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True, I hadn’t known most of them, but they still meant something to me. We were warriors on the same side of the final confrontation with Legion and that would always mean something to me.

By the time we were done, the suns had set. The giant moon shone high overhead amongst a myriad of twinkling stars. We were all beyond exhausted. But with the help of the Rung and the craft that dropped off another three runs of warriors to help, we did it.

We stood battle weary and near exhausted in the darkness. Stacy was on my right, along with Elon and Arun, the latter having insisted she was better once the Legion virus left her. She still looked weak, but Ricky stood on her other side, ready to support her if needed.

Dama, Tong, and Jezra were on my left with Boss Creed and John. Mutt came up beside me, nuzzling my hand for his scratches. No matter how tired I was, I could still manage a few pets for him.

The Rung passed out torches, enough to light the many pyres in front of us.

“The events that have taken place on Genesis are ones I wish none of us had to live through,” Jezra said, taking a step forward. “But live through them we have, and I would submit to you that we are better for it. Mistakes have been made in the past, mistakes that we will be doomed to repeat if we do not learn and grow. Grow not only on our own but together, Remboshi, Rung, and human alike. Moving forward, let us show kindness and caring toward all living things, not just those that are most like us, but those who look for acceptance and love. We, the Remboshi, officially greet our new friends, the humans who have landed here on our planet, and our old friends, the Rung, with whom we are now reunited.”

Jezra motioned with an open hand to Dama, who also walked forward with torch in hand.

“Let us always remember this day and those who sacrificed everything so we might have a tomorrow,” Dama said in a loud voice. “Legion is gone, but the shadow he casts will forever be on us unless we stand together. Those who gave their lives today demand that we are better in the future. We owe them that much. From this day on, we honor our dead who have fought so furiously against our common enemy by forming a new alliance with our newfound friends and those with whom we are reconciled.”

Dama and Jezra looked over to me.

I didn’t expect to have to say anything. I was given a torch, but I had imagined it was only to light a pyre, not to speak. I also didn’t think I would be the one to talk for the humans. I thought perhaps Elon would have that job. He was much more eloquent than I was.

Stacy nudged me forward.

I walked to join Dama and Jezra in front of everyone, thinking about what I should say but not feeling I had something worthy enough for the moment.

My hand instinctively went to the medallion on my throat. The same one that had saved my life hours before.

“I don’t know if the perfect words exist for this moment,” I said out loud. My mind ran over the many people we’d lost and Lou once more. “But a friend would say that we are right where we are supposed to be. We can’t change the past, but we can decide the future. Let’s make decisions now that honor the many that fell here today. Let’s also remember those from the planet Earth that we have left behind in our previous lives, both dead and alive, and those fallen friends that did not survive our landing on our new home, Genesis.”

A pause of silence ensued, then all those carrying torches slowly walked over to the pyres and pressed the burning flames into the brush. Crackling flames began to spread, slowly raising smoke to the open sky above. We stepped back in a moment of silence, remembering those who were gone, those we would never see again.

“You okay?” Stacy asked as I took my place beside her. She slipped her hand into my own. It felt comforting and right, and it was something I wanted to keep doing for a long time.

“Yeah,” I said, looking over to her while I squeezed her hand. “Yeah I think I am.”

“We’ll be okay,” Stacy said with resolve. “There’s a mountain of work to do in front of us, but we’ll be okay.”

24

“You look good,” I told Arun the next day. There hadn’t been a lot of time for chit chat after the ceremony. We’d all been dead on our feet. I had enough in me for a quick shower and then I fell into a coma. Now we were gathered in Arun’s tent for a meeting.

Arun smiled up at me, her bright blue eyes back to their normal color. She was a bit thinner and weaker than she had been before the Legion virus entered her body, but that was nothing a few weeks of regular food and rest couldn’t fix. I was so relieved to see her up and around and looking at peace and well-rested.

We stood in the tent with Ricky and Elon as more city leaders, as well as Jezra, Tong, and Dama, entered. We all gazed at each other, smiling for a few moments. There were no words to say right away.

“Thank you,” Arun said with a genuine smile. “Thank you for everything.”

“I don’t know if I had a choice,” I said, pointing to Jezra with a thumb. “She kind of put the title of Chosen One on me without consulting me first.”

“You always had a choice,” Jezra reminded me with a roll of her eyes. “You chose to take a stand. However,