It felt like an eternity had gone by. Bryan felt old and tired, and he had to close his eyes and ignore the fact that Murphy kept laughing and saying that they were in a nursing home at this point with how old they all were. Sure, they’d only just woken up a few hours ago from cryo and it had been years since the ark, since they were on the ground, since the bunker… But it felt like many, many more years, like they had been awake instead of asleep.

Or, maybe Bryan was just letting himself get too far into his own head, and everything felt worse than it was. They were alive, well, most of them. The loss of Monty and Harper weighed heavily on him, but he was glad they’d been happy at least. They had a new planet that Monty had found for them, and they were going to figure out a way to get down there. A new planet, with so much to look at, so much to explore. Bryan was already making a note to find out as much about the plant life and stuff as possible, in Monty’s memory.

But what would be down there? Would it be safe? Were there other people? Other life? Would it be like before; with the 100 getting attack, with them getting ambushed in Ice Nation, with so much fighting and war and death and hunger… Would it be just another bloody journey, with them struggling to survive, and never getting another moment of peace, or–

The hand on his shoulder made him jump, and he quickly spun, face turning red at seeing Maia standing there, raising an eyebrow at him. “Sorry,” He stated quickly, sheepishly, “I just…”

“Was lost in your own head?”

Maia’s words made him chuckle, as did her ruffling his hair, and he shifted so that she would be able to sit down next to him. He’d missed Maia, more than he thought possible to miss anyone. When he’d made it into the bunker and hadn’t been able to find her, he’d been devastated. She had been the one to get him there, the one that had kept him from joining the DNR team, and who’s convinced him that losing his soulmate hadn’t been the end of everything.

Being in the bunker without her had been hard at first, but he’d managed. Finding out that she was alive and had survived up on the ring? That she’d come back, and had ended up in cryo next to him? That had been the best news of his entire life, he was sure of it. His best friend was alive and well, and he’d nearly knocked her over trying to hug her. He couldn’t help how grateful he was.

“We’ll face this together, alright?”

She was speaking again, and he couldn’t help but smile softly, sliding his hand into hers and squeezing. “Yeah,” he agreed softly, feeling a little of the weight leave his shoulders. As worried as he was about this new planet, as worried as he was about having to continue trying to survive in yet another possible problem spot, he at least had his friends. And, if Maia was willing to stick by his side all of this time? It was a plan worth sticking to.

“We’ll face this together. Whatever happens, whatever this new planet holds, or whatever comes our way… We’ll face it together. Friends always,” He spoke softly, smiling at her, then looking out the window again, at the new planet that was before them. Whatever would come their way; if it was fighting, or the peace they all hoped for, they’d face it as a team. There was hope and excitement in his chest, replacing the worry that had been there before.