The obsidian hull groaned as reality realigned. The violet sky of Xylos-4 was gone. In its place stood the twin suns of the Ophiuchi Reach, their light reflecting off the V2’s wings with a brilliance that shouldn't have been possible. They had crossed fifty light-years in the time it took to draw a breath.

Commander Elias Thorne gripped the hilt of the manual override, his knuckles white. Beside him, the ship's AI, a flickering projection of gold light, pulsed in rhythm with the core.

Elias leaned back, watching the twin suns rise. The V2 wasn't just a ship anymore. It was a pen, and the universe was finally its parchment.