A/N all credits go to the 35000000 god knows how old alien with significantly better hiding skills than the garde.

Chapter 1

Five

I have just been promoted for my success in the retrieval of Ella. I should be happy. It's a big promotion, I get new upgraded living quarters, new uniforms, better food, more privileges, among that being access to Level 8, where all the labs and cool stuff are. I will move into my new quarters tomorrow at noon, but for now I will stay in my quarters till tomorrow morning.

I dig in my closet where all my stuff is for the second set of my current uniform which I will need to send down the clothes chute for collection. Instead of coming up with my uniform, I come up with a foam cube. A yellow foam cube with a smiley face. A yellow foam cube with a smiley face and a name underneath. I don't need to turn it over to tell whose name it is. But I do.

Cody.

The word feels like it's laced with acid. I can't read it. Just by touching it I have already opened up a scar even more painful than the scars that mark the passing of each dead garde.

Cody.

Is it wrong? Wrong to feel remorse for things that cannot be changed? Is it wrong to feel retribution for all the things I know I have done? The things that pushes Mogadore closer and closer to the throne on which it will sit and command the planets? Is it even possible to feel guilty for a mistake that you didn't make? I don't know.

Cody. The word that is laced with acid. feel guilty for a mistake that you didn't make? I don't know.

Cody. The word that is laced with acid.