The "Odyssey" departed from the Beacon of Antecedence like an arrow shot from a bow. The upgrades had transformed the little skiff. She was faster, stronger, and felt more alive than ever before.
The new navigational probability engine, which Zara had nicknamed "The Magic 8-Ball," was already proving its worth. It hummed away on her console, predicting the strange, unpredictable shifts in the Void and suggesting safer, faster routes.
"The space ahead is about to twist itself into something resembling a balloon animal," Zara would announce, her eyes glued to her screen. "I suggest we dive under the poodle's left ear."
Scarlett would then execute the maneuver with flawless grace, her hands seeming to barely touch the controls. The journey was still incredibly dangerous, but they were no longer just surviving; they were navigating.
