The Shadowfang drifted in silence, surrounded by the aftermath of the battle. The Architect's form was gone, its immense power dissipating into the void. But the absence of Iris was a weight no one aboard could ignore.
Arkan stood at the viewport, his hand resting on the glass as he stared into the empty space where Iris had made her final stand. The crew worked around him in subdued silence, repairing the ship and tending to their wounds, but the mood was somber.
"She wouldn't want us to sit here sulking," Kyra said, her voice cutting through the quiet as she approached Arkan. "We need to move."
Arkan didn't look at her, his voice low. "And go where? Our fight was with the Architect. It's over."
Kyra's hand clenched into a fist. "No, it's not. You know it's not. The Syndicate is still out there. The Shard—what's left of it—might still be out there. And Iris... we don't even know if she's gone. Not really."
At those words, Arkan turned sharply to face her. "What do you mean?"
A Spark of Hope
Luna entered the room, her datapad glowing. "She's right," she said, her voice measured. "I've been analyzing the energy readings from the Architect's destruction. There's... something left. A faint signal. It's not from the Architect, and it's not like anything I've seen before."
Taron leaned against the wall, chewing on a ration bar. "You think it's Iris?"
Luna shrugged. "I don't know. But it's coming from the same place where the Architect's core was destroyed. If there's even a chance it's her, we have to check it out."
Arkan's jaw tightened, and he straightened. "Plot a course. We're not leaving anyone behind."
Into the Rift
The Shadowfang approached the epicenter of the explosion, the void still shimmering with residual energy. As they neared, their systems began to fluctuate, the lights flickering and the controls becoming sluggish.
"This place is unstable," Luna said, her fingers flying across the console. "Whatever energy is left here, it's wreaking havoc on our systems."
"We're not turning back," Arkan said firmly.
The ship pressed forward, its hull creaking under the strain. At the center of the maelstrom, a faint glow appeared—a sphere of shifting light and shadow, pulsating gently.
"That's it," Luna said, her voice tinged with awe. "That's the source of the signal."
The Sphere
The crew stood in the airlock, preparing for what could be their final mission. Arkan led the way, his blade strapped to his back and his expression hard as steel. Kyra, Taron, and Luna followed, each armed and ready.
The airlock opened, and they stepped into the void, their suits shielding them from the hostile environment. The sphere loomed before them, its surface swirling like a living thing.
"Getting closer is a bad idea," Taron muttered, gripping his weapon tightly. "But when have we ever done the smart thing?"
"Stay sharp," Arkan said, stepping forward.
As they approached, the sphere began to react, its light intensifying. Arkan raised a hand, signaling the others to stop. "Iris," he called out, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "If you're in there, give us a sign."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the sphere rippled, and a faint, familiar voice echoed in their comms.
"Arkan...?"
The Return
The voice was weak, barely audible, but it sent a surge of hope through the crew.
"Iris!" Kyra shouted. "We're here! We're going to get you out!"
"I don't... know if you can," Iris replied, her tone heavy with fatigue. "I'm... part of this now. The Shard, the Architect's energy—it's all tied together. I'm holding it in place, keeping it from spreading."
"There has to be a way to separate you from it," Luna said, her mind racing. "If we can stabilize the energy, we might be able to extract you."
"I don't think it's that simple," Iris said. "But I'll help you try."
The Extraction
Luna worked quickly, using her datapad to interface with the sphere's energy field. Arkan and Kyra kept watch, their weapons ready in case anything went wrong.
As Luna worked, the sphere began to destabilize, its light flickering erratically. "This isn't good," she muttered. "If I push too hard, it could collapse entirely."
"Then don't push too hard," Arkan said, his voice steady. "We're not losing her again."
With a final adjustment, Luna activated her device, sending a pulse of stabilizing energy into the sphere. The light dimmed for a moment, then flared brightly.
Suddenly, the sphere shattered, and Iris collapsed into Arkan's arms, her body weak but intact.
Reunion
The crew rushed back to the Shadowfang, carrying Iris to the medbay. As she regained consciousness, she looked around at her friends, a faint smile on her lips.
"You came for me," she said softly.
"Of course we did," Arkan said, his voice firm. "We don't leave our own behind."
Iris closed her eyes, her exhaustion evident. "The Architect's energy... it's still out there. I can feel it. But for now... thank you."
The crew exchanged looks, their relief tempered by the knowledge that their fight might not be over. But for now, they had won a small, precious victory.