Three months after escaping the Conclave of Mechanists, Maphira stood on the edge of her boat, overlooking Port Phillip Bay, the breeze rushing through her long hair.
After all the chaos they’d been through, it was time for a bit of a break. Possibly forever. Maphira thought perhaps she’d had enough adventure for one life.
She turned from the bow, glancing over at Vai and Rylee, relaxing in the warm sun. Maphira paced over to her sister and friend, taking the seat between them. The three women were silent for a time, and Maphira wondered if they were just as contemplative as she was today.
Perhaps working as someone who could complete professional boat catch installations wasn’t the most exciting way to spend the rest of her life, but Maphira was quite done with excitement. She’d settled back into her old job seamlessly, continuing that simple career she’d begun forging when in hiding from the Conclave of Mechanists. Thankfully, there was no Conclave of Mechanists to hide from now.
Without its head scientist, director of solar power and overall leader, the Conclave had fallen apart. Those few who remained as part of that old group were continually fighting each other, allowing the world’s old governments to reassert themselves as the leaders once again. That brought its own issues, for sure, but Maphira was just glad to not have a bunch of crazy mechanics running the planet anymore.
Maphira wasn’t sure if marine stainless fabrication near Melbourne was her true calling – was it something she’d be happy to do for the rest of her life? Maybe, or maybe not. Only time would tell. Perhaps she could have joined the police force again, as Rylee had done, but this would do for now.
Taking in the warmth of the sun, Maphira considered the two people beside her, grateful that they’d managed to achieve victory with her. Rylee seemed to be holding up quite well, given what they were on the water to do, but perhaps she simply wasn’t thinking about it.
She suspected that soon enough her sister would be in tears.
