The silence inside the shuttle feels awkward. Even though we all know that Jay has these strange cube-related visions, it’s difficult not to feel intimidated by the power of this mass-extinction ancient relic. When the light finally disappears, we all look at Jay, waiting for something to happen. Maybe an explanation would be good right now.

“Is everything alright?” I ask him.

“Yes...no. I don’t know. I just had a pretty strange vision,” he replies to me.

Jay seems more tired than yesterday and the day before. To be honest, he hasn’t changed into his other form for five days now, since the day I told him the truth about my feelings. Sure, we’re having the time of our lives, but it would be nice if I could see the other Jay again and explain things to him, even just for a moment.

It’s not that I didn’t like him, that’s far from true. I just liked his dangerous personality better. I know, that doesn’t say much for my personality, but I’m done chasing theories and ideal pictures of romance. Right now, it’s just hard, cold truth all the way.

Jay seems to have trouble speaking his mind. Inside the shuttle, Silver and I look at each other, trying to understand what’s going on, but it’s futile. Zan seems as lost as us; Pyro wears that hellish red mask that keeps reminding me of the night he killed my friends, the corrupt human Originators that were paid by the humans to have the Phadh species annihilated by using the Nusae Relic. And Doctor Cross...well, he’s just as gloomy as ever.

The two gray-masked brothers stayed back at the juggernaut with Alyce; they have no reason to endanger their lives for our battle. I don’t want them anywhere close to this planet, but also, if we end up surviving this thing, then we need a way out of Yaerus.

I’m not sure I like the idea of having a team with people that are so self-centered and emotionally unstable, but I’m also trained now, and I can make up for any holes in our teamwork. It’s just that I hope I’ll be enough.

“We’re five minutes away from the predefined landing spot. It’s 7:00 pm, Yaerus time. Brace yourselves for a rough landing. It’s going to be tough gentlemen,” Silver says, using a different accent today than the one she used yesterday.

Zan seems pleasantly entertained with that game of theirs. On the other hand, Silver is probably trying different accents to fit her new-found sentient powers. I’m not sure I have this whole thing figured out yet, but they both seem so happy with each other that I would be a resentful bitch if I spoiled it for them.

I check my safety belt and wait to hear that clicking sound that means that it’s in place. For Silver, the best pilot in the crew, to say that it’s going to be a difficult landing, it probably means that we may not get out of this unscathed.

The closer we get to the ground the louder the explosions outside sound. I’m not exactly sure what is exploding over and over again, but I’m not sure I want to know at the same time. Mosa used to be a safe place, a place where people could trust humans to protect them. Now it’s just a shadow of itself.

Silver is right, though. The blasts from the continuous explosions toss the shuttle around, pushing us onto the debris of a building. The metal hull of the shuttle concaves on that side, leading to Cross and Pyro unbuckling their belts to avoid getting hit by the receding metal. They spend the rest of the journey trying not to break a bone or get seriously hurt by jumping up and down in the shuttle, counter-matching the random movements caused by the explosions.

“One minute to landing! Patience boys! We’ll be on the ground in a minute,” Silver says again.

This time, Zan doesn’t have the same jovial expression as before. He’s afraid, never quite getting used to flying in a shuttle.

The two men nod and continue walking up and down the tight aisle of the shuttle. They’re trained assassins, elite operatives of an underground organization that tries to retain peace in the Known Galaxy. At least that’s what they’re saying to us. Still, seeing them utilize the small space of the shuttle, and even each other, while trying to get out of this situation without a serious injury, it seems almost like a supernatural dance. Even Jay looks at them in awe.

A sudden tremor, followed by the engines stopping, can only mean that we have finally landed on Mosa.

“That was it, people. I hope everyone is okay,” Silver says.

Pyro and Cross look at each other, slowly panting while trying to catch up their breaths. They look like they do this kind of things every day. It’s almost impossible to match these people.

“We’re fine. We have to be careful from now on, though. We have no idea what we’ll meet outside. Grab your things and stay close. We have to find a safe place to camp for the night. It’s too late now to start towards the energy signal,” Pyro says.

Cross agrees, but Jay doesn’t seem ready to follow their command just yet. He stands up and strides in front of him, stopping him from getting out of the shuttle. His eyes are glassy, and his face seems even darker than usual. It’s like he’s burning in fever.

“Why don’t we just use this shitty shuttle and fly there? There’s no time to lose. The Nusae bug told me,” he suddenly says.

Nusae...bug? What is he talking about? He doesn’t make any sense.

“If we use the shuttle to fly to the energy signal, we’re all going to die,” Cross says, trying to appease Jay. But he doesn’t hear a thing.

“You’re such a pussy. If we don’t hurry there, a whole species is going to die, and it’s gonna be your fault. The cube is at a crucial point. It’s almost unlocked, and if we’re not there by the time it does, I won’t be able to control it,” he says.

That seems to grant him the benefit of the doubt. Cross looks at me and then at Pyro. He doesn’t know what to say.

“Tell us, Jasih. What did that last vision tell you? What do you mean we’re running out of time?” Pyro asks him.

“You stupid people. We’re so close to our destination, and you’re searching for explanations.” He rubs his eyes; he probably has difficulty staying awake. “Fine. I’ll tell you what the Nusae told to me, only if you promise to listen to me.”

We all nod at the same time. Still not out of the shuttle and problems arose. I’m starting to think that maybe we’re not ready yet to deal with an interplanetary crisis.

“Okay. So, in my vision, one of the Nusae, the previous chosen of the cube, told me that this technology doesn’t work as we thought it does. The whole puzzle-solving, treasure-hunting thing that we did this whole time was to stabilize the cube’s core by visiting high-energy locations around the galaxy or inducing emotionally-strong situations. That’s why I get the same vision of a woman jumping off a building all the time. But now that the four of the five insignias are carved on the cube, things have changed.

“It took us too long to get here, so the cube is now ready to unlock by itself. If that happens, then the automated system that would allow me to stop it, it will actually tear us to pieces and destroy the whole solar system in its wake. But it doesn’t end there. The explosion will then distort the space and time continuum, resulting in a vicious cycle of us coming back to life and dying again and again for centuries. I tell you that we’re close to creating hell’s butthole and traveling there with first-class seats reserved.”

My heart feels heavy in my chest; I didn’t sign up for this. I don’t want to die in a strange, technology-induced hell that will leave me dying again and again for years to come. Zan and Silver seem to think the same thing. Cross and Pyro, on the other hand, seem calm, composed.

“Is that all?” Pyro finally says.

“What the fuck? Are you crazy? We have to get there as fast as we can. What don’t you understand?” Jay continues.

With a swift move, the man suddenly reveals a laser knife that stops mere centimeters from slicing Jay’s throat. The ashen-skinned man suddenly calms and gets ready to fight, only for Pyro to make another move and toss him to the ground.

“If you can’t fight me, boy, then you can’t get in that place flying. It’s as simple as that. You’re weak as hell, so go get some sleep and we’ll talk again in the morning. Okay?”

Pyro doesn’t wait for an answer; he just passes over him and gets on the shuttle’s gate. Cross follows him close behind, moving around Jay’s fallen body than over him like the other man did. I wait for them to get away before I run to his side.

“Jay...I...”

He pushes me violently out of his way. I hit my head on the subsided side of the shuttle, suddenly feeling a warm, acute pain spread through my whole body. “What the hell?” I shout at him.

“You’re worthless. All the humans are worthless. I can destroy you with just a flinch of my finger, but you still think you can use me however you want?” Jay is calm while talking, but still, his words seem heavy and tired. He’s at his limit.

I decide to swallow my anger and talk to him. “Look, I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you have to change back, just for a day or so, until you recover your strength. You can’t expect to--”

“Shut your trap, you stupid bitch. You don’t know shit about me. I’m perfectly fine.”

He gets to his feet and walks out of the shuttle. I turn and look at Silver and Zan, both of them looking as surprised about what happened as I do.

Soon the swelling on the back of my head holds in all my feelings of shame and regret. Did I make the wrong choice?