Page 41 of Stars in Nova

Fine detailing adorned the bulkhead joints and plates, their precision a testament to the Sable Group’s mastery.

Leather-seamed paneling lined the walls, its texture both tactile and luxurious.

Every element had been designed for function and form, from the reinforced crew couches with reinforced restraints tothe custom-crafted pilot’s seat, its headrest embossed with the Sable Group’s livery.

Massive multi-dimensional holo screens floated around him, displaying maps, security feeds, and a virtual 3D overlay of the external landscape.

The lights shifted to a soft blue combat mode, a feature intended to maximize vision during high-stakes maneuvers.

Even the more minor details—the adroitly machined aluminum-built levers, the threat alert toggle, and the mechanical speedometer—were crafted with artistry.

Kisan took a deep breath, the cool, filtered oxygen filling his lungs. His hand brushed the controls, the smooth surfaces warming under his touch. He could fly the ship manually if needed, but Mirage’s quantum nucleus was always available to assist, her presence a silent guardian embedded within the Cephei’s systems.

‘Cephei, ready for departure,’ he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil roiling beneath the surface.

He wasn’t yet willing to speak with Mirage, her node, or the vessel, so he silenced the AI and took over the manual levers.

The gunship responded with a subdued hum, the engines purring to life as the hangar doors began to open.

Kisan observed the panels slide apart, revealing the inky expanse of space outside. The hangar’s noise faded, replaced by the quiet power of the Cephei as it rose into the dark, glittering void. Its trajectory locked on hyperspace and beyond that, Orilia XIV.

He gripped the controls, his aqua eyes narrowing as the ship accelerated toward cosmic infinity.

As the stars stretched into transcendental lines, the embittered Rider sat back, his thoughts a whirlwind.

Samira’s betrayal stung, and he let the rancor within stream through his body, matching the fire of vengeance in his chest.

Somewhere out there, Samira—and his mask—waited.

Whatever her reasons, he would find her and take back what was his.

The hunt was on.

Pure Comeuppance

The Cephei glided through hyperspace, the shimmering ribbons of light outside its hull warping and bending in an endless cascade of color.

Kisan sat in the med bay, his shirt discarded, the cool steel of the injector in his hand.

The luminous antidote radiated in its vial.

Crafted from the remnants of the toxin Samira had used against him, it was a product of Mirage’s meticulous calculations and his grit.

The AI Oracle’s minor node on the Cephei had walked him through every molecular adjustment, her voice a steady guide as they worked to counteract the exotic poison.

‘You’re sure about this?’

The AI’s incredulity echoed in his mind, her tone teasing despite the gravity of the situation. ‘I’d hate for you to keel over before we arrive.’

Kisan snorted, his lips curling into a smirk. ‘You’re the one who built it. If it fails, that’s on you.’

‘Darling, my calculations are flawless,’ she replied. ‘It’s your biology that’s unpredictable.’

The Rider pressed the injector to his arm.

His mouth pursed as the needle pushed in, and the hiss of the mechanism sounded as the antidote entered his bloodstream.

A sharp, icy sensation spread through his veins, followed by a slow warmth that rolled through his body like a rising tide.

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