The point of light is still moving.

Chen Hao stared out the observation window, his fingers resting on the edge of the control panel. He didn't speak, but his breathing was heavier than before.

Nana had already turned and walked to the main control panel, swiping her finger across the screen to bring up the orbital data. Her movements were swift; a string of numbers and lines unfolded before her. A few seconds later, she said, "The target is approximately 470,000 kilometers away, moving slowly, with no change in direction. It's neither a spaceship nor satellite debris. Preliminary assessment suggests it's a floating mass of space debris, likely remnants from a failed cleanup of an old orbit."

Susan stood half a step behind her, one hand gently pressed against her abdomen. She glanced at Nana's screen, then looked up at the window. "Will it hit us?"

“No,” Nana said. “Its orbital deviation angle is too large, and it won’t enter the safety warning zone at the closest distance.”

Carl emerged from the equipment bay, still holding a testing instrument. He overheard something and casually asked, "Are you planning to change your flight path over this dust?"

"No change," Chen Hao finally said. "We don't have time to take a detour."

After he finished speaking, he tapped the red button next to the control panel to activate the broadcast system. "Attention everyone, we are now entering the countdown to going home. The next steps are simple—check your equipment, contact the ground, pack your bags, and wait to land."

No one spoke.

But everyone started moving.

Nana began checking each of the spacecraft's systems one by one. The thrusters were functioning normally, the fuel level was 63%, the heat shield structure was intact, and the navigation module was synchronizing. She read the data aloud as she looked at it, her voice as steady as if she were reading a manual.

"The attitude control system was last calibrated three days ago, and the error value is within the allowable range. The parachute pack has been confirmed to be usable, and the landing gear hydraulic system has been tested... There was one false alarm, which has been cleared and the system restarted."

Chen Hao leaned back in his chair, listening and nodding occasionally. After she finished speaking, he interjected, "Do you think if this ship really crashes, it would be considered a work-related injury?"

"No," Nana said without looking up, "because you don't have a formal position."

"I knew it." Chen Hao sighed. "All these years of hard work have been for nothing."

Carl walked into the living quarters and opened his locker. It contained few items: a few changes of clothes, an old toolbox, and a few handwritten circuit diagrams. He folded the diagrams and stuffed them into an inner pocket, then pulled out a black box and began packing his belongings inside.

Susan sat on a folding chair in the corner, holding a photograph in her hand. It was their first photo taken together on the deserted planet, against a backdrop of moss that glowed blue. She wiped the dust off the edges of the photograph with her sleeve and gently placed it into a lining of her bag.

“This is enough for me,” she said.

"You still kept it?" Chen Hao peeked inside.

“Of course,” she said. “Otherwise, how can you prove that you really grew the ‘world’s first melon’ you mentioned?”

"Nana later used that melon as an experimental sample," Chen Hao shrugged. "She insisted that it contained unknown microorganisms."

Nana, who was adjusting the communication channel, replied upon hearing this, "It does exist. And it almost poisoned the air purification system."

"Look at this, what a deep grudge they hold," Chen Hao said to Susan, pointing at her. "The melons I painstakingly grew, she just throws them away like that."

"You said it was for feeding insects."

"I did it to create a relaxed atmosphere!"

Carl closed the toolbox and walked back to the control panel. "Have you tried communication?" he asked.

"Trying it now." Nana switched to a low-frequency channel. "The regular frequency bands are too crowded, and the signal interference is severe. We haven't been able to connect to the main network for too long, and authentication keeps failing."

Chen Hao leaned over, pressed the record button, and recorded a message: "This is Deep Space Rescue No. SSV-097, with four crew members. Departure point: G-13 Outpost, destination: Earth United Port. Requesting landing clearance. Please reply."

He played it once, then frowned: "It sounds like a last will and testament."

"Then we'll re-record it."

He recorded it again, this time in a serious tone: "This is SSV-097, requesting landing clearance, please respond."

“It still sounds like a will to die,” Susan said from behind.

"You'll record it?"

"I can't do it, I stutter when I get nervous."

Carl took the microphone and said directly: "SSV-097, Crew: Chen Hao, Susan, Carl, Robot Nana. Coordinates locked, fuel sufficient, system stable, requesting access to standard landing path."

After saying that, he released the button.

"It's too cold here," Chen Hao shook his head. "People will immediately think we've hijacked a spaceship."

“But it works,” Nana said. “We just received a response signal, and ground control is processing our registration information.”

"Really?" Chen Hao sat up abruptly. "They recognized us?"

"It's not certain yet. They only said they received the application and it will take 30 minutes to review it."

"Thirty minutes?" Chen Hao scratched his head. "I could tell ten jokes in that time."

“Don’t say it,” Carl said. “What if they refuse to let us land because we laugh?”

Susan chuckled softly, stood up, and slowly walked over. "I think they'll let us down," she said. "After all, we brought back samples of extraterrestrial ecology."

"And there's a secret recipe for grilled skewers," Chen Hao added.

"That doesn't count."

"How can it not count? It's a delicacy that has been verified by thirty-seven star systems."

Nana suddenly looked up: "Communication has been restored. Ground control has sent a preliminary confirmation, allowing us to enter the outer standby orbit and await further instructions."

"Ha!" Chen Hao slammed his fist on the armrest. "We're back!"

Carl didn't laugh, but he put his toolbox under the seat, which was the only way he could show he was relaxed.

Nana continued monitoring the system status. She pulled up the flight log and updated the last entry. Then she opened the backup program and set the core module storing cultural data as the priority upload item.

"Are you secretly organizing data again?" Chen Hao noticed her actions.

"It's just to make sure the information isn't lost," she said. "In case there are problems during landing, at least someone knows where we've been."

"You're making it sound like we're about to crash."

"I'm just preparing for the worst."

"You prepare for the worst every day."

"That's why I'm still alive."

Susan leaned against the doorframe, watching the three of them. She didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth remained slightly upturned.

Carl went to the equipment bay for a final inspection. The fuel valves were tight, the lines were leak-free, and the backup power was online. On his return, he casually took two sealed bottles of beverages and placed them next to the control panel.

"Keep it until we get off the plane and drink it," he said.

"Didn't you say there was only one bottle left?"

"The other bottle is the one I hid."

"You hid two bottles?"

"Um."

"You're really something."

Nana completed the final system check. All critical modules were functioning normally, the landing procedure preload was successful, and the communication link was stable. She closed the test interface and turned to look at Chen Hao.

"You can try calling again."

Chen Hao cleared his throat and pressed the call button: "This is SSV-097. System check complete, ready, awaiting landing instructions. Please reply."

After sending the signal, he released the button and leaned back in his chair.

"Now all we have to do is wait."

"Five more minutes," Nana said.

“Where do you think they’ll land us?” Susan asked.

“Capital Port,” Chen Hao said, “I want to be the first to get off, wave, and say, ‘We’ve brought back the taste of the universe.’”

“Don’t say that,” Carl said. “They’ll think you’re crazy.”

"So, I'll say, 'Everyone, I'm back'?"

"Don't say that, it sounds too fake."

"Then what do you expect me to say?"

"It's best not to say anything."

The nebula outside was growing brighter. The reflection from the mother star was now able to penetrate the cabin, casting faint patches of light on the floor.

Nana's screen flickered.

She glanced down at it.

Then she said, "Ground control responded. Authentication passed, landing clearance approved. We can begin the descent procedure."

Chen Hao suddenly stood up.

Susan grabbed the handrail to steady herself.

Carl picked up the two bottles of drinks and stuffed them into the insulated bag under the table.

Chen Hao stared at the green confirmation icon on the main screen and grinned.

"Finally," he said, "I'm home."