“Citizens of the Ophiuchus Sector…” Arcturus addressed the crowd before him. From his position atop the emperor’s palace, he had a wide view of the packed ceremonial auditorium glimmering in the white glow of the Ophiuchi nebula. He donned an orange toga, and the traditional crown of stars sat on his head. The very same from over 2000 years ago. “...And to the citizens of all sectors in the Greater Systems, I’m proud to announce our capture of the Travis System. Our heroes in the Blue Legion, led by Legate Pollux, have landed us mere light-years away from the final push to clear the Sagittarius Sector of the Ruber. We will squeak them out, and red flame will never be feared in the Greater Systems ever again. Nothing can stop the might of Ophiuchus!”

The crowd below him erupted in applause. Fists of dark and light blue and sparse yellow flames splotted across the crowd. Arcturus raised his fist, igniting it in an orange light. 

“F**k Ophiuchus!” A voice echoed above the noise of the crowd. An object spiraled up through the air, a used nebulant. It was coated in an orange flame. 

From his right, one of Arcturus’s dark blue guards stepped in front of him, pushing him backwards. His chest hummed with a light blue energy. Like a bolt of lightning, a blue flare escaped from the guard’s chest, piercing the incoming object. In a small explosion, dark blue embers and ash dispersed over the palace. 

Silence befell the crowd, but only for a moment, as it burst into roars of laughter. 

The star broke from the crowd, flying up above them. The orange star burned the same color core as Arcturus, but he wore rugged clothes, a faded uniform battered with the grime of labor. 

“Let me speak to him.” Arcturus patted the guard’s shoulder. 

The guard was reluctant but let Arcturus push past him. “Please, citizen, speak your mind. We are listening.”

“The hell you are,” the star grunted. An orange energy built in his chest. 

The guard intervened, pushing Arcturus to the side and igniting his own chest once again. The flare fired out, piercing the orange star before he could release his own. 

“Glory to the Reds forever,” the star spat in ashes before exploding in a colorful display of blue and orange. The embers and ashes of the nova faded out as they cooled in the void of space.

Arcturus stumbled back, stopped by another guard behind him. Arcturus had to reorient himself. He could hear the jeers and laughs of the crowd. He stepped back up to the railing of the balcony, looking through the thin cloud of ashy remnants to the auditorium below.

“It's not a show without some fireworks!” Arcturus yelled. “Glory to the Greater Systems! Glory to Ophiuchus!” 

The crowd responded accordingly.

Arcturus’s smile faded. He had failed to let them know of the growing pressure on the Taurus and Gemini fronts. It was this pressure that gave the orange star the confidence to pull off his stunt. 

He turned to the guard beside him. “Any word from Castor?”

**BREAK**

“Mira, wait,” Atlas yelled from down the hall, chasing after her. Mira was gliding through the corridors trying to lose Atlas on her trail.

“Leave me alone,” Mira yelled back to him.

“I’m sorry, Mira,” Atlas yelled back. He couldn’t keep up with her even if he tried. Mira turned a corner and shot down the corridor, leaving Atlas in her fog of purple dust. “Mira! Please!” 

Mira pretended to not hear him and continued onwards through the complex. She flew until she reached a metal door tucked away in one of the smaller corridors. 

A label on the door read: observing balcony. A warning label directly below it read, Please do not leave the balcony. Mira pushed on the door with a fist of flame. The metal door creaked open. 

The cool emptiness of space curled around her skin. She embraced it, exiting out and running to the ledge of the balcony. The metal barrier reached up to her chest. She drifted over it. 

From here she could see all of Helyx Academy. It sat in the blue haze of the nebula. It was made of interconnecting blocks, built in a curved shape around Helyx, the central star. The designers must’ve had a thing for gray and dull blue, seeing as it was what comprised most of the structure. She spotted Violet below her on her block. The UV bathing pad’s hexagonal shape and bright color were apparent amongst the cubes. Their star shone directly onto it, illuminating the cushionings. 

At the back quarter of the complex was a bright white orb that functioned as Helyx Academy's main energy source. It was similar in function to the star cores that made up their own internal energy, though larger to accommodate all of Helyx Academy. 

Mira, atop the barrier, looked back at the doorway, biting her lip. She shook her head. Leaping upwards from the balcony, she began to scale the wall, finding a crevice in the metal to squeeze into. The metal of the hole she found was already worn to a brighter gray. She came here quite often. It was a nice view, and the outdoors provided a sense of homeliness that the monotone Helyx corridors couldn’t offer. 

She knew Atlas would find her up here eventually. She was kind of hoping he would. She wanted to explain, and yell at him, but mostly explain. For now she just watched as the starlight reflected off the metal below. 

It took around 5 minutes for the door to open below her. “Mira?” she heard Atlas ask. 

Mira didn’t respond. She saw a hand reach over the barrier and Atlas climb on top of it. His head poked over, and he looked up to her. Mira looked away and crossed her arms, not giving him the satisfaction. 

“Mira,” he muttered. He drifted up towards her, cautiously glancing around as he did. Atlas was a rule follower. He had to know he wasn’t being watched. He found a space next to her and made sure to position himself at least a few feet away from her. He sat there for a few seconds before saying anything.

“I’m sorry, Mira,” he spoke softly. 

Mira kept quiet for a few seconds. The low hum of the star being the only audible noise. “Say what you need to say,” Mira replied. 

Atlas looked over to her and back out. “What would it mean if I said it?” Atlas asked.

“Whatever you want it to mean.”

“Not sure that’s how that works.”

“Atlas, I messed up, ok?” Mira started. “I was caught up in the moment. Castor was there, and I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to hit her like that.” She paused for a moment. “You don’t know what it's like.” 

“You always say that, Mira. It doesn't excuse you every time, you know.”

“Maybe it doesn't, whatever. They still expect so much from me,” Mira huffed.

“Mira, what are you trying to prove? They know you’re strong. They’re going to choose you over anyone else anytime.”

“Castor didn’t at first.”

“But he did, Mira. He was pretending to be fair to see what it’ll make you do,” Atlas replied. “And it worked. Look what you did.” 

“Ugh,” Mira groaned. “I'm not an idiot.”

“I didn’t say you were, but you can be headstrong,” Atlas replied. “Don’t get mad at me for saying that.” 

Mira sighed, trying to let go of her anger. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but it's not always easy. Again, you’re not me.”

“I know. I’m just trying to tell you the things I see.” 

Mira looked down over the facility. “I appreciate it, Atlas.” She wiped her eyes before a tear could be shed. 

They sat there in silence for a moment. Listening to the song of the star and the soft noises echoing from the complex. 

Atlas looked over to Mira, itching to ask her about Rigel too, but let the questions wait for another time.