Tearing the Void

As the Void Wraith's remnants dissipated into the void, the crew of the ship set about assessing the damage sustained during the battle. 

Jia Mei was already busy, her hands deftly moving over the controls as she ran diagnostics on the ship's systems.

Ouyang Bo stepped up to her station, his eyes scanning the readouts. "How bad is it, Jia Mei?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light despite the tension.

Jia Mei glanced up at him, her eyes sharp and focused. 

"We took some hits, but nothing catastrophic. The shields held up well, though we've got a few systems running at reduced capacity. I'll need to reroute some power and run a few repairs."

Ouyang leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "You know Jia Mei, if anyone can fix this ship, it's you. Maybe afterward, we could grab a drink and you can tell me all about how you saved the day."

Jia Mei's eyes flicked to his, and she snorted, shaking her head. "Fuck off before I crush your balls, Captain. I've got work to do."

Ouyang chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just checking." He stepped back, watching as she returned to her task with renewed focus.

He paused, then added more seriously, "But what if I ordered you to get intimate with me? Can you deny the orders of your superiors?"

Jia Mei's eyes narrowed, her hands stilling for a moment. The tension in the air thickened as she sized him up.

Ouyang then chuckled, breaking the moment. "I'm just messing with you, Jia. I'd never do something like that. I respect you too much. Now, how's the power rerouting going?"

Jia Mei's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "Nice save, Captain. The rerouting will take a few minutes. I'll need to manually adjust a couple of connections."

Satisfied that Jia Mei had everything under control, Ouyang made his way to the deck.

The ship was gliding through the void, heading towards the entrance of the Scarlet Stairs. Su Xue was already there, her eyes fixed on the shimmering red tear in the void ahead.

Ouyang approached her, standing by her side. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he remarked, his voice soft.

Su Xue turned to him, a smile playing on her lips. "It is. But it's also terrifying, knowing what lies beyond."

Ouyang nodded, his gaze distant. "True. But we'll face it together."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their mission hanging between them. 

Then Su Xue spoke again, her tone wistful. "You know, Squadron Leader, sometimes I dream about a different life. A simpler one."

"Oh?" Ouyang prompted, turning his full attention to her.

Su Xue's eyes sparkled with a mix of hope and longing. 

"I want to have a loving family, a small farm where we can grow our food, and chubby kids running around. Maybe that will finally stop my mother from nagging me all the time," she added with a laugh.

Ouyang smiled, his heart warming at her words. "That sounds wonderful, Su Xue. And I think you'll make an amazing mother."

Su Xue blushed, looking away. "You think so?"

"I know so," Ouyang replied, his voice filled with conviction. "You have a kind heart and a strong spirit. Any child would be lucky to have you as their mother."

Su Xue's blush deepened, and she hesitated before speaking again. "Squadron Leader, do you ever think about the future? About what you want beyond all... this?" She gestured to the vast expanse of space.

Ouyang considered her question, his expression thoughtful. "Sometimes. It's hard to imagine a life different from this one, but there are moments when I think about settling down, finding peace."

Su Xue looked at him, her eyes searching his face. "You deserve that, you know. A chance to be happy."

Ouyang's smile softened. "So do you, Su Xue. You've given so much to this mission, to this crew. You deserve your dreams."

There was a pause as they shared a quiet moment, the bond between them growing stronger. Finally, Su Xue spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "S-Sir, can I call you Ouyang from now on?"

Ouyang turned to her, a playful glint in his eye. "Only if you give me a kiss," he said, winking.

Su Xue's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "Why are you always like this?" she asked, giggling nervously.

Their moment was interrupted by Gao Feng's voice crackling over the comm. "Captain, we're approaching the Scarlet Stairs entrance."

Ouyang and Su Xue exchanged a look, their brief moment of intimacy giving way to the seriousness of their mission. 

They moved back inside, joining the rest of the crew as they prepared for the next stage of their journey.

The Scarlet Stairs entrance loomed before them, a massive tear in the void glowing with a deep red hue. 

Ouyang felt a shiver run down his spine as he stared at it. "All stations, prepare for entry," he ordered.

The crew moved with practiced precision, checking systems and securing their stations. Ouyang took his place at the command console, his eyes fixed on the red glow ahead.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"Ready," Jia Mei confirmed, her fingers poised over the controls.

"Here we go," Ouyang said, taking a deep breath.

As the ship approached the tear, Gao Feng's voice broke the tense silence. "Holy fuck, no matter how many times I come in here, this place never fails to make me awestruck."

The ship plunged into the Scarlet Stairs, the red glow engulfing them as they were pulled into the unknown.