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       The stoppage of a war came unexpectedly:  and although it marked the end of the slaughter
- it was not good news - and certainly not a victory.
       The armistice agreement  - which in short  left the entire cosmic space between Mars  and
the Sun under the administration of our adversaries: allowed the green families of Ember 01  and
02 safe departure: and guaranteed sequential exchange of prisoners of war - was influenced main-
ly by our desire to preserve: what we had built for so long and with love.
       The death of Rector Mastern was bloody point at the end.
       The crew roamed the ship like a joyless community of shadows.
       The kitchen was mostly empty.
       After about a week of cheerless flying and useless cooking: Alia's voice freed me from my
dark thoughts: "hey Filip."
       "Captain:" I said respectfully.
       "Hand down: I came to thank you."
       "For what?"
       "You saved my life. Twice actually. Can I give you a hug?"
       I nodded.
       She came to me and grabbed my shoulders: "it's healthy:  to move in the company of immor-
tals - Lena greets you."
       "She could have come in person."
       "She doesn't have much time - since made Hydron one big asylum for the sick and wounded."
       "I can imagine that:" I smiled: "coffee? cookie?"
       "How could I refuse?"
       I sat her down at the table and placed a cup of coffee and a plate of my sugar cookies in
front of her.
       "This is.." she chewed thoroughly with her eyes closed: "living poetry."
       "Thanks:" I said in the voice of a humble genius and sat across from her.
       "Can I have one more?"
       "Of course: they're all yours."
       She picked up another orange wheel: smelled it: rolled it in her fingers and slowly put it
in her mouth.
       "Awesome!" :she gushed: "I have an idea Filip!" :she took another hot sip: "could you bake
a bundt cake tomorrow?  You know:  so that the whole kitchen smells like vanilla   - I would come
with my friend Andrea for breakfast - she is very sad and doesn't talk: please Filip:  can you do
it for me? I promise Lena will come too."