Page 140 of Stars in Nova

‘The initial radius is about six hundred klicks,’ the AI replied, its voice crisp. ‘Expansion is ongoing as the energy propagates through the soil and plant life.’

As the rain continued to fall, the group gathered near the canopy of a mature tree with budding leaves.

Samira twisted to her man, her eyes shining with gratitude. ‘Kralji, you’ve given us a future.’

He shook his head. ‘We all have. This was a team effort.’

Sax clapped a hand on Kisan’s shoulder, his grin irreverent. ‘Take the praise, hero.’

Samira reached for his hand, their fingers intertwining. ‘Let’s keep transforming it and make this world what it was meant to be.’

Kisan smiled, the warmth of her touch grounding him. ‘I’m in as long as I stay by your side.’

Samira wasted no time.

Using her network of fluid relays, she shared Kisan’s technology with the other two continents.

The cloud seeding and dynamic pulse were replicated, and the lakes and forests across Orilia XIV began to return. The barren planet transformed, and the scars of war faded as life reclaimed its place.

The Vaelorii, once a fragmented and hidden people, emerged to rebuild their towns and villages.

The noise of restoration and construction replaced the silence of desolation, and hammers and saws echoed as they began to craft a new future.

The precipitation continued to fall.

Together, they watched as the land around them came alive, the promise of renewal spreading with every drop of rain, each shoot of new life.

For the first time in years, Thalassa was breathing again.

Outside the underground caverns of Thalassi, a shaft of sunlight poured through the rock-strewn entrance.

In the distance, the Cephei sat waiting for its passengers, its sleek, stealth skin gleaming in and out of the shimmering view under the Origin sun.

Samira was lost in a heated kiss with Kisan.

That morning, he’d woken her with tender caresses, loving her long and slow until tears ran down her cheeks.

He’d kissed each eye as he slicked in and out of her.

‘I love you, Kisan,’ she’d breathed as she came for a third time. ‘So much.’

‘I love you more,kaissa,’ he groaned through his mind-blowing orgasm.

Now she left the circle of his arms with a small smile, eyes sad.

‘I’ll be back,’ he murmured. ‘A month max.’

‘You’d better bring that tight ass back to me,’ she whispered.

She turned and rejoined her friends and family on the sidelines.

He sucked his teeth, missing her already.

She kept her eyes averted, blinking hard.

He sighed, knowing, like her, he didn’t even want to contemplate goodbye.

Fokk, when he returned, he’d never let her out of sight.

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