Chapter 30 - Delta V

We walked into the galley together, the hum of morning conversation filling the space. Emily unlinked her arm from mine and made her way to Zoe’s side without hesitation. I watched her go, noticing how her bodysuit emphasized her movements as she walked. Her confidence only made her glow more, and I found myself smiling like an idiot before heading to the kitchen. Smooth, Luca. Real smooth.

I pulled a box of Eggo waffles from the freezer, tossing two into the toaster. While waiting, I took another sip of my coffee and grimaced. “This stuff could strip paint,” I muttered, setting it aside. I glanced over at Emily and Zoe. The two were already deep in whispers, Emily’s giggles punctuating their conversation. Zoe leaned in closer, her dreadlocks swinging as she tilted her head conspiratorially. Uh oh. What are those two up to?

I shook my head and turned my attention back to my waffles as they popped up. Whatever they were sharing didn’t matter. Over the years, I’d learned that Emily and Zoe had no secrets from each other, and it didn’t bother me in the slightest. If Emily wanted to talk about what happened between us, she would. No need to stress over it.

Carrying my plate, I joined Ryan and Joey at their table, nodding at their conversation about satellite data. Joey was mid-sentence, gesturing at a tablet. “...so the readings show the planet’s atmospheric density might be higher than we initially thought. That could change things.”

I nodded, taking a bite of my waffle. “Let’s go over it again. I want to make sure we’re prioritizing the right targets.” Focus, Luca. Work now, daydream about Emily later.

As Joey began explaining, my attention drifted momentarily. Emily’s laughter carried across the room, light and unguarded, and for a split second, I couldn’t help but look in her direction. Her cheeks were flushed, her smile wide, and she gestured animatedly as Zoe said something back. It was a look I’d seen hundreds of times, but now it meant something different. She wasn’t just Emily, my best friend, she was... well, I wasn't sure what she was to me now. But it was something. Something incredible. She was my Emily.

***

The command bridge was full that day as I leaned over my console, reviewing the updated trajectory. Okay, deep breaths, Luca. You got this. Or rather, Zoe's got this. And Emily. And Danny. Just try not to screw it up. Zoe, at the navigation station, had her focus split between multiple displays. Damn, she’s already on it, plotting our approach like a pro. Thank god for Zoe.

“Alright, Zoe,” I said, standing straight and crossing my arms, trying to project some authority. Fake it 'til you make it, right? “Let’s finalize the course for Proxima Centauri b. On the way, we’ll deploy the probes and satellites for Proxima d and c. Timing is key. We’ll drop them now, so they’ll intercept those planets’ orbits later when the alignments are right.”

Zoe gave a quick salute, already focused on the monitors ahead, programming our navigation or something. Unlike Ryan, who's probably just farting around as usual. “Understood, Captain. I’m mapping out the intercept trajectories now. It’s a bit tricky since c’s orbit is more eccentric, but we’ll make it work.” Thank god someone on this ship knows what they're doing.

I glanced at the holographic display that showed our ship’s path relative to Proxima Centauri. Tiny dots labeled “Probe-D” and “Satellite-C” lit up, representing the payloads we’d be dropping off.

“Good. Make sure they have enough delta-v to fine-tune their paths if the timing isn’t perfect.” Delta V? It’s got to do with the change in velocity or whatever. Basically, they have to be fast enough to catch up to the planet’s orbits but not so fast as to fly past them; we want them to slide into their gravity wells so we can get good readings without crashing or whatever. At any rate, Zoe knows what she’s doing. Don't want any screw-ups.

“Already accounting for that,” Zoe replied, her tone slightly smug. She knows she's good.

Behind me, Emily sat at her station, monitoring the probe diagnostics. “All probes are operational and prepped for deployment,” she said, her voice calm and focused. I glanced at her briefly, catching the small smile on her lips as she worked. My stomach flipped in a way that had nothing to do with the ship’s gentle vibrations. God, she's amazing. And she's with me. How did I get this lucky?

Ryan leaned against the bulkhead, sipping his mug of tar-like coffee. “Not to be the buzzkill,” he said, “but if any of these little guys miss their orbit, it’s going to be a hell of a pain to retrieve them.” Seriously, Ryan? Way to bring down the mood. Maybe someone should just lock him and a certain someone in a room until he's less tense. Or maybe he just needs to get laid.

“We’re not missing anything,” Zoe said flatly, shooting him a glare. You tell him, Zoe.

Danny, hovering near the bridge console with a tablet in hand, chimed in. “Relax, Ryan. These babies have precision thrusters. Plus, we’re accounting for orbital drift. They’ll be in position when the planets pass through their orbits.” Thanks, Danny. Always the voice of reason. At least someone on this ship, other than Zoe and Emily, has their head screwed on straight.

I smirked, shaking my head. “Let’s hope so. Otherwise, we’ll be explaining to Karen why her fancy equipment is drifting off into deep space.” And that would be a shitshow.

As Zoe plotted the course adjustments and the crew ran final checks, I stared back at the display. It felt monumental, these small objects being cast into the void to perform their duties long after the Triumph of Darron had passed by. We're making history here. This is it. Our legacy. The plan was sound, but the execution had to be flawless. Anything less meant wasted resources, or worse, missed opportunities. And I'm in charge. Me. Oh, boy.

“Alright,” I said, my voice steady, trying to project confidence, even though my insides were doing somersaults. Just don't fuck it up, Luca. “Let’s get this done. Deployments begin in twenty minutes.”

***

That evening, I took over the galley, determined to make an authentic Italian carbonara linguini for the crew. Gotta give them a taste of home, even if it's light years away. The pancetta sizzled in the pan as I grated Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano, the rich aroma filling the ship’s galley. I added a touch of defrosted heavy cream, though it didn’t quite have the silkiness I was used to. Damn, I miss real cream. Still, the white pepper, cheese, and pancetta blended well, and the dish turned out just shy of perfect, good enough to earn second helpings.

Dinner was lively. We ate at the galley table. Emily sat beside me, stealing bites from my plate even though she had her own, her head lightly leaning against my shoulder every so often, her leg moving against mine under the table. She smelled so good, like that vanilla-scented shampoo she used. I didn’t mind, it made the whole evening feel even better. Like we're a real couple. Like this is normal.

After the plates were cleared and the crew sprawled out in the lounge, Danny insisted on playing A Beautiful Mind. “Come on,” he said, waving the remote, “It’s a classic. Plus, all that math stuff is kinda cool.” Gotta give him that, it is a classic. And Danny does love his numbers.

As the movie started playing, Emily scooted closer, her body pressed against mine. So close. She grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch, draping it over both of us.

"Cozy," she murmured, snuggling in.

I slipped my arm around her, pulling her even closer, my hand resting on her waist. Under the cover of the blanket, my fingers started to move, tracing slow circles on the soft skin just above the waistband of her pants. I couldn't resist, I needed to touch her.

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I could feel her breath on my neck. Her hand found mine under the blanket, her fingers interlacing with mine. I couldn't help but smile, my heart doing a little flutter. It was like every nerve ending in my body was focused on her touch.

As the movie progressed, she started playing with my fingers, running her thumb over my knuckles, tracing the lines on my palm. It was such a small thing, but it sent shivers down my spine. My fingers moved higher, slipping under the hem of her shirt, the warmth of her skin sending a jolt through me.

I traced the curve of her waist, then moved higher, my hand finally resting just below her breast. I could feel the soft swell of it through her shirt, the gentle rise and fall of her breath. She wiggled slightly, her hand tightening on mine for a second, her eyes meeting mine in the dim light, a silent warning, but one that held no real heat. And, hell, I couldn't resist.

I brushed my thumb lightly against the underside of her breast, feeling her breath catch. She didn't pull away, but her eyes flashed, a playful challenge in their depths. Instead, she turned her head, her lips finding mine in a soft, lingering kiss. In front of everyone. And I kissed her back, because I couldn't not, not with her this close, this open, this... mine. Every now and then, she’d give my hand a gentle squeeze, and I’d squeeze back, a silent conversation passing between us.

Ryan, sprawled on the couch, made some comment about Nash's delusions, but I barely heard him. My entire focus was on Emily, on the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin, the way she made me feel like I was the only person in the room, the only person in the universe. This is what I’d dreamed of. How did I get this lucky?

I remained on the couch, my arm still draped around Emily. She shifted slightly, looking up at me with a soft smile. “I think I’ll turn in,” she murmured, but her eyes lingered, her meaning clear. She wanted to stay, with me.

My chest tightened, excitement and trepidation running through me. But mostly excitement. A lot of excitement. “Yeah,” I said, my voice a little rough. “Me too.” I could barely contain the grin that was spreading across my face. I stood up, pulling her up with me, my hand lingering on hers.

We walked together through the softly lit corridor, holding her hand. I could feel the energy between us, a palpable tension. It felt like we were the only two people on the ship. As we reached my cabin door, Emily paused, her hand brushing against mine. She turned to me, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Race you to bed?" she whispered, her voice a playful challenge.

I grinned, my heart pounding. "You're on," I said, and before she could react, I scooped her up in my arms, bridal style. She let out a surprised laugh, her arms wrapping around my neck. I pushed the door open with my foot and carried her inside, kicking it shut behind us.

Inside, the small cabin felt cozier than ever. The faint hum of the ship’s systems filled the silence. I set Emily down on the edge of my bed, and she immediately started pulling the blanket over herself, her expression playful. “Well? Don't just stand there," she teased, patting the space beside her, her eyes full of anticipation.

I smiled, my nerves from earlier replaced with a rush of adrenaline. I moved to join her, practically diving under the covers. She nestled against me, her head finding its familiar place on my shoulder, and I knew this was just the beginning of another incredible night.