The Deam Gloria shuddered with restless energy in her weapons gauntlet. Cosimia hadn't used any of her weapons since she left Saturnus so the adrenaline rush that flooded her veins was a comfort. Fighting reminded her of home, or what she had to lose. Even though this was a battle that required more brain than brawn, Cosimia knew she would feel more confident after a good, long spar.

She and her patrol had been on Terra for a week now. Her friends had fallen in love with the strange, beautiful planet and Cosimia was loath to tell them that they had to leave. She knew they would understand, paint a mask of understanding and come with her. She wished they could relax, that they could have the life they had loved. But they had sunk far too deep in the pit to ever come out.

The sky bled warm dawn, just as stunning as the morning glow back on Saturnus. Solis glowed red in the distance, a beacon of heat. Cosimia couldn't get enough of Solis's warmth and was content to bathe in its golden glow for hours. Grant had mentioned something called a swimming pool, where you swim in water for the sake of sport and entertainment. But Cosimia didn't have time for such time-wasting feats when trying to convince the councilors of her mission and the Unbalance. Despite their agreement, anyone with eyesight could plainly see that they were hesitant. If she slipped up, they would quickly duck out of their insubstantial relationship. She had spent every waking hour proving her point. She was so close that she felt she could reach out and yank it. But there was one councilor who Cosimia couldn't quite satisfy: Councilor Deidres. There was something... off about the solitary man, like an unturned switch. He was polite, but distantly so. The only affection she had ever seen him show was towards his daughter, who he praised heavily. He had offered multiple times to have them meet but Cosimia denied it every time. For a man such as himself, she assumed the girl was just like him.

Cosimia had managed to make a mental map of the tower, but she still had yet to see the whole structure. Hoisting her weapons bag higher up her shoulder, Cosimia lengthened her strides as she flew across the padded halls. This sector of the tower was coldly dressed, with satin banners and a few potted flowers. The only other color in the whole corridor was the plush rug beneath her feet, a vivid blue.

The city below was already bursting with life, the streets alive and overflowing with people and vehicles. Cosimia could never follow a person for too long: they would get lost in the dense crowd. The city was oddly structured, like building block toys a child would play with. A mismatched puzzle.

Another impatient buzz from the Gloria shocked her out of her thoughts and she continued her warm-up sprint down the halls. The training chambers were large, built almost entirely of glass so Solis could filter it's innocent light through. It was a sparse, neat room, usually empty. But today, two people were engaged in close combat, so immersed in their fight they didn't even notice her slip in. They were seasoned but sloppy. The girl didn't aim her kicks quite right and the man kept missing the opportunities to go into offensive. That fight wouldn't end any time soon. Meanwhile, she would warm up her weapons, and herself. Adrenaline surged through her as she fingered the bejeweled hilt, the metal scorching her skin almost soothingly. It shined, Solis weaving a perfect halo around the weapon. Cosimia tossed it up, tucked into a roll, and caught it effortlessly. It was almost like an elegant dance, her limbs moving of their own accord as she flew through the air.

Barely breaking a sweat, Cosimia continued across the mats. When she finally floated to a stop, she noticed the two other people in the room staring at her with awestruck expressions. Well, not her. The Deam Gloria. The weapon basked in their attention until Cosimia sheathed it.

Grant smiled at her, eyes twinkling. Cosimia was surprised she hadn't recognized him: Grant's self-absorbed ego could be seen from afar. The woman was unfamiliar, but something about her eyes made Cosimia sharpen.

"Ms. Nedias. That was a wonderful performance," he said, leaning on the staff hilt he had fought with. Sweat glowed on his skin, illuminating his skin more. The woman stared at her unflinchingly, without shame.

"This is Evelyn Deidres, of Russina." Grant announced, eyes sweeping between the two women. That's why her eyes were so familiar; they were the same cold gray as Councilor Deidres. Her face looked like it had been carved out of glass, all sharp angles. She was thin but Cosimia knew better than to underestimate her.

"I have heard quite a lot from my father about you, Ms. Nedias," she said slowly, gauging her reaction. She had a slight accent, choppy like storming waters.

"I'm sure you have," Cosimia replied, taking out the Deam Gloria again and twirling it lazily. Evelyn's eyes traced the weapon.

"That's a marvelous creation. How well does it throw?" Evelyn asked, sharp eyes relaxing ever so slightly. Grinning like a cat, Cosimia flicked her wrist and sent the weapon soaring between Grant and Evelyn. Both started, whipping around to see the weapon's path. But instead, Cosimia curled her fingers and the Gloria halted mid path and spun, shooting back to her. After a brief moment of stunning silence, Evelyn jolted.

"Impressive." She tried to sound nonchalant, but her wondrous expression betrayed her intent. "But I'm sure that I could best you in a fight."

"Is that a challenge?" Cosimia's lips curved up into a smile.

"I believe so," Evelyn retreated to the armory to prep herself. Cosimia didn't follow and Grant looked at her curiously.

"You don't wear armor?" Cosimia lifted a shoulder half-heartedly.

"I never have," she said, bouncing up and down on her toes.

"Are you always like this?" he questioned.

"Like what?"

"Nonchalant, overconfident, not worried," he listed off his fingers. Cosimia snorted at the irony.

"Then you clearly don't know me at all," Cosimia stopped fingering her weapon and faced Grant again. "I worry almost every minute of my life." Grant cocked his head, studying her.

"Well, I can't tell by watching you," he noted. Cosimia smirked at him, amused.

"You watch me?" It was meant to be a taunt, but Grant shrugged it off without heed.

"Of course I do." He grinned at her, eyes sparkling. "It's not every day that Terra gets a visit from a beautiful blue-haired ambassador from Saturnus." Shooting her one last fleeting smile, Grant loped off towards the machine that magically spat out plastic containers of water.

He thinks I'm beautiful?

Before Cosimia could ponder Grant's words more, the sharp clang of metal against metal drew her mind away. Rule number one in any fight was not to get distracted.

Evelyn grinned, all sharp edges. "You're playing a dangerous game, Nedias, without armor. Healing building is not close by," she said almost gleefully.

Cosimia ducked her head gracefully.

"I'll keep that in mind when I try and spear you during our fight."

Evelyn barked out a harsh laugh, then adjusted her grip on the sword. The two circled. While Evelyn scanned her for weaknesses, which there were none, Cosimia reached for the light once more. It throbbed, eager to serve.

"Control," she whispered to herself before crouching. While she would love to knock Evelyn down a peg-or more- she had no doubt that Councilor Deidres would come after her like an angry boven if she did. He had a lot of power, and he knew it. Cosimia had to tread lightly when it came to Evelyn Deidres. Evelyn shifted into position and was about to leap when the door opened with a resounding thud. Evelyn stumbled, attempting to recapture her balance. Cosimia lowered the Gloria and saw Grant conversing with a short servant, who moved his hands back and forth rapidly. His mouse-like eyes flickered back and forth from Cosimia to Grant. With a hasty bow he ran off. Grant turned, a storm rippling on his face.

"Cosimia, my father has requested all of us to report to the conference room, immediately." His voice was oddly heavy and Grant refused to catch her gaze, which was very unlike the Grant Alderige she had met. Still watching Grant, she followed him out, making sure to walk behind him. She could feel Evelyn's piercing gaze on her back, slicing through the thin material of her tunic. Cosimia shuddered imperceptibly. She would definitely not miss Councilor Deidres or her intense daughter when she left Terra.

Everyone was looking grim, but none such as much as Senator Alderidge. The openness the senator had shown towards Cosimia and her friends, which were also present, had vanished and in place was a man that Cosimia had never seen. He nodded at the three of them stiffly, turning around quickly after.

Cosimia sat down, trying to quell the rising waves of panic. Something had clearly happened, something that had to do with her. Airlia gripped her hand under the large oval table, squeezing in a show of support. Cosimia squeezed back.

"Friends, I appreciate your hastiness in arriving," the senator looked fleetingly at Cosimia. "Something has come up that needs to be resolved. I will let you see for yourself." Picking up a smooth device of shiny silver, the senator turned on the hologram projector. Upon seeing the face on the screen, as cold as Cosimia had last seen her, heat and ice simultaneously flooded her veins.

"My name is Commandant Verena Nedias of Saturnus. My planet is facing a large dilemma: my daughter, Cosimia Nedias, and her patrol have escaped and committed a crime against the planet by deliberately disobeying Command's orders and corrupting the crown prince of Zorias." Despite the accusation, Cosimia fought the urge to smile. At least the Commandant was unaware of the fact that Mathias played a large role in Cosimia's plan.

"Not only that, her goal of turning the planets against each other will result in a bloodbath. I reach out to you, friends, requesting that you assist me in finding my disgraced daughter and her friends." She shifted slightly on the screen, turning her head ever so slightly. Her glowing eyes burned into Cosimia.

"The price for bringing them back to Saturnus has increased, and will only go up more if you manage to capture them all." Airlia stiffened beside her. "With your help, Saturnus can bring the traitors to justice." The holograph blinked to black. The room sat in hot silence, their glares scorching Cosimia. She was so close to gaining Terra's support, so close, but then her mother had to go and ruin everything. Cosimia gulped back the large lump in her throat. She didn't know if she would get another chance to redeem herself, prove how important her mission was. Cosimia knew that this was the time to really listen to Mother's training, to stay strong and persevere. She opened her mouth to explain but the senator raised a hand.

"I don't need your excuses, Ms. Nedias. I would be lying if I did. I know that I and my comrades are unsure about who to trust. I cannot say anything else." He hung his head but before he did, Cosimia could see a flicker of hurt. She glanced briefly at her friends, who refused to acknowledge the councilor's not-so secret glares. Cosimia stewed in the silence, scrabbling to find a way to gain their trust back. The same, twig-like man that was in the corner of the room ran to the senator, and whispered in his ear. Senator Alderidge's bushy eyebrows furrowed with worry and he straightened, sending a strained smile at the man. Then he looked straight at Cosimia and her friends.

"If you still hope to gain our trust, here's your chance," he said with a sigh. "The people of Venus have asked us to assist them in the annual Creatura wrangling. They got a bit out of hand and last year was particularly terrible, so they've asked Terra to help them come tomorrow." Cosimia nodded, sending him a small smile as an olive branch. But the senator turned away, refusing to look at her.

"It's okay, Cosi. He'll come around," Oralie whispered to her as they filed out silently. But her voice was laced with a tinge of fear and Cosimia sighed.

"I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't," Cosimia replied, more to herself than Oralie.

Cosimia pressed her palms into the handrails of the tower, feeling the grooved metal dig into her soft flesh. She couldn't get the senator's hurt expression out of her head and was hoping the city would distract her. Sadly, it hadn't done much. Her already precarious plan was completely dependent on one factor that there was practically none of: trust. The cosmos had never interacted much, only for treaties and forced meetings. She exhaled forcefully, feeling the wind push her breath right back into her face.

Somebody knocked on her door and Cosimia twisted, throwing her legs over the rail so she could hop off. She opened the door to see Grant Alderidge standing there, with a pack of brown bottles that clinked together noisily.

"Come in," she said cautiously, eyeing the brown bottles. He noticed her gaze and grinned.

"I figured you could use a good beer, after what happened with your mother." He set the bottle pack on the petite table on the balcony and jerked his head.

Cosimia sniffed one carefully, then took a tiny sip. It was like liquid fire, burning a river down the back of her throat. But Grant was right; she needed it.

"What is this?" she took a larger sip.

"Beer. Feels good, right?" Cosimia nodded eagerly and felt her smile widen as he laughed, deep and throaty. But looking over the silver city, reality crashed back down on her and she set the bottle down.

Grant sensed it too and sat down in the chair next to her. His leg brushed her but Cosimia hardly noticed.

"I need this plan to work," she thought aloud. Grant narrowed his eyes curiously.

"Why?"

She moved, now facing him. "Saturnus is not prepared to fight off another Unbalance. The last time, it was disastrous."

"What happened last time?"

"Infestation." The word was sour in her mouth. Grant hummed, leaning back in his chair. The wind tousled his curls and his eyes fluttered shut for a brief second.

"You want to save your home."

"Yes," she whispered. "It is the only place I know. My home." Cosimia looked down at her hands.

"Well, for Terra, being home means something different. It means being with those you love, the people who make your heart swell with joy. For us, home is not a physical place. Home is where you want it to be." Cosimia mulled over Grant's words. It sounded nice, having a home built on just love.

"Why did you come here?" Cosimia asked. "Did your father tell you to?"

"Believe it or not, not everything I do is my father's doing. A shocker, right?" his grin came back full-fledge. "I'm here because I want to. And because I believe you."

"Thank you," Cosimia said, surprised that she genuinely meant it.

"Now, was that so hard?" Grant teased, running his finger down her bare arm. Against the wind, his touch felt like fire. Grant got up and stretched, groaning as he did.

At the door, he stopped and turned around. "Oh, and at the arena, I meant what I said." With a wink, he slipped away and it took Cosimia a few moments to understand what he was referring to. When she did, ruby red grew on her cheeks. Cosimia blew out and collapsed on her bed, the balcony door still open. The half-finished beer bottle was still there. After a moment of indecision, Cosimia shot up, grabbed the bottle, and downed the whole contents.