Page 3 of Maar's Girl

"Long," he grunts, limping slightly as we start walking. "And these Mars gravity adjustments are a pain in the ass."

I can't help but laugh. "Tell me about it. I nearly face-planted my first week here."

As we walk through the facility, I can't help but steal glances at Raaj. He moves with a slight limp, a reminder of the injuries he sustained. My mind drifts back to Horus IV, and I shudder involuntarily.

"Cold?" Raaj asks, his eyebrow raised.

"No, just... remembering," I admit. "Horus IV. Those first days of battle..."

He nods, his expression unreadable. "It was hell."

"And it only got worse," I murmur. "I can't believe it's still going on. The holovids are calling it The Centuries War now."

Raaj snorts. "Catchy name for a bloodbath."

"It's hard to believe, isn't it? All those urban wonders, reduced to wasteland. And for what?"

"Power," Raaj says, his voice low. "It's always about power."

I look at him, struck by the bitterness in his tone. "You sound like you've seen more than your fair share of it."

He meets my gaze, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something—pain, maybe, or regret. "Haven't we all?"

"I suppose so," I concede. "But Horus IV... it's different. It's personal."

"Because you were there?"

I nod, leaning against the wall. "Because I saw what we lost. The Crystal Spires of New Alexandria, the Floating Gardens of Osiris... all gone now. And for what? Another footnote in this endless war?"

Raaj is quiet for a moment, then says, "Sometimes, the things we fight for aren't always clear until it's too late."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Is that what you think happened on Horus IV? That we didn't know what we were fighting for?"

He shrugs, wincing slightly at the movement. "I think... I think war makes fools of us all, Alyssa. Winners, losers... in the end, we're all just trying to survive."

I stare at him, struck by the weariness in his voice. This isn't the same man I remember from that chaotic day on Horus IV. Or maybe it is, and I'm only now seeing the toll it's taken on him.

"Well," I say, trying to inject some lightness into my voice, "let's focus on getting you back on your feet. The war can wait, at least for now."

He's different from what I expected—rougher around the edges, with a hardness in his eyes that speaks of more than just the trauma of Horus IV.

"So," I say, desperate to break the silence, "I've read your file, but I'd love to hear from you. What are your goals for this rehabilitation?"

He pauses, considering. "To get back in the field, I suppose. Though I'm not sure what that looks like now. I want to head back to the front."

"Well, that's what we're here to figure out together," I assure him, keying open the door to his room. "And Raaj? I just want you to know... I'm going to do everything in my power to help you. I owe you my life, and I intend to repay that debt."

He looks at me then, really looks at me, and for a moment I see a flicker of... guilt? But that can't be right.

"You don't owe me anything," he says softly.

"I disagree," I reply, my voice equally quiet. "But let's start with getting you back on your feet, shall we?"

CHAPTER 3

MAAR

"Great," I think to myself as I look in the mirror the next day. "You're a fucking monster."

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