Elias stood beside Lena, watching the rapidly advancing enemy fleet on the display. The weight of the decision hung over him as well. He had never been one to take risks lightly, but with each passing moment, the gravity of their situation grew heavier."They're coming," he muttered, his voice tinged with unease. "And we're still in the dark about the full extent of the core's power. If they can trace the energy spike back to the source…"Lena turned to him, her eyes sharp and filled with determination. "I know," she said quietly. "But we've already set things in motion. There's no turning back."Elias nodded, his brow furrowed. "I just hope we can survive long enough to figure out how to use it—really use it—before they wipe us out."Their relationship had deepened over the last few months. What started as mutual respect had turned into something far more profound—a connection neither of them had expected but both had come to rely on. Their bond was their anchor in the storm that was fast approaching.Lena could see the worry in his eyes, the fear of losing everything they had fought for. But beneath it, there was something else: a fierce resolve. Elias wasn't just fighting to protect Earth. He was fighting to protect their future together."I know you're scared," Lena said, her voice softer now. "But we have a fighting chance. We've made it this far."Elias met her gaze, his expression softening. "I don't care about the future, Lena," he said, his voice low. "I care about right now. I care about you. And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you don't have to face this alone."Lena's heart swelled with affection. In the midst of this chaos, Elias was her constant—her rock. They had already lost so much, but they still had each other. And that, in the end, might be the key to their survival.