A soft breeze drifted across the rooftop and tousled Diah’s hair. As she smoothed it back out, she heard a chuckle behind her. Familiar arms wrapped around her sides.
“How’s your heart?” Diah asked.
“Same as yours. Stopped for a moment, then nothing after. What about you? Are you in your thoughts again?” Zaius asked her.
Diah quickly wiped away a tear. “I keep coming up here and expecting her to show up.”
Zaius turned Diah toward him. She stared into his eyes, burning with love for her. It felt odd, even selfish, to want to revel in it. Everything had gone the worst way that it could. Flightline was gone, Vensha was in shambles, and the galaxy was in danger. She wanted to forget all of that, even if it was just for the moment. She placed her hand on his chest.
“Rebuilding takes time, Diah,” Zaius told her in the soft, comforting voice she had learned to focus on. “The others are waiting for us downstairs. Are you ready?”
Diah nodded, then pulled Zaius into a hug. “Do you remember the promise you made to me? On the Nova?”
“To never leave your side?” Zaius answered. He looked down at his feet in shame. “I did a terrible job keeping that one.”
Diah placed her finger under his chin and lifted his head back up. She felt his breathing quicken.
“Promise me again, and don’t break it this time.”
Zaius gave her a soft smile. “Are you sure?”
“A war is coming, Zaius. Either one of us could have died already. We managed to survive this time, but what if we don’t the next? I don’t want to wait when love is the only thing that makes sense to me anymore.”
“You know that I’m here for you, no matter what?”
Diah pressed her lips against his in response and let the world melt away. Tomorrow’s troubles could wait. She knew what she wanted in that moment and took it.
‘Young love is so sweet,’ the honeyed voice of her mother drifted from behind Zaius.
Diah pulled back in surprise and saw Wyrna standing on the roof, arms in her sleeves. Her voice pierced Diah’s mind. ‘Did you really think death would stop me? No, my precious daughter. I’m always with you.’
Zaius followed Diah’s gaze and looked around the roof. “Is everything ok, Diah? You seem a little on edge.”
Diah shook her head as the mental image of her mother gave her a warped, malicious smile.
“Everything is fine, Zaius. We’ll be fine.”
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Sky twiddled her thumbs as she sat on the yellow couch in Diah’s penthouse, nerves at their peak.
“Are you sure you want to go back home?” Nox asked from beside her. “If what Diah said is true, then you’re going to have to deal with the Kunar as well as the other Uvari.”
Sky went through the possibilities in her mind. The Kunar knew who she was, and going back to Millik was certainly a death wish. Still, something in the back of her mind told her it was exactly what she needed to do.
“Bubblegum’s found her place, Nox. Through blood and tears, she’s made her way. Zaius is a part of her life now, too. I need to find my own path. I used to tell Gen that I always wanted to fly free. This is my chance.” Sky looked off to the side and blushed. “I wouldn’t mind some company, though.”
Nox put her hands on Sky’s and clasped them tightly. “I’m with you all the way, Sky. When do we leave?”
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Balakus cracked his knuckles and looked out across the golden city from the penthouse’s balcony. Sky and Nox giggled at something inside. He tapped the MenXhip on the side of his neck and gazed longingly at the photo of his family that appeared on a holo-screen in front of him.
‘Soon,’ He told himself.
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Kirrik stared out the window of the newly reunited Aurora Nova at the ocean planet of Cantra below. It was the eighth planet he and Imi had traveled to so far. Camina was yet to be found.
“We’ll find her, Kirrik,” Imi said as she pulled up the targeting map. She zoomed in on a small island in the middle of the ocean and set the landing coordinates.
“Seriously, how do you always know what I’m thinking?”
Imi smiled and swiped the bangs from her eyes. “I’ve already told you, flyboy. You’re super easy to read. Are you ready?”
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Ravig pressed his hand against the scanner of his vault. His chamber felt empty without Rana’s presence. Everything in the Privarium seemed bleaker without her light. He let out a growl, then dragged his claws across the vault’s door. It opened with a beep and a click. Ravig threw the door open and reached inside, pulling out a pulsating, pink orb. He crushed it in his hands like a liquid balloon. The aetherial essence within swirled up his arm and absorbed into his skin.
‘Ravig, my dear,’ Rana’s voice echoed in his thoughts. ‘What happened?’
“You didn’t make it, my love,” Ravig explained in a regretful tone. “I’ve had to proceed with our backup plan.”
There was a pause. ‘I understand,’ Rana finally responded. ‘Does this mean that we’ve been merged?’
Ravig closed his eyes and focused his energy. Two byzantium appendages formed from his back with a sickening snap. “Yes, my love. We have. Did you see them on your side?”
‘They’re coming, Ravig. You were correct, though I never doubted that.’
Ravig snarled. “Then we make our move. First we deal with Regal. Then we exact revenge on those that killed you. We’ll inflict a pain on them a thousand times worse than what you felt.”
‘I quite like the sound of that, my dear. And then?’
“We save Atania."
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