake my head, as if that’ll wake me up. My second in-command steps closer and gently grabs my arm, “Jen, what’s wrong?” I don’t look at him. I turn back to the balcony in my apartment and observe my crew, my family. “Are we going to make it, Kaide?” I nod towards my family. “Are they going to make it?” “Look…it’s gonna be…it’ll be what it is. You’ve done everything you can. You’ve gathered the people, you’ve made all of this happen. Whatever happens, you are the one that got us here. You’ve given us a fighting chance. What you’ve done…is build hope.” I tear my gaze away from the party downstairs to look at him. He chuckles nervously, “You remember Menae? The mission after Alaina died? I thought I’d lost you forever. And then, Ilos…I abandoned you. And you still… You still… You never treated anyone like they weren’t worthy. You never stopped fighting for me. For us. Ya know Jen, I, I love you. I always have.” “Davies! Alenko! Get down here! Liara wants to take a photo!” Tali’s vibrating animated voice calls from below us in the center of the party. I sighed, “Well, I guess we better get down there. Come on, Kaide.”
