The door to the Marauder’s lounge opened and the girls walked in. Alfie trailed behind, with Havoc gnawing on the lower leg of his new body. It was almost identical to his old one, with a chrome-plated exterior and exposed mechanical gears whirling in his skull. Havoc’s frothy drool dripped down Alfie’s leg, pooling onto the floor, but the AI didn’t seem to care.

In Andi’s short stint as general, she’d ensured that her ship was recovered from the Soleran Wastes. She’d used the best that Arcardius could offer to repair and resupply the Marauder, and now it was filled with the people she loved most once again.

Andi and Dex joined the girls at the porthole across the room. “Ready?” she asked Lira.

Her friend gave her a sad smile. “As I’ll ever be.”

“Memory, turn off the lights,” Breck said, and the ship went dark.

Lira turned to face the four of them, eyes twinkling with unshed tears. The only light in the room came from between her fingers.

“On Adhira, when a loved one dies, we send them off with an Orvana.” She opened her cupped hands to reveal a glowing blue flower. “The Godstars give us life, and it is our duty to live it to the fullest, to light the way for others. But when that light twinkles out, it doesn’t merely disappear. It moves to the skies.” Andi noticed Lira’s scales turning a deep purple. “In our religion, when death takes us, our soul becomes a newborn star. The Godstars made us, and now it is our turn to join them once again.”

A tear slipped down Lira’s cheek.

“Lon walked his whole life following the light of the Godstars. He was full of hope and wonder, of love and wisdom.” She stroked a petal, and it burst with light. “He was a light that shone brighter than all the rest. So for that, I honor you with this Orvana.”

Lira turned and opened the airlock, placing the flower inside the compartment and then sealing it shut. “I love you, big brother.”

Then she placed her hand on the unlatching lever, and with one swift downward pull, the compartment opened and the flower shot out into the stars, its blue light shining bright.

Andi came up behind Lira and enveloped her in a hug. Breck and Gilly joined them, followed by Dex.

They stood like that, watching the flower grow farther and farther away. But even in their sadness, Andi was certain of one thing.

They were a family.

And this was the most content Andi had ever felt.

“Fly true,” she whispered.

“Now what?” Gilly asked, shoveling a hunk of cheese into her mouth.

“Red,” Breck warned. “Close your mouth when you chew.”

Gilly opened her mouth wide and gave Breck a cheeky wink. Lira tried, and failed, to suppress a snicker.