The Shadowfang traveled through the vastness of uncharted space, a sliver of light cutting through the infinite black. The crew worked in quiet determination, each preparing for the battles ahead in their own way. But the silence was deceptive—beneath it, the tension simmered, and in Iris's mind, the whispers of the Nexus lingered.
Iris's Vision
In her quarters, Iris sat cross-legged on the floor, her breathing slow and deliberate. She had hoped meditation would quiet the storm within her, but it only seemed to amplify it.
The tattoos on her skin pulsed faintly, and her vision blurred as the room around her dissolved into a swirling abyss. She found herself standing in a place that defied reality—a fractured plane where shards of light and darkness coexisted in chaotic harmony.
From the shadows, a figure emerged. It was Dominion, or at least a fragment of it, its form flickering like a fading hologram.
"You cannot escape what you are," it said, its voice cold and relentless.
"I'm nothing like you," Iris replied, her fists clenched.
"You wield the Nexus," Dominion said. "You are part of it. Deny it all you wish, but the truth is in your blood, in your very essence."
The ground beneath her feet began to crack, and a surge of energy rushed toward her. Iris raised her hands instinctively, and a shield of light erupted around her, deflecting the attack.
"Leave me alone!" she shouted, and the vision shattered like glass.
Iris gasped, opening her eyes to find herself back in her quarters. Her hands trembled, and her body was drenched in sweat.
A Cry for Help
On the bridge, Luna monitored the ship's scanners, her brow furrowed. "We've got something," she said, drawing the crew's attention.
"What is it?" Arkan asked, stepping forward.
"A distress signal," Luna replied. "It's faint, but it's coming from the Eridani Expanse. It's old tech—pre-Nexus, by the looks of it."
"Could be a trap," Kairo said, folding his arms.
"Or it could be an ally," Kyra countered.
Arkan considered their options. "We'll investigate. If it's a trap, we'll deal with it. If it's not, we might find someone who can help us fight the Nexus."
The Derelict
The Shadowfang exited hyperspace near the source of the signal. A massive derelict ship floated in the void, its hull scarred and rusted from centuries of neglect.
"Looks like it's been here for a while," Luna said, scanning the vessel. "No signs of Nexus activity, but there's definitely something alive aboard."
"Alive?" Kairo asked. "You mean someone survived on that thing?"
"Or something," Kyra said, gripping her blades.
"Suit up," Arkan ordered. "We're going in."
Exploring the Wreckage
The team boarded the derelict, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. The air was stale, and the dim emergency lights cast long shadows on the walls.
"Creepy," Kairo muttered, his blaster at the ready.
"Stay focused," Arkan said, leading the way.
As they moved deeper into the ship, they found signs of a struggle—scorch marks on the walls, broken equipment, and long-dried bloodstains.
"This wasn't an accident," Kyra said, her voice low. "Something happened here."
They reached the source of the distress signal—a central chamber filled with ancient machinery. At the center was a stasis pod, its glass cracked but intact. Inside was a man, his features obscured by frost.
"He's alive," Luna said, checking the pod's readings. "Barely."
"Can we wake him?" Arkan asked.
"I can try," Luna replied, working quickly to bypass the damaged systems.
As she worked, a low rumble echoed through the ship.
"Did you hear that?" Kairo asked, his voice tense.
"Yeah," Kyra said, drawing her blades. "And it's getting closer."
The Guardian
The rumble grew louder, and the walls began to shake. From the shadows emerged a massive, spider-like construct, its glowing red eyes fixed on the intruders.
"Guardian," Luna said, her voice filled with dread. "It must have been programmed to protect the ship."
"Well, it's doing a great job," Kairo said, firing at the construct.
The shots bounced off its armored shell, and the Guardian lunged forward, its mechanical limbs slicing through the air. Kyra leaped to intercept it, her blades sparking as they clashed against its metal.
"Keep it distracted!" Luna shouted, working frantically to release the man from the stasis pod.
"We're trying!" Kairo yelled, dodging another attack.
The Awakening
As the battle raged, Luna managed to override the pod's controls. The glass shattered, and the man inside gasped for air, his eyes snapping open.
"Who are you?" Luna asked, helping him out of the pod.
"No time," the man said, his voice rough from disuse. "If you want to live, you need to disable the core. Now."
"Where's the core?" Arkan asked, firing at the Guardian to buy time.
"Deck below," the man replied. "But you'll need me to access it."
"Fine," Arkan said. "Kyra, Kairo, hold this thing off. Luna, take him to the core. I'll cover you."
A Desperate Gamble
Luna and the man sprinted toward the lower deck, dodging debris and collapsed passageways. The Guardian pursued, its limbs tearing through the ship as it hunted them.
"This way," the man said, leading Luna to a control room filled with flickering monitors.
"Can you shut it down?" Luna asked.
"I'll try," he said, his hands flying over the controls. "But it's been centuries. The systems are barely functional."
"Hurry," Luna urged, her eyes darting to the doorway.
Victory in the Shadows
Above, Kyra and Kairo fought the Guardian with everything they had, their combined efforts slowly wearing it down. Arkan joined the fray, his precise strikes exploiting the few weak points they could find.
Suddenly, the construct froze, its limbs twitching as power drained from its core.
"Got it!" the man's voice crackled over their comms.
The Guardian collapsed, its red eyes dimming. The crew let out a collective sigh of relief.
The Mysterious Survivor
Back on the Shadowfang, the man introduced himself as Taron Kess, a former researcher who had been studying pre-Nexus technology before his ship was attacked.
"You've got a Nexus problem," Taron said, after Luna filled him in on their mission. "And if you're serious about stopping them, you're going to need my help."
"Why should we trust you?" Kyra asked, her arms crossed.
"Because I know things about the Nexus that no one else does," Taron replied. "Things that could turn the tide of this war. But first, you need to tell me—what's your endgame?"
All eyes turned to Arkan, who answered without hesitation. "To end the Nexus. Once and for all."