Rise and Fall- Discovery

Gone Rouge

"Let's go people!" Luka called. His voice was distant. Sofia turned to find Grainger. 

"Grainger?" she beckoned. 

"I'm in the cockpit." Grainger answered.

Sofia jumped up the few stairs with Reagan, Malice, and Mackenzie behind her. Sofia took a seat next to Grainger with a widening smile. Malice sat behind Mackenzie who sat next to Sofia and Grainger. Reagan sat in the co-pilot seat next to Luka. 

"Who is excited to party?" Malice asked. It was such a mom thing to say. No one answered, instead, they all busied themselves with something. Grainger looked wearily out the window as Luka piloted the ship and they took off. 

"We will come back." Sofia whispered to Grainger noticing he was staring out the window. Grainger turned his head to face Sofia. He smiled and told her, "I know, it's not that. I was just thinking about Valarina and how things could've gone much different." 

"What do you mean?" Sofia wondered. 

"I mean that there had to have been something we could have done. We could have talked her down and brought her back to the light. She would still be alive then." Grainger replied. 

"Or you would be dead and she would blow up the galaxy. Why did you leave Maverick and go to Rouge anyways?" Reagan interjected. 

"I wanted to settle the score. The Kracht told me that she was there, I could feel her evil presence. She was attempting to take over the base. I figured I could stop her and try to save her. Things didn't go according to plan though," Grainger explained.

"Apparently." Luka taunted. 

"Anyways, before I was rudely interrupted, I told her about everything that happened and coaxed her not to fall and make the horrid decisions that I had made. She seemed to have taken it to heart but then it seemed to have almost crushed her. I let my guard down. I went to contact you guys on the ship but she turned on me and blasted me with the fire." Grainger continued. Everyone sat in silence as if they where reflecting on what Grainger had said. For the next hour or so, the ship was completely silent. All of the sudden, there was an explosion out the side of the window.

"What was that?" Grainger shouted as the explosion rocked the ship. They where flying well above the surface of Rouge now.

"Oh no!" Mackenzie muttered, unbuckling her seat belt and making her way to the back of the ship.

"Guys! Rouge.... it's on fire..." Mackenzie cried. Reagan looked at Luka and pressed the autopilot button. She threw off her restraints and gathered at the back window with others. Grainger stood facing Sofia, holding her hand and wrapping his arm around her. Tears where shed from almost everyone. Luka, Reagan, and Grainger where the only ones who didn't seem to be destroyed.

"Malice! Was this your doing?" Mackenzie shrieked turning to Malice. They watched in horror as  more purple lasers shot like deadly fireworks across the sky to Rouge.

"No! Why would you think that?" Malice snapped.

"The Tempolia incident, you blew up the planet the same way. The purple laser? The Destroyer? Ring a bell?"Mackenzie snarled.

"I haven't done anything! I haven't even given the keys to the launch pad to anyone!" Malice yelled back to Mackenzie.   

Luka ran his finger's across the window as if he was trying to pick up the pieces of Rouge. Everyone watched as the mourned the loss of their home planet.

"Who could've done something like this?" Luka questioned. Rage was building deep inside of Grainger. He grieved the loss of this planet but grieved even more that he sensed Malice was lying to him once more.

"I'm not certain. It could've been, realistically, anyone. Anyone that was not in agreement with our actions," Malice responded. Grainger cut her off, stating, "Enemies."

"People that aren't with us aren't necessarily our enemy." Malice corrected him.

"From my point of view- if your not with me, your my enemy." Grainger snarled, dropping Sofia's hands to glare at Malice.

"You will have more enemies than friends then." Mackenzie added.

"Who needs friends when you can have so much fun battling you enemies? It is absolutely certain that friends don't gain you power." Grainger sneered.

"Grainger, only the evil deal in absolutes.  You are evil!"  Luka snapped.

"Well from my point of view, this galaxy is nothing but evil. You better watch it Luka because I will kill you!" Grainger retorted. Sofia looked nervously to Reagan. Both Luka and Grainger where filled with hatred. Both channeled their emotions to gain their strength. This wasn't a 'bad' thing but it certainly can cause problems. Luka turned and frowned at Grainger with a condescending look. Grainger lowered his head and narrowed his eyes at Luka as if he was challenging him. Grainger's eyes turned to a stark black and he couldn't help but let out a tear. He couldn't take it anymore. The pull from the light and the dark, it was tiring him. Grainger grabbed a cloak that was folded up on a table beside him. He never lost eye contact with Luka as he continued to give his brother the death stare. He slipped the black cloak over his head and pulled the hood onto his head to hide his eyes. Luka, Reagan, Mackenzie, and Sofia all returned to the front of the ship and left Grainger to himself. Grainger stood and looked at the ashes that remained from Rouge. Grainger couldn't keep the sickness from washes over him. It didn't matter how much running he did, he would never be able to escape it. Grainger's thoughts drifted to the future. He need someone to save him from himself. He was his own worst enemy. Grainger's love for his wife and unborn sons is the only thing that kept him from doing something despicable. He so badly wanted to avenge his childhood and show Luka up in a duel. He knew his day would come but he couldn't risk it, at least not now. He had to remain a 'good' person for his children. He was losing hope fast. Grainger's fate was uncertain. What would become of him? He want to gain all the power but that would mean letting the anger and rage take control of his consciousness. Half of him said to stay strong and not give in to the demon inside but the other half told him that he needed to do what he had to do to survive. If this meant bringing terror and harm to the galaxy, then let it be. Grainger would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Reagan was right, he was  malicious and a vigilante. He wanted, no, had to prove her wrong. He must prove to her that he is the strongest and most powerful being that ever walked this galaxy. Soon they will bow to me and worship me. They will see, they will all see that they can't underestimate me. I will bring death upon the living and all light must die. I shall bring the galaxy to darkness. I don't care if it is wrong, if it means I get all the power , anything or anyone in my way will die. Grainger thought.

"Grainger! Get over here, and quit staring at the rubble, it will only darken your soul further." Luka snapped.

"So what id it darkens my soul? That is the point." Grainger murmured.

"What?" Luka shouted.

"You heard me! Bow to me, inconsequential  anthropoid! This galaxy belongs to me!" Grainger boomed.