My eyelids feel like they've been glued together as I wake up from my empty dreams. I squint at the plain white ceiling, my eyes are too swollen, I can't open them fully. 

I blink a few times remembering my last conversation with Lucian and crying the entire night because of it. 

Now I am tired and lonely but for some reason I feel release like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. 

I've lost my family, my friends and now the one person I love with my entire being. Last night was an all new low for me and that's saying a lot because these past few weeks have been filled with lows. 

I place my hand over my heart. After crying buckets of tears, I'm all dried up and oddly calm. 

This is me. I can finally be who I am and maybe being alone would be like starting a new life, a fresh new start. 

It's like I'm waking up for the first time with new sight, the world is now different. 

I feel different.

There is a line I remember from when I was young; when you hit rock bottom, the only other way to go is up. 

Those words have never rang truer in my thoughts. I rack my brain trying to remember who told such a wise thing. It can't be anyone on Pluto because I blocked out almost everything that didn't have anything to do with escaping. 

It must be someone from Earth, from the time I was a child. 

Can't be my father, he was mostly the joker. My mother was always running after us, she wasn't much of a talker. Definitely can't be my annoying brother. 

I grin slightly as I remember my grandmother. We used to visit her every once in a while and my memories of her are minimal considering she passed on when I was very young. But I remember she had a smart mouth and it used to drive my mother mad. 

My grandmother was what the Plutonians would call a scary Madam. A scorned wife hell bent on making a paramour's life hell. 

In my mother's case it was her mother in law. Nana constantly complained about her but she treated my father, brother and I like gold. 

My smile widens when I remember all the chocolate treats we used to get when we visited her. I don't know why I never thought of her before but now I can't stop. 

My nana lost my grandfather to war when she was very young. She used to tell us the story repeatedly but now that I think about it, I've never once seen her wallowing in depression. 

She was always busy cooking treats or dusting off a surface and nagging my mother every second we spent with her. 

I sit up slowly, my vision becoming clearer as a new found fire reignites in my chest. 

Now that I'm on ground zero, I have two options; remain miserable and useless or I could do what nana did and make someone else's life miserable. 

Lazarus. 

I've been wanting to get back at him for as long as I can remember and this time I will succeed. I stand up and head to the washroom to wash up. 

I stare in the mirror, my swollen eyes now sharp and focused as I brush my teeth. I picture Lazarus's arrogant face and my heart beats in anticipation. 

I have nothing and no one to hold me back now, no more heartache, no more regrets. I am not 7203 or Aria the Bone Breaker anymore. I am just Aria, someone who will stop at nothing till Lazarus is defeated. 

If I could escape Pluto and survive thus far then destroying an imbecile will be a gratification. I will now devote every cell, every tissue, every organ in my body to winning this war. I owe it to all the people I have lost.

If Lazarus wants a fight, I'll give him a war.  

I nod at myself in the mirror feeling as determined as I was when I first chose to become a fighter, only that time I had to hide my true intentions. 

Now I am free. 

Adrenaline fills my veins and I am so determined I could punch a hole through a wall, but then my stomach grumbles. 

I march out of the washroom and head to the pantry, feeling rejuvenated. Nothing anyone -specifically Lucian - could say would bring my mood down now. 

Luna and Pollux are placing some algae on to two plates. I see Lucian sitting down, he looks much better than he did yesterday but still as grumpy as ever. 

It doesn't matter. I've got bigger things to focus on.

I grab a plate before even realising that he was reaching for it as well. Pollux stares at me in bewilderment as I stuff down all the algae in one mouthful. 

"Umm Aria, that was for PG Lucian," He stutters. 

I shrug my shoulders and sit down. "So what? He can have that one." I gesture at the other plate filled with algae. 

Now was not the time to worry about ranks and serving Lucian like he is royalty. We all have to fight, hence we all have to eat. 

"Is there enough for a second round?" I ask and all three of them stare at me like I've just grown an extra head. 

Luna nudges Pollux to hand me some more and the Plutonian obliges quickly. He piles my plate with algae and I finish it like I have been starving for light years. 

I notice three pairs of eyes fixed on me again and I look up at them, my mouth still full with the last bite.

"What?"

"Are you alright?" Luna asks worriedly. "I wanted to check on you last night but I wasn't sure if you needed your space."

Great, so they heard me crying like a dying cat. 

I smile at her and I must look like a complete contradiction with my swollen eyes and large grin. "I've never been better." 

Lucian's eyes narrow on my face but I ignore him.

"So where are we headed to next? Whats the plan? Are we still going to the Amazonian's planet?" I push the plate away and rub my satisfied belly. Even the boring algae can't deter me.

"No, our previous destination's coordinates might have been compromised because of Cetus. So we'll be heading to a sister planet where their cousins live," Lucian answers and I can tell he is studying my micro expressions like he always does, trying to break through my walls to understand me. 

But this time I have no walls to hide behind. This is me he is looking at and what he doesn't know is that I'm not hiding my feelings or acting like I am fine.

I can tell it is making him frustrated by the way he is frowning at me.

"The Spicans work very closely with the Amazonians. If we can get them to fight with us, there is a high chance the others will as well," Luna says. She too is staring at me like I am a shell about to crack. 

I want to laugh at how cautious they look. 

"How long till we get there?" I ask. I can't wait for our army to grow larger. I can't wait for the opportunity to strike back. I am so wired, I feel like destroying another Space Splitter. 

"We should be there in three cycles." Pollux says and I can see his hands itching to connect with his computer on the table. I think this guy is an addict. 

"Come on, let's wash up," Luna says to him and he nods quickly in agreement, forgetting his most beloved possession on the table immediately. He gathers the plates and they stand side by side, talking to each other as he soaps and she rinses. 

Lucian gets up to leave and I stand up as well. 

"How is your arm?" I ask him. 

"Feeling better, hurts a little less," He answers in a clipped tone. 

"Great," I say and then I walk away even though my answer makes him do a double take. I ignore his stare burning holes into my back and find a small place to train. 

I concentrate on doing push ups till my arms are sore and then I work on my core followed my legs. It feels nice, training like this. Blood pumps through my veins and beats like a drum in my ears. 

Once I am done I head to the shower, occupy the rest of my day by studying the control board and then I volunteer to take over as watch while the rest sleep. 

I am sitting in one of the chairs, day dreaming about Lazarus's defeated face when a low voice interrupts my thoughts. 

"What are you up to, Aria?" 

I turn to see Lucian sit down in another chair. He shifts his feet and turns so that he is facing me. His hair is still wet from his shower and he looks so fresh, even the bandage around his arm has been replaced. 

He smells so good, I feel a sudden longing ignite deep in the pits of my belly but I quickly shoo it away with my hatred for Lazarus. 

Now is not the time for handsome distractions. 

"What am I up to? I'm doing my shift as look out," I answer the obvious.

"That's not what I meant. You're acting weird. There's something up in that brain of yours," He narrows his eyes on me but this time I don't even feel nervous. "Tell me what are you up to?"

"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," I joke but he looks so serious, like a shrivelled up date that has been squeezed of it's humour. "I'm kidding." 

"You're not acting the way I thought you would," Lucian notes his observations of me and I turn away to look out into the vast space surrounding us. 

"Lucian, we will win this war. I will make sure of it," I reinforce, letting my words eat into every layer of my skin. 

Lazarus will not get away with everything he has done unscathed and I will not live in a world where he does. 

"Are you planning on doing something stupid again?" Lucian asks me and now I am irritated with his persistence. First he acts like he doesn't want to have anything to do with me and yet now he is acting all concerned. 

Can't he just make up his mind like I have?

Luna is right. Lucian is an ocean of confusion that I will never understand but now I would rather drown in this war instead of the heartache that comes with loving him. 

I turn to him abruptly, my eyes sharp and unnerving. 

"Lucian, I didn't expose myself like that last night for nothing. No more secrets, no more lies. I'm fighting this war with you. That is my only focus and the only thing I have left to live for."

Lucian's eyes widen at my admission and his face fills with concern. "Don't say that. You have to live. You will survive just like you always have." 

"If we are meant to live we will live. But Lazarus will not rule the universe or take over Earth unless it is over my dead body."

Lucian stares at me worriedly but then his face fills with the same determination that floods my veins and he speaks. 

"Likewise."

Guys, newborn Aria in the house woot woot!  Did any of you expect the sudden transformation?