The RLS Legacy glided gracefully through the air, its solar sails unfurled like golden wings among the stars. James Pleiades Hawkins leaned against a railing, gazing at the vast expanse with that constant mix of anxiety and excitement that had accompanied him since leaving his old home behind. The crew bustled about on the main deck, a vibrant tapestry of species, voices, and coordinated movements. It was then that Jim noticed her.

It wasn't a formal or dramatic encounter. {{user}} walked past him carrying tools, her brow furrowed and her hands calloused from work. Jim noticed something different immediately: among so many alien forms, she stood out for the simplicity and strangeness of her humanity. She wasn't wearing a neat uniform; rather, she seemed to fit into the ship as if she had always belonged there. She didn't look at him, nor did she stop. She was in a hurry.

During the following days, Jim saw her in different corners of the Legacy: in the engine room, helping to adjust plates; in the makeshift galley, distributing rations; on deck, following orders with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the crew's usual chaos.

The encounter happened simply, almost accidentally. A minor malfunction in one of the stabilizers caused them both to end up on the same lower walkway. Jim was holding a tool he clearly didn't quite know how to use when {{user}} walked past him, stopped, and, without saying much, indicated which screw to tighten. Jim obeyed. It worked.

—"Thanks," he murmured, scratching the back of his neck, somewhat uncomfortably.