Officer Edwards stirred faintly. Veins webbed under his skin, identical to Captain Thorn, Officer Bird, and Officer Decker. His eyes opened blearily and he grunted. "What h-happened?"

     I was standing at the counter in the medical bay, sifting through some supplies. With Byrne in the brig, we had no official doctor. Luckily, I had enough field experience and training to handle helping a bit. "To cut it short, there were some disagreements after we landed. Byrne's in the brig. And you've suffered a head injury. Heads up." I stuck the needle into his arm. Edwards looked away with a wince.

     "Disagreements? She was acting like you were some devil. No offense, First Officer."

    "None taken. Feel up to walking? We've got a meeting with the Captain in the Bridge."

    He grunted and sat up. "I've got a feeling I won't be up to par for a bit. I could really use some whiskey."

    That startled a short smile from me, remembering the night in the Lounge that we had shared a drink. It quickly faded. Officer Edwards pulled on some clothes and stumbled after me to the Bridge. Captain Thorn was sitting at his station and sifting through some file. Officer Peterson was sitting nervously at his own place. Edwards joined Bird at their dual-station and Decker was just behind us in coming in. Bryne was absent.

     "Everyone is present, Captain." I sat down at my own station and turned in the chair to face him. I felt undeniably relieved that I no longer had to act as Captain. Pressure had been released from my shoulders. Not all of it, but enough that I no longer felt like I was being suffocated.

    "Good." The Captain cleared his throat. "I understand that Officers Edwards, Bird, and Decker have not been fully caught up yet, but I'm afraid we don't have time. I'm sure Peterson has already informed you that the Patriot was late in arrival. Two hundred and fifty years late."

    I saw Officer Edwards blink slowly. Decker stumbled over what he was doing on his station, eyes widening. Captain Thorn continued briskly, "We've discovered that the Patriot was missing electron batteries and the programming forced us to slow down to preserve our lives. However, there are no traces of where the batteries went or how they were taken. I believe it to be an act of intentional sabotage."

    Officer Peterson's head snapped up. "Peterson, be looking for any trace or link to the intruders recently and possible intruders before takeoff. Find any links to connect the two. I will count circumstantial evidence as solid evidence. Officer Decker, go with him to the control room. Peterson can catch you up on the way."

    "Yes, Captain," muttered Officer Peterson. He got up, Officer Decker swiftly following him out. The doors slid shut after them. I focused back on the Captain as he looked toward Edwards. "You are under medical emergency surveillance, Officer Edwards. I've been informed that being awoken manually already has its side effects, and having suffered a head injury right after may exacerbate those. You are not to be alone off of this ship at any time until you have been cleared. Understand?"

    "Yes, Captain."

    "Good. I suggest that no crewmember be alone off ship, anyway." Captain Thorn's eyes slid toward me. "What is the situation?"

    I cleared my throat and checked the hull cameras. "The Mayor of Settlement Mirah is still having us guarded. However, the press somehow knew that we were here before the soldiers arrived. Byrne suggested that revealing our location was part of the strategy to break into the ship, since it allowed a crowd to form around us. Anyone could slip through easily."

     "And the press on us?"

    "Not good. They are assuming we are imposters or scoundrels, Captain."

    His eyebrows drew together. "Why? We took off at the same time as the Pioneer. Being late should not warrant that."

    I felt the eyes of the rest of the Bridge Crew. I inhaled slowly. "We soon disappeared from the sight of the Pioneer during flight. Records and memories became stories and stories became myths. By the time the Patriot landed on Z-031, the Zoellians were convinced that the Patriot I crew was a bedtime story. At least, this is what I've been told and filled in from there."

    "First Officer, why do I have a feeling that that's not the worst of it?" Officer Bird remarked dryly.

    "Because humans have a reputation for blowing things out of proportion." I grimaced. "Part of the myth they have made up makes us out to be immortals."

    Officer Edwards frowned. "Why is that worse than the original myth?"

    Captain Thorn exhaled in a whistle. "Because people are going to want to test that theory out of nothing but spite. It paints a target on our backs. And a good one, at that."

    "The people out there, Captain, aren't happy," I confirmed. "Most can't believe that we're real. Others are hostile."

    "How are we supposed to protect a people that are hostile?" asked Officer Bird. I felt his words like a snap of fingers in my face. I blinked and glanced at the Captain quickly.

    "How are we supposed to protect a people that are hostile..." He repeated quietly. "That's a good question that I'm not going to address yet. First I'm going to make sure that we weren't sabotaged by our own crew." He stood up. "Officers, please do whatever you feel you need to make yourselves ready to disembark. First Officer, come with me."

   I got to my feet and followed him out of the room. His intention became clear when he opened the door to the stairwell and stopped at the brig's doors. His hand on the glock on his side, he entered first. I stepped into the brig, having been there for the first time. The walls were grey and there were five separate cells. The front wall was made of slightly-fogged glass. Thin, white lines ran through it. And in the nearest cell sat Byrne. She hardly looked up as we entered. Her wrists were cuffed in front of her.

    "Well, well," she drawled, "finally come to see me, have you?"

    It's only been about an hour. I didn't show an ounce of emotion on my face as I walked in behind the Captain. Her eyes slid up and found me. Her lip curled. "Come to gloat?"

    Captain Thorn put his hands behind his back. I didn't miss how his right hand was open and made it easier to grab his gun. "First Officer Autumn is your superior, as am I, Olivia. I expect us to be addressed as such."

    Byrne spat onto the ground and glared at my head. "She's no officer of mine."

    Luckily for you, I don't particularly care anymore. Captain Thorn evidently did, as he said sharply, "Enough." Byrne snapped her mouth closed in surprise. "I won't allow disrespect to any crew member, much less my First Officer. I came down to offer you a second chance but I am fully willing to revoke that. Do I make myself clear?"

    Both of us looked at him. My eyes slid his way in surprise and my hands tightened behind my back. A second chance? I felt like she deserved to be booted from the crew without any hesitation. She was a danger – an unpredictable risk. Captain Thorn wanted to willingly take that in?

    "Yes, Captain," Byrne muttered.

    "I've listened to both sides of the story," he said. "And I've come to realize this was just an error of miscommunication. Now, in no way does that warrant your actions, Byrne. You've put the whole crew in jeopardy and attempted to overthrow your commanding officer."

    She opened her mouth to speak, thought about it, and changed her mind. Captain Thorn continued, "However, I understand the stress. None of us are thinking clearly. We're all under an immense amount of pressure – First Officer Autumn especially. I am placing you on one-strike probation. One wrong move and I'm firing you from the crew. This one-strike probation will remain for the next of your term as Intelligence Officer Byrne or until I decide otherwise."

    I quickly bit my tongue before I did something I regretted. First he was allowing her to remain on the ship. Now he was reinstating her as an Officer? I felt like he was making a massive mistake, but I wasn't in charge. I snapped my jaw closed and bit down my argument. Byrne – or rather Officer Byrne – stared. "I'm being reinstated?"

    "For the time being. If I feel that I've made a mistake, then you will either be demoted or released from duty. Remember: one strike and you're done." Captain Thorn's voice turned sharp at the end.

    "I understand!" She said quickly. "Thank you, Captain."

    "Don't thank me." Captain Thorn turned and winked subtly at me though his voice remained stern. "Thank First Officer Autumn. She had a kill shot at you in the chamber and she didn't take it. Clearly, you've got something akin to potential or you'd be dead." He left the brig. The door closed after him.