~22:03~

Jimin watches as Y/N floats in front of him, the hole in the battleship now worrying him. In the five minutes it took them to get from the bridge to the main hangar, nothing eventful has really happened. No one from the other ship who has boarded has crossed paths with them yet.

The entire crew is in 0g due to the massive hole that was probably the cause of the rattle that rendered Jimin and Seulgi unconscious. Speaking of Seulgi - it became much easier to bring her along when the 0g kicked in. Jimin looks over at the hole and observes it: there's a small forcefield over the opening so they don't get sucked out into the vacuum of space. He may be an engineer, but forcefields were never his forte. "How did you install this forcefield anyway?" Jimin asks.

"Every hangar on a battleship has forcefields on the ready so the ships and crew don't get sucked out in case of a surprise attack. The hangar and the bridge have forcefields on the ready at all times, it activates as soon as impact is detected," Y/N says, which he hears the Commander agree with.

"Why not install it on the entire ship? Like the reactor and medbays?"

"Good question. Battleships are too massive to divert that much energy at once to everywhere on the ship. So the engineers prioritize the highly populated places, and the places more likely to be targeted in an attack. We don't have unlimited energy. It'd be impossible to build battleships in a timely manner if we had forcefields on the ready at all times. Too many power surges."

Jimin doesn't understand the complex idea, but he listens to Y/N's words and accepts them. Shortly after, the Commander speaks. "There's a brand new light cruiser up ahead. New transponder and everything, we'll escort you down to the surface and get your official statements."

"And after that?" Namjoon asks.

"We'll place you in protective custody until we figure out who's responsible for the attack. Then, you're free to go."

Jimin floats forward, the darkness of the hangar jarring, but he doesn't voice his complaints. He keeps floating ahead. Y/N glances back at him occasionally, but he doesn't question it. She's been acting strange since they put the suits on, but he figures it's her nerves, so he shrugs it off.

After a few moments of silence, there's some sparks from the other side of the room, and an officer goes limp, a blob of red pouring out of his chest. The blood in Jimin's body stops moving for a moment. "Go! They've found us!" the Commander shouts. "Get us cover! Now!" The officers fire back, but Jimin doesn't register what's going on until Y/N grabs him and brings him to the nearest wall, covering him with her body.

"We need to move!" she says with a small gasp.

"You're already injured, get behind me," Jimin replies, and she agrees knowing that arguing is no use in this situation. Jimin pushes off the wall, his hand entwined with Y/N's, bringing her with him.

"The cruiser should be on the other side of the hangar! Get there and take off! Don't wait for us!" the Commander yells into the comm, sparks flying off in every direction. Bullets whizz by Jimin once or twice, but for the most part, the officers are taking up the fire.

Jimin peers back in time to see most of the Commander's squad floating limply, blood pouring from their bodies. The enemy has cover, they don't. Jimin gulps, his pulse quickening as he tries to locate the ship. But it's no use, he can't find anything in the dim lighting. The lights are all malfunctioning due to the errors. What could be ships could also be large landing platforms and walls. "God dammit, where is this cruiser!" Jimin asks, searching as best he can.

"I can't find it either!" Namjoon shouts back.

Jimin locates his Captain. He's behind Y/N, with Hoseok behind him. Jimin glances back one more time to see all the officers have fallen, and the Commander is hiding behind a wall, suppressed by bullets. "Go!" she yells, grabbing her machine gun and preparing to make a final stand.

However, she doesn't get the chance.

A gigantic cruiser lights up, and the sparks of bullets temporarily stopping as confusion settles in everyone's brains. The cruiser takes off, flying over to the four crewmates floating in the open, about to lose their lives to the enemy. Jimin smiles in relief when the cruiser stops in front of them, taking all the fire.

The hatch opens, and Jimin starts towards it when the Commander talks. "Get to the surface and tell them Earth did this!" she yells, reloading her weapon.

"What about you?" Namjoon asks.

"I'm going to finish this."

"How can you be sure this is Earth?" Hoseok asks.

"I don't have time to explain, now go! Tell them Earth is responsible for the death of your transport vessel! Hurry!"

Without anymore questions, Jimin drags Y/N inside the cruiser with Namjoon and Hoseok. Hoseok is about to close the hatch when Y/N gasps. "Seulgi!" she says, then jumps back out of the cruiser.

"Y/N, wait!" Jimin says, watching while she floats through the air towards the unconscious girl. She was thrown forward by one of the officers, but not far enough to be fully out of gunfire. Y/N gets closer and closer. Jimin is about to go after her when Namjoon grabs his shoulder. "Let me go!"

Namjoon's grip only tightens. "I'm not risking losing you too, Park. Let her come back to us, you know she'll make it." Despite his inner turmoil, Jimin calms down and helplessly watches Y/N approach Seulgi's body.

She wraps her arms around the girl and prepares to push off the wall closest to her. Her body jerks, which makes Jimin gnaw on his lower lip, but when she pushes off the wall, he lets out a sigh. She approaches, pushing Seulgi in front of her so Jimin can grab her and pull her inside. Y/N joins right after, and finally, the entire crew is onboard.

Hoseok shuts the hatch, and they zoom away, exiting the forcefield and gaining distance from the battleship. The artificial gravity kicks on, and everyone lands on their feet. "Wait... who's flying this?" Hoseok asks, which makes everyone freeze.

"Find a weapon," Namjoon mutters.

Hoseok goes to take off his helmet, but Namjoon motions for him to keep it on. Quietly, the crew leaves Seulgi in one of the crash chairs and maneuvers across the large bay, scanning for weapons. Jimin must admit it feels good to be on his feet again. Floating in 0g is not exactly the most fun thing to do. However, his moment of peace is interrupted when Namjoon picks up a pipe and hands it to him. Jimin tilts his head.

"Just in case," Namjoon whispers.

Jimin nods, then glances back at Y/N, who's heaving and sitting down next to Seulgi. The engineer approaches her, taking off her helmet to see her going pale. "Y/N?" he asks, dropping the pipe by accident. She seems distant, her eyes are staring up at the ceiling. "Y/N? Look at me." He shakes her, but she's unresponsive. Not knowing what else to do, Jimin rips off his helmet. That finally makes her eyes dart to his face. She's a sweaty mess, panting and lost.

"Guys, I'm going to need a destination," a familiar male voice says. Everyone peeks up and over at the figure standing above them, the man peering over the railing and staring down at them.

It's Baekhyun.

"Baekhyun!" Namjoon shouts, rushing up the stairs to join him.

"You're alright," Jimin says. He watches the Captain and the Pilot reunite, then shifts his attention back at Y/N, who gives the pilot a weak smile.

Namjoon motions to Jimin after he's done checking on Baekhyun. "Take care of her. Hoseok, Baekhyun, and I will handle our current situation."

Jimin agrees and goes back to Y/N, the girl bobbing her mouth open and closed. "Is it your hi-" He stops when he sees blood on his gloves. Right away he inspects Y/N's body. He rips her gear off and searches until he finds the source of the blood. She got shot on her left side, just under her breast. Jimin presses his hands on the wound to stop the bleeding, his figure trembling. "Shit, Namjoon!" Jimin shouts.

The Captain dashes back into the room. "What is it?" he asks, his voice quivering when he notices Jimin's hands.

"She was shot, right in the chest," Jimin says, not bothering to hide the terror in his words.

Namjoon turns back towards where he came from. "Get us as far away from Mars as possible. Y/N's been shot, I need to help her first." As soon as he gives the command, he practically jumps down the stairs and kneels down next to Jimin.

"J-Jimin, I..." Y/N says, but it comes out hoarse.

"Shh, save your strength," Jimin replies, doing his best to calm her.

"We need to get her to the medbay."

"W-Where is it?" Jimin asks, not noticing the tears falling down his cheeks. Y/N weakly points behind him, and he gets the message, looking at where her finger leads. There's a blue line on the wall going to the right, deeper into the cruiser.

Jimin nods, and together, Namjoon and him pick her up and go down the corridor. It narrows the more they traverse, the blue line taking them in numerous directions until finally the medbay is in sight. They enter, Jimin opening the red door as fast as possible and placing Y/N on the bed.

"Plug the machinery into the scanner, make sure it runs a scan on her body," Namjoon says, grabbing scissors to cut off Y/N's shirt, and Jimin complies. He's never done anything like this, so he's simply doing all he can.

"W-Where's the cord," Jimin mutters, searching the circular machine against the wall connected to her bed.

"It's over there," a new male voice says.

Namjoon and Jimin snap their heads up to the intruder, amazed to see Hoseok there. He motions towards the edge of the circle, and Jimin grabs the cord and places it inside the scanner lying next to her bed on the medical table. "Gentle Namjoon, please," Hoseok says, trekking forward and taking the scissors off the man. "The scanner will determine if the bullet is still inside, but for now we need to seal the wound with something. Plastic will work, Namjoon find me plastic." The two don't question the man and instead scurry to find plastic. Jimin locates some plastic wrap and hands it to him. Hoseok gets to work with wrapping it around her body, his eyes narrowing on the wound. "Is that okay, Y/N?" Hoseok asks, and she nods.

"Shouldn't we elevate her legs or something?" Namjoon asks, which Hoseok almost scoffs at.

"No, that'll cause the bleeding to accelerate. Keep her body even, the plastic should prevent any further lung damage." Hoseok pauses, shifting to Jimin. "Activate the scanner," Hoseok says, and Jimin obeys, turning it on. The little orb beams to life and hovers over Y/N's pale body, scanning up and down.

"Jimin, maybe you should help Baekhyun," Namjoon says.

He resists the urge to slap him. "I'm not leaving her."

Namjoon sighs. "I know this is emotional-"

"I was unconscious in the interrogation room, just like Seulgi. When she found me she could have left me and went to get you or anyone else but she stayed and destroyed her own body to get me out of that room. She didn't leave me, so I'm not leaving her," Jimin says, desperation in his eyes. "She saved me," Jimin whispers, this time feeling the tears on his cheek.

"Okay. You can stay but, please, stay back." Jimin hesitates, then agrees, taking a few steps away and watching as Namjoon and Hoseok close in on Y/N, trying to figure out what to do next. Watching how pale she is, how she looks almost dead... it's the worst sight in the world to Jimin. He swears to himself he'll never let this happen again.

~3:34~

The stars are lonely tonight. Or maybe Jimin's only imagining it as he steps into the cockpit. Baekhyun is there. Alive. Healthy, even. Healthier than the woman Jimin was just with not long ago. But he can't think of that now. So, he comes over, Baekhyun's head perking up at the noises Jimin's footsteps make on the metal plating known as the floor.

"I thought you were dead," Jimin says, plopping down on the co-pilot's seat.

Baekhyun shrugs it off. "The Athena was long gone by the time I got there. She was already in flames, so I left and tried to find us another ship. Found this baby right here. Had to steal a suit from the equipment room, but I'd say it was worth it."

"I'm glad you're alright. Y/N was blaming herself like crazy."

The pilot glances over at Jimin in confusion. "Why?"

"I guess she felt responsible for sending you to the Athena in the first place. Felt it was her fault." There's one thing Jimin can say for certain: he would feel the same way if he was in her place. As if questioning authority didn't give him a heart attack. If he was authority, though? He'd drop dead from the pressure of being looked at let alone having to give orders in life-threatening situations. That's why he'll never envy Namjoon's position.

"She had a solid plan, it would have worked if the ship wasn't already gone. If she wakes up-"

"When," Jimin interrupts, his eyes focusing on the ground and going dark.

Baekhyun pauses for a moment. "When she wakes up, I'll make sure to tell her it wasn't her fault. She's already got enough on her plate, she doesn't need this." Jimin stares out at the stars. Right now, the battleship is still in combat with the enemy. Yes - still. They're watching from afar, waiting to see who wins.

"Any progress?" Namjoon asks from behind them, which makes Jimin shake his head.

"Not yet. Any progress on her?"

Namjoon doesn't speak for a moment, and in that moment, Jimin's vision fades in and out of focus. "Still unconscious." That doesn't make Jimin feel any better, but it also doesn't make him feel any worse.

Seulgi approaches from behind him, rubbing her head. She woke up about three hours ago, but took a nap when she found out they were safe. "Everything alright?" she asks. Everyone casts their gaze down. She's quick to do a small bow. "I apologize for napping, I just... felt overwhelmingly exhausted."

"Don't apologize, I think we all could use a nap right about now," Namjoon replies with a dry chuckle.

"What happened while I was out?" she asks, leaning against the wall.

Jimin bites back a grimace. "Where do we begin..."

Namjoon nods, turning his weight towards the woman. "Y/N was shot."

Seulgi's eyes slightly expand, then go back to normal. "Anything else?" Jimin uses all his strength to not snap at her. The only thing that keeps him back is Baekhyun's hand on his shoulder. When Jimin makes eye contact with him, the boy shakes his head and gives him a pleading look.

"The battleship we were on got attacked by another battleship. Commander Clementine claims it's Earth, but she never gave us her proof," Namjoon says.

"Why aren't we on Mars then?"

Namjoon gives her a charming smile that hides much of his pain. "I don't know. I don't trust it."

And those words trigger Jimin to ponder back to the entire course of events, then, he goes stiff. His hands ball themselves into fists, and his lungs tighten around the air coming in. "Sir, I think we should leave. Now." They turn their heads to the Engineer, who gulps under their eyes.

"Why?"

Jimin hesitates, then answers. "When we were first met the Commander, you told her we had information about a possible war on Mars. I don't remember exactly what she said, but she said something along the lines of an 'I know'. We were all too shocked about who she was to wonder how she already knew we had information. We never told anyone, did we?" The crew shakes their heads in-sync. "Then how did she know?" Seulgi's eyes meet with Namjoon's, the Captain opening his mouth to speak.

"It was Mars. Mars blew up the Hep."

~3:45~

Jimin paces around the main bay. He didn't bother exploring the cruiser anymore than the bridge, cockpit, bay, and medbay, but he can already tell it's a big ship. There's a ladder leading both up and down in the main bay. He presumes that up is to the quarters, and down is to the dining hall. He even heard rumors that cruiser-class ships have special exercise rooms, beyond the basic rooms designated to each ship to keep staff in-shape. The idea of working out again excites him, but right now, he has too much on his mind. There's a battle going on right below their ship, they just made a huge revelation, and Y/N got shot and is unconscious. Jimin shivers at the last thought. The idea of Y/N being hurt - let alone this bad - makes him sick to his stomach. And that sickness only amplifies when Seulgi enters the room.

She strp;;s down the stairs, about to head over to the ladder when Jimin clears his throat. She pauses, then turns to him. "Yes Engineer?"

"You know you can call me Jimin, right?" he says, trying his best to hide his scoff. "I think we're far past formalities considering the situation we're in."

"Being professional is considered polite, but if you insist," she replies, and he can't help but throw up in his mouth. Regardless, he swallows the bile and stands a bit taller than before.

"Listen, I don't know what went down between you and Y/N while I was gone-"

"She's snarky and arrogant."

"Well, yeah, she'd probably admit that-"

"And I apologize if this sounds insensitive, but I truly do not care about what you have to say defending her. I understand that you and her have gotten... close." She breaks off, searching for a good way to phrase her next thought. However, Jimin freezes at her words. Has he gotten close with Y/N? He thinks back on everything that has happened so far, and he knows for sure that the answer is yes. Why couldn't he see that before? "But that does not mean all of us have to like her."

"That's not what I was going to say," he says, but he's interrupted by Seulgi holding up her hand to cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it. I apologize." She's about to climb up the ladder, but Jimin can't stop himself.

"She saved your life!" Seulgi stiffens, then turns her attention back to him. "We were in 0g, and the officers escorting you got killed. When no one else noticed, Y/N did. She went back for you. She got shot for you!" When she doesn't answer, Jimin keeps going, letting out a shaky breath. "I don't need to defend her. Her actions will." Seulgi's grip on the ladder tightens until her knuckles go pale. Her eyebrows knit together, and Jimin can't tell if it's from confusion or something else. But then, she leaves, climbing up the ladder and disappearing from Jimin's view.

Jimin curses under his breath, not entirely sure where he is mentally right now. He talked back to a gold rank. His superior. What the fuck is happening to him? Instead of thinking, he goes to the right. Down on the tail end of the cruiser is the medbay and the greenhouse. Yes, a greenhouse. Unique to cruisers. Not even battleships have them.

Jimin ignores the signs for the greenhouse and goes right to the medbay, opening the maroon door and almost jolting at the sight of Hoseok slumped over in a chair, panting and pale. "Hoseok? Are you okay?" Jimin asks, rushing inside.

He swallows whatever's in his throat, then nods. "Turns out trying to save someone's life isn't as easy as it sounds." Jimin chuckles despite there being little humor in it, kneeling down next to the boy and scanning Y/N's unconscious body. "She's stable." Jimin doesn't reply. He keeps his eyes locked on her frail form. When Jimin still doesn't speak, Hoseok stares down at him. "She'll live. I promise."

Jimin meets Hoseok's eyes when he says those words, giving him what he hopes comes across as a grateful expression. "Thank you, I mean it."

"Anytime."

Jimin purses his lips, letting his head tilt. "How did you know what to do?"

Hoseok softly smiles, his irises reflecting the memories popping into his mind. "My parents were doctors, always talked about their cases. Of course, as a kid, the more graphic ones I remembered the most. One time, they had to deal with someone who took a gunshot to the chest, narrowly missed their heart. I studied medicine in high school and for a year in college, but eventually dropped it for this. Y/N's lucky, she didn't suffer any organ damage, but she'll still be out for a while. Recovering is difficult, especially with her lungs."

The thought of parents brings an ache to Jimin's figure. Regardless, he plasters a grin on his face. "Well, I guess we have a medic on board, huh?"

Hoseok snickers, his upper lip turning up a bit. "I wish. Bronze medic instead of agent would be amazing."

Jimin stands, giving the boy a pat on the shoulder. "I'd say you've earned Silver by now." His plastered smile becomes a genuine one, but the moment is interrupted when Namjoon comes bursting into the room.

"It's gone. The Silver Angel. Just like the Hep. Blown up, completely gone," he says, sweat dripping off his head and threatening to form a pool by his feet.

Both Hoseok and Jimin hop up, their postures stiff and refusing to move by even an inch. Jimin's eyes almost burst out of his sockets. "It's gone? Just like that?" he asks, his voice cracking more with each word.

"Just like that," Namjoon says, and they dip their heads down. The trio stay eerily silent for a few moments. However, Jimin knows that mourning won't get them anywhere now. Especially when they didn't know anyone onboard on a personal level. So, he speaks.

"What do we do now?" Jimin asks, his voice lower than he thought it would be. The Captain runs a hand through his thick locks, his height towering over Jimin until it casts a shadow over his frail body. Jimin prepares for the next words, but when they're said, he still ends up feeling his heart drop.

"The only thing we can do. Run away."