The *Gallivant* cruised through the expanse of space, the recent battle leaving both scars and stories in its wake. Captain Vela stood at the helm, her eyes scanning the vast universe through the star-speckled view of the cockpit. The ship had survived the assault, but the mystery of their assailants—and the artifact's true power—loomed over them like a shadow in a lover's embrace.
"Looks like the universe just can't keep its hands to itself," Loxley remarked, stepping beside Vela with a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. His light tone belied the tension they all felt.
Vela smirked, not taking her eyes off the view. "Let's just hope it's the kind of lover that prefers a chase over a conquest."
In the medical bay, Mara tended to Jenkins, who had sustained a minor injury during the skirmish. As she applied a regenerative gel to his arm, her touch was clinical yet gentle.