Sarah stared at the ornate box containing the Ethereal Lotus, her fingers tracing its intricate patterns. The weight of recent events pressed heavily on her mind. She couldn't believe that something she had once thought unattainable on the starship was now in her possession.
"Thank you, Rosalyn," Sarah said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "This means more than you know."
Rosalyn smiled warmly. "It's the least I could do after everything you've done for us. How are you feeling?"
Sarah's mind wandered to the others involved in the auction house incident. "I'm... recovering. How is everyone else?" she asked, her thoughts particularly on Zephyr.
Rosalyn briefly explained that those who had followed them out were safe, including the Ding family. "They're very grateful for your help. They've sent some card-making materials to your residence as a token of appreciation."
Then, Rosalyn's expression turned somber. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. The owner of the card washing technology didn't survive the explosion."
Sarah's heart sank, but Rosalyn continued, "The technology now belongs to you. It's been sent to your residence along with the materials from the Ding family. Despite the official ban, you're free to use it for personal research if you wish."
A complex mix of emotions washed over Sarah. The technology, stained with blood and bitter memories, had come full circle back to her.
Rosalyn then briefed Sarah on her medical condition. "Your injuries from the auction house have healed, but we discovered and treated several underlying health issues during your recovery. The treatment was... expensive, but consider it taken care of."
Sarah felt a twinge of guilt at the concern in Rosalyn's voice. "Thank you," she said softly. "For everything."
After Rosalyn left, Buddy took the opportunity to update Sarah on their spatial pocket business. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he spoke. "You won't believe it, Sarah! We've already made 2 million credits! The low-level card makers we hired have successfully produced the first batch of spatial pocket cards. With your designs and their production, we're set to see exponential growth!"
Sarah nodded, her mind elsewhere. "That's great, Buddy. But... I've decided to leave Axiom Prime," she said softly.
Buddy's face fell. "Leave? But why? There are so many opportunities here! Many people are eager to meet you after what happened at the auction house. You're a hero!"
"I need a fresh start," Sarah explained, feeling detached from the heroic image Buddy described. "I'll take my share of the profits as we agreed, minus the 50 million for the Ethereal Lotus. The rest... keep it until I return."
Reluctantly, Buddy agreed to arrange her departure. "At least let me book your starship ticket," he offered.
Ten days later, Sarah boarded a starship bound for Axiom Prime Star. Rosalyn came to see her off, gifting her a spatial pocket full of scientific journals and publications from the past twenty years.
"I remembered how interested you were in these," Rosalyn said with a smile. "There's a bit of everything in there, not just card-making. No one on Axiom Prime has a more complete collection than this."
Touched by the thoughtful gift, Sarah felt a rare moment of genuine warmth. Wanting to reciprocate, she handed Rosalyn a spatial pocket card in return. "For protection, Rosalyn," she said with a sweet smile before disappearing into the ship.
Rosalyn, upon checking the contents, found it half-full of the small, powerful explosives Sarah had used. She couldn't help but smile at the unusual but oddly comforting gift.
Sarah didn't actually head to Farfeng Star. She disembarked at the first stop, making her way to a remote planet on the edge of the Axiom system where news traveled slowly.
There, with a substantial bribe of 100,000 star coins, she easily acquired new identity documents. The official didn't even look at the information Sarah input, simply handing her the new ID and even returning her old 'Fu Wenshan' identity card for potential future use.
The lax system shocked Sarah, suddenly understanding how Jake had so easily obtained false identities. "No wonder the Shadow Collective could operate so brazenly," she thought to herself.
With her new identity in hand and the card washing technology at her disposal, Sarah felt a sense of freedom she hadn't experienced in years. She pulled out a carefully preserved recommendation letter.
"Axiom Central University," she murmured to herself, a smile playing on her lips. "Here I come."
As the unfamiliar planet's twin suns set on the horizon, Sarah felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The past couldn't be erased, but perhaps it could be outrun. She had no illusions about the challenges that lay ahead, but for the first time in a long while, she felt something akin to hope.
Her journey was far from over. In fact, it felt like it was just beginning. With a new identity, powerful technology at her fingertips, and a wealth of knowledge to explore, Sarah was ready to carve out a new life for herself in this vast, complex universe.