The Star-Jumper slid back into the familiar space around Earth with a quiet hum, a speck of dust returning to its shelf. The blue-green marble hung in the viewport, deceptively peaceful. After the crushing silence of the Black Vault, the chatter of orbital traffic and the bright beacon of the Citadel felt like returning to a noisy, familiar room.
They didn't bother with docking formalities. Reia had already sent a priority ping to Lucian the moment they hit the inner system. By the time the ship settled into its berth in the Citadel's main hangar, he was already there, waiting.
He stood with Marc a few paces behind him, both of them still in combat gear, smelling of ozone and sweat. Lucian's arms were crossed, his face a carefully neutral mask, but his eyes were sharp, taking in their grim expressions.
"You're back fast," he said by way of greeting. "That's either really good or really bad."
"It's… a lot," Silas said, hopping down the ramp and stretching. "My brain still hurts."
