Chapter 161: Echoes of Loss

The silence of Zephyra Prime was deafening. Amelia and Anya stood amidst the wreckage of the space station, the acrid scent of burnt metal and ozone filling their nostrils. The Verdant Strain, once a teeming entity, was now nothing but a chilling memory, a ghost haunting the ruined corridors. Anya, her brow furrowed in concern, placed a comforting hand on Amelia's shoulder. "We did it," she said softly. "We saved the galaxy." Amelia nodded, but her voice remained choked with emotion. "At what cost, Anya?" she whispered, her gaze lingering on a twisted metal beam that had been Vance's lab. Anya squeezed her hand. "I know," she said gently. "He was…difficult, but he was still your uncle." "He was more than that," Amelia said, her voice cracking. "He was family. And now…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. The silence stretched on, heavy with unspoken grief. Finally, Anya spoke again, her voice firm. "We can't dwell on the past, Amelia. We have to honor Vance'