"Yuri! Yuri!" He called out across the open communications channel.

Where in Grus was this kid.

"Are you all right Yuri?! Come in!" He continued.

"Oh... Captain Schneizer..." Yuri said, still not recovering from what he had just learned.

He sighed in relief, glad that they hadn't been killed yet.

"Keep going as fast as you can, straight on through to the Large Magellanic Cloud! We're going to be sealing off this sector!" He informed Yuri, who suddenly found his mind on alert.

"Sealing it off...?"

He nodded, before turning back to yell at one of the operators, who was still shouting out reports and the like to him.

"That's right, so Lugovalos won't be able to get to the LMC! We're going to artificially create a starburst phenomenon! I want you to escape before that happens. Good luck to you!"

"Captain Schneizer! Wait!"

He cut the channel off, not having time to explain or sit around and talk to him.

Turning, he pressed a button on his console, speaking into it, as the message was relayed to the Krebs. "We can't hold out much longer. Begin the countdown!"

"Roger! 20... 19... 18..."

"Get me in touch with Captain Johnsson!" He ordered.

"I can't sir, he's dead." An operator called out from his left.

"Captain Schneizer, Captain!" Another called out, and he rounded on the man. "Zepelet fleet has confirmed their position is being overrun, we won't be able to hold out... I don't think Yuri can make it..."

"Send a transmission to Yuri. Tell him –"

"INCOMING ATTACK! BRACE!"

They braced, but the attack must have been a lucky shot. It didn't matter, he could hear the Krebs Officer finishing the countdown already.

"5...4... 3..." The man paused, before announcing. "EXALASER CANNON, FIIIIIRE!"

He watched as a streak of light tore through the battlefield, and so, in a surge of blinding white light, he could see Vasta churning, before it exploded, consuming all in its path.

He sighed, his job done.

Dropping into his seat, he groaned, eyes suddenly heavy as he closed them, rubbing his face.

And then, as the blast consumed him too, he had one last thought...

"Godspeed Yuri."

Somehow, she had managed to find her way back to her ship... her subconscious mind, and stubborn determination driving her on.

As the DAISY disconnected from the CAMALUS, She found herself activating the communications array, and as she felt her back slamming against the wall... she spoke.

"Yuri... did you get away safe? Yuri..."

"Nia! Are you all right?!" She heard his panicked voice ask.

"I'm... doin' all right..." She replied, not even sure what she was really saying.

"What's the matter?!" He asked after a pause. "Your voice... are you sure you're all right?!"

She laughed despite herself. "Heh... you worry too much kiddo... I'm just about to make my getaway..."

She was finding it hard to breath now.

"We'll come get you! Where are you?!" He asked.

Truthfully, she couldn't even answer him, the blood loss and delirium already setting in. "Ah, who knows? Not sure where this is..."

"Nia..."

This kid... there was always something with him. "Don't worry about me... I can take care of myself. You just make sure you get yourself to the LMC, you hear me?" She told him, eyes closed now. "You go there, and you become the kind of captain you always wanted to be..."

She began to cough, cutting off the speech she was going to give him.

"Nia! What's the matter?! Nia! Hang in there!" She heard him call out.

This was it... it wouldn't be long now.

"Well, I guess it's good-bye for now. I'm hanging' up kiddo."

She could hear him on the other end, voice going crazy by the second, and with every word she uttered.

"Wait... Nia! What am I going to do without you?! NIA..."

She had cut him off, ending the communication, and plunging her into silence.

"Heh... Heh... sounded like he was gonna cry. He's still just a kid, after all..."

She felt the ship rock, though wasn't sure who or what it was from... though in all honesty she didn't really care at this point.

How ironic. My family died during a supernova, and now, I will share their fate. She thought.

The last of my line.

Back aboard the FLAKRUNNER, Semias sat there, still in shock over what had transpired.

"Lady Nia..." He found himself saying.

He couldn't believe how much he regretted not going after her, instead of pushing the FLAKRUNNER on to safety...

Even though it was the right decision.

Suddenly, his mind wandered back to that time, when he had made that promise all those years ago...

He could still picture the place in his head, and the words they had exchanged, before parting one final time.

I'm so sorry old friend... I failed.

Elsewhere on the ship, Yuri had fled the Bridge, not able to stand being up there after watching, and listening to what had just happened.

"Why am I so powerless?! Why can't I do anything?!" He asked to no one, sobbing and heaving in the process, fist and face slamming against the bare wall of his quarters.

The tears fell down his cheeks, and he clenched his eyes shut. "So weak... So helpless... I need strength!"

He continued to cry, dropping down to the ground in despair as he sobbed for all those that he'd lost...

All those that he'd never see again.

I need to be better!

I need to steel my heart!

He heaved, head dropping down into his folded arms as his body shook.

THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! IT WON'T!

The darkened and abandoned hallway was empty, save for the lone figure that crept through the shadows...

The light from his helmet lit up the space in front, showing piles of rotting, dead bodies.

They look like they've been through a war... He thought to himself.

He stepped over the lot, not paying attention to anything but his target... his target that he couldn't see yet.

I know you're here, but where in Grus are you?

Making his way to the top floor of the building, he kicked aside a big body in his path, eyes locking onto a lone figure surrounded by many others.

His head cocked, and he found his eyes narrowing.

Could it be? Had he finally found what he had been searching for after hours of looking.

He stalked forward, eyes locked on his target... his mind hopeful.

He knelt on the ground, flipping the body onto its back, and a grin split his lips..

Ah! There you are, just where they said you'd be...

He smiled deepened, and he reached out a hand for something in his pocket...

Finally.