Everything on planet Dard is severe and gray. No beauty exists here.
The food is stale and colorless. That is, if you get to eat.
Everything smells like gunpowder.
There’s a constant sound of machines grinding. Voices scream in pain.
Be thankful you don't live here.
It’s like a nightmare — but you can't wake up from it…
And you aren't even sure how you got there in the first place.
Karina
Sargon just made his nightly rounds.
Niko
WTH Karina — you shouldn't be on your phone right now.
Niko
If you get caught, we’re BOTH dead. Like, literally dead.
Niko
I got you that phone ILLEGALLY.
Niko
Remember? I worked a month of night shifts for the money — disassembling BODIES.
Niko
So please — don’t be an idiot.
Karina
Niko, Sargon gave me a lashing.
Niko
Oh God, Rina — I’m sorry.
Karina
There’s blood all over my back…
Karina
And all over my "bed" — that slab of wood. There are holes in it, Niko. And worms too.
Karina
I can’t stop crying. I just…needed to hear from you.
Niko
I get it, Rina. I’m here.
Karina
You don’t, though. I needed to find comfort in your voice…
Karina
So I’d remember that I shouldn’t off myself. Sometimes I’m afraid of what I’ll do…
Karina
Sorry. I know it’s dumb of me to text you like this—
Karina
Especially since Sargon just…visited
Niko
It’s not dumb. I shouldn’t have said that before — I didn’t know what you’d been through.
Karina
Sargon was walking by, so I pretended to sleep.
Karina
I thought it would somehow convince him to leave me alone.
Karina
But then he put his hands on me…
Karina
He trailed them up my thigh…
Niko
Oh God, I’m going to throw up.
Karina
I know. I HATE it when he touches me.
Karina
No. When I didn't give into him like he wanted, he got pissed.
Karina
That’s when he gave me the lashing.
Niko
What a lizard brute. I want to rip his face off.
Karina
That would be pretty awesome.
Niko
But on a serious note — you’ve got to keep fighting, Rina.
Niko
Recruitment Day is less than two days away.
Niko
That’s our only way off of this planet.
Niko
You’ve stayed alive for your family for this long. You can’t give up now.
Niko
Don’t forget — THEY are the reason you’re going to survive this hellhole.
Niko
I’ll come see you tomorrow morning? I have a surprise :)
Karina
Oh yeah? I’m intrigued…
Niko
After, we can go check the lottery numbers together.
Niko
I know we'll both get picked — I have a feeling.
Niko
Then we'll win the Recruitment Day challenge, whatever it is—
Niko
And we’ll become members of the Galactic Squad — together.
Niko
We’ll leave Dard FOREVER and find your family.
Niko
It’s got to happen — we’ve been working at this for too long.
Karina
Whatever you say, Niko.
Niko
Come on — hang in there.
Karina
Your positivity just baffles me sometimes.
Karina
I want to kill myself every day…
Karina
I don’t understand where you get the strength to go on.
Niko
Just gotta hope for the best, you know?
Niko
Plus, the thought of seeing your fam again is what keeps you alive — you know that.
Niko
I wish I could see you now. I want to wrap my arms around you.
Karina
I know. There’s something I should tell you…
Karina
Oh no! I think I just heard someone scream.
Karina
Sargon must be coming back.
Karina
It never ends. Talk later.
The next morning, Niko arrives at Karina’s cell and gives her a bottle of pepper spray.
Karina arches an eyebrow at him.
Niko
To help you defend yourself.
Karina
Are you saying I can’t?
Niko
I’m saying you might as well use every tool you can—
Niko
I don’t like hearing about those lashings.
The pair falls into stride as they walk into the town center.
They know the lottery numbers will be posted on the whipping post…
And it sends a quiet current of nervous energy through them.
Karina
Oh! Niko, there’s your number.
Niko
What? That can’t be right.
Niko
Oh god, I don’t see your number anywhere.
Niko
Here, take my ticket.
Karina
No. Sargon would kill us both if I used it. You know it’s not an option.
Niko
Come on, how will he know?
Niko
Rina, you’ve got to take it—
Niko
You know I’d do anything for you, right? Anything.
Karina
Niko, stop. Please.
Niko
Rina, no — I have to tell you something.
Later that night, she summons up the courage to text Niko.
Karina
Hey. I’m sorry I ran away like that today. I guess it was hard for me…
Karina
After all that anticipation. All that dreaming…
Karina
I can’t talk about what you told me today.
Karina
But I want to make sure you know one thing.
Karina
You’ve been the best part of my life for the past ten years.
Karina
During my whole experience in this hellhole.
Karina
So for that — thank you.
Karina
I just need to be alone right now.
Karina
Let’s just see each other tomorrow — at Recruitment Day.
Karina
You need to get some rest. Good luck.
Niko
I just dropped by your quarters. You’re not in your cell.
Niko scours the whole planet, trying to find the woman he loves.
When he does, she’s lying in a pool of blood.
He sits her up and locates the cuts — two angry slits on her upper arms —
And then peels off his shirt.
He rips the threadbare fabric into strips, creating tourniquets with the old cloth.
After he expertly ties them, Karina blinks a few times.
Niko
Rina? Can you hear me?
Niko
Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?
Niko
Okay. Let’s get you home.
He carries her all the way, and then lays her on her makeshift bed.
He checks her breathing and circulation again. The cuts seem to be clotting.
The next day, when Niko wakes up, he sees a few texts from Karina.
Karina
Niko — I couldn't help it.
Karina
I had nothing left to live for…I'm so sorry.
Karina
If you’re seeing these…thank you for saving me last night.
Karina
I thought I’d finally done it…there was this moment of total bliss…
Karina
Right before everything went completely black.
Karina
I don’t really remember it.
A few hours later, Karina texts Niko from the crowd at the Recruitment Challenge.
Karina
Niko where are you?? I don’t see you.
Niko
Third row — with all the other recruits.
Karina
Wait, are you still mad at me?
Niko
It's just so unbelievably selfish of you.
Karina
I know. I’m sorry, Niko.
Niko
Are you really though, Karina?
Niko
You know if I get picked for the Galactic Squad, I’ll do everything I can to save you—
Niko
To make sure you can join too.
Niko
You know that right??
Niko
Why did you think you had to do that?
Niko
I just don’t get it.
Karina
The thought of being here alone was overpowering.
Karina
I…wouldn’t have anyone left.
Karina
It's already so hard to make it through each day…
Karina
And right now, I have you.
Niko
But I’ll be out there, doing it all for YOU.
Karina
I know. I said I’m sorry.
Karina
Look, can we just talk about something else?
Karina
Do you know what your challenge is going to be?
Niko
Idk. They said everyone has to wear this goggle device thing — the Occulizer.
Niko
It tells you what you're Greatest Attachment is…
Niko
And whatever it is, it appears on stage.
Niko
That’s what you have to destroy.
Niko
That's the challenge — overcoming what you are most attached to in life.
Karina
I get it. Attachment = weakness
Karina
But can you guess what yours is?
Karina
Niko, they just called your name!
Karina
OMG, I can’t believe this is finally happening.
Karina
I hope you DESTROY your challenge — I really do.
Karina
Wait, is everything okay? It’s taking a long time to start.
Karina
Listen — I should have said this before…
Karina
But I never had the courage.
Karina
God, I wish you were reading these texts right now…
Karina
Niko, I love you too.
Karina
Why did the Occulizer shout my name???
Karina spots two of Sargon’s cronies headed toward her.
They flank her and then drag her to the stage.
They drop her. She lands quivering at Niko’s feet.
He’s holding a large sword.
Sargon
Destroy your attachment!
The whole crowd goes silent, and Karina is sure everyone can hear the sound of her beating heart.
The cronies circle in on Niko, but he’s too fast for them—
There’s a glint of metal before Niko screams.
Niko
This is for you, Rina! Live.
Niko plunges the blade into his chest.
Karina watches the blood seep into his clothing. The spot of red blooms like a rose.
As she watches the only man she’s ever loved fall dead on the ground, she decides—
Not just for her family and Niko—
