The Arbor ascended through Earth's atmosphere, its roots pulling free from the soil with a groaning reluctance, as if the planet itself mourned their departure. Above, the void stretched out before them—a vast, cosmic expanse of stars and silence. Emma stood at the helm, her hazel eyes steady despite the weight in her chest.
"We've done what we can," she said, her voice calm but resolute. Her gaze swept across her team—Markus, Chloe, Ethan, Aisha, Gray, Liam, and Lucas—each carrying their own burdens but standing united. "The recruits are ready, the array is stable. They'll protect Earth."
Markus leaned against the holo-display, his gray eyes locked on the glowing trajectory of the Void Leviathan as it loomed at Jupiter's orbit. "We should've left sooner," he muttered. "This is cutting it too close."
"We gave them a chance, Markus," Emma replied, her tone firm as her gaze met his. "That's what matters."
Markus's expression darkened. "You risked everything," he said sharply. "If the Void Leviathan senses us—"
"It won't," Lucas interjected, his voice calm but decisive. He stepped forward, his blue eyes flickering with confidence. "The array is masking Earth's WoodDust signature. And with the upgrades, the Arbor is cloaked, too. We've done the math."
Markus crossed his arms. "Math doesn't stop cosmic monsters."
Liam, standing nearby, spoke for the first time, his voice measured. "Lucas is right," he said, adjusting the readings on his environmental scanner. "The field strength of the array is holding steady, and there's no fluctuation in the masking systems. Earth is safe—for now."
Markus exhaled sharply, frustration flashing across his face. "Fine. Let's hope it stays that way."
Chloe approached Emma, her expression thoughtful. "The Touched—they're free from the Void's influence now," she said. "Lila and the others are stabilizing. They'll fight alongside the recruits if anything comes back."
Emma gave a slight nod, a flicker of relief softening her features. "Good. They'll need every advantage they can get."
Gray stepped closer, his voice low but steady. "I'm with you, Emma," he said simply. "Whatever's next, I've got your back."
Emma turned to him, a small, grateful smile crossing her face. "Thank you, Gray."
A sudden alert cut through the room. Aisha's fingers flew across her console, her voice urgent. "The Void Leviathan—it's changing course," she said, her words pulling all eyes to her display. "It's… it's moving away from Earth."
Emma stepped forward, her heart pounding. "Where's it heading?"
"Beyond the solar system," Aisha said, her voice tinged with surprise and relief. "The array worked. It's not detecting Earth anymore."
Lucas leaned back, exhaling deeply as a faint smile crossed his lips. "We did it," he said, glancing at Emma. "You did it."
Emma met his gaze, her voice quiet but resolute. "We did it. Together."
Liam checked his scanner one last time, the readings confirming Aisha's report. "The masking field is solid. No anomalies," he said, his tone practical but satisfied.
Outside the viewport, the violet storm that had raged on Earth's horizon began to dissipate, its arcs of lightning fading into the distance. The hum of the WoodDust within the Arbor softened, its once-restless energy now a calm and steady pulse.
The Seedkeepers had given Earth its survival. But as the void stretched endlessly before them, they knew their journey was far from over.