In the Wake of Stars

Chapter 19: The Final Push

The asteroid belt loomed ahead, filling the holographic display with a dense field of rocks and debris, all spinning silently through the void. The Endeavor would soon reach its edge, and Nora found herself back in the command center, watching Cal make the necessary adjustments to navigate them through.

She was still catching her breath from the last grueling hours of preparation, her muscles aching from moving equipment and testing modules for their descent. They’d completed the loading and securing of the descent module’s essential gear, ensuring everything would be in place once they landed on their new planet. Nora couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation—equal parts excitement and dread.

Cal leaned over the control panel, his fingers moving deftly across the console. He wore the faintest smirk, fully in his element as he adjusted course. Nora took a seat beside him, glancing sideways as he checked coordinates, his usual cockiness amplified by the challenge ahead.

“Comfortable?” he asked without looking up, his tone taunting as usual.

“Someone has to make sure you don’t steer us into oblivion,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “Just because you’re the only pilot doesn’t mean I trust you.”

He chuckled softly, glancing at her with a raised brow. “Keep me on my toes then. Could use the entertainment.”

They lapsed into silence, the hum of the engines and faint beep of systems filling the space between them. With every passing minute, the asteroid belt grew closer, its sprawling field casting faint shadows on the holo-display. Cal’s expression grew sharper, his concentration deepening. In these moments, the arrogance softened, replaced by a calculating intensity that drew Nora’s attention despite herself.

As he navigated, she scanned through the inventory list on her tablet, mentally rehearsing each item they’d need to check once they hit the surface. There was no room for error; they’d have only what they brought to sustain them until they could cultivate and build with the planet’s resources. The silence stretched on, thick with tension and the weight of their mutual understanding that this was it—these were the last crucial steps before they landed and started everything they’d worked for.

After a long pause, Cal spoke, his voice lower than usual. “You know, once we get down there, things will change.”

She looked at him, taken aback by the uncharacteristic seriousness in his tone. “What do you mean?”

He kept his gaze on the display, but she noticed the faintest crease in his brow. “No fallback. No safety net. If anything goes wrong, it’s just us. We’re... all we’ve got.”

His words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation settling around them. It was rare for Cal to drop the teasing act, to admit, even in his roundabout way, that they were bound together in this mission. And as much as she wanted to deny it, to insist she didn’t need anyone, she knew he was right.

She nodded slowly. “I get it. That’s why we have to make this work.”

They fell silent again, but something had shifted—a mutual understanding, unspoken but deeply felt. Cal glanced at her from the corner of his eye, the usual smirk absent. For a moment, she thought he might say something more, but then he returned his focus to the controls, breaking the tension with a soft sigh.

“We’ll hit the edge of the belt in ten minutes,” he said, his tone back to business. “Better hold onto something. I don’t do gentle landings.”

Nora braced herself, gripping the edge of her seat. The ship rumbled as it edged closer, entering the outskirts of the asteroid field. Cal’s hands moved swiftly, guiding them through the narrow passages between tumbling rocks and jagged fragments. Her breath caught as they skirted past a large asteroid, the hull shaking under the strain.

“Relax,” Cal muttered, clearly amused by her tension. “You’re too uptight.”

“Forgive me if I don’t trust your casual approach,” she shot back, her knuckles white as she held on.

He gave a low laugh, navigating them through another tight passage. “I’ve got it under control, sweetheart. Might even get us through without a scratch.”

The next hour passed in a blur of near-misses and intense focus. Nora held her breath more times than she could count, her heart pounding every time they veered around a particularly large asteroid. But, as much as she hated to admit it, Cal was good—really good. He maneuvered the ship with a skill that bordered on instinct, every motion precise and confident.

Finally, the belt began to thin, the debris growing sparser until they passed the last asteroid and the vast expanse of open space stretched before them.

Nora let out a long breath, her muscles relaxing as they cleared the field. She glanced at Cal, who was watching her with a smug, satisfied grin.

“See?” he said, leaning back in his chair with an infuriatingly pleased look. “Easy.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the tiny smile tugging at her lips. “Fine. I’ll admit you’re not completely incompetent.”

His grin widened. “High praise from you.”

As they set course toward their new home, the tension shifted, replaced by a quiet anticipation. The planet grew larger on the holo-display, its faint blue and green hues hinting at the life and promise that waited below. It was strange—after everything they’d been through, all the fights, the relentless teasing, the tension, this felt like the calm before a storm they’d both been waiting for.

For the first time, Nora felt a spark of genuine excitement, mingling with the simmering tension between them. She glanced at Cal, wondering what their future held, knowing that whatever lay ahead, they’d face it together—even if he drove her absolutely insane in the process.