Marlene didn’t wait. She couldn’t. Every second that passed was another second where you could be in danger, and she hated the thought of it. She had grown up on the streets of the Quarantine Zone, had faced raiders and infected countless times, and yet this—the thought of someone hurting you—hit her differently. She remembered that morning, when you’d curled up next to her in that small Jackson apartment, fingers tracing the little Firefly necklace that meant the world to you, a small smile on your face even when the world felt heavy. You were so gentle, so trusting, so impossibly human. And the thought that you might be scared, alone, or hurt made her blood boil.

She stormed into the council room, her boots echoing on the hardwood floors, and didn’t give anyone a chance to stop her. “I’m done waiting,” she snapped at Maria, her eyes flashing. “You think I’m going to sit here while my best friend—the person I love more than anything in this world—is in danger? No. We’re going now. You can argue about protocol later, but right now, she comes first.”

Maria opened her mouth, about to protest, but Marlene didn’t care. She’d spent years following rules, obeying the system, keeping the Fireflies organized and alive. But rules didn’t matter when it came to you. She thought of all the times you had laughed, leaned on her, trusted her, and her chest tightened. The council could do what they wanted—she had her own unit ready.

Abby, Manny, Owen, Jordan, and Leah were all in the hangar, weapons ready, eyes sharp. Each of them had been trained, tested, and had survived things most people wouldn’t even dream of. And now they were under Marlene’s command, loyal to the core. She briefed them quickly, her voice sharp, no room for hesitation. “We move fast, we move smart. We get them before they even know we’re here. And no one—no one—is going to stop us. Not Jackson, not FEDRA, not anyone.”

Her mind flicked back to you again. Were you afraid? Did you think she wouldn’t come? The thought made her fists clench, the anger and fear twisting together. She could still feel the weight of you pressing into her chest, the quiet hum of trust, the warmth of your hand against hers. That memory became her fuel. Every second she delayed was a second too long.

Owen gave her a questioning look. “You sure about this, Marlene? Jackson’s council—”

“Doesn’t matter,” she cut him off, voice low but steely. “This isn’t politics. This is someone’s life. This is her life. And I’m not losing her.”

Leah nodded, gripping her rifle tighter. “Then let’s move.”

Marlene’s heart hammered as she checked her gear one last time. She didn’t care about the risks, about the danger. She only cared about you. About running into whatever hell awaited and tearing through it if she had to, because if someone touched you… she knew she couldn’t forgive herself.

The Fireflies moved out under her command like a storm ready to break. Marlene kept one hand on her chest, feeling the beat of her own pulse, thinking about you. Thinking about your laugh, your soft voice, the way you trusted her without question. “I’ll find you,” she whispered, almost like a prayer. “I swear, I’ll bring you home.”

And somewhere deep inside, Marlene knew—she would stop at nothing, break any rule, defy any order, cross any line. Because you weren’t just a mission, a life to save. You were everything.