Episode One, Part 4:
B r o t h e r

As Quill prepared himself to tell Chessca the plan, he squinted his eyes a little, finally having a moment to observe her properly now that he wasn't bargaining for his life. 

"What is it?" She wiped at her face, thinking there was blood on her somehow. 

 "How'd you get that?" Quill asked tenderly. 

Chessca shied away a little, immediately aware of what he was talking about by the softness in his voice. 

"I had to make it look believable..." 

Quill shifted. "Make what look believable?"  

Chessca sighed, contemplating if she should tell him. She thought, for a moment, that he might have been lying up until this point, and maybe he really was here to help her. But then she remembered seeing the young girl outside the window, and how exhausted she looked, and so afraid. Quill wasn't lying. 

"When I gave your friend the serum the other day. They killed the guard so I at least had to make it look like I put up some kind of fight for it." 

"Chessca..." Quill stepped forward, struggling to comprehend. "Why? Why did you do that?"  Sol had told him how the girl, who he now realised was Chessca, had willingly handed over the serum to her without explanation. Knowing that it was most likely the reason his sister was still alive, he was desperate for an answer. 

"Probably for the same reason you're here," she said. "To stop The Alteration." 

Quill lost his breath, wondering what would compel a complete stranger to sabotage herself to save his sister. 

"You did that to yourself? You gave us the serum to stop The Alteration from happening? I... I don't understand." 

Chessca sighed, smiling sadly at her new friend. Her only friend. "Let's just say I know what she would have to go through to complete The Alteration. They told me she was young... And I knew that if there was something I could do to make sure they didn't put anyone else through it, I would do whatever it takes. It's... It's awful. I'm sorry they're trying to do this to your sister." 

Quill returned her smile, a weight of sadness to it. "Thank you for doing that for my family." 

"Please. Don't thank me. Anyone who knows anything about The Alteration would have done the same thing. I'm just glad that it might have helped." 

Quill nodded, then remembering what he was here for, pulled by what she had said. 

"If you still want to help, there is something you can do... It's kinda why I'm here." 

Chessca stood up a little taller, intrigued. "I'm listening." 

///// 

"You know, you don't actually need to hold onto the rope so tightly," Chessca pointed out. 

"Oh, sorry," Quill mumbled. He loosened his grip on the ropes that trailed a little behind him, tied up around Chessca's wrists. 

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You know, you're a pretty bad hostage-taker," she told him light-heartedly. "And the easy part was already done for you: I'm already a hostage." 

Quill looked back at the girl, who despite joking around, had managed to move him quite profoundly. 

"I'm sorry," he said to her, full of sympathy. 

"What are you sorry for?" 

"That you're a hostage. I can't...even imagine what it must be like for you. No one should have to be locked up like that." 

Chessca was touched by his affection for her and never more sure about her decision to help him and his people. 

"It's okay. If being their hostage means I get to help someone like your sister, then it's okay." 

Once she knew that she had given Quill a little bit of comfort back, she continued conversation, asking about parts of the plan she still wasn't certain of. 

"So wait, just so I don't mess anything up, you do want me to tell them that your sister is at the labs!?" 

"Yeah," Quill chuckled, realising how stupid it sounded. 

"I don't mean to sound rude here, but are you sure that's a good idea?" 

"I had that thought at first, but my brother and the Sovereigns came up with it. They're smart. It'll work." He smiled as he remembered the faith he had in them, feeling a little more confident in what he knew was approaching. 

"Besides, once you give them your confession, Rhea and my dad will head to the labs-" 

"That's exactly my point!" Chessca exclaimed. "They won't go there alone. Your brother and sister can't stop them by themselves." 

"They won't be there," Quill stopped in his tracks, turning around to look at her. His face was bright with hope. "That's the plan: Wynn and Elara left as soon as they knew you saw them. By the time Rhea and my dad get there, my sister will be safe back home." Quill explained. 

"And everyone else from The City of Targo that Rhea leaves behind at your camp? What about them?" 

"They've already got that part covered. But don't worry, they won't attack until you're gone. Riverly gave instructions to not harm you after you gave her the serum."  

Quill expected to see her relieved that they had a lot more of it figured out, but Chessca was looking at the ground, trying to raise her lips up into a smile, but failing. 

"Chessca? What's wrong?" 

The girl looked up, trying to hide the deep sorrow from her face. It was clear once again how expendable she was. As soon as someone got what they needed from her, they would forget all about her. 

"Nothing," she lied. "Come on, we should hurry." 

She went to walk past him, but Quill dropped his hold on the ropes and grabbed onto her hand instead. He was slowly figuring it out. 

"I'm sorry. I'm being so selfish-" 

"No, you're not. You're saving your sister. I get it." 

 "Hey," Chessca tried to move away again, but Quill held on tighter. He couldn't let this go. 

"I have to stick to the plan today. There's so much counting on it-" 

"I know-" 

"But once she's safe and she's back home, I'll do what I can to get you out." 

"Quill," Chessca looked down. "You don't have to promise that. Just focus on your sister. I'll be okay." 

Quill frowned. He couldn't accept not helping her when she was a big part of the reason why they had made it this far already, but she was right. He did have a priority to save his sister, and that had to come first. 

He huffed out a disgruntled breath, stepping closer to her. "When they're taking you back to the labs, once you can see the river up ahead, you have to get away from there." 

"Why? It- It doesn't matter, anyway. If I could get away, I wouldn't be a hostage. It's not that easy." 

Quill sighed. He knew he could be risking everything right then, but he trusted Chessca. He couldn't explain it, but he did. 

"My people are gonna break the dam. The water will come down as they're crossing. You have to stay away." 

Reality set it. Missing parts of Basilisk's plan beginning to make sense to her, but not completely. "How? How do you suggest I get away from them? If the water doesn't kill me, Rhea will." 

Not knowing what else to do, Quill reached into his bag and pulled out the gun that Sol and Kodiak had given him. He knew if they were there to witness what he was doing, then he would have his head ripped off, but he also realised how it could work in their favour. If something went wrong, there was always a hope of Chessca killing Rhea herself. 

"This should help." 

Chessca hesitated, but she took hold of the weapon in her tied up hands and shoved it in the side of her trousers, relieved that her long shirt covered any evidence of it sticking out. The way she didn't even consider using it against Quill was enough assurance to him that it was the right call. 

He looked over his shoulder, recognising where he was and hearing a crowd of voices. They were here. 

He turned back to Chessca and picked up the ropes again, tightening his grip. "You ready?" He asked. 

She nodded. 

"Good. I promise I won't hurt you," he told her. "But remember that Targo's gotta believe me. They've gotta think my betrayal against my brother is real." 

"Wait, your brother? I thought you said it was against your Sovereigns. Isn't he with your sister?" 

Quill smiled softly. "Ares. My other brother. And yeah, the Sovereigns as well. It's got to look like I'm going against all of them so my dad believes me." 

Chessca sighed, seeing the dread settle on his face. "It sounds..." 

"Brutal?" Quill asked. "Terrifying? Yeah, I know. But it won't be real. That's what I'm trying to focus on, anyway..." 

One // Part Four
I'll make sure my people rescue you, too.

I find it amazing how characters seem to write themselves. I didn't even plan on forming that friendship between Quill and Chess, it just developed naturally, and I'm so glad because it was so sweet. What do you think about her character?

13/04/20