The ship jolted violently as the warp concluded, throwing Anna against the wall of the corridor.
She caught herself with a groan, bracing her hands on the metal paneling as the floor vibrated beneath her boots.
"Ugh… What kind of deathtrap is this? That wasn't a jump—that was a drunken nosedive through hyperspace."
She muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead.
Nova didn't flinch. He stood calmly by the engine core chamber, eyes scanning the data flow stabilizing across the flickering screens.
The lights above them still flickered irregularly, half of them failing to restart after the jump.
"That is what happens when a ship has been plundered and stripped hundreds of times over a century."
Nova said, not even turning to her.
Anna straightened, wincing.
"You mean this hunk of metal used to be something functional?"
Nova nodded.
"More than functional. She used to command fleets. Now… she limps."
Anna eyed a sparking junction box to her right.
"Yeah, I can see that."
She hesitated.
"Maybe it's time you considered… I don't know… stealing a better one? Something newer. Less suicidal?"
Before Nova could answer, Nyx's voice slashed through the comm system like static-coated glass.
[Then leave.]
Anna blinked in disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
[No one asked you to stay. If you're scared, walk. I won't stop you.]
Nova exhaled through his nose.
"Nyx."
Anna scowled and glanced toward the nearest comm panel.
"What the hell is her problem? I just pointed out a fact—"
"She's not wrong. But neither are you. The difference is context."
Nova interrupted.
Anna crossed her arms.
"So explain."
Nova finally turned to her.
"Nyx is tethered to this ship. And all the ships that were once part of the fleet. She can't leave. Not without consequence."
Anna frowned.
"What kind of consequence?"
"If she goes beyond a certain distance, her connection to her mainframe fragments. Her physical body stops working. Permanently."
Anna's mouth opened slightly. She looked at the ceiling, toward the speakers, and her anger softened into silence.
"I didn't know."
"You would have found out sooner or later, anyway."
Nova said.
Anna lowered her eyes, nodding slowly.
"Still doesn't make me like her calling me out like that."
[I heard that.]
Nyx shot back, her tone cooler now, but not as sharp.
Nova sighed.
"Pick a room, Anna. Any one of the old quarters. Get some rest. You'll need it."
Anna hesitated, then gave a small nod before walking off toward the living quarters. As the door slid closed behind her, Nova turned in the opposite direction.
He didn't hesitate—he made his way directly to the core deck.
Nyx's chamber was dim, lit by soft pulses of aether running through the walls. Her physical body sat in its resting cradle, folded like a sleeping sentinel beneath the glowing arc.
The minute Nova stepped inside, her eyes opened. They shimmered faintly, reflecting the ambient energy flowing around her.
"Why are you here? Go away."
She muttered, not moving.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Nova said quietly.
He stepped closer and sat on the bench beside her pod, elbows resting on his knees. Her hands were locked together in her lap, unmoving.
"You've been quiet since we jumped,"
He said.
Nyx's jaw clenched.
"You didn't need her."
"I needed someone. And she swore herself to me willingly."
Nova replied.
"You used to say I was all you needed."
He turned his head toward her, studying her face.
"And that's still true. But we're not reclaiming a single ship anymore, Nyx. We're reclaiming a fleet. You and I can't run it alone."
She didn't respond.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek.
"You and I… we were created together. Born into the same war. Raised by the same purpose. Our bond is something no oath, no system, no second-in-command can ever copy."
Nyx finally looked at him.
"No one can replace you. Not her. Not anyone."
Nova said.
For a moment, Nyx said nothing. Her gaze softened. Her voice, when it came, was quiet.
"Then why does it feel like I'm being pushed away?"
"You're not. But the truth is—we'll need more people. I can't run every wing. You can't command every system. Not forever."
Nova assured.
Nyx nodded slowly.
"I know. It's just... I waited so long for you to wake up. All I thought about was standing beside you again, like we used to."
"You are beside me."
Nova said.
She blinked, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
"I'll keep doing my duty. Until this ship is whole again. Until you're strong again. And when it's all over…"
She said softly.
She reached out and gently touched his wrist.
"…we go back to what we were. You and me."
Nova's fingers wrapped around hers.
"I promise. When the war is done… we go home."
He said.
___
Nyx and Nova stepped back into the main part of the ship, the air still humming faintly with residual aether from the recent jump.
As the doors slid open, they saw Anna standing in front of the projection table, completely absorbed.
The map of the known cosmos flickered in soft blue light, constellations dancing across the holographic display.
Her fingers traced along trade routes and collapsed sectors, eyes wide with wonder.
"I've never seen anything this detailed before. It's like... you can see the shape of everything. The whole flow of the galaxy."
She said, barely noticing their arrival.
[There's a lot you haven't seen. You're still a young life-form, after all.]
Nyx replied coolly, stepping past her.
Anna stiffened. She bit back a retort, but her shoulders tensed.
"You could just say 'thanks for the enthusiasm' instead of acting like I'm some clueless child."
Nyx gave her a sidelong glance, unfazed.
[I prefer accuracy.]
Before Anna could shoot something back, Nova cut in.
"What do you need to repair the mana processing unit?"
Nyx turned, her tone shifting to business.
[Aetherite. I'll start scanning nearby regions to locate a deposit.]
But Anna stepped forward quickly.
"Wait. I know a faster way. The upcoming inter-planetary tournament on Verizon? The winner gets a block of pure Aetherite."
Nova turned to her, eyes narrowing slightly.
"A tournament?"
Anna nodded.
"Yeah. Verizon Planet holds one every cycle. Fighters, challengers, rogue species—all kinds of people show up. It's brutal, but the prizes are real. And this year, the prize pool includes Aetherite."
[You're sure? Aetherite isn't something given to just anyone. It's too valuable.]
Nyx asked, skeptical.
"I'm sure. Clavacis talked about it. They planned to send one of their elite gladiators to win it and sell the stone off-system. I was still in chains, but I remember everything they said."
Anna said firmly. Nova folded his arms.
"Where is Verizon from here?"
[Two jumps. With some rerouting, we can make it with the remaining energy.]
Nyx responded.
Anna met Nova's eyes.
"You said you'd do anything to repair the ship. This is a clean shot."
Nova studied her for a moment, then nodded.
"We're going. Prepare the coordinates."
He said.
[Understood.]
Nyx replied, already moving toward the console.
Anna exhaled in relief but didn't let it show. Instead, she walked up beside Nova, gaze set.