Without A Thousand Stars: Part II

Chapter 11

Nora and Alyce packed up everything they could scrounge from the wreckage of the Academy. Leftover electronic parts, broken tools, and whatever medical supplies they could find were carefully stashed in their bags.

Nora grinned as she stripped components from the downed bot guards. "The twins will be happy to get some new parts to play with," she said, already imagining the makeshift gadgets Reyn and Raye would cobble together.

Alyce paused, glancing around the Academy one last time. This place had once held her happiest memories, but she was ready to move on. The holocards were safely tucked away in her jacket—her only tangible link to Jax now.

By the time they returned to the cabin, the sun had begun to dip behind the horizon. Little Jax, eagerly waiting by the window, spotted them and rushed into Alyce's arms as soon as they stepped through the door. Alyce laughed softly, holding him tightly.

Later that night, Alyce sat with Jax on his bed. The holocards were scattered between them, glowing softly. She held one up, projecting the hologram of a young Jax, his face full of life and mischief.

Little Jax tilted his head, curiosity lighting up his face. "Who is that?" he asked.

Alyce's breath caught for a moment. She looked down at her son, then back at the hologram. "That's your dad," she said softly.

They sat together in silence, watching the flickering image of Jax as it played out before them. Little Jax giggled at his father's antics, completely absorbed in the man he'd never met. Alyce's heart ached with sorrow, but there was also a deep sense of joy. For the first time, she could share a part of Jax with their son, offering him a piece of the father he would never know in person.

Alyce wrapped her arm around Jax, holding him close as the holocards continued to play, filling the room with bittersweet memories.

—

Nora crouched by the small, makeshift greenhouse she had set up within their hideout. The cabin's dim light filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the wilted leaves of the plants. She meticulously checked their remaining supplies, trying to gauge what little resources they had left. The scavenging trips were becoming increasingly futile, their returns meager and disappointing.

The small plants, a testament to their hope and effort, struggled to thrive without adequate sunlight. She gently touched the leaf of a tomato plant, noticing the distinct bite marks from their resident cat. The tomatoes on the plant were stunted, barely more than green nubs. Nora's heart sank as she inspected the wilting greenery.

She sighed deeply, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on her. The toxic forest surrounding their hideout made it almost impossible for anyone to reach them, and the isolation was becoming a significant challenge. The lake within the cavern was their only real source of hope, its clear water providing a small respite from their dire circumstances.

The cabin's silence was broken by the sudden beep of her wristband. Nora's heart skipped a beat as she fumbled to activate it, her fingers trembling with anticipation. Ivy's voice crackled through the static, but the message was clear.

"They want to meet."

A rush of relief and hope surged through Nora. The Obsidian Reapers were notorious for their elusive dealings, but this was the opportunity they had been waiting for. If they could secure an arrangement, it would mean a lifeline for their dwindling resources and a chance at a more stable future.

Nora glanced at the struggling plants one last time, then turned decisively down the stairs of the loft. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but for the first time in what felt like ages, there was a glimmer of hope.