That first meeting with outsiders was nerve-wracking. A convoy of battered ships approached, patched together with whatever scraps they'd managed to find. The faces on the screens were wary, desperate, just as lost as Alex and his own crew. Every word felt like it could tip things one way or the other. It wasn't easy—there were arguments and long, uncomfortable silences—but Rhea's steady optimism and Mia's gentle way of listening helped break the ice. Slowly, the tension faded, and some of the strangers became friends. The system worked in the background, linking shelters together so they could share food, medicine, and the little bits of hope they still had left.
Still, not everyone out there wanted to talk. One night, alarms blared—a rogue band tried to force their way in, hungry and scared, ready to take by force what they couldn't ask for. For the first time, Alex had to step up and truly lead. With shaking hands, he followed the system's instructions, activating hidden defenses and working with his friends to keep everyone safe. When it was over, they'd won, but the victory felt hollow. The shelter was quiet for days after, everyone nursing bruises and memories they didn't want to talk about.
As things slowly returned to normal, Alex stood in the common room, watching the children chase each other through the halls. They were growing up among stars, learning to laugh again, and dreaming of worlds their parents had never seen. For the first time, Alex let himself believe that maybe their story wasn't just about survival. Maybe, with a little luck and a lot of love, these kids would build something better than anything that came before. The journey wasn't over—not even close—but for once, that thought didn't scare him. It gave him hope.