Stella wasn't healing as fast as she would've liked.

A week had passed since the battle at the now destroyed Atlas headquarters and her face was still marred by yellow and red bruises. Most of her cuts and scrapes had healed, but the state of her face irritated her to no end.

Scowling, she looked away from the bathroom mirror. Balancing on the crutches beneath her armpits, she hobbled into the dorm room given to her Fort Carson, the famous military base in Colorado.

She eased herself onto the bed, careful not to aggravate her injured leg. It had been broken during her fall from the lab. She still wasn't quite sure how she survived, but everyone kept saying it was Cassie.

Her face fell at the thought of the girl.

There had been no sign of her after the battle. Though, combing through the destruction of The Acropolis was no easy task. In fact, they were still searching through the rubble for bodies and clues.

They wouldn't find her, though. Or Orion. Or Victor. They were gone.

The funeral for Cassie and Victor was the day before. Stella still hadn't recovered from the emotional rollercoaster that was. Everyone was a wreck—especially Bella, Victor's pregnant girlfriend. When the news broke that she was carrying their unborn child, Stella nearly broke down into tears herself.

Chase spoke on his behalf at the wake; he barely could keep it together as he gave his speech. Had it not been for Victor, Cassie wouldn't have been able to defeat Orion. None of them would have survived the battle had he not confronted Orion while the others were escaping. He saved them. He saved them all.

Stella wouldn't forget that. For so long, he had been an enemy. Someone to defeat. In the end, he was her savior. She would forever be grateful for his sacrifices.

A broken sigh left Stella's lips.

She didn't get to witness the final battle. When she woke up, she was already in an infirmary next to Emily and Andre. Chase, Oscar, and Xiomara had survived the fall as well. She had been expecting more casualties. She was glad there wasn't.

Reaching across the bed, she grabbed the TV remote and switched to the news. She couldn't bear to sit in silence for another second. Some background noise was needed.

Though, she quickly realized what a mistake that was. For the past seven days, every news medium across the world had been reporting on one thing and one thing only. The Battle of The Acropolis. That's what they were calling it.

Following the fight, information about Dr. Johansson's Operation Olympian leaked online. Stella wasn't sure who leaked it, but she didn't care. It needed to be out.

That was the first domino to fall.

For once, the public was on the side of the Primes. They condemned the massive government oversight that led to a murderous super Prime threatening to unleash his 'brothers and sisters' upon the world. They staged protests and rallies calling for General North's arrest. Some even demanded President Crane's impeachment once it was revealed he was aware of the entire thing.

Stella thought back to the book she once saw Orion reading.

1984. George Orwell. A classic.

In a way, they had been living through a similar situation during General North's three-year reign. He fed the world propaganda about how they needed Atlas and how their enemies were the Primes ruining the world. But the glass ceiling was broken now. Everyone was seeing through the government—and Atlas'—façade.

Primes weren't the enemy.

But men like the general was.

General North and those affiliated with him were quickly charged and put on trial for conspiracies of world domination and treason. They would be spending a long time behind bars. Zeo Labs was dissolved, their research put under lock and key. Anything involved in Operation Olympian—including the other eleven vessels Dr. Johansson had stashed away in her private lab—were destroyed.

With a new power vacuum within Atlas, what was left of it at least, Victoria Shaw stepped up. No one opposed her becoming the new director. They all knew she was the next best choice. If anyone was to steer them out of the dark period they were in, it was her.

Still, Stella was afraid.

Things were changing. Again. She wasn't sure which direction the world would be heading. She also wasn't sure how she fit into it. A stabbing sensation plagued the back of her head. Grimacing, she cut off the television.

She wished she could sleep for a few more weeks. Maybe all of this would've blown over by the time she woke up.

She knew she couldn't, though. General North might've been gone, but she was still the leader of her team. Someone would have to help guide them through this difficult period. There was no time for her to lick her wounds.

Sighing, she lifted herself from her bed, grabbed her crutches, and hobbled for the door.

She had a meeting to attend.

#

Victoria had scheduled a meeting deep into the night after the base had gone to sleep. She had scoped out an old, defunct conference room in the basement of one a building in Fort Carson. Stella appreciated the lengths she was going to maintain some element of secrecy.

There was no telling who they could trust these days. They would have to keep everything close to their chests for the time being.

Stella carefully made her way out the barracks allocated to the displaced Atlas agents and nobbled over to the building Victoria pointed out hours earlier. After traveling down two flights of stairs, much to her dismay, she arrived at the conference room.

Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades, a result of her arduous journey due to the building's broken elevator. Panting, she eased her through the door and made her way to the oval-shaped table in the center of the cramped room.

The smell of mildew and dry rot tickled her nose.

"I can see why they don't use this place anymore," she grumbled while taking her seat next to Theo.

Victoria stood at the point of the table. The others occupied the squeaky swivel chairs on either side of her.

It was only seven of them in total—the original six members of the Prime Task Force and the temporary leader of Atlas. Though, if they had it their way, she would go on to become the permanent director.

"So," Chase said, leaning forward in his seat. "What'd you call us in for?"

Stella's cheeks reddened at the sound of his voice. She forced herself not to look at him. They had yet to talk one-on-one since The Acropolis fell. She wasn't sure if they ever would. There was too much damage, too much trauma, between them. She didn't have the strength—nor the patience—to sift through it all.

"Yeah," Theo chimed in. "I was having a nice dream." One of his arms was in a sling and a bandage covered the side of his head, hiding his curly locks.

Emily snorted. "How could you possibly be having anything but nightmares during a time like this?"

"What she said," Oscar added, his voice low and tone deadpan.

Andre had yet to speak. It didn't seem like he was going to.

"We need a plan of action," Victoria told them. "Atlas...we'll have to rebuild. I can ask my father for help, but it's going to take all of us to bring it back to what it used to be."

"I think that ship has sailed," Chase said. "It'll never be the same. Nothing will."

Victoria pursed her lips.

"He's right, y'know," Oscar said. "The world won't trust Atlas after what happened. They barely trusted us before this whole fiasco. But now?" He blew air out his nose. "Forget it about it. We're done. Finito."

"Normally I'd agree," Emily began while readjusting her eyepatch, "but this doesn't have to be the end. What's the old saying about the phoenix?" She snapped her fingers in an attempt to jog her memory.

"A phoenix rises from the ashes," Andre said. He nodded at her. "She's right. This is the time for us to build something else. Something better."

Stella wasn't surprised. They had been removed from Atlas for three years now. Coming back, especially with the current state of the organization, didn't make much sense. Victoria didn't seem to share her sentiments, though.

The black-haired woman squinted at Emily. "

Victoria squinted at them all, her calculating eyes scanning every face in the room. "What are you saying? You want out of Atlas?"

Oscar burst out laughing. "Not sure if you noticed, but more than half of us have been out of Atlas for years." He folded his arms. "And I don't have any intentions of coming back."

"Oscar—"

"Look, I've got no ill-will towards any of you guys," he continued. "Honestly, I don't." He pulled his silver lighter from his pocket and thumbed the engraving in the metal. "I had a...an epiphany back there at The Acropolis. I saw the 'error in my ways', y'know?" A twinkle filled his eye, but it was gone quicker than it came. "I can't come back. I just can't. Done too much, man. Way too much. It's best if I do my own thing."

Victoria sighed but didn't argue.

"Besides," he added with a cheeky grin, "I've got a kid to look after."

Stella nodded. Xiomara. The little girl he 'rescued' from Atlas turned out to be a fairly powerful Prime; perhaps even more powerful than himself. She wasn't sure if she trusted his parental skills enough to raise a child, but if anyone could help train her powers it was him.

Oscar was right, though. There was nothing left at Atlas. In fact, there was barely anything left for the rest of them.

The room went quiet.

"I've been thinking about this for a while now," Emily finally said, "and I think it's finally time we put it into motion."

"I'm listening," Victoria said.

"We need a safe haven. Primes, I mean. We need a place separate from the rest of the world where we can just be ourselves, governed by ourselves. It's the best way to stop these conflicts from happening. Kane and Kismet might've been flawed, but they were spot on about the comradery part. We're a people, a community. We have to look after our own."

The idea was an outlandish one, even for Emily's standards.

"Stella?" Victoria looked to her. "Any thoughts? You are technically still commander of the Prime Task Force."

Stella lifted her eyes from the table. She had zoned out for most of the conversation. She kept replaying her fight with Orion in her head.

That had been the longest she had tapped into the cosmic energy that fueled her powers. She didn't understand it before but being linked with it for that long gave her a few answers. She was the light that dawned on the new world; it was her destiny to make it a better, safer place.

It had been her destiny all along.

A lightbulb flickered to life in her head.

"There's an easy solution for all of this," she revealed.

Everyone directed their looks of confusion her way. Even Chase had arched a blond eyebrow at her.

"Yeah?" He tilted his head. "And what's that?"

"We let everyone do their own thing," she revealed. "If Emily wants to build a safe haven for Primes, we let her. If some of us want to help rebuild Atlas, then they can do that too." She glanced in Oscar's direction. "If you want to be left alone, we can arrange that."

Victoria shook her head. "They'll never go for that. It's a miracle they haven't taken Oscar straight to The Vault after everything he's done."

"Gee, thanks."

"You did it to yourself."

"Fair enough."

"Not to mention Emily's idea would never fly," Victoria continued. "I mean, how would we even present something like that? A sovereign nation solely for Primes with its own government?"

Emily grinned. "Exactly." She stood up and threw her hands to the sky. "We'll call it...Primelandia!" She scratched the top of her head. "Er, actually, I'm not too big on that name."

Andre chuckled and shook his head.

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright. Whatever." She rubbed her temples. "Okay, even if we do get that to happen, what about Atlas? Do we just let it fade to black? This company was my father's life work. He built it to keep the world safe and I can't just let it end like this."

"No," Stella answered. "We'll rebuild it. Together."

Theo nodded. "This isn't the end. Not by a long shot."

Victoria slammed a hand onto the table, her face beaming triumphantly. "We'll be even better than before. More subdivisions, better recruitment, a new base even. We're not going to let the government take control. Not this time. Atlas is finally going to be what my father wanted it to be."

Stella smiled warmly at her.

It quickly faded upon realizing there was one person left who hadn't declared what their future would hold. The others seemingly realized it as well, as all eyes were now on Chase.

He cleared his throat and straightened himself in his chair.

"What's next for you, buddy?" Theo asked. "Stella could always use a co-captain."

Stella kept quiet, her eyes trained on Chase's. She awaited his response with her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She felt blood rushing to her ears as her body trembled slightly.

He offered her a smile. Then he shrugged. "I dunno?"

Everyone exchanged confused glances.

"Huh?" Emily said. "You...don't know?"

"That's a first," Andre quipped.

"Right?" Theo shook his head. "You always have a plan."

"Exactly," Chase said. "And look where my plans got us? I split the group up. Then I got half our group captured." His expression darkened. "Victor and Cassie died on my watch. I've realized that my plans just don't work out. So, no more plans. No more strategies, no more schemes."

Stella blinked at him. "What are you saying?"

"It truly has been an honor leading you all for the past five years." He let out a breath before shrugging again. "But I think I'm going to start taking everything one day at a time."

Victoria chuckled and rubbed the creases in her forehead. "The world's gone crazy."

"No kidding," Stella said.

The world would never be the same. Things had been changing for them ever since that fated night in the quarry, but this time was different. They had been a family back then. A team. While they weren't enemies anymore, it was clear they couldn't be together. Their paths were branching out, taking them down different roads.

Who knew if they would meet up again?

Stella decided to enjoy this moment. She knew she might not get another with them.

After discussing the specifics of their separate plans for a few more minutes, they spent the rest of the night catching up and sharing stories. They laughed, cried, and loved until the sun came up.

It was one of the best nights of Stella's life.

But when the sun did come up, it was over.

With the first rays of morning coming through the window, she knew nothing would ever be the same.

#

After everyone left the conference room, Stella made her way to a fountain in one of Fort Carson's gardens. She took a seat on a stone bench and watched the water pour out the iron cannon built into the center of the fountain. The low gurgling sound, paired with the chirping birds of the morning, soothed her ears. She closed her eyes as she bathed in the sunlight. The smell of sweet flowers eased her frazzled nerves.

As she sat, memories of the past played through her head like reruns of her favorite TV shows.

There was the first day she woke up in The Acropolis after being saved by Director Shaw and Atlas. She giggled as she remembered the many pranks Oscar and Theo would play on the Atlas agents. Then there was the kiss she and Chase shared moments before confronting Kane in Adak Island. A smile grabbed her lips. She let it be. She remembered all the times they shared on the team—the good and the bad. She remembered the day he left her. Her smile waned, replaced by a slight frown.

Someone settled in the seat beside her.

She didn't have to open her eyes to know who it was.

He didn't speak for a while. She didn't mind. The silence kept them company.

After a while, she heard him sigh.

"I've, er, been meaning to talk to you," Chase started. "I just...I haven't been able to find the words."

Stella kept her eyes closed.

"Me too."

"I...I never intended for things to go down the way they did," he said. A quiet breath left his mouth. "I thought I was doing what was right by leaving. I never wanted to leave you, but I couldn't stay at Atlas. Not with what it was turning into."

She opened her eyes and faced. Placing a hand on his cheek, she wiped away the lone tear sliding down his face.

"We both made mistakes," she told him. "But that's done now. It's about what we do now that matters."

Swallowing hard, he nodded. He placed his hand on top of hers.

The pair locked eyes for what felt like an eternity. Their breathing synced as if they were slowly becoming one.

Pressing both hands against his cheeks, she kissed him. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her in close. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her head spun, drunk with passion.

Still, something was off.

It wasn't the same.

A piece of their puzzle was missing. She wasn't sure if they'd ever find it again.

Breathing heavily, they separated. Chase's face was redder than the roses blooming in the bushes near their feet. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly.

"I missed that."

"I did too."

He stood up. "I could stay, you know. Help you rebuild Atlas."

"You don't want that."

He didn't reply. That was a response in itself.

"Do what makes you happy," she told him. "You deserve it."

"Will you be alright?"

She paused.

"I'm not sure. I guess we'll find out."

The two of them embraced again. Closing her eyes, she pressed her face into his warm chest. She held onto him tightly, never wanting the moment to end. But she knew she had to. Their story was coming to an end. Releasing a shuddering breath, she let him go. 

Wiping his sky-blue eyes, Chase managed to smile. He gave her his signature two-finger salute.

"See you around, Starchild."

Through her tears, she grinned and returned the gesture.

"Later, Sentinel."