The fleetship cruises smoothly in the sky as it's currently on autopilot. It resembles a colossal beast lurking in the night.
Outside the porthole, an endless stream of stars flickers like a shimmering wave of light.In the aircraft cabin, Caleb puts me on the bed.Retrieving a first-aid kit, he sets it down and carefully removes the bloody fabric from my knee.Under the harsh light, blood continues to flow.His gloves are dyed a bright crimson. I look away.

"Does it hurt?" I didn't answer Are you mad at me?"

No."As I hear him take out the medicine and equipment, I start to turn around. But then his hand covers my eyes.A fine needle pricks my skin, and the searing pain instantly dissipates. "Caleb."I raise my head and look into his eyes.The explosion in the Cascade District was just a convenient excuse to justify the"cleanup." "Then there's Kevi and Mia... Those were manufactured "accidents" too.You... What have you been doing behind my back?"

Caleb wipes away the blood from my knee and disposes of the syringe. He retrieves a surgical skin stapler. "What do you think could've happened if I hadn't been there tonight?"Click. The surgical skin stapler leaves behind a faint mark. "I can't bear going through the same pain again. Or do you want me to reexperience that loneliness because I left you?"

"That's not—"

"You shouldn't throw yourself into danger anymore."Click. His fingers touch the stitched area and wipe away the tiny droplets of blood.Whether those people live or die tonight...It doesn't matter anymore.Anyone who dares to wield power that isn't theirs must pay the price.The explosion was just an opportunity for the Fleet to intervene. You arrived in Skyhaven at the wrong time."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Would anything change? Would it even make a difference?" He sets down the surgical skin stapler and bandages my wound. Then he calmly meets my gaze.

"So you kept me in the dark to stop me from doing anything. Did you really think I wouldn't question such "protection"?"Caleb remains silent. I lick my dry lips, suddenly tired of arguing with him. "Fine. Once your fleetship lands, I'll leave."

"No, you won't.Since you managed to escape once, we'll be going somewhere else."He lifts his hand and cups my cheek. Yet his fingers are freezing cold. "I will protect you.Until everything is resolved, I need to make sure you're safe and sound."With the mission over, Caleb takes me to the special care unit on the Farspace Fleetship. I can't even step outside of it.The walls, white as snow, are adorned with all sorts of medical devices, their multi-colored indicator lights dancing incessantly.I don't know his rationale or how exactly I'm being kept here. Though, I couldn't care less right now.I look at the blue and white medical gown I'm wearing. It's ironic I got labeled as a "target for observation."Their conversation draws to a close and is replaced by the sound of familiar footsteps getting closer.I return to the bed and lie down as if I haven't heard them speak.The door opens silently, and Caleb walks in. The room's lights adjust with his every step. "Mornin'."As he nears the bed, the room brightens as if to imitate the breaking dawn. He pulls up a chair and sits down. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. The Colonel ordered people to take care of me. Who would dare to neglect me?"

"While the crystalline shards have been removed from your wound, it can still be infected."

Caleb taps the vital signs monitor on the wall, and various data values appear in midair.My heart rate, my breathing rate... Everything but my current mental state is right in front of him.

"Caleb, I need to leave."

"You'll be out of here soon enough."He meets my gaze, his words seemingly admonishing me.