Chapter 15: A Moment of Peace
The mission was far from over, but for the first time in days, Carter allowed himself a brief moment to breathe. The team had managed to disable the alien crystal, crippling the flow of energy that had fueled the behemoths and their invasion. But the war was far from won, and they all knew it.
Now, they stood in the aftermath of the battle, the cavern eerily quiet. The once-pulsing energy of the crystal had faded, leaving the underground structure dark and still. The oppressive weight of the place seemed to lift, replaced by an almost haunting silence.
Carter leaned against the wall of the chamber, his helmet removed and tucked under his arm. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion of the past weeks wash over him. His body ached, his muscles sore from the constant strain, but the adrenaline was starting to fade, leaving behind a deep sense of weariness.
"You did well out there," Sierra's voice broke through his thoughts.
He looked up, surprised to find her standing a few feet away. Her mech had already been powered down, and she stood before him, her posture still strong despite the battle. Her face, usually so guarded, was softened in the dim light of the chamber, her eyes meeting his with an intensity he hadn't seen before.
"I don't know how you managed to stay so calm," she continued, her tone tinged with admiration. "Every time it looked like we were done for, you kept us going."
Carter couldn't help but smile, though it was faint. "I don't always feel calm," he admitted. "But someone has to keep their head on straight. If I panic, the whole team falls apart."
Sierra nodded, but there was something in her expression—something that made his heart beat a little faster. It wasn't just gratitude; it was something deeper. Something unspoken that had been building between them for days now, perhaps even longer.
"I don't know if I could have done it without you," Sierra said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of her words. She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his. "You've been there for me. For all of us. Even when I pushed you away, you didn't give up on me."
Carter shifted slightly, caught off guard by the vulnerability in her voice. He wanted to say something, but the words caught in his throat. He had spent so long keeping his emotions in check, always the soldier, always the commander. But with Sierra, it was different. She made him feel… human again.
Sierra took another step closer, her hand reaching out, just inches from his. "I've spent so much time angry. Angry at the world, at you, at myself. But I realize now… I was angry because I didn't know how to deal with losing him."
Her eyes glistened slightly, the faintest trace of unshed tears in them. Carter's heart clenched. He knew exactly who she meant—her brother. Her pain had always been there, hidden beneath the sharp edges of her personality. But in this moment, she was letting it show, letting him in.
Carter reached out slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I never wanted to hurt you," he whispered, his voice low and sincere. "I never wanted to replace him. I just wanted to help. To make sure you didn't lose anyone else."
Sierra's breath hitched at his words, and for a long moment, there was nothing but silence between them. The weight of their shared history, the grief, the battles, and everything they had endured together, hung in the air.
And then, without thinking, she stepped forward and placed her hand over his.
It wasn't a grand gesture, but in that quiet moment, it spoke volumes. Her fingers intertwined with his, and Carter's breath caught in his throat. He had never imagined this moment would come—not like this. Not in the middle of a war, in a place that had once felt like the heart of the enemy's power.
But here they were, standing in the aftermath, both of them battered, broken, and yet somehow… alive.
"I don't want to fight anymore," Sierra said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not alone."
Carter's heart swelled with something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time: hope. He squeezed her hand gently, lifting it to his chest. "You don't have to. You're not alone anymore, Sierra."
Her gaze softened, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, a small, almost fragile smile spread across her face. It was a quiet smile, but it held everything—the hope, the fear, and the connection they had forged in the heat of battle.
Slowly, cautiously, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a soft kiss. The world outside seemed to disappear in that moment, leaving only the two of them. The kiss wasn't passionate or rushed. It was simple, tender, as if they were both savoring the fleeting peace that had eluded them for so long.
When they pulled away, neither of them spoke at first. They didn't need to. Everything that needed to be said had been said in that kiss. They didn't know what the future held, or what battles they would face next, but in that moment, they knew they weren't alone.
"Thank you," Sierra whispered, her forehead resting against his. "For everything."
"Always," Carter replied quietly, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace.
They stood there for a long moment, the sound of their breathing the only thing that filled the silence of the chamber. Outside, the world was still at war, but in this small corner of it, there was peace.