PROLOGUE

AWOKEN KETCH

THE REEF, ASTEROID BELT

Kira sat on her bed across from her lover in the dark room, gently holding her hands between them. The young Awoken pilot was everything to her, she cherished every moment that she was with her as she knew any moment could very well be the last for either of them. Fighting a war was far from easy, Kira and Sedra knew that better than anyone.

Sedra was young, just barely in her 20s, it was hard on her to be fighting in such a dangerous war, but she was good at what she did. Though whenever Sedra needed it, Kira was always there to protect her.

"It's alright," Kira reassured Sedra, reaching up and gently rubbing Sedra's cheek, "the war won't last forever. Soon enough we'll be able to retire and settle down wherever we want."

Though they were both young, the two planned to retire as soon as they could, so they could spend the rest of their lives together.

"Yeah… that sounds nice," Sedra smiled.

"I love you, always. We'll be together forever…"

Kira threw her eyes open as alarms blared all across the ship, snapping her out of her dream. She sighed as she sat up on her bed, angry that her dreaming of Sedra was pulled away from her, but at least now that she was awake she might be able to see her in person. She groaned and held her head as the door to her quarters slid open, revealing a Corsair leaning in the doorway.

"You know the drill. The Wolves are pushing further in, we're the closest to their latest incursion zone," the Corsair said, watching Kira reluctantly get out of her bed.

Kira sighed and stretched once she stood up, heading over to the locker at the side of her room where she kept her armour and weapons. She looked over at the Corsair as she opened the locker.

"Yeah yeah, just give me a moment. Is she still here?" Kira asked before the Corsair could leave. Kira and Sedra's love wasn't exactly a secret.

"Yeah, she's waiting for you outside the main hangar. If you hurry you can catch her before she leaves."

"Thank you," Kira nodded, letting the Corsair leave before slipping into her armour and slinging her rifle over her back. Once she was ready she wasted no time in heading to the main hangar.

Sedra waited outside the door to the main hangar, leaning on the frame and checking her watch now and then as she slowly lost her patience. She knew she had to leave soon, but she didn't plan on leaving without saying goodbye to Kira first.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Sedra heard footsteps rapidly approaching. She knew who it was and looked up, seeing Kira's beautiful face across the hall.

"Kira!" a smile spread across Sedra's lips and she ran up to her, meeting her on the way.

"Sedra!" Kira called back as the two wrapped their arms tightly around each other.

"I was just about to leave," Sedra said as they let each other go from the hug, "I can't stay for too long."
"I know, I know," Kira sighed, "just had some trouble waking up."

"I understand," Sedra looked up at Kira and gave her a reassuring smile, "just glad you could make it before we have to go."

Kira returned the smile when she saw her girlfriend smiling at her. Kira and Sedra spent as much time together as they could, as their differing jobs meant they were rarely able to see each other. The Awoken's war against the House of Wolves had lasted for too long, and the two Awoken planned to spend every moment of their lives together after the war was finally over.

"Come on Kira, we gotta go!" another Corsair shouted to Kira as a group of them passed.

"Coming!" Kira shouted back to them. Before following them, she stayed a moment longer with Sedra, "please… be safe out there."

"I will. I'll be back before you know it," Sedra put her hands on Kira's chest and leaned up, standing on her toes so she could reach her much taller girlfriend.

Kira leaned down towards Sedra, closing the distance between their faces and passionately kissing Sedra on her lips before the two had to part ways.

"Good, see you soon," Kira turned back to the Corsairs and chased after them, quickly turning around and waving to Sedra, "I love you!"

"I love you too!" Sedra called after her, waving back before she turned and ran off to her fighter.

Kira happily sighed to herself, fastening her helmet and joining the other Corsairs on the transport ship. She was always afraid something bad might happen, and she would lose Sedra, but her girlfriend always reassured her before each battle, and after each battle Sedra returned alive.

At the time Kira had no idea that she would never see Sedra again.