She smiled faintly as he spoke those words and contentedly murmured in her deep, melodious voice. She gave him a lingering look before drawing away and raising her index finger.
"Devi scusarmi - alcune astronavigazioni non possono procedere senza di me. Tuttavia, a parte la mia presenza, dovresti avere tutto il necessario per sopportare il nostro viaggio di ritorno a Malta."
"You must excuse me - some astronavigation cannot proceed without me. However, aside from my presence, you should have everything you need to endure our journey back to Malta."
The luxurious cabin echoed with her confident steps on high heels as she approached a wardrobe and slid one of the non-flammable panels built into the wall to reveal a small library of leather-bound paper books. Indeed, they were not original volumes from Sol but faithful replicas of the most classic literary works, undoubtedly transcribed by some craftsman on planet Malta.
"Quanto tempo è passato da quando hai tenuto in mano un vero libro l'ultima volta..."
"How long has it been since you last held a real book..."
She paused momentarily to dim the bright, white light in the cabin by turning the switch to a warmer, sun-like light.
"...in una luce calda e amichevole?"
"...in a friendly, warm light?"
A proud, radiantly white smile appeared on her face as she presented the amenities of his cabin before her loud steps took her back to her companion. The golden watch with an integrated display on her left wrist chimed softly. It must have been something vital as she immediately headed for the exit of his cabin.
"Riposa qui, sì?"
"Rest here, yes?"
She briefly turned back to bid him farewell before quickly stepping out onto the inner bridge of her ship. As the door closed behind her, Damien found himself alone in his cabin. He had to strain his senses even to discern that he was aboard a spaceship.
Meanwhile, outside in the icy expanse known as the Barrier, electrostatic discharges whipped from the Amalfi as the newly repaired Rift Drive, crafted by a group of freelancers known as Starfliers, charged up. In the misty, icy haze, a small sphere of nothingness opened before the Outcast luxury yacht, pulling tiny ice crystals into its maw. Several strong static arcs leaped between the vessel and the rift in space-time before the generously illuminated Amalfi entered the artificially created darkness.
