Star-Lore

Sakudara grunted, still looking ahead.

"Yeah. I found them. Unlike someone, I actually followed the plan."

His eyes scanned the fog, always watching. "Scavenging near the old hospital isn't 'playing hero.' It's called not dying from hunger when rations run out in six days."

He bumped her shoulder lightly. It wasn't rough more like the kind of nudge that said I'm still mad, but I'm glad you're okay.

"Unlike you, who thought a broken rifle made her invincible."

Sharmitha gasped, pretending to be shocked.

"Hey!" she said, bumping him back, harder.

"That rifle saved your back last week when you tripped over your own gloom cloud by the sewer!"

She lifted her hands, pretending to shoot.

"Pew pew! Gloom Crawlers, gone!"

A tiny smile tugged at Sakudara's lips. It was almost invisible under his hood.

"You missed. Twice. I had to clean up your mess." He stepped aside as she tried to shove him again. "And my gloom cloud is the only reason the big ones don't come after you. They think I'm already dead inside."

Sharmitha burst out laughing really laughing and it was strange to hear. Strange, but good. The sound echoed through the dead city like a spark of life.

"Tasty snack?! Please," she giggled. "They only chase you because you smell like old leather and regret!"

He gave her a sideways glance. "You're one to talk. That bow tie of yours hasn't been washed since the fall of New Jakarta."

She raised a finger. "This bow tie is a symbol of hope, thank you very much."

"It's a symbol of mildew and bad decisions," Sakudara muttered.

They kept walking. Side by side now. Their jokes bounced back and forth like a game they both knew well. It didn't erase the danger, or the hunger, or the monsters waiting in the fog. But it helped.

It made the air feel a little lighter.

It reminded them both that they weren't alone.

Behind them, the city stayed broken. The monsters still lurked.

But ahead as long as they kept walking together —

there was still something left to fight for.

Even if it was just each other.

And then again on the unknown Planet.

The sunlight here was warm and golden, soft like honey on the skin. It shone down through tall, leafy trees and giant green ferns that looked like living umbrellas. This was not Jaya anymore.

The planet where destroyer and his crew settled

Boboboy ran ahead of Lyra, still a little wobbly on his legs but full of excitement. His eyes were wide with wonder. He pointed at a small, glowing bird flitting through the air. Its wings shimmered like blue fire.

"Look, Lyra! Look!" he whispered, full of joy.

He crouched down low like a hunter, copying something he'd seen in a half-forgotten dream. He crept forward, careful not to make a sound. The bird sat on a vine, cleaning its feathers, not noticing him.

Boboboy lunged hands stretched out

WHUMP!

His foot caught on a thick root hidden in the moss. He let out a yelp and tumbled forward, crashing face-first into a patch of soft purple plants. The bird shot into the sky, gone in a flash of blue light.

Behind him, a sound like bubbling water filled the air Lyra was laughing. Not in a mean way, her laughter was light and warm, like sunshine.

"Very sneaky," she teased, walking up with a smile. "I almost believed you were a jungle ninja."

Boboboy sat up, his face red with embarrassment and his hair full of moss. "It was too fast," he muttered, brushing dirt off his arms.

Lyra smiled kindly and pulled a small silver object from her belt. It was shaped like a drop of water, smooth and shiny, and it gave off a soft hum.

"This is Recruiter," she said. "It's not a weapon. It fixes things. Makes them whole again."

As she pulls her weaponoid out.