Lucas had begun to find a rhythm in his new life aboard the station. At first, waking up every morning in a world where humanity was long gone had been crushing, but now… now he found himself more curious than devastated.

He spent his mornings in the medical wing, where he'd taken a keen interest in the various aliens that came through. Some were patients, others were visitors checking in on loved ones, and some were simply passing through the trading post. No two were alike—some had bioluminescent skin that pulsed with emotion, others communicated solely through pheromones, and one particularly intriguing species resembled a six-limbed cross between a crab and a peacock.

One patient, a towering, armored being with a voice like distant thunder, had an infection Vaylara was struggling to treat. Lucas, flipping through his translation tablet, found a note about their species' natural resistance to antibiotics and suggested a more aggressive treatment based on how human doctors handled drug-resistant bacteria. It worked.

Vaylara had been impressed.

"You are adapting well," she had remarked, her golden eyes bright with approval.

It felt good.

When he wasn't in medical, Lucas spent his time studying TALOS, fascinated by the technology that powered the station. TALOS, for its part, was surprisingly accommodating, answering questions in its crisp, mechanical voice as Lucas marveled at how advanced everything was.

"I do not understand why you wish to learn outdated technology," TALOS commented as Lucas examined its interface.

"Outdated for you, maybe," Lucas replied. "For me, this is like looking into the future."

TALOS hummed thoughtfully. "Curiosity is an admirable trait. You continue to display adaptability beyond initial projections."

Lucas smirked. "Yeah, well, gotta keep you on your toes."

"I do not have toes."

Lucas chuckled.

He had also taken it upon himself to experiment with the food sequencer, determined to find something that wasn't a gray paste masquerading as a meal. His first attempt—"Classic Cheeseburger"—produced something that smelled vaguely correct but had the texture of wet cardboard. He took one bite and gagged.

Vaylara had been watching from across the room. "Your reaction indicates dissatisfaction."

"You think?" Lucas groaned.

"Perhaps you should attempt a different input."

He sighed, rubbed his hands together, and muttered, "Alright, let's try something simple."

After a few tweaks, he managed a passable grilled cheese sandwich. It wasn't perfect, but it was the first thing he'd eaten that didn't make him regret his choices.

Vaylara, ever the scientist, had insisted on taking a bite. She chewed thoughtfully before nodding. "Acceptable."

Lucas grinned. "I'll take it."

The changes in Vaylara had been subtle at first. She had started wearing more relaxed garments, exchanging her usual lab coat for flowing tunics and fitted vests in soft, warm colors. Lucas had also noticed the small, casual touches—her hand briefly resting on his shoulder when he spoke, the brush of her fingers when handing him a tablet, the way her frills flicked slightly whenever they stood close.

At first, he thought nothing of it. Then, he realized just how much he had missed physical contact.

For all the overwhelming strangeness of his situation, that small, simple thing had anchored him. And now, it was hard not to notice when she was near.

And then, she invited him on a "date."

"I have studied human bonding rituals further," she explained. "I have organized an itinerary that should meet all necessary criteria."

Lucas blinked. "Wait, you planned a date?"

"Yes."

"For… us?"

"Yes."

"...You do realize a date isn't just a checklist, right?"

She tilted her head. "Then I have misunderstood again?"

Lucas laughed. "No, no, it's fine. Let's see what you've got planned."

The evening began in the station's dining hall, where Vaylara had reserved a small, quiet table near a viewport overlooking the distant stars. She had carefully chosen a selection of dishes from different worlds, making sure there was something Lucas could tolerate.

"Any of this not going to kill me?" he joked as he surveyed the spread.

"I have cross-referenced every ingredient against your biological tolerances."

"That wasn't a no."

She smirked.

Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable. They talked—not about medical tests or galactic history, but about small things. Lucas found himself sharing stories from his childhood, and Vaylara, in turn, told him about her years of study, her fascination with pre-extinction species, and why she had chosen to revive him.

"I could not let the last of your kind remain a relic in a stasis vault," she said, voice softer than usual. "You deserved a chance to live."

Lucas swallowed. "That… means a lot, actually."

Her frills twitched, and she glanced away, almost shyly.

After dinner, they walked through the station's arboretum, a lush greenhouse filled with flora from a hundred different worlds. The air was thick with the scent of alien flowers, and bioluminescent vines draped from the ceiling, casting soft light over the pathways.

Lucas had never realized how much he missed the sight of greenery until now.

Vaylara watched as he touched the leaves of a tree that vaguely resembled a weeping willow, but its branches shimmered like liquid silver. "This is pleasing to you?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "It reminds me of home. Or… what I remember of it."

She nodded, as if making a mental note.

The final part of the night took them to the station's hangar, where a sleek medical skiff awaited them.

Lucas arched a brow. "You got us a spaceship?"

"I scheduled its use for observation purposes," Vaylara clarified. "However, it also serves as an ideal setting for an excursion."

Lucas chuckled. "You really are dedicated to this date thing, huh?"

"Yes," she said simply.

As they left the station, the vastness of space stretched before them, but their destination loomed large—the gas giant that Bastion orbited. Swirling clouds of deep blues and purples churned in the planet's atmosphere, illuminated by the distant glow of its sun.

Lucas stared, awestruck. "Wow."

Vaylara piloted them closer, adjusting the ship's angle so the light bathed the cockpit in a golden hue. When he turned to look at her, he felt something shift inside him.

She looked… beautiful.

Not just in an alien way, but in a way that stirred something warm and unfamiliar in his chest. The light caught the contours of her face, the shimmer of her frills, the depths of her golden eyes.

She noticed his gaze. "Lucas?"

He quickly looked away, swallowing hard. "Nothing. Just… you look nice in this light."

Her frills flicked slightly, and she turned her attention back to the controls.

But the quiet lingered between them, filled with something neither of them quite knew how to define.