“Jett… Jett?"

  My eyes fluttered open slowly.

  “He’s awake!” Keisha’s voice rang out. My head felt like it had been split in two. Every part of me ached, and I couldn’t lift myself.

  “Got it!” she said as she hoisted me up carefully. “Sorry about that, Jett.”

  Keisha dashed forward as the jet descended near us. The landing gear touched down, and the hatch opened with a hiss. We climbed aboard, and Liv hit the thrusters without hesitation. The engine roared, and the jet surged forward.

  Keisha gently lowered me to the floor.

  No one spoke.

  Not a single word.

  Mason’s visor, still strapped on my head, said everything; I hadn’t succeeded. Varko had taken him.

  “We're approaching our universe,” Liv said flatly, eyes locked ahead. “Crossing dimensional rift…”

  I forced myself up and stumbled to my seat. It hurt really bad. “Liv, increase the speed; we need to get Vey to the medical team stat.”

  “Got it.” She said and increased the thrusters. The jet jerked a bit, but it was faster. I saw the station blinking on the map and adjusted some buttons. The bay opened, and we headed for it.

  The ship eased down, wheels hissing against the tarmac as we slowed to a halt in the hangar.

  Through the cockpit window, I saw the commander and generals waiting.

  “Let’s go.” I unstrapped myself, opened the door, and stepped out. My team followed.

  “Get Vey to the medbay—she’s in critical condition,” General Helen ordered Keisha.

  Without a word, she nodded and carried Vey out of the hangar, General Helen behind her.

  General Ralph turned toward me. “Jett Kaimana. You disobeyed direct orders.”

  “It wasn’t his fault, we all—” Liv began, but he stopped her.

  “Excuses will not be tolerated,” he barked.

  Commander Darren sighed. “The mission was to destroy the E-rank ship—which you completed. But returning to the battlefield to recover one already presumed safe? That was not your directive. Vey is hanging on by a thread because of your decision. And Mason… well, you came back empty-handed.”

  I kept silent.

  “When out in battle, a leader weighs the pros and cons of a situation in order to make the right decision. You did not do that.” He explained, “Vey was in trouble; you saw that and got her to the ship. You had rallied your team in an attempt to leave, and suddenly you lost one member, who, granted, was also battle-tired. You went back to retrieve him, knowing all too well that the enemy was a greater foe than you, yet you allowed your pride to get the better of you, and look what happened...”

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  I clenched my fists.

  “...Vey’s life hangs on a thread, Mason is nowhere to be found, and your entire team is in disarray. If Vey dies,” he continued, “what will you say as the leader?”

  I released my grip and looked him in the eye, remaining silent.

  Commander Darren sighed. “Return to your quarters. A debriefing will be held tomorrow to review the operation.”

  Without another glance, he turned and walked away. General Ralph glared at me before exiting as well.

  I walked over to the wall and sat down on the cold floor of the hangar, eyes closed.

  Footsteps approached. It was Liv; she sat beside me quietly.

  Her eyes were rimmed red. She looked at me.

  “Mason…”

  That was all she said.

  And I had nothing to say back.

  Because I didn’t know if we’d ever see him again. I stood up and left her there; I was tired, and I needed to rest.

  I got to the door and opened it, then I walked through the hallway.

  “You're back… and he isn't…”

  I stopped in my tracks.

  “So, why’d you come back… if he wasn’t with you?” Levi asked.

  I turned, my voice low. “I didn’t have a choice.”

  Levi frowned. “Doesn’t look like it. You’re in one piece.”

  I met his stare. “Mostly.”

  He scoffed.

  "Levi Keisha’s voice rang out, sharp and cutting. Her boots struck the floor hard as she stepped between us.

  “Mason might be out there, bleeding or worse—and this is what you’re doing? Really?” Her glare bounced between us.

  Levi shifted his blindfold to his left eye and turned.

  “He’ll survive,” he muttered. “The real question is if he’s ever coming back to us.”

  He paused, then looked back over his shoulder—his voice colder than before.

  “And if he doesn’t… I’ll make your life a living hell, Jett.”

  Then he walked off, no hesitation.

  Keisha reached out, almost calling him back, but stopped herself.

  My heart was pounding. Too loud. My legs were unsteady. The floor felt off-balance.

  The spinning hit me hard.

  “Jett?”

  Keisha’s voice sounded far away.

  My knees buckled, and the last thing I saw was the hallway lights blurring as the floor rushed up to meet me.

  ***

  I woke up to the sound of boots. I groaned and tried to sit up—pain lanced through my ribs. A hiss escaped my teeth.

  “Don’t move too fast.” Keisha chided me.

  I turned my head slowly. She was sitting in the corner, arms crossed, legs pulled up onto the chair. Eyes tired.

  “How long was I out?” I asked, voice dry.

  “It's the next day.”

  I let my head fall back against the pillow.

  “You fainted,” she added, almost like she was trying to tease. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “I shouldn’t have left him,” I said, finally.

  Keisha looked at me. “You didn’t leave him. You came back alive so you can go back for him.”

  I turned my face away. “That’s not how it feels.”

  Keisha stood and walked over, sitting gently on the edge of the bed.

  “We’re not done yet, Jett. If Mason’s out there, we will find him. But you need to be standing to fight.” Her hand rested lightly on my arm for a second before pulling back.

  “The debrief is about to start; let’s get going.” She stood up. Before she left, she glanced over her shoulder.

  “Don’t make us lose you too.”

  Then she was gone.

  I stared at the ceiling again, fingers curling slowly into fists.

  I wasn’t done. Not even close.

  The hall was silent as I walked in; eyes turned sharply to me as I walked up to my team, or what was left of it.

  At the far end stood Commander Darren. The two generals were beside him. They'd already started the debriefing.

  “Team Alphys successfully destroyed the E rank vessel.” Commander Darren continued after I joined Keisha and Liv.

  “But at a cost… Vey Amarin is in critical condition. Her survival is uncertain.”

  “Mason Ramirez… is missing.”

  The room froze, and the tension swelled. I heard Liv whimper. Keisha inhaled deeply.

  “This debrief is not for the success of the operation,” he said, stepping forward. “It is for the failure of leadership.”

  I felt the room’s eyes shift again—right to me.

  “Jett Kaimana.” Commander Darren said, voice harder now, “You were given a direct command to return once the ship was destroyed. You disobeyed. You went back. You placed the team in danger. You failed to recover the missing. And in doing so, you nearly lost another.”

  “You made a choice based on sentiment. Not strategy. And now one of your teammates may never open her eyes again.”

  “I understand loyalty. I understand the bond between teammates. But leadership demands clarity, not emotion. Judgment, not instinct.”

  “You showed bravery. But you lacked discipline.”

  “But…” I stopped Liv from speaking. I glanced at her and shook my head.

  He took a breath.

  “As of this moment, Jett Kaimana is relieved of his duties as leader of team Alphys.”

  A sharp gasp rippled through the others.

  I didn’t flinch. I'd expected it right from when I jumped out of the jet.

  He didn’t slow down.

  “In his place, Levi Smith will assume leadership.”

  Levi?? Not Nolan?? I glanced at Levi. He didn’t look surprised one bit.

  He raised his chin slightly. “Yes, sir.”

  “Let this be remembered,” he said to all of us. “Titles can be earned—but they can also be lost.”

  He stepped back.

  "Dismissed