Back in Nyx's apartment - Skov's End - Timus's POV

  The Republic’s eagle emblem filled the screen as overdramatic as ever. It faded, revealing a striking woman behind a glossy news desk.

  Blonde. Flawless. Dressed in a tailored crimson dress that was definitely pushing the limits of what was considered professional. Her smile gleamed with that polished, too-perfect charm that every Terran Republic propaganda face wore.

  Seraphina Solis.

  I nudged Nyx with my elbow, smirking. “You know, if all news anchors looked like Seraphina, I might actually start watching the news more often.”

  Nyx went rigid. Slowly, very slowly, she turned to me, her eyes narrowing into slits.

  “Oh, really?” she drawled, voice dangerously sweet. “Maybe I should dye my ‘air blonde and practice my smile until it is as robotic as ‘ers, just for you?”

  I chuckled, raising my hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I’m just saying, she’s not bad to look at. Can you blame me?”

  Nyx rolled her eyes and shushed me as the broadcast began.

  "Tch. Idiot," she muttered, but she still leaned in, resting her chin on her palm as she turned her attention to the broadcast.

  “Good evening, citizens of the Terran Republic,” Seraphina began, her voice honeyed yet authoritative. “I’m Seraphina Solis, here to bring you the latest updates from across the galaxy. Today, a historic agreement was reached between the Terran Republic and the Oris Union.”

  The holoscreen behind her flickered to a clip of dignitaries shaking hands, all smiles and ceremonial grandeur.

  “The treaty, signed on Oris Prime, solidifies the alliance between the two factions by formalizing a policy of non-aggression in neutral zones and granting tax-free trade status at all Oris Union-controlled ports,” Seraphina continued, her gaze was steady, reassuring—the kind of gaze suggesting everything was perfectly controlled.

  I shot Nyx a glance. She scoffed under her breath, stabbing another piece of food.

  "Des idiots, tous…" she muttered darkly.

  The broadcast returned to Seraphina, whose expression softened slightly as she leaned toward the viewer, forging an artificial sense of intimacy. “The Oris Union, often viewed as a mediator among galactic factions, expressed hope this agreement will foster stability and promote lasting peace. Additionally, the Republic will receive extended docking privileges and joint patrol rights in contested sectors. Relations with nearby alliances, such as the Xyrelian Concord and Rezar Consortium, remain cautiously optimistic.”

  She paused, eyes locked firmly on the viewer as if delivering a personal promise. “We stand on the brink of a new era, guided by unity and trust toward a brighter future.”

  Nyx let out a bitter laugh, crossing her arms. “‘Peace,’ hein? La paix. Mon cul.”

  “Not buying it?”

  She gave me a sharp, knowing look. “Oh, please. You know as well as I zat ze Oris Union loves playing diplomat while zeir 'shadow' organization, ze Black Nebula, traffics drugs, weapons, humans, aliens… it is all ze same.”

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  My brow furrowed. “So they are running both sides…” I had my suspicions, but I'd never managed to confirm them in-game.

  Her eyes glinted sharply with the quiet anger she usually kept hidden. “Bien s?r. Zey play ze perfect middleman, pocketing zeir ‘official’ trade creds in one hand while ze cartel slips intel to rebels and arms to insurgents in ze other. And ze Republic?” She laughed bitterly. “Blind as ever, zey shake hands wiz zeir own executioner.”

  I sighed heavily. “It's not that simple. The Republic’s government is huge. Those allowing it are probably bought—money slaves to Oris thugs—or blackmailed. The ones who signed this deal know exactly what's happening and are just playing along.”

  Nyx raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise in her expression. “You really think ze Republic is zat corrupt? Mon cher, even I did not think zey would sell out all of humanity.”

  I waved a hand, hoping to clear the tension. “Enough of that. Let’s eat… whatever this is.”

  She rolled her eyes, giving me a look like I’d just committed a culinary crime. “Eet’s Rykkan stew. Le meilleur—only zee best.”

  We dug in, the stew as spicy as it smelled, kicking back in front of her beat-up old holo-screen. It was playing some ridiculous show about androids trying their hand at bounty hunting. The translation was hilariously bad, and half the fun was Nyx’s reaction, snickering and shaking her head at every line.

  “Zee quality of zis show… c’est incroyable. I ‘ave seen better dialogue in my dreams.”

  I chuckled, stealing a glance at her. “So, speaking of disasters… I need some repairs. Valkyrion got a little too close to some Serpent bastards.”

  She raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at her lips. “Void Serpents, vraiment? You must ‘ave come from Kordis, eh?”

  “Yes, ma’am… was looking for Astra on Rykka-9.”

  Nyx paused mid-bite, concern flickering across her face. “Astra? I ‘ave not ‘eard from her in some time.”

  “Well… there’s a reason for that,” I admitted slowly. “She’s been kidnapped. Instead, I found her twin sister. Zara’s with me now. We’re heading to Kelthar-3 to get Astra out of the Black Nebula’s claws.”

  Nyx shook her head, letting out a low, amused whistle. “Mon dieu, Tim… is there ever a time you are not in deep sheet?”

  I shrugged, giving her my best innocent grin. “Hey, this one is probably… mostly not my fault.”

  She snorted, rolling her eyes with a look that was part pity, part amusement. “You ‘accidentally’ stroll onto one of zee sketchiest planets in zee galaxy, run into zee cartel, pick up that rogue’s twin, and now you think, ‘Why not? Let’s just break into Kelthar-3 and pull Astra out from zee Black Nebula’s claws.’ C’est incroyable.”

  “That about sums it up.”

  Nyx feigned shock, dramatically placing a hand to her chest. “Quelle surprise, Commandant! Zee galaxy would be so dull without your… ‘unique’ brand of chaos.” Her expression softened into genuine worry. “Are you sure you’re not, ‘ow do you say… in over your ‘ead?”

  “Not yet,” I replied. “And with your help, maybe I won’t be.”

  Her smirk melted into something warmer, her eyes twinkling. “Fine, but you owe me—for zee repairs, and for dragging me into yet another mess.”

  “Deal,” I said, holding out a fist.

  She bumped her knuckles gently against mine with a resigned sigh. “Let’s finish zis stew. Zen I’ll see if I ‘ave zee parts to patch your deathtrap.”

  “Oh, Nicolette, ma chère—”

  Her hand twitched, eyes narrowing dangerously. “I will slap you, mon cher.”

  I chuckled, holding up my hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. But just a heads up. It might be awhile before you get your credits. I still need to offload some cargo before I can pay you.”

  She sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Ah, Commandant Tim—toujours sans sous. Always broke. What else is new?”

  “I may not be rich or remotely sane—but at least I’m consistent.” I raised my Thermic-Cola in mock salute.

  Nyx snorted, clinking her can against mine. “Lucky for you, I do not mind cleaning up after you.”

  She scooted closer, looking up at me with warm eyes and a soft smile. Her tail curled comfortably around the cushion, and she leaned in, resting her head against my lap with a contented sigh.

  “Mon cher,” she murmured softly, her voice tender and sincere. “I am… truly glad you’re back. I was worried, you know?” There was genuine vulnerability in her tone, something rare and precious.

  I reached over, gently ruffling her silky black hair between her little horns. She tilted her head into my touch, eyes fluttering closed, a faint smile on her lips as a quiet hum of happiness escaped her.

  “I missed you too, Nyx,” I said quietly. “Thanks for worrying about me.”

  She slowly opened her eyes, sparkling with warmth. “Of course. Zee galaxy might be big and full of trouble, but… ‘aving you ‘ere, safe, zat’s all zat matters.”

  Nyx kept her head on my lap, her tail wrapping a little tighter, as I gently continued to stroke her hair, enjoying this quiet moment before the chaos began.