The Banner had crashed.

Belle’s mind was still buzzing with the news. It was so unheard of, so unthinkable that the legendary rebellion ship could be taken down. Everyone knew it was invincible. The Stellar Police had been trying to blow a hole in its side for years.

But it fell.

Belle had been scavenging for parts, scraps or remains of any ship who crossed planet Rithon. It had been a slow day, nothing but a few mega-screws and power cells to sell on the market tomorrow. And then the sky had tore open, a trail of fire following a huge object- obviously a ship- as it crashed down to Rithon. Even from where Belle was standing she could feel the ground shake, and the frosty air that slapped her in the face from the impact.

Hands shaking, Belle had swung into her hover-ski and slammed on the gas. She had raced toward the crash sight, praying there was survivors. Survivors who had full pockets and grateful hearts wouldn’t hurt either.

And then the ship came into view. Smoking and half buried in ice, but Belle knew what it was. She would be worried for herself if she didn’t, given that the Stellar Police had been waving its picture and bounty in her face fir years.

The Banner’s metal was already starting to freeze over, with huge icicles hanging off the side. Snow covered the top like powder, and in large blue paint the words “The Banner” were painted on the side. It was obvious the crew had tried to make a crash landing. The landing gear was extended, and Belle could tell by the shape the engines were in that they had been put to full reverse thrust. It didn’t matter though. Even the finest rebellion crew in the galaxy couldn’t stop a crash like that. It was a miracle the Banner was in this good a shape.

And then the Stellar Police arrived.

It didn’t take them long, Belle timed their arrival to 16 minutes and 46 seconds. Their ships had shot above her, engines roaring as they landed and hundreds of people in red uniforms piled out. They had quickly surrounded the Banner, turning her up and down as they searched for the crew.

Now Belle rested stomach down in the snow, peering through her binoculars at the action. Her knotted black hair flew in the attic wind, and the side of her face was covered in frost. Her layers of fur coat kept her warm in the day, but night would fall soon and the temperature would plummet to deadly levels.

Belle’s sea-glass eyes swept up and down over the scene. She bit her lip. ‘What should I do?’ She thought. Belle knew it was incredibly stupid to stay here. She could get arrested, freeze to death, not make it home in time, or ever worse- there was still rebels lurking around.

A blaster clicked behind her.

“Speak of the devil.” She breathed.

“Get up,” Came a gruff voice. “Hands behind your head.”

Belle’s survival instincts kicked in. She hadn’t survived on Rithon of all planets for nothing.

Slowly, Belle lifted her gloved hands above her head. Then before the person behind her could react, she spun around and drove her boot into his knee.

The man grunted as Belle shot up, her hand darting to her blaster as she aimed it at the man’s head.

Now that she was up, she could actually get a look at her attacker. He had a scraggly beard with bits of frost clinging to it, and a unruly mass of brown hair. His eyes were a deep blue, and his nose was slightly turned as if it had been broken.

Belle’s blood ran cold, and not from the temperature.

The man gave a small smile. “Hey kid, I’m home.” He said it as if it were simple- just a normal guy coming home from a long days work, not a guy who just crashed out of the Banner and was currently pointing a blaster to her head. It was as if that never even happened.

Belle’s words got caught in her throat. This couldn’t be happening. Not after 17 years. Mom had always told her- no, warned her that this man was a disgrace, that he became a rebel and turned his back on all of them.

And yet Belle’s heart filled with warmth.

“Dad?”