Noah stood, stretching muscles that protested but functioned. His void energy had recovered somewhat during the flight. Enough to be useful, not enough to fight again if something went wrong. Around him, the team was stirring. Kelvin sat up slowly, testing his repaired ribs. Diana moved with more of her usual grace, though Noah noticed her still favoring that left side slightly.
Lila was already up, staring out one of the viewports at Earth growing larger as they descended. Her expression was complicated, layers of emotion Noah couldn't quite read.
The ship broke through clouds, and there it was. Eclipse headquarters, sitting in the eastern territories like a fortress that belonged there. The symbol visible even from altitude.
Home.
They landed smoothly, the ship settling onto the pad with barely a bump. The ramp extended, and Noah led his team out into afternoon sunlight that felt wrong after Hollowstar's pale illumination.
