The Insiders: Episode 6 - Close to the Edge

"Sometimes the answers we seek aren't found in hiding, but in facing what we've been running from all along."

The massive doors of the Throne Room creak open under Emm and Gee's combined keys, releasing the musty scent of disuse into the corridor. As Bran steps inside, memories wash over him like warm waves—of countless messages delivered when the Sandy was still around, of glimpsing wisdom in this sacred space.

Behind the golden throne, the Tree of Life stands dormant and bare while the Tree of Knowledge bears a single defiant green bud. In this dusty silence, Bran confronts not just his recent failures, but deeper wounds: his brief, intense fling with Gemma that cost him TiGer's friendship, and his habit of running from difficult conversations rather than engaging with them.

His moment of reflection is interrupted when TiGer bursts through the doors, her orange-and-black spiky hair vibrant against the chamber's gloom. "There you are. Had a hunch you'd skulk here," she announces, hands on hips. Her rapid-fire updates about angry Beta messengers, Captain Higgs's fury, and his new uniform are delivered with the caustic wit that's uniquely hers.

As she softens slightly, TiGer shares an ancient story once broadcast by the Sandy—about an exodus to a promised land occupied by enemies. "Only our enemies are mostly in here," she says, tapping her head pointedly.

Outfitted in his new silver Beta Wave uniform with its yellow lightning flashes, Bran struggles to adapt to the oversized boots designed to create an airtight seal with the tube system. His dendricals tingle with anticipation inside the red and blue gloves that will grant him access to the tubes he's missed during his exile.

On the Bridge, Captain Higgs's thunderous correction when Bran mistakenly calls her "Ma'am" instead of "Captain" makes his dendricals curl with embarrassment. Their mission is clear: survey damage, collect reports, visit Sher Gar for recordings, and consult the Chief about repairs.

Splitting up to cover more ground, Bran visits the Library where Sher Gar reveals a shocking truth: the crash wasn't Bran's fault. Two cloaked vessels pursued The ALEx, one firing a projectile that struck L3 Station and pumped in a mysterious liquid. Relief floods Bran's circuits—he wasn't the cause; he was the victim!

With this crucial evidence secured on his datapad, Bran chooses the upper deck route back to the Bridge, hunching his tall frame through the dimly lit corridor. Each step brings him closer to Captain Higgs and the truth that might finally clear his name.

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The difference isn't in what happened.

The difference is what you do with it.