The outpost wasn’t quiet, but Cael had learned how to make it feel that way.

Not by shutting things out exactly, there was always too much noise in places like this—but by narrowing what he paid attention to. Docking calls, cargo shouts, distant arguments about permits that would be forgotten in an hour. All of it became background. Useful only in the sense that it confirmed nothing was currently on fire.

He stood near one of the upper walkways, leaning lightly against the rail. Not waiting in the urgent sense. Just… there.

A transport slid into docking alignment below. That was all it took for something in his posture to shift. Not his expression. Not his stance. Something quieter.

The Force didn’t spike. It didn’t announce itself. It just… softened, like a thread that had been taut for too long finally loosening at the edges. Cael’s gaze drifted down before he even consciously decided to look.

The ramp lowered. She stepped out with the others. Same as always. And still, it registered immediately. Not as surprise. Not as relief. As familiarity settling into place.

She moved with that same steady ease she always had when returning from negotiations, like she hadn’t been pulled between systems and councils and disagreements that tried to wear people down. If she was tired, it didn’t show in the way most people expected it to. Just a slight quietness in her shoulders. A softness around the edges of her attention.

Cael pushed off the rail and started down. No hurry. No announcement. Just movement.

He didn’t need to track her through the crowd. People naturally shifted around her anyway, giving her space without quite realizing they were doing it. Not because she demanded it. Because she didn’t. That was part of it. By the time he reached the lower platform, she had already noticed him. Of course she had.

Her expression changed first, not much, just enough. A small easing, like she’d been holding something in place and no longer needed to. Her eyes found him easily in the flow of people.

Cael stopped in front of her. For a second, neither of them spoke. Then his mouth curved slightly.