He watched the distant Sun recede, coating the sky in a near violet spread above the sunlight, as if someone had painted across an entire canvas. Lucian leaned on a railing, staring up at the sky as more stars glistened above. The sea itself imitated the celestial beauty, caressing the countless stars on its now calm surface. 

The lone Terran stared at the horizon, barely able to find the line between the sea and the night sky that now shared a distant nebula with flawless precision. He found the night perfect, something he’d never see on Terra Prime, what he’d never find with her in the past. 

Yet, instead of an unwanted face from the past, Kazia appeared in his mind. He felt the touch she gave him and that wanting gaze in those eyes, as if pleading. His hand suddenly felt warm, as if reminding him of the contact, her presence. 

None of this was what he expected. Finding her, using his skills to revive this woman he felt so entranced with. Yet, his past wasn’t supposed to reach him here. The thought of going back to Morgan as if she were doing him a favor was laughable, yet also infuriating. 

His fingers gripped the railing before softening to thoughts of her. The Vul’Katahn were wise, powerful, graceful, and detached from most races. Even after their recent war, many do not find Terrans to be worthy allies, let alone partners worth having under any circumstances; something his father, a veteran of the prior wars, once told him. And despite all of it, Lucian found himself intrigued by this oddity, this free-spirited, unrefined, humble, and primal woman; qualities that were alluring, inviting, and pleasing to him. Lucian knew she was different from the moment she awoke; he felt drawn to Kazia.

He thought he had settled his fears and desires, ready to go about his life and his work alone. He was certain that it was his fate, even a punishment for past actions. His wanting to be loved didn’t make sense. 

“What’s wrong?”

That familiar accent, which brought a wave of relief to his ears, cut through the emotional turmoil. Lucian turned entirely to see Kazia approaching him, wearing her casual clothing beneath her jacket, leaving her shoulders bare from the halter-fitted leather. The anger vanished, and before he realized it, he was walking towards her to meet her halfway on the deck of an offshore fishing ship, built for scouting and apparent leisure. 

He stopped, smelling the bowls of stew she carried with her. Kazia offered one that held a sizable portion of grilled fish and bits of some steamed vegetables. Hers had more fish on it, along with other meats that appeared overly buttered and just as seasoned as his. Not a single bit of vegetable swimming in hers. 

“This is-.” Lucian paused in his words, taking the bowl carefully, as if it would fall right through his hands in denial, feeling its warmth through the hardened clay. He looked up at Kazia, then back at his bowl, before their eyes met again while she waited for him to respond in any way. 

“It should be good for you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Kazia reassured him. Given the variety of people on the ships, the meals should be edible for all. 

The next few minutes had them eating in silence, Kazia sitting on the deck of the ship, while Lucian continued to stand. No words were exchanged, with the only break from the quiet being the creak of the ship, distant chatter, the soft splash of water, and the scooping clatter of their spoons. 

Lucian found Kazia staring out at the ocean, mesmerized by the sea's reflective water. Even the dark sclera of her eyes reflected the stars and nebulae, adding to her luminous brilliance. 

“Looks like we’re drifting through the stars themselves.” She finally spoke, breaking the silence. 

Lucian looked back, reaffirming her observation and presence with clarity. It was settling and surreal, bringing a calm with her that he didn’t anticipate. 

“What do you want?” Lucian spoke abruptly, surprising himself at the sudden urgency in his voice, trying not to sound annoyed. 

Kazia’s body stiffened slightly at his tone, her face turning to confusion. “What?” That was all she could mutter before swallowing. “What do you mean?” She quickly looked around as if someone else was with them, unseen.  

“Is this not supposed to be a transactional, temporary arrangement? Why does it feel like this?” Lucian held the now-empty bowl tightly, his hands shaking, emotions running wild. “And yet, you’re still here offering me food!”

He gestured at Kazia flippantly, his ranting breaking long enough for her to try and process it. 

“Did I do something wrong?” 

Lucian looked at Kazia as if she said something outlandish, scoffed, then chuckled at something he found oddly humorous. “How? You’ve done nothing wrong.” 

“Then why are you yelling?”

“It’s not at you!”

“Then what? I thought the food would make you feel better after earlier. Am I bothering you? Do you want me to leave?”

Their back-and-forth escalated as the tension mounted with each passing second.

“No, I don’t want you to leave!” Lucian stomped his foot forward, the bowls threatening to topple over.

“Then stop being angry at me!” Kazia shouted back, now standing to confront him, their voices drawing attention from the nearby passengers. “What is wrong with you?”

“I’m angry that nothing is going wrong!” Lucian snapped back. “I’m angry that I wanted to go about this alone for some penance for my actions, only for my former fiancé to arrive and show me what I’m messing with.” 

Kazia felt a definite sadness in Lucian’s voice. It was a weight that settled in his chest, stuck there for years, to the point of familiarity. 

“I made a bad call.” Lucian took a breath and exhaled, his tone calming, but still tense. “People died when I was supposed to save them with the knowledge I gained to help any life.”

His shoulders sank during his recall. He let out a heavy breath, turning to lean against the railing, his heart weighing him down. 

“Everyone saw this as a failure to the point I started to lose prestige, favor, and opportunities.” He continued. “Morgan and I had an arrangement between our families. She ended it, though I was partly relieved but also distraught. I had hopes for a family, but…” Lucian trailed off for a moment. 

“She was never doing right anyway. But when both of you were standing beside each other, I-“

Lucian paused, his words stuck in his chest, unable to surface. Kazia made her way to the railing, leaning on it to look out at the starry sea. She felt a portion of anxiety she still felt at times, especially when the past reached for them. 

“I don’t have anyone in this galaxy, Lucian. Not anymore.” Kazia started, taking a breath and preparing herself.  “Just you, after you gave of yourself to help me live again. You’ve been on my mind since then. A priority I never expected to have, a commitment I found joy in after every touch.” She sighed heavily. “I want to keep experiencing that with you instead of dealing with another war. I feel like you want that as well?”

Lucian glanced at this woman, sharing the railing with her as he felt his heart lift. He didn’t deny it; he felt something that day he found her awakening from near-death. 

“There was no obligation I had to save you that day. I acted against all sense and did what I could to repair you, desperate to see you move again. I can’t explain it.“

Lucian looked down at his hands, steady tools capable of saving lives and ending them. Despite the odds, he did just so with Kazia and so many others who allowed him to work on them. He clenched them into fists, his mind racing to make sense of the reasoning behind his actions, to the way things had been laid out to be realized so simply. It was too much of a coincidence that barely seemed plausible. Kazia reached out and placed a hand onto his fist, the touch loosening his grip before his nails could dig into his skin. 

“They say, ‘riding on fate is like an unplanned hypergate jump. You don’t know where it will take you, but the journey will be worth it.”

Lucian’s mind tore away from his worries. “Who said that?”

“Some old man,” Kazia responded vaguely. 

“Sounds like the Captain.”

“It is Gosha. I think he was drunk.”

There was a silence before the laughter kicked in. The tension lifted, their hearts beating lighter, the air around them lifting. 

“I will stay if you want me to.” Kazia offered between the silence, reaffirming herself. 

“I don’t want you to go anywhere,” Lucian responded with certainty, yet he was still wary. “But I don’t know what to expect anymore.”

“I don’t either,” Kazia admitted, offering her hand to Lucian for him to take. “I still want to try.”

Lucian took a breath, taking in Kazia’s words. He looked at her hand, that neutral porcelain shade that encompassed her form. Their eyes met, staring deep into those smoldering cerulean pearls, seeing nothing but hope and wonder, while his image reflected at him. Her raven hair settled after a gentle breeze, covering her lucra that rested in front of her shoulders. 

She was so alien, yet so familiar. Her very presence was a comfort; her sincere gestures and soft words, carrying solid meaning, were all carried by a devotion of hope and trust directed at him. His fear began to subside, enough to finally allow Lucian to move, his breath catching as he took her hand, warm to the touch. 

Right as their palms brushed against each other, Kazia slid her hand past his, grasping his wrist in a fluid, yet quick motion. She pulled him towards her with ease, tilting his body to stumble into hers, before embracing him with utmost admiration for his bravery. 

In that moment, their bodies connected in an embrace that felt natural, as if a dream had come to reality. Lucian felt her arms wrap around him, her heart making those triple beats against his ear, and even felt her lucra vibrating intensely, a physical sign that might have indicated her affection.

They walked back to the Rust Burn side by side, their minds wandering about what to do next. Eyes stealing glances at the other, their strides confident as Lucian kept up with her longer legs. When a crowd surrounded them at the markets, Kazia reached out behind her without looking back, her hand searching for his. He took it without hesitation, to keep from separating. 

Eyes followed their movement, their connection that held even once they cleared the still lingering mass. Kazia held on, finally looking back at Lucian, as if checking to make sure the rest of him was still attached. Their eyes met again and held for what seemed like minutes. 

It wasn’t long until they reached the ship. A rush up the loading ramp, a quick walk down the corridors, Kazia nearly took Lucian to her quarters before stopping at the threshold. She turned to face him, her cheeks flushed with uncertainty. Her eyes darted to her cabin and back to him.

“I, well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Lucian nodded, feeling the same rush of infatuation and uncertainty as she did. 

“Slow and steady.” His response was simple and understandable. 

They both stood there, neither of them moving away. The acceptance was immediate, but when it came time to act, the Terran and the Vul’Katahn felt like nervous children. 

It was only after a moment that Kazia moved, and it wasn’t gentle. She grabbed Lucian, her hands framing his head still, before her lips collided with his. Her lips were soft, encompassing his, but with a force that nearly knocked him off his feet. Kazia held him still, tasting him for what felt like minutes.

She broke away after a second. It was all the fighting woman could muster. Enough to make her claim and retreat into her space with the door shut. 

Lucian stood outside her door. His eyes remained wide and overtaken by the all too brief moment. His mouth still felt warm. He covered it with his hand, whether out of shock or the preservation of its warmth, he didn’t know. What Lucian was aware of the morning after was a dream that left him in a cold sweat. 

For Kazia, her night remained active and private, thanks to the excitement alone.