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The rear deck ofVenantia Eterna’ssecurity bay hummed with activity.

Savvine headed to her locker and stripped her day wear.

She changed into a matte-black flight suit and moved in her customary rapid pace.

She cinched her gloves as she walked, fastened the oxygen feed lines, and pulled her helmet into place.

The HUD blinked to life with a soft blue glow, running diagnostics in the corner of her vision.

Her pinnace sat in its launch cradle like a coiled blade, small and built for speed, sleek, silent, and modified beyond regulation.

She walked across the deck past a pair of crew members who paused and nodded. She raised her chin back at them, tracking fast to the command console.

She found her mark lounging in his seat, sipping from a mug, far too relaxed for the hour.

Tapping her visor open, she stepped into his space.

‘Javier,’ she called.

He glanced up and grinned, just a little too charming for someone projecting a neural feed from one cybernetic eye with his feet propped on the instrument panel.

‘Well, if it isn’t the most daunting, beautiful, and stubborn woman to ask out on this ship. Don’t tell me you’re taking another joyride before breakfast?’

She ignored his ribbing. ‘I need a favor.’

He arched a brow.

‘I’m not filing this jaunt. Please leave it off the traffic logs.’

He leaned forward, interest sparked. ‘Flying dark, huh?’

She didn’t answer; she just held his gaze.

Javier whistled, then took a slow sip. ‘That’ll cost you.’

She crossed her arms. ‘You’re going to try charging me for an unsanctioned egress?’

He grinned wider. ‘One drink. Real stuff. Not recycled bar synth.’

‘Done,’ she said before he could change the terms.

Javier tapped a few keys. ‘Log scrubbed. You’re a ghost for the next seven hours. If you’re not back by then,’ he warned, his voice trailing off.

‘I will be.’

He paused, then nodded, a genuine concern flicking across his expression. ‘Watch your six, Savvine.’

She shot him a grateful smile and wave as she climbed into the pinnace.

The canopy hissed shut, pressurizing around her as the cradle unlocked.

Her hands moved over the controls with muscle memory precision, ignition, external sensors, and life support.

The engine purred beneath her as she lifted off the mag rails and exited into the void.

Thrusters kicked in with a soft roar, and theVenantia Eternafell away behind her.

She silently breached the perimeter grid, slipping through the outer buoy markers and cutting her thruster signature to a whisper.