The outer shell of the Shadowstrike groaned under the weight of its newfound scars. The ship's sleek, black exterior was now a patchwork of scorched metal and exposed wiring. However, compared to some of the other naval ships in the immediate vicinity, this level of damage could hardly be considered anything more than cosmetic.
As Elias sat in his corner of the ship's bridge, he couldn't help but stare at the swirling levels of chaos that were still visible on the ship's main monitor. The battle against the pirates was finally nearing its end. However, that knowledge alone failed to bring the young man any sort of relief. There would be no celebration today. Not after everything that happened.....
The young Ensign took a moment to wipe a bloodied hand across his forehead, grimacing as he smeared even more sweat and blood all over his already battered face. The pain in what remained of his left eye was still as sharp as it was half an hour ago. A grim reminder of the explosion that had nearly taken his life....
How Elias managed to survive the blast was a complete mystery to him. All he could really recall from the moment was the amount of debris that was suddenly sent flying across the narrow corridors of 'The Box'. Even so, his injury wasn't what was bothering him right now. It was the fact that one of his crewmates wasn't going to be coming back with them that really had his mind all over the place.
The memory of Lieutenant Vera's final moments before the blast still haunted him. Even now, the sound of her voice still echoed in his mind, telling him to push forward and to finish what they had started. Elias had never wanted to be in a position where he would be forced to make a decision like that again, it was the kind of situation that didn't have a correct answer. One where you were forced to leave a comrade behind in the heat of battle. However, here he was, staring down a future without her.
And also without his vision in his left eye.
Just like they had been told a few weeks before, 'The Box' had been a maze of metallic walls, trapdoors, and a slew of hidden chambers. It was a genuine fortress designed to withstand almost any form of direct assault aimed at it. But despite all that, the pirates themselves failed to take into account the resolve of the members of the 2nd Fleet. And what was left of the pirate scum would have to live with that failure for the rest of their lives.
Throughout the battle, Elias had fought through blood, smoke, and chaos. All while trying to maintain his focus despite the weight of the guilt that gnawed at him. Now, with the last of the pirates being eradicated and the fleet's mission nearing its completion, Elias felt emptier than he had ever felt before.
The Shadowstrike wasn't even supposed to have been a part of the initial strike team. Things only ended up that way because their ship had been forced out of position by an enemy corsair and had to regroup with another section of the fleet. Sure enough, the ship's crew found themselves docking with the star station and preparing themselves for a fight. And once they had entered the main part of 'The Box', they were caught right in the middle of a deadly crossfire.
The pirates fought like wild animals, desperate and cornered. They launched everything they could at the group of sailors and marines in a desperate attempt to hold them off. But much to their chagrin, their efforts proved to be futile in the end.
Elias had been right in the middle of the action when an explosion rocked the station. The impact had torn apart the corridor, knocking him unconscious for what he assumed to be a few seconds. And when he finally got his wits about him, Lieutenant Vera was already gone. Her lifeless body was lying in a pool of blood, not too far from where he landed. The sight made his mind freeze and almost caused him to vomit inside his helmet.
Elias wasn't quite sure how he made it out of the blast alive. His left eye had been his only major injury due to a stray piece of shrapnel that managed to puncture his visor. But in the grand scheme of things, he really should consider himself lucky. That being said, the pain was like nothing he had ever experienced before.
Despite all of that, the young man somehow managed to crawl his way back to his weapon, fight through the pain, and see his mission through to the end. The pirates were finished, but the cost had been heavy. Elias would never forget the faces of the fallen comrades he passed by in all of the chaos. And he vowed the etch their names into his memory and to never forget the sacrifices they had made here today.
-(o)-
The Vanguard was truly a massive ship, one of the largest in the entire Colonial Navy. It was one of the few capital ships that were capable of acting as a fully functioning command center independent of the colonies in times of war. Most would say that behemoths such as these could be considered mobile cities on their own. And unlike the Shadowstrike, the Vanguard was outfitted with every amenity that a sailor would need, amenities such as a fully functioning medical wing.
Which was where Elias currently found himself.
Elias was never really a fan of hospitals. He doesn't know why, but the sterile white walls and the overpowering smell of linen always made him feel uncomfortable for some strange reason. Even as a kid, he would whine and complain about having to get his yearly shots with his sisters in such a place. Today, though, he was there for a much more serious reason.
Despite the medical team's best efforts, the doctor had confirmed what Elias already knew. They couldn't reverse the damage to his left eye. And to make matters even worse, he was going to need to get it removed as soon as possible to avoid any further complications.
"Yeah, I thought as much...." Was all that Elias could say after hearing the news. To his credit, the young man was taking it all in stride.
His aunt, however, seemed way more distraught over the bad news than he was. Much to Elias's surprise, the woman had rushed over to the medical wing the moment the star station was officially under their control. Deciding to momentarily leave her post in order to check up on her favorite (and only) nephew.
Elias had heard from some of the others receiving treatment how the red-headed woman's tactical decision-making had kept the battle in their favor. Even after things got completely disorganized, the Vice Admiral was able to keep their lines strong and keep the pirates in a state of disarray. She even managed to shoot down the "Red Banshee" in the middle of all the chaos. A feat that many would consider nothing short of spectacular, considering how fast the enemy ship was said to be.
However, seeing what she was like right now reminded Elias that she was still family at the end of the day.
"I'm so glad that you made it out of there alive...." The Vice Admiral said quietly, her voice heavy with emotion. "I can't believe how close I was to losing you."
Elias didn't immediately respond. All he could do right now was look down at his hands as the images of the battle once again came flooding into his mind. The bloodstains had long dried, but the memories of what transpired were still fresh. His fingers curled into fists as he thought of those who had fallen. He thought of Lieutenant Vera, and the others, who would never get the chance to see the stars again.
In truth, Elias had lost more than his eye, he had lost something far more valuable. But somehow, amidst the pain, there was peace in knowing the pirates had been taken down. The colonies were safe once again. And the freedom to explore the vast reaches of space was still there. Not just for him, but for everyone else out there.
"We won, that's all that really matters." Elias then said. His voice was steady and calm, much to the surprise of his aunt. "Those pirates won't be a problem for us anymore."
Vice Admiral Howell sighed; it was a sound filled with both pride and sorrow. She then reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, Elias. I'm just sad that our victory came at such a cost."
Elias then looked up at his aunt. He had to admit that it was pretty funny how she was more worried about his injury than he was. Then again, maybe the reality of the situation hadn't quite set in for him just yet. The green-eyed youngster assumed that it must've been because of the adrenaline still flowing through him. Or, he might've been subconsciously coping with his new life by forcing himself to remain calm. That, or the drugs currently circulating through his body were doing an amazing job at keeping him in a mellow state of mind.
"It's fine." Elias tried to reassure her. "An eye is a small price to pay for making sure that people are safe."
His aunt's lips tightened, her eyes reflecting the weight of his words. However, the woman still managed to let out a short laugh despite her obvious displeasure at how nonchalant he was being right now. "Has anyone ever told you that you're way too mature for your age?"
Elias returned the smile, and the knot in his chest had loosened up ever so slightly. The finality of his injury hung over him like a shadow, but in his heart, he knew it didn't change anything. As long as he had the freedom to explore the stars, he didn't care about what happened to him.
There would always be new threats and new battles to fight. But for now, Elias Thorton could rest easy knowing that the people had one less danger to worry about.
And for that, he was forever grateful.