Chapter 23

THE CHAMBER became a sea of chaos. Cries of outrage mixed with shouts of defiance as factions within the audience began to clash. Enforcers, unsure where their loyalties lay, faltered, some stepping aside while others held firm at their posts.

Rory’s holographic form shimmered in the air, her defiant words still echoing: “The truth belongs to everyone now.”

Jo’Nay stood shackled in the center of the dais, his eyes scanning the room. He could see the cracks in the Council’s authority widening, the precarious balance tipping further into unrest. Val’Ander, standing beside him, seemed ready to act, but his gaze shifted to Jo’Nay as if waiting for a cue. Winn clung to her mate’s hand, calm and resolute to abide by whatever decision hemade.

The Head Councilor slammed the governing stone repeatedly against the bench, his face a mask of fury and fear. “This is a travesty! Order must be restored! Enforcers, arrest the instigators—now!”

But the enforcers hesitated, their uncertainty palpable. Some glanced at each other, their hands on their weapons but unmoving. The captain stepped forward, looking directly at Jo’Nay. “What should we do?” he asked, his voice barely audible over the commotion.

Jo’Nay’s chest tightened. The moment he had fought so hard to reach was here. Shackled, facing the people he had once sworn to protect, he felt the weight of their expectations and the fear of what could come next. He took a step forward, the manacles on his wrists clanking loudly enough to momentarily silence theroom.

“You must choose,” Jo’Nay said, his deep voice cutting through the noise. “Not for me, not for them”—he gestured toward the Councilors, whose anger simmered—”but for the Nine Galaxies. For the future of all who live in them.”

The enforcer captain wavered, his hand trembling on the hilt of their weapon. Jo’Nay turned his gaze to the crowd, his voice rising. “This is not just about me. It’s not just about the Primes or the Council. It’s about what kind of galaxy we want to live in. Agalaxy ruled by fear, where truth is buried and power is hoarded? Or a galaxy where all voices matter, where justice is real, and where we can hope for something better?”

Winn felt a shiver run through her as Jo’Nay spoke. His words were not just for the enforcers or the audience. They were for everyone watching the broadcast. Billions of lives hung in the balance, and Jo’Nay, even shackled, stood like a beacon of resolve.

“Do you not see?” he continued, his eyes locking onto each enforcer in turn. “The Council fears the truth because it will strip them of their power. They have lied to you, manipulated you, and used you as tools for their own ends. But you are more than that. Like the Intergalactic Warriors, you are also the protectors of the Nine Galaxies. Protect the truth. Protect the people.”

The enforcer captain lowered his weapon, his jaw tightening. “You’re right,” he said softly. Turning to the other enforcers, he added, “We took an oath to protect. Not to oppress.”

The Head Councilor’s voice rose in a furious screech. “This is insubordination! Treason! You will all face execution for this betrayal!”

Another enforcer spoke up, their voice firm. “We serve the Nine Galaxies, not your lies.”

A ripple of agreement spread through the enforcers. One by one, they stepped back, refusing to obey the Council’s orders. Some even moved to the edges of the dais, creating a protective perimeter around Jo’Nay, Winn, and Val’Ander.

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Jo’Nay raised his hands, silencing them. “This is not a time for division,” he said. “We cannot let our anger consume us. The Council may have betrayed our trust, but we will not become what they fear. We must rebuild. Together.”

Winn felt tears sting her eyes as she watched Jo’Nay take control of the room, his presence calming the chaos. His words reached into the hearts of those around him, pulling them together. Even Val’Ander seemed moved, his usual stoicism softening into something like admiration.

But the Council was not finished. The Head Councilor rose, his face twisted with desperation. “This is not over!” he bellowed. “You think you can overthrow centuries of rule with words? You are fools! Without us, the Nine Galaxies will descend into chaos.”

Jo’Nay studied each Councilor in turn, his expression calm but unyielding. “The chaos you speak of is the natural order trying to right itself after centuries of oppression. It is not chaos. It is growth.”

Another Councilor stood, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and trepidation. “If you dismantle the Council, who will lead? Who will ensure peace and stability? You? Arenegade Prime who defied every law we created?”

Jo’Nay straightened, his presence towering even in shackles. “Not just me,” he said. “We will lead. Together. Representatives from all species, all worlds, all walks of life. ACouncil built on trust, not fear. On unity, not domination. Vetta is but a single world. Why should they have authority over all the galaxies? Power should be shared or it corrupts.”

The crowd roared their approval, the sound shaking the chamber. Winn felt a surge of pride as she watched Jo’Nay, her heart swelling with love and admiration. This was the man she had fallen in love with—the man who refused to accept injustice, even when it would have been easier to stay silent.

The Councilors huddled together, their whispers frantic. Winn could see the cracks forming in their resolve, their authority crumbling beneath the weight of the moment. One Councilor, her face pale and drawn, stepped forward.

“I—” she began, her voice shaking. “I will not be part of this any longer. The lies, the manipulation—it ends here.”

Gasps echoed through the room as the Councilor stepped down from the dais, stripping off her ornate robes. She walked toward Jo’Nay, her hands raised in supplication. “You are right,” she said softly. “The Nine Galaxies deserve better.”

Jo’Nay nodded, his gaze steady. “Then join us. Help us rebuild.”

The Councilor hesitated, then nodded. Behind them, more Councilors began to falter, their confidence shattered by the defection. The Head Councilor, now alone, looked around wildly, his authority slipping through his fingers.

“This is treason!” he shouted. “All of you! You will regret this!”

But his words fell on deaf ears. The people had chosen their path, and it no longer included the oldways.

Jo’Nay turned to Val’Ander and Rory’s hologram. “We have much work to do,” he said. “But we will do it together.”

The chamber was still buzzing with energy when Jo’Nay and Winn slipped away. Rory’s holographic presence lingered, keeping the crowd captivated with her steadfast declarations of truth. Val’Ander had stepped into the spotlight, already outlining the first steps for restructuring the Nine Galaxies’ governance. But Jo’Nay and Winn knew their part in this fight was over. It was time to think about their future—their family.

The corridors of the grand Council building were eerily quiet as they walked, the distant sounds of the chamber fading behind them. With a powerful snap, Jo’Nay broke free of his manacles, and though his wrists bore the marks of their weight, he walked tall and free. Winn clutched his hand tightly, her other hand resting protectively over her belly.

“Could you have broken free at any point?”

“Of course. Just as I did with the Marauders.”

She grinned. “I wish you’d done that in front of the Council. It would have shocked them to their evil little cores.”

They reached a private docking bay where Jo’Nay’s ship, asleek vessel with smooth lines and a matte-black finish, awaited them. Rory’s doing, no doubt. Winn stopped for a moment, turning to look at him. “Are you sure about this?” she asked softly.

Jo’Nay cupped her face gently, his expression resolute. “I have never been more sure of anything,” he said. “The Nine Galaxies are changing, but that change will take time. Time we cannot afford to risk with our child—or children.” His lips quirked into a rare, soft smile. “It is no longer my duty to fight for them. My duty is here, with you.”

Winn’s heart swelled with emotion. “I never wanted to be the reason you gave up your calling,” she whispered.

“You were never the reason,” Jo’Nay replied. “You were the answer. You gave me purpose beyond war, beyond service. You showed me a life worth living.”

Together, they boarded the ship, the hum of its engines welcoming them aboard like an old friend. Winn settled into the co-pilot’s chair, marveling again at the quiet elegance of the controls. Jo’Nay moved with practiced ease, his large hands gliding over the interface as he began the pre-flight checks.

“Where will we go?” Winn asked, her voice trembling with equal parts excitement and uncertainty.

“First, Iwish to find my unit and make sure they are supplied with apple seeds if it is their wish,” Jo’Nay said, his tone thoughtful. “Rory, are you with us?”

“I am here. Iwill always be with you.”

“Thank goodness,” Winn said with a grin. “And after we find your unit?”

“We will go somewhere the Council’s reach cannot touch us. Aplace where we can build a life of peace.”

The ship’s navigation systems came to life, amap of the Nine Galaxies and beyond spreading across the screen. “There,” he said, pointing to an uncharted region. “A star system on the frontier. Untouched, unclaimed. Aplace for us to start anew.”

Winn leaned back in her seat, letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “It sounds perfect,” she said. “But it’s a lot to leave behind.”

Jo’Nay reached for her hand, his grip steady and warm. “We are not leaving behind. We are moving forward. The Nine Galaxies will find their path without us, and Val’Ander will ensure the truth is never forgotten. But our path lies elsewhere now.”

“Will the Alpha Legion come with us?”

“If it is their wish.”

The ship’s engines roared to life, the vibration coursing through the hull like a heartbeat. Jo’Nay guided the vessel out of the docking bay, the cityscape of the Vettian capital stretching below them in a glittering expanse. As they broke through the atmosphere, Winn cast one last look at the world they were leaving behind.

“It’s strange,” she murmured. “To leave everything we’ve ever known.”

Jo’Nay’s hand tightened around hers. “We carry it with us,” he said. “In our memories, in our choices, and in the lives we create.”

The ship sailed into the vastness of space, the stars spreading before them like a tapestry of endless possibilities. Winn leaned her head against Jo’Nay’s shoulder, her thoughts drifting to their unborn child. Or children, as Jo’Nay had said with such certainty.

“Do you really think we’ll have more than one?” she asked, her tone light but curious.

Jo’Nay’s smile returned, arare but beautiful expression. “Absolutely.”

Winn closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his presence and the hum of the ship lull her into a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in what seemed like a lifetime. They had faced so much together—wars, trials, betrayals—but now they had a chance to create something new. Something beautiful.