Chapter Twenty?Eight
Hearthpoint Again (And the Chaos You Bring With You)
The S.S. Cosmic Clover drifted out of the soft-lane with a gentle shiver and the warm, home?lantern glow that meant the ship recognized where she was.
Kessa pressed her forehead to the viewport. “KAEL. Kael. KAEL. We’re back at Hearthpoint!”
Kael smiled despite himself. “Yeah. She recalculated the drift paths. Looks like the Clover wanted to come home.”
Jarin nodded, unbothered. “Ships often do.”
Lyra pressed her face between Kessa’s shoulder and the glass. “Nathan’s station! NATHAN’S STATION! He better have soup!”
The robot bee buzzed joyfully.
The Clover hummed, lights softening to a golden glow, almost like anticipation.
Kael shook his head, amused. “Alright. Docking in twelve minutes. Everyone try to behave.”
“Define behave,” Kessa said.
“Do not cause emotional or structural damage.”
Lyra raised a hand. “Wait, what counts as emotional—?”
“LYRA NO,” Kael said preemptively.
Arrival at Hearthpoint
Hearthpoint Station welcomed them with pulsing amber beacons and its trademark “shoes optional” corridor signage.
As soon as the airlock opened, warm bread scent and spiced tea steam enveloped them.
Lyra immediately dropped her boots. “I AM FREE.”
Kessa followed suit. “Me too!”
Kael sighed but didn’t argue. Jarin took his boots off politely.
The robot bee landed on Jarin’s socked foot with a happy chirp.
Then—
“Clover crew!”
Nathan Lowell’s voice carried across the cantina. His apron was dusted with flour, his smile wide and warm.
He approached with the gentle speed of someone who knew exactly how to greet tired travelers.
“Well now,” he said, looking at all four siblings, “I wasn’t expecting the entire constellation today.”
Kael shrugged. “Your station has a gravitational pull.”
Nathan smiled. “Warm lights and fresh bread will do that.”
Kessa grabbed Nathan’s sleeve. “Do you have soup?”
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“Always.”
Lyra gasped. “TEA?”
“Of course.”
Jarin folded his arms. “Any medical emergencies since last time?”
Nathan chuckled. “Just a sprained ankle and a very angry terrarium. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Kael breathed in the station’s atmosphere — cozy, lived?in, full of soft chatter and laughter. “It feels good to be back.”
Nathan nodded once, a knowing expression in his eyes. “Good. Sit. Eat. Rest. Then I’ve got a something for you.”
Kessa perked up. “A something?”
Lyra vibrated. “A quest??”
Nathan winked. “Let’s call it a favor.”
Enter Jessica Star
The cantina doors hissed open— and in walked Jessica Star, grease-streaked, neon jacket glowing brighter than the Clover’s running lights.
The moment she saw the siblings, she threw her arms wide.
“MY FAVORITE CHAOS CREW!”
Kessa shrieked. “JESS!”
Lyra launched. “JESSICA!”
Jessica caught both of them at once with the easy skill of a seasoned hauler who’d learned to survive impact hugs.
Nathan snorted. “Welcome back, Jessica.”
Jessica pointed at him. “I brought you more nutmeg.”
Nathan brightened. “You’re a saint.”
She waggled her eyebrows. “I try.”
Jessica turned back to the siblings and dramatically pointed at Kael. “You. Lanternboy. I heard about the slippers.”
Kael groaned. “They were a prank.”
Nathan blinked. “Lantern slippers?”
Kessa beamed. “Oh Nathan, you’re gonna love this—”
Lyra interrupted, “WAIT. First we have to eat. Then you tell him the whole story. With details.”
Jessica leaned over the table. “But before we do any of that—”
She slapped a datapad onto the surface.
“I need your help.”
Kael’s eyebrow twitched. “Of course you do.”
Jarin sipped his tea. “What happened?”
Jessica took a deep breath, then declared:
“My ship won’t stop laughing.”
The table went silent.
Kael blinked. “Excuse me?”
Jessica nodded intensely. “Laughing. Cackling. Giggling. Snorting. The Joy is convinced everything is hilarious. My engine diagnostics literally giggled at me.”
Lyra squeaked. “OH MY STARS.”
Nathan blinked. “Ships don’t laugh.”
Jessica jabbed a finger at Kael. “Yours does.”
Kessa whispered, “She has a point…”
Kael groaned. “Why would your ship be laughing?”
Jessica slid the datapad toward him and activated the log.
A faint, mechanical giggle echoed from the speaker.
Kael’s eyebrows rose halfway to the ceiling. “…Oh no.”
“Oh YES,” Jessica said.
Lyra slapped the table. “THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER.”
Jarin leaned in. “What caused it?”
Jessica spread her hands wide. “That’s what I want the Clover crew for. She listens to you. She respects you. Me? She just called me a ‘wobbly wrench.’”
Kessa howled. “She WHAT?”
Jessica nodded solemnly. “Mocked me. Mocked my driving. Mocked my jacket.”
Nathan snorted tea.
Kael took a steadying breath. “Okay. Okay. We’ll help. But first—”
“Soup?” Nathan offered.
Kael nodded gratefully. “Soup.”
Lyra danced in place. “AND THEN WE FIX A LAUGHING SPACESHIP!”
Jessica groaned. “Stars help me.”
The Clover hummed warmly behind them — excited, curious, affectionate.
Kael sipped his tea and whispered, half to himself:
“…This is going to be a very long day.”
