The Solomon’s Analysis Bay was alive with quiet activity.

  Datapads lay scattered across the central table; holo-displays floated in midair, projecting streams of data; a dozen samples ran through automated tests, each pulsing with a soft diagnostic glow.

  In the middle of the room, Survivor stood awkwardly bent forward, trying to mimic a bow.

  Doctor Ilya Merin was beside him, guiding his movement with patient precision.

  ZI’s drone hovered nearby, its lens watching the exchange like an amused observer.

  “Reminder,” Survivor said, straightening again, “why do I need to do this?”

  ZI answered without hesitation. “The princess is attempting to conceal your identity. You are to pose as a crew member.”

  Survivor frowned, bending again, posture rigid. “Why?”

  Before ZI could reply, Ilya interjected softly.

  “It’s a ploy—more of a tactic, really. A way to gauge how they react to you before they know who you are.”

  She stepped closer, lightly pressing a hand between his shoulder blades. “Don’t lock up so much. Relax.”

  He adjusted, lowering himself again with slightly less mechanical stiffness. “I get that part… but why do I have to be there?”

  “Because it helps Lyssandra if you are,” Ilya said, voice calm and instructive. “Think of it as reconnaissance. You’ll see them, study them, learn what they think—before the real game begins.”

  Survivor considered that, then nodded slowly. “Ah. So… it’s scouting.”

  “Exactly,” she said, a faint smile forming. “And pull up your jumpsuit, please. Even pretending, you should at least look like a functioning officer.”

  ZI tilted its drone in quiet approval.

  With a sigh, Survivor untied the sleeves from his waist and zipped the upper half of his uniform back into place.

  “Good,” Ilya said, stepping back to inspect her work. “Now try again. And this time, don’t think about it—just bow.”

  The door to the analytics bay slid open with a soft hiss. Lyssandra and Kael stepped in, finding an unusual sight — Survivor halfway through an awkward bow while Ilya corrected his posture and ZI hovered nearby like an unimpressed tutor.

  Kael raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Needs work, but since you’re posing as an engineer, I’d say it passes.”

  Lyssandra crossed her arms, nodding slightly. “For now.”

  She turned to ZI. “You’ll have to sit this one out. The United Sung of Nu aren’t exactly fond of independent AIs.”

  ZI’s lens pulsed once. “Understood. This unit is equipped with optical camouflage.”

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  As he spoke, his frame shimmered, then vanished — the air bending where he had been.

  Ilya blinked, circling the empty space in awe. “Incredible. I can’t even tell where you are.”

  Kael and Lyssandra exchanged a quick look — surprise flickering across their faces before they regained composure.

  ZI’s voice came from nowhere, edged with pride. “The system uses layered cameras and particle refraction to bend ambient light around the frame. Crude in appearance, but effective.”

  Survivor adjusted his collar. “Took ages to calibrate. We had to compensate for energy bleed every time the light angle shifted.”

  Ilya smirked. “You really can’t help overengineering things, can you?”

  Before she could ask more, Lyssandra stepped forward. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to finish preparations. Survivor — is your detection system ready?”

  “Of course,” he replied, standing upright. “If anyone carrying Hollowed infection boards this ship, the system will flag them instantly.”

  Lyssandra nodded, though her hands rubbed together — a small tell of her unease.

  Kael caught the motion and gave her a reassuring nod. “We’ll handle it,” he said softly. “Just another day of diplomacy… with extra steps.”

  Ilya glanced up from her datapad. “Do we know who they’re sending to the meeting?”

  Lyssandra nodded. “Yes. Representative Harkon for the Dominion, Councillor Celine for the USN…”

  Her tone slowed for just a beat, the faintest tremor ghosting through her words. “And Prince Lucen Voss for the Protectorate—my brother.”

  Kael’s reaction was instant: his shoulders squared, his jaw set hard enough to strain the muscle.

  Ilya said nothing, only lowering her eyes — she knew better than to prod that wound.

  Survivor blinked, tilting his head. “Is something wrong? Isn’t it a good thing your brother’s coming?”

  The air changed. Even the hum of the holo displays seemed quieter.

  ZI’s voice broke the silence — smooth, precise, and arriving almost too quickly.

  “Survivor, her brother is suspected of arranging the escort group that turned on the Solomon. It remains unconfirmed whether he was aware of the infection.”

  Survivor froze mid-motion, his confusion fading into a grim understanding. “Ah. So I said something wrong.”

  Lyssandra shook her head softly. “You didn’t. You just… touched on something we haven’t had time to face.”

  Kael folded his arms, his voice low but firm. “We’re hoping your detection system can clear him — or prove what we don’t want to believe.”

  Survivor nodded once, tone measured. “Then we’ll find out together.”

  ZI dipped his drone slightly, lens pulsing in calm rhythm. “Truth will settle what memory and loyalty cannot.”

  For a moment, no one spoke. Lyssandra turned toward the viewport, her reflection caught in the glass — calm posture, but tension in her hands.

  “Let’s just hope,” she murmured, “he gives us a reason to believe again.”

  A calm, synthetic voice echoed through the room.

  “Docking sequence in progress.”

  A soft tremor rolled through the deck, followed by a quiet hum as the magnetic clamps engaged.

  “Docking sequence… successful.”

  Kael exhaled, muttering, “Still can’t get used to the Solomon having a voice.”

  Lyssandra allowed herself a faint grin before Maeric’s voice came through the comm.

  “Princess, our guests have arrived.”

  She straightened, composure settling back into place.

  “Understood, Captain.” A breath. “Let’s go meet them.”

  Thanks for reading

  Please give a comment, review if you want.I would love to see how you guys view the story. Even like to hear your critique, if willing.

  If worried about the AI assist, I use it for polish and grammar checks, but am learning to write without the polish.