Lyra and the others had been waiting anxiously for Asher's return. They had been sitting in the Ulysses, passing the time by playing games and talking about their experiences on different planets. But as the hours ticked by, their anxiety grew.
Lyra was the first to voice her concern. "Do you think something happened to Asher?" she asked, wringing her hands nervously.
Reese tried to reassure her. "Asher can take care of himself," he said. "He's probably just lost track of time."
But Lyra wasn't convinced. "I have a bad feeling about this," she said.
Just then, the Ulysses shook violently, as if hit by a sudden gust of wind. The group was thrown off balance, and Lyra felt her heart race with fear.
"What's happening?" she cried out.
Reese quickly checked the Ulysses' instruments. "It's some sort of energy disturbance," he said. "But it's not natural."
Lyra felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Could it be the devourers?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Reese's expression turned grim. "It's possible," he said. "We need to prepare for an attack."
The group quickly sprang into action, grabbing their weapons and taking defensive positions around the Ulysses. They had been through enough battles to know what to expect, but Lyra couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled over her.
As they waited for the attack to come, Lyra couldn't help but wonder where Asher was. She prayed that he was safe, that he had found a way to escape whatever danger he had stumbled upon.
The sound of weapons firing and metal clashing snapped Lyra out of her thoughts. The devourers had arrived, and the group was ready to fight.
Lyra felt a surge of adrenaline as she charged towards the first wave of devourers. Her hand tightened around her laser gun, and she felt a thrill of excitement as she fired at the oncoming creatures. Her training had prepared her well for this moment, and she was determined to protect her friends and their ship.
Reese and Caden were fighting back to back, their movements synchronized as they took down the advancing devourers. Lyra caught a glimpse of a few of the creatures attempting to flank them, and she quickly turned and fired, taking them out before they could get too close.
But as the battle raged on, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She couldn't help but think about Asher, out there somewhere, possibly facing his own battle. She hoped he was safe, but the nagging feeling in her gut told her otherwise.
The devourers seemed to be unrelenting, coming in waves as if they had an endless supply. Lyra was starting to feel fatigued, and she knew that their chances of survival were dwindling.
Despite their efforts, the devourers seemed relentless. More and more of the creatures swarmed onto the ship, overwhelming the group with their sheer numbers.
Lyra gritted her teeth, feeling a surge of determination. She couldn't let the devourers win. Not when so much was at stake.
Just as she was about to strike a final blow against a particularly vicious devourer, a blinding flash of light filled her vision. She stumbled back, disoriented, and felt a sudden sense of weightlessness.
When her vision cleared, she found herself standing in a completely different location. The Ulysses and the devourers were nowhere in sight. Instead, she found herself in a dimly lit room, surrounded by unfamiliar equipment and machinery.
Lyra's heart raced with fear and confusion. Where was she? And where were the others?
As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, she heard a voice from behind her.
"Welcome, Lyra. We've been expecting you."
Lyra spun around, ready to fight, but found herself facing a group of people in strange white robes. They looked peaceful and unthreatening, but Lyra's instincts told her to be wary.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
The leader of the group stepped forward, smiling kindly. "We are the guardians of time," he said. "And we need your help."