Ahce stared out the window of her private transport pod, watching the streaks of stars slide past in long, silvery lines. Even after all she had endured on Planet Rhino, the jungle, the Zerg hybrids, the storms, and the cursed incidents, the sight of the Orion galaxy from this altitude was a rare moment of peace.
The hum of the engines beneath her seat was a gentle reminder that the Qin Clan's reach and influence could move her anywhere in the galaxy in less than a day. Yet, she did not feel the relief she had expected.
Her grandfather's figure filled the observation deck as she entered. His posture was straight, shoulders squared in that imposing way that had once frightened her as a child, yet now inspired a strange comfort. His eyes, sharp and calculating, softened slightly when they met hers.
