As the Horizon Runner soared through the vast expanse of space, Captain Alex Ryder and his crew regrouped in the ship's command center, their minds still reeling from their harrowing encounter with NovaCorp. With the artifact safely stowed away, they turned their attention to their next course of action.
"We can't risk staying in one place for too long," Alex said, his voice tense with urgency. "NovaCorp will be hot on our trail, and we need to stay one step ahead of them."
Echo, the ship's AI companion, nodded in agreement. "I concur, Captain. We must find a safe haven where we can regroup and plan our next move."
Alex tapped his fingers against the armrest, deep in thought. "There's only one place I trust to keep us hidden from NovaCorp's prying eyes – the Council of Elders."
The Council of Elders was a clandestine organization composed of wise and powerful beings from across the galaxy. Their influence spanned vast reaches of space, and they had long been allies to those who sought to preserve peace and order in the cosmos.
"But getting an audience with the Council won't be easy," Alex continued. "They're notoriously reclusive and selective about who they meet with."
Echo scanned through the ship's database, searching for any available information on how to contact the Council. After a moment, she spoke up. "I've found a transmission frequency used by Council emissaries. We can attempt to send a distress signal and request an audience."
Alex nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "Do it. And let's hope they're willing to hear us out."
With a sense of urgency, Echo transmitted the distress signal, hoping against hope that it would reach the ears of the Council and garner their assistance. As they waited for a response, Alex and his crew braced themselves for the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that their journey was far from over.