Chapter 4 — Yeste Vork

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  Arthur sits on a rock overlooking a vast crater.

  Fear keeps him seated.

  If he could die, he’d be less afraid.

  “What’s wrong, sir?”

  Arthur doesn’t look back.

  “These creatures are fast and strong. And killing is fun for them.”

  He forgets, for a moment, that the men look to him for strength.

  “Are you scared, sir?”

  He lies.

  “Fear keeps us sharp. But no — I’m not scared.”

  He rises, forcing confidence into his voice.

  “Every one of us is trained and ready.”

  He steps forward, louder now — a voice meant to steady hundreds.

  “There are four hundred of us here. Four hundred soldiers armed with the best weapons I’ve ever seen.

  We are going to take this crater back from the Grek.”

  A ripple moves through the ranks.

  The men rally, fear and unease burning off like morning fog.

  Four hundred marched into the crater —

  eleven walked out.

  “Sir… we made it.”

  “No,” Arthur says quietly. “We didn’t.”

  The weight of loss fills his words.

  The lie he told — to send three hundred eighty-nine men toward death — settles heavy in his mind.

  Not that they had a choice. They were soldiers.

  But the lie still sits with him.

  End.

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  Chapter 5 — The Death Of The Leviathan

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  “We have to destroy the lab and get out of here,” Thomas says, slamming a hand on the table.

  Anna walks in and slides a weapon across to him.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “These hunters don’t know what they’re walking into.”

  Arthur stands at the table, looking from Sarah to Anna.

  “You’re right. They have no idea what they’re walking into.”

  Thomas turns, meeting Arthur’s eyes.

  “What are you planning?”

  “This was never going to be our home,” Arthur says.

  “I wish we had more time here.”

  He lowers his gaze, hands braced on the table.

  “I wanted to understand what Daevos did. How he made us.”

  A breath. “But we don’t have time for that now.”

  His eyes shift to Sarah.

  “Go to the engine room and open the engine core.”

  Then to Thomas.

  “Go with her. Cycle the power coupler.”

  Arthur draws a steady breath.

  “There is no other way.”

  Thomas stares at him like he’s lost his mind.

  “That will cause an overload. That’s not a small explosion.”

  Arthur tilts his head slightly.

  “Good. Then we can make sure the Leviathan is completely destroyed.”

  He turns toward the door.

  “Anna, come with me.”

  They walk out together.

  “We’re going to save what we can from the lab.”

  Cutting torches ignite along the outer hull.

  “It won’t be long now!”

  In the lab, Arthur loads as many coin drives as he can into the reinforced safe.

  He adds four vials of nanites.

  Then he shouts through the ship,

  “Everyone get to the new door!”

  They converge on Daevos’s old office, Arthur dragging the reinforced safe behind him.

  The office is empty — the hole never having been fixed.

  “Thomas, how much time is left?” Arthur asks.

  “About thirty seconds.”

  They toss the reinforced case, then jump clear as the countdown hits five.

  The cutting torch stops.

  A heartbeat of silence.

  The Leviathan explodes.

  End.

  ---

  Chapter 6 — The Engine

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  Arthur circles the hover truck. The grass is tall — up to his knees.

  He reaches into the toolbox. The clank of metal drowns out nature for a moment.

  “How did you get so good at fixing things, Uncle Arthur?” Sallina asks.

  Arthur smiles.

  “It just takes time and patience. And at one time or another in my life…”

  He pauses, thinking — then laughs.

  “I’ve had both.”

  Sallina watches him, then turns toward the house.

  “Hey, Dad! I think Uncle Arthur’s almost got it running!”

  Sarah whispers into Arthur’s ear from the Void.

  “She’s so big now. Remember when we first moved here? She was the tiniest little thing.”

  Arthur whispers back,

  “She’s a smart one. Always watching. Always learning.”

  His mouth pulls back — not quite a smile, not quite a frown,

  just a memory caught somewhere in the middle.

  The screen door slams.

  “What was wrong with it this time, Art?” Jedal calls. “Piece of junk.”

  Arthur grins.

  “Just needed to replace a stringer.”

  “Will this cover it?” Jedal lifts a drink.

  Arthur raises a hand as if to catch it.

  Jedal tosses it, and Arthur snags it effortlessly.

  They sit together on the porch.

  “I never thought about it, Jedal… you need a dog.”

  Jedal squints, puzzled.

  “A porch like this and no dog? That’s a waste,” Arthur chuckles.

  “My wife used to have a dog named Rex. He was great.”

  “Why don’t you remarry?” Jedal asks. “Finny down the street likes you, man.”

  Arthur looks uneasy.

  “Oh, you don’t have to tell me. She makes it very obvious every time I see her.”

  A small smile.

  Jedal pats him on the back.

  “You gotta be, what — fifty-five by now?” He laughs.

  “Those boyish good looks won’t last forever.

  You need to get with one of these single ladies before you go all gray like me.”

  Arthur sinks into his chair, the realization landing hard.

  It’s almost time to move.

  He takes a drink.

  End.

  Chapter 7 — The First Date

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  “He’s a nice guy, Mom. I’ll be fine,” Sarah says, putting her hair up.

  Her dad leans back from the kitchen table, lowering his datapad.

  “He better be, or I’ll crack his skull.”

  “Dad. Be nice. I like him.”

  She smiles, almost blushing at the thought of Arthur.

  Thud — the sound of a door closing outside.

  Rex goes insane, barking up a storm.

  “Calm down, Rex. You’re not saving the world. It’s just the door.”

  She checks the mirror once more, then opens it.

  Arthur stands outside — dressed nicely, but not fancy.

  Sarah steps out.

  “You ready to go?”

  Arthur smiles.

  “I’m ready if you are. Your parents don’t want to meet me.”

  He pokes his head inside the doorway.

  “I’ll have her back safe and sound by ten.

  Night, Mom. Night, Dad!”

  Sarah laughs.

  “Most guys our age avoid talking to parents.”

  Arthur considers that.

  “I guess you’re right.”

  He looks up at the sky as he opens her car door, then back down to meet her eyes.

  “You are not most girls.”

  She slips in. He closes the door gently, circles around, and gets in.

  Sarah inhales.

  “Something smells good in here.”

  “Oh — that’s dinner. It should still be warm.”

  He drives to the end of her driveway… and stops.

  “We’re here.”

  Sarah blinks.

  “Wh — wait. Here?” She laughs.

  “This was your date idea? My driveway?”

  Arthur just smiles.

  “Yeah. No awkward drive time.

  We don’t have to wait for dinner.

  And in the unlikely event you don’t find me charming…”

  He gestures toward her house.

  “You’re already home.”

  Sarah laughs, cheeks flushed.

  “No — this is wonderful. And charming.”

  “So what’s for dinner?”

  Arthur reaches into the back.

  “I’d like to say I made this — but I didn’t.”

  He hesitates, a little embarrassed.

  “My mom did. But she’s a great cook, and I have the recipe.

  So if you like it… I can make it next time.”

  They eat in the car.

  Afterward, Arthur throws a blanket over the hood.

  They climb up together, staring at the stars, talking for hours.

  The date ends at nine fifty-eight exactly.

  Arthur walks her to the door.

  They kiss.

  And somewhere inside, they both know —

  It feels right.

  This is my forever.

  End.

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