Return

The SVN December dropped from warp. Caydie and mute stared at the planet, their fear steadily growing.
Caydie studied the way Safeharbor's fleet patrolled the planet, each stationed at specific points surrounding the planet. "That's a blockade. What's going on?"
Mute shrugged. "Did a war start while we were gone?"
Caydie broadcast a message to the fleet, "This is Caydie Kines aboard The SVN December. I'd like a word with Admiral Thrace."
Moments went by and a man's voice replied, "The admiral is currently busy, but you're already cleared for entry, and docking at dock 5. Welcome Home."
"They aren't blocking entry?" Mute asked.
Caydie shook her head. "We're returning from a black op. They wouldn't know to ask higher ups. Even if they did, my dad's an elder. We wouldn't be blocked for long."
After landing, they immediately took a shuttle to the archive.
The archivist gave a low groan when he saw them. "I thought I told you both to stay away."
"Not a lot of places for us to go." Mute replied.
Caydie ignored the comment. "We did as you asked, but invicta gave us something to bring to you." She revealed the memory chip and handed it over. "She said you gave it to her."
The archivist stared at it, just as confused as they were. "No I didn't. That'd be treason, for one. Moreover, this isn't just a means of storing information." He opened a panel on the side of his head where three identical chips were held. A fourth slot sat empty. "This is a piece of my own hardware. Why would I give her this?"
"Do you think she bugged it?"
The archivist shook his head. "No. It hasn't been tampered with." He placed the chip in the slot and slid it into place.
The archivist froze, the red lens serving as his eye stared off, fixed on the far side of the room. Mute and Caydie watched in anticipation.
After several minutes, the archivist spoke, "Oh, no."
"Lorne?" Cadie said, leaning into his vision to break him away from whatever he saw.
His reply sounded odd. Caydie had never heard it before, at least, not from him. It was as if he experienced a deep unspoken pain, "you both need to leave. I have work to do."

---

Mouse entered the mezzanine, where numerous other wayfarers sat and talked amongst themselves about how to handle the dangerous situation they were in. Do they fight? Do they find a way to make peace? Was peace even possible?
Her arm made her self conscious. They stared, which was understandable, but she imagined they were judging her, that somehow she was wrong for accepting such a blessing.
Styx and Lethe took a keen interest, even congratulating her. They invited her into the discussion, and she tried to shy away. When she noticed Roadrunner in the crowd, she reluctantly joined.
He looked stunned, admiring the arm with his hand covering the smile on his face. "That's beautiful. Is that eden Tech?"
Mouse nodded. "A gift from Argus' mother."
"Lucky you."
Mouse shrugged and turned her attention to the crowd. "Anything interesting going on?"
"I mean, if you find war interesting, then sure." He replied.
Mouse closed in to listen as Lethe spoke, "We lost our daughter searching for who knows what. The world didn't end. Everything's fine. She died for. No reason.
"We wouldn't stand a chance." a voice said from the crowd. "Think about your son."
A young man, a wayfarer named Blaze, replied, "I'm with them. My sister didn't need to die."
Shouts came from the crowd and Mouse covered her ears, unable to think among the chatter.
Styx noticed and nodded to her, then screamed as loud as he could, "Quiet."
The crowd went silent and Styx gestured to Mouse, "You lost something down there too. You got your arm back, it seems, but oracle? Matt was a good man. What's your stance on this?"
Mouse felt a lump in her throat, overwhelmed by the eyes peering down on her. She forced the words out, unwilling to let the weakness show, "something needs to be done, but it's not about what I lost. It's about so much more."
Styx nodded again, managing a halfhearted smirk, "I understand."
"No you don't," Mouse replied, "None of you do. I found something down there."
Styx narrowed his eyes. "What did you find?"
"A garden of glass. You think they didn't know how well defended the area was? The elders knew. They just didn't care." Mouse crossed her arms, hugging herself tight. "We've always been the rebels and the outcasts have always been an enemy. They set us against the outcasts to kill two birds with one stone."
Lethe shook her head, "Why? What's this garden of glass?"
Mouse almost spoke without thinking. She wanted to reveal the truth, but so many things weighed on her mind. She could start a war they simply couldn't win. "Forget about it. I shouldn't have said it."
"No. That's not gonna fly." Lethe said, "you're-"
Styx held up a hand, "... probably scared to death. We should respect that." He turned to Mouse. "I understand what you're feeling, all this attention is a bit much. Don't feel pressured, but if you know something important you should say so."
"I…" Mouse looked him in the eye and saw something she didn't expect to see. This was a man ready for war, hanging on every word in hopes it would finally ignite the flames. He wasn't in the wrong. He lost his daughter, but Mouse refused to be responsible for so much death.
It went against everything she believed in. Was change needed, yes, but it didn't have to come at such a cost. She then realized something far more disturbing. If she revealed the truth, it's possible they would want to use the garden to even the odds.
Mouse straightened her posture, prepared her words, and looked him in the eye, "I won't say more."
Styx narrowed his eyes, "Mouse."
"No. This is not how it needs to be. We can be better. Killing them won't accomplish anything. We do this without bloodshed, or not at all."
"And how exactly do you see that happening?" Lethe asked with a chuckle.
"Just yesterday, Admiral Thrace approached me with some interesting information. She won't fire on either side. The fleet is neutral."
Lethe eyes went wide. Murmurs grew in the surrounding crowd. "She actually approached you?"
Styx shook his head. "That is definitely a plus, assuming she's telling the truth."
"She wouldn't lie." Lethe added. "No way. Not to a wayfarer."
"Well that leaves the army. That's nearly a thousand soldiers against what, three hundred of us? Most of the wayfarers are off-world. They won't let them land."
"An army has to have time. It needs to mobilize. We can strike anywhere, and fast." Lethe replied.
Mouse heard the cries from the crowd, calls for blood and death. It didn't have to be that way. She thought back to Miranda's advice and shouted, "No. Wait, stop." No one listened.
Mouse heard Argus shouting from the crowd, "Hey." The crowd turned to her, though most were likely focused on Diavae who stood close behind. "She wasn't done. Shut your mouths and listen."
"I have a better idea. We could end this in a single day. Everything has to go just right, but it'll work." She smiled, "listen close, cause it's up to you to spread the word. First off, I need to know if someone can get a message to Admiral Thrace."