A sharp knife flew across the room, whizzing past Kai and embedding itself in the soft board behind him with a dull thud.

“Again,” Kai shouted.

Eliana frowned, gripping another knife. She weighed it in her hand, testing its balance before tossing it. This one sliced through the air even closer, grazing a few strands of Kai’s hair.

“Again,” Kai said, unshaken.

On the other side of the room, Eliana hesitated. She was starting to doubt the wisdom of this exercise. She picked up another blade, gripping it by the tip and letting the cool steel rest against her fingers. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she threw it, but the instant it left her hand, she winced.

She could feel it—this throw was different. The knife was on a direct course for Kai’s head. Her chest tightened, her breath caught.

Kai watched her movements closely, reading the trajectory the moment the knife left her hand. He knew. This one was going to hurt.

But he didn’t flinch, didn’t panic.

Instead, he focused entirely on the blade. Its spinning body became a blur of motion as it flew, but in his mind, it was clear—he could see the rotation, the angle, the speed.

Kai began to inhale, slow and controlled. Despite the danger, he felt completely at ease. This was what he wanted.

The experience of dive mining in the cosmic maelstrom a week ago had changed something inside him. A switch had flipped in his mind. He felt different now—less nervous, more confident, more in control. It was the result of the voice he heard in his head, it was telling him to literally "Conquer fear."

And now Kai felt no fear.

That change had brought something else with it: an enhanced ability to focus under pressure. When danger loomed, everything seemed to slow down for him, like the world was moving at half speed. It was as if he could see the future before they happened, and his perception of time itself had sharpened.

The knife was almost on him, but Kai waited, calm and poised. Then, in one fluid motion, he dodged to the right, letting the blade pass where his head had been just a second before. At the same time, his hand shot up, snatching the knife out of the air with precision.

From Eliana’s perspective, it was as if Kai had sped up, moving faster than seemed possible. She had been sure—absolutely sure—that the knife was going to hit him. For a horrifying moment, she thought she’d just killed her boyfriend. But then, in a blur of motion, Kai caught the knife mid-flight, stopping it dead.

Her jaw dropped as relief flooded her. “How… how did you do that?”

Kai turned the knife in his hand, inspecting the blade with a faint smirk. “Focus,” he said simply, tossing the knife back toward her, handle first.

Eliana caught it instinctively, still wide-eyed. “I was sure that one would…” She trailed off, her heart still racing.

Kai's expression is softer now. “That’s the point,” he said. “It’s not about avoiding danger—it’s about controlling it. The maelstrom taught me that.”

Eliana blinked at him, still processing what she’d just seen. She was proud of her own speed and precision, but Kai had moved like he was on a different level entirely. A small smile crept across her face despite herself.

“You’re insane, you know that?” she said, shaking her head.

“Maybe,” Kai replied with a grin. “But you’ve got to admit—it’s kind of impressive.”

Eliana rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the pride bubbling up inside her. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head, though.”

Kai laughed lightly, but his mind was already somewhere else, thinking about how far he could push himself. He could get faster, he was sure of that.

The door slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing Commander Grayson standing outside, his hand poised mid-air as though about to knock. He blinked, clearly caught off guard, his sharp eyes surveying the scene before him.

Kai realized immediately what had happened—he must have forgotten to change the door settings after configuring them for Eliana’s visit earlier.

Commander Grayson took in the unusual sight: Kai stood near a soft pin-board with several knives embedded in it, some lying scattered on the floor. Across the room, Eliana stood with a handful of knives, clearly the one responsible for throwing them.

"Is this why I couldn’t find any knives in the cafeteria earlier?" Grayson asked, one eyebrow arching in quiet amusement.

Kai and Eliana straightened instinctively at the sight of the commander, like kids caught sneaking sweets before dinner.

"Sorry, Commander," Kai said quickly. "We were planning to return them as soon as we finished. We didn’t think anyone would be using the cafeteria at this hour."

Grayson raised a hand, cutting him off. "Relax. I’m not here to judge how you spend your free time." He crossed his arms, his tone turning matter-of-fact. "I came to let you know that the Black Swan has finished its upgrades."

Kai’s eyes lit up, but before he could respond, Grayson tilted his head, his curiosity getting the better of him. "But I have to ask—what exactly are you doing here?"

Kai and Eliana exchanged a glance. It was brief, but the silent understanding between them was clear: sometimes it’s better to show than tell.

Without a word, Eliana plucked a knife from her hand, raised it by the blade, and threw it across the room with precision. It spun through the air toward Kai, fast and direct. Kai reacted instantly, sidestepping just enough to let the knife miss his head by a hair’s breadth before snatching it out of the air with a single fluid motion.

Grayson’s eyes widened slightly, but his composed demeanor remained intact. "Impressive," he admitted, nodding in approval.

He glanced once more at the pin-board littered with knives. "Now, meet me in the lobby in five minutes. And dress appropriately."

Kai and Eliana entered the lobby after a quick stop at the cafeteria, where they returned the knives. The staff there looked confused but accepted the utensils without a word.

As they stepped into the lobby, it was clear that it had been transformed. The space was adorned with banners and soft lights that shimmered like starlight. A massive holographic display showcased the Black Swan in its newly reconstructed glory. The lobby was filled and lively.

Kai’s eyes scanned the crowd. The rest of the crew was already present, mingling with a mix of staff and a handful of guests. His gaze landed on Aria, who spotted him and Eliana almost instantly. She waved at them with a warm smile and her pointing finger on her lips, she was wearing sunglasses, disguising herself. Kai and Eliana returned the smile and silent acknowledgment for her disguise.

As they joined the crew near the stage, the lights dimmed, signaling the ceremony's start. A hush fell over the room as a spotlight illuminated the stage. At its center, the designer in an electric wheelchair rolled forward. He wore a formal suit and tie, and carried himself with the pride of someone who had poured his soul into his work.

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Taking the microphone, he began to speak in a voice full of sincerity and pride.

"It is my honor to be here today," he said, his eyes sweeping the room. "The Black Swan is already a marvel of engineering, a ship of both beauty and purpose. Today, it has been reborn, made even better by the dedicated team at the Forge, and the help of it's crew members."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in, then continued. "This ship is now the first of its kind: an exploration vessel equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a revolutionary self-sufficient system designed for long-range space missions. This breakthrough was made possible by the contributions of renowned scientists and computer genius Isaac."

The audience broke into polite applause, and Isaac, standing among the crowd, nodded happily.

The designer continued on, introducing the new implemented features of the Black Swan. Every demand in the original redesign blueprint had been fulfilled, plus some more.

As the formal portion of the ceremony concluded, the designer smiled and gestured toward the path leading to the shuttle bay. "Now, I invite the crew of the Black Swan to see their new ship."

Kai followed the rest of the crew onto the shuttle, his anticipation building with every step. It wasn’t until the shuttle neared the construction platform that he finally saw the newly reconstructed Black Swan up close.

The ship was larger than before but retained its elegant, streamlined design. Its surface gleamed under the spotlights. Kai couldn’t take his eyes off it, his gaze tracing the ship’s contours until the platform obstructed his view.

When they crossed the bridge connecting the docking bay to the ship, the scale of the Black Swan became even more impressive. Through the glass panels of the bridge, Kai marveled at its sheer size.

He took Eliana's hand into his, they were both excited to see what the inside of the ship had to offer.

The interior of the Black Swan had undergone a complete transformation. The hallways were brighter, with smooth transitions between the ship’s original sections and its newly added compartments. The design felt seamless, easy on the eyes for long term living inside of the ship.

The tour took them through the ship’s various sections, showcasing the upgrades. Kai couldn’t help but smile when they reached the training room. It was his favorite place on the ship, and now it was equipped with state of the art simulation systems capable of replicating more complex scenarios than ever before. He could already imagine the endless possibilities for honing his skills here.

Isaac’s excitement was evident when they reached the new scientific research lab. The room was packed with advanced equipment, enabling him to run demanding calculations and experiments onboard. "It’s not the Nexus," Isaac said with a grin, "but it’s close enough."

The galley had also been expanded. It was now large enough to accommodate the entire crew for meals and events, a welcome change that would make celebrations and gatherings much easier. This was where the tour concluded, and the atmosphere was one of unanimous approval.

As the ceremony wound down, Commander Grayson approached the designer. The two exchanged a firm handshake, marking the official handover of the Black Swan.

"Thank you for your work," Grayson said. "We have made the right choice coming here."

The designer smiled warmly. "She’s in good hands. I wish you all the best in your missions ahead."

With that, the designer and his team departed, leaving Kai and the rest of the crew standing aboard their newly upgraded ship.

Kai looked around, taking in the faces of his comrades. Everyone seemed genuinely happy, each finding something to appreciate in the Black Swan’s redesign. The ship was more than just a vessel—it was their home, their sanctuary for the foreseeable future. It felt lively.

Kai felt alive. The Forge had been a comfortable place to stay—he’d spent plenty of time training with Eliana and even more time relaxing. But Kai had never been someone to linger in one place for too long. As nice as it was, the Forge wasn’t where he belonged. The Black Swan was always what he craved—a home among the stars, a chance to wake up every day with something new to see.

Their journey was just beginning. The vast stretch of No Man’s Land still lay ahead of them, a frontier of mystery and danger waiting to be explored. Kai’s heart quickened at the thought.

That night, the crew gathered in the galley. The tables were piled with freshly cooked food that smelled divine—courtesy of Lily, who was commanding the kitchen with a confident that only she could pull off.

Members of the crew pitched in wherever they could, adding to the atmosphere of camaraderie and warmth.

Kai stood at one of the counters, peeling the skin off some vegetables for the meal. Eliana worked beside him, doing the same. They exchanged a few lighthearted jokes as they worked, the sound of their laughter blending with the bustling noise of the galley.

Across the room, Baiyan wrestled with a knife, muttering curses under his breath as he tried to chop ingredients. Kai chuckled, watching as Lily swooped in to show him the proper technique.

Commander Grayson was there too, surprisingly relaxed as he helped with small tasks. Despite his rank, he was very much a part of the team.

The atmosphere felt like a family coming together for a special dinner. People talked and laughed, their voices echoing warmly against the galley walls.

As Kai worked, he caught Eliana’s gaze. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the noise, the tasks, the journey ahead.

"Feels like home?" Eliana asked softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Kai met her eyes, his own smile growing. "Feels like home," he replied.

With everyone's help, the dinner preparations were finished in no time. It was a true team effort, and the combined contributions made the meal as satisfying to look at as it promised to taste. When the food was finally ready, there was a shared sense of accomplishment in the room—a feeling that extended beyond the dishes themselves.

The galley shifted to a warm, ambient light, casting a cozy glow over the space. The crew gathered around the tables, the anticipation building for their first dinner together aboard the newly rebuilt Black Swan.

Kai sat with Eliana, Robert, Teresa, and Ivan, chatting lightly as they waited for the meal to officially begin. The hum of conversation filled the room until Commander Grayson stood and raised his hand, drawing everyone's attention.

The chatter died down as all eyes turned to him.

Grayson began. “First of all, I want to welcome each and every one of you as the crew of the Black Swan. You are not just a team—you are family now. When I served in the military, there was a saying: the bond between a crew is thicker than anything else. We depend on each other out here, and that trust is what will see us through.”

There was a murmur of agreement around the room as he continued.

“As part of this ceremony, I’m officially assigning your roles aboard the ship.” He paused, glancing at each person in turn. “Ivan, you remain our pilot. Teresa, you are our engineer, and Robert, our gunner. Lily will manage inventory, ensuring we’re stocked and ready for anything. Ray is second pilot, Isaac remains our scientist, and Baiyan is our security officer. Eliana will train with Teresa, learning engineering, and Kai…” He smiled briefly. “Kai will be learning the gunner role.”

Kai grinned at the announcement. It was the perfect fit, a chance to test his reflexes and newfound abilities. He nodded, accepting the role.

Grayson continued. “Now, let’s talk about the journey ahead. Before we reach No Man’s Land, there are a few stops we need to make to better prepare ourselves. Because once we cross the edge, we’ll be completely on our own. No support, no backup. That's why we will be stopping at Aurelia Prime, where the ship will conduct its final resupply.”

He looked towards Isaac, "Isaac would also like to visit the Archive. And determined if the data store there was forged."

Isaac nodded, "If our history had been changed in any way. We will be able to find the inconsistency in them. It won't change our expedition to Earth, but will be a solid piece of evidence."

Grayson nodded, then his expression grew more serious. “This expedition won’t always be sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes we’ll face challenges. Whatever comes our way, we’ll need to face it as a team. That’s our strength: each of you brings something vital to the table, and together, we will have what it takes to succeed.”

He paused, letting his words settle. “What we’re doing isn’t just a mission. This expedition might very well change the future of humanity. Whatever truth we discover out there, it’s going to matter. A lot. So I promise you this: I’ll do everything I can to keep all of you safe and to command this ship to the best of my ability. In return, I ask each single one of you to do your part to the best of your abilities as well.”

As he finished, Grayson raised his glass. “To the Black Swan and her crew!”

The room erupted in cheers, the clinking of glasses echoing through the galley as everyone toasted to their shared future.

Kai took a sip of his drink, savoring the taste as the celebration unfolded around him. He glanced at Eliana and felt her hand slip into his under the table. He squeezed it gently, and they exchanged a quiet smile, sharing the moment.

Commander Grayson’s speech lingered in Kai’s mind. The mood was light now, but beneath the cheer, he could sense the weight of what was to come. The journey ahead would not be easy.

Still, as he looked around at the faces of his crew, now his new found family, he felt a deep sense of resolve.

Live together, die together. That's the bond they shared now.

Kai took another sip of his drink, the warmth from the alcohol spreading through him.

"But first," he thought, leaning back with a small smile, "let’s feast.”