Adrian eyed the floors that had once been stained with blood and molten body parts. The team’s ability to make any evidence that there had been a shooting disappear without a trace was a serial killer’s wet dream. He didn’t know how murders were handled in a’vaarian society, but he doubted the public had access to that particular bit of technology.

  He found that he was being treated differently in the aftermath of the High Diplomat’s appearance. It was subtle enough that everything seemed normal on the surface, but he noticed how the others gave him a wider berth since seeing his strength on full display. They’d already had an idea that he was stronger than average after he’d been able to lift the tombstones without help but clearly hadn’t thought much of it at the time.

  Witnessing him literally tear a person apart gave them a newfound respect for the modifications his experiments had granted him. It had only sparked an even greater curiosity in Kell, who’d bombarded him nonstop with questions. Jyn was somehow tenser around him whenever they were in the same room together, his hand never straying far from the gun now permanently holstered to his hip.

  The only person relatively unaffected was Reya, for she already knew of his ability to rip people to shreds after he’d told her of his time in the gru’ul facility. Hearing it and seeing it were two different things however, and he could tell she was a bit shaken. Though whether from being held hostage at gunpoint or from the violence, he couldn’t tell.

  The others were eating lunch at the table while he inspected the floors. Tassie was still onboard the ship, holed up doing more research and for some reason Jyn had gone to join her. He heard Reya and Rann talking outside on the porch and decided to join them rather than chance an uncomfortable meal alone at the table with the others. He quietly went out the back door and made his way towards the two women. Part of the conversation caught his attention, and he paused before rounding the corner.

  “You’re sure you’re alright after what happened?” Rann asked Reya.

  “It was a little shocking, being held hostage at gunpoint again,” Reya replied softly. “The last time that happened, I was captured and tortured. It didn’t invoke the nicest of memories, and I froze on the spot. That would’ve never happened before,” she lamented.

  “I was referring to seeing what Adrian did,” Rann clarified. “We always knew he was different but that was just something else.”

  Adrian repositioned a foot for better balance and the floorboard creaked ever so slightly. Unbeknownst to him, Reya cocked her head towards the sound and realized that they weren’t alone. The noise went completely unnoticed by Rann.

  “I already knew what he was capable of,” Reya replied simply, aware they were being listened to. A slight breeze carried over a familiar scent that she knew was Adrian’s. “It doesn’t change my love for him. We’re no stranger to death, Rann,” she continued. “That comes with being a soldier. We might not have seen action in a while, but that doesn’t mean we never did. What High Command stands to gain from murdering a diplomatic envoy is beyond me. Adrian isn’t a soldier, yet he’s as used to death as we are. I’m grateful he saved me that day and that it wasn’t my body you were picking up off the floor.”

  Rann mulled over what Reya said. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable being around somebody who could tear me apart like that at any time.”

  “And you being able to shoot him at any time is different?” Reya scoffed. “Adrian knows what our weapons are capable of, and Jyn’s held him at gunpoint before, ready to shoot should he disobey. You all walk around fully armed constantly. You’ve been able to kill him whenever you wish. I can’t say I have any sympathy for you about this.”

  “That’s different!” Rann sputtered. “We’re soldiers. Of course we’re going to be armed.”

  “No, it’s not different,” Reya said, shaking her head. “Adrian’s been able to do that since the beginning but still hasn’t, no matter how you’ve treated him in the past. And the gods know you’ve pushed the limits of what a normal person would tolerate plenty of times. At least now you know that there will be tangible consequences to your actions should you threaten him again.”

  “You’re taking his side in this?” Rann balked. She wilted under the flat look Reya shot her and was unable to hide the hurt that her opinion was so easily dismissed.

  Reya’s look softened. “It’s not about taking sides,” she said. “You’re simply experiencing what you’ve done to Adrian for the first time and are scared by how powerless you’ll be should he ever act against you. I hate to break it to you, but that’s been how he’s felt ever since he first met you. Sucks, doesn’t it?” Rann was about to speak when Reya raised a hand to stop her. “You can come out now, Adrian.”

  “Was I that obvious?” Adrian said as he rounded the corner and came into view, much to Rann’s surprise. “I thought I was pretty quiet. What gave me away?”

  Reya smiled. “I’ll always know when it’s you,” she said playfully, waving him closer. Adrian obliged and sidled up to her, collecting her in his arms and planting a kiss on her head.

  That Adrian could so silently sneak up on her deeply unsettled Rann. Added to his monstrous strength, it made her truly worried about how to handle him for the first time since freeing him from the gru’ul research facility.

  Adrian let go of Reya, unaware of Rann’s turbulent emotions. “I didn’t mean to spy on you,” he said apologetically. “There simply wasn’t a good time to interrupt.”

  “You don’t need to hide around us anymore, Adrian,” Reya said softly. She cast a glance towards Rann, which Adrian didn’t miss. “Not around me. Never around me.”

  Adrian nodded. “I know that, but ever since the envoy was eliminated I feel like the team’s been very wary of me.” He turned to look at Rann. “It’s good to at least have confirmation as to why.” Rann didn’t meet his eyes and remained silent. He sighed. “I only hope that my actions so far are enough to convince you that I don’t mean you any harm.”

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  “It’ll take some getting used to,” Rann said awkwardly. “We knew the experiments changed you, but actually seeing how different you are now kind of really drove home how alien you are.”

  Adrian was unable to hide his hurt but quickly schooled his expression back to normal. “I know I’m different. It’s something I’ve known deep down for a long time now, even before you rescued me. I’m not the person I once was. Sometimes even I have trouble accepting just how different I am from the rest of you.”

  Only Reya knew just how deep those changes ran, and she couldn’t bear seeing Adrian spiral into self-hate. “How about we go grab a bite to eat?” she said as she grabbed his hand. “I know lunch was served and I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet.”

  Adrian shot her a wan smile. “Sounds like a plan. It felt strange being around the team alone. Are you coming, Rann?”

  “I’ll be there in a moment,” Rann replied carefully, hoping to distance herself from Adrian for a little bit while she organized her thoughts. Adrian shrugged and he and Reya went back inside, leaving Rann alone to her devices. She watched them in silence as they walked out of sight but not out of mind.

  The myriad of symbols engraved on Adrian’s cell door at the research facility came roaring back in her mind. They hadn’t known the full extent of what they’d meant at the time. Already the ones they did know had her questioning just what had been done to Adrian.

  Now Rann was regretting not having properly learned sooner.

  Tassie and Jyn were both locked in the bridge, waiting for Nessah to call them back. They’d both been summoned by their General but didn’t know why. “Do you think this has to do with Adrian?” Tassie asked.

  Jyn gave her a sideways glance. “Given our mission, I’m pretty sure it does. Have you discovered anything new with your research?” It was a rare thing, for the both of them to be summoned together, but since they both had the highest security clearance of the team, he guessed it was for sensitive information.

  “I’m always discovering something new, although lately I’ve been reading over what we’ve already discovered instead of seeking new information. I haven’t uncovered anything ground breaking recently. I don’t know what General Nessah wants from both of us,” Tassie fretted.

  “Then why am I here if it’s not related to your research?” Jyn frowned. Tassie shrugged. The main holoscreen at Tassie’s workstation lit up with an incoming call, which he ordered Tassie to answer immediately. They couldn’t afford to keep Nessah waiting when they were on standby.

  Tassie accepted and an image of Nessah appeared. She looked worn but positively furious. Jyn and Tassie exchanged a nervous look as they saluted her. “General,” Jyn said formally. “Has something happened?”

  “Unfortunately so,” Nessah replied darkly, her comment doing little to put her two soldiers at ease. “Adrian’s existence was leaked two hours ago.”

  “How’s that even possible?” Tassie asked, stunned. “We’ve taken so many precautions to keep him a secret!”

  “Somehow, High Diplomat Annkor sent a message the reporter that handled Reya’s interviews. In doing so, he revealed Adrian’s existence, and she somehow thought doing an emergency press release was the answer,” Nessah said. “Explain to me how Annkor managed that,” she demanded.

  “I don’t know,” Jyn stammered. “We confiscated all of his equipment and searched him when we took him prisoner. He had nothing but his clothes on when we threw him in his cell and even those were searched for any recording devices.”

  “Then how did he organize a press release?” Nessah exploded. “I want answers, not excuses!”

  “I’m afraid we don’t have any for you. What exactly was revealed to the public?” Jyn asked.

  “Adrian’s existence,” Nessah said, “and a video of the purple chemical being used on him was posted online. We took it down, but it’s already spread.”

  Tassie and Jyn blanched. “How did he even have that video to begin with?” Tassie asked.

  “I don’t know,” Nessah replied, “but I’m ordering you to find out. The Tribunal is discussing how to respond to the allegations of not initiating first contact protocols and being complicit in the creation of the purple chemical. We need answers. Excuses won’t cut it anymore.”

  Tassie nodded her head so fast Jyn thought it was going to fall off. “Have the Rukkan responded yet to us taking their High Diplomat hostage?” he asked.

  “They haven’t had the chance to after we destroyed their ship and everybody onboard,” Nessah replied. “The Rukkan threatened war repeatedly if they didn’t have their way. They ignored our warnings and as a consequence they were chosen as target practice for our newest weapons.”

  “We have new weapons in addition to the new engine technology?” Tassie inquired.

  “We have far more than that thanks to our research into gru’ul technology,” Nessah said. She looked towards Jyn. “Captain,” she said formally, “you’re already aware of the purpose behind our actions. Given that we can no longer keep them a secret, I leave it to you to inform your team of them how you see fit. The Tribunal will make an announcement shortly regarding Adrian, but not about the gru’ul. We have to assume they know we’re aware of their purpose by now. Prepare your team for combat. There’s no telling when you’ll be needed on the front lines.”

  “The front lines of what?” Tassie asked. “Are we going to war with the Rukkan?”

  “I’ll leave you to deal with this one, Captain,” Nessah said, ignoring Tassie’s question. She had better things to do than to explain the entire situation all over again. “Only reveal that we’re at war for now,” she said. “Wait before the rest.”

  Jyn understood the warning. He wasn’t to reveal anything related to the Mandate yet. That was a matter best handled by the Tribunal officially. “Are we officially at war now?” he asked.

  War General Nessah looked her Captain dead in the eyes. “We’re already at war. The world just didn’t know it yet. Soon, they will.”

  “Understood, War General,” Jyn intoned seriously. “Victory at all costs.”

  “Victory at all costs,” Nessah echoed. “You have your orders. Dismissed.” She ended the call, leaving a very confused Tassie alone in the bridge with Jyn.

  “War General?” Tassie squeaked. “Jyn, what’s going on? Has the War Tribunal risen to power?”

  “They’re already in power,” Jyn replied. “We’ve been preparing for war since we discovered Adrian, but it was only thanks to a recent breakthrough that we understood the full scope of it.”

  “Against the Rukkan?” Tassie asked.

  Jyn chuckled humorlessly. “No, not them,” he replied. “We’re at total war with the gru’ul. One where the very survival of every a’vaare is at stake, regardless of their faction.”

  “Total war?” Tassie said, trying to process the enormity of the statement. “What happened for us to declare total war against the gru’ul? They’re so much more technologically advanced than we are! We’re going to get annihilated!”

  “As if them creating those gods’ awful chemicals they used on Adrian and Reya wasn’t enough?” Jyn retorted. “But even those chemicals aren’t the reason, as atrocious as they are. No, we learned the real reason for Adrian’s experiments. I’m not at liberty to tell you yet, but I get the feeling that you’ll learn soon enough.”

  Jyn’s refusal to explain further angered Tassie. “What do you mean you can’t tell me?” Tassie yelled. “I know more than anybody else about what happened to Adrian. You can’t just drop that kind of bomb without any explanation.”

  Jyn ignored her outburst. “I was literally ordered by our General not to disclose the information right in front of you. Rather than focus on what I can’t tell you, we should be discussing how to broach the situation with everybody else. I have a feeling that as soon as Kell opens his data slate the check the news, he’s going to see pictures of Adrian everywhere. I’d rather they learn about what’s happening from us first.”

  Realizing that Jyn was right took the wind right out of her sails. “How are we supposed to win against the gru’ul?” Tassie whispered in fear.

  “At all costs,” Jyn said. “No matter the cost.”