Last spark from the ashes

"We have rules about doing that to guests," Ghost says dryly. It's a cheerful joke, though: the little bot is as happy as his Guardian to see the joy on Steve's face. They get a kick out of that, every time. Even as machines, knowing one glance is enough to capture the memory and have it never fade... it's still hard not to forget the piloting and just drink in their friend's reaction for a while.

Blaze certainly shoots more than one look his way before she makes herself focus on the approach. Her voice seems gruffer than usual when she says, "I'm glad we got to bring you."

The view is changing already as they drop out of orbit, however, the highest icy clouds rising up to meet them. And speaking of the moon, there's something in the distance, breaking the smooth glowing curve of the blue atmosphere where it rises through the clouds. Something round and silver and vast as a second Luna. It's soon obscured as they descend, by clouds and the jagged, mountainous horizon ahead. Beneath them are sprawling green forests, broken by regions of green hills and shining rivers... and the occasional grey smudge where ruined cities peek through earth and flora.