Hey all. I've spent some of my spare time over the past couple of weeks playing the Sunrider games. You know what I want to do after getting one of the endings of the RE-turn story? I want to write my own take on things. What would've happened if Kayto came to terms with having to shoot Chigara at the end of that path? What would've happened if, given time, he and Asaga had overcome their guilt and returned to space?

This one is only a oneshot for now, but let me know if you'd like to see more in future. Please enjoy the read!

Beyond the Cosmos

A burn of white – harsh and unforgiving – it coursed through the skull and ruptured the senses. Beyond anything, this wasn't the way to start a new day. Inhale. Exhale. Breathe in. Breathe out. A captain's place was one at the forefront of battle, but for this captain in particular? Well, he never thought he'd take the bridge of a ship again – not after the difficult reminders of his past.

"Lights on. Power to the holographic mirror. Remove the kitchen appliances from standby and open my wardrobe. Command ident three-seven-one. Captain Kayto Shields."

A low ping shot across the walls of the room.

"Confirmed. Good morning, Captain. You have unread messages from Commander Crescentia. Shall I patch them through for you? They seemed quite urgent."

"No." Kayto ran a hand through his scruffy white hair – instead looking back at the mound beneath his bed sheets – thin red strands of hair spilling out from the corners. "Computer. Start a fifteen-minute timer. If my girlfriend's not out of bed by then, make it nice and loud, won't you?

"But of course, sir," the feminine computerized aid shot back with a bemused giggle. The joys of having a voice commanded A.I aboard the newer Ceran ships. "Fifteen minutes and counting."

"Good. Now it's about time I get dressed. Status update on the mission, if you would?"

Kayto stopped halfway across the lounge – staring back his reflection, eyes tired with dark circles but otherwise reasonable in light of recent events. He'd come a long way, a thought that permeated many a waking moment with prevalence as of late. However, that still didn't stop him from having painful pangs of guilt, too.

"Chigara… Maray…. I'm more sorry than you could begin to know."

Those two familiar faces still played out in his mind from time to time. The nightmares were nowhere near as bad these days, but they poked after a tiring enough stint in the great abyss of space, making him wonder if things could've turned out differently.

As Shields slipped into his uniform, adjusting the sleeves and looking over service medals on his jacket, he gave a tiny, sad smile. A silver cross sat next to his Cera Command badge. The Solar Alliance Peace Medal. An award for those who made the hardest decisions to keep the light of freedom and justice shining in the galaxy.

"I had to pull the trigger that day. It was the only way I could've stopped everything. We changed history. True, the things Claude said would come to pass didn't turn out exactly right… we weren't erased… but our timeline did change. Past Shields evaporated… and I took his place…. We saved the universe… mostly."

A sigh, one gentle and a tad forlorn.

"Still… Maray… little sister… I hope you're watching me right now."

"An update on the mission, Captain." Shields' personal computer buzzed to life. "We're a short distance from the pirate stronghold as we speak. There are more of them than our initial reports suggested. Ten destroyers. Fifty frigate-class ships in total, two carriers and two-dozen ryders. They're very well organized."

Kayto gave a chuckle at that, hands clasped together in a knot. "Looks like Miss Cosmos is ready for us. We have the advantage in terms of ryders at least. What of the Ryuvian support units? Are they waiting in position?"

"They are, sir. Beside our gunboats," the A.I buzzed again in quick response. "Half a dozen light corvettes and a small frigate-class flagship. Speaking of the Ryuvians... Fifteen minutes have passed."

"Very good." A smile graced the lips of the captain. He braced himself for what was to come next – having been in this situation far too many times already. "Wake her up. We can't hold a joint operation with the Ryuvian's without their leader at the helm. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Shields braced – the ear-splitting cry of an alarm shooting through his quarters. He watched, anchored in place amidst the noise as a crimson blur shot out of his bed sheets, crashing to the floor in a mass of blankets and panic.

Not a moment later – the alarm stopped, Kayto making his way across to the bedside.

"I'm awake I'm awake! Jeez was there any need? Jerk!"

He sidestepped a pillow missile, arms folded behind his back as a petite young lady clambered in sleep-ridden confusion, slumping against the mattress with a pouty frown, pushing untidy crimson locks away from her eyes.

"Is that any way to treat a lady when she's sleepin? I'm totally mad at you now!"

"I'm sorry your highness." Kayto teasingly smirked – reaching out to take the grumpy girl into his arms with a playful yelp on her part. "Or should I call you by your official title? Queen Asaga Di Ryuvia? The ace of Cera's flagship Sunrider Mark Two and the broker of an alliance between our two Neutral Rim worlds?"

Not to mention his beloved lady for the past two years – his supporting rock despite all of his hardships, and his closest friend outside of Ava, of course. True, she had her immature moments, but beyond all that, this girl had powerful morals and a heart of gold. She led from the front, pulling the archaic ways of the old Ryuvian politicians along with her.

"No mornin' kiss for you, Captain Shields." She was obviously less than impressed with his poking at her royal title, too. "Just when I was going to offer you snuggles before the operation. Looks like you're missing out until after sortie."

Asaga leaned in close, still droopy from her abrupt waking, eyes of loving green glowing against the low light of the room. Further and further she leaned, so close now that Kayto felt the warmth of her breath against his cheek.

"But," she whispered in his ear softly. "If you say you're sorry I might give you a 'lil peck on the cheek before I get changed into my uniform."

By no means was Kayto unhappy with their current situation, holding the slender girl in his arms, fingertips caressing the softness of her skin, happily drinking up the sight of her slim yet shapely form squeezed tight into simple whitish-grey undergarments. The way she musingly nestled her head against his chest, waiting expectantly for his next move.

What kind of gentleman, let alone the captain of an assault class carrier, refused the whims of a lady?

"I'm very sorry. Won't happen again Asaga. You have my word. Captain's honor."

"Heh," his gorgeous lady giggled, leaning in with her usual cheerful grin. "Don't you mean Vice-Admiral now?"

She had a point. In the days since averting the Liberation Day massacre, many things changed. No longer did Kayto hold the reins of a single ship. No. He had an entire fleet at his back if he so needed it – served directly under Admiral Sheng of high command.

Before he could think too much on his place in life, however, Asaga stole his lips, leaning in with all of her power and passion. A soft moan slipped free from the young lady, putting everything she had into not just the conquest of his lips, but also his heart.

It was moments like these, joking and teasing in the early hours of the morning, enjoying warmth and comfort that made the painful memories feel distant, easier to cope with. Kayto had fallen low after pulling the trigger that day, but in spite of it all, he'd taken a stand yet again, returned to service, and fought with pride and fire to keep the Neutral Rim safe.

Exhaling stiffly, the captain took a moment to collect himself, running his tongue across the edges of his lips. He eyed Asaga, surprised more than anything at her boldness. True, she had quite the intense side when they were alone, especially if she awakened in the heat of passion, but it was far from what Shields expected right now.

"That was…." He paused – a gentle silence filling the wide expanse of his office. "Quite the kiss. Damn… not that I'm complaining. Feeling a little pent up this morning, are we sweetheart?"

"A little." She smirked, standing on her tippy toes to poke his forehead with her index. "But we're going into battle soon… I jus'… wanted to be sure you know how much I love ya. You know, capt'n?"

Kayto pulled close the love his life with everything he had, squeezing her tight, breathing in her scent for just a moment longer. His ace. His defender. His queen. Unlike Chigara, there was no deception here. All of her words came from the heart – she'd move an entire fleet for him – for all of the innocent people in the universe. It's just how Ryuvia's newest ruler was at heart.

"Asaga…. I know…. I love you too… and don't think for a moment I'm not worried about you when you jump into the Blackjack's cockpit. You're the best, but…I still-"

A klaxon sounded, shredding the moment apart with all too much tension. Kayto breathed hard, the pit of his stomach plunging as adrenaline took hold. It was the signal. Time for him to take command and lead.

Before he could so much as speak, he found a finger upon his lips.

"Save it, capt'n. Your hero's on the case!"

Asaga slipped free from his embrace, giving a hasty salute. "Looks like we finally have 'lil Miss Cosette cornered and she don't like it. Dayum I've been waitin' for an opportunity to kick her ass! Gonna knock her outta the sky! KAPOW!"

The enthusiasm didn't stop the sharp, icy pang of worry. Shields had stood in command so many times before. Fought, failed, watched the universe burn and even jumped back in time to fix it all. Even after all that, he still held a feeling of unease. Asaga wasn't just his pilot anymore. The elegent silver promise rings they wore on their fingers held them together even in the darkness of space.

"Just," Kayto froze as he watched Asaga zip across the room, hastily tugging her bright red military issue plug suit from a storage case under their bed. "Be careful. I don't think that pint-sized terror's screwing around anymore. In just a year she's banded half the pirates across the Neutral-Rim together."

Yet all Asaga did was giggle, wriggling out her sparse clothing and sliding her perky behind into her plug suit, pressurizing it with a press of the button at the side of her wrist unit.

"Don't you worry for a second!" In one final moment of compassion, she slid across the hardwood, grabbing hold of Kayto's collar

"I'll come back to you," she smiled with flare and compassion – her eyes glowing bright in a mighty awakening. "I'll cross the whole galaxy alone in Blackjack if that's what it takes… but I'll ALWAYS come back to ya. Heh… you're my guy 'n mah best friend. Nothin's gonna keep us apart!"

The lips of the two lovers collided amongst the blurring of red and the howling of sirens. Without another word, Asaga broke free, rushing up the spiral staircase and out of the door to the office.

Left alone with his thoughts, Kayto felt his fears quashed, the rush of fire taking hold within his veins. His lips curved into a confident smile.

"Attention! This is Commander Crescentia! Captain! You're required on the bridge at once. Cosette's Forces have launched their offensive. More signals warping in. We're now outnumbered. Launching ryders to intercept. Please hurry."

Ava's powerful voice blurred through the speakers, bringing a powerful flash of clarity.

"Roger that, Commander," Shields called through the comm device fitted into the sleeve of his uniform. "I'm on my way."

It was about time to put Cosette in her place.

To be continued...

That brings our chapter to a close. Thank you for taking the time to read. Did you enjoy it? Would you like to see more in future? Feel free to leave some feedback and share you're thoughts if you'd like.

As always, keep on supporting Sunrider and I'll see you in the next thing I write! Thanks again!