The Shadowfang drifted quietly in the vast expanse of space, far from Helion Prime and the chaos they left behind. In the crew's common room, tension was thick as the group sat around the shard. Its glow had intensified, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Arkan stood near the window, staring out into the void. His silence was heavy, his usually stoic demeanor cracked under the weight of the revelation he had dropped on them.
"You can't just say you're the key to the Nexus and leave it at that," Luna said, leaning forward. "What aren't you telling us, Arkan?"
Arkan sighed, finally turning to face them. "It's... complicated. My connection to the Nexus isn't something I fully understand, but it's always been there, like a shadow I couldn't escape."
"We don't have time for vague answers," Kairo said, his voice sharp. "If you know something that can help us stop the Vow, spill it."
Arkan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the shard. "Fine. You deserve to know the truth."
The Nexus Experiment
Arkan began pacing the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "Years ago, I was part of an experiment—a project funded by the Crimson Vow, though I didn't know it at the time. They were searching for a way to harness the Nexus's energy, to create a living conduit that could unlock its full power."
"A living conduit?" Iris repeated, her brow furrowing.
"Yes," Arkan said. "They believed that the Nexus's energy was too unstable to control directly. But if they could bind it to a human, someone strong enough to withstand its power, they could use it to reshape the galaxy in their image."
"And you were their guinea pig," Kairo said, his tone laced with disgust.
Arkan nodded. "They called it Project Origin. I was a child then, barely old enough to understand what was happening. They pushed me to my limits—physically, mentally, spiritually. They wanted to forge a connection between me and the Nexus. For years, I endured their trials, their experiments. Until one day, I escaped."
"How did you manage that?" Luna asked, skeptical.
Arkan's Neo-Ki flared faintly, casting a dim light. "They succeeded, at least partially. I became the conduit they wanted, but I refused to be their tool. I used their own power against them and fled."
A Dangerous Path
"So the Vow wants you back to finish what they started," Iris said, piecing it together.
"Exactly," Arkan replied. "And now that we have the shard, they'll stop at nothing to capture me. Every piece of the Nexus they gather makes their grip on the galaxy stronger. And if they get me, it's over."
The crew fell silent, the weight of Arkan's words sinking in.
"Then we can't let that happen," Kairo said firmly. "We need to figure out how to use this shard to fight back."
"Or destroy it," Luna suggested.
Arkan shook his head. "Destroying it won't stop the Vow. They've spent centuries studying the Nexus. They'll find another way. The only chance we have is to beat them to it—to gather the shards ourselves and seal the Nexus forever."
A Hidden Memory
Iris, who had been quietly analyzing the shard with her scanner, suddenly frowned. "There's something strange here," she said, her fingers flying over the console.
"What is it?" Kairo asked.
"The shard isn't just energy—it's a map," Iris said, projecting a hologram of star charts onto the table. "It's pointing to something. A location deep in the Vexis Nebula."
"The Vexis Nebula?" Luna said, raising an eyebrow. "That's Syndicate territory. We'll never get close without being spotted."
"We don't have a choice," Kairo said. "If this map leads to another shard, we need to take the risk."
"There's something else," Iris added, her voice hesitant. "This map wasn't just encoded in the shard—it was encrypted with the same energy signature as Arkan's Neo-Ki."
All eyes turned to Arkan.
"It's a piece of the Nexus," Arkan said quietly, realization dawning on him. "And it's calling me."
The Journey Begins
Despite the risks, the crew set a course for the Vexis Nebula. The journey was tense, with everyone on edge. The Syndicate's patrols were relentless, and the looming threat of the Crimson Vow hung over them like a storm.
Arkan spent most of the trip in meditation, his Neo-Ki fluctuating as he prepared for what lay ahead. Luna occasionally glanced his way, her usual sarcasm replaced with something almost like concern.
"You don't have to carry this alone, you know," she said one evening, breaking the silence.
Arkan opened one eye, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I appreciate the sentiment, but this burden is mine to bear."
"Yeah, well, we're in this mess together now," Luna said, leaning against the wall. "Don't forget that."
A Trap in the Nebula
As the Shadowfang entered the Vexis Nebula, the crew's nerves were stretched to their limits. The nebula's swirling clouds of gas and debris made navigation difficult, and Syndicate patrols were everywhere.
"Iris, keep us off their scanners," Kairo ordered, his grip tightening on the controls.
"I'm trying," Iris replied, her voice tense. "But something's jamming our signals."
"That's not Syndicate tech," Arkan said, his Neo-Ki flaring slightly. "It's the Vow."
Before anyone could react, an energy blast tore through the nebula, striking the Shadowfang and sending it spiraling.
"We're hit!" Luna shouted, scrambling to stabilize the ship.
Through the viewport, the crimson-armored figure of the Vow's flagship loomed, its weapons glowing ominously.
"They knew we were coming," Kairo growled. "It's a trap."
Cliffhanger
As the Shadowfang struggled to regain control, the Vow's forces closed in. Arkan stood in the center of the ship, his Neo-Ki blazing brighter than ever.
"This is my fight," he said, his voice resolute.
"We're not leaving you behind," Kairo snapped.
"You won't have to," Arkan replied, stepping toward the airlock. "I'll draw them away. Find the shard and finish this."
Before anyone could stop him, Arkan opened the airlock and launched himself into the void, his energy radiating like a beacon.
The crew watched in shock as Arkan confronted the Vow's forces alone, his power unleashed in a dazzling display.
"Arkan!" Luna shouted, her voice filled with desperation.
But Arkan didn't look back.