Across the Universe
Part 25
[All standard disclaimers apply.]
Allura frowned as she studied the Majba system. She was trying figure out the best placement of the wormholes for the upcoming mission. She needed to have the wormholes close enough to Haggar's base while accounting for the gravitation pull of giant gas planet the base was orbiting.
It was harder than she had anticipated. Her first placement had the Lions plunging into the planet. The next had the Blades of Mamora crashing into the planet's atmosphere instead. Another had them all too far from the base clearly announcing their arrival to Haggar's base.
She heard the doors to the bridge open but didn't look up from her maps. She needed to figure this out. She didn't have time for chit chat.
Allura ran another simulation as footsteps approached behind her. She didn't know what annoyed her more: the person coming to interrupt her battle preparations or the fact that her simulation failed. She sighed.
"Allura?"
She was surprised to look up and see her faithful adviser instead of her commander. "Coran? Why are you still up?"
"I was hoping that I could find a moment to talk to you."
"About what?"
"About our disagreement earlier."
"Oh," she said.
"I didn't want you to think I don't believe in you. I do!" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "It's just that I worried about you taking on too much."
"Coran, it's going to be fine. I'm going to be fine."
"Just...just don't give me too many gray hairs while you're out there tomorrow, okay?"
Allura blinked back tears as she wrapped her oldest friend in a hug. "I'll do my best."
"I know you will," he said as he hugged her back.