***

In the Neo Renegades headquarter, Thalassia and Hindia receive the answer to the video of Prince Surya that they sent. However, instead of a video, the answer comes in form of official royal letter. The letter says that they are willing to discuss further of this deal. In return for Prince Surya's safety, the Neo Renegades can have a limited access to Matahari's resources. The details and conditions of the deal can be further discussed upon Neo Renegades' willingness to provide guarantee that Prince Surya and the maid would be returned safely to Garuda. 

The letter was signed by Prince Chahaya, which title is now the Crown Prince of The New Kingdom of Indonesia. 

Thrilled by this news, Hindia called the guards in a loud voice, "Guard!" 

The guards, who are standing near the door, rush to Hindia's presence. 

"You called, Hindia?"

"Yes. We have received great news from Garuda. Go fetch the team that successfully did this mission!" he orders. 

The guards' faces light up at the sound of "great news". 'We will not be eating weird porridge again' and 'we will be eating fish' are some of the thigns that cross their minds. 

"Excuse us," the two guards said in unison. 

They turn around and walk to call the mission team. It is almost as if there are springs on their heels as they walk happily to Petir's cell. 

"Petir! Dude, awesome news!" shouted the guards. 

Petir, who at that time is lying on his bed, springs up. His face turns pale and cold as he walks towards the door to let his fellow soldiers in. The two guards walk in with huge smile. They proceed to sit on Petir's bed and began telling what they heard. Petir nods and hums at the guards' remarks. 

"So, now Hindia wants you and the team to come to Mataram room!" 

Again, Petir is speechless upon hearing the word "team". As his team is no longer complete. He has yet to make that report to Hindia and Thalassia. He thought that sleeping it off would give him a peace of mind so that he can figure out a strategy on how to disclose this bad news. But before he has got the chance, there is this news of a reply from Garuda. This fact alone has made the situation much more complicated for Petir and Guntur. 

"Right now?" he asked, wishing to buy himself some time. 

"Yes, now!" 

Petir lets out a silent sighs and then stands up from his bed where the three of them sit," Give me a few minutes to change my clothes and I will fetch the team."

"Great!"

The guards leave and let Petir have some alone time to get ready. He changes his clothes and with crumpled face, walks toward Guntur's cell. He knocks on the door and calls out to his junior. Guntur comes out of the cell in a matter of minutes. He must have heard from the guards that they are called. Guntur's face is not better than Petir's. In fact, it may be much worse. Pale with dark circles hanging around his eyes. 

"How was your rest?" asked Petir. 

"I did not get much sleep," he answered.

"Yeah, I figured. I didn't get much either."

"So, why are they calling us? Are they going to punish us for blowing the mission?" Guntur asked with a shaky voice. 

"Probably not. The guards said that Hindia and Thalassia received a reply from Garuda. It appears to be a good news," answered Petir.

"Good news? But how is that possible?" 

"I can only think that Topan must have delivered the video to the royal family. Although I cannot imagine or guess what happened to him after."

Silence eerily fills in the air as both of the Neo Renegades soldiers walk across the hallway. Only the sound of boots and their own breating can be heard. Although their minds are busy with the loud thoughts of what might have happened to Topan. Not long after, they arrive in front of the Mataram room. The two happy guards open the door for them without being prompted. 

"Good luck, comrades!" One of the guards whisper to Petir, piercing Petir's heart even more.

"Petir and Guntur, right?" Hindia asked them with a huge smile upon their arrival. 

"Yes, Hindia. He's the new recruit, the courier that brought the prince and Mutiara from Garuda," announced Petir.

"Awesome work, boy!" praised Hindia.

Guntur lowers his head with shame. He knows that he does not deserve this compliment. He failed his fellow soldier. He was supposed to protect him but he let him in Garuda to die. He only cared about himself and did not even bother to look for him. Even though he kept on telling himself that it was for the sake of the mission, he knows that deep inside, the main reason of him leaving Topan there is because he was terrified. 

"I do not deserve the compliment, Hindia. It is all Topan's work," said Guntur with a low voice. So low that the whole room dawns in quietness, shocked by the sudden change of tone and atmosphere.

"Well, then. Where is Topan?" asked Hindia. 

"He did not make it," said Petir in place of Guntur. 

"He.. did not make it? What do you mean by that?" Hindia's face is now stiff and his tone has gone cold. 

"He did not make it back into the submarine. We had to make the call to leave because otherwise the three of us would not make it back to this headquarter. The fuel.. it was running out."

Hindia's ecstatic mood disappears into thin air. He looks at Thalassia who has closed her mouth with her two hands in shock. They look at each other and then at Petir and Guntur. Thalassia tries to compose herself as she holds HIndia's hand, as if telling him that Topan must be okay. Hindia, who has calmed himself down, also looks at her in agreement. Even though in his head, Topan must have died in mission. There is no way that he would still be alive. 

'But it is a sacrifice we all have to make. It is a war after all,' he thought. 

"The mission might not have gone as smoothly as we all had wished. But it is a successful mission nonetheless. Topan's sacrifice is not a waste. He's a hero of Neo Renegades."

"Yes, Hindia," said Petir in agreement, head lowered as if he is paying tribute to Topan, whom he assumed has died. 

"You two can go now," said Hindia. 

With that, both Guntur and Petir left the room. There is emptiness and guilt. The guilt will not disappear anytime soon but at the very least, they both know that Topan did the right thing. 'Mission above all else' is what a good soldier supposed to do.