December 15th, 2027

11:39pm

GYAXA - Cosmos Space Center - Terran Residence

It had taken all of his restraint to keep from crying as he left the Wright Anything Agency. How he made it all the way to Clay's apartment at GYAXA before breaking down was beyond him.

He felt so much. Those were the only words he could describe.

To lose Clay so suddenly, so violently, on what should have been the day his dream was realized was already too much. To become more and more suspicious of Athena wielding the knife which took him pushed Apollo completely over the edge.

He was angry at himself. He'd found Athena suspicious from the moment he first laid eyes on her, felt something wasn't quite kosher with the young lady. But he shoved it all aside, said she was fine. He denied himself and trusted her, grew close to her, fell in love with her... planned a future with her.

It was foolish, especially for someone with his past. Why would she stay when all others had left?

Maybe it was because she was broken, more so than he. She had some sort of back problem, had problematic lungs and was prone to violent nightmares. Why would she leave when they were better off together than apart?

It couldn't have been her. He knew her. She was a bit rough-and-tumble sure, but she'd never kill someone, right? Especially his best friend?

She'd been so excited to meet Clay, to know the people who mattered most in his life. It had given him hope, hope she wouldn't leave. Truth be told, he hadn't originally wanted to have her and Clay meet so soon because, well, meeting Clay was his equivalent of meeting one's parents. Yet, every time he mentioned talking about her with him, her eyes lit up and she hopped in the conversation with so much vigor. Eventually, he agreed, and Clay looked forward to meeting her too. Clay was glad for him, that he'd found someone to trust in, to maybe have a family with.

Maybe she was just as afraid of being left behind as he was, maybe she wanted to meet Clay because she understood the significance and wanted the security of such a serious relationship. Her uncle was in prison; her mom had apparently died long ago; and whatever Aura was, she didn't seem to want anything to do with her. She seemed just as alone as he. Maybe Clay was to her what his guardian status was to him: something that tied them to each other, but wasn't quite as socially heavy as a ring. Maybe they were both afraid of being betrayed once again.

He hugged Clay's jacket close. He wanted his input. Clay wouldn't have steered him wrong, Clay would have helped.

Kristoph had said to choose his ulterior motive. He found himself suffocated by the decision. Clay deserved for him to chase the truth of the tragedy with no hesitation. He'd been the only person ever who hadn't betrayed him, and his best friend for life deserved the truth of his last moments as Apollo began to live on without him.

Athena was a kindred soul. Though she hadn't been betrayed, she definitely was alone. And in the loss of Clay, he wanted to fight to keep her. Perhaps more than her specifically, he wanted to prove he wouldn't betray as he'd been so many times.

He hadn't done such a great job proving he wouldn't betray though. Those biting words from his own lips, perhaps they could have worked it out together had he not lost his temper. He knew how painful her mind was, how much it hurt on a daily basis. He knew the warmth her body gave as he held her, burning tears rolling down her youthful face when she tried so hard to hide them away. He remembered the first time she let herself cry in front of him, the shock of the tears when he'd never seen them before, the overwhelming sense of everything as he realized she trusted him enough to allow herself to let the stronghold down for just a moment.

He felt so useless. He felt like he was the ultimate betrayer. He couldn't fight for either, he was so afraid they were against each other.

He had to reach a resolution sooner or later, Clay's trial began tomorrow, and Athena would be assisting him in finding the truth. If fighting for Clay and fighting for Athena were mutually exclusive, they weren't quite yet. Perhaps clarity would come with just a little more time.

December 16th, 2027

9:12am

District Court - Defendant Lobby Number Five

Time for another trial to begin... But this one is different.

"Umm, sorry to bother you but... are you alright, Apollo?"

Ack! Was I making a scary face just now?! "Oh, hi, Juniper! Yes, I'm fine! I was just doing my Chords of Steel exercises. Now I'm all ready to go!"

Juniper was important to Athena. She was like Athena's Clay. He felt the need to protect the future judge because of this. Whatever Athena had done in reference to this tragedy, Juniper knew nothing of. She had no prior knowledge of Athena's disappearance only two nights ago, no knowledge of a plot, should Athena've had one.

"Yes, knowing you, I'm sure you will be just fine! Oh!" She rustled through her bag. "I brought you a present from my garden!" She gently placed some sort of round, off-white, holey plant into his palm.

"Is this... a lotus root?"

"That's right. My grandma says lotus root is good for your eyes. She even says that if you look through the holes, it can help you see into the future!" She beamed brightly. "It's for good luck! Maybe later, you can cook it and-"

Too late, his stressed mind had already decided what to do with the item. "Thanks for this! I'm gonna have some right now!"

"Oh, my!"

He chomped down on the root. "Mmm, kinda tough, though."

Juniper giggled in response. "You can't eat it raw! But... thank you for the enthusiastic try."

Oops, if she didn't think I was weird before, she does now! I've gotta calm down!

"Apollo!" There's the familiar voice he was both missing and dreading. "I'm sorry I'm late!" Tear stains were under her eyes, and her left arm seemed uncomfortable. She probably tried to dose herself last night.

Juniper beamed at her appearance. "Hi, Thena!"

Athena's head lifted in thought. Strange, he expected her to jump all over in excitement. "Junie! I didn't know you were coming today." Then she flashed the smile he was expecting. "Did you come to cheer Apollo on? Oh, I get it. You sly little thing, you!" She burst into a cackling laughter that made the tear stains seem to vanish. She had many types of laughs, but this one always came off as strange to him. Maybe it was just because this laugh reminded him of Prosecutor Blackquill.

"Th-Thena, stop!"

"Quit kidding around, Athena." He hated how harsh that came out. "The trial's about to start any second. Is everything all set?"

"Oh, Apollo, Apollo..." She was off in thought again. "When will you ever figure it out?"

Did she want him to apologize? Yes, he wanted to apologize for what he said the day before, but not in front of Juniper. In a courthouse. Why was she acting so shifty? "Figure out what?" He thought he'd try.

The longest sigh he'd ever heard rippled through the lobby.

Prosecutor Blackquill was closing in on Starbuck. He seemed to move with an urgency, a vengeance like none Apollo had laid eyes on. Athena was helpful when she spoke up, but surprisingly quiet for most of the trial.

Clay's former mentor was becoming more complaisant by the minute, and Apollo needed to drag whatever truth he could out. However, with the bandaged eye, perceiving was near impossible. Thankfully, as that was its original purpose. He was relying on Athena to pinpoint anything strange but not blatantly obvious. They'd been all over every possible train of thought concerning how the astronauts escaped the exploding rocket, but each one carried contradictions. They followed the truth, even when it came to dismantling their client's testimony. Everyone involved in the chase was decidedly unstable, but the antics could not deter Apollo. It was his final sentiment to Clay, to discover who took him all too soon. As the chase continued, it became clear to him this was his mission. If he had to suspect, or even indict, Athena then so be it. Clay had been a much larger part of his life. Athena was not his wife, but Clay was his best friend. He'd be focusing entirely on him.

That was his ulterior motive.

However, that ulterior motive eluded him once more.

One of the bomb guards, the man who brought the case in, stormed the stand just as they'd grasped the truth about Clay and Starbuck's oxygen tanks. They were going to call Detective Arme, when her associate interrupted, shouting "I-I have an announcement, everyone! P-Please remain calm and listen carefully. Someone has reactivated the bomb! The bomb was defused, but, but, but... I-It's about to explode!"

The courtroom dissolved into chaos as patrons began to shove their way out, afraid for their lives. Athena tried to remove him from the courtroom while Prosecutor Blackquill calmed the panicked crowd, but he refused her concern for him in favor of Clay's unfulfilled dream. He adamantly refused his love's efforts to save him, but she exploded in frustration, grabbing his hand anyway to remove him by brute force.

"Apollo!"

Juniper! "Keep going! I'm right behind you!" He tore away and ran towards the voice, hoping Athena would keep heading towards the exit.

"Apollo! No!" He heard Athena scream out in burning fear as his vision was overcome by flames and heat consumed him; a horrendous sound ripping through the courthouse..