The glittering sun slowly took a bow as the day faded into night. Commander Park sat on the edge of a rock outcropping, overlooking the sprawling colony on Rital III. Evacuated early on in the Vaadwaur invasion, the citizens were making their way back home. Familiar footsteps sounded behind her. She asked, “How’d discussions with the Bunden II colonists go?”

The tired form of Captain Wren Walton sat down with an annoyed sigh. “Progress. They’re coming to grips that most of their lives were burned up by the retreating Vaadwaur towards the end. Most of them didn’t want to go back to Bunden II, but they also didn’t want to stay on Montana. It’s still hard for them with the loss of everyone on Bunden III.” She smiled, but Park could see how tired she was. “The counseling and diplomatic teams have been busy.” She nudged her former XO, “Since things are returning to something resembling normal, that director of theirs could use a date or two.”

Park felt the heat simmer off her face immediately and rolled her eyes. “Wren! I forget how tenacious you are with stuff like this.”

Walton cackled, “Like a dog and a bone…I don’t let go. You know, bone could also be…”

“Oh, for the love of the Galaxy-class, would you stop!” Park laughed and playfully hit her friend in the shoulder, “Let me decide what double meaning vernacular to use with my future maybe boyfriend, mmkay?”

Wren surrendered, “I give, I give.” They sat together in relative silence for a few minutes as the sun’s warmth faded and the chill of the overnight whispered over the hills. “You haven’t asked how we got assigned together again.”

Park eyed her, “I didn’t think there was anything to it…just two science ships together to science the hell out of things.” She turned to face Wren, “Is there something more to it?”

Walton chuckled, “I didn’t make any noise. Fontana seems to think we work well together. Something about Crawford and Bradford needing to build their relationship or something. Bro-mance maybe?” She couldn’t keep a straight face as she laughed, “None of that’s true. He just thought getting us out into the rimward to do some of that exploration and scientific study might validate having the Per and Nova under his command.” She leaned into her friend’s shoulder, “But it is nice to be back together again.”

Park closed her eyes at the warmth of her friend, and they sat together, watching the lights of the colony below flickering on and shining into the night sky.