It felt like an eternity passed before I finally unfurled from my foetal position, forcing myself to my feet. Numb and exhausted, I staggered forward slightly, trying to find my balance.

As I stabilised, I noted that the smell of a delicious stew wafted through the air. It was no doubt a result of the efforts of those around us, but the tightness in my stomach prevented me from finding it appealing.

With no more tears left to cry, a new determination gave me the strength to follow the eroded grassy trail of Tobi's earlier furious departure. The Andekas were sure to accept my offer of capitulation, which meant we might not have much time left, and I couldn't bear for us to part while we were both consumed with so much bitterness and sorrow.

Following the worn path to the sturdier end of the ruins, I trudged heavily through one of the flint archways that led to the clifftops.

In the distance, sitting on the edge of the high precipice that overlooked the vast ocean, I recognised Tobi's figure by his distinctive platinum blond hair.

The moment I set eyes on him, I felt light-headed and queasy as a pang of sorrow ran through me.

What if we couldn't resolve this? What if any effort to do so just made things worse?

Inhaling deeply, I consciously pushed back my concerns and focused on reaching my goal. It wasn't long until I was standing next to the slender Katki who was picking up small, nearby stones and, one by one, throwing them with considerable force over the edge of the cliff into the rolling waves below.

Despite plainly being able to see me in his peripheral vision, he didn't look round or acknowledge my presence.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked tentatively.

"Sure," he shrugged frostily as he pitched another pebble to meet its fate in the watery depths.

I felt another stab of pain at his cold demeanour, but I knew we needed to talk, and took a deep, shaky breath before seating myself on the crag, facing the sea and throwing in a small stone of my own.

"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about Seren before making such a huge decision," I ventured.

We sat in silence for a few seconds, and I launched another piece of flint over the edge of the cliff as I waited anxiously for him to say something, turning to face him when I finally heard his trembling voice.

"It all just happened so fast," Tobi sighed as he looked up to the lingering clouds, but despite his best efforts, the action didn't prevent me from seeing the droplet that escaped his eye and rolled towards his ear. "I'm not disputing the need to get Seren to safety, but surely there must be another way?"

"I can't think of one," I sighed. "If we had more time available then we would have been able to consider more options. But Seren's pregnant, and she's with the Andekas now. I can't think of anything else we can do with the resources we've got available to us. Can you?"

Another tear followed the same path as the previous one down the side of his pallid face as he shook his head and exhaled.

"Your selfless attitude is one of the reasons I love you so much," he replied dejectedly. "So, I guess I shouldn't really protest when you decide to put others first."

"I understand, but I think what stung you the most is that I made the decision on my own without talking to you first," I reasoned. "Am I right?"

The Katki's gaze wandered across the drifting clouds as he appeared to consider what I'd asked him, his eyes releasing more saline droplets as he blinked.

"Probably," he decided after a while.

"Sacrificing our relationship for Seren should have been a joint decision, and I'm sorry for not consulting you earlier. If there's another way of attaining her safety, I'm absolutely open to options."

Tobi turned to face me. His red, swollen eyes were completely visible to me for the first time since our fight, revealing the extent of his suffering with the same impact as a punch to my gut.

"I just...," he faltered with an erratic breath as another tear fell. "I don't trust the Andekas."

"Neither do I," I confirmed to him, pivoting my whole body to face his and taking his hand gently in mine as I felt my own cheeks moisten.

"They might not release her, even if they say they will," he implored.

"I know," I replied softly.

"Then why are you so set on doing this?" he entreated.

"Because I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try," I explained. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I still feel guilty about Six Eight Three Two. The more I've tried to investigate the Katki, the more people seem to get hurt, and I can't keep letting people suffer for the sake of my curiosity. This has gone far enough. The civilians know the truth now. Whether or not they choose to believe it is up to them. I can't see what more I can do. If I had access to my lab, I might be able to create something to help us infiltrate the Kinnisvara, but I don't. And I know these people are well-meaning, but we won't win this with morals and good intentions. Especially when the Andekas are expecting us to go after Seren. We either need a concrete plan, and we need it soon, or I need to give them what they want. Which is me. And really, I can't see what reason they'll have to hold her if I give myself up."

Tobi's tears continued to fall as he looked towards our linked hands, silently contemplating our predicament. I could see how conflicted he was.

"I know I'm being selfish, but I don't want you to go," he eventually confessed.

I understood. My heart was also breaking at the idea of our separation, but I knew we had very few options available to us.

"I know you'll be hurt if I disappear," I assured him. "I desperately want to stay here with you too. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before, and the thought of us being separated is killing me inside. But I love Seren too, even if it's in a different way, and she's the one in danger right now."

"I don't know how to exist without you," he implored.

"You'll have a whole community around you," I attempted to reassure him as I gesticulated towards the distant ruins.

Tobi turned away, and I shifted uneasily in the ensuing silence.

"You're accepted here in a way that just isn't possible for you down there right now," I tried again, indicating the various towns beyond the sanctuary. "You belong here. You're surrounded by people that love you. You can be yourself and never have to pretend to be anything else. In many ways, it's a better home than I could have ever offered you."

The platinum blond turned to face me again.

"They're not you, Matty," he urged.

"Maybe not, but at least you'll be safe," I countered.

"You're right," he sighed heavily. "I'll be able survive up here, and I may be protected. But it will feel meaningless without you. Every day I'll know that the cost of my freedom is your imprisonment, or worse."

"Please don't think of it like that. Your freedom is important to me, and so is Seren's."

"And what about your freedom?"

"I know this is difficult. It is for me too," I admitted. "But the Andekas have Seren and her unborn child, and I have no idea what's happening to her. Please tell me you understand why I feel I need to do this."

I watched helplessly as another tear snaked down Tobi's cheek.

"I understand," he whispered. "I hate the thought of losing you, but I understand. If I thought the Andekas would take me so that you could go free, I would do the same."

"Promise me you won't make that offer to them."

"I wouldn't trust them to accept it even if I did," he assured me. "What do you think they'll do once they have you?"

It was a good question. I doubted I'd get off as lightly as Dr Stone, although I didn't voice it.

"I have no idea," I answered him honestly. "There's no precedent for this situation."

"Matty..."

"I'd rather not talk about what might happen to me," I interrupted him. "I just want us to make the most of whatever time we have left together. Can we do that? Please?"

Cupping the side of his face gently with my hand, I leaned forward enough to allow our lips to touch as he tilted his head to accept the gesture.

In another world we could have been so right for each other. Under different circumstances we could have had our happy ever after, and my soul ached for a path we'd never get to follow. Our months spent together suddenly seemed like a handful of days, contrived and fleeting, leading me into a trance-like state where Tobi was the only thing that existed.

Unsure whether the salt I detected on my lips was from my tears or his, I kissed him until the sun sank below the horizon and cast magenta hues in its wake.

It felt like this was the calm before the storm and I wanted to ensure I had one last taste of heaven before my world imploded.