"We have all made mistakes we wish we could take back. Some bigger than others."
-Joe Wilkes

TEMPEST

What the hell kind of decision did I just make? Really, Tempest? I made a life altering decision based on boys... and my family... but mostly boys. I am an idiot. And now I am stuck on a spaceship—in space—with who knows how many people my age with explosives embedded in their DNA, including me.

I take a deep breath, just in case I'm one of the people with explosives inside me. But, then again... I don't think I am, because if I were, I'd have definitely exploded before. Like, many times.

Still, I try to remain calm, which is actually easy for me since I'm basically paralyzed in front of the window of my room, looking out onto space and infinity.

The intercom buzzes awake. "At this time, passengers of the Mayflower should have awoken. Service men and women will be around to check on your safety and alertness," the speaker says, but I instantly recognize his accent and his dry tone. It's Emperor Oshiro. "Welcome to the first step of your journey to Janus. We are now floating just outside of the Milky Way. To celebrate our ascendance, there will be a social in the dining wing of the ship in one hour. The crew and your fellow passengers look forward to meeting you then." He cuts out with a harsh, muffled clap. Then I'm returned to silence. And space. And regret.

It will be another thirteen years before I will see land.

The door opens, and I'm shocked out of my paralysis. When I turn over my shoulder to see who it is, I'm compelled to jump up out of bed, rush him, and pin him up against the wall.

"Neo," I start.

"What?" he asks, startled, but his face carries a hint of playfulness that I want to slap away. Instead, I just shove him harder against the wall, so that he bounces back from the force.

"What?" he repeats, the playfulness fading.

"Why did you convince me to stay here?"

"I didn't."

"No, you did. You...," I stop myself before continuing, and lean over to make sure the door is closed. Wouldn't want Yuri getting too worked up if he ever found out about Neo. "You kissed me," I whisper.

"That wasn't a persuasive argument, that was just a kiss."

He smiles, but I roll my eyes. "Shut up. You knew what you were doing. Did you know about Yuri and I, though?"

"That he is 'courting' you? Yeah, I knew."

I peer at him. "That'll will be an entirely other argument for another time," I say. "But that's not what I'm talking about. Did you know about the Perfects' DNA programming?"

"The Perfects?"

I roll my eyes again. He really should be much quicker than this, especially when I'm in this mood. "Yeah, the kids who were engineered by Gunther Quail and his goons back during the war. Did you know about what he included in our DNA?"

He frowns momentarily. "No."

"Quail put something into our DNA to make it so that we can explode. I don't know the details, I just know what my cousin was able to get through to me on a message. My cousin, who—because I'm a terrible cousin and haven't spoken to her in far too long—is now on her way to meet me in Japan, where I am so clearly not," I say with a huff before falling back on my bed.

Neo stays exactly where I pinned him, and asks, "Are you sure she's right? Did she have any proof?"

"She wouldn't lie, Neo. Not to me. Not about that."

He shakes his head. "It sounds ridiculous. If she knows that, then people like the emperor would know it and probably Yuri too. They wouldn't agree to a thirteen year journey through space in a highly combustible vessel if they knew."

"Haven't you studied the history of the world before the blasts? During the war? If you think people in power are smart enough to do what's best for anyone but themselves, you're crazy."

He laughs. "Ok, conspiracy theorist. Are you ok? Do you need any medical attention? Someone is going to notice that I've been in here for a while, and think you're dying."

I shake my head. "I'm fine."

"Can I stop by tonight?"

Ugh, this boy. "No, aren't you listening? We cannot continue. That has to have been a one time thing if we want to survive."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I trust my cousin, she wouldn't lie to me, and until I hear more from her, I'm going to follow her lead and keep myself out of trouble."

"So you're going to be spending more time with Yuri then?"

I shrug, not sure what else I can tell him. "That's what I'm here for. Literally, that is my purpose. It's disgusting to think of it like that and I hate it and I wish I could explore my options, but that's not the reality right now, so yeah... I'm going to see what the deal with Yuri is."

"Whatever," he says, turning to the door.

"Not whatever. You knew that that was my purpose, you knew that he was 'courting' me as you say, and you still kissed me. So who is the idiot here?"

His eyebrows raise. "I'm an idiot then?"

"Yeah you are if you thought that everything would be consequence-less for you. Why would you kiss me in the first place?"

"Because if I didn't I would have regretted it," he says, his voice raised just enough for us to draw attention from anyone who might be lurking in the hall.

"And now I regret it," I say as sternly as I can muster without crying from frustration. "Go on, get to your other rooms. Like you said, someone is bound to hear us."

He turns to leave, pausing for a split second just before opening the door, maybe waiting for me to intervene. But I don't. I can't. It's too dangerous now. Until I hear back from Esther, wherever she is, I can't risk being any less cautious.

When I don't stop him from leaving, he throws the door open and slams it behind him. I release the rest of my anger and frustration for the whole situation through my tears, as they wash away with the rest of my disgust in the shower. I have a "social" to get ready for.