Ch 53: Unfinished Business

Three months in Gron, and for the first time in years, Kael and Mira weren't fighting for survival.

But neither of them felt at ease.

Kael stood on a scaffolding platform, high above one of Gron's main power hubs, watching the machinery hum with quiet efficiency. Below, engineers moved between control terminals, maintaining the city's delicate power network.

He had been working here for weeks, slipping between legal and illegal projects. Gron's power grid wasn't just old-world salvage; it was adaptive. A blend of pre-war systems and makeshift innovations that allowed the city to sustain itself without relying on external authority.

It was fascinating. And frustrating.

Lora's offer still sat in the back of his mind, an itch he hadn't scratched yet. A real role. A real future.

But commitment wasn't something Kael was used to.

"You're distracted."

Kael turned to see Lora approaching, her work gloves tucked into her belt. She wasn't the kind of person to waste words.

He smirked. "That obvious?"

"Painfully," she said. "You going to take the job or not?"

Kael exhaled. "Still deciding."

Lora studied him. "You're overthinking it."

"Probably," Kael admitted.

"Look," Lora said, leaning against the railing. "You're good at this. And frankly, we need people who actually understand tech, not just those who slap things together and hope they don't explode."

Kael chuckled. "That is half the fun."

Lora rolled her eyes. "Point is, this isn't about survival anymore. You have the chance to actually build something. Why hesitate?"

Kael didn't answer right away.

Because deep down, he wasn't sure if this was really where his path ended.

Mira, meanwhile, sat alone at a quiet corner of a bar, a half-empty glass in front of her. She had avoided making a decision about Voss's offer, but the uncertainty gnawed at her.

She had spent years doing. Fighting, moving, surviving. Now, with nothing pressing down on her, she felt untethered.

She had never thought of herself as a soldier who needed orders. But maybe, in a way, she was.

"Mira."

She didn't flinch at the voice. She knew who it was before she turned.

Voss slid into the seat across from her, setting his own drink down. "You avoiding me?"

Mira took a slow sip of her drink before answering. "Wouldn't be here if I was."

Voss smirked. "Fair point." He leaned forward. "So? You decide yet?"

Mira looked at him. "What's the job, really?"

Voss shrugged. "Escorting a convoy through disputed territory. Simple."

Mira scoffed. "If it were simple, you wouldn't be asking me."

Voss grinned. "That's why I like working with you. You don't buy the bullshit."

She sighed. "So what's the catch?"

Voss's grin faded slightly. "The convoy's moving something valuable. Not Consortium, but not exactly legal, either."

Mira frowned. "And you want me because…?"

"Because you're one of the few people I trust to handle it if things go sideways."

Mira leaned back in her seat, weighing the offer.

It was familiar. It was what she knew.

But was it what she wanted?

That night, Kael and Mira found themselves in their apartment, both clearly lost in thought.

Kael sat at the worktable, tinkering absently with a dismantled capacitor. Mira leaned against the window, arms crossed.

Finally, Kael broke the silence. "You thinking about taking Voss's job?"

Mira glanced at him. "You thinking about taking Lora's?"

Kael smirked. "That obvious?"

Mira rolled her eyes. "Painfully."

Kael chuckled but didn't press. Instead, he leaned back. "Feels weird, doesn't it?"

Mira raised an eyebrow. "What does?"

"Having choices."

Mira exhaled. "Yeah."

For a while, they sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Mira spoke. "You think we'll ever stop moving?"

Kael thought about it. Then, finally, he said, "Maybe."

Mira smirked. "That's not an answer."

Kael met her gaze. "It's the best one I've got."

And for now, that was enough.