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Description
Randy leaned back in the porch swing, his eyes squinting against the sun's glare. "You know, Jess, I've been hearing some real bad things about that Wraith Nebula situation. It's no place for a flux engineer. Not even one as smart as you."

Jess sighed - this conversation was bound to come up. She gazed up at the orbital docks suspended high in the atmosphere above them. "Remember when the Coalition was at war with the Conglomerate? We were kids back then. The engineers that built these docks - took the risk, and look what they accomplished." She gestured at the marvel of technology up in the sky. "This peace and beauty we have on Minerva, it's all thanks to them."

Randy frowned, his voice softening. "I know, but that's different. That was war, and this is... I don't know. It's just so dangerous, Jess. I don't want you to end up like Dad."

She turned to face him, her eyes fierce. "Dad gave everything for this place, and I'm proud to be his daughter. I have a duty, just like he did."

"I know you are, but..." Randy hesitated, swallowing hard. "You're my little sister, Jess. I can't bear the thought of losing you too. The whole quadrant could be destabilized by this conflict."

Jess looked away, her gaze returning to the orbital docks. "You think I don't know that? But running away won't solve anything. If I can help, even just a little, maybe we can prevent more people from losing their families. Isn't that worth it?"

Randy's jaw tightened, his hands gripping the porch swing. "You're too much like Dad, Jess. Always putting everyone else first. But who's going to take care of you?"

Jess reached out, touching her brother's arm gently. "Randy, I love you, and I know you're worried. But I can't let fear dictate my life. I need to do this. For Dad, for Minerva, for everyone."

Randy looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. "I just don't want to lose you, Jess. Please, promise me you'll come back."

Jess smiled, tears welling up in her own eyes. "I promise, Randy. I'll come back. But right now, I have a job to do."

Randy nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Just be careful, okay?"

Jess hugged him back. "I will. Pinky-swear."

---

In the Expanding Space universe, cities flourish on remote exoplanets, showcasing astounding technological advancements. These futuristic metropolises harness solar energies, defy gravity, and offer unparalleled AI integration, creating utopian societies. An interstellar playground, these cities inspire awe and ignite the imagination, redefining the boundaries of human potential and cosmic exploration.

---

THIS WORK IS PART OF THE AI-CHALLENGE MAY 2023 SERIES THEME: Creating cyberpunk cityscapes

WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE!

IT COSTS NO MORE THAN A CUP OF COFFEE A MONTH, AND EVERY DOLLAR HELPS ME KEEP UP WITH MY ART!

Description
Randy leaned back in the porch swing, his eyes squinting against the sun's glare. "You know, Jess, I've been hearing some real bad things about that Wraith Nebula situation. It's no place for a flux engineer. Not even one as smart as you."

Jess sighed - this conversation was bound to come up. She gazed up at the orbital docks suspended high in the atmosphere above them. "Remember when the Coalition was at war with the Conglomerate? We were kids back then. The engineers that built these docks - took the risk, and look what they accomplished." She gestured at the marvel of technology up in the sky. "This peace and beauty we have on Minerva, it's all thanks to them."

Randy frowned, his voice softening. "I know, but that's different. That was war, and this is... I don't know. It's just so dangerous, Jess. I don't want you to end up like Dad."

She turned to face him, her eyes fierce. "Dad gave everything for this place, and I'm proud to be his daughter. I have a duty, just like he did."

"I know you are, but..." Randy hesitated, swallowing hard. "You're my little sister, Jess. I can't bear the thought of losing you too. The whole quadrant could be destabilized by this conflict."

Jess looked away, her gaze returning to the orbital docks. "You think I don't know that? But running away won't solve anything. If I can help, even just a little, maybe we can prevent more people from losing their families. Isn't that worth it?"

Randy's jaw tightened, his hands gripping the porch swing. "You're too much like Dad, Jess. Always putting everyone else first. But who's going to take care of you?"

Jess reached out, touching her brother's arm gently. "Randy, I love you, and I know you're worried. But I can't let fear dictate my life. I need to do this. For Dad, for Minerva, for everyone."

Randy looked at her, his eyes filled with tears. "I just don't want to lose you, Jess. Please, promise me you'll come back."

Jess smiled, tears welling up in her own eyes. "I promise, Randy. I'll come back. But right now, I have a job to do."

Randy nodded, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Just be careful, okay?"

Jess hugged him back. "I will. Pinky-swear."

---

In the Expanding Space universe, cities flourish on remote exoplanets, showcasing astounding technological advancements. These futuristic metropolises harness solar energies, defy gravity, and offer unparalleled AI integration, creating utopian societies. An interstellar playground, these cities inspire awe and ignite the imagination, redefining the boundaries of human potential and cosmic exploration.

---

THIS WORK IS PART OF THE AI-CHALLENGE MAY 2023 SERIES THEME: Creating cyberpunk cityscapes

WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE!

IT COSTS NO MORE THAN A CUP OF COFFEE A MONTH, AND EVERY DOLLAR HELPS ME KEEP UP WITH MY ART!