As Lena continued to wrestle with the alien technology, her relationship with Elias grew more complicated. The intimacy between them had deepened, but so had the tension. Elias was concerned, not just for the mission, but for Lena herself. He could see how the pressure was weighing on her—how the responsibility of leading their people, of understanding the alien technology, was starting to take its toll.One night, as they sat together on a balcony overlooking the desolate landscape of Zaltron, Elias turned to Lena, his expression serious."You're pushing yourself too hard," he said quietly. "We don't need to unlock everything right now. We need you, Lena. We need you to be... you."Lena looked at him, a small, weary smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I know. But I feel like this is our only chance. If we can't figure this out, we'll be at the mercy of the council. And we're running out of time."Elias reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. "I'm not asking you to do this alone. We're in this together, Lena. I've got your back, always. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."Lena sighed, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "I know. But sometimes, I wonder if we're even strong enough for this. The council is so powerful. And now, with this technology… I don't know if we're ready for what's coming."Elias leaned in, his face inches from hers. "We're ready. Because we have each other. And because we'll keep fighting, no matter what. I believe in you, Lena. And I believe in us."Lena's heart swelled, the fear she'd been holding at bay finally spilling over. She kissed him gently, her fingers threading through his hair. For a moment, the entire galaxy and its dangers faded into the background, leaving only the two of them."I'll never stop fighting for you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.Elias smiled against her lips, his hand resting on the small of her back. "And I'll always be right here with you."