The week felt as if it came slow yet fast at the same time. Minako honestly felt that her stomach was in a constant turmoil everytime she thought about going back to her home planets orbit. As much as she was nervous, she couldn't help but notice that everyone wasn't including her in the mission, knowing she would be immediately recognized. The closer they got, the more Three seemed to be quiet which made Minako uneasy for him. Even now, in the early morning, she was sitting in his room as he got ready for the op.
Three glanced to her, "We'll be fine"
"It's not them that I'm worried about" Minako answered honestly.
"Thanks, babe" Three smiled, "Your support is felt"
"You don't have to hide from me" Minako looked up to him, "You're just as nervous as I am about Ryo being here"
Three paused, "Yeah… I know"
"Just avoid him as much as possible" Minako got up, "And say as little as possible"
"I know" Three nodded, "I'll try"
"You will" Minako corrected, "For the sake of our relationship"
"I will" Three gripped onto her hand, "I promise"
Minako smiled, "Good… be careful"
"I will" Three said, "And stay by the Android at all times for me, okay?"
He brought down his lips and planted them slowly on her lips, Minako cupped his face and squinted her eyes shut. She looked at him, keeping his face close to hers before she traced his scar. Three closed his eyes and sighed, loving whenever she paid attention to his imperfection. Minako quickly turned and left out of his room as he followed close behind, turning their relationship to a friendship.
"Shouldn't be too hard to blend in" Three commented.
Minako nodded, "There are over a thousand servants combined to make sure this event goes by smoothly. Every planet brings in a few of their own so it will be diverse"
"Cool… maybe I'll get to catch the moon festival before we go" Three said.
"It's one of my favorite festivals" Minako commented, "Each moon is full and gives the brightest of nights"
"Sounds romantic" Three mused.
"We're not staying for the festival" Two said as the pair walked into the room, "The sooner we get out of there the better"
"Sorry, maybe we'll catch full moons on a different planet" Six turned to the princess.
Minako smiled, "Thank you, I just might hold you to it"
"Does everyone have their devices?" Five asked, "And you each know what it can do, right?"
"Yes" Three exasperated, "You told us ever since you created them"
"You try making a white bomb detection in less than a week" Five mumbled.
"I still don't understand why Ryo would try to detonate another bomb especially after the meeting he was present at" Six commented.
"We'll come up with solutions later, right now let's get to the Marauder" Two turned before she double taked at Minako, "I think it would be best if you stay with the Android"
Minako nodded, "I will"
"Good" Two glanced around to the rest of the members, "Let's go"
Everyone quickly filed out, all but Three who stayed behind as he reached out and gripped onto her hand. She looked back up to him before they followed in tow of the group before they took the separate hall to the Marauder. Minako took one final glance to Three before continuing onto the bridge where the Android was already waiting.
"Mind if I stay with you?" Minako asked.
"I think it would be wise if you did" the Android commented.
Minako cracked a smile as she sat down, "Thanks"
She remained quiet as the Android and Two talked through the preparations of the Marauders take off. She slowly breathed in as she said a silent prayer over her crewmates in hope of a safe return.
The Android turned to her, "They will be alright"
"I hope so" Minako nodded.
"I know they will" the Android stopped, "They've been through worse scenarios and have come out victorious"
"Then I should have nothing to worry about" Minako replied back.
"Well, not nothing to worry about" the Android said, "There's always the chance of Ryo finding out they are there and ordering them to be killed or maybe even the crew don't find the white bomb and disintegrate with everyone on the planet"
"Why did you say that?" Minako moaned.
Minako lurched forward the whole world spinning once again, making her close her eyes.
"Are you alright, Minako?" the Android asked.
"I'm fine" Minako forced out.
"But you're not fine" the Android said, "I've been monitoring you for a while now, something's not right"
"What are you talking about?" Minako glanced up.
"You've been experiencing symptoms that tell me you are getting ill. I would like to run a diagnostic on you" the Android said, "Just to be sure you truly are alright"
Minako laid down on the table as she watched the blue light run back and forth over her body, her nerves tingling just underneath her skin. She didn't know what the Android was going to find and hoped that it was nothing. It was true that she's been feeling ill but she mainly thought it was only because of the crews upcoming mission. Now as she watched the blue light disappear, it could potentially be more serious. Minako got up and faced the Android's back as she looked at the screen, reading some codes that she wouldn't be able to understand.
"Just as I suspected" the Android said.
"What?" Minako asked.
The Android turned back to her, "You're pregnant, Minako"
"What?!" Minako nearly yelled out, "But how?!"
"A female needs a male counterpart to have sperm enter inside of her during sexual interaction" the Android said, "My guess is Three more than Six"
"Yes, I know how I could become pregnant" Minako let out, "But we've been so…"
"What?" the Android asked.
"The first time we didn't use protection" Minako confessed.
"That could get a woman pregnant" the Android answered.
"Yes, I know that" Minako hopped off of the table, "I thought we were careful"
"Not careful enough, I could tell there was something between the two of you" the Android said.
Minako turned to her, "You could?"
"Of course" the Android explained, "Your body heat would instantly rise whenever Three would enter the room, your eyes linger on each other more than the other crew, and Three's genitals-"
"I get it, Android!" Minako let out, "Are you sure I'm pregnant?"
"Positive" the Android answered, "About four weeks now"
Minako sighed, "Sounds about right"
"What are you going to do?" the Android asked, "Are you going to tell him?"
Minako bit her lip as she said, "Maybe not right now, it's too risky"
"Too risky to tell him you have a baby growing inside of you and it's his" the Android said.
"I meant with everything going on" Minako said, "He wanted to keep this between us but now it doesn't look to be that way"
"No, it doesn't" the Android said.
"What are my options?" Minako asked.
"There are mainly only three options; one is to abort the baby before Three finds out, two is to take it to an orphanage the second you give birth, and three is to keep the baby but get severe backlash from not only your home planet but potentially the whole galaxy" the Android said.
"That's what I was afraid of" Minako mumbled.
"What do you think Three would want?" the Android asked.
"I don't even know" Minako shook her head as she blinked, "We never even talked about this"
"If I may suggest, the sooner he knows… the better" the Android said.
Minako tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she covered her stomach, not knowing what to do. She knew they should've been more careful, that's why they got protection at the first station after they slept together, not knowing it was too late. Minako glanced up and was going to ask the Android another question but then stopped. The Android actually looked distracted to almost confused.
"Someone's boarding" the Android said.
"Is it the Marauder?" Minako asked.
"No… an Ishida shuttle" the Android said.
"What?" Minako felt panic seize her, "How did they know we were going to be here?"
"I do not know" the Android looked to her, "But I highly suggest you go to your quarters and remain there"
Minako nodded, "What about you?"
"I am your last line of defense"
The way she said it made Minako feel scared as she turned and went the long way over to her room as the Android went directly to the hangar. Minako walked as fast as she could, the sooner she got to her room, the better. But when she turned the corner, she immediately stopped as she noticed the general of Zairon in the hallway as well.
She looked her up and down, "Well, isn't this a surprise"
"Please" Minako lifted up her hands over her head.
"I would think that you would be happy to see me" the woman said, "The general to your betrothed finding you in a wanted ship in nearly all of the galaxy. But you actually seem scared to see me? Ryo told me to kill anyone who sees me but I'll have to make an exception for the princess of Chang'e"
The woman took out a shock stick, making Minako tense up, "Wait, please, I'm-"
A jolt of shock made Minako tense up as she convulsed from the amount of electricity she was hit with. Minako fell to the ground as her eyes rolled to the back of her head and everything went black.