MARS: 20 - Fortitude (Finale) - TITAN Contractors
03 May 2023Aurora Adair (Radiumio)
NOTE: This story contains themes of violence and strong language.
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DATE: 3rd of December, 3308 [13:30 UGT]
LOCATION: T.O.C. Solaris Q4V-40N, LTT 2974Aurora Adair
"... Commander Adair...?"
With a soft sigh, Aurora groggily opened her eyes, her vision clearing as she focused on the figure that stood near the left side of her bed. A woman with tied back brown hair and dark blue makeup upon her lips stood there, covered in a blue and white medical overall. With a tablet in hand, she peered through the black frames of her glasses, smiling softly at Aurora.
"How are you feeling? You... zoned out a bit there. I have your medical paperwork here if..."
"... I'm fine. I... uh..."
Aurora looked around the room. She laid in a clean, white bed, a hospital gown covering her beneath the smooth sheets as she took in the sterile, grey and white room she was in. Hooked up to a heartrate monitor to her right, she listened to the slow, soft beeping from the device. Being alive was a start, at least...
"Commander?"
"... w-where's... Isa...?"
She looked back up at the woman near her bed, a tinge of panic hitting her as her mind immediately flicked to Isabella. The widening of her eyes indicated that much to the doctor.
"Yes... Commander Levine. We notified her that you're awake. She should be here soon. In the meantime, I need to discuss-..."
"... sorry... who are you... again?"
"Doctor Nova Wynter, ma'am. Unfortunately, your previous assigned doctor, Mr. Fowler, is... no longer with us. I had to step up in his place due to recent events."
"... okay..."
With the room falling into silence for a moment, the doctor took in a breath and glanced at her tablet, before looking back up at Aurora.
"Right. So, Commander... we were able to stabilize your condition. The CSF teams aboard The Black Edge were able to keep you alive until they could send out a distress signal. You'll be pleased to know that... it has been dealt with. Your efforts to destroy the weapon and the enemy were successful... and investigations are ongoing right now."
Aurora's drained expression remained unchanged, her left eye aching as she simply laid there, listening. The doctor looked at her, as if expecting some kind of response... before she simply continued.
"... Unfortunately, your injury is still significant. Had the piece of shrapnel hit you any harder or at a different angle, it would have killed you. You are one lucky person, Commander, but as it is, the force of the impact has fractured your lower spine, causing some significant damage. We have been able to stabilize your condition, but fixing the nerve damage caused is a complicated process... I understand you also rejected the use of cybernetics or anything of the sort, correct?"
"... yeah..."
"This does limit our options slightly, but... that is not to say restoring your ability to move is impossible. It may be a long process, one we will have to see after BLUSTAR has been brought back up to full capacity, which also gives us time to examine how your body heals by itself. Thereafter, if you choose to resume treatment, we can do so. Until then, you will - sadly - not be able to walk. There may be some temporary options we can provide you in the meantime."
"... so... that's it? T-that's just... how it ends...?"
Aurora looked up at the ceiling, her emotions starting to get to her as she thought of the mission. They had destroyed the superweapon... but she remembered little of what followed. She was in and out of consciousness for weeks... and her partner. Where was Isabella?
"... can you please get... Isa here...? I'd like to s-see her again..."
"I assure you she is on her way, Commander. It's big news that you're awake again."
"... yeah... doesn't mean much. I still feel like shit. I just want to see her. Please..."
With a distinct hiss, Aurora heard the door open to the room, slightly blocked by the doctor being in the way. She lifted her head a bit as a figure entered, to which Nova turned around. With a smile, the doctor stepped back, and revealed a chestnut-haired woman in a plain white T-shirt and grey track pants. A single crutch was tucked under her right arm as she limped slightly into the room, her hazel eyes landing on Aurora in the bed.
Aurora's eyes began to water as she spoke with a slight waver, recognizing immediately who it was. Holding back the tide of emotions that hit her was difficult to say the least, her mind echoing with the memories of what happened to them.
"... I-... Isaaa~..."
Isabella's face exploded with an array of emotions as she moved closer towards the bed, joyful tears gathering in her eyes as she reached over with a free hand, taking Aurora's that laid atop the sheets. Her tears began to flow gently as she gazed at her bedridden partner, sniffling a bit.
"Aurora... heyyy babe..."
The two barely noticed the doctor slipping out of the room as Aurora burst into tears, the heart-rate monitor to her right picking up slightly. She took Isabella's hand, squeezing gently as she sniffled and blubbered, wiping her face clumsily.
She struggled to say anything before she started to laugh softly, her face quivering with emotion as she felt overwhelmed, finally being able to see and be with the love of her life again after everything. She just mumbled and wiped her face, sobbing as seeing her partner cry set her off even more. Lifting Aurora's arm, Isabella gently kissed the back of her hand as she gave her a wavering smile, coming forth with a gentle, playful comment to lighten the mood.
"Hey, beautiful... looking really good today, hmm...?"
Aurora's tears flowed freely as she giggled softly, sniffling and wiping her face as she tried to get herself under control. She exhaled slowly through her nose, her hand trembling slightly as she looked at Isabella, locked onto her eyes as best as she could focus.
"... I m-... missed y-you s... so muchhh~..."
Isabella released Aurora's hand as she used her shirt to quickly wipe her face off, maintaining her uncontrollable smile as she gazed down at Aurora.
"I missed you a lot too. I'm so glad you're up. How do you feel, hun?"
Wiping her face again as she kept trying to calm herself, Aurora just held onto Isa's hand and sighed softly, sniffling a bit as she cleared her stuffy nose.
"... ah... h-ha... not... super better. Just... groggy from all the meds and... I still have some pain... i-in my back and... around my eye. How do you f-feel? Are you okay...?"
"Awe, hun. Yeah... probably going to take some time 'till it all heals up. But, we have the best meds and medical team there is. You'll be back to normal no time. Just... don't get too excited, or they might think you're suffering a heart attack or something..."
Isabella smiled with a soft laugh as she brushed back her loose, chestnut hair.
"But me... I'm... alright. My shoulder hurts... and my leg, obviously."
Aurora's smile faltered a bit as Isa mentioned that she would be back to normal in no time, gazing up at her lover. She didn't say anything, but her mood lightened again as she watched Isa brush her loose, chestnut strands back, hearing that beautiful laugh of hers.
"... hmmm... haha~... Yeah. So glad you're... okay. Y-... you can sit on the bed if you want~..."
With a squeeze of Isa's hand, Aurora watched as her partner carefully turned and sat down onto the edge of the bed, holding onto her crutch as she rubbed her thumb over the top of her lover's hand. She held a wide smile, but it faltered a tad the more she looked at Aurora.
"Glad we made it. And that we w-won..."
"... yeah. It... feels so... surreal. Guess it's just really hard to believe that we... finally did it..."
... but that was difficult to believe anymore. Aurora squeezed her lover's hand as she saw her smile falter, her own gently fading as she gazed at Isa, tilting her head.
"Hey... you okay~...?"
"Nothing important right now, hun. Just... the state of the galaxy right now. Too much time on my tablet, haha. Just... so glad you're doing better."
"... is there something... going on? I haven't... been able to... y'know..."
Resting her head back against her pillow, Aurora exhaled softly and watched her partner as they spoke, relaxing. Isabella shifted on the bed slightly, returning the squeeze of her hand.
"I know, hun. And you don't have to worry. It's a lot of information I was looking through... and Violet wouldn't... you know... stop talking about it to me. Actually, you know... we should take my carrier. Maybe up to that spot of ours. Away from... the bubble... give us some time to recover when you get out of here."
Aurora frowned slightly, although her soft look remained as she gazed into Isa's eyes, studying her intently.
"... well, I kinda have to... worry when you mention going so... far away... ha. Plus... it's my job to worry~..."
Isabella simply smiled softly.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I just... don't know how best to explain it..."
The door to the medical room opened with another hiss as another figure entered, immediately starting to talk. It was a younger voice, which immediately matched the appearance as Violet stepped in, wearing a full blue camo outfit, her blonde hair tied back into a ponytail. She dawdled in, already rambling as the duo went quiet.
"It's the Thargoids. They're attacking human settlements as some kind of massive genocidal campaign. They have invaded like... twenty or something systems, attacking everything in their path, and they control fifty."
Isabella frowned, trying to interrupt before she was quietened by Violet's continued ramble.
"Vi-..."
"They have this apparent epicenter or staging area called a 'Maelstrom'. There was just one... but now there are three. Five more are coming and they've already killed hundreds of millions... probably."
"Sheesh, thanks... and oh... hi by the way. Nice to see you too. How are you doing, Aurora? Couldn't have maybe started with that?"
Violet shrugged at Isa's slightly angry response, glancing between the two as she slowly approached the bedside.
"Just ripping the... bandage off. No... pun intended. But... hey... Aurora. How are you?"
Aurora simply frowned, a bit caught off-guard by the information dump. She shook her head a bit, sighing as the room fell into silence. At a loss for words for a moment, Aurora looked up at Isabella in disbelief, maintaining her frown as her hand moved to pinch the bridge of her nose. Her hand brushed back through her raven curls as she sighed, trying to piece together the obviously extremely critical news.
Eventually, Aurora lifted her head as she looked at Violet, shrugging slightly to her query. She was a bit disappointed and frustrated at the sudden news thrown at her, but she maintained an outwardly sympathetic and gentle tone towards Violet anyway.
"... I'm fine... uncomfortable and... i-in some pain but... alive... I guess. Thanks for the info-drop... I didn't really need it r-right now because I... kind of have my own news to tell you two."
Isabella's attention turned to Aurora, squeezing her hand again.
"What's up, hun?"
Biting her bottom lip a bit, Aurora laid back and sighed slightly, her emotions getting the better of her as she closed her eyes a bit, before looking over at Isabella once more.
"... well... the doctors said I... probably won't be able to... w-walk again. The... uhm... damage to my lower back from the injury was... significant and... yeah... it's too early to say if and when that'll change..."
Trying to hold back her tears, Aurora took in a breath and sighed, shrugging softly as she looked away. The news hit Isabella first as she froze, Violet's expression softening with sympathy as Isa immediately fumbled for some sort of solution.
"W-... well... maybe we can... find some place that can install like... I don't know. I'm sure there's a way to fix that, hun. It's okay..."
Aurora shook her head, cutting Isabella off.
"... No... Isa. Let's... not. I... I discussed it with the doctor already. I don't want cybernetics or whatever... so... that limits the options. Even t-then... this is my spine. Any more force behind what hit me and... I... I would've... died..."
"BLUSTAR's still crippled after everything and needs to vet new staff, doctors, and whatnot. My assigned doctor didn't... make it through the conflict and... the procedure is complicated. And if they m-mess up... it could get worse than just affecting my lower body. They want to see how my body heals first..."
A tear escaped Aurora's eye slowly as she laid her head back and closed her eyes, taking in a sniffly breath again through her nose.
"You c-can talk to the doctor. I was... kinda zoning in and out. Was a lot to... t-take in..."
Isabella teared up equally at seeing her partner's pain and upset, continuing to hold her hand. She was silent for a moment, a bit of fire visible in her eyes... but it wasn't directed at Aurora. She pushed it away after a moment, her hazels shimmering as she shook her head and shrugged.
"We... should look then. For the best doctor or... someone. I can do that for you. So they don't mess anything up. You know..."
"I know you'd look, honey... but... you can't guarantee it. They'd p-probably just say the same thing... and... I d-don't want to risk something... external. I'm still a target... what if that wasn't all of EMBER...?"
Falling into silence again, Isabella started to cry slightly, sniffling as she gazed at Aurora, squeezing her hand as she shook her head again.
"... N-no... I believe you'll walk again. I know you will."
Aurora shrugged.
"Maybe... who knows what the... the future holds, I guess. I'm s-still here, though. With you... and Violet. They'll have to try harder than that to get rid of me~..."
Isabella smiled softly as she took Aurora's hand and gently kissed it, before she lowered her hand and brought her own towards Aurora's face. She gently brushed back her raven curls as she looked at Aurora with watery, irritated eyes.
"I know. You're the strongest woman I know and you'll make it through this. I believe in you, honey."
"Pfft... you don't give yourself enough credit, Isa. I... I only manage to do all this because of the both of you..."
Loving how Isabella brushed her hand through her hair, Aurora gazed into her watery eyes and smiled softly, her own hand coming up to cup her lover's cheek as she wiped away her tears with her thumb, studying her beauty as a gentle, warm smile slowly emerged on her face while her deep blues shimmered in the light.
"... oh come on, you gonna keep kissing my hand or~...?"
The two giggled softly as Isabella sniffled, before leaning in swiftly to give Aurora a gentle kiss on her lips. The two rejoiced to the touch of their lips for a moment - an intimate sensation dearly missed - before Isa broke out of it, and gazed back into Aurora's eyes.
"I love you, Aurora. You're going to beat all this. I know you will."
Aurora let a soft exhale out through her nose as she smiled.
"... I think we beat a good amount of it together already. Couldn't have done any of this without you. I love you so much, Isa~..."
Leaning back into the bed, Aurora turned to look at Violet as she smiled softly.
"... aaand there's some thank you's in order for that... device you made, Violet. It... really helped. So thank you. You're really talented and... I hope you know that."
Violet simply shrugged as Aurora's focus turned back to Isabella, seeing her tears grow again as she spoke.
"Hun... I know... we... won... but it doesn't feel..."
Isabella went quiet, biting her bottom lip as her eyes trailed off a bit.
"It's okay, Isa. It... doesn't feel right... I know. We..."
Now it was Aurora's turn to pause. Her mind thought more about the people they lost and the damage they suffered. Her father, her family. The people she cared about. Was it all really sorted? What about the Thargoid invasion? Would that affect them too?
"W-we have a... a lot to handle still, I guess. But... the hardest part with this EMBER bullshit... is over. I hope..."
"I know, love. I just... I w-wish... yo-you were okay. We could've gone a-and relaxed on a... nice beach. Our little spot. I had... a lot of ideas for us..."
Isabella sniffled as she started to cry again, Aurora listening quietly. She thought of all the things she wanted to do too when it was all over... and now that felt ruined. Her own tears grew as she shook her head, gently taking Isa's hand and squeezing it softly as she rubbed.
"... no.... no, we can s-still do that. I just... I might need crutches or... a wheelchair or something. Or you could carry me~... ha. Nothing can stop us from... b-being together and being us, okay? I won't let this stop anything we want to do together..."
"Yeah... I know. Just... want you to be... you. I love you, Aurora. I hate what they did. I wish... I could've... d-done something more to protect you from..."
Isabella broke down into soft sobs as she wiped her face, prompting Aurora to gently grab her hand and delicately pull her into a hug, extending her arms. She brushed her hand through Isa's chestnut hair, hugging her as she shook her head again.
"... You did everything y-you could and more, okay? D-don't blame yourself... ever. I'm here... s-still alive because you saved me. You... saved me... over and over again... allowed me to be m-... myself again..."
Comforting Isabella, Aurora looked up at Violet who took a few steps back, gesturing to the door.
"Hey... uhmm... maybe I'll give you two some space. I'll... come back later maybe? Aurora, I really hope you'll get better and recover well. I'll be praying to the stars above for you."
"... yeah. Sorry, Violet. I'm... so glad you're okay. Thank you for visiting..."
"No need for an apology. It's fine. You guys need some space... sooo... see you around."
Keeping her arms wrapped around Isabella, Aurora sighed softly and kissed her partner's forehead gently as she watched Violet leave the room. The duo laid there atop the medical bed as they hugged, Isa's sobbing slowly soothing as she sat up a bit, looking at Aurora once more.
"... I love you, Isabella~..."
"I love you too, Aurora."
Gazing at Isabella, she gently brought her hand up and brushed it through her lover's chestnut strands, humming softly as she studied her beauty. She let out a soft, sad sigh, tilting her head a bit as she lost herself in Isa's hazels.
"Gosh... we have... quite the life, don't we~...? Ha..."
"Yeaaah. We do. Just... how do you deal with this? The news? I broke my leg and I'm just... I hate being immobile. Can't do much... but... you..."
Aurora paused slightly as she looked at Isabella, her deep blue eyes gently glimmering. Eventually, she replied softly, taking Isa's hand as she held on delicately.
"... I... uh..."
"Well... I... never really had much of a life before all of this... before ending up with the squadron. And then meeting you. I can deal w-with it because I get to be with you and... maybe it just... sounds so silly but... that's all I really need. All I want..."
"I don't like... burdening you with my stuff b-but... yeah. I'll figure out a way to do stuff and... try be active. I just... want to be with you... because I'm... so in love with you, Isabella. You're... all I wanted in my life. And I'm still alive and... you're still here. So... not being able to walk might really suck but... it's small when we're together. You comfort me..."
"Honey~..."
Isabella smiled warmly as she melted at the comment. With a soft hum, she simply leant in and kissed Aurora again - allowing the sweet moment to last a few more seconds between the two. Wrapping her arms around Isa, Aurora carefully hugged her, before they eventually broke away with a satisfied hum. Isabella maintained her warm smile, sitting up as she faced her lover and took her hand once more.
"Mmm... miss kissing like that..."
"... Ha... yeahhh. Ha~..."
Blushing a bit, the heart-rate monitor linked to her started to beep a bit faster as Aurora gently took Isa's hand again, gazing at her. The kiss remained distinctly on her mind, something she deeply missed being able to share with her partner. With a soft giggle, she squeezed her hand as they interlaced her fingers.
"... y'know, once I'm out of here... we can have all the time we want to passionately make out with each other and make up for lost time... how's that sound~... hmmm...?"
Isa smiled, tilting her head a bit as she nodded her head, her eyes studying Aurora.
"Oh gosh... I'd love to. Say, can youuu... feel anything down there?"
"Weeell... why do youuu ask, missy? Hmm?"
Looking at Isabella, Aurora bit her bottom lip subtly as she gave a warm smile, watching her partner. Isabella simply shrugged, biting her bottom lip in response as well, before she followed up with a playful wink and a smirk, squeezing the hand she held softly.
"Oh, nothing. Just... you know... curious~. I want the best for you, hun. You deserve it."
With a warm blush, Aurora smiled happily and returned the gentle squeeze of her hand, gazing into Isa's eyes.
"Cheeky. But, I have the best already, beautiful~... though I can't wait to at least get out of this damn bed and... back to our quarters. Hate being strapped up to all this equipment."
"I feel you, hun. But until then, I'll keep our quarters nice and cozy for you when you return~..."
Humming a sweet, cute giggle, Aurora gently pulled Isa towards her for a quick kiss, breaking away with an audible 'mwah' as she smiled happily.
"... I'm looking forward to that~..."
Gazing into Isa's hazel eyes, she paused as she noted a movement behind her, hearing heavy boots enter the room as the door parted with a hiss. A CSF soldier in heavy, dark armour striped with red chevrons entered, stopping as they came into view. With hands behind his back at ease, he glanced between the both of them before looking at Aurora.
"Commander... there's a Federal team outside. Someone wants to see you. He says he's an Admiral of the Federation, ma'am."
Aurora glanced at Isabella, a bit of concern crossing her face before she looked back at the soldier, who patiently waited for a response.
"... okay... go ahead and... tell him he can come in..."
Laying back in the bed, Aurora nervously squeezed Isa's hand as the soldier turned and exited. It didn't take long before the same soldier returned with a figure in tow.
Stepping into the med bay, a man in blue armour entered, although the suit was very light and appeared more like formal attire. There were no badges or awards along its chest plate, just a distinct Federal Navy insignia. Grizzled hairs dotted his stubble, likewise with his buzzcut hair. He moved smoothly, examining the room carefully before his focus eventually turned to the duo. He came to a stop, eyes resting on Isabella, and then Aurora. The gaze only lasted a second before he spoke, his thick and gruff Federal accent filling the room as the CSF guard stood behind and observed, the soldier's hand resting on the Tormentor sidearm locked to his right thigh.
"Commander Adair... and you must be Commander...?"
The man paused, looking at Isabella. She replied with a plain tone, holding a stoic look as she watched the man carefully.
"Commander Levine. Isabella Levine."
The man almost seemed slightly surprised upon hearing Isabella's voice, but whatever it was instantly passed before he nodded.
"Admiral Donovan Aceron, although just Donovan will do. I run intelligence operations for the Federal Navy, sometimes dabbling with FIA cases and wha-..."
"What do you want?"
Aurora's voice forced a pause from him, her hand holding onto Isa's firmly. Her cautious and standoffish attitude to the Admiral was quite clear now, her firm gaze fixed on him. His eyes shifted to her, quiet for a moment before he responded.
"I bring news, Commander. Important news, in fact. My team has quietly pursued the case against the Ember Syndicate since TITAN first brought it to our attention. With The Black Edge now recovered, we see it fit to finally intervene and... correct the record, so to speak."
Isabella scoffed, shaking her head as she frowned.
"Would've been nice to have the Federation's help before we captured the Black Edge..."
Aurora didn't take her gaze off the Admiral, watching his reaction as her anger only grew further, prompted by Isa's comment. But the Admiral remained unmoving, looking at Isabella before he slowly nodded.
"You're right. Unfortunately, my assigned team is too small to get involved in conflict, and - until today - it has been... very difficult encouraging my superiors to allocate the resources and personnel to investigate. The FIA was largely disinterested without physical proof... the navy denied allegations of such a powerful superweapon, and I suspect that your father was right with the intel he gathered, Commander Adair. EMBER's reach ran deep... even some who weren't directly associated with the syndicate were tricked into keeping it quiet. An example is the navy squad you were previously apart of... but there were others..."
Aurora subtly gripped Isa's hand tighter, her anger and emotions starting to get to her as she raised her voice slightly.
"... I didn't want to... to work towards anything. You have no idea wh... what I went through..."
Despite her own anger, Isabella tried to placate Aurora by slowly rubbing her thumb gently over the top of her hand, glancing back at her with a concerned look, before she turned to face the Admiral once more and spoke.
"What is it you want, Admiral?"
"To deliver a message to you. May we have the room, please?"
The Admiral gestured to the CSF soldier who flanked him, the guard still keeping his hand hovering near his sidearm. Aurora, maintaining her frown, glanced between the Admiral and Isa, before she eventually nodded slowly, still holding her lover's hand firmly. He seemed unarmed... and Isa was here. What could the harm be?
"... fine..."
Without hesitation, the guard relaxed and promptly turned, walking through the blinds and exiting the room as the Admiral waited patiently for the sound of the door closing. As the sound of the door closing was heard, the Admiral turned his attention to Aurora and Isa, remaining where he was.
"Commander. I know not much can be done to remedy the suffering you have all struggled through, or the injuries and pain you have sustained. But, I hope my message will alleviate some of the burden you carry. It is all I can do."
"Our investigation into the data your squadron provided, as curated by your father, has been deemed legitimate. The Black Edge is physical proof, and databases onboard confirmed that several other EMBER cells have been thrown into complete chaos. You have effectively dismantled this organization, and have ensured that even if they did continue, their crown jewel - the MARS Device - cannot be rebuilt again, at least not easily. We could not find complete, detailed schematics left behind aboard the carrier, and the weapon is damaged beyond repair. The hybrid technology was destroyed, rendering it useless."
"Of course, it is possible that some backups survived, but the data aboard The Black Edge will allow us to track down what remains of EMBER and bring them down entirely. This is being worked on as we speak, and I assure you that it is not solely being handled by the Federation. We have communicated with other agencies to ensure any cells linked to EMBER activities outside of Federal territory are shut down."
"With all this considered... on behalf of the Federation; your squadron, your associates, friends and family, as well as yourself, Commander Adair, are officially pardoned. No charges will be placed against you, and your criminal record due to your time in the Red Hunters will be dismissed. We cannot conclusively say you, or the rest of your squad, were responsible for all those deaths, now that we have reason to believe that the MARS superweapon was involved in manipulating you."
The room was silent as Aurora stared at the Admiral in disbelief, trying to piece it together in her head. She shook her head, the reminders of what she did sticking in her head once more as she looked away.
"... n-no... how? I was... I... I k-killed..."
Aurora paused while tears gathered in her eyes, sniffling as she started to cry. She felt so guilty... but there was no taking back what she said now. The Admiral simply stood there, looking between the duo quietly. Isabella squeezed her hand, her own hazel eyes starting to water as she watched Aurora cry.
"Hey... Aurora... it's... it's okay. I know it doesn't seem like it but... it wasn't your fault. You were manipulated, remember?"
"I should've s-seen it... I should've..."
A tear escaped her blackened left eye as she started to frown, looking up at the Admiral.
"Th... those people d-didn't deserve... to die..."
"Did you deserve any of this either?"
The Admiral's tone subtly changed all of a sudden, but he held his steel gaze on Aurora.
"I knew your father, Commander. We weren't close, but... most Admirals tend to 'intermingle' in each other's operations. As naval intelligence, our duties occasionally aligned... and in my line of work, you often hear things through the grapevine. I eventually found out what your father was trying to do, and... well, it was a difficult task he took upon himself."
"You can imagine that if I knew about it... EMBER most certainly did. Nobody could help him, not with the way they had the game rigged. Unfortunately, his days were... numbered, to put it bluntly. They allowed him to collect all the data he could, just so his own superpower could turn against him - something they tried to do with you."
"The only thing they didn't expect... was what you turned out to be capable of, ultimately. Your father kept two duplicates of the data he had collected, the majority of which was stashed away on the databank he hid as a contingency. You were that contingency, and while EMBER likely knew it existed, I believe they underestimated you. They underestimated your ability to find and make use of that databank. To gather people and lead them into making things right for good."
"Being one of the closest survivors to the situation, you had the keys and knowledge, as well as an entire squadron separate from the Federation's influence, to help. Truthfully, I strongly disapprove of the way he went about it, as he could not anticipate EMBER's power accurately. The MARS Device brought unnecessary suffering to your home because of that."
"I believe that you should not have been manipulated into carrying this burden... but we should recognize that it is thanks to you that EMBER failed. It is thanks to you that we have been able to expose this within the Federation. And... although our focus must be placed elsewhere right now, we hope that this will mark the start of change in the Federation. Even if it does not... you and your squadron have saved millions of lives from suffering at the hand of EMBER."
"I assure you this pardon is legitimate... and I do have the paperwork with me. There are some limitations to it of course, but... as you are a Commander now, I highly doubt you will return to the Federation as a citizen, or naval operative, and so those limitations would not matter."
"S-so that... that's i-it...? I... t-the MARS device gets... b-blamed for what I did and I just g-get to walk away...?"
"Well... you want that, don't you? You cannot bring those people back, Commander, but your actions saved millions more. You came close to sacrificing yourself and what you love to make this happen... to make sure that the thousands of your own who perished did not do so in vain. Is that not enough repent?"
Aurora went quiet, tears streaming down her cheeks as she struggled to keep back her emotions, trying to ease her breathing as she was close to breaking down into sobs. She nodded slowly as she wiped her face clumsily.
"I know it's hard, hun. But the Admiral is right. You saved millions more and this... this is freedom. For us to just... get away."
Aurora didn't say anything, sniffling as she laid back into the bed, gazing at Isa with teary eyes, before her focus turned to the Admiral.
"My team has already finished up our investigations, so we will be leaving shortly. Now that The Black Edge has been wiped of its useful data, and the weapon destroyed, the most pertinent parts of our investigation have been handed over to the FIA. We see no reason why the carrier cannot be left in your control now, so on top of your pardon, The Black Edge is now an asset of your squadron."
"I understand it is... not much, compared to what you have lost. But, I can hope it will allow you to rebuild your squadron in these difficult, hazardous times. The Thargoid invasion has become a recent item of concern, and that may be an element we cannot simply ignore forever. What happens next is in your hands now, Commander. You are free."
"... t-thank y... you..."
Aurora started to quietly sob as she shook her head in disbelief. The Admiral took a step back, before he paused and looked back at the duo.
"Ah... I forgot to mention. The FIA has released your family from custody. They were being questioned and held regarding your involvement in EMBER. With all this cleared up now, they have been released... should you choose to see them again. That is all."
Aurora sat there in shock, tears streaming down her face as the Admiral looked between them both, standing by the door. With a nod, he placed his hands behind his back and offered a slight smile.
"And good luck... to you both."
========================================================
DATE: 3rd of December, 3308 [14:18 UGT]
LOCATION: T.O.C. Solaris Q4V-40N, LTT 2974Admiral Donovan Aceron
With a loud clunk, the klaxon of the heavy duty bulkhead sounded, the door hissing as it began to open. A dull, hazy light flooded through as the door lifted up to reveal a long corridor, lined with just a few reinforced prison doors. Without a word, the CSF soldier at the Admiral's side stepped forward, starting to walk into the brig area. Donovan proceeded alone, knowing that a soldier flanked him too. The rest of his team wasn't allowed in, but he understood.
"Cell four is here."
The CSF soldier's muffled voice filled the hallway as they stopped outside the second door on the right side of the hallway. With a gloved fist, they noisily knocked on the door, the drum of their fist echoing through the corridor. An unintelligible comment came from within, as the CSF soldier stepped aside, and gestured to the viewport of the door, walking away as he left the Admiral to it.
With a quiet inhale, he stepped forward in front of the door, straightening his posture before peering through the clear viewport. For a moment, it was empty, until the dim light suddenly highlighted a furrowed face that came forth, and peered right back at him.
"... Who the fuck are you? What do you want?"
The bald man behind the glass spoke, his voice attenuated slightly by the door. Donovan studied his face, taking in the scar cut vertically across his right eye, and the faint red markings along his jaw, up to his cheekbone on each side.
"Dawn... or Kohen, should I say? Whichever you prefer, of course. My name is Donovan Aceron. I am an Admiral of the Federation, here to-..."
"Federation? Oh, that's fucking rich. TITAN's just letting the Feds aboard now, huh? Getting fucked by EMBER themselves wasn't enough?"
"For someone who plays both sides, you seem to have a lot to say about others, Dawn."
Dawn went quiet, holding his frown as he glared back at the Admiral. Eventually, after a tense silence, he spoke with venom in his words.
"What do you want?"
"To deliver a message. Frankly, after your unnecessarily hostile response, I'm half inclined to leave you here... or take you with me to a high security Federal prison, where you can rot away in solitary for the rest of your life."
"Fuck you! The Federation ruined my life! It r-..."
Donovan released a sudden laugh, a reaction that seemingly caught Dawn by surprise. He was seething, almost pressed up against the glass, his breath fogging the viewport slightly.
"What's so fucking funny, huh?"
"I'm not the man who ran with a corrupt spec-ops group. I'm not the man who murdered an Admiral in cold blood, and went after his daughter."
"I had no choice! They made me do i-..."
"And yet, Commander Adair had a choice, hm? She took the difficult path. The path that required effort, and perserverance. You were too scared to do that."
"They were going to kill me."
"They were trying to kill her too."
A moment's silence.
"... I never claimed I was a saint, Admiral. But with a desk job like yours, I don't expect you to understand the reality of this galaxy. You're complicit with criminals!"
"Not everything is so... black and white, Dawn. You of all people should understand, since you claim you did the right thing by murdering Admiral Isaiah Adair. Whether it was directly by your hand or not - you ordered it. You should be held responsible for the criminal actions you ordered or performed yourself, playing whichever side suited you under the pretence of survival."
The Admiral paused, studying Dawn's angered face. The two exchanged a cold gaze, before Donovan continued, inches from the viewport, his voice almost hushed as he glared at the man beyond the glass.
"Every day, I see the hand of the Federation puppeteering its citizens, and its boot stomping on so-called 'dissidence'. I would very much like to see change, an upturn growth in our society and government. Positive, real change. Instead, I am here to deliver a message to pardon you for the crimes you committed, in order for the Federation to save face. It's easy for them to blame this situation on EMBER and their prototype weapon, and quietly pardon the spec-ops group that went rogue, rather than claim accountability for what they caused."
"They knowingly ignore the fact that your team, the Crimson Venators, are directly responsible for a significant portion of the war crimes and atrocities committed against TITAN Contractors, as well as other innocents, simply to cover EMBER's tracks. But let me make this clear, Dawn. I'm not doing this for you, or your team, nor am I doing this for the Federation."
"You are only pardoned today, because it was the only way to save Commander Adair from the clutches of the FIA. Someone like her does not deserve to spend the rest of her life in jail after sacrificing so much to make things right again, despite the wrongs she had done. You, on the other hand, have played the side that most benefits you."
"Instead of pushing for change, you embraced the darkness, believing there was no way to make a difference. But the EMBER Syndicate has been destroyed, and it's no thanks to you or the rest of the Venators. Such a waste."
Dawn was quiet, but his face tinged with rage as he listened. The Admiral chuckled slightly, shaking his head as he looked Dawn right in the eye.
"It seems I made someone angry, hm? You should try imagine how Commander Adair must feel. You're a coward, Vance."
"You think I don't regret what I did? Hindsight's a bitch, Admiral. If I could take back killing her father, I would. But we were fucking with forces we didn't understand. She got out of it lucky."
Donovan sighed, taking a step back as he gestured to the armed CSF soldier nearby, who proceeded closer.
"Open it, please."
The soldier stepped forward, tapping on the console near the door. With a hiss, the prison door opened, revealing Dawn standing there in an unarmoured, powered off suit, his slightly trembling fists clenched. The soldier stepped back, resting his hand on his assault rifle as the Admiral stood and watched.
"Kohen Vance. You will return with me and my team. We will fetch your associate, Ms. Lexi Otto, and we will return to Olympus Village on Mars. You will undergo a screening and interrogation process, before you are provided basic necessities, a transport ship, and you will be left to live your life. You will not be welcome in Federal space, and you will be stripped of all awards and titles. You will not be permitted to serve in any official Federal capacity again, and you might be lucky if any other military allows you in. Violating these orders will result in your arrest. Do you understand?"
"... Yeah, wasn't planning on serving again anyhow."
Dawn took a tentative step out from his cell, glancing at the two soldiers nearby, before his eyes landed on a few more guarding the entrance. He chuckled, looking back at the Admiral. With a nod, Donovan waved him on.
"Let's go, then."
Turning to the brig exit, Dawn took a step, the CSF soldier following him before the Admiral called out, still unmoving.
"Hold on. One more thing, Dawn."
He paused, turning around hesitantly to look at Donovan once more.
"Mark my words. Remember them. Go on, settle down, and have a life far from TITAN, the Federation and maybe even the core systems. Never return. If you do... let's just say that the Federation will be the least of your worries. When she learns of your freedom, recalling the things that you have done, and if she just so happens to have an open shot... I guarantee there will not be a corner in this galaxy in which you can hide from Commander Adair's wrath. And nobody... nobody will be there to save you."
========================================================
DATE: 10th of December, 3308 [19:21 UGT]
LOCATION: T.O.C. Solaris Q4V-40N, LTT 2974SGT. Rocco Locke
With a hiss, the helmet detached from the suit, the HUD flashing off as Locke carefully pulled it off over his head, and brought it forward. With a sigh, he turned the dark helmet around, his reflection in the visor staring right back at him. His thumb brushed over scratches along the edges of the helmet here and there - reminders of this chapter of his life. Making a mental reminder to polish that up, he promptly lifted up the helmet and carefully hung it on the rack within his locker.
It rested there, along with the remainder of his armour and weapons as his gloved hand rested on the edge of the locker door. Without further ado, he pulled the door shut, the lock engaging with a distinct clunk... followed by a hiss that originated off to his side.
"Heyyy, Locke!"
Lifting his head, Locke turned to his left, looking towards the armoury entrance at the source of the familiar voice. A young man in lighter, dark armour entered, with slightly scruffy, short brown hair, gentle eyes and a clean-shaven look. He smiled, taking a look at the Sergeant before he rested his hands behind his back at ease.
"Calling it a day?"
"Ah... yeah. Something like that. Just put in my leave. Y'know... taking a break."
"Quick decision, huh? Well... I don't blame you. Sounds like shit's kicking off again with the whole Thargoid warfront or whatever."
Locke nodded, turning his body to face Helvet as he stood by his locker, folding his arms.
"Yeah. No, I'll be around still. Just... need a break from the whole soldier thing."
"What you planning on doing?"
"Ahh... well. Taking some time off... hanging around the carrier. Now that everything's over and we're still alive, I'd like to take some time to myself. Talk to Kira-..."
"You mean ask her out, right?"
Locke laughed, shaking his head.
"... Yeah. Planning on it."
"How's she doing? Recovery went well?"
"Yeah, it did. She's doing good, just going through all the final rehab procedures and stuff now. How about you, Helvet? Planning to do anything useful with your life?"
The two chuckled as Helvet shook his head, placing a foot up on a nearby low bench as he rested a hand on his knee.
"Funny guy, you. Well, one thing's for certain... I'm staying. This place is home now. But... I'm planning to go visit my family. My parents. They're getting old, and... y'know... with the war... this galaxy's getting just a little bit more dangerous each day. They live in some obscure system I can't exactly remember the name of... and it's fairly out of the way but... yeah. You never know."
"Why not bring them to the Solaris?"
"... Not sure if you noticed, Locke... but we don't exactly have a great track record of safety in the line of duty around here. I mean... sure... we don't have some malevolent terrorist organization trying to rip our heads off anymore but... you get the idea."
"It might be different now, but... point taken. So... you're just visiting your parents? No other plans."
"Should I... have any other plans?"
"Not planning on asking out your own special someone?"
Helvet paused, a slight frown crossing his face as he looked at Locke.
"... Like who?"
"... Like Adeline?"
Helvet paused again, but only for a second, before he erupted into laughter and shook his head.
"Ha! No, no... we're not a thing. Nuh-uh."
Locke was taken aback for a moment, a curious expression crossing his face.
"Why not? Thought you two were a thing. Remember that one operation? You seemed close and very defensive over her."
"Yeah... no. No, she's great and everything... a real good friend. I just... yeah. I never told you, did I?"
"Tell me what?"
"Ah, well... I used to be married. Must've been almost two years ago now."
The Sergeant's eyes widened.
"Married? How... old are you again, Helvet?"
"22."
"... You divorced?"
Helvet went quiet, and shook his head slightly. He gazed at Locke, with a glimmer in his eyes as he remained silent. It was at that moment that Locke understood. He continued after a moment, his voice tinged with the slightest weight of sadness, averting his gaze to the floor for a moment.
"... She was truly lovely. The best thing that happened to me, like a match made in heaven. I know everyone says that when they fall in love but... she truly was an angel. That loss... it pushed me to do this whole thing, y'know? Join CSF... join a cause and make something of myself. Maybe being the jokester just makes everything a little bit easier to deal with. But... nah... life... life can suck."
"I'm... so sorry, Helvet. I didn't know..."
"No need to be sorry. But I hear Lionel's the one going around trying to woo all the ladies. Fucking players..."
Locke would've usually laughed, but what Helvet said dwelled on his mind for a moment. His heart twisted thinking of how close he came to losing Kira. He couldn't imagine suffering that pain for real.
"... Oh yeah?"
"Ha, yeah. Though, seems he's stopped now. He tried catching Tanto's squad leader on a certain day and... let's just say, it was not pretty."
"I can imagine. Sergeant Laurier's got one hell of a bite on her."
"She does. Hear that's lined her up for a pretty sweet upper position in CSF."
Locke hummed slightly, but his mind wandered again as he focused on Helvet. The room fell silent once more, before their eyes met again.
"... Helvet, if you need anyone to talk to-..."
"... -just let me know. Heard it all before, Locke. No offence. I appreciate it. I just... can't."
"I'll be there if you need anything, Helvet. Just say the word, alright? You're a great friend. Not just a squad mate. I... know I've given you a lot of shit, but it's been a privilege being in charge of this team. Truly."
"Now you're the one getting all sappy on me."
Locke managed a laugh, but he could see the hurt in those brown eyes. Helvet stood up straight, clasping his hands together as he looked at the Sergeant.
"... You're a good friend too, Locke. Thanks for keeping the team together."
"Yeah. Anytime."
"One more thing. You hear how Captain Faust's getting a promotion too?"
"I have. Whole bunch of internal shifts happening and whatnot."
"Sounds like he's not the only one."
"That so?"
Helvet smirked, shrugging his shoulders as he held his gaze.
"Yep. Seems like there's a whole slew of CSF personnel that survived getting new positions. Haven't heard the news fully yet?"
"No?"
"Ah. That's a shame. Well... I best get going, actually. Need to go help pack some equipment away."
"Alright, Helvet. See you around."
Helvet nodded, turning to the door as he began to exit the armoury. Locke watched as he dawdled to the door, before he paused, and glanced back at his shoulder. There was a look of what almost seemed like anticipation, that same smirk remaining before Helvet raised his right hand, and loosely saluted towards Locke. He tapped on the door console, the armoury bulkhead opening with a hiss as one foot stepped out... and he spoke.
"Yep. I'll see you around... Captain Locke."
========================================================
DATE: 5th of January, 3309 [13:21 UGT]
LOCATION: T.O.C. Solaris Q4V-40N, HIP 20826"Predator"
"Airlock door diagnostics complete. Exterior door opening."
In the confines of the airlock, the digital voice spoke, the clunk of the exterior airlock door audible before the motor whirred into action, the bulkhead parting. A dark boot stepped through onto the lift ahead, tapping the controls with a gloved hand as it began to descend down the lift of the Phantom's gear, moving down towards the landing pad beneath.
Predator peered up from beneath the brim of his hat, glancing at the hangar lobby. There, two figures stood, waiting patiently. With a slight shudder, the lift stopped, allowing him to step off into the pad. He began to walk swiftly towards the lobby, his cloak trailing behind him slightly, only restrained in the low gravity by the heavy-duty clips around his legs.
"Sooo... he makes an appearance after all."
He lifted his head, coming to a stop at the mouth of the hangar lobby as he looked up at the two figures, who met him with small smiles. There was no doubt about their appearance... although he didn't expect the one to stand perfectly level with him. With her raven curls, Aurora folded her arms across a blue flight suit jacket, a durable exo-frame secured firmly around her lower body, perfectly tracking her legs and secured into the mag-boots she wore, with dark camo pants tucked into them.
By her side stood Isabella, her flowing chestnut hair tied back into a neat, small bun. Her get-up was a stark contrast to Aurora's, instead wearing a purple, striped tank-top, and track pants, along with a set of sleeker boots. He studied the both of them within a second, before folding his arms, exchanging a look with the duo.
"Sorry about that. Not exactly known for my punctuality... well, unless there's somebody who needs shooting."
Aurora laughed, glancing at Isabella before her eyes turned back to Predator.
"No... not today. Hopefully. We just... we wanted to say thank you... before you go. For all your help."
"Don't mention it. Didn't expect to see you both back on your feet so quickly, Commanders. Well, you in particular..."
He looked between the two, his focus shifting to Aurora primarily as she nodded, swaying a bit on the spot. The frame accommodated the movement, keeping her upright as the actuators moved silently.
"Still can't... fully walk on my own but... it's progress at least. Closest I'll get to being able to walk and staying not-cyborg."
"Progress is good... and it looks like your squadron'll rise from the ashes after all."
Aurora's smile faded a bit, a more serious, but gentle look crossing her face as she hummed and nodded.
"... Ah... yeah. We're getting there... slowly but surely. I just... it wouldn't have been possible without you and... everyone..."
He raised a hand.
"Like I said... don't mention it. I'm glad I could help your... predicament. Not too often in this galaxy that you get a chance to do some good."
Isabella nudged Aurora, chuckling a bit as she jested.
"Heyyy... he showed some emotion..."
The duo chuckled. Despite the visor covering his face, it brought a slight smile to Predator, only a slight exhale escaping through his nose. With a hum, Aurora looked past him, glancing at the Krait Phantom that sat atop the landing pad behind him. She gestured to it loosely, although Predator's gaze didn't follow.
"So... this is it, huh? You heading out?"
"That's the plan, provided I don't get... wrenched out by any alien vessels or what have you. My job's done here, after all."
"Yeah... fair enough, but... you know there's.... there could be a spot in this squadron for you if you wanted it."
Predator shook his head.
"I appreciate it but... no. I'll be in touch but... this whole squadron thing isn't for me. But, thank you for the offer. Now... not to be rude, but I should go. Got my own path to carve out now."
"I understand. Can... I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
Aurora seemed to contemplate her question a bit, her free hand unconsciously reaching over for her partner's, interlacing their fingers.
"Can you at least... tell us your name? Show us your face?"
He shook his head again with a slight chuckle.
"... No. Unfortunately, it's better if I don't."
"How come?"
Predator was quiet for a moment, contemplating. He shifted on the spot slightly, tilting his head a bit as he looked up at Aurora.
"It makes attachments. This probably will anyway... but how about I tell you a story instead? Our little secret. I think that's a fair deal, no?"
Aurora nodded slowly, remaining silent as she listened intently while Predator gathered his words, tapping his arm while he kept his arms folded.
"Well. You might've assumed the name 'Predator' wasn't exactly something I picked myself... or maybe you thought I was full of myself. Maybe there is some truth to that, but once upon a time, I used to live a pretty normal life, like all of us. But this galaxy... it sometimes brings out the worst in us. It puts good people in the worst of situations, like yourself."
"Myself? I grew up with a rough childhood in an abusive household. Nothing special. I ended up running with the wrong people, trying to get away from the pain and anger inside of me. It eventually grew into mercenary work, I suppose... but that would be sugar-coating it. I was a cold-hearted criminal, shattered so deeply inside that I didn't even realize it myself until it was, of course, too late. I started doing criminal work young, which ended up tearing my family apart."
"I know it was the worst mistake I ever made. At the time, I liked what I did. A the time I enjoyed it, even. Hit jobs... human trafficking... covert infiltrations, you name it. I didn't care for the damage I caused, just that it felt like it fixed the anger I had inside. Watching other people suffer at my hand... ruining innocent lives... it gave me a feeling of power. A sense of control I didn't have before."
He paused for a moment.
"It... didn't, in the end. I knew the solution to what hurt me wasn't to go and hurt people back, but I didn't try and stop either. I was too deep in the adrenaline, and the mess around me... it was an addiction. So I kept on. I got good at what I did... too good. In the end - I lost my father, mother, and sister, all in one fell swoop. They died at my hand, because I was angry at what they did to me."
"It only really clicked one day when we ran a job no different to any of the others. Some high-profile job on a military installation. I met someone. A woman. She was part of the crew, somewhat... another cell of our clan. After having her own revelation, she wanted an out, and I happened to find out the second time I saw her. I was going to report her, but... like the start of some sappy romance novel, I didn't."
"She spilled her entire story to me in confidence. Something about every word she said flicked a switch inside of me. I always knew what I did was wrong. I just... didn't care. I didn't fully understand that there were other ways to break out into, and how influential my circumstances were. I thought I was in control, that I had power. But everything she said was right in every way."
"It opened my eyes to the fractured society that surrounds us. The powers that push us to do their bidding. I contributed to ruining lives, even that of my own family, of which I take full responsibility for. It was a crushing realization. I agreed to help her and keep it a secret. We planned to quietly cut out the roots of this clan, and try make a real change that didn't involve turning ourselves in to the same system that made us. And... throughout that little journey, we grew close. She was probably the only person I... ended up truly loving."
Predator paused, still focused on Aurora. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and upset now, as was Isabella's a bit. He resumed after a bit of reminiscing, sighing quietly.
"To cut a long story short... they found out, and killed her. So I took the plan we had committed to, dialled everything up to the max, and killed them all. You can call it crazy, but I singlehandedly annihilated my clan in a week. That's where I made a lot of noise, caught the attention of the authorities... and ended up making a bit of a name for myself. The 'name' I have now."
"Since then... I committed myself to trying to do a little bit of 'good' in this galaxy - whatever we may define that as. My line of work isn't pretty, and I'm not proud or happy of it exactly, like you might expect. I make individuals disappear, after all. But... my targets are never innocents. I do my best to make sure that's the case. Instead, I target those that ruin lives for a bottom line, or to save face for their political gain. Corrupt military personnel and security officials... politicians... opportunistic criminals..."
"You might not be perfect, Commander. Neither of you are. But... you are good people, despite everything you've been through. It's what drove me to help you. In a way... the two of you remind me of a life I could have had. It seemed unfair to just stand by and let this galaxy rip that same thing away from someone else. Especially if I could do something about it."
"So... now you know my story, and why I chose to help you. I'm just one of the many that this galaxy fucks over. But... there is still room for good. A lot of it. Your squadron proves that. Nothing is ever squeaky clean, but... it's refreshing to still see people committed to a better future. People with integrity."
The duo's eyes widened a bit, Aurora biting her lip a bit as she nodded. She took it all in for a moment, before she exhaled and spoke, her voice wavering a bit.
"... Wow... that's... uhm... quite the story. I'm so sorry..."
"Don't be. It happened. We can't turn back time, so all we can do is keep on going. Everyone has a story in this galaxy, and I'm just one of them. What happened to me is nothing new... and it won't be the first or last time someone suffers something similar. Anyway... I should get going now. Try not dwell on my story... you have your own to worry about."
Aurora nodded again with a slight hum, glancing at Isabella who stood there quietly, exchanging a soft smile with her partner and Predator. Aurora took in a breath and gestured to the ship in the hangar once more.
"Well... okay... so, that's the ship you're taking? The same one?"
"Yep. It's previous owner doesn't seem to need it anymore... so... I had it repainted and gave it a new name. The Dragonclaw - just because it sounds cool."
"Haha... well... it certainly is a nice ship. I like my Phantom a lot."
"Indeed. As for you two... well... we're standing aboard a carrier only a few lightyears from the Thargoid frontline. Planning on helping out?"
"Ah... no. Well, I... I mean..."
Aurora shook her head a bit, trying to quickly reword what she said.
"I don't mean it like that. We're just... not really in a position to help. That's what the squadron is handling. We're just... the Solaris is relatively safe so... yeah. We've packed all our stuff anyway... we're heading out on a little trip to Colonia again for two months or so... we leave in about three days. Today we're... heading to the departing carrier."
"Colonia again, huh? Fingers crossed I don't have to come out there again."
Although intended in jest, Predator's joke didn't land exactly as intended as Aurora gave a half nervous chuckle, her smile fading a bit as she looked away a bit.
"Yeah..."
"It's okay, hun. Well, Predator... we'll let you go now. Thank you for sharing your... story. We all have quite the origins, huh?"
Predator looked towards Isabella, nodding as he kept his arms folded.
"That we do."
"Do you... mind hugs? Weird question but... if we don't see you again."
"Not much of a 'hugging' person but... fine."
He watched as she released Aurora's hand and the duo stepped forward a bit. With open arms, Isabella leant in and gave Predator a quick hug, one he very loosely reciprocated with all the gear he still wore. With Isa backing off, Aurora followed, exchanging a short hug as she sighed, stepping back once more.
"Thank you. Hopefully this... isn't the last time we meet, Predator?"
"Who knows what the future holds? But... if you ever need anything, just shout."
"Yeah. Thank you again..."
With a nod, Predator loosely waved and began to walk away. His boots carried him across the pad, approaching his darkened Krait Phantom. From the hangar lobby, Aurora and Isabella watched as the assassin departed, stepping up onto the lift. With a tap of the console, it lurched to life and began to carry him up towards the ship's airlock.
From beneath the brim of his hat, he looked towards the lobby. With a nod and a loose salute, he bid goodbye to the duo. Whether or not it would be the final time... he didn't know. He didn't know what might come next. What path lied ahead. What life had in store for him. But... at that moment, he was glad to have done some good. To have seen the direct effects of people banding together to make something right.
Although they would go their separate ways now... Predator would not forget the reminder imprinted upon him. A reminder that beacons of hope do exist in the dark abyss. That it was possible to make a difference, no matter how small. TITAN's triumph, despite all of the loss it had sustained, was just one example of that.
Some things were always worth fighting for. She was right, all those years ago.
Predator truly knew that now.
========================================================
DATE: 17th of January, 3309 [09:02 UGT]
LOCATION: T.O.C. Solaris Q4V-40N, HIP 20826Chief of Special Operations, Meddley Faust
With a hiss, the doors to the Solaris briefing room parted, revealing the refurbished interior within. He entered, smoothing back brown hair as his eyes examined the sleek, dark grey room - thin blue and white lights lining the ceiling. As usual, the center of the room was occupied by the idling, glowing holographic table... the heart of their operations.
His advance continued as eyes fell on him, faces lit by the table before them. He offered a warm smile in return, placing his hands behind his back at ease as he stopped by the briefing table. He glanced around, noting the appearances of well-recognized individuals; namely Chief Ramirez, Commander Goddard, and Chief Stafford - but also two new faces.
Faust took in the reformed operations crew with a gentle smile, nodding towards their new Chief of Medical, Nova Wynter, and Chief of Engineering, Demi Azure.
"Apologies for the delay. There were matters to attend to with today's sorties."
An acknowledging nod came from the tall woman at the head of the table, a scar visible across her face. Avery smiled, nodding at Faust before she spoke.
"No explanation needed. All things considered, you've settled into your new role remarkably fast."
"The familiarity helps. Right... to business. I wanted to provide an update on our second expansion wave, what with the involvement I've had in processing the new recruits and distributing the budget."
With a nod towards the table, the figures followed Faust's gaze and turned their attention to the holographic table, glancing at the data it projected. He continued, placing his hands behind his back at ease.
"As you all know... the Commanders have held an independent expedition, and Squadron Commander Adair has joined them. It gathered significant interest, which we understood would leave less resources for Operation Vortex. The Thargoid War shows no signs of lulling, and we don't expect Centurion to be able to do all the heavy-lifting. Not at this stage."
"However - with duties of command left up to us for the time being - I'm recommending a temporary withdrawal from our efforts near the frontline, at least any combat missions. BLUSTAR can handle the rescues well enough currently. Getting AX-capable pilots ready is proving more of a challenge, but our new hires are quickly stepping up to the challenge."
"The virtual simulators and scenarios designed by the more experienced CSF pilots are certainly putting them through their paces. Alongside that, we're still training hundreds of new soldiers. There is some downside to this, as the veteran force of Centurion is incredibly small... but an upside has revealed itself with the many naval contacts familiar with this squadron. Some independent and ex-military advisors that caught wind of our victory have offered to train our troops, but as a supplement to our existing training team rather than a replacement."
"So far, this has proved quite valuable, and we're impressed with the results, talent and overall broad expertise. The interim report strongly suggests CSF will be within fighting capacity in decent time. With this second wave, we're anticipating an increase of close to 500 personnel - maybe higher if we consider non-combatant personnel."
"That leads to my next point. Along with CSF's projected increases, taking advantage of the current crisis has brought many medical and rescue personnel our way. As horrific as the Thargoid War is, it has made it easier to grow our numbers faster than our initial projections. There is some caution here, as I'm sure you're all well aware that we still receive much more less suitable applicants than we do suitable ones."
"Regardless, by the conclusion of this expansion wave - should training hold firm, we're expecting BLUSTAR to see an increase of approximately 300 personnel. Pandora and Mantis have been affected similarly, seeing numbers of around 200 and 100 additional personnel respectively. To top it all off, our associates at Pathfinder Solutions have been most gracious in getting this carrier back up and running."
"Once their initial recruitment checks have passed, I'm told we can expect over 700 individuals to join the Solaris as permanent crew. This second expansion wave is nothing short of an extreme success, but I believe we can grow further with the second wave. Since The Black Edge was captured and formally renamed to the Typhon, I'd recommend utilizing that carrier as a support and auxiliary flagship."
Glancing around at the table as he went quiet, Faust took in the numerous smiles around the table, a nod coming from Avery as she looked at those near her.
"... Well, that is an impressive report, Captain. It's a refreshing turn of events, considering the current circumstances."
"I agree. Along with all the other changes and improvements behind the scenes... well... no obstacle remains too big for us. EMBER is a dead thing of the past now. The Federation has saved its face - relatively - although the more major concerns remain on the Thargoid conflic-..."
A raised hand interrupted Faust. A woman with ruffled, short brown hair timidly locked eyes with him, her eyes trailing off to the holo-table as she leant on the edge of the table.
"How sure are we that EMBER is dead? Like... properly dead. They went dormant for years, didn't they? What's stopping them from doing that again?"
A hush came over the table as several others nodded. Faust sighed inwardly, tapping his fingers behind his back as he thought for a moment, before focusing his gaze on her.
"True... full certainty in this galaxy is a luxury nobody can afford. But I would like to make one thing clear. All of us stand here today because of one thing - hope."
"Throughout the conflict with EMBER, we have all suffered tremendously. We have lost friends, and family. We have doubted our ability to continue and rise again. We've all considered giving up. Yet, each of you have made a pivotal impact in holding this squadron together. As for you, Demi... you embraced the impossible."
"We stand aboard the Solaris today because of you, and your team. We still have a flagship which carries our banner because of your efforts to rescue it from deep space. You, like many here, showed our enemy that you would not break so easily. EMBER may still be out there, or there may be other enemies that lie in our path."
"However... these waves of expansion... these new faces who carry the message of our squadron... they continue to carry that beacon of hope. The memory of those we have lost. And I personally watched as the remnants of our army seized the enemy carrier, gunning down the mercenaries who tried to destroy our home. I observed the only existing prototype of the MARS Device - shattered in the depths of the ship."
"EMBER may return, or another adversary will take its place. Perhaps with a weapon more powerful than we could imagine. We will continue to be challenged, and threatened. But for as long as we remain, we will suffer no repeat. For as long as we breathe, we rise together. We do so with undying valour, loyalty and combined talent - firmly united in braving the dangers we face."
"Our titanium fortitude. That is what TITAN stands for. That is what we stand for. And if such a threat ever reveals itself once more..."
Bringing a hand forward, Faust slowly gestured around the table, before bringing it towards his chest, his hand balled into a fist.
"We will be more than ready to face it. Together."
========================================================
DATE: 3rd of May, 3309 [17:01 UGT]
LOCATION: The Obsidian Resort, LTT 12058 A 3Aurora Adair
A gentle, ocean breeze whistled across a sandy beach, a glistening ocean bathed in the warm light of the planet's parent star and covering the horizon as far as the eye could see. Set not far from the shore, a large, white tent had been established, bustling with movement as people settled into their seats, set along a soft rubber aisle and grouped in front of a slightly raised platform shielded by the tent.
Aurora opened her eyes, gripping her hands in front of her as she anxiously surveyed the venue for what must have been the sixth time. She watched as guests started to take their seats along the aisle, settling in. It was almost time. Her eyes travelled through the venue, inspecting the individuals she recognized as she tried to occupy herself from her nervous thoughts.
With the operations crew starting to settle into their seats on the one side of the aisle, and several Commanders into the other, she reflected on everything. The chaos they had been through. It'd been a while since she'd seen some of them, what with the chaos they had been through. Some, she hadn't even met... at least not meaningfully. Others had changed, pursuing their own path and life. She was happy for that, knowing the guilt she carried for what the squadron had been dragged through.
The most prominent person she recognized first, seated close to the front row on the left aisle, was Solix - or rather, Evie. After meeting everyone briefly at the start of the event, Aurora saw that a lot had changed with Evie. Rocking the usual graphite flight jacket and outfit over her thinner frame, her swept, medium-length hair was dyed a shade of grey with the tips tinged light-blue, a slither of silver plating adorning her cheeks, as well as around her neck.
It was a dramatic appearance shift in every way, one Aurora was happy to see. Today symbolized a new start, and she was glad to see that others could have that opportunity. To start anew, to blaze their own trail. To be themselves.
Seated next to Evie was someone she easily recognized... at least when they weren't in a bulky mechanized suit. Sporting a stripped-down, slightly grimy Maverick suit with leather boots loosely linked into the suit, Novus sat with crossed legs and folded arms. His mouth was covered by a rugged oxygen mask, connected to a specialized tank hooked onto his toolbelt at the waist of his suit.
Completing the trio, Aurora's eyes shifted to the brown-haired man sat at the last chair next to them. Dressed in black-tie attire with military-grade shoulder pads and leg bracing covering parts of the outfit, Sharales sat with a small, geometrically-shaped and polished drone in his lap, its robotic eye keenly observing its surroundings. The lack of any official military insignias or emblems was noticeable... but Aurora was simply glad he was able to make it.
In the seats behind, she recognized Sam next from her interactions on the concourse, although they had only recently met in person. Wearing gray slacks with a pale lavender shirt, her left sleeve was rolled up to her elbow to accommodate a cast fit over her arm, dozens of scribbles covering it. Aurora could only assume Sam's carrier crew had a bit too much time on their hands.
Directly seated next to her, Aurora recognized another individual with a neatly-kept mohawk from those recent times on the squadron's digital concourse - someone she only knew as 'Goblin'. Out of everyone here, he appeared to have the best idea of beachwear - wearing a floral-patterned, red and white shirt, as well as board shorts and sandals. Though, with the slight sunburn she noticed before, Aurora wasn't so certain that the beachwear was exactly working out...
Seated a bit separately from the others, Aurora's eyes came across a man wearing black slacks, along with a black shirt with gold cuffs that glimmered with a tinge of red when the light caught it. The suit jacket that covered part of his torso was similar, with the exception of a purple trim that lined the jacket. She recognized him as Fallharbor - though since she had last seen him, he appeared more tired and somewhat mysteriously reclusive.
On the topic of mystery... her gaze travelled to the final figure, sat right at the back. Although she couldn't see any face, recognizing the X-shaped visor and wide-brimmed hat. Predator wore a lighter set of armor, voiding the typical bandolier or armor-plating as he sat with his arms crossed, quietly observing the event from the back.
Running out of things to look at, Aurora sighed internally as she glanced down the aisle to the enclosed back of the tent, obscured by a wall of fabric with a narrow entry-way aligned with the aisle, while the roof shielded them from the light. Her partner was back there, probably doing the final touches with Violet's help. Aurora wondered if Isa was as nervous as she was. She herself couldn't stop fidgeting with her hands, becoming conscious of it as she looked ahead and brought a hand up to brush through her dense, raven curls.
While she had decided to go without makeup or any particular hairstyle but her own, Aurora made up for it with the selection of her dress. She stood in a velvety red dress, which was covered in beautiful, subtle white patterns of flowers and shapes. It fit her form well, from her neck all the way down to her ankles, obscuring the black mobility exo-frame beneath that allowed her to walk and stand. She wore no shoes, high-heels, or anything of that sort - they were on a beach after all, and that sort of dress-up wasn't for them either.
'Them'. That was what brought her here today. It was something that transcended simple love and explanation, something she desired deeply ever since she fell for Isabella. Through every hardship, every painful moment, and every struggle... there was one constant that kept her going, something that made her truly happy and hopeful. One person who understood her core, her emotions, her everything.
Aurora smiled unconsciously while she looked ahead at nothing in particular, still able to picture that first night in her mind, their first kiss. The times that followed, the long intimate nights spent in each other's embrace, the moments where they could simply be without a care in the world. The times where she had come close to unravelling, only to be carefully woven back up by Isa.
It meant everything to her. In her most dire moments, someone was there for her. She knew many from the squadron had backed her... and it was hard to express the scale of her gratitude for it. But having someone right by her side was different. Being with Isabella was different.
The thought of their journey and times together quickened her heart, bringing forth a lump in her throat as Aurora swallowed her emotions, biting down on her bottom lip while she indulged her thoughts. This moment was everything to her, her very soul yearning for more of everything about Isabella.
So much had happened in a year, and this was their final step towards a new beginning. They were finally going to be married.
"Commander? Are you ready?"
Lost in her thoughts, Aurora flinched a bit as someone tapped on her left shoulder and spoke. She looked towards the speaker's podium, her eyes falling upon Avery - the squadron's Chief of Operations. They'd gone as far as convincing Avery to obtain a license and officiate the marriage. After all, there was probably no better person for it.
Avery smiled softly at Aurora with a sympathetic look. It was time. Aurora nodded quickly, returning to the slight fidgeting of her hands as she held them low and tightly in front of her.
"Y-yeah. Sorry... is she... coming now?"
"She'll be out in a few minutes. You're going to do great, Commander."
"Ha... thanks..."
Aurora smiled a bit uncertainly as she watched Avery step away. She hoped she would do fine. Her deepest fear was to mess this moment up right now, even if it was an irrational fear. She wanted it to be perfect for Isabella. Her partner deserved this to be perfect after all they had been through. And maybe Aurora did too. She never thought she would make it this far... yet here she was. Starting a new beginning.
Taking in a deep breath of the clean, slightly salty air, Aurora kept her focus ahead as she took in the surroundings of the venue, and waited. She stood there, atop the slightly elevated platform, the fidgeting of her hands resuming a little. She couldn't help but glance nervously down the aisle again. Had she given Isa enough time to prepare? What if she wasn't ready? What if she hadn't catered enough to accommodate her lover?
Aurora looked away again as she saw eyes on her, her heart drumming in her chest as she looked anxiously at Avery, who was preparing a tablet atop the stand she stood near. It was completely silent, save for the soft whistle of the wind. But in Aurora's busy mind, all she could think about was Isabella. Was this perfect enough? Had she done enough leading up to this moment? This is what she wanted... she only hoped Isa wanted this too.
Her anxious thoughts were interrupted as Avery tapped the metal edge of the stand to get her attention, before gesturing to the entrance into the tent's rear. Aurora glanced between Avery, and then nervously glanced down the aisle, awaiting the sight of her lover as she swayed on the spot and held her hands tighter together. With her gaze fixed on the entrance down the aisle, Aurora watched as the fabric parted after a few moments, her heart skipping beats as she saw Violet emerge in a casual, summer dress... before her focus shifted to the figure that followed.
It felt like a wave of relief hit her as she saw the simple, purple dress revealed along with the love of her life, happiness filling her as she lit up with a bright, tight smile, gazing at Isabella as she walked up along the aisle. Her dress was nothing extravagant, but the simplicity of the gentle patterns and shapes that lined the sides of the dress and around its neck more than made up for it.
Distant, quiet voices among the guests slowly died down as Isa walked along, the venue falling into total silence as only the gusts of gentle wind blew through. With a lack of music, only the weight of this serene moment hung in the air as Aurora's eyes brimmed with tears.
All eyes were on Isa as she walked up to the stand along the rubber carpet that had been laid out, her hazel eyes gazing up and offering a familiar, warm smile that Aurora adored while she approached. Gazing at Isa, Aurora tried her best to hold back her bursting joy, her deep blue eyes glimmering as she extended a hand out to her lover as she got closer, her excitement beaming through as she giggled softly, looking Isa up and down.
As her lover got closer and stepped up to her, Aurora couldn't help but speak softly. The sight of her dismissed every anxious or paranoid thought, the audience they had not mattering any more.
"... Wow... you... you look... beautiful, Isa~..."
With her hand taken, Aurora helped Isa up onto the platform, watching as her lover's smile grew wide, her eyes studying her back.
"I can say the same for you, hun. You look... wow~..."
The two exchanged a quiet gaze, examining each other as if for the first time... although there was some truth to this. They'd discussed this exact day back and forth... and wearing dresses was a point of uncertainty. But now, seeing the lovely purple dress that her lover picked for the first time... she knew it was right. It was special. Taking both of Isa's hands, Aurora gazed at her lover across from her after she stepped onto the low platform.
It was difficult to hold her emotions back, her eyes glimmering as she smiled ever so brightly, tilting her head a tad as she studied her lover. She admired her beautiful, freckled cheeks, along with her small nose and dreamy eyes that drew her right in. Isabella was the one for her, and Aurora could hardly hold it as she shook her head and giggled, her excitement breaking through as she abruptly blurted out the words that came to mind.
"... Pfft... I look wow? You look absolutely gorgeous and exquisite... and that's putting it lightly. Gotta... keep what I say appropriate, of course..."
Aurora blushed a bit and giggled as a chuckle travelled through the venue. She shied a bit, not meaning to be so outward with such a tender moment as she flicked her curls back and gazed back up into Isa's hazels, returning to endlessly studying her as her heart melted. Isabella responded with a soft chuckle, beginning to blush a bit as she quietly gazed at Aurora, raising an eyebrow. Although the two could fall into each other's gaze for what felt like forever, their moment was interrupted by a posh voice off to their side.
"Ready, Commanders?"
Aurora nodded, barely taking her eyes off Isa. She knew who spoke. She wanted this. This is who she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. There was no doubt about it since the day she fell in love with Isabella, and the day she proposed. She wanted it forever. The venue fell into silence as Avery looked down at her stand, taking a moment's pause as she positioned the stand's microphone right. Aurora just gazed at Isa, her heart racing in her chest as the moment they had waited for begun, right as their officiant's voice was carried through the venue via the stage's speakers.
"Over these years, we have seen tremendous victories and devastating losses as a squadron. We have faced an unprecedented evil together in uncertain times. Despite our unity... we have felt scared at times. We have felt lost, and defeated. For many, it has been difficult knowing tomorrow may not be guaranteed. For hundreds... they have learnt that first hand."
"But had it not been for the two women that stand here on this stage, I believe we would have not made it this far. On this day, right in front of me, stand the two most incredible individuals I have ever known. Despite being plunged into the darkest circumstances with everything to lose, they braved it and pushed on against all odds. They struggled through even when everything had turned against them, and they led the charge when nobody asked them to."
"In the face of extreme danger, they have exercised immense bravery and talent. But they were never asked to do this. Having this very day was placed at risk for our squadron. Being unified as a couple was placed at risk by a chain of events nobody could have predicted, that had been forced upon them. Yet they have triumphed. They are human, like us all. They have been scared and hurt. They have made mistakes and doubted themselves. But they never relented their most powerful weapon - their hope."
"Many have suffered, that much is true. Many are responsible for contributing towards and bringing forth our victory, like the thousands we wish could be watching this ceremony. But today is not our moment - it is theirs. Today is their day - their new beginning. And in this day, it consequently marks a new beginning for us all. Today, we bury what remains of EMBER. We may mourn those we lost along the way. But most importantly, we celebrate our new beginnings. We celebrate the journeys that lie ahead for this wonderful couple, and our squadron. We celebrate all they have done for TITAN, making a larger impact than anyone could imagine... and hope to return the favour in this moment. We celebrate their titanium fortitude."
The final words echoed throughout the silent venue, allowing a moment's pause before Avery looked towards Aurora.
"Commander Aurora Adair. Do you choose to marry on this day by your own free will and intent?"
Aurora had tried her best to hold back, but the memories and thoughts that filled her as a result of the speech had brought her to visible tears as she endlessly gazed at Isa. She was quiet, not even letting out a single sob as a few tears streamed down her cheeks, and with a soft voice filled with determination and certainty, she answered with no hesitation.
"I do."
"Commander Isabella Levine. Do you choose to marry on this day by your own free will and intent?"
Isabella gazed back at Isa, her hazels slightly glossy as the speech had impacted her too... yet there remained no hesitation from her side as she nodded, squeezing Aurora's hands.
"I do~..."
Aurora squeezed Isa's hands a bit tighter back at the response, gazing into her partner's glossy eyes before she brought a hand up quickly to wipe her own face, trying her hardest to contain her emotions. There was a pause, before Avery continued.
"Do you both vow to uphold your love, to forge it stronger than anything that may oppose it, to deeply support and cherish each other forever?"
"I d-do..."
Aurora nodded quickly, her voice wavering as their vows began, her tears returning. She let out a sniffly giggle, her heart pounding in her chest as she gazed at Isa. Her lover chuckled softly to Aurora's giggle, her expression melting as she nodded too.
"I dooo~..."
"Do you both vow to remain forever faithful, committed beyond measure to your other half, for as long as time lasts?"
"Yes... yes, I do..."
"Yes. I do~..."
Aurora took a breath in. This really was happening...
"Do you both vow to remain loyal and honest to each other as a married couple, and to protect one another above and beyond anything, first and foremost?"
"I do."
"Yes, I do."
With Isabella's firm, final declaration, the venue fell into silence once more. Aurora held back a tidal wave of emotions, her hands quivering a bit as she sniffled and looked at the love of her life. She wanted to envelop her in a hug and kiss her... but it was only moments away now. Her lover's thumbs rubbed over the back of her hands, soothing her a bit as Aurora watched a single tear roll down a freckled cheek. It was almost enough to set her off, but she fought hard to keep it together as she whispered to her soon-to-be wife, giving a shaky smile.
"... my l-little strawberry~..."
Isabella let out a cute giggle at the comment, giving Aurora a knowing look as she smiled warmly.
"Please bring the rings forward."
Glancing up from the stand, Avery called out towards the rear entrance of the tent down the aisle. The duo glanced over, watching the fabric part as the young teenager emerged once more, carrying a small box in her hand. With swift steps, she eyed the two ahead as she approached, reaching the platform in seconds. With a sweet smile, she extended the box and promptly flipped open the lid, revealing the contents within. The two gazed inside, and although Isa had seen the rings before, she exclaimed softly as her eyes widened a bit.
"Whoa..."
As the box opened, atop the padding sat two beautiful, duplicate rings - dominated by a silvery-white material and detailed with a crisscrossing geometric pattern covering the entire outer part of the ring. It was topped off with a small, synthetic opal infused into a protective housing on top of each ring, which sported an odd coloration, appearing as a half-and-half swirl of purple and orange based on the angle it was viewed at.
To fill the crisscrossing geometric pattern on the outer, small diamonds symmetrically dotted around the complete ring, but although the positioning was symmetrical, the colors were not - with one half of the diamonds being a deep, shimmering purple, and the other half a soft, warm orange. Both circled around to the bottom of the ring, before the pattern split into a small, etched heart, with one half of the heart orange, and the other purple.
Of course, the ring's size meant that the diamonds and details were rather small, and the colors were subtle and not intrusive. Aurora simply beamed as she took one of the rings from the box Violet held, and turned to her lover. Without hesitation, she gently took Isa's hand and carefully threaded the wedding ring onto her finger that had their purple engagement ring, before withdrawing her hand and allowing her partner to do the same.
Isabella smiled wildly as she watched Aurora adorn her finger with the ring, following suit as she grabbed a ring from the box, and carefully slipped it over Aurora's ring finger. Mouthing a 'thank you' to Violet, Aurora gazed back at her lover and took her hands firmly as her eyes glistened with teary joy and a bursting smile emerged on her face as she forced herself to wait, listening to what Avery said next.
"You have both vowed to remain committed to each other against all odds, to remain loyal and faithful, honest and loving, and to protect your bond and each other for as long as time lasts. Commander Isabella Levine - do you take Aurora Adair to be your loving wife until death do you part?"
"Y-yes I do~..."
Isabella spoke with sheer joy, happiness lit up across her face. Her eyes remained locked onto Aurora's, her tight, loving smile contagious. Aurora began to cry again at Isa's response as she sniffled quietly, a tear rolling down her cheek as she took in a deep breath. This was everything to her in this moment. She was so in love with someone she saw as so perfect. This was all she had ever wanted... and now she could finally have it.
"Commander Aurora Adair. Do you take Isabella Levine to be your loving wife until death do you part?"
"Yes! Yes... ha~... yes, I d-do. I'm s-so in love with you, Isa~..."
A tear rolled down Isabella's cheek again as she nodded, the two barely able to contain themselves. With a single chuckle, Avery leant in towards the microphone.
"Then... I officially pronounce you; married. You have made it, congratulations to you both. You may now share a kiss."
Abruptly, the venue erupted into applause, bringing Aurora to tears as she beamed with utter joy. Her arms wrapped around her lover, the two pulling each other close as their lips met for a sweet, passionate kiss. With applause echoing throughout their immediate surroundings, the duo hugged each other tightly and broke away, burying their faces into each other's shoulders as they swayed on the spot.
In that moment, the hurt of the past faded. Every obstacle, every loss, and every struggle they had faced, they had done it together. They shouldered that same burden. They could not bring back those lost, nor could they fix the mistakes they had made. But they could work towards a brighter future for themselves, and the squadron too. Aurora held her best friend, her soulmate - but most importantly... her lovely wife. Someone who was there for her when she needed it the most. Someone who understood. Someone who helped her heal.
The path that laid ahead was most certainly fraught with danger and uncertainty. The galaxy was a dangerous place after all - cold, cruel, and unforgiving. But not all of it. It was also filled with countless, incredible discoveries waiting to be made, experiences to be had, and journeys to be taken. Hope to be shared.
In this moment, she reflected on Avery's speech. Aurora's own mistakes had been plentiful, and she had her regrets. She wished she could have saved more people, or to have done things differently. But those mistakes, and those regrets, and those losses - they had forged the future she stood in now. It had led up to not only this moment, but hundreds of others that preceded it... and maybe it wasn't all bad.
After all, it brought her and Isabella together, creating a bond stronger than Aurora had ever known. It allowed her to meet friends, and make connections - something she always struggled with. And during the loneliest, most difficult time of her life, people banded together to help her make things right.
In their time, they could continue to try and build that brighter future. They could uphold that bastion of hope. They could do their piece of good in this hazardous galaxy. It wouldn't always be easy, or simple... but Aurora believed it was possible. She believed in herself. In her partner. In her friends, her new family, and her squadron. Together, they could make that difference.
United, they shared that titanium fortitude.
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Credit:
This story is only possible thanks to our squadron and community. Join TITAN Contractors, a diverse and talented squadron, and experience our custom lore and events. This logbook/short story as well as other associated images and story is property of TITAN Contractors, CMDR Radiumio. A massive thank you to CMDRs Isabella Levine, Solix, Novus, SpectreKryik, Pseudowoodo, GoblinCoffeeshop, and Fallharbor for their involvement in the story. Thank you so much for reading!
INARA page here.