Weeks had passed since Sarah and I had last marveled at a sunset. With the stars off-limits for exploration due to the military's grounding, I found myself grappling with an unrelenting restlessness. These navy personnel, who had taken their Rest and Relaxation (R&R) in our city ever since that day, felt strangely at ease within our confines. I felt compelled to uncover the purpose behind their prolonged presence, and, as it turned out, all I needed to do was tune in to the broadcast news.

The revelation was unsettling: the Vanduul had recently seized control of the Orion system, forcing the UEE Navy into a hasty retreat. I stood at a crossroads between laughter and fear. The Vanduul, a relatively recent and highly aggressive species, had never entertained the idea of a treaty between our races. The city was on edge due to the military's pervasive presence, but the soldiers conducted themselves with dignity, exhibiting respect for all those around them. It was not what I had anticipated.

They had erected a substantial makeshift base outside our city walls and considered any hostile wildlife as fair game for target practice. Now that I comprehended the reason for their extended stay, I assumed they would soon depart, allowing me to once again set my sights on the stars.

Sarah reached out to me via comms, suggesting a rendezvous to unwind. We arranged to meet at the stables and readied two Pegasus for a trail ride. It was evident that she was eager to escape the city, and it didn't take a genius to deduce that she harbored something she wished to confide. We rode for roughly ten kilometers before halting at a hillside vista. Disembarking from her Pegasus, she ventured to the edge and paused, casting a glance back in my direction, seemingly on the cusp of revelation.

Suddenly, the tranquil air was torn asunder by a deafening roar, and streaks of light rained down from the heavens, convulsing the earth beneath us. All that remained was dust and the acrid scent of smoldering vegetation.

The shockwave of the impacts sent me tumbling far from my Pegasus. As I landed, I observed the animals fleeing for safety. I crawled over to where Sarah lay, frightened and uncertain. Without hesitation, I scooped up her semi-conscious form and embarked on a desperate dash toward the city. I wasn't even certain if I was injured, but I knew one thing for certain: I needed to get her help.

I ran until my vision began to blur, but I had no intention of ceasing until we reached assistance. Father intercepted me as I entered the city, exhorting me to follow him. We navigated our way back to the lab, where I hastily laid her on the bed before succumbing to my knees and collapsing. Father hastened toward me as I strained to summon my voice. "I'm fine!" I exclaimed. "Save her. You have to save her." He gazed down at Sarah and began his examination. He looked at me and conveyed the crushing news: her injuries were far too grave. I pleaded with every ounce of my being. I offered anything I possessed, just to save her. After careful consideration, he made me swear that I would never question his commands and would comply with his directives without exception. I pledged whatever he demanded; I couldn't bear to lose her.

He fetched a scanner and placed two devices on her head before activating it. He revealed that we couldn't save her life, but we could transfer her memories and essence into a new body, rendering her a clone akin to myself. As the scanner completed its task, the cacophony of the attack outside began to subside. He removed a data card from the device and inserted it into a machine, busily typing commands. He then joined me, and the machine sprang to life, its hum resonating in the air as it commenced the process of creating a new body.

Unbeknownst to me, I had suffered burns on my leg and back, with skin beginning to peel. Father administered a shot to my neck, and the world faded into the black.