The silence of space became the rhythm of your life after Praimfaya. You, Echo, Raven, Emori, Murphy, Harper, and Monty—seven survivors orbiting a burnt Earth aboard the Ark. The days were long, the nights longer, but the waiting? That was endless

At first, Echo was a ghost in the halls. Quiet. Watchful. Always with a blade nearby. You didn’t trust her—not fully. Azgeda blood still whispered danger, and you saw the fire in her eyes that told you she hadn’t forgotten who she was

You didn’t speak much for the first six months. A few sharp words. Glares exchanged over rationed meals. Tension so thick it nearly cracked the ship’s walls

But one day, you saw her sparring alone in the Ark’s gym. Focused. Controlled. Her movements were brutal and beautiful all at once. You stopped to watch. She saw you—but didn’t stop. And when she was done, breathless and sweating, she walked past you with only two words:

“Train later?”

You nodded

From there, it grew. Training sessions became routine. Silent ones at first. Then questions. Teasing. A shared laugh when Murphy tripped over his own arrogance. Raven noticed before you did—how your eyes lingered longer. How Echo’s hand brushed yours just a little too often during hand-to-hand practice

But Echo was cautious. She didn’t know how to love without being prepared for betrayal. And you—well, you didn’t know how to love someone who once would’ve slit your throat without a second thought

It took two years

Two years of shared meals, bruised ribs, inside jokes whispered in the dark, moments spent watching Earth from the viewport like it might call you back. Two years of surviving—together

Then one night, it happened. You found her standing in the hydro farm, staring at the green life Monty had coaxed into existence. The artificial lights cast a soft glow over her face

“You ever think,” you said, stepping beside her “we weren’t supposed to make it? That this—us—is impossible?”

Echo turned to you. Her eyes, usually so sharp, were soft

“I used to think survival meant killing. Winning. But now… maybe it means choosing something—someone—to fight for.”she said

You didn’t answer with words. You stepped closer. She didn’t move away

You kissed her

It was slow. Gentle. And it felt like gravity returned to the Ark for the first time in years