A house divided against itself cannot stand. –Abraham Lincoln.

Landing in the hangar, Mobius climbed out of his F-22 and immediately headed toward Meia, who was being carried away to the infirmary on a stretcher. Her shoulder was injured when the enemy attacked her; the padded flight suit she wore had prevented the damage from being worse, but the pain was still evident in her expression.

"Don't worry about me," Meia smiled painfully, trying to reassure him despite the discomfort. "I'll be fine."

"I know," Mobius replied calmly, his voice steady as he walked beside the stretcher, his eyes never leaving her. He remained close, a silent guardian as the women around her guided Meia to the infirmary.

From the cockpit of his fighter, Yellow 13 watched them leave. It had only been a week since he joined the Nirvana's crew, but seeing the despair on so many faces brought back painful memories. The sorrow that washed over him was a cruel reminder of the day he lost Yellow 4 during the destruction of Stonehenge. He clenched his fists, a silent vow forming in his mind.

"It won't happen again," he muttered to himself. "I won't lose any more wingmen ever again."

As he disembarked, 13 caught sight of Dita, whose face was twisted in fear. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We're going to be fine, Dita. We'll think of something, don't worry."

"I can't take it anymore!" Jura's voice echoed through the hangar, her panic palpable. "Why are we picking fights we can't win? It's so pointless."

"There has to be something we can do," Dita muttered, her voice barely a whisper before she abruptly turned and ran out of the hangar, leaving 13 with Jura.

13 looked down at Jura, who had curled into herself, her face buried against her knees. "Jura, mind if I give you some advice?"

She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "What is it?" she asked, her tone reflecting the weight of her despair.

"In times like this," 13 began, his voice steady as he looked over at Mobius' fighter, "you have to find something, anything to hold onto. If you don't, you will lose. It doesn't matter what it is—if it gives you hope or just something to fight for, then hold onto it."

Jura remained silent, his words sinking in as she processed the truth behind them. 13's gaze softened as he saw the faint flicker of determination beginning to return to her eyes. With a final nod, he left the hangar, making his way to the bridge. As he walked, he couldn't help but notice the fear on everyone's faces. It was a fear that gnawed at hope, threatening to extinguish it entirely.

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Mobius sat in his usual spot in the dimly lit corner, a single cup of coffee in front of him. The room was eerily quiet, the oppressive silence broken only by the distant hum of the ship. His gaze was fixed on the tarot card he always kept with him, the edges worn from constant handling.

"Yes, Leona?" he said without looking up, sensing her presence before she even spoke.

Leona walked in, her footsteps echoing in the empty cafeteria as she approached Mobius' table. "Something on your mind?" Mobius asked, finally lifting his eyes to meet hers, his gaze sharp and direct.

"Why aren't you with Meia?" Leona asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Mobius flinched at the question, but quickly composed himself. "She's in no danger. It's a minor wound—she's just a bit winded from the hit she took, that's all."

"I saw the two of you last night," Leona said, her tone carrying an edge of accusation. "When you were out in the garden section."

"And?" Mobius responded sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

Leona's eyes drifted to the side, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "The thought of a man and woman being together in such a way… it bothers me. First that video we found during Christmas, and now you and Meia..." She gritted her teeth, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Meia used to be just like me. She hated men too, but after you came along, she started changing. Now, she's always around you, and you seem to be the only one she talks to."

Mobius leaned back slightly, his gaze never wavering. "Do you have a point, Leona?"

Her fists clenched at her sides, but she managed to keep her voice steady. "You two are almost always together now, and you've even been in her room multiple nights. I want you to tell me why."

Mobius smirked, looking back down at the tarot card on the table. "Before I answer that, there's something I'd like to ask you, Leona. Hypothetically, if Laura's life was on the line, would you sacrifice yours to save hers?"

Leona was taken aback by the sudden question, her eyes widening slightly. But she quickly recovered and nodded. "Of course, I would. She's my sister."

Mobius nodded, his tone still calm but now carrying a weight that made Leona uneasy. "And why would you do that? Why would you give your life for someone else?"

Leona hesitated, the implications of the conversation beginning to dawn on her. "Because I love my sister," she said quietly, almost as if admitting it to herself for the first time.

"Exactly. Because she's your family, and you love her," Mobius replied, standing up and fixing Leona with a piercing stare. "Do you know why I became a pilot in the first place?"

Leona looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I saw the recordings of your dreams… when you killed those people." Her hands trembled slightly, the memory of the dream haunting her. "That's another reason I don't trust you. You've murdered multiple people in cold blood before, and to have someone like you roam free on this ship…"

"But do you know why I did those things?" Mobius asked, his voice calm, almost too calm.

Leona shook her head silently, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"It's because those people took my little sister away from me," Mobius said, his voice carrying a sharp edge that made Leona look up in surprise.

Once Leona's eyes met his, Mobius continued, his tone growing darker. "My little sister Claire… I loved her. She was going to turn 16 the next day, and I was going to pick her up from school before the bombers attacked our town. I had no choice but to hide underground until they passed. Once I returned to the streets, I noticed they were flying over the area where her school was, and I began running, praying that she was alright."

Mobius' gaze drifted down to the tarot card on the table, his voice lowering as he recounted the memory. "When I arrived at her school, half of it was collapsed, and there were casualties everywhere. I ran past all the injured people outside—the only thing on my mind was making sure Claire was alright. When I got to her classroom… I saw her on the floor."

"She died in the attack?" Leona asked, her voice wavering as she processed the weight of Mobius' words.

Mobius nodded, the coldness in his voice tinged with a subtle undercurrent of sorrow. "I didn't want to believe it. I prayed it was just a nightmare, something I could wake up from. But I never did… A waking nightmare that's haunted me ever since."

Leona hesitated before asking, "And your parents?"

"Our house was in the part of town that was hit first," Mobius continued, his voice steady but laced with buried pain. "It was destroyed by the initial bombs. My mother and father… they were buried inside."

Leona looked down, the enormity of Mobius' loss settling over her like a heavy shroud. "I… I didn't know," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Mobius immediately cut her off, his tone sharpening. "I am not asking for your sympathy Leona, nor do I want it," he said firmly. "What I want is for you to understand that we're not as different as you think. I lost my little sister and took revenge on those responsible—many of whom weren't even part of the bombing. But I killed them all the same. You fight so hard to protect Laura because you love her. I killed because I loved mine."

Leona's fists clenched, her mind struggling to reconcile the man before her with the cold-blooded killer she had seen in the recordings. "So you became a pilot purely out of revenge?" she asked, her voice thick with unease.

Mobius nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes. But being here, things are different. The captain treated me like someone she'd known for years. Meia… Meia began talking to me, first because I was a capable pilot. But after a while…" He paused, taking a deep breath as if steeling himself for what he was about to reveal, something personal, something he wasn't used to doing.

"After being here so long, Leona, I realized that the crew of the Nirvana is a family—a family that loves each other, something I longed to have back. That's why I kept fighting, to make sure none of you would ever go through what I did. And the ones that have gone through it won't have to again."

Leona absorbed his words, the conflict within her evident. She repeated her original question, "And what about Meia? You act differently around her. Others may not see it, but I do. Why are you two always together?"

"Why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Mobius countered, his tone softening slightly. "Or do you just want confirmation of what you already suspect?"

Leona didn't respond, her gaze dropping to the floor as she fought to suppress the turmoil brewing inside her.

Mobius sighed, his voice lowering to a more personal, almost tender tone. "It's because I love her," he admitted, the vulnerability in his words a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor. "And I would do anything for her."

Leona exhaled slowly, her fists tightening as she tried to maintain her composure. "So you'd be willing to die for her?"

Mobius didn't hesitate. "It wouldn't even be a thought for me. If her life was in danger, I would protect her by any means—even if it meant taking a fatal hit."

Leona's skepticism flared up again, her anger seeping into her voice. "Do you really expect me to believe that? That a man would sacrifice himself for someone else, let alone a woman?"

Mobius met her gaze, his eyes hard and unyielding. "You've seen what I'm capable of when someone takes away what's important to me. It's not hard to imagine the lengths I'd go to protect someone else. You saw it when we were retreating, didn't you? The enemy tried to kill both Meia and Gascogne… You saw how quickly I attacked to save them. In a battle, there's no time to think—only to react. I didn't have to think about how I would save Meia. I just did."

Leona turned away, her internal struggle playing out in the tense lines of her body. She didn't say anything, but Mobius could see the conflict in her expression—the battle between disbelief and the uncomfortable truth she couldn't ignore.

Mobius picked up the tarot card from the table and slipped it back into his breast pocket, the movement deliberate, final. "I would gladly die to protect her," he repeated, "and I wouldn't have to think twice about it."

Leona gritted her teeth, her hands clenching so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "And what about the rest of us?" she demanded, her voice trembling with the effort to contain her emotions. "Would you do the same for anyone else on this ship? Or is Meia the only one who gets that gesture?"

"It wouldn't matter who it is," Mobius replied, his tone unwavering. "Meia, Barnette, you, or even Hibiki—it wouldn't matter. I would take a hit for any of you to ensure you made it back safely. I've lost many allies in the past. None of them were friends, but we fought for the same cause. As long as this ship is under my protection, no one is going to die… No one."

Leona's anger faltered, replaced by something more fragile—something that Mobius recognized instantly. She was scared, just like everyone else on this ship, and she was looking for assurance in the only way she knew how.

"It's okay to be afraid, Leona," Mobius said gently, his voice softening as he took a step closer to her. "I'm afraid too. But that alone is nowhere near enough to stop me."

Leona's expression hardened, masking her emotions, but Mobius could see the cracks forming in her facade.

"Who said I'm afraid?" Leona barked defensively. "And I definitely wasn't asking you to help me!"

Mobius didn't respond immediately. Instead, he raised an eyebrow in a questioning gaze, his silence speaking volumes. It was a quiet, nonjudgmental stare, one that seemed to peel away Leona's defenses layer by layer until finally, she broke down.

The walls she had built around her fear and vulnerability came crashing down as she began to sob. The fear of losing, of dying, of facing an enemy they could not defeat, was too much to bear. She had tried to be strong, tried to push through, but now, all the fear she had bottled up was pouring out uncontrollably.

Mobius, his expression softening, walked over to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright to be afraid, Leona. No one will think less of you, not even me."

Leona's tears fell harder at his words. She tried to maintain her tough exterior, but her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions. "Like I care what you think of me," she muttered through her sobs.

Mobius narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice firm but gentle. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Leona. I know how strong you are. There's no shame in asking for help or showing that you're afraid."

Leona's legs gave out as she fell to her knees, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions. Mobius caught her before she hit the floor, gently lowering her to her knees and allowing her to cry freely.

Through her sobs, Leona choked out, "After everything I've done… Everything I've said to you… why?"

Mobius knelt beside her, his tone filled with understanding. "Because I don't want you to go through what I have."

Leona's emotions were in turmoil, a chaotic mix of rage and fear that she couldn't control. She continued to sob, her tears soaking into Mobius' shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.

"Why?" she cried, "Why are you making this so hard? I'm supposed to hate you, I want to hate you, but it's hard to. Why can't I just hate you?" she asked, her fists weakly hitting his shoulders, "I want to hate you…why are you making it so hard to?"

Unsure how to answer her question, Mobius settled for quelling her fear, "We're going to win, Leona," he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet but unshakable conviction that she couldn't help, but believe it.

Leona pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. "How?" she asked, her voice trembling. "How can you be so sure?"

Mobius smiled at her, a small, reassuring smile that seemed to carry the weight of the world behind it. He stood up, gently helping her to her feet. "Because I know there are at least six people on this ship who haven't given up yet."

He began to walk away but stopped just behind Leona, glancing back over his shoulder at her. "All it takes to change the course of history is the will of a single person. So just imagine what the will of so many can do."

With those words, Mobius left the cafeteria, his steps echoing down the corridor as he made his way back to the infirmary to check on Meia.

Outside the infirmary, Mobius paused, leaning against the wall just out of sight. Inside, he could hear the voices of Dita, Paiway, and Barnette. Their words carried the heavy weight of fear and despair, underscoring the tension that had gripped the ship.

"Dita, open your eyes!" Paiway's voice rang out, edged with panic. "We're risking our lives for a planet that doesn't even care about us, and now we're about to die! We should have just run when we had the chance, now it's all over!"

Dita's voice trembled as she responded, fighting to hold onto the last threads of hope. "How can you think that way? You don't think it's hopeless, do you, Barnette?"

Barnette's silence hung heavy in the air, and when she finally spoke, her tone was cold and distant. "Leave me out of this. You know I've never been a fan of your bubbly optimism or your undying spirit."

Mobius remained hidden, listening as Dita's desperation grew. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"I know you think I'm stupid, but I don't know what else to do other than to try my best. I can't stand seeing everyone so sad. I know we're in a bad situation right now, but you don't see me giving up—so why are you!?"

Barnette and Paiway avoided Dita's gaze as she continued to cry, her voice filled with the raw emotion of someone clinging to hope in the face of overwhelming odds.

"We've been through so much up until now, and we've continued to survive because we never gave up, so why now?"

Barnette's patience finally snapped as she glared at Dita. "Dita, just shut up already. None of us want to hear one of your sappy speeches right now."

Dita recoiled as if struck, the harshness of Barnette's words cutting deep. Without another word, she spun around and fled from the infirmary, tears streaming down her face as she sprinted down the hall.

Mobius waited a few moments after Dita left before stepping into the infirmary. His presence immediately drew Barnette's attention, and she quickly looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.

"You're being a bit harsh, aren't you?" Mobius commented, his tone calm but carrying a subtle edge.

Barnette's response was low and hostile. "I've got nothing to say to you."

Ignoring her cold tone, Mobius turned his attention to Meia. "How are you feeling?"

Meia smiled weakly, her voice soft but steady. "I'm fine. It was nothing serious."

Mobius nodded, he knew she would be, but he was still relieved. As he looked back at Barnette, his expression hardened slightly. "Have you really given up, Barnette? What happened to that fiery pilot who always charged in? It's not like you to cower in fear."

Barnette snapped, her voice rising with frustration. "I'M NOT COWERING!"

Mobius remained unruffled. "You are" he said, firmly ending her outburst, "What's more, you're taking it out on someone else. You're not the only one who's afraid, Barnette." He gestured toward Meia. "Meia, are you afraid?"

Meia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I am."

Mobius then looked to Duelo, who was standing nearby. "And you, Duelo?"

Duelo met Mobius's gaze steadily. "I confess my fear of our situation, but panicking will do nothing to solve it."

Mobius turned his attention back to Barnette, his voice calm but firm. "Exactly. So Meia is afraid, Duelo is afraid, Laura is afraid, Yukiko is afraid, Leona is afraid, Captain Hamilton is afraid, and BC and the captain are also afraid. And you know what?" He paused, making sure Barnette was really listening. "I am too. But I haven't given up. I am not going to just wait here until our time runs out, and I refuse to die here when someone I care about is in danger" he looks down at Meia with a smirk, "Don't let that go to your head."

Meia chuckled with a slight cough, "Smart ass."

Straightening himself, Mobius's voice took on a note of finality. "Right now, the enemy is out there waiting for us to die in here… Well, they're going to be disappointed because this is far from over."

Without waiting for a response, Mobius turned and left the infirmary, his determination clear in every step as he made his way back to the hangar.

On the bridge, Yellow 13 was speaking with Magno about their current situation.

"You really believe we can win?" Magno asked Yellow 13, her voice tinged with doubt.

Yellow 13 tilted his head to the side, his gaze firm. "Captain, I've faced odds like this before. I've learned that sometimes, the only way to survive is to charge straight into the storm. We need to act, and we need to act now."

Magno hummed briefly, mulling over his words. "The crew is in a bad place right now. They all think it's hopeless to try. There may be only a slight chance for our victory, but even with that in mind, do any of them have the will to fight?"

"That's the other reason I came to see you, Captain," 13 said, his tone resolute. "You know the women of this ship better than anyone else. If you can think of any way to raise the morale of the crew, we have to try it now."

Magno was quiet for a long moment, her expression heavy with regret. "I'm afraid not," she finally admitted. "Even if there was something I could think of, they're all too afraid. At a time like this, all we can do is hope that a solution can be found."

"Hope is great when it works, Captain," 13 said, his voice edged with urgency. "But I don't think it's going to do us any good right now. We have to take everything into our own hands because, at this point, only we can decide whether we live or die."

"I wish that were true, young man," Magno replied, her voice soft, as if weighed down by the burden of leadership. "But without certainty of our victory, I can't give the order to send my family into the mouth of the enemy just to allow us to escape."

13's eyes flashed with determination. "Then send me and Mobius. Send us out—the two of us will be more than enough to hold them off while the Nirvana escapes."

"I'm afraid that won't work," Parfet's voice said as her image flickered onto the captain's terminal. "The Peksis is acting really strangely now. I don't think the ship will move at this rate."

Magno sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "What's it doing now?" she asked, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone.

"From what I can tell, it's building up internal pressure," Parfet reported, her brow furrowed with concern.

"What does that mean?" 13 asked, his eyes narrowing. "And for that matter, what is the Peksis?"

"Oh, that's right. I forgot you're still new here," Magno said, her tone slightly softening. "The Peksis is the ship's energy source, but sometimes it gets a little unstable. Do you have any idea what it's trying to do, Parfet?"

Parfet nodded, her expression serious. "It knows what's going on and is building up internal pressure as a way of preserving itself. It's basically the same thing that happened when all of this first started."

"You mean when we were thrown across the galaxy?" the captain asked, her eyes widening slightly at the memory.

Parfet nodded again, her voice grim. "At this rate, it's going to wait for the planet's gravity to crush us, and the pressure it's building will keep it safe."

13 clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "I'm not going to die here. No one is going to die today," he declared, the fire in his eyes burning brighter. He turned to leave the bridge, determination etched into every line of his face.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Magno called after him.

"To the hangar," 13 said without turning back. "I'm not going to let anyone die on my watch."

Inside the hangar, Mobius watched Hibiki on the Vanguard platform, the young pilot running simulations with Pyoro. Despite the dire circumstances, Hibiki's determination shone through as he refused to admit defeat.

"Well, what do you think?" Hibiki asked the NAVI-bot, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"I'm afraid not," Pyoro replied, his tone mechanical yet tinged with regret. "It's true that this planet is about to turn into a star, but it's impossible to carry this mission out by yourself."

Hibiki rubbed the back of his neck, frustration etched into his features. "Alright then, next plan."

"Humans," Pyoro sighed, "always so persistent."

Across the hangar, Mobius observed Hibiki with a critical eye, impressed by the young pilot's relentless spirit. "They're not invincible," he muttered to himself, picking up the half-finished maintenance report for his team. The word echoed in his mind, "Invincible… Invincible…" Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him, and he gripped the table for support, his vision blurring. "The Aegir fleet," he murmured, a sudden clarity cutting through the haze. "Erusea's invincible Aegir fleet."

A slow, confident smile spread across Mobius' face. "There's no such thing as an invincible enemy," he said, the realization bringing with it a renewed sense of purpose. He walked over to the Vanguard platform, his stride steady and assured. "What have you got?" he asked Hibiki, his voice calm but urgent.

Hibiki kept his eyes on Pyoro's screen, his mind racing. "This planet is about to turn into a star. I'm thinking if we can get the core to a certain temperature, we can make it go nova and that will wipe out the enemy or at least destroy enough of them that we can get away."

"Well, it definitely sounds like it would work," Mobius replied, his mind already working through the logistics. "Let me guess, the only problem is getting away before the flare hits us as well, right?"

Hibiki nodded, his focus unwavering. "Exactly. With the exception of that, we've got everything else worked out."

"What do you think, Commander?" Mobius asked as BC joined them at the top of the Vanguard platform.

The commander looked at the screen, her mind already calculating possibilities. "Have you considered using boosters? I'm sure you could build one from spare parts in no time."

Pyoro responded, "We've already calculated boosters into the equation, but we're still short by 20 seconds."

"So that's it then," Hibiki muttered, a frown creasing his brow.

BC smirked slightly, her eyes softening as she looked at the young pilot. "You've really matured, Hibiki. You look a lot better to me than you used to."

"Look, if you're up to something, I don't really have time for it," Hibiki replied, his tone more resigned than annoyed.

"Nothing of the sort," BC smiled, her voice gentle. "I was just paying you a compliment."

As the hangar's loudspeakers crackled to life, Dita's voice filled the air, trembling yet resolute.

"Hey everybody, listen up! We might lose and we might die, but that's what life is, isn't it? We've all decided to fight this battle because we didn't want someone else deciding our future for us, or controlling our destinies. But now... you're all losing heart and giving up. That's a mistake. Please, don't say it's hopeless because if you say so, then it'll become true. I'll never give up, and I'll never say it's hopeless because I want to be with all of you forever. I love all of you, so you have to look deep within your hearts to find hope."

Dita's voice cracked, the weight of her plea evident, "If we give up now, then we're going to lose, but I'm telling you we can still win, I know we can! So please… don't give up… that's how we got this far, isn't it? And I know that as long as we try hard and stay together, we'll never lose. So I'll say it once more… Please don't give up."

Mobius paused, his hand halfway to his cockpit controls, as Dita's words echoed in his mind. "If this turns into some cheesy chick flick I'm leaving," he thought, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He could feel the atmosphere in the hangar shift, the tension easing just slightly as hope rekindled in those around him.

"You idiot," Hibiki muttered softly, though a smile spread across his face. He looked back at Pyoro, determination etched into his features. "Well, you heard her. We're not going to give up yet."

As Hibiki resumed working on his plans, BC couldn't help but smile at the young pilot's resolve. She turned away, confident that the spark they needed had been reignited.

"Nope, still impossible," Pyoro said, but Hibiki immediately growled, "Will you stop saying that? Nothing is impossible!"

"How about using my dread?" Meia's voice crackled over the radio, calm but firm. "That should take care of your speed problem. I assume you've got the rest figured out?"

Hibiki grinned, the challenge igniting a fire in him. "Of course I have."

The hangar door raised, revealing Jura alongside Yellow 13 and the rest of the Eclipse squadron. "So this is where you've been hiding," the blonde pilot teased, her usual confidence returning. "You should know better than to try hiding things from me. I have a sixth sense for things that are interesting."

"Took you guys long enough," Mobius called down to his team, the brief banter helping to lighten the heavy mood.

"Sorry, Captain," Yukiko responded with a smirk. "We had some last-minute issues to settle before heading back out."

Laura looked up at him, determination written all over her face. "We're with you, Captain, no matter what you decide."

Leona remained silent, but her eyes told a different story. The fear was still there, but it was no longer paralyzing. She had chosen to stand and fight.

Mobius turned to Hibiki, who was still absorbed in his work. "Well, time to reveal your plan, then. Show us what you've got, kid."

Somehow, Dita's words had reached every corner of the ship. The entire crew was back to their old selves, scurrying around, preparing for the next round of the battle they had only barely escaped from. The air buzzed with a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to fight, not just for survival, but for each other.

"They're really going at it," Mobius remarked, watching the hustle around him. "I haven't seen people scramble like this since the crew of the aircraft carrier before we started the siege of Farbanti."

"Only this time we're on the same side, right?" 13 replied with a knowing look.

"For now," Mobius shot back with a cocky smile, "I still might shoot at you for old time's sake."

"About time you showed up, Dita," Jura said, looking behind Mobius and 13.

Dita stood there, watching them, amazement and hope shining in her eyes. Everyone had listened to her. Her heart swelled with a mixture of relief and joy.

"Well, what are you standing there for?" Hibiki asked, breaking her reverie. "You're part of the master plan, so no slacking off, got it?"

Dita's smile brightened as she nodded eagerly. "Understood!"

The pilots all gathered in the hangar, ready to launch when the order was given. Mobius was about to slide into his cockpit when Leona's voice stopped him.

"Mobius," she called, surprising him with the soft smile on her face. "I want to thank you... for everything. I was wrong about you."

Mobius nodded, his expression serious. "Thank me when we get back. Right now, we have a home to protect, right?"

A small smile formed on Leona's face as she glanced over to her sister, Laura. "Not just a home," she whispered to herself, determination hardening her resolve. She turned and headed for the dread platform with the other women of the Eclipse team.

"Alright, time for some action," Hibiki said, firing up the Vanguard's engines. Before he could launch, Dita's voice came through the radio, hesitating.

"Um, excuse me, Mr. Alien?" she asked shyly.

"What is it?" Hibiki replied, slightly exasperated. "I've already gone over everything with you."

Dita shook her head, though Hibiki couldn't see. "No, it's not that. It's just… I want you to promise me something. When this is over, I want you to promise to come see my room."

Hibiki's face turned red, caught off guard by the request. "Can't we talk about this later?"

Dita was insistent. "No, promise me right now."

Hibiki sighed in defeat, knowing there was no arguing with her. "Fine, I promise."

Dita's smile returned. "Thank you! I'll be waiting, okay!"

Hibiki grinned despite himself. "Alright, let's go!"

The engines of Mobius' F-22 roared to life as the fighter jet launched out of the hangar, with Yellow 13, the Vanguard, and the dreads right behind them.

The other three members of the Eclipse squadron launched from the dread platform, joining their Captain and 13 in formation.

"Alright, Eclipse team, we have our mission objective," 13 said over the comms. "Our job is to provide as much cover for Hibiki and Jura as we can. Just stay in formation and keep the enemy off them."

As they approached the planet's surface, Mobius gave the final order, his voice calm and steady. "Eclipse team, cleared to engage, kill anything that gets close."

The Eclipse squadron broke through the planet's surface, firing at the enemy fleet waiting for them. Each pilot moved with precision, evading counterattacks while Hibiki and Jura combined to form their Vandread, ready to shield the planet.

"Alright, we're in place! Go for it!" Hibiki's voice was laced with urgency, each word a command as the team neared the critical point of their operation.

At the core of the gas planet, Meia, Dita, and Barnette unleashed their dread's lasers, their beams cutting through the dense gasses to force the planet into nuclear fusion. The enemy, sensing the desperation of the Nirvana's crew, doubled down on their attacks, relentlessly targeting Vandread Jura.

Despite the onslaught, the Eclipse squadron, led by the unyielding Mobius and Yellow 13, held the line. Their maneuvers were precise and lethal, each enemy falling like leaves against a storm.

"The operation is going smoothly," Meia reported, her voice calm yet edged with urgency. "Dita, you're off point. Adjust your angle now!"

"Sorry!" Dita's voice quivered slightly as she corrected her position, her dread's laser joining the others in perfect harmony.

On the bridge, the tension was palpable. Belvedere turned, her voice tight, "Only three minutes left until the pressure crushes us!"

"Roger that," Meia responded, her focus razor-sharp. "Just a little more… There! Parfet, it's time!"

In engineering, Parfet's heart raced as she commanded her team, "Alright everyone, here we go! Energy reverse!" Her crew sprang into action, flipping switches and rerouting power, forcing the Peksis to disperse its volatile energy out of the ship and into the planet's volatile atmosphere.

"Energy levels are returning to normal," Belvedere announced, her voice a mix of relief and haste.

"Nuclear fusion has been achieved!" Aramone reported, her tone one of disbelief and triumph.

"Let's get the hell out of here!" Captain Magno barked, the authority in her voice undeniable. "Bart, turn the ship around! Now!"

The Nirvana responded immediately, engines roaring as it pivoted and sped away from the planet's deadly core, with the three dreads following in tight formation.

Meia glanced back, her voice carrying the weight of leadership and concern. "Dita, from here on, speed is everything. Don't slow down, not even for a second!"

"I'm right behind you!" Dita's resolve echoed through the comms.

Barnette, her voice unusually soft, spoke next, "Dita… do a good job, okay?"

A smile crept across Dita's face. "Right. I won't let you down."

As they closed in on the surface, Barnette's voice cut through the noise, "We'll be breaking through in thirty seconds!"

"Got it," Hibiki acknowledged before turning to Jura. "Time to separate."

Yellow 13, locked in battle with another enemy, issued his command, "Eclipse team, fall back! We only have one shot to return to the Nirvana, or we're dead!"

The Eclipse squadron executed a sharp dive, rejoining the Nirvana's flight path as it soared past them, barely ahead of the flare.

"Ready," Meia called out just as her and Dita's dreads broke through the planet's surface.

Vandread Jura released its shield and separated, allowing Hibiki and Meia to combine their ships. The fusion, however, didn't go as planned—the Vandread began to fall off the predetermined path, veering dangerously close to the planet's gravity well.

"You're out of position!" Meia's voice held a note of panic.

"Because you took so damn long!" Hibiki fired back, adjusting his controls with a frustrated grunt.

Meia's dread veered to intercept the Vanguard, the two ships locking together as Vandread Meia, before accelerating with blistering speed. They grabbed Dita's dread, pulling her along as they raced away from the growing flare, the heat searing behind them.

Back on the Nirvana, Belvedere's voice cracked with relief, "Barnette and the Eclipse team have made a safe landing, but Mobius is still out there, guarding the ship."

"Asteroids detected directly ahead!" Aramone reported, her voice edged with urgency. "What do you want to do, Captain?"

"What the hell have you gotten us into?" Magno shouted at Bart, frustration and fear colliding in her tone.

"I'm a little busy right now!" Bart's arms flailed as he fought to keep the Nirvana out of the flare's reach, his voice strained with the effort.

BC jumped into action, issuing commands with military precision. "Switch all thrusters to manual control! Sync them with Bart's movements!"

Suddenly, a harvest unit resembling a giant eye appeared before the Nirvana, its massive laser charging, aimed directly at the bridge.

"It's going to fire!" Belvedere's cry was drowned out as a barrage of missiles struck the unit, forcing it into the path of an oncoming asteroid.

Mobius' F-22 screamed past the bridge canopy, weaving through the deadly asteroid field with precision and skill.

"Mobius, what are you doing!?" Magno's voice crackled over the comms.

"My job," Mobius replied, his tone calm and resolute. "I'm not returning until everyone else is back safely. I'm the first one out, and the last one back."

His eyes locked onto Vandread Meia, now carrying Dita's dread, as it hurtled toward the harvest flagship, the flare a deadly wave at their backs.

"Claire…" His heart clenched as memories of his sister surged forward, the guilt and pain as fresh as ever. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I couldn't protect you… I swear to you, I won't let anyone else die. I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I never want to go through that again… I lost you. I won't lose anyone else. I refuse to go back until Meia returns with me."

In his mind, Claire's voice whispered, "I believe in you."

"Claire…" he muttered, his grip on the flight stick tightening.

"You'll never fail, no matter what. I know you'll always survive—you're my hero, after all."

"Meia, begin sequence four!" Hibiki's voice cut through his thoughts. The two ships separated again, Hibiki and Dita combining into Vandread Dita.

Meia turned her dread sharply, the flare nipping at her heels. "Come back in one piece, you two," she whispered, spotting Mobius flying alongside her. "What are you still doing out here?"

"Waiting for you," he replied, his voice steady. "I'm not going back unless you're with me."

Meia's heart swelled, a soft smile crossing her lips. "Alright, let's go. The rest is up to them."

"They'll win," Mobius said with conviction as they flew back to the Nirvana, the battle still raging behind them.

While the two pilots made their escape, Vandread Dita's cannons fused together, forming a massive lance. Channeling the energy of the flare, the lance charged with incredible power. With pinpoint precision, Vandread Dita hurled the energy-infused lance directly at the enemy flagship.

After it was thrown, the lance carried the full force of the flare along with it just as the flagship began firing its main weapon to stop the attack. The two forces clashed in a cataclysmic display of power, with the flagship straining to hold back the oncoming destruction. But the full force of an exploding planet was too much; the charged lance tore through the mouth of the flagship, carving a path of devastation through its core. The massive ship buckled under the relentless onslaught, internal explosions cascading through its structure until the flare finally reached the other side, erupting into a colossal explosion that engulfed everything around it.

"They really did it," Meia breathed, her voice tinged with both relief and disbelief as she watched the explosion. The sheer magnitude of the blast seemed to signal the end of their ordeal.

"Were you expecting them not to?" Mobius asked, his tone calm but with an edge of amusement.

Meia glanced at the F-22 flying beside her, a small smile forming as she replied, "No, I knew they would. I believe in them."

"Believe in them…" Mobius echoed quietly, a distant look in his eyes. His thoughts drifted, the name "Claire…" escaping his lips in a whisper as memories threatened to resurface.

But their moment of relief was abruptly shattered by Dita's gasp, "No way!"

Both Mobius and Meia snapped their attention back to the battlefield, their eyes widening as they saw the flagship emerging from the flare. Though heavily damaged, it was still moving, still advancing—a relentless, undying enemy.

"They're mighty persistent, aren't they?" Magno's voice crackled over the comms, her tone tinged with both awe and frustration.

"Another flare from the new star is approaching Vandread Dita," Aramone reported, her voice tight with urgency.

"Vandread Dita, get out of there now!" BC ordered, her command laced with the fear that this might be the end.

"Not yet," Hibiki's voice came through, defiant and determined. "Yeah, not yet!" Dita echoed, her spirit undeterred even in the face of overwhelming odds.

The flare engulfed Vandread Dita, and for a terrifying moment, all contact was lost. The bridge fell silent, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on everyone.

"Hibiki, you idiot," Bart muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "None of this will mean anything if you die."

But then, a flicker of hope—Aramone's voice broke through, "A high energy signal has been detected from inside the flare!"

"So he really has changed," BC murmured, a small smile forming as she watched the screen.

The Vandread burst out of the flare, its armor seared and glowing with the intense heat it had absorbed. Supercharged, it rocketed toward the retreating flagship, the aura of power radiating from it like a beacon of hope. With precise, deadly force, the Vandread dove into the hole left by the lance, tearing through the flagship's remaining defenses and detonating it from within. The flagship was finally obliterated, the once-imposing threat now reduced to cosmic debris.

Cheers erupted from the crew on the Nirvana, the hangar filled with triumphant shouts and applause. The sense of victory was palpable, a collective release of tension that had built up over the course of the battle.

"I'm not carrying them back to the ship," Mobius said with a rare smile, his voice cutting through the jubilation and making Meia laugh, the sound light and relieved.

As the Nirvana turned around to retrieve the Vandread, Hibiki climbed out of the Vanguard to a hero's welcome. The entire crew was gathered in the hangar, their applause loud and heartfelt, their gratitude immeasurable. "Welcome back!" Dita and Jura both said, their voices filled with emotion as they pulled him into their arms.

Jura, overwhelmed with relief, pulled Hibiki close, showering him with excessive thanks and kisses. Dita, feeling a surge of jealousy, quickly intervened, "Hey, stop that!"

"What's wrong with you?" Jura snapped, her grip on Hibiki still tight. "I was only trying to thank him for saving my life."

Dita shook her head, her expression determined, "Well you can't. Mr. Alien still has a promise he has to keep."

"A what?" Jura asked, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of promise? Tell me!"

Before the banter could continue, Pyoro shrieked, interrupting them. "We've got a problem!" the NAVI-bot warned, flying up to them with urgent news.

"What's wrong with you?" Jura demanded, annoyed at the interruption. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?"

"There's no time for that!" Pyoro insisted, his screen displaying a grim image—the Nirvana and the destroyed flagship, but now there were five other flagships slowly turning toward them.

"Earth has discovered that we destroyed one of their flagships and have rerouted the others from surrounding solar systems. They're heading straight for Mejere and Tarak!"

"There are five of them!" Jura gasped, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

A heavy silence fell over the hangar, the brief celebration cut short by the realization of the new threat looming on the horizon.

"What are we going to do?" Barnette asked, her voice trembling. "We were barely able to beat one of them…"

"What's your point?" Mobius cut in, his voice steady and commanding, drawing everyone's attention. "We destroyed one, that proves we can beat them right? Now the enemy knows it too. It doesn't matter what they send against us—we just have to stand together, just like we did today, and prove to them that there's nothing they can do to stop us."

He looked up at Hibiki and Dita, a confident smile on his face, "Isn't that right you two?"

Hibiki met his gaze, a smirk forming on his lips, "Exactly. We can't back down! No matter how high the wall, we have to climb over it to show proof that we exist, and to do that, we have to take the path we have to take."

Pyoro, who had been hovering above the crowd, suddenly fell silent before speaking in the same ominous voice used by the enemy. "Pointless. The only thing you have achieved is the destruction of your worlds… your efforts are pointless."

"Pointless?" Mobius repeated, his voice challenging. "You're awfully confident considering what we just pulled off. Your fleet was annihilated, but please, feel free to throw more of your scrap at us—I'll be waiting right here for it."

Pyoro hovered closer, stopping directly above Mobius, "You… the evil demon that caused all of this… you will not survive."

Mobius smiled, unfazed by the threat, "Keep telling yourself that. You know where to find me."

Pyoro's screen flickered with static before the NAVI-bot fell lifelessly into the crowd. Meia caught him, her eyes filled with concern.

"So what now?" Meia asked, turning to Mobius.

"Well, I don't know about all of you," Mobius said with a casual shrug, pointing his finger around the hangar, "but I'm going to bed. It's been a long day, and we start back early."

A brief victory party was held in the cafeteria, but the day left everyone exhausted, so it wasn't long before everyone began turning in for the night.

Meia decided to take a quick shower and have her flight suit cleaned and repaired. When she returned to her room, she froze when she saw Mobius sitting on her bed, the soft light casting gentle shadows across his face.

"I hope you don't mind, I let myself in," he said to her, his voice low and steady, betraying just a hint of vulnerability.

Meia was wearing a light blue nightgown with sleeves longer than her arms and lace straps that ran over her shoulders, revealing the minor scar from her injury. The room was quiet, the faint scent of lavender from her shower still lingering in the air, adding to the intimate atmosphere.

Meia smiled at him before slowly walking over. As he stood up, they shared a quick hug, his arms wrapping around her with a protective warmth. Mobius noticed the scar on her shoulder and gently ran his thumb over it, his touch soft but firm.

"I'm fine," she assured him after seeing the concern in his eyes.

Mobius looked into her eyes, his expression softening. "I was worried about you," he admitted, his voice slightly faltering.

Meia blushed slightly, but kept smiling, "It'll take more than that to bring me down. I was trained by the best, after all."

Mobius let out a silent chuckle, but his smile quickly faded as their eyes met again, a serious look replacing the brief moment of levity. "Meia…I don't know what I would do if I lost you," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion.

Meia reached up and placed her hand on the side of his face, her touch gentle and reassuring. She couldn't see very well in the dim light, but she could feel the wetness on his cheek as her finger passed under his eye. "You won't," she said softly, her voice a calm anchor in the storm of his emotions. "I'll always be here."

She gently removed her circlet and placed it on her nightstand.

"Why do you wear that?" Mobius asked, his voice curious but tender.

"The same reason you keep that card with you," Meia told him, her gaze softening. "It's both a lesson and a reminder."

Without another word, she leaned toward him, their lips meeting in a kiss that spoke of shared pain, understanding, and an unspoken promise of protection.

As they lay down on the bed, Mobius settled with his back against the wall and his right arm stretched out across the bed. Meia laid next to him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, their bodies fitting together as if they were meant to be.

After they both settled in, Meia held up her right hand, and Mobius gently took it in his left, their fingers intertwining. "I love you, Meia," he whispered, the words spoken to her for the first time carried the weight of everything he had been through, everything he feared, and everything he hoped for.

Meia smiled at him, her eyes shining with warmth. "And I love you, Mobius. Nothing will change that."

Mobius laid his head down, and Meia rested hers against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat soothing her. At long last, they finally fell asleep, their breathing slow and steady, the day's exhaustion giving way to the peace they found in each other's arms. It was a well-deserved rest after such a hard-fought battle.

Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory…there is no survival. –Winston Churchill.