Chapter 20
TWENTY
ELAINA
The curved viewport dominated the small observation deck, Earendel's surface stretching endlessly below. Elaina sat cross-legged on the worn cushions of the viewing bench, close enough to Cyan to feel his warmth but not quite touching. She’d been up there with her food after her shift, staring out at the planet and the nebula.
“It’s different seeing it from up here,” she said, watching backlit rainbow dust storms swirl across Earendel’s surface. “Makes you realize how small everything is.”
“Does that bother you?”
“No. I think it’s comforting, actually. The perspective.” She traced patterns in the cushion's fabric. “When you’re planetside, it's easy to get caught up in… everything. Up here, you can see how temporary it all is.”
Cyan hummed, his eyes still fixed on the view. The sword lay across his lap, ever-present. She wondered if he slept with it.
“How serious were you?” she asked carefully, keeping her tone academic. “About returning to Gaia someday?”
“I think about it often.” His answer was measured. “But duty tends to have other plans. ”
“Right.” She pulled her knees to her chest. “I used to think I’d know when I found the right place to stay. That it would just… click. But maybe that’s not how it works.”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said before,” he said quietly. “About home being a person.”
“And?”
“It’s complicated when that person also feels like a project scope conflict.”
Elaina’s heart lurched, but she kept her voice steady. “I think when you find the right research partner, you’d know. The way your minds just… sync up. But timing is important in any collaboration. Both parties have to be ready to commit.”
“And what if one party’s existing commitments conflict with the project parameters?” His voice was quiet.
“Then you’d need to evaluate priorities. Determine if the potential results justify restructuring prior obligations.” She stared hard at the planet below. “Hypothetically speaking.”
The silence stretched between them. Finally, Cyan shifted beside her.
“I should feed Priad,” he said, rising. “He gets restless when his routine is disrupted.”
“Of course.” Elaina smiled. “Wouldn’t want to neglect your partner.”
He hesitated, looking down at her. For a moment she thought he might say more. Instead, he simply nodded and walked away, leaving her alone with the stars.
She pressed her forehead to the cool glass of the viewport, watching his reflection fade. They were both overthinking this. But maybe that was safer than the alternative.
When the ping came, she knew who it was from.
Have dinner with me tomorrow. 3000, my cabin?
Elaina bit her lip through a smile as she subvocalized a response:
A time AND a place? See you then.