[Dedicated to achhuu for the lovely fan-art above!]

THERE WAS A painfully long silence following Klaru's condescending remark. Nobody made an attempt to engage in further conversation, not even the Councillors who looked just as baffled as I felt. Did they even know what she was talking about? The longer we all stood in silence, the more irritant Klaru became, for an impatient grimace was suddenly set upon her face. Her eyes darted back and forth between Louis and I as if she were waiting for one of us to break and show some sort of interest in what she was planing this time round. I had no doubt that it would be something extremely humiliating and painful, considering how eager she had been earlier when considering torturing me for information. But I had no interest in her new plan because there was no argument to be had; she finally had us both captive, unable to lead Louis' crew to rebel against her wicked ways meaning that the Councillors would regain control of the ship in no time - most likely by threatening to end Louis' life if they did not stand down - and then everything would be back to how it was before, with Klaru in command and her ugly henchmen doing all her dirty work.  

Cheat, a voice screamed in my head. Lying, back-stabbing , good for nothing, greedy, selfish, intolerable snob. I had no idea if Klaru would be aware of the term 'snob' but I decided that it was a pretty good word to describe the bitch.

Klaru sighed deeply. "Well?" she pressed, still looking at Louis and I. "Are neither of you going to ask what it is?"

"What what is?" Louis returned. 

"My new scheme! And what you have both unintentionally aided me with." She was standing with her hands on her hips then, foot tapping away like a spoiled child waiting for a treat. I grinned to myself when I realised that that's exactly what she was, just a pampered, spoiled girl who'd grown up in a castle - did alien royalty live in castles? - and was handed everything on a silver platter. Perhaps gold, if her attitude was anything to go on. Klaru was a person who didn't take no for an answer and had to have everything done her way.

"I have no interest in learning of your new plan," Louis told her, tugging himself forward in an attempt to shake off Norkar's grip. "And I certainly have no intent on letting you rule Junito for the pure purpose of owning a crown. You don't care about the citizens of Junito or their well-being, no. All you care about is power."

"Who said I don't care for the people of Junito?" she replied, shaking her head in disbelief. "It would appear that out of the two of us, I'm the only one who knows what they deserve! We are and always have been at peace, Loudrix, and you only want to squander that for your own personal gain, to discover humans and the possibility of destruction-"

"You said it yourself!" Louis bellowed all of a sudden, cutting her off. "You just said it - possibility. Not a definite outcome. You think that just because Junites and humans are unaware of each other, that as soon as the two species cross all hell will break loose? How can you be so sure? Look at me; I'm alive and well and I've been on this planet for months, learning their ways and how to fit in. There is so much to learn, to discover, and what's more, you just won't open your mind to accept that humans may not be as bad as you think."

I felt something tug at my heart as he defended my species. My stupid, selfish yet sometimes compassionate and gentle fellow homo sapiens.

"I wouldn't say you've been alive and well, more like delusional," Klaru retorted, eyeing him as if he were crazy. "To think you were so highly thought of as the crowned Prince of Junito. Look at you now, withering away in your own misguided beliefs. You don't think their kind are dangerous? Have you forgotten all we were taught growing up, all the footage shown to frighten us and make us aware that humans should be avoided at all costs?"

Noticing Malor's hand was no longer clasped over my mouth, I added, "The World Wars are over, you know?"

"Shut up," she snapped. It seemed nothing was going to stop her from arguing over how 'dangerous' we were. Sure, the human race could be cruel and downright volatile at times but not everyone. If Klaru believed that every single person on Junito was a saint, she was most likely wrong. People present themselves at their best, usually pretending to be something they're not. It's a kind of camouflage you could say, only delivering our best so to not be mistaken as the worst and have false allegations and dirty looks thrown our way. Everyone has two sides to them, the bad and good - Klaru was an exact representation of that: showing Louis and the population of Junito her best while covering up her worst.

"Believe what you want," Louis told her. "I can't change your mind."

"No, you can't," she assured him, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I won't allow you to try change anybody else's mind either. As soon as we get back to Junito, everything will fall into place."

"This wonderful plan of yours?" I scoffed.

"Yes." This time she didn't seemed mad at my interruption, probably because I was giving her what she wanted which was (minimal) interest in her plan. "Here's what will happen," she decided, turning to Louis. "When we arrive home, there shall be inquires as to why I and several Councillors are aboard the ship. You shall tell them that I am here because it was supposed to be a grand surprise in honour of your miraculous find. I climbed aboard in secret to support you and be part of your ever so miraculous discoveries. Then you shall proceed to explain that members of the Council are also here because they wanted the satisfaction of proving you wrong. Until we return home, that is all you will know."

Louis snorted. "Why would I go along with this ... this idiocy? Your plan will not work, for as soon as we land, I shall be escorted home right away and all of this will be over. You will be exposed as traitors and for your mutiny there shall no doubt be only the one outcome for you. And fear not, I shall make sure to tie the noose myself."

I'd never heard Louis speak like that and it shocked me at first to hear such threatening words come from his usually innocent and sweet mouth. If I were in his position I knew I would have said something similar so I found myself nodding and grinning at his words.

"You are mistaken there, my prince," Klaru pointed out with a sly smile. "I'm not as dull as you may think. Why else would we have bothered to capture not only you but your little human friend here." As she gestured to me I realised what was happening - I was the bait, the blackmail. The disposable pawn intimidated by the queen. 

Great, I thought.

Louis' eyes widened in realisation and he struggled against Norkar's grasp again. "Don't hurt her. She has nothing to do with this, right Flora?" He looked to me with desperation, as if he wished for me to say that I was only along for the ride, to see him home safely and that was it, no connection, no friendship and no burning desire to beat Klaru and her sick, twisted game. I couldn't back down at a time like this, even if it was ordered by a prince. I wouldn't lie to save myself, I'd lie to save him. 

"Well, that's a little insulting. I mean, the plan was to help you get home and cover any obstacles along the way. This looks to be one."

He just sighed deeply, annoyed at my undying loyalty and continuous desperation to see the journey through to the bitter end. Turns out I was the only loyal one in the control room and I had to think hard to imagine what that must feel like, to be betrayed by your own people, your friends, everyone you've trusted up until now to have everything thrown back in your face. 

"Really?" Louis huffed. "You couldn't disagree with me this one time?" 

"You know me, Louis. I made a promise."

"Yeah, but that was me just trying to save your life and then you went and blew it!"

"Well, do you really think this stupid bitch would have believed me if I'd agreed?" I looked to Klaru for clarification and I received a confused nod. I was glad she hadn't seemed to notice the insult I'd slipped in there. "See?"

Louis rolled his eyes and glared at Klary once again, not finished insulting her lack of ability to be optimistic. What a great couple they would have made, polar opposites, arguing all the time no doubt. It's always been said that opposites attract but what was happening before my eyes was quite the contrary; these too were so unalike that if Klaru's plan to take over Junito hadn't happened at all and they had gone on to be wed, their unhappy marriage would have destroyed them in the end.

"Stop with the bickering," Klaru said all of a sudden, raising her arms in a defiant way. She'd had enough and by the looks of it so had Louis, his tired eyes narrowing further until he was peering at her through slits. "What do you say then, Prince? Agree or your little experiment here dies."

"She's not an experiment," Louis snapped instantly. I blew out a relieved breath, the idea of me being only part of a hypothesis to him had been nagging at my mind ever since Klaru had suggested it. "If you think that's all she is to me then-"

"So she is more than a mere human acquaintance?" Klaru chimed, a triumphant grin spread ear to ear. Louis frowned as he realised we were both officially up shit creek. "Agree," she demanded. "Or she dies. And fear not, I shall make sure to tie the noose myself," she parroted Louis' words from earlier and he tried to tug free once again and cross over to her. To do what - hit her? Spit on her? Whisper an insult directly to her face?

The option lingered in the air without answer. I could see Louis mulling it over, contemplating what would happen if he said no. His eyes darted back and forth between Klaru and myself, his breathing rapid. I wanted to comfort him, tell him that everything would turn out OK like a good friend does in a time of need. However, this time of need had nothing to do with me; it was all on Louis, the choice, the lives of everyone around him and whether or not I would be alive in the next five minutes.

"No," I heard myself say. I didn't even recognise my own voice - it was the voice of someone stronger than I, someone willing to die to protect my friend. I realised that up until the discussion of Klaru's major plot, I hadn't been aware of truly how dangerous the mission was. Jason's words echoed in my head: This adventure, Flora, could possibly get you killed. How right he'd been, only I was too ignorant to have listened, really listened. What was happening before my eyes was a debate on whether or not I'd see another light of day, if I'd get to see my family again, Jason again, even annoying, chatty Imogen again. Would I ever make it out of Hoveton, to see the world like I'd always dreamed? All of the places I'd always wanted to visit - Tokyo, America, Africa, Norway - I would probably never see. All of the little things I'd had on my bucket list for years - learn several different languages, collect souvenirs from all the capital cities I'd visited, start a family... Everything I'd dreamed of could come crashing down in a second all because of one little word. But I wasn't selfish. I could never ask something like that of Louis, to save me and risk everything. I continued, "Don't you dare agree to this."

"I don't have a choice," Louis told me, turning away before I could even begin to retaliate. "I'll do it. Just don't hurt her."

"It's my life, Louis!" I screamed at him. "Yours is more important than mine! You honestly think she gives a damn about me?"

"No," Louis said, shaking his head. "That's why she's using you against me."

"Then don't let her!" I was frantic now, trying to escape Malor's hands. "If I die she has nothing to use against you. You can't let her bully you like this. You're the fúcking Prince of Junito! You are the only important person in this room."

"Stop it," Flora," Louis spoke quietly. "I've made my choice, whether you like it or not."

"I won't let you-"

"You don't have a say here!" he shouted at me. He'd never shouted at me like this before, never like this and I felt myself shrink backwards. His tone alone was enough to make my eyes begin to tear up. "You said it yourself; I'm the prince. And as the prince I'm telling you to drop it."

"You're such a dick," I whispered, the tears falling down my face. I didn't try to hide it. I wanted him to see me cry, I wanted him to know that he meant so much to me and I was willing to do anything to keep him safe.

"Maybe I am, but you'll still be alive," he said, not looking at me. "You'll forgive me eventually." He turned his attention back to Klaru then. "You don't lay a finger on her - or my crew - and I'll do what you want. But as soon as this conversation is over, you'll let Flora go."

Klaru scoffed. "Let her go? I think not, Loudrix. I may need her again after we return to Junito because after all, it's easy to say one thing and then change your mind the next. Do not try to play me as a fool, dear prince. I'll be bringing her with us in case you decide to try something unreasonable."

My head snapped in her direction so quick I could have swore I heard the faintest click. "What?"

Her cold gaze found my face and she rested a gentle had on my shoulder. Her other hand reached up and wiped away my tears. "Welcome aboard, Flora. I'll make sure you and the prince and comfortable on our ascent to Junito."

And then everything was moving so quickly I had no idea what was going on. Malor and Norkar roughly guided Louis and I behind Klaru as she strode ahead, leading us through the ship's bright hallways as if she owned it. I could see Louis grit his teeth out the corner of my eye and I thought to myself, if he could turn back time to the day he was setting off on his mission, still with the knowledge of everything that had played out, would he still have jumped into the adventure? There were so many lives at stake and he was royalty, in charge of his people and ensuring their safety, so to head straight into the disaster that had been his journey to Earth and back, would he have risked it all again?

We followed Klaru until we were standing before a tall white door with silver handles. Something stirred in my memory and I realised I'd been in there before, it was the infirmary. The place I had been injected with tracking serum, where Nix had found me and helped me to escape. She would probably be disappointed in me if she happened to see both Louis and myself now held captive, like I'd wasted the opportunity. 

Louis was demanding what was happening, shouting at the top of his voice but Klaru ignored him completely and told Norkar to take him to the cells. I watched, helpless as The Councillor dragged Louis away, kicking and screaming until I could hear only silence. There was no use in my trying to fight against Malor's grip to stop all of this for it would be like fighting a losing battle. All I could do was release a pathetic whimper as I watched my friend vanish from sight. I was about to ask what the cells were, even though I had a pretty good idea, when I was suddenly tugged forward through the doors, my vision momentarily stolen by the blinding whiteness of the infirmary lights. 

Like before, I was made to lay on a cold table surface but this time I was not bound. Perhaps it was because this time I was putting up no fight; I was too numb, head to toe with the events of the last few minutes still fresh in my mind. For the longest time I'd been ecstatic to go to Junito with Louis, to meet his people and learn the way of the Junites. But now everything seemed so pointless. The journey wasn't going to be all rainbows and happiness like I'd originally expected it to be, with Louis smiling by my side as he pointed out constellation after constellation as the ship soared through space at one-hundred miles an hour. No. I was a prisoner on this trip.

Even after the needle was injected into my skin and the first wave of drowsiness tried to take me over, I was still thinking of Louis' determination to keep me alive and safe no matter what happened. It was like the tables had turned once again only now it was a case of both of us having to keep each other alive.

Thank you for reading, as always! x
Space joke: Why didn't the astronaut stay on the moon? Because it was too full!
Cazza