No sooner had Nova closed the office door on Candra and the body of her dead future self than the door to Stephen's office opened, Nova spun on her heel, and Cristo emerged, darted at her, took her hand and pulled her back into the office.

In the second before the door automatically closed itself, Nova heard the rustle of the revolutionaries pretending to get back to work after the shock of Nova Dasilva or Potestas or Gloriam's death, which went completely unnoticed by Cristo, and then the sound was shut out.

Stephen got up from his desk — she vaguely noticed that on top of the pile of documents on his desk a number of framed photographs had been knocked over and lay where they had fallen. 

Now Stephen was staring at her more bravely than he ever would have managed in her time, but then he dropped his gaze, very clear anguish coming over his face, and though Nova didn't know why he was in pain, she was starting to agree with Cristo that knowing all the answers wasn't as important as achieving results.

She needed Stephen to focus. Cristo was starting to say something, but she gave him a look to silence him and went to Stephen. Putting a hand on his arm she said gently, "Hi."

He recoiled away from her touch but did manage to get his focus back, saying, "Hi, Nova," before he went back around the desk and fell into his chair. Nova didn't want to ask why he was upset and what had happened between them. Instead she asked, "What do we do now?"

Stephen cleared his throat and said in his old familiar muddy quiet voice, lacking a shred of confidence, as if he were a kid again, barely a man and a shy one with a slight drinking problem, "It seems my father means Cristo some harm."

"Only if he threatens to harm anyone in Potestas Tower. Although the disappearing act we just pulled might have unnerved him enough to modify that order."

"You'll need to convince the boss to allow Cristo back into his confidences. There are certain people who need to be gathered at Potestas Tower tonight. Cristo will tell you who and why. But my father was the most stubborn, headstrong person I ever knew. Aside from you. You can't afford to lock horns over this, or he'll never back down soon enough."

Nova took a seat and regarded him, impressed at his insight. "What do I do then?"

"My father values your opinions, but you can't be blunt, or he'll dig in. I have an idea, though. But you'll have to bring me in on it. The past me. That might be the hard part, and I can't promise I won't fail."

"After a century I was really hoping you'd have stopped doubting yourself," said Nova.

"I don't doubt myself. But my past self doubts himself, and that's beyond my ability to change."

"I'll work on it," said Nova. "So what's your idea?"

Thank you for reading this short chapter in Stars Rise. A long one is coming right up! Please leave a star if you have a spare one about you, and be well!