Though her question reflected confusion, Cal could tell that there was a sense of annoyance embedded within her words. This dream happened frequently, causing him to wake up in panic on multiple occasions.

Cal swallowed in an attempt to get rid of the dry lumps in his throat. He felt that his incidents were getting out of hand, and wished he could control them, but didn't know what to do.

"It's nothing, Jemma," he croaked.

He wiped the beads of sweat off his face and let out a disgruntled sigh. "I'm sorry to have woken you." Cal felt the bed sway underneath him as his wife went to turn on a light. Cal's vision was blinded by the brightness of it and began to rub his temples.

Cal's eyes glanced around the room to assure himself that nothing was out of the ordinary. The tall, mahogany wardrobe that stood across the bed was still there. The ancient silver Victorian mirror next to the wardrobe was in one piece. The tall potted plant was still alive. Everything in their small beige bedroom seemed like it was in its place.

Jemma walked around the bed, her strides were filled with worry. Once next to him, she pushed the covers bundled around Cal's waist to the side and sat down. Jemma raised her delicate hand to his cheek, moving her thin fingers back and forth. She let out a worried sigh and pursed her rosy lips.

"Was it another nightmare?"

He tilted his head toward Jemma to look at her. Some of his fear went away at the sight of her and even though she had just woken up, everything about her was perfect.

She had wavy, copper hair that hung around her shoulders that framed her narrow face. Her grey eyes were surrounded by long blonde lashes. As Cal looked into them, he could sense her optimism and strength. She placed her chin on his shoulder. At this angle, he could see all of the tan freckles that splattered her face. Jemma closed her eyes and rubbed his arm. Small crows feet gathered around her eyes. Most people thought that it was a sign of age, but Cal viewed them as a sign to how much she had lived. Every line and crease in her face only made her more beautiful.

Cal grabbed one of Jemma's smooth hands. Should he tell her that it was the fifth one this month; that as the two of them ventured closer to the enemy's territory, the more he felt the pit in his stomach grow? He glanced back down toward her hands and just shrugged his shoulders. He was at a loss for words.

Jemma grasped the side of his face with one hand. She stood up and kissed his forehead. "It's almost over," she whispered, "and I know it doesn't seem like it will end, but I promise that we'll finish all this busy work soon." She lifted his chin so that their eyes could meet. Jemma's ability to console managed to lift his spirits enough for him to focus on the day.

"So," Cal considered, "is there a plan for us today?"

Jemma turned toward the wardrobe in her usual upbeat manner. She cleared her throat as she swung the wide doors open. The scent of dust and lavender filled the room, reviving the fanciful energy that was lost moments before.

"Well, the Council approved our call to Meg." Jemma turned and smiled back to Cal. It was a smile that signaled the start of an adventure. "Luckily for us, Earth is a couple hours ahead of the Explorer's time."

Cal felt relief at this realization. Meg would certainly make the day better, especially since it had been months of him not seeing her. For a year, Jemma and Cal had been on a mission from the United Space Council to search and collect rare elements in random asteroid clusters that could power Earth's alien defense weapons. The length of the mission had taken a toll on Cal. The mission was scheduled to take Cal and Jemma two years to complete. Their ship, the Explorer, was well equipped for the journey, but that wasn't what worried Cal.

Meg was Cal's only daughter. She was currently staying with his mom and was in good hands, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was doing okay.

Cal forced his aching body to stand up and walked next to Jemma near the wardrobe. Jemma gave him a wink as she gestured to their gold and silver uniforms.

"It always makes Meg happy to see them," she mused. Cal nodded in agreement. The two got into their uniforms and went into the main cabin of the ship, the door of their room making a clunking sound behind them.

"You know, we really should fix that door," Jemma smirked as she entered the main cabin.

The main cabin was mostly an array of monitors and buttons that made up the ship's flight and navigation. To the right of the screens, two seats perched in front of a control panel. Buttons glowed with a green light that reflected against a large window that allowed for a perfect view of the endless, starry universe.

Cal and Jemma walked over to the monitors and began dialing for Earth. A high pitched ring was heard, and one of the monitor's screens changed from maps to the background of Cal's childhood home. Cal could see a dirtied tan recliner sitting next to a worn red couch. He felt a sense of nostalgia as he realized that Meg got to relive his childhood through the old pieces of furniture.

"Hi, Mom," Cal said.

"Oh, my boy! It's been such a long time! Just wait until you see Meg. She's been so excited to see you!"

"We're excited too," Jem replied.

Before Cal's mom could say another word, a small girl ran into frame. She was wearing a bright pink dress and her hair was in a long braid down her back. Cal thought she was the spitting image of her mother as her frizzy straggles of red hair formed a halo around her face.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

"Hey, Sweetheart!" Jemma said. "How have things been?" The small girl sat in her grandmother's lap and smiled.

"Everything's really fun. In school we're learning about the Hex's! I can't believe how mean they are, but it's fun because we're learning how to fight them. We even got to build fake cannons that shoot water to show how actual cannons work! Science is awesome!"

Jemma had a slightly concerned look on her face, but replied, "Science is cool." Cal watched Jem's face shift a little. Something about what Meg had said bothered her.

"Just remember something honey," Jemma paused and looked at Cal for reassurance and then back at Meg, "not all aliens are bad. We just have to remember that okay?"

Cal was stunned. Since when did his wife care about what humans did to aliens? Cal cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Science is pretty cool," Cal interrupted. "Tell you what, Mom and I will bring home some rocks just for you."

Meg giggled in delight. "Awesome!"

The family spent the next hour talking, but Cal couldn't shake the feeling he got when his wife brought up the Hex's: the monster race from outer space. Eventually the call ended and Cal and Jemma were left alone in the main cabin. Jemma went to the control panel and began to type in controls.

"We'd better get started on today's run, huh?" Cal could tell that Jemma was trying to hide the conversation that had occured.

Cal went next to Jemma and grabbed her hand. He squeezed it and made Jemma look at him. "Why'd you mention that aliens were good to Meg? We don't want to plant the wrong ideas in her head."

Jemma was silent. Cal could tell she was gathering her words. "Don't you think we should teach her to have an open mind?"

Cal let go of Jemma's hand and leaned on the control panel. "Yes, but this isn't something to have an open mind on. The Hex ruined our home, they're colonizing continents as we speak. They're murderers taking innocent lives."

"But that's not-"

"No Jem, it is all of them." He sighed, "They killed my dad, my family. They killed yours too. I don't understand why you're defending them all of a sudden."

Before Jemma could speak, a violent crash against the side of the ship forced the two of them against the walls.

Immediately, an alarm sounded and the Explorer continued to shake. The next crash sent Cal to the floor. Cal's ears were ringing, but he managed to stand up. He rushed over to the monitors, holding onto a pipe above his head for balance. A hole formed in his stomach when he looked at the monitors.

He looked over to Jem with anxiousness. "They showed a hull breach!"

Jemma took action immediately, typing in controls to steer the ship. She yelled over the alarm. "We've hit an asteroid! It's making the cabin lose pressure!"

"We have to seal off the breach!"

The two worked in unison, steering the ship and typing in commands into the computer in hopes of isolating the thing that would tear their ship apart. Cal worked as fast as he could, but the violent turbulence of the ship escalated. When Cal looked up, he saw an asteroid coming right toward them through the window.

"Steer left!" He shouted.

Jem reacted, but only managed to get the front half of the ship out of the way in time.

The asteroid sent a catastrophic wave throughout the ship. The force of the impact sent Cal flying across the room and Jemma was thrown to the ceiling before crashing down to the floor. Pipes above them burst from the force and white gas spewed into the space. Jemma coughed from the gas and tried to regain control of the ship. She felt the gaseous substance burn her lungs as she shouted for Cal. She tried to force herself to stay conscious, but only collapsed to the floor, her life fading from view.