Epilogue
VEXAR
“IS IT HIM?” Amara asks as she steps up behind me.
I have already silenced the proximity alert, but the yellow warning lights are still flashing, reflecting off the deep black of Amara’s eyes in a strange, ethereal way. Absolutely stunning.
“Not sure,” I answer. “The ship has no identification tags.”
She gives me a knowing look, and I hope she is right.
A few seconds later, the external cameras orient, and a Vhorathi Heavy Cruiser Warship emerges from the darkness like some deadly ghost of myth. Of all the ships in the empire’s fleet, few can do as much damage as the one before us.
Her hand slides on top of mine in a reassuring caress. “It’s him,” she whispers. “It has to be.”
Gods, I hope she is right. Embracing her confidence, I guide our hands to the comm button. My throat works as I try to swallow. If we are wrong, pressing this button will be deadly, and yet, we press it anyway.
Amara is calm, confident even. So I focus on that. On the steady thud of her heart, the warm scent of her skin, the relaxed curves of her face. “You are braver than me,” I whisper, before raising her hand to my lips.
“Only in some ways.” She smiles, and a new alert flashes. When I do not move, she guides my hand back to the controls. “It’s ok. Answer it.”
Setting my jaw, I accept the request, and an image fills the screen.
“Brother!” Steinarr says, in his familiar, cocky tone. “As requested, one newly liberated warship.” He places his hands on his hips and asks, “Do you like it?”