Sacrifice

Epilogue

"How are you holding up Gary?" asked Quinn, who was piloting the ship through space.  Gary strolled into the main room, ruffling his hair.  He yawned and scratched his neck, which was still red and sore.

"I'm fine.  What about you guys?  Do anything fun while I was gone?" He raised an eyebrow.

"If you think flying straight towards the enemy and worrying about someone you care about is fun, then yeah.  We had a blast." replied Quinn sarcastically.  Gary laughed.  

"Well, flying towards the enemy, hell yeah I find that fun.  But the second part maybe not so much."

"Where's Mooncake?" Quinn asked, letting Hue take over flying the ship.  She got up and put a hand on Gary's shoulder for comfort.  Gary tried not to get too excited that the woman he loved was being close to him.

"Oh, still asleep I think?" Gary shrugged.  Suddenly, a swoosh of air and a smiling face popped up in front of them.

"Chookity!" Mooncake smiled.  Gary wrapped his arms around Mooncake.

"Oh never mind he's right here."

Quinn gave Mooncake a long glare, and Mooncake began to feel uncomfortable.  

"Uh, Quinn?  Is something wrong?" asked Gary with an eyebrow raised.  Mooncake shifted in his arms to face her.

"Chookity?"

"Mooncake, can I talk to Gary for a moment, alone?" she asked kindly.  Mooncake hesitated, then floated away into the other room.

"Hey, you know it's funny.  He can't speak words but yet he still understand us and everything."   Gary realized Quinn had a serious look on her face, and she crossed her arms.  "Uh oh, are you mad at me?  I swear I haven't done anything bad since last week." he defended himself.

"Gary, Mooncake is going to get you killed." she began.  Gary's face shifted from that of humor to confusion.

"Mooncake has saved my life multiple times." he answered.

"Yes I know, and I love Mooncake.  But we've been running from the Lord Commander for awhile now.  We can't keep this up.  We need to find a spot where Mooncake can stay, and never leave.  Or....Or the other option..." Quinn trailed off.  Gary's eyes widened.

"No."

"Gary, he's the key.  The Lord Commander wants to open the rift and unleash Final Space.  If there is no key..." Gary stomped his foot.

"No! I would never ever EVER let you kill Mooncake!" he yelled.

Quinn sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her face.

"Quinn, I love you.  But that is the stupidest, and the only stupid idea I've ever heard you say.  I'm sorry.  But there's no way I could do that to Mooncake."

"I just don't want to see you get killed." Quinn said sadly.

"And what about me?  I don't want to see any of you get hurt or killed, and that includes Mooncake!  We can keep this up.  We can try and kill the Lord Commander or just run until his disease kills him."

"Gary, do you not remember Nightfall?" asked Quinn.

"Of course I remember Nightfall.  Older, yet still hot version of you from a different timeline." he answered.

"Right.  And you remember why she was here?"

"To change a few things?"

"And what were those things?"

Gary looked at his feet.

"She said when I left, the Lord Commander killed me.  Mooncake got upset about it and opened Final Space because he was angry."

"Right."

"But that was then!  She prevented that from happening. What's to worry about?" he asked.

"Gary what if something happens to you again?  Everyday out here is  a struggle!  If you die, Mooncake will most likely still lose it and open the rift!  Mooncake is a sweet creature but his existence is a danger to everyone."  Quinn finished.  Gary's eyes began to water.

"No, Gary.  Don't cry, I just worry about this.  This is a serious issue.  I just don't want to see you get hurt or killed.  We've come a long way and I don't want everything to end."  Quinn gave him a kiss on the cheek.  Gary hugged her gently.

"You sacrificing yourself to the Lord Commander was enough to make me realize you're willing to put everyone else's life before yours.  But that's not always a good thing, because Mooncake loves you the most.  If we lose you, we lose the universe." Quinn nudged her cheek into his shoulder, and he put a hand on her head.

Gary turned his head towards the window, watching the stars pass by the ship quickly.  Something inside of him was hurting, and his chest felt like his heart was going to crumble into pieces.

"Quinn..." he began, "If somehow, I do die, or am about to die, bring Mooncake to me." he spoke.  She raised her head and looked at him.

"What?"

"If I'm dying, let Mooncake come to me.  Before I die...I'll...I'll kill him." 

"Gary..."

"If I end up dying I'll kill Mooncake, and we'll die together.  I don't want him to destroy the universe that we've been working so hard to save.  I'll hate it .  I'll hate it so much but if it truly comes down to it, I'll take him with me." Gary began to cry softly, and Quinn squeezed his arm.

"Quinn, and if I die instantly or Mooncake can't get to me, I want you to kill him for me.  Kill him for me if I die." he said , almost a whisper.

"I will." Quinn hugged him tightly.

"T-Thank you, Quinn." Gary sniffled.

"I'll hate it too.  I love Mooncake.  But the universe comes first if he is going to destroy it." she spoke.

"Y-yeah.." Gary sniffled.  "Q-Quinn?  I just wanted you to know that I love you, okay?" he said, looking at her.  She pulled back from the hug and looked into his green eyes.

"I know." she smiled. She wiped a tear from his cheek.

The two hugged again.

"Gary?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

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