Stellacide

"The term Red Giant applies to a star which is close to the end of its life-cycle in our understanding of the universe." Diana elaborated. At the moment, she was overcome with emotion. It was symbolic in a way.

Despite the changes to the universe, the uncertainty of the future, the loss she experienced, and would no doubt continue to look back on, in the end their star would end up dying looking the same as they had expected, but for completely different reasons.

She was almost smug about it.

In spite of all the changes, all of the things they were missing, every field of research they simply did not have access to, they were right about something in the end.

"You know how stars die?"

"Knew," Don corrected him, "we haven't the slightest clue how it works now."

Even Don could not emotionally detach himself from this. He could not deny it any longer, this was the end of something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He might not have been sad, but there was a definite feeling of loss and emptiness staring at the aimlessly attacking orb.

It was finally sinking in just how 'gone' everything actually was.

"Do you think we'll actually be able to make it?" He turned to Diana for the answer to his question.

"At this point, only time will tell. We will have to work like slaves to ensure our future."

"Ha, dammit." He managed to let out a short laugh, "Here I was thinking that, finally, I might get some down time."

As some of the excess crew celebrated their way out, Don and Diana watched on at what little remained.

From what ARC could tell, there weren't even dust clouds where the planets should be.

"So Captain, I take it you aren't quite done yet?" Donovan pulled himself out of his slump to ask the question.

"No, we still need to fire a few more shots to finish it off."

Don took a deep breath. Diana might punch him for what he was about to say.

"Any chance you could let me be the one to deliver the coup de grace, the one to end this slugfest?"

There was no semblance of ego or enthusiasm behind this request. He didn't want any honors or adrenaline, he wanted closure.

He didn't understand much about Split, or about how humanity ended up dead, but he personally attributed the total loss of humanity's work and identity to the Sun.

He blamed the very thing that gave them life for their death.

On the behalf of those living and dead, he wanted to be the one to settle the score.

"I don't see a reason why not. Follow me." The Captain turned his attention to Diana. "Would you also like to participate in this?"

He was met with red eyes and a runny nose.

"I... yes... I won't press the button, but I will hold his hand." Slowly, she stood up from her seat. Gone was that element of elegance she had before, replaced by gloom and lethargy.

She followed close behind them, down into one of the pits. Waiting there was the Scholar and a choice few crew left, the majority of the seats being empty. A burly man made way for them, giving his position to Donovan.

There was no seat here, clearly a standing and commanding spot, where a panel sporting a series of levers and wheels was stationed.

"They are all adjusted and calibrated sir, ready to fire when the signal is given." The man's voice was of a higher pitch, a stark contrast to his size.

Neither of the pair were in any mood to marvel at this oddity.

"Thank you, First Officer. Donovan, when I tell you to, pull that large lever in the center all the way down as fast as you can. It will fire all weapons, which at this stage will guarantee that it collapses."

"I understand."

From their position, stood front and center of the pit, Diana could only just see the Sun out of it.

Holding Don's left with her right, placing her own left hand on his elbow, she gave him a nod. She was ready.

"You may fire when ready."

*click*

A small vibration was the only indication they felt as proof the lever had done anything. The stream of yellows, greens, and blues heading in the direction of the massive red ball would seal its fate.

Billions of years of natural history, wiped from the slate.

With a flash, the red menace on the perfectly black background began to shrink and fade away.

It was over, the beginning at least. Though whether that beginning was for a story of prosperity or a lifetime of despair was beyond their ability to know.

Much like her grandfather before her, Diana looked at the depressingly beautiful sight and shed a single tear.

Unlike her grandfather, Diana had a chest to cry into and a shoulder to lean on.

Donovan stared intensely at the collapse. Something inside him wanted it to go Supernova, just to end this all before it got out of hand, but that obviously wouldn't happen.

The dull ball shrank to a size he could not make out within a few minutes.

"I think it best if we returned to our ship for now, Captain. Could we ask to have someone guide us back?" Diana wasn't completely broken down, but she was certainly not in a state to make major decisions.

"I will have the Courier escort you. He should meet you at the bottom of the stairwell."

Going down was far easier than the climb up, at least on Don's body, but there was a degree of difficulty invoked when there was a distressed damsel clinging to his arm.

The Courier caught up with them before they even reached the bottom, the return trip being far faster as a result of its guidance. Don could have sworn it waved as they ascended atop the elevator.