Episode 6: Phase 1
"Through the Rift"
The light faded, leaving behind a stunned silence. Rylen blinked, disoriented, as his surroundings shifted back into focus. The shadowy figure was gone, its presence replaced by the faint hum of the facility's emergency power systems.
"What... just happened?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Aris pulled themselves up from the floor, brushing off the dust. "You happened. Again."
Lyra, still clutching her weapon, scanned the area with narrowed eyes. "The rift collapsed. Whatever that thing was, it retreated—but not before leaving its message."
Rylen felt the warmth in his chest subsiding, leaving behind an emptiness that felt both unsettling and strangely familiar. "It said it was waiting for me. That I had the key. What does that even mean?"
Aris didn't respond immediately, their gaze fixed on the scorched section of the wall where the rift had been. "It means this is bigger than we thought," they said finally. "Your power isn't just a random anomaly. It's connected to something—or someone—far beyond our understanding."
"Well, that's reassuring," Rylen muttered, his hands trembling slightly. "So what now? Do I just wait for another creepy vortex to pop up and drag me to who-knows-where?"
"Not exactly," Lyra said, slinging her weapon onto her back. "We need answers, and we're not going to get them standing around here."
Aris nodded. "We'll need to access the archives. If there's any record of a power like yours—or an entity like the one we just encountered—it'll be there."
"The archives?" Rylen asked. "You mean the same archives you told me were 'off-limits'?"
"Desperate times," Aris said simply. "And if this is what I think it is, we don't have much time to waste."
"Fantastic," Rylen said, trying to keep the sarcasm from masking his unease. "Lead the way, then."
The walk to the archives was tense. The usual sterile, white corridors of the facility seemed darker somehow, as if the presence of the rift had left an invisible mark. Lyra walked ahead, her hand never straying far from her weapon, while Aris moved with their usual calm efficiency. Rylen trailed behind, his thoughts spinning like a storm.
Why him? Why did he have this power? And what did the shadowy figure mean by "unlocking" it?
"So," Rylen said after a long silence, trying to lighten the mood, "the archives... Do they have, like, a snacks section? Maybe a vending machine? I feel like I've earned a break."
Lyra glanced back, unimpressed. "The only thing you'll find in the archives is information. Assuming you don't blow it up."
"Good to know," Rylen said with a weak grin. "Guess I'll have to smuggle in my own snacks next time."
Aris didn't even crack a smile. "Focus, Rylen. This is serious."
The door to the archives slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a massive chamber filled with rows upon rows of glowing data terminals. The air was cool and slightly stale, and the faint hum of the servers created an almost reverent atmosphere.
"Whoa," Rylen said, his eyes widening. "It's like a sci-fi library in here."
"Stay close," Lyra said. "The archive AI doesn't take kindly to unauthorized visitors."
"Wait, there's an AI?" Rylen asked, suddenly nervous. "What kind of AI?"
"The kind that will eject you from the facility if you so much as sneeze on the wrong terminal," Lyra said.
"Noted," Rylen said, clasping his hands tightly behind his back. "No sneezing."
Aris approached one of the central terminals and began typing commands into the console. The screen lit up, displaying a complex web of data streams.
"Searching for anomalies in recorded energy signatures," Aris explained, their fingers moving with practiced precision.
Rylen leaned over their shoulder, squinting at the screen. "And what exactly are we looking for?"
"Anything that matches the energy you've been emitting," Aris said. "Or the entity we encountered."
The terminal beeped, and a series of files appeared on the screen. Aris frowned. "These records are encrypted. Lyra, help me bypass the security protocols."
Lyra stepped forward, her movements swift and confident. Within moments, the encryption dissolved, and a single file opened—a holographic projection of a swirling, dark vortex.
"That's it," Rylen said, his breath catching. "That's what I saw."
Aris's expression darkened as they read the accompanying text. "This isn't just an anomaly. It's a gateway."
"A gateway to what?" Rylen asked, dread creeping into his voice.
Lyra read over Aris's shoulder, her face pale. "A gateway to the Shadow Zone. It's a dimension that exists parallel to ours—a place of chaos and destruction. If something from there is targeting you..."
Rylen swallowed hard. "Then I'm in way over my head."
---
Episode 6: Phase 2
"Through the Rift" (continued)
Rylen's heart pounded as the words "Shadow Zone" echoed in his mind. The holographic vortex swirled ominously, as if mocking him with its chaotic beauty.
"Okay," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "So, I've got a cosmic gateway targeting me, a mysterious power I can't control, and no clue what I'm supposed to do with it. Does this come with a user manual, or am I winging it?"
Lyra smirked faintly despite the tension. "If you find a manual, let me know. I've got a few questions too."
Aris leaned closer to the terminal, scanning the text for more clues. "This isn't random," they said. "The Shadow Zone doesn't just connect to anyone. It seeks out those who resonate with its energy."
"Resonate?" Rylen repeated. "You're saying I'm some kind of... cosmic tuning fork?"
"It's more than that," Aris replied, their tone grave. "The Shadow Zone's energy isn't just destructive—it's transformative. If it's chosen you, it means you have the potential to shape its power, to bend it to your will."
"That's a lot of responsibility for someone who just learned not to microwave metal," Rylen muttered.
Lyra shot him a look. "This isn't a joke, Rylen. If the Shadow Zone is targeting you, it means others might be too—people or things that want its power for themselves."
"Great," Rylen said, throwing up his hands. "Not only am I a cosmic tuning fork, but I'm also a walking target. What's next, a bounty on my head?"
As if on cue, the archive AI's voice cut through the room, calm yet menacing: "Unauthorized access detected. Security measures activated."
The terminal's holographic projection flickered, and the floor beneath them began to hum.
"What did you do?" Rylen hissed, backing away from the console.
"Nothing," Aris snapped, their fingers flying over the keys. "It must've triggered a failsafe when we decrypted the file."
"Failsafe?" Lyra repeated, her eyes narrowing. "What kind of failsafe?"
Before anyone could answer, the chamber's lights dimmed, and a series of mechanical clicks echoed through the room. From the shadows, sleek drones emerged, their lenses glowing with an unsettling red light.
"Let me guess," Rylen said, his voice tinged with panic. "These aren't here to welcome us."
The drones' weapons hummed to life, confirming his fears.
"Move!" Lyra shouted, pulling out her weapon and firing at the nearest drone. The blast hit its mark, sending the machine crashing to the floor, but more were already advancing.
Rylen ducked behind a terminal as another drone fired, its shot narrowly missing him. "I thought this place was supposed to be safe!"
"Define 'safe,'" Aris said, pulling out a device and typing furiously. "I'm trying to shut them down, but the system's fighting me."
"Of course it is," Rylen muttered.
Lyra took down another drone, her movements fluid and precise. "Rylen, if you're not going to fight, at least try not to get yourself killed!"
"Fight with what?" Rylen shouted back. "My sparkling personality?"
As if in response, the warmth in his chest flared again. It wasn't the same explosive heat he'd felt during training—it was calmer, more focused, like a steady pulse waiting for his command.
"Focus, Rylen," he muttered to himself. "Focus."
He stepped out from behind the terminal, raising his hand instinctively. A drone locked onto him, its weapon charging, but before it could fire, a wave of energy burst from Rylen's palm. The drone froze midair, its circuits sparking wildly before it collapsed to the floor.
Aris and Lyra stared at him in shock.
"Well," Rylen said, his hand still glowing faintly, "that's new."
"Don't stop now," Lyra snapped. "There are more of them!"
Rylen nodded, his confidence growing with each second. He extended his other hand, sending another wave of energy toward the advancing drones. This time, two of them went down at once.
Aris managed to deactivate the remaining security measures, and the remaining drones powered down. The room fell silent again, save for the faint crackle of damaged machines.
"Remind me to never doubt you again," Lyra said, lowering her weapon.
"Noted," Rylen said, though his legs felt like jelly. The glow in his hands faded, leaving him exhausted but exhilarated.
Aris closed the terminal. "We've pushed our luck enough for one day. Let's get out of here before the AI changes its mind."
The trio made their way back through the dim corridors, their pace brisk but cautious. As they exited the archives, Rylen couldn't help but glance over his shoulder, half-expecting another rift to appear.
"So," he said, breaking the silence, "what's the next step in this wild ride?"
"We train," Aris said firmly. "Harder than before. Whatever's coming, you need to be ready for it."
"And the Shadow Zone?" Rylen asked.
"We'll figure it out," Lyra said. "But one thing's clear—you're not just a tuning fork, Rylen. You're a lightning rod."
Rylen groaned. "Great. Just what I always wanted."
But despite his sarcasm, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.