Event Horizon


Anna leaned over the sink and coughed, hacking violently until she spat up a mixture of blood and mucous. Every cough sent spikes of pain rolling through her whole body, piercing her lungs and stabbing her in the liver over and over. A dull and grinding ache lingered in her bones, and she knew the cancer was now beginning to spread into her skeleton.

"Ugh," Anna groaned and turned on the sink, spitting up a few more droplets of blood. "Fuck you, cancer," she washed the evidence of her illness down the drain, then looked up into the mirror.

The shower was turned on full blast to mask the sounds of her coughing, so the surface of the mirror was fogged over. Anna wiped it clean and when she saw her reflection, she almost didn't recognize the person staring back at her.

Anna's skin and the whites of her eyes were slightly yellowed with jaundice, taking on a sickly pallor. There were also bags beneath her eye sockets and they were somewhat sallow and sunken, darkening her features. The changes were subtle for now, but they would become more and more apparent as time went on.

All told, she was glad she actually woke up before Elsa for once.

Anna tore her gaze away from her reflection and looked off to the side, finding her medicine inhaler. Then came a gentle knocking at the door.

"Anna, honey?" Elsa called out. "Are you almost finished?"

"Just a few more minutes!" Anna replied, still looking at the inhaler.

"Okay. Hurry up! Five more minutes, then I'm coming in whether you're finished or not," Elsa said, followed by her retreating footsteps.

"Okey-doke!" Anna said. "Get your shit together now, Anna, come on," she whispered to herself as she grabbed her inhaler and took a puff. "Shake it off. You're not dead yet."

Instantly, her pain vanished, her symptoms subsided, and she appeared healthy again, at least on the outside. Still, other symptoms would begin to appear over time, ones that weren't as easily concealed. By then, Elsa would certainly discover that something was wrong, but Anna was determined to cross that bridge when she came to it. That was if she came to it at all.

For that reason, she was determined to cram in as much quality time with Elsa as possible. Thankfully, cancer wasn't contagious. So, she hid her medicine inhaler, quickly brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth, jumped in the shower, and deliberately delayed the length of it until Elsa came in exactly five minutes later.

"Time's up," Elsa came in holding a spare towel. "You aren't finished, are you?"

"You know, it's the darndest thing," Anna said. "There's this spot on my back I can't reach. Mind helping me out?"

"Hmm. Something tells me you don't actually need help and you just wanted me to come in here."

"I don't know what you're talking about. This is a perfectly innocent request, with no ulterior motive at all, and I just need some help from my girlfriend who loves me very much."

Elsa stepped into the shower behind Anna, grinning. "Fine, but let's make it quick."

Anna said nothing more as she grabbed Elsa by the waist for a hard kiss, letting her hands roamed where they pleased. Elsa didn't appear to mind.

It was not a quick shower.

… … …

After toweling off and changing into clean sets of clothing, Anna and Elsa went over to the kitchen and were currently having breakfast. As per usual, they had the news playing in the background, providing the latest updates on the situation at Janus Station.

Thankfully, nothing had happened yet so far, but tensions were the highest they had ever been since the time before the collapse. An American armada of warships was now gathered outside of the Iron Curtain, still in interplanetary space without pressing upon Arcadia's sovereign borders. Similarly, Russian and Chinese forces were gathering en masse around Janus Station and at other parts of the orbital defense grid. Both groups were equally poised to strike.

On top of all that, weather reports were indicating that a massive dust storm was building up to the north of Arcadia, far across the Hellas Basin. It was still a few hours away from arrival, but when it did come, the sky would be practically blotted out by the tremendous amount of dust being picked up and moved around.

Elsa was paying close attention to the news, sipping her coffee, while Anna was doing the same but staring only at her. As of late, her thoughts had been completely dominated by Elsa, more so than was usual. Day in and day out, the quiet burden of her mortality grew only heavier in her mind. Even so, Anna still wore a fond smile as she looked upon the love of her life.

"Say, I'm craving something ridiculously sweet," Anna started.

Elsa glanced over. "Anna, we just had-"

"No, not that, you horny maniac. Did we ever top up the emergency chocolate reserves?"

"You're the horny maniac. And yes, I did."

"What?" Anna straightened up. "When?"

"A few days ago," Elsa shifted her focus back to the news.

"And you never told me?"

"I never told you because you would just eat it all."

"That is not- well, okay. Maybe it's a little true."

"Mmhmm. Pantry. Usual spot."

Anna got up from her chair and bounced over to the pantry where they kept their emergency chocolate reserve. She reached in, popped open the back panel, then laid eyes on four chocolate bars that to her, may as well have been bars of gold.

"Oh, Elsa," Anna said, smiling. "You're too good to me," she retrieved two, then closed everything back up.

She returned to the kitchen counter and sat down, sliding one chocolate bar over to Elsa who caught it without looking. Then, they both sat there in comfortable silence, eating their chocolate and watching the news.

The smile remained on Anna's face when she unwrapped the chocolate bar. It remained on her face when she took a bite and savored the decadent, velvety sweetness of the rare treat. However, her cheer dimmed and gloom found its way in whenever she thought about the good things in her life.

Because she knew she wouldn't be around for much longer to enjoy them. That, in addition to the fact that nobody might be able to enjoy for them for much longer, what with the way the world was going.

The smile on her face faded and all that was left was the crushing reality and the despair she desperately tried to ward off with each day that passed. Then again, at a certain point, all of this felt normal for Anna. After all, she was already well acquainted with pain.

Pain was an old friend.

It was only due to how she felt now that she realized that she had actually been truly happy for the past two years.

I was happy and I didn't even know it, Anna thought. I didn't even know because I was so terrified of losing Elsa again, I couldn't look past that. Couldn't look past my own bullshit either, because I had to go and keep picking fights when I didn't have to. Why did I do all of that?

She stared at the empty wrapper of the chocolate bar, surprising herself that she had already finished it.

Nora's at peace. Elsa's with me. I had everything and it still wasn't enough. Now, I gotta give it all back if I want it to mean anything. I need it to mean something. Otherwise, what was the point of it all? I'm dying and I can't change that, even though it is a really crappy, lazy way to write off a character. I need to make a difference, even if it's tiny, even if it's almost nothing. At least then, I could say that I was here. That I was real. That I mattered.

Anna's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a notification alert on an omni-pad. She glanced over and saw that Elsa was already looking at hers.

"Anna," Elsa said.

"Elsa, what's up?" Anna asked.

"They're here."

… … …

"Oh boy, oh man," Anna muttered to herself as she paced back and forth. "Oh man, oh boy."

"Keep that up and you'll burn a line into the floor," Elsa said, glancing over from all their equipment spread out before her.

K and the others had safely made it past the Iron Curtain and were now in Arcadia, making their way to the safehouse. Neither she nor Elsa had seen them in two years, but now they were all going to see each other again. It had only taken the looming threat of a second collapse to make it happen.

"It's been two years, Elsa," Anna paused. "Two years. So much has happened. I have so much to tell K, I mean, we all have so much to tell each other in general. I mean, he didn't even know you were Caelestis. Neither did the others! Neither did I for a little while at least, but I do now, but that's not the point."

"I'm just as excited as you are," Elsa said.

"And now they're here, we're all here, it's gonna be one big reunion and we won't even be able to enjoy it for long, because all the shit is starting to do down, like, now. And what are we supposed to even do if manage to pull this off? This would be like the craziest, most ill-advised, recklessly dangerous thing ever done in the history of like... ever!"

Elsa looked at a notification that appeared on her omni-pad. "Anna, they're-"

"They're roped into this too, I get that, but are we asking too much of them?" Anna resumed pacing. "They came all this way, they've been in space for a whole month, they haven't even gotten to properly stretch out their legs yet, and here we are, tossing ourselves straight into the meatgrinder. Seriously. This is just-"

"Anna, if you would just stop rambling for a-"

"Insane. It's completely insane, and we're completely insane, and I'm completely on board with everything and I guess that makes me insane too. But like insane in a good way but also maybe in a not-so-good way? I don't even know, I'm having so many feelings these days, I can't even-"

Elsa shook her head and said nothing more as she opened the garage door.

A truck was idling on the other side. Sitting inside were K, Flynn, Rapunzel, Mouse, Augur, and Takahashi.

Mouse leaned out the window and whistled, banging against the side of the truck with her fist. "Waddup, bitches?" she waved. "Your favorite spicy mama jama is back in town."

Anna stopped in her tracks and glanced over, breaking out into a wide smile. "You made it, oh my god!" she bounced up and down, waving back. "You made it, they made it!" she looked at Elsa and pointed excitedly. "Elsa, look, they made it!"

Elsa rolled her eyes. "That's what I've been trying to-"

"What the fuck are you guys waiting for?" Anna stepped aside and gestured for them to head in. "Get in here!"

After they pulled their truck inside, they all got out and were greeted enthusiastically by Anna and Elsa. Anna found K first, who looked over and smiled as they came in for a hug.

"K!" Anna stood up on her tiptoes so she could wrap her arms around him. "Oh, I can't believe I'm really saying this, but I'm so happy to see you again."

K returned the gesture and chuckled. "You too, feistypants," he set Anna down and leaned back so he could get a good look at her. "How the hell have you been?"

"Never better," Anna lied, but her smile was sincere. "How about you?"

"Still going strong," K replied, then he looked over as Elsa approached them. "There she is!"

"Hello, K," Elsa said, nodding politely. "It's good to see you again," she extended her hand.

K looked at her hand and scoffed. "What, hello with a handshake?" he pulled Elsa into a hug. "Bring it in for the real thing, come on."

While they were getting reacquainted with each other, Anna greeted the others in a similar fashion. Flynn was given a fist bump, who winced and wrung out his hand when Anna used her metal fist. Rapunzel and Mouse were given sweet hugs. Augur was also given a fist bump, and Anna winced and wrung out her metal hand when his strength surpassed hers. Finally, with Takahashi, Anna spotted a bag with several containers in it that he held in his hand and got excited, hoping it was what she thought it was.

"Tak!" Anna approached him eagerly. "Please tell me that is what I think that is."

"It is, Anna-san," Takahashi replied, holding up the bag. "Tonkotsu ramen, your favorite. I am afraid it is not fresh, however. I did not have time to cook and this is a frozen batch."

"Oh, Tak," Anna didn't know what to say, overwhelmed with joy as she was, so she instead gave him a quick hug. "You're an angel. You have no idea how hard it's been trying to find ramen as good as yours here. And with Elsa's cooking…"

"I heard that," Elsa replied from a little distance away as she spoke with the others.

When all the greetings were exchanged, they all proceeded further into the safehouse where they set up shop in a living space made for them by Anna and Elsa.

"Woah, are these your rides?" Flynn stopped to admire Anna's motorcycle and Elsa's car.

"Yup," Anna leaned on her motorcycle. "Daimyo Kijimuna."

Mouse leaned over the hood of Elsa's car to examine the air intake. "This is a Nøkken! Model 43?"

"That's right," Elsa replied, pleased that she got it correct.

"And what the fuck is that?" Mouse pointed over to a large vehicle covered in a tarp.

"Oh, that," Anna waved dismissively. "It's a hover-tank. The Drachen."

Mouse repeatedly glanced between Anna and the tank, stammering incoherently. As she was doing that, Elsa went over to it and pulled off the tarp, unveiling the latest addition to their fleet of vehicles. Everyone else aside from Anna and Elsa were stunned and impressed.

"Okay, I'll be the one to ask," K raised his hand. "What are you guys doing with a hover-tank?"

"Also, why?" Flynn added.

"And how?" Rapunzel chimed in. "Did you klep it from an ArmaRex factory?"

"Who gives a flying fuck? That's a fucking hover-tank! I've always wanted one of these!" Mouse started laughing as she eagerly went up to the tank, however her height prevented her from climbing up. "Uh, Augie bear, little help."

"I gotchu, girl," Augur went over and lifted her up, then climbed on himself so they could both inspect the tank's features up close.

"Eh," Anna shrugged.

"It's a long story," Elsa said. "But clearly, we have a lot of catching up to do. We can talk over food. You guys must be starving."

… … …

For the next little while, Anna and Elsa spent the time catching up with their friends. The ramen that Takahashi prepared was heated up and served. In that time, K and the others informed Anna and Elsa about everything they had seen of the developing situation at Janus Station on the way into Arcadia. Afterward, OLAF made his introductions to the others, and they were all bought up to speed by everything that happened with the Verenkovs.

When the conversation inevitably turned to the fate of Lizzie as well as everyone else they had lost along the way, the mood turned more somber and quiet. In each of their own ways, they had been processing the tumultuous events of the past month, but it wasn't until now they could air all their grievances together.

Currently, they were all gathered around a table.

"So, I... I put her to sleep," Elsa finished up her recount of the events at the House of Gold Leaves. "I thought it was the right thing to do. I hope it was."

"It was," Anna reached over and squeezed Elsa's hand.

"Yeah, believe it or not, you did do the right thing," K sighed. "She told me she'd rather die than live as a puppet. I just hope she's at peace."

"I'm so sorry, Elsa," Rapunzel said. "What you went through was awful. I'm sorry we couldn't do more."

"From the way you told things, there wasn't much more any of you could do," Anna said, looking at Rapunzel. "And the people responsible? We made sure they paid. The Verenkovs are finished."

"A-fucking-men," Mouse agreed.

Flynn sighed and leaned back in his chair. "So, what do we do now?"

Anna and Elsa shared a look. Now that they were all together, the only thing left to do was execute the last part of their plan. It just happened to be the hardest part, even under normal circumstances. Now with everything going on, the situation was significantly more complicated.

The clock was still ticking. The time was still two minutes to midnight.

Still, it was time enough to do one last good thing.

"Well," Elsa started. "We have everything we need and we're all here. All that's left is getting up to Janus Station, plugging in the signal transceiver, and boosting it across the universal net. All synthetics receiving it can beam up and get their freedom. Of course, things aren't as simple as that."

Everyone was silent as they listened to Elsa.

"I know I'm asking for a lot," Elsa stood up. "And I know I'm asking for even more. You've all been through so much already, and things will only get even harder before all this is over. But if we play this thing out right, we can save a lot of people. Enough to make all of this, everything we've been through and everyone we lost, worth it."

Anna straightened up, feeling purpose and determination swell within herself as she focused only on Elsa.

"This is going to sound crazy. Even Anna thinks I'm crazy," Elsa continued. "But as you've probably heard, the Roanoke was carrying something incredibly valuable. Something called the confluence. If we can get our hands on it, we'll have a permanent solution to freeing synthetics."

"What's this thing supposed to be?" Augur asked.

"It's a powerful reality engine," Elsa said. "Capable of simulating millions of different realities. It's essentially a hard drive that contains conscious minds which allows them to live within these different worlds, I suppose. It was built to ensure the survival of the human race if a second collapse ever happened, and with the return of the Roanoke, I think we can still use it for that purpose."

"How do you know all this?" K asked. "How do you know the confluence is even on Janus Station?"

Elsa looked over towards her workstation. "OLAF? Show them."

"Yes, ma'am," OLAF floated over the table and brought up several holo-displays.

On them were images taken from CCTV security footage that showed where the Roanoke was currently quarantined on Janus Station, as well as others that showed a large, black, metallic object in the shape of a dodecahedron being carted away. It was the confluence, but the reality engine wasn't just a static hard drive. It was a satellite module that was completely covered in solar panels and capable of being launched into space.

"I've been monitoring the situation. These images were taken only a few hours ago," OLAF said. "It appears that the Soviets were able to gain entry into the Roanoke where they recovered the confluence along with the flight recorder. What they plan to do with it remains unclear, but I am certain that the confluence remains on the station for the time being."

Flynn rubbed his jaw. "Well, that's very interesting and all, but what does this have to do with the original plan?" he asked. "I thought we were just getting andys into the net?"

"Because," Elsa pointed towards a map of Janus Station, highlighting a specific sector. "The confluence is being held at the very same satellite launch facility where we need to plug in our signal transceiver."

"And," Anna raised a finger. "We figure we may as well try and kill two birds with one stone while we're there. Except birds don't really exist anymore so that phrase doesn't make sense, but you get my meaning."

Elsa nodded. "If we sync the confluence with the universal net and fire up the signal, everyone can get in," she said. "Androids and humans alike. Then, we launch the satellite into space and they're free forever."

"Forever?" K repeated, straightening up. "So, it's like diving into the dark net. Nobody comes back from this."

Anna shrugged. "Sure, but it's nicer than living through a second collapse," she said. "Way I see it, we're damned if we do this, damned if we don't."

Elsa threw a sideways glance at Anna, peering at her shrewdly.

Rapunzel frowned. "Okay, but there's just a tiny problem," she said. "The Soviets have the confluence and the Americans definitely want it back. We saw their fleet on the way here. They aren't just here to flex their muscle. They're here for war and it's going to be a bloodbath. I'm surprised the shooting hasn't started yet."

"Yeah, I still want to talk about that," Mouse said. "Because if the shit hits the fan and shit is going to most definitely hit the fan, do we really want to be doing this? Do we really want to step into this shitstorm? I have to be honest, I kinda like living."

"I'm with her on this one," Augur nodded in agreement. "Maybe we've bitten off more than we can chew, and for us, that's saying something.

That question gave Anna a small moment to consider her own declining health. However, when she looked at Elsa and saw the certainty and clarity on her face, that doubt vanished.

"I understand," Elsa said. "Whatever happens next is going to happen, and nothing we can do will prevent that. All we can do is make a choice. Doing the right thing is never easy. Anything worth doing never is. To me, this is worth it. I have to do this. I need to. You've all done so much just to get here and I can't expect you to follow me any further. There are fallout shelters all over Arcadia. If any of you want to stay here, you'll be safe."

Everyone was silent for a little while as they considered the options of their situation. With the way that events were unfolding, it seemed that they were speeding towards an explosive climax that would most certainly end with nuclear annihilation. The only thing left to decide was if they would try to run and hide, or stand and fight. Of course, neither option was particularly enticing, but at least the former held a higher chance of survival than the latter which was a suicide mission.

It was no easy choice, but for Anna, she had already made up her mind. She literally did not have a choice. In six months, she would wither and die. It made no difference either way. She preferred the option where she could at least die for something greater than herself. She didn't even know the people she was fighting for. On that matter, neither did Elsa, at least not personally. Still, Elsa had more reason than most to firmly support the cause of the android freedom movement.

"Well, I'm with you," Anna stood up, joining Elsa. "Guys, I get it. It's hard to give a shit about anything when the whole universe is screaming at us that nothing matters because we're all dying anyway. Whether that's today, tomorrow, in six months, or whatever, that's the truth. That's life. None of us are getting out of this thing alive, so what's the point?"

Elsa gazed at Anna with a soft expression as she listened intently. Everyone else was paying their full attention to Anna as she spoke.

"This is getting a little depressing," Flynn said quietly to Rapunzel.

"It is depressing," Anna agreed. "Because there is no point. That's the point. The universe doesn't care about us. There's no meaning, there's no higher calling, there's no greater purpose. There's just... death. We're born, we live, and then we die. Full stop. That's it. No sequels, no nothing."

"Okay, getting really depressing now," Flynn muttered.

"So, if nothing matters and there is no meaning, then it's up to us to change that," Anna continued. "Just look at us! You know what I see? A bunch of losers."

"Oh, we're being insulted too. Wonderful," Flynn sighed.

"I mean losers because we've all lost something," Anna said. "We've all lost people we cared about. Friends, family. We've lost pieces of ourselves. Our homes. Even just a normal life, we couldn't have. But now, we got a chance to do something about it."

"Uh, yeah, no," Mouse raised a finger. "I had the most normal life out of all you payasos, but please keep going," she leaned forward and grinned at Anna. "I am loving this energy from you."

Elsa was moved the most by Anna's words since for her, they rang true on all fronts. She nodded along as her eyes turned wide and glassy.

"To do what?" Rapunzel asked.

"To make it all count," Anna replied. "To make this all worth it. To give a shit. I've never been a joiner for anything. There were always too many hills to die on, it's like, how do you pick the right one? But now? Things are different and everything is changing, so this is the hill I'm choosing. What about you guys?"

K stood up next, nodding as he crossed his arms. "I've never been one to do nothing when there's something I can be doing to help," he said. "I'm in."

Anna looked at K, flashing him a grateful and hopeful smile as she felt her own resolve solidify even further.

Rapunzel stood up as well, dragging Flynn to his feet. "We're in," she said. "I can't think of anything better to fight for, and Flynn will do whatever I tell him to. So, yeah. We're both in."

"Sure, yeah, why the hell not?" Flynn shrugged. "If we can pull this off, it would be the greatest heist of all time. We'd be legends! Think of our reputations! People will be lining up with gigs for us."

Augur stood up too, nodding firmly. "I've got your backs."

"You speak truly, Anna-san," Takahashi joined him. "A famous samurai once said, a warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm. Together, we will brave this storm. The fates will choose whether we live or die. All we can do is fight."

"Ugh, this is such a stupid cliché, but whatever," Mouse grumbled as she was the last to stand up. "Happy now? We're all just a bunch of dickheads standing in a circle. What's next, are we all gonna play grab-ass and start jerkin' each other off?"

"For what it's worth, I don't have legs, but if I did, I would be standing as well," OLAF said.

"Great," K rubbed his hands together. "Now that we're all standing, Elsa, why don't you walk us through your plan?"

"I'm glad you asked," Elsa snapped her fingers and summoned a new holo-display.

On it were the schematics to Janus Station she had acquired some time ago which detailed the structural layout of the entire floating city. Highlighted was a portion of the station which held the satellite launch facility; a secure and heavily guarded sector that was built next to the military complex where the Roanoke was currently quarantined.

"Okay, alright, I'm sitting back down," Mouse sat down and resumed eating. "Standing is goddamned exhausting."

Everyone else took that as their cue to sit, save for Anna and Elsa.

"This is where we need to go," Elsa pointed to the highlighted sector. "The satellite launch facility is accessible only by this bridge. Here," she pointed towards a single bridge that connected that sector with the rest of Janus Station. "The facility is heavily guarded on all sides with anti-spacecraft gun batteries, missile launchers, the works. Getting in is the easy part."

"That's the easy part?" K asked, flabbergasted.

"Once we've cleared the bridge and entered the facility, we'll need to split up into teams," Elsa zoomed in on a specific location. "This is the broadcast tower where we need to take the signal transceiver. And over here," she moved the map over to a new location. "Is the launch bay for the satellites, located by the main hangar and the flight deck. And finally," she moved to the last location. "This is the research lab where the confluence is being kept."

Augur whistled and rubbed his jaw. "That's a lotta ground to cover."

"Yeah, how are we gonna pull this off?" Rapunzel asked. "Soon as we walk in there, it's World War Four."

"That's the thing," Anna stepped forward. "The commies are expecting trouble from the Americans. All eyes are on the Iron Curtain right now, so nobody will be expecting a ragtag bunch of rebels to show up on a suicide mission."

Elsa nodded. "We're a small group, but we can move fast and we can hit hard. We do this quick and we can get out before either side realizes what's happened," she looked over her shoulder at the hover-tank. "I'm just now realizing it's probably a good thing we held onto the Drachen."

"You wanted to get rid of that thing?" Mouse straightened up, looking deeply confused. "Why the fuck would you wanna do that? That's a fuckin' hover-tank! Shit's badass as fuck!"

"I know!" Anna's face lit up. "That's what I said to her," she looked at Elsa. "But no, you wanted to-"

Elsa cleared her throat and made a face at Anna.

"Right, not important," Anna shook her head. "Sorry. Please continue."

"There are eight of us," Elsa said as she turned her attention back to the others. "So we have to divvy up the roles."

Flynn stood up and covered his mouth, examining the map of Janus Station. "You said this bridge is the only way in or out of the facility?" he asked. "What about the flight deck you mentioned?"

The flight deck in question was located along the way to the launch bay. Essentially, it was a large, external platform where ships were docked in the vacuum of space, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

"It is, but it's slated only for military usage," OLAF replied. "Your ship would never be cleared for approach."

"Hmm," Flynn nodded. "I think I got our exit strategy then."

"What are you thinking?" Rapunzel leaned forward.

"Baby, you and I have the most important job," Flynn turned around. "We're the getaway team. Once the confluence is launched, get your butts to the flight deck and we'll swing in and pick you guys up. By that point, all the shooting will have started, so we'll have to move fast."

"That's our way out, sure, but what about our way in?" Augur asked. "I doubt customs would just let us roll up, armed to the teeth with a hover-tank. We ain't getting into that facility in a legit way."

"Well," Flynn looked at the hover-tank. "I might have an idea for that."

"Let's hear it," Anna crossed her arms.

Flynn walked up to the tank and started examining the thrusters. "Little thing about physics and Newton's first law," he started. "An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. Space is a vacuum, so a moving object would stay in motion forever until something stops it."

"Okay, but what's that got to do with the- oh," Rapunzel stopped herself. "You wanna tow the tank and catapult it into the station."

"Not the station, just the bridge. That's the weak point," Flynn pointed towards it. "We fly up, tether the tank to the ship. Then, once we get close enough to the bridge, we open the cargo hold doors, untether the tank, and it flies right in. Should pick up enough Gs to smash through one of the windows. But, uh, it'll be a bumpy ride."

"I don't understand, wouldn't it just get sucked right back out?" K asked. "Also, that tank couldn't fit all of us."

"The station is equipped with emergency shutters over the windows that slam into place in the event of an uncontrolled decompression," OLAF said. "It certainly isn't ideal, but it is a viable option."

"And to answer your other question, we happen to have enough EVA suits with exo-rigs for everyone," Flynn said. "Which means... well, it means you'd have to be holding on for dear life as you fly in."

Exo-rigs were an additional feature found on EVA suits designed for usage in space. They allowed the wearer to maneuver around in zero-gravity conditions via thrusters located on the boots, gloves, and back.

"You just happen to have enough suits for all of us?" Anna asked.

"Yeah," Flynn shrugged. "What of it? You didn't think we'd introduce a logistical concern this far into the final act, did you?"

Anna shook her head. "God, that's lazy writing."

"You'd still be walking in their front door then," Rapunzel said. "Oh, but I guess you do have a tank for that."

"And we could use the tank to breach the Tannhäuser Gate," Elsa pointed towards the main gates that permitted entry into the facility. "From there, it's a ground game."

"And while you guys are down there, doing your thing, Punzie and I will be making sure your ride out doesn't get shot up to ribbons," Flynn said. "I got a feeling they won't take too kindly to our arrival and things might get heated, so we'll fly interference. Try and shake them off before coming back to get you guys."

"Okay, but for us dudes on the inside, how do we split up?" Augur asked.

"There are three locations we need to hit, and six of us," Elsa said. "We split into teams of two. Anna and I will secure the confluence, so we'll head for the research labs."

Mouse started bouncing up and down in excitement, raising her hand. "Ooh! Ooh! I want to pilot the tank! Me!"

Anna was just about to suggest that, so she groaned in frustration. "Aw, nuts, I wanted to pilot it."

"Too late, pendejo, I called dibs," Mouse laughed. "Get in line, bitch."

"Fuck your dibs, we're the ones who busted our asses just to get that thing in the first place!" Anna replied.

"Alright, damn it. Fine, fine," Mouse raised her hands submissively "How 'bout we switch off? You get it for the first half to get through the gate, then I take over."

"Hmph," Anna snorted. "Deal. It's me and Elsa with the tank to get in, while you guys can hang onto the back."

"Awesome," Mouse pumped her fist. "Augie bear, why don't you come with me? We can handle the launch bay and I could use your muscle."

"Right on," Augur laughed and extended his fist towards Mouse. "Let's get it done, girl. You and me all the way."

"Hell yeah!" Mouse fist-bumped Augur.

"And that leaves me and Tak to get the transceiver to the broadcast tower," K nodded. "What do you say, Tak?"

"I would be honored, K-san, to accompany you in this mission," Takahashi said.

"Alright then, it's settled," Anna clapped her hands together. "We know our jobs and we know what we're doing. Only question left is when to head up there?"

OLAF brought up an overhead view of Arcadia in its entirety, showing a massive dust storm that was encroaching on the colony from the north. "The storm is due to arrive in approximately eight hours," he said. "All flights have been grounded in advance, but I suggest departing Arcadia when it does arrive. The cover of the storm will provide ample concealment."

Dust storms were a regular occurrence on the red planet. When they struck, often, they could last for weeks at a time with such a tremendous amount of dust being stirred up that it would cover large parts of the three biodomes. However, given the thinness of the Martian atmosphere and the low density of air particles, wind speeds never reached hurricane force levels like they could on Earth. This meant that while severe, dust storms posed little danger of violently uprooting structural foundations or blowing things about. The largest threat they posed was in completely clouding over the planet's surface, reducing visibility to zero.

During those times, power would be drawn from alternative means other than solar, and the colony would be locked down with no entry or exit permitted. Warnings were always provided well in advance via alarms, sirens, and public announcements.

"Eight hours," Elsa repeated.

"Eight hours," Anna confirmed. "We can do this thing. We can."

Elsa looked at Anna and smiled hopefully. "Thank you," she looked at the others. "All of you. We could not be doing this without you."

"Hey, that's what we're here for," Flynn said. "Wouldn't wanna be anywhere else in the galaxy than here, getting ready for a suicide mission, changing the course of history. If this really is going to be a one-way trip, let's go all out in a blaze of glory."

"Dios, this is morbid as all hell," Mouse muttered, shaking her head.

… … …

For the next several hours, the time was spent in the safehouse ironing out the rest of the final details of their crazy plan. After that, everyone went off to get what rest they could before the suicide mission or they were conversing quietly among themselves. Elsa was with OLAF, poring over the schematics of Janus Station and ensuring that the transceiver was working properly. Meanwhile, Anna and K were sitting on top of the tank, taking some much-needed time to finally catch up with one another.

Namely, that included debriefing each other about the parts of their lives they had kept hidden.

"Wow, okay, so let me get this straight," K said. "You went from being a full-time private eye to moonlighting as a mercenary while working as a news intern for ACN?

Anna shrugged and nodded. "Yeah, I figured it wasn't much of a career jump from detective to mercenary," she said. "I mean, they both take on contracts, they both do dirty work, they both involve some element of danger. The whole gig with ACN was just a cover, and I'm glad I quit," she looked over her shoulder and settled her gaze on Elsa. "I needed to focus on more important things."

"I hear that," K sighed. "Now I feel kinda lame."

"No, you're not lame. What you've been doing with the freedom movement is more important than anything I've ever done. Believe me, I got tied up in the merc business for all the wrong reasons."

"A good deed is its own reward."

"Yeah, you must be rolling in good karma. I'm still a little short."

"Maybe," K chuckled. "Maybe not. We just do the best we can with the time we have, right? That's as much as anyone can do these days. One foot in front of the other. And try. Try to do the good thing," he sighed. "I don't know how this is all going to play out. Could be someone out there keeping a scorebook of everything we've ever done. Keeping their accounts and all. Who knows? I don't think any of that matters. What matters is what we do here and now."

Anna considered that for a moment, and debated on whether or not she should tell K about her hidden illness. Then again, she still didn't even have the heart to tell Elsa, so telling her best friend that she was dying in six months was also unfathomable. Additionally, Anna knew K would only blame himself for the cancer that had come from her drinking habit. After all, K's Memory Palace was Anna's most frequent watering hole where she had been able to drink free of charge on most days.

She didn't want him to feel that because she fully accepted that her state of health was a product of her own making. For most of her life, she had been trying to drink herself to death. The last thing she needed was another person feeling guilty on her account.

Way this is going, maybe I won't even have to tell anyone, Anna thought. Won't make a difference if we all die and the world ends anyway. Oh, cancer, you conniving bitch.

Instead of thinking about all the doom and gloom, what Anna really wanted to do in these final hours was to spend time with the people she loved. So, she stuffed down all of those dark thoughts and locked them away. For at least a little while longer, she could pretend that there was a happy ending to everything.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" K asked. "All of this. How did we get here?"

"Beats me," Anna leaning over to examine the tank's main gun. "I try not to think about that existential kind of crap."

"Two years ago, I was a tech-doc with my own practice in New York. I had the Memory Palace. Life was a lot more simple."

"Mmhmm. Then I went and screwed it all up for you."

"No, no," K shook his head. "You screwed it up way before all that," he laughed.

Anna laughed as well and they both enjoyed the moment together. Moments like that were always easy for them, given everything their friendship had managed to survive. Aside from Elsa, the only other person that Anna could trust her life with was K. The crew of the Maximus crew came close, but they weren't on the same level of familiarity and closeness as Elsa and K were.

Although, things weren't always like that. When Anna first met K in that orphanage all those years ago, their friendship had been initially rocky to start. It was unsurprising, given that at that time of her life, Anna had lost just about everything and she held a vehement distrust of anybody who wasn't Nora. It took a long time for her to come out of her shell. In a few ways, she was still trying to open up to the world she had tried to shut out.

Progress was slow but it was going, and it was enough.

"Hey," Anna looked at K. "Can I- I need to tell you something."

K nodded. "What's up?"

It's easy, Anna, just tell him, Anna said to herself. If you won't tell Elsa and you won't tell him, who will you tell?

"Anna, hello?" K waved. "Your cyberware freeze or something?"

Just say you have a case of terminal cancer and that you're dying. Just say it. That easy. Get it over with. Come on. Do it.

K snapped his fingers in front of Anna's face, bringing her back to reality.

"Sorry, I was just... thinking," Anna said. "I wanted to- it's just... just-"

"Just what? What's eating you?"

"I never said thank you. All those years ago. When we first met, when you helped me. I never thanked you."

"Oh, that," K scrunched up his face and made a dismissive gesture. "That was ages ago. I don't care about that."

"Well, I do," Anna said. "Look, when we met, I was in a bad way. You... I mean, until I found Elsa, you were basically the only thing that kept me from eating a bullet. So, thank you. That's what I wanted to say. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

K's expression turned more solemn. "And you'll never have to thank me for that," he said, placing a hand on Anna's shoulder as his expression lightened up. "But you really were a pain in the ass for a long time."

Anna laughed and punched him on the shoulder with her metal fist.

"Ow, okay," K winced. "That hurt."

"Shut up," Anna smiled. "You're a doctor. Deal with it."

"We've come a long way though, haven't we?"

"We have. I've been a fighter my whole life. First, I was fighting for Nora, then I was fighting just to survive, then I was fighting for Elsa. We came here and things stopped making so much sense to me. For once, for a little while, there wasn't anything I had to worry about. For once, I could just be normal. I didn't need to fight, but I did anyway. Sometimes, I think fighting is the only thing that's keeping me together."

K frowned. "Anna, you're not that kind of person," he said. "You've always been hard on yourself and you've never given yourself enough credit for the goods things you have done."

"No, I know," Anna said. "I'm past that now, at least I think I am. Now, I see things differently, and it feels... good. Like I'm where I belong. Do you... do you ever think it's too late for someone to change?"

"Never," K said. "It's never too late to try and be better. That's what makes us human and the andys human. We're always trying to better ourselves. If we were already perfect, then what's the point? Why do you think I became a tech-doc? I wanted to help people become better. That's all I've ever wanted to do."

"You're a good guy, K. One of the best."

"Hmph. About time I finally got some recognition."

A comfortable silence settled over the pair, during which they focused on the others. Elsa was chatting with Flynn and Rapunzel, smiling and laughing along with them. Mouse and Augur were playing a game of foil football, the former of whom was swearing profusely in Spanish. OLAF and Takahashi, being the only synthetics in the safehouse, were having a riveting discussion on the culinary history of humanity.

All told, despite the grim circumstances they found themselves in, there was still hope among them for a brighter future and a better tomorrow. Possibility was in their hands and they had an opportunity to make some change. A single chance. And it was enough.

"Hey," Anna perked up and smiled as she looked at K. "You wanna hear a joke?"

"Hit me with it," K replied.

"Okay, okay," Anna started giggling in anticipation. "What does a robot do after sex?"

"Oh," K's expression fell flat. "He nuts and bolts. I know."

"He nuts and- wait, how did you know the punchline already?"

"I heard it from Augur. It's funny."

Anna sighed and shook her head. "Unbelievable," she grumbled. "I really thought I'd get you with that one."