Never Forget

Three days after the Battle of Rennaya...

The World and Federation were in disarray after the events that unfolded on Rennaya. The Novas waking up were distraught when they heard the news. Not only had they lost the war, but their comrades allies and the amount of casualties incurred were unimaginable.

Saphyra estimated about 70 million casualties from allies to enemies alike, as the result of the expedition. Signalling the largest and deadliest death toll accumulated in one day of human history. Including the losses of Kayed, Akio, Osei and all thirty-two Hashin as well as the General, Roku. However the biggest blow to Beyond, was losing their Commander, Tobi.

The Worlds mourned their losses, but knew the threat was not over. Drone analysts from Azuria, gave the Federation hope by informing them that the Hashin, did seal him in a makeshift space pod, but were unsure if Tobi was still alive, but if he was he had at most, one week to live.

Saphyra suspended all future explorations and missions so that the Federations armies could heal, but opted to send thousands of drones to search for Tobi around the remains of Rennaya. Nevertheless searching space, for a single person, was as difficult a task as finding a pebble in a desert. Before long Beyond would give up and report him as lost forever.

Carina knocked on Amaara's door hoping she would open up this time. However there was no response, she stared at the door for a moment, then turned around and sat down against it, crossing her arms over her knees.

"Amaara... I can't imagine what you're going through right now, nor do I think I can make you feel any better..." She trailed off, as tears started to stream down her cheek and sniffles made it hard for her to finish her sentences.

"Honestly, I just don't want to be alone and.... and you may be the only one that understands... how I never got to tell him..." She sobbed harder unable to finish her sentence, but the door behind her creaked open.

Carina looked backed, wiping her tears away, as she looked up. Amaara's, eyes were red, exhausted, yet she still seemed as strong as she always was.

"That you loved him?" Amaara finished for her, before Carina quickly got up and hugged her.

At the Training Room...

Simon flared around the room letting off his anger and pushing himself to his limits, as wounds opened up. Koji strodded into the room, looking around at massive scorch marks all over the place.

"There you are. Why aren't you resting, Simon?" The Nova asked.

Simon shook his head, stopping at the center. "Because... I'm still weak." Then let's off a massive beam of fire, as he shifted into first gear.

Then released his transformation, as he started to shudder. Koji remained silent, staring at him.

Simon looked down, holding in tears. "Why'd he have to protect me?" Rings of fire, manifested, surrounding him, as Koji remained silent. "Why couldn't he just leave me and run?!" A crater formed beneath him, crushed by the pressure.

Koji finally broke his silence. "Why question another's sacrifice? You only dishonor their efforts."

"Dishonor!" Simon yelled, as the flames blazed bigger and hotter. "We're from the first generation and he had the greatest potential, yet gave that up or us." The tears he'd been holding in, caved through, as his emotions overwhelmed him.

He stutteredand trembled, as he tried to continue. "I couldn't even help Tobi..." He dropped to his knees, as his stitches and wounds bled even harder. " Who gave him the right, to do that for us?"

Koji shook his head. "Unfortunately, this life has never been fair. It's typically the strong that decide who lives, not the weak. Those strong in mind and in strength are the only ones capable of changing fate... Kayed was one of them." He said, then began walking through the flames, scorching him as he braced it.

Simon sniffled, wiping away his tears. "We still have so far to go."

"You're right." Koji reached his hand out. "But for now, let's lessen the pain." He said, as Simon slowly grabbed it and was helped up. Then together, they made their way to the MedBay.

An hour before, at the MedBay...

Norah woke up freaking out, as Runa rushed over from Kalista's bed to calm her down. "Shhhh. You'll wake up the others." Runa warned her, indicating Helio, Nate, Karim, and Tai, who were sound asleep on hospital beds and in cryomeds.

They got her some water, to drink, as she looked them over noticing Kalista's bandaged wounds. "What happened?" She finally asked.

Kalista looked over her wounds and back at her. "Oh this, I got slightly injured, in a land explosion as we tried to escape Rennaya. I'll be honest Norah, the situation isn't looking too good."

They proceeded to tell her about the events that unfolded on the lost planet. The casualties and the results. Norah stopped drinking, as soon as she heard about Kayed's, Kaieda's, Roku's and the Hashin's death. Then they they let her know about the brothers and what Akio had done to allow them all to escape.

"We lost Osei and we don't know where Tobi is. He may still be alive, drifting in space, or he may have been consumed in the planet's destruction." Runa concluded.

Norah put down her cup, then asked coldly. "Where is he?"

Runa and Kalista both looked at each other, then solemnly shook their heads. "We don't know. Nobody knows." Kalista, replied.

Norah immediately got up, off of her bed and dove for the door as Kalista and Runa rushed to hold her down. "Norah there's nothing we can do!" Runa tried to convince her.

"Let me go!" She yelled as she accidentally elbowed her in the face, then stopped, feeling ashamed as, as Runa quietly held her bleeding nose.

"Sorry." She whispered to Runa, as Runa nodded back accepting her apology. Then Norah dropped to her knees in defeat and started to tear up. "This sucks." She said outloud, coming to terms with the situation.

Kalista slowly walked up to her as Runa dropped down and gave her a hug, trying to comfort her. Kalista placed one hand on Norah's shoulder, then spoke. "I know... It really does, but don't worry, knowing him, he'll find a way to make it back to us."

Norah stopped sobbing and wiped her tears as Runa broke away from her. "You're right, and when he comes back, we'll have to be much stronger than we were, so this time, we can protect him."

She looked at her friends, who without hesitation, nodded in agreement. "Right!"

Four days after the events on Rennaya...

Jacira and Kiala looked all over Beyond HQ, trying to find Sarah. They had asked Saphyra, but she told them that she had been unable to reach her ever since she woke up.

They finally went to the shipyard, as it was the only place they had not looked, just before they planned to go search in the Republic of Rennaya. Combing through the lines of parked ships proved to be fruitless, but as they were about to give up, Kiala noticed lights on in the Aratris.

She called out to Jacira to reunite with her, as they entered the old ship together. In the cockpit, they finally found her, with a half empty bottle of wine and old memories of Tobi and Osei replaying on the main console.

She was a mess. The first time Kiala had ever seen her like this. Past or future. The pair walked in slowly as Sarah continued sobbing in her arms, not looking up although they knew, she heard their footsteps.

"Mom, are you ok?" Kiala asked in a soft voice, trying not to startle her.

Sarah stopped for a moment, but instead of looking at them, she looked towards the screen, which had just settled on a picture of Osei, happily training with his brother. "I've failed them."

"You couldn't have seen it coming, Sarah. You did your best, Earth wouldn't have gotten this far without you." Jacira blurted. It hurt her to see, someone she revered in this state.

Kiala spoke up right after. "That's right Mom, there was nothing we could do, our enemies were strong and cunning. No matter how well prepared we are, there was always a chance, that we could lose, but because of you, we still have a fighting chance."

She walked closer, tapped her shoulder and hugged her. "Mom, I came to past, to spend more time with him and you. We can't stop fighting for that. Since you're now conscious it's hitting you harder than the first time, but you're the strongest person I know. You've always come out on top. Don't let this bring you down, because you are their legacy."

Sarah sniffled and wiped away her tears. "God, how is my daughter so wise." She chuckled weakly. "You're right. They were my family, but they aren't the only ones left. Sorry for showing you guys this pathetic display."

Jacira smiled, with tears in her eyes. "Not at all. It's ok to be vulnerable sometimes, but we have to stay strong for those that aren't. Sarah, I think I speak for all of us, including Kayed, Leon and Ranesa but we never regretted becoming Novas, you gave us that chance, and for that we'll never forget them. For that we have to look forward."

Sarah gave them both a soft smile, then invited them in for a group hug. "I know, and we will. We're going to make sure, such a tragedy, never happens again."

End of that week...

In a mass funeral, televised throughout the Federation, Sarah walked up to the podium intthe Republic of Rennaya's capital. The Novas, were dressed in all black clothes, tailor made by Saphyra's teams. They sat with members of the Azurian council, U.N. representatives, the Sonaran council and Dargan's leaders.

It was a solemn day for the Federation, but the people were anxious to hear her speak, as it was her first time in public since the incident. She knew the people needed reassurance and wanted to hear of what comes next, with the loss of their greatest military powers.

Several riots and uprisings sprung up on Earth and throughout the Federation, but Saphyra managed to quell them, before irreversible damage could be made. Nevertheless this speech would be the only deterrence to unrest, for the people.

"People of the Federation!" It was the first time, they were addressed as such. Her voice reached many, especially on Earth, truly realizing that they were not alone, in these painful times.

"It has only been a little over a year, since we had first made our presence in this Galaxy. Through that, we have experienced losses, defeat and tragedies, but none had been greater than what we had suffered on that day one week ago. I'll admit, our strength has decreased due to loss of our greatest leaders. However..."

She shifted, her position as she tried to keep her emotions under control. She looked at Kayed, Osei's and Tobi's caskets, ready to be buried. "We are all humans, every one of us, yet in ashes we rise. Those that have transgressed against us, will be dealt with and punished, no matter the cost. Let this be known, hard times, create the strongest warriors, and although they have weakened us, they will regret crossing us."

She waited for a moment, as people in the audience clapped, in support. "My people, know that your leaders, till this day, are diligently coming up with new strategies, and plans to make sure the tragedies on Rennaya, never happens again. Our Novas are training, each of your countries are developing new forces that can stand with them and thirty-two new Hashin's have been selected. The day will soon come, when Atlas and Ceria, will pay for their crimes, but today, we'll take the moment, to mourn the 24 million lives that were lost on that day. Please take a moment with me, as our beloved soldiers are buried. We thank them for their service."

She stopped, and looked at Kiala in the audience, who nodded back at her, proud that she had the courage to follow through with the speech. Then looked over at Saphyra who promptly signalled the band to start playing, while the audience stood in solidarity and soldiers in military uniforms saluted and began firing into the sky.

Flags of the Republic of Rennaya, along with the Egyptian, Nigerian, Canadian and Rennaya's Sovereign flag were folded above the caskets, as they were lowered into the ground. Akio was simultaneously being buried in his home village where he was born on Azuria.

Many people were crying, amongst the crowd, but the ones Sarah could not take her eyes off of, were Tobi's family, the ones she had ultimately failed. The loss of the child, along with their newest addition to their family, devastated them. When the ceremony was over and enough people had given them their condolences, she walked over to finally face them, for the first time.