Epilogue
I only re-roll two of my five dice. The three already on the game board are all showing threes.
After much grumbling about the unfair advantage of using Polar dice, my opponent finally convinced me to switch to standard Terran dice—marked with Arabic numerals. If he thinks the origin of the dice is going to change the outcome, he’s in for a rude awakening.
The two little ten-sided dice roll across the board and come to a stop. One of them lands on a three—Wuku confirmed!
“Ugh, this is impossible! You're cheating, Furball!” my brother-in-law accuses me, completely unfairly.
“Stop being such a sore loser, Human. Neela doesn’t like it.”
“Leave my sister out of this! You're cheating, plain and simple. There’s no other explanation! I’m done playing with you.”
“You say that every time—and yet, here you are again! At least now you know the dice weren’t the problem.”
“I don’t know how you do it, but you’re a fraud. And for the official administrator of the Martian colonies, you’ll admit that doesn’t look great!”
“Stop pouting every time you lose and smile—your sister’s coming!”
A moment later, a cheerful Neela walks through the doorway.
“Hey, you two! Still hanging out together? I swear, I’m starting to get jealous!”
“Hey there, shrimp!” Kiran replies. “I’m just doing my duty as deputy administrator—making sure this alien isn’t totally scamming the honest folks of these colonies!
And obviously, keeping an eye on how he treats my little sister.
Because I swear, if he ever stops treating her right, he’ll find out just how serious I can get! ”
“You’re completely obsolete, Human. No one on Mars uses wood to heat their homes anymore. Maybe it’s time for a language update? And stop repeating yourself. You love me—we all know it!”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Anyway, now that Neela’s here, I’m guessing my lovely wife’s back home too. I’m off to see her. Later!”
“Have a good night, you two!” I call out. “I’ll be busy working hard on deepening relations between our two species!”
“I don’t want to hear about it!” Kiran groans.
“Yet I’m giving it my full dedication and enthusiasm!”
“Why am I not surprised!” Kiran grumbles.
“Hey!” Neela snaps, her obsidian gaze locking onto mine. “I’m right here.”
And just like that, the world narrows down to her. To us.
I stayed on Mars when the rest of the Intergalactic Confederation went back to their faraway missions. And I don’t regret it for a second.
A Charter has replaced the Pact, negotiated and approved by the majority of the colonists. Big improvements have been made—especially in transportation and communications. Some rules remain, though loosened.
I’ve been named Administrator, despite my best efforts to dodge that honor and throw it on someone else.
Several deputies were appointed—some in Cydonia, others in Arabia Terra. A weekly report on colony governance is broadcast on every screen. Transparency is the name of the game!
We’ve set up a mediation and conflict-resolution unit, which now includes a few holding cells that—hopefully—will remain just a deterrent.
A spaceport is under construction. It’ll let intergalactic travelers stop on Mars if needed. The Admiral is sending a special logistics team to manage this independent spaceport.
Because like it or not, we now know that SS-3954’s location is no longer a secret. Even smugglers know about it. That promises a future full of… excitement.
But whatever comes our way, I’ll face it with my beloved mate.
Together, we’ll face the threats to our community.
Together, we’ll overcome them.