Commander Rigel stares at me, looking deep in thought and then he places a firm hand over my shoulder in reinforcement.

"This child is officially under my care now and we will do everything in our power to keep her safe. No one's selling her off over some stupid Plutonian bounty," His words strike the air like lasers and I notice everyone in the room straightens up. "You're one of us now."

He nods me and then he looks at Joon.

"You too son, we owe you two after your stint on the Plutonian air base. We wouldn't be in the position to negotiate terms with Plutonian leaders if it weren't for you." The Commander squeezes my shoulder and smiles at me in appreciation before he lets go. "Some one help them get freshened up. And give them some nice food."

Catori curls her arm around mine and pulls me out of the tent before I crumble to the floor. I see another human I don't recognise pull Joon along as well.

"I'm sorry," Cat says quietly.

My eyes stay on the floor, I have nothing to say.

Lucian doesn't want to have anything to do with me. I should have seen that coming from a light year away but it still doesn't ease the ache in my chest.

His image is still plastered behind my eyelids. Every time I close my eyes I see him and the dark circles under his eyes.

Did I cause those?

"Let me show you around," Cat tugs at my arm, ignoring my sullen expression and drags me towards the side of the terrain. "Keep your shawl on, okay?"

I do as I'm told and we walk along the bustling stalls that have been set up by the sides of the walkways. It reminds me of a market.

"How many people live here?" Joon asks from behind.

"A few thousand," Cat replies. She stops by a stall selling some corn like vegetable which is being roasted on a small slab of rock. She buys a few sticks and hands us one each.

I want to refute, feeling too miserable to eat but one bite makes me relish at the taste. It's been a while since I ate anything good and I end up finishing it within a few seconds. Cat hands me another one and we continue walking along the pathway.

Numerous rebels pass by and I keep my head low, feeling paranoid about being noticed.

"There are make shift houses along the walls because the floors are sturdy enough to carry their weight. Because of this we were able to fit more than double the population in this area," Cat points at the large slabs of rock that jut out from all corners of the walls. They form many layers forming what looks like a giant uneven staircase on each wall.

I take a deep breath of air that is laced with the smell of food from the stalls. Aliens from all over the universe walk along the sides of the tavern, mingling with each other like it is second nature.

There are even some Plutonians helping to set up some tents and some are busy harvesting food at the opposite end of the terrain.

There is no segregation in this place and everyone seems to work together as a unit. I've never seen anything like it.

"How long have the rebels lived here?" I ask Cat.

"About fifty years, I think. Commander Rigel helped us set it up while he was still with the Plutonian empire but he 'disappeared' around two decades ago to join us full time. We were able to really extend our reach under his direction," She replies.

"When did you join?" Joon asks.

"About five years ago," She says. "Hugo here has been with them much longer. Right grandpa?"

She winks at the older man walking by Joon's side who scowls at her. "I may be approaching sixty but this old man can still kick your ass."

Hugo smiles at us and it makes the lines across his forehead deepen significantly. I stare at him in awe wondering how long he has been working with the rebels to fight for our freedom.

Cat packs some hot soup for Joon and I and leads us towards a set of tents by the waterfall. The sound of water hitting rock fills the air and sings in my ears. To me it is the most beautiful sound and it draws me to the water's edge.

My lips curve into the smallest smile when I see children jumping in and out of the water. Their laughter is drowned out by the waterfall but every once in a while I hear a small shriek as they splash water at each other.

Their smiles are wide and for a moment I feel the slightest bit of envy as I realise they don't have a care in the world or a worry.

I can't remember the last time I ever felt like that.

I dip my hands into the cold water and feel the chill crawl up my arm. I want to remove my shawl and jump in as well but there are a few people sitting around the pool of water and some of them have turned to stare.

I get up and follow Cat to one of the tents that sit at the far left to the waterfall. The air is much cooler here and I can still hear the sound of the water. Oddly enough, it calms me thoroughly.

Cat leads me inside and Hugo takes Joon to the tent next to ours.

"You can wash up once it is night. Everyone retreats to their tents once the lights are out and the waterfall will be empty then." She hands me a small bucket, some soap and a toothbrush. She then opens a small chest and pulls out some clothes for me to wear.

I take them from her and sit on the mat in the centre of the room. There is small table next to me and two mattresses that have been laid on the floor. Just looking at one makes me feel exhausted.

"I have to meet Cetus and the rest. Have your meal and wash up when you can. I'll be back later." She looks at me in worry, eyeing me from head to toe and when I nod she lifts the flimsy curtain like door and leaves the tent.

There's nothing much for me to do except wait but Joon joins me soon after for dinner. Apparently, Hugo had left to meet the other rebels as well.

The soup is even more delicious than the corn we had just now. It warms me to the bone and I barely speak as I swallow everything in haste.

"Are you, okay?" Joon asks me after a while.

I slurp the noodle hanging from my mouth and stare up at him with wide eyes.

"I probably would be feeling shitty if this soup didn't taste so good," I answer and he laughs.

"You really loved him? The Plutonian?" The moment that question leaves his lips I freeze. Throughout our time together Joon has never once asked me that.

My lips form a tight line and I clutch the hot bowl of soup in my hands, the warmth serving as a source of comfort.

"Would you think I was crazy if I said yes?" I say, my voice small.

Joon's dark almond shaped eyes are unreadable as he stares at me. "I don't think you're crazy. I'm just curious how you could love one of them, after what they put us through."

"Lucian's different. I can't explain it, Joon. He made me feel loved, he appreciated me and he respected me. He treated me like one of his own. I know you may find that hard to believe but it's true." I place the bowl down and cross my legs under me.

"He wasn't very nice just now on that transmission," Joon says and then he takes a sip of his soup.

"Yeah, he seems to have a way of embarrassing me in public," I mutter and my cheeks burn when I remember the way he exposed our relationship in the training centre before my match with Leslie.

The only difference is that he did that to ensure I would win my match but this time he isn't doing anything in my favour. He doesn't care about me anymore. I saw it in his eyes.

"It's over anyway. No point discussing it. I destroyed our relationship the moment I decided to work with 'S'."

"But S is his mother," Joon argues. "Surely he must know that."

My eyebrows crease together as I contemplate his words. "I guess we'll just have to wait till they arrive."

The two cycles pass by much faster than I'd anticipated and I've mostly kept to myself in my tent. Joon would join me for our meals and sometimes Cat and Remulus but the best moments are the ones I enjoy by myself at the waterfall at night.

I jump into the water and lose myself in the cold and for a moment my worries dissipate into the waves.

However, today my worries have my shoulders in knots. My back is as tense as a coil and as I look around me I can see that everyone else looks just as nervous.

The Plutonian brigade has arrived and everyone has gathered to welcome them although the atmosphere is anything but welcoming.

Lucian, General Lyra and Luna are everything the rebellion has stood against for years and it is easy to see how uncomfortable their arrival is for everyone.

Commander Rigel stands at the front of the crowd while I huddle among st the rest, hiding under my shawl and sinking into the wall inconspicuously.

I see the familiar black star approach from the ceiling and my heart thumps in my ears as the ship lands in front of us.

A few others land behind Lucian's ship but I notice there are too few of them. The rest must still be up in space. The ships behind Lucian's open up first and I watch Plutonian officers run down the ramps and take formation with their laser guns in hand.

The rebels hold up their guns as well, standing around Commander Rigel like armor.

The ship in front opens last and I watch it's ramp whizz to the floor. Deneb, Altair, Sirius and Pollux march outside first, their guns tucked under their arms and I notice Pollux has his computer attached to his other side.

The sight makes me grin slightly. Looks like some things never change.

I bite my lip when Lucian finally walks out in his black army uniform. The blue stripes glow by his sides and the fitting uniform only reinforces how strong he looks with his lean arms and legs.

He walks down the ramp with his head held high but I notice he eyes his surroundings in a calculating manner, most probably sizing up the rebel force.

He stops in front of Commander Rigel and it is almost comical how he towers over the other rebels. It's not just his height but the commanding aura that resonates from him.

"Commander Rigel, nice to finally meet you." He holds out a hand which surprises most of the rebels and the commander shakes it hesitantly. It is very un-Plutonian for a leader to shake hands, let alone with a rebel.

But I know Lucian has done this on purpose.

He smiles, a most disarming smile which is a rarity -because Lucian rarely ever smiles- and I can already see most of the rebels slacken in their gait, their guns drooping by their sides. They stare at him in awe - the wronged Plutonian leader who has come to join the rebel cause.

"Wow," A few girls sigh from somewhere nearby and I bite my lip. They don't know him like I do.

Yes, Lucian is beautiful with his boyish face and silver hair that falls across his forehead like silk but he is also cunning. Instead of showing command, he's putting himself on the same level as the rest of us, which makes him seem more relatable.

The Plutonians need man power not technology. I've heard that his fleet has the equipment to destroy this entire terrain, he doesn't have to play nice but here he is smiling and shaking hands with the aliens.

He's taking command without a single bullet. All it took was a smile and a gesture.

Lazarus may have cheated and lied his way to the top but Lucian was born to lead. I can see it in the way he stands, and the way his officers stand eager for instruction.

Luna and General Lyra join him on both sides and I can see General Lyra eyeing her son proudly. I feel a sudden itch in my throat, I need to talk to her but I can't do it now. Not with so many eyes on them.

"Come we have a lot to discuss," Commander Rigel clears his throat and the rebels part ways for Lucian like the sea. His soldiers follow him and they leave the rest of us behind as they gather in the main tent used by Commander Rigel.

I stand by the walls, tapping my feet on the floor incessantly.

I must have been standing there for hours but they finally walk out of the tent. My footsteps are drowned out by the sound of the waterfall and I move in the shadows, my gaze fixed on General Lyra.

The rebels seem to be leading them down the markets and it's easy for me to weave my way through the throng of bodies.

I can see Lucian in front with Luna attached to his side. His gaze is restless as he looks around, like he is searching for something but she interrupts him ever so often with her chatter. The sight irks me but I ignore it and push past a body till I am next to the general.

"General Lyra," I say softly and she turns towards me. Her eyes widen in shock when she recognises me.

"Aria, my, my you really do remind me of those feline moscatis on Proxima b. Those creatures supposedly have nine lives and it seems you do too," She smiles at me but I notice it doesn't reach her eyes.

"General Lyra, I did as you asked. We went to Earth only to find out the humans were working with the Plutonians all along. What was the point of our mission?" I whisper to her in a heat of words and she stares at me in confusion.

"I'm sorry. I don't recall sending you on a mission to Earth."

Her words nearly send me reeling but I force myself to stay put. "Aren't you 'S'? You helped us escape during Lucian's match, remember? Before the rot kills us all. Those were your words, weren't they?"

"Excuse me dear but it sounds like you are accusing me of helping humans escape and that is treason. I would thread carefully if I were you," Her eyes are sharp as she warns me and my head hits the person in front of me before I can respond.

I look up and notice everyone has stopped walking. And then I see Lucian has turned around and is staring at me with cold blue eyes.

Heyyy I wanted to include Lucian and Aria's first convo but it would have been too long so I'm keeping that for the next chapter hehe.