In the Void, Arthur and Sarah lie in bed, furs pulled over them. Sarah cradles him gently.

  “You made it.” She smiles through relief. “A warm bed, firelight, and you. Who could ask for more?”

  Arthur turns, kissing her softly. “I’ll have to tell her everything. Maybe she’ll keep my secret.”

  “She’ll be scared,” Sarah says, climbing from the bed and taking a fur with her. Her silhouette ripples in the firelight. “But when she sees what you did to save her—she’ll understand. She’ll keep your secret.”

  Arthur exhales and disappears.

  ---

  Back in the real, Arthur lies motionless—then blinks back into his skin. He stands, a blanket wrapped around him, his skin completely restored.

  He stumbles toward Varhee, who’s hunched over a monitor. “Got anything working yet?”

  She turns slowly—expecting a corpse. When she sees him alive, unharmed, her breath stops, then catches. She backs against the wall, eyes wide.

  “What are you?”

  Arthur lifts his hands in a calming gesture. “I’m good. You’re good.” A faint smile. “Calm down, Varhee.”

  She takes another step back. “How?”

  Arthur hesitates—vulnerable for a moment. “I told you… when I got back, I’d explain.”

  He approaches the console, voice trembling slightly, as if afraid of the truth itself. He takes a steadying breath.

  “This is going to sound crazy. But…” He exhales. “I can’t die. You’ve seen it.”

  Honesty releases something in him—small, almost invisible, but real.

  He moves on as though he hasn’t just shattered her understanding of reality.

  “So… have you made any progress getting long-range communication back?”

  Varhee doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink.

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  Arthur waves a hand. “Hello? Earth to Varhee?”

  She blinks hard.

  Arthur raises an eyebrow. “Any progress?”

  Varhee exhales shakily. “Yes, sir. Almost have it put together…” She hesitates, softer now. “You kinda glossed over the meat of that, sir.”

  She swallows. “You basically just saved my life.” A tiny smile. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

  ---

  The Void reshapes into the memory of their old farmhouse. Rex barks somewhere beyond the fields. Sarah sits on the porch swing while Arthur paces nearby.

  She smiles knowingly. “If you don’t tell her, she’ll have a harder time with it than if you just do.”

  Arthur climbs the steps, restless. “You’re right. It’s just… hard. They all react differently.” He sits beside her on the swing. “Remember that guy who thought I was an evil spirit?”

  “She’s going to be okay,” Sarah says, leaning into him. “You already said she’s tough—and smart.”

  The farmhouse wavers, dissolving back into the infinite White Void.

  ---

  Arthur stands across from Varhee again. Silence presses thickly between them.

  “You want to ask—how or why?” His expression softens. “I don’t know. I just can’t die.”

  He sits, eyes lowering. “Honestly, I don’t even know how old I am anymore. Not exactly. Just… old.”

  A heavy beat.

  “I’ve survived a lot. And I’ll survive this.” He looks up. “And so will you—if I have anything to say about it.”

  Varhee swallows. “Wait—how old are you?”

  Arthur sighs through centuries. “So old that telling you when I was born wouldn’t mean anything. We don’t use the same calendar anymore.” A pause. “I was born in 2142.”

  He lets the silence settle.

  “I’m nearly twenty-four thousand years old. I’ve seen the death of two civilizations.”

  He stands, pacing slowly—weary, not proud. Sarah listens from the void. A story she knows but has heard very few times.

  “I was there on Earth when Dragon Gorge was created—and yes, it was a meteor. I was there when the first jump gates came online. I helped build the first gates. And I watched the Allui surrender.” A hollow breath. “Funny thing—we lost. They just sat their weapons down and walked away.”

  He looks at her, unfathomable sadness behind his eyes.

  “I’ve always been there.”

  Varhee sinks into a seat, stunned, more than a hint of questioning disbelief flickers in her eyes.

  “Okay… so why are you here with me? Now?”

  “Because I’m just a man.” His voice cracks with ancient fatigue. “Not mystical. Not chosen.” A beat. “Just bad luck—same as you. I just have better odds.”

  Varhee’s mind races, weighing what she’s seen with what she’s being told. Her eyes narrow.

  “So… you’re crazy. That’s why you talk to yourself.”

  Arthur laughs—tired, not offended. “I probably should be. But I’m not.”

  He turns back to the console.

  “Let’s get back to work. We still need access to the rest of the ship. If anyone else is alive, they’ll need our help.”

  “You could’ve told her about me,” Sarah whispers in Arthur’s ear.

  “Too much. Too fast,” he mutters. “Just too much at once.”

  He turns—and Varhee is standing behind him.

  “What’s ‘too much, too fast’?” she asks. “After everything else? I’m almost afraid to hear the rest.” A breath. “Is there more?”

  Arthur exhales. “Yeah. I didn’t want to say this because it’s hard to believe—and after what you just listened to, that’s saying something.”

  He meets her eyes. “I’m not talking to myself. I’m talking to Sarah—my wife.”

  Varhee tries to connect the dots. “Is she… invisible? Is she also super old?”

  Arthur chuckles. “I wouldn’t say it like that.” He digs through his belt, retrieving a small metal disc. “She’s as old as I am. Kind of.”

  “She died a long time ago.” He holds the coin delicately. “Her consciousness lives in this.”

  Varhee stares—frightened, amazed, confused.

  Arthur smiles gently. “She’s here. And she can hear you.”

  Tell her I said hi—and that she’s doing well under the circumstances, Sarah says in Arthur’s ear.

  Arthur smirks. “She says hi—and she thinks you’re handling this really well.” He hands Varhee a panel. “I think she likes you.”

  Varhee steps back, overwhelmed but steady. “Hi… Sarah. Nice to meet you… I guess.”

  Arthur pockets the coin. “It’s a lot. And I can’t prove it. So let’s just get back to work.”

  “Sir!”

  Varhee hunches over a comm panel as sparks jump in the cold air.

  “Emergency. Colonial ship Kalghtee—emergency broadcast. Origin: 7-Echo-Niner / Theta Grid 29 / Sector 4C-199. Repeat: Requesting immediate assistance.”

  Arthur adjusts heating coils. “Alright, Varhee… next order of business.” He tosses her blankets. “It’s already about forty degrees in here—and it’s gonna get worse.”

  “I’m good down to minus fifteen,” he adds dryly.

  Varhee snorts. “Good to know.”

  Sarah laughs from the Void. “This isn’t going to get awkward at all.”

  Arthur smiles faintly. “Sarah’s joking about us sharing a blanket.”

  Varhee glances upward. “Well… Sarah, I just want to say—I would never.”

  Arthur grins. “She’s mostly just messing with me. She knows how I hate awkward situations.”

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