The Lion's Gaze pulled away first.
Her engines flared softly as she angled away from the derelict station, slipping back into the open void with practiced ease.
Behind her, the Vigilant Flame remained for a moment longer Imperial shuttles still moving, recovery crews still at work before turning onto a different vector, a blazing line of authority cutting through the dark.
Two paths. Once more.
Leonidas stood on the bridge, hands resting lightly on the back of the command chair, watching the Imperial flagship diminish on the main display. For a time, neither ship spoke.
Then Leofric's channel opened unencrypted, personal.
"You should write to her," Leofric said.
Leonidas glanced sideways at the hologram of his brother. "That sounds suspiciously like an order."
Leofric huffed. "Hardly. Just… advice." His tone shifted, losing some of its formality. "Illiana deserves to hear from you."
Leonidas laughed a short, genuine sound that surprised even him. "I do not believe, I am still worthy of her."
"I will not deny it, but that's for her to decide." Leofric replied dryly.
Leonidas shook his head. "I'll try. You have my word."
"You've said that before."
"And one day it will even be true."
Leofric's expression softened. "She worries, Leon. More than she lets on."
"I know," Leonidas said quietly.
A pause followed. The kind that carried too much to say easily.
"Take care of yourself," Leofric said at last.
"And if you ever decide you're tired of the fringe..."
"I won't," Leonidas replied gently, but firmly.
Leofric nodded. "I thought as much."
The channel closed.
The Vigilant Flame jumped to hyperspace moments later, her presence vanishing in a brilliant flare.
Silence returned to the Lion's Gaze, deep and encompassing.
Leonidas remained where he was for several seconds longer than necessary.
Ezran cleared his throat. "So. We doing the brooding thing now, or…?"
Leonidas glanced back at him. "You make it sound like a scheduled activity."
Ezran grinned. "Experience."
Titus snorted from his station. "He does brood efficiently."
Leonidas rolled his shoulders and finally took his seat.
"What do you have, Ezran?"
"A few Guild postings," Ezran said, already pulling them up.
"Escort jobs, bounty cleanups, one very suspicious 'salvage opportunity' that definitely involves shooting someone."
Leonidas exhaled slowly. "Anything that keeps us moving."
Ezran studied him for a moment, smile fading just a fraction. "Yeah. Thought you'd say that."
Leonidas didn't look away. "Slowing down leaves too much room for thinking."
"And thinking is dangerous?"
"Thinking is loud," Leonidas replied. "Out here, at least the void knows when to stay quiet."
Titus glanced between them, then back to his console.
"There's a mid-tier contract near the Aurelian Reach. Pirate remnants, likely tied to the same routes we just cleared. Nothing glamorous. Plenty of work."
Leonidas nodded. "Set a course."
Leonidas allowed himself a faint smile as the stars stretched into lines.
The Lion's Gaze leapt forward, vanishing into hyperspace.
Behind them lay duty, blood, and unfinished conversations.
Ahead, work. Motion. Noise.
And for now, that was enough.