The next week was a whirlwind of social responsibilities. Lunai and Argalax reported to Dr. Crux that they finished their collective report on the gala Sunday. The board wanted them to hold the press conference on Monday, but Crux was able to push it to Tuesday as they had already broke duty hours, giving the interns some much needed time to freak out about it. Bliss himself went on like nothing had happened, agreeing to start interviews as early as Sunday night.

  Despite her better judgement, Lunai decided to watch the interviews live. She needed to be resting, or talking to someone, but here she was watching a man who got tortured less than 24 hours ago put on a pretty face for the screen. It only made her feel worse. Every word out of his mouth went straight for her chest.

  “Bliss, do you think the agency could’ve done more to secure the gala?” asked the reporter.

  “You can’t prepare for much when it comes to Armageddon. I don’t think anything could’ve stopped him from breaking in if he was dead set on taking me from there.”

  “If nothing could’ve prevented this, don’t you think having the gala was a bad idea? Armageddon had recently tried to kidnap you and this event was very public.”

  “If we give in to the fear that traffickers hope to inspire, then we are turning our backs on the victims. I refuse to do that, but I do sincerely apologize to our guests who had to experience this tragedy.”

  The screen flickered off. Lunai couldn’t stand to watch any longer. She wasn’t sure if she was impressed or disgusted by Bliss’s composure during the interview. Heroes had to be somewhat desensitized to trauma, otherwise they would never last, but Bliss was almost returned to his childhood hellhole. She couldn’t fathom how he could return to work the next day as if it was just another tragedy. It was his tragedy, it happened to him.

  And here I am sitting around feeling sorry for myself, judging the victim of Armageddon’s attack. Who am I to say how people get to handle their feelings… Right?

  Even her self-doubts were self-doubting. Something had to give if she wanted to remain here. She opened her CellPulse and looked into her GSA handbook for intern year. The resources section was filled with various help programs, food banks, off-campus housing assistance, forums to report mistreatment, and many more. Her eyes locked on the mental welfare page and she scanned the contact information listed. Hopefully some counseling would uproot this problem before it grew into something worse.

  The number led her to automated system that took her information before connecting to an agent. Frustration set in as the earliest appointment available was the next Friday. She was hoping to talk to someone before her press conference, but a same-day appointment was impossible. Just as she was about to give up and go to bed, a message popped up on her wrist.

  “Hey Lunai, how are you holding up?” Ashetana’s name sat at the top of the chat.

  She shifted her position on the couch, putting her stomach on the cushions and crossing her feet over each other.

  “I’m okay. Freaking out just a tiny bit about the conference tomorrow.”

  “Not surprising, but I have seen you speak at one before, you’re gonna do great.”

  Lunai exhaled. “I spoke at one but I didn’t lead one! But I do appreciate it. I’m glad my first words to the press weren’t a total flop.”

  A few minutes passed before Ashetana’s next reply. “Hey, my senior told me I could take a bit of time tomorrow to go watch you. Will having me in the audience help calm your nerves?”

  Lunai’s heart warmed just a tad. “That would be great, thank you for thinking of me.”

  She chatted with Ashetana for as long as she could before her fellow intern had to go back to work. Lunai almost forgot that today was a workday. With her friend occupied her only option was to review the report she made with Argalax. She committed it to memory before turning in for the day.

  The press conference started at 8 AM sharp. Lunai was glad it was early, she did not want to think about it for the entire day. When she arrived at the conference hall, Bliss and Argalax were waiting for her at the front. They stood on a stage with two podiums setup.

  “You’re later than usual,” said Bliss.

  “You do tell me I’m too early a lot.”

  He smiled. “You’re learning so much already, I could cry with pride. You’ve been here just a few weeks and you’re leading a press conference.”

  “Sure, but it’s not because we did anything good.” She looked at the floor and Argalax nodded in agreement.

  “What are you talking about? You helped take Armageddon down.” He then pointed to Argalax. “Even you helped, you released me from the cage. Probably the most helpful an intern could be in that situation without turning the higher-ups heads.”

  Argalax looked perplexed at the perceived insult. Bliss had never called out his reserved nature before. Lunai wasn’t even sure if it was supposed to be an insult or an observation. Maybe it was both.

  “Anyways, I know you two have your report written out, but I have a last-minute addition.” He sent them a file containing an updated report. “Lunai should bring up what she said to me before I went in the cage. That will really improve your image, especially with humans.”

  He was back to the type of managerial talk that unnerved her.

  Her face darkened. “I’m not concerned with my image right now… I don’t want to bring something like that up just to boost my numbers.”

  “Well, you should do it anyway. You were right who you mentioned trust. Humans will trust you more if they know you are willing to die for their hope. It’s not just about image, it’s about building a relationship with the galaxy’s inhabitants, the galaxy’s most vulnerable inhabitants.”

  Argalax put his hand on her shoulder. “It might sound improper, but I think he’s right. The cameras didn’t catch anything that was said that night. The galaxy should know how committed you are to this cause.”

  Lunai took a deep breath. Was something that sounded so distasteful still the right thing to do? What consequence was there to simply speaking the truth of what happened? She wanted to retreat inside of herself, but she heard a voice in her head screaming for her to snap out of it. For four years she watched people die, worlds crumble, and traffickers carry victims away. For four years she couldn’t do anything about it.

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  How can you feel worse now? You did something. You stood for something. You knew this from day one, heroes respond to the worst day of someone’s life, but for you it’s just another day. There will be worse days than the gala in store. You must be prepared for even your worst day to be another day. That’s what Bliss is doing, that’s what you can’t understand. You only have one worst day, he has thousands. Pain is a lesson, the galaxy learns it and becomes kinder.

  Counseling couldn’t come soon enough, but the tough pep-talk in her mind brought her to the podium without a falter in her step. She slammed her hands down on the podium. The screen covering the wooden slab lit up and she pulled up their report.

  Tell the truth. Be the galaxy’s hope. Looking shallow is less important than saving lives.

  She felt as though the guiding voice was not her own. It was much too certain. Too confident in its own opinions. Luna was only confident when she knew what to do, when the choice was clear and no one could misinterpret her. If she didn’t feel so solid, she would suspect that someone had drugged her. Her mind seemed to be doing psychotherapy by itself as if she was on a very productive hallucinogen.

  “Lunai, are you good?” asked Bliss.

  “Never been better.”

  Argalax took his place at the podium next to her. The press filed in and found their seats. Dr. Crux was present as usual, bringing Ms. Tiyora with him. Lunai kept scanning the incoming crowd until she finally caught a glimpse of smoke rising from someone’s head. Ashetana gave her a calming smile and found a seat in the second row; the first row would’ve been much too close. With the help of her inner voice, Lunai was able to keep cool.

  The press conference started with Lunai and Argalax giving their account of events. They were chatting with guests at the end of the auction when Armageddon crashed into the stage. Surfrista was taken hostage and it didn’t end well, despite Bliss’s efforts to redirect the threat from the party. Lunai took charge in describing her own hostage situation. She didn’t leave a single part out. Her heartfelt words to Bliss about preserving the human’s hope had a few audience members shedding tears. Most importantly, she made Bliss’s concern for her clear. She heard the fear in his voice when Armageddon took her.

  Armageddon was smart to choose you as a hostage. Any other guest at the party and there would’ve been quite a few more deaths before Bliss decided to get in the cage.

  The voice continued to hype her up, but the message was crystal clear at this point. She could now accept that she did save lives that day. She did act to preserve the light of the galaxy. The universe was made just a bit better with her as a hero. With the final touch of the battle in space, with Lunai explaining Bliss’s knowledge of Armageddon’s species, the interns ended the scripted portion of the conference. Lunai’s mettle was tested with rounds of reporter questions, the vast majority being directed at her specifically. Having faced Armageddon twice, many were curious on how she could be so brave, or so reckless depending on who was asking. Some interpreted her actions as yet another breach of protocol, an example of the agency losing structure.

  “Agent Hollybrook, do you believe the agency is applying its rule book in a way that works best for the public image and not the safety of their employees?”

  “First of all, you are quick to assume my actions breached protocol. I cannot enter a fight I cannot win, but Entropi had created an opening I knew I could act on.” Clear and concise, she moved the conference along.

  The next reporter hand went up. “Do you feel the auction played a role in the attempted kidnapping of Bliss?”

  Lunai looked to Argalax, throwing him one of the few questions they could both answer.

  “It is clear from my senior’s career record that many have targeted him in the past. He takes a risk of being attacked wherever he goes, not just at novel public events,” he responded.

  That answer seemed to suffice and questions started dying down. Lunai and Argalax were happily approaching the end of this conference and their incredibly stressful weekend. One final hand went up from the only human face in the audience.

  The woman crossed her legs and took out a pen. “Question for either of you. This gala was meant to raise funds against human trafficking. The auction featured Bliss, a half-human, as the main attraction. The winner of the auction was Admiral Atlas, a man with a long record of violating human-rights. Why was this allowed to happen?”

  They looked at each other in contemplation. Lunai was no longer scrambling thanks to the help of her new inner-voice, but she still had no idea how to answer. Thankfully their senior came to save them, Bliss standing up and taking his place on the stage.

  “Ms. Williams, always a pleasure to see you here. I assure you that the auction was entirely my idea. As for Admiral Atlas winning, we are unable to bar entry to our events for any leaders under the Agónta Empire. It is a condition of our agreement that allows us access to the empire and the ability to carry out our work properly.”

  She chuckled. “Of course, of course, your precious agreements are the backbone of the galaxy. I don’t envy your position.” Her pen raced across her notepad.

  “Now then, that’s been enough questions for the day. My interns worked very hard this weekend and deserve a rest, please give them a round of applause for their first conference!”

  He started leading the audience in applause. The gesture seemed a little condescending, but Lunai figured he just wanted to move things along. Maybe the human reporter was more trouble than she looked. It wasn’t like any of the agents working for the GSA liked interacting with dictators and war criminals, but it wasn’t an option to give up access to the largest empires in the galaxy. The people living there needed help as well. However, she had her doubts about the board. They seemed to care about losing donors and not losing the ability to help civilians.

  The crowd funneled out of the room, but Ashetana stayed behind. Lunai could still feel the energy from the voice pushing her forward. She walked straight for Ashetana and offered her hand to help her up. Ashetana took it, looking somewhat amused by the chivalrous act.

  “Hey, do you wanna do something this weekend when we’re off work?” asked Lunai.

  Ashetana’s face lit up as more soot covered it. “Absolutely, got anything in mind?”

  Lunai was about to respond with something normal for a first date, dinner, a movie, something in that regard. Instead, she felt the voice slowly leaving her mind. Her confidence was not abruptly crushed, but she could feel some seeping out.

  “O-oh. Why don’t we go cat bowling with Bliss on Saturday? Sorry, I forgot I had plans with him to do that, but I’d love if you were there too!” She cursed herself on the inside.

  “Huh. I’ve never talked to Bliss so it might be kind of weird…” Ashetana saw Lunai’s deflated expression. “Well, I guess cat bowling sounds fun, haven’t seen it before. I don’t think I’ve seen a cat either.”

  “Great! I’ll just let him know you’ll be there.”

  Bliss was still in the room, talking to Argalax on the other side. Ashetana gave Lunai a wave goodbye as she made her way out.

  “Bliss, is it alright if Ashetana comes cat bowling with us?”

  He blinked in confusion. “Who?”

  “She’s another intern, I was just talking to her.” She pointed to where they were talking.

  “Oh. Uh, sure that’s fine, but if she bothers the cats, she’s out.”

  Lunai laughed. “She would never.”

  Bliss took his interns out for lunch once they left. Argalax didn’t talk very much, still feeling awkward about bringing up his “home.” Lunai felt a little bad for him; after all, he was never invited to go cat bowling, not even when she asked to take Ashetana. Bliss never made it clear if he was mad at you for something, so Lunai could imagine how frustrated Argalax felt.

  Don’t feel bad, if he wanted to go he could ask. The simple pleasures of life are what makes the galaxy shine, enjoy them with a light heart.

  The voice returned to chastise her. Its words were slightly cold, but the delightful rush of moral clarity returned to her. Even though she barely had time to consider these words, she was filled with the overwhelming sense that they were right. If she pressed her thoughts further, the moral clarity faltered, and her negative thoughts started prying their way back in. She needed the voice to be right. She needed it to push her thoughts out. She couldn’t be a hero without it. That fact was more terrifying than she realized.

  Mystery voice is in yellow.